News
July 15, 2019
Market research is an integral step in a successful business development effort, whether you are part of a start-up, launching a new product or rebranding your business. When you skip out on market research, you miss valuable opportunities that will help your business in the […]
July 10, 2019
From the July, 10 2019 Knoxville News-Sentinel Market research is an integral step in a successful business development effort, whether you are part of a startup, launching a new product or rebranding your business. When you skip out on market research, you miss valuable opportunities that […]
June 17, 2019
I believe that most business leaders need to understand – at least at a basic level – how to talk to the news media in both positive and negative situations. Refusing to comment when media attention comes your way is simply not an option. You […]
June 17, 2019
As of 2019, Millennials are the largest and most diverse generation in history, comprised of nearly 73 million people aged 22 to 37. Known for being digital natives, almost 100 percent of Millennials have a smart phone and use popular social media platforms such as […]
June 5, 2019
Misinformation is becoming one of the greatest public health concerns of our time. Thanks to the meteoric rise of alternative media platforms and social media influencers, the thinning of credible information gatekeepers and a growing mistrust in government and traditional media, we now find ourselves […]
May 20, 2019
Marketing actually plays several roles within most companies: It builds awareness for the company, the products and/or the services. It conveys critical information and positions the company/products/services. It lays the foundation for sales receptiveness. It actually is a part of the sales process in terms […]
May 9, 2019
Ackermann Marketing & PR today announced that Ryan Willis and Erin Freeman have been promoted to the role of Vice Presidents for the agency. Together, Willis and Freeman bring 30 years of experience in providing Ackermann’s portfolio of clients with strategic communications counsel, including crisis […]
April 22, 2019
These days, the medium that sends the message is just as important as the message itself. Choosing the correct medium can determine whether or not you are reaching your target audience most effectively and is also an opportunity to generate buzz about your company’s rightful […]
April 5, 2019
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— April 1, 2019 – April brings not only warmer weather back to the Tennessee Valley, but also the annual [Knoxville] By Design (KBD) celebration. The month-long series of events is part of National Architecture Week, a time dedicated to celebrating the impact that […]
April 1, 2019
Messaging is where effective marketing usually begins. A company can employ just the right mix of outreach strategies and tactics, but if the underlying messages being put forth by those marketing methods are not attention-getting, compelling, and most of all, true, you are probably wasting […]
March 19, 2019
FITZGERALD NAMED SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE VETERAN COMMUNICATOR JOINS EAST TENNESSEE’S PREMIER AGENCY Knoxville, Tenn. – Ackermann Marketing & PR today announced that Brian Fitzgerald has been hired as a Senior Account Executive. In his new role, Fitzgerald will provide Ackermann’s portfolio of clients with strategic […]
February 21, 2019
Make it personal, take the slow road for clients The prioritization of speed over personalization grossly underestimates the power of human interaction and the importance of face-to-face communication in building and nurturing important relationships. If the entire point of your business is simply to accomplish […]
February 6, 2019
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – October 10, 2018 – The University of Tennessee College of Social Work is celebrating its 10th year of online Master of Social Work Education. The UTCSW developed one of the first accredited online MSW programs in the country. While other online programs […]
February 6, 2019
Smokin’ Oak Wood-Fired Pizza to Open in Greater Denver Area St. Petersburg, Florida – November 13, 2018 – Smokin’ Oak Wood-Fired Pizza, a fast-casual pizza franchise based in St. Petersburg, Fl., announced today that the company has signed an Area Development Agreement for the greater Denver […]
February 6, 2019
Fast-casual pizza franchise to open two locations in Grand Junction St. Petersburg, Fl. – Smokin’ Oak Wood-Fired Pizza, a fast-casual pizza franchise based in St. Petersburg, FL., is expanding to Grand Junction, Colorado, with two new stores planned to open in 2019. Grand Junction residents, Bob […]
February 6, 2019
Ackermann Marketing & PR consults with business leaders, non-profits and individuals to determine the best ways to lead organizations, launch new products, resolve culture challenges and minimize crises. My role as a consultant to these clients, friends and peers offers a firsthand look at strengths and weaknesses of […]
January 31, 2019
Starting a new year is a great time to assess what has and hasn’t worked in your marketing programs, and to push the re-set button on out-moded ideas and tired tactics. Whether you work for a corporation or an agency, there are common threads that […]
January 3, 2019
As this year draws to a close, we’re reminded not only of memorable moments, but also of the warp-speed world in which we live. Adaptability and an adventurous spirit are certainly critical skills in terms of understanding and effectively utilizing the constantly changing ways in […]
December 3, 2018
(This is the second of a two-part column on this topic, the previous one having appeared in the Knoxville News-Sentinel on Sunday, November 11, 2018.) Millennials are aged 21 – 36 years old (born between 1982 and 1997) and are playing an increasingly pivotal role […]
October 30, 2018
Millennials – there are a lot of them, and their influence on how companies sell their products and services is substantial. So, if your business doesn’t have a research-based strategy in this regard, you could be missing out on some important opportunities to expand or […]
October 15, 2018
Being the mighty band of true creatives that we are, one aspect of the job that we particularly enjoy is working with a client who puts our creative muscles to work developing branding/identity/design and logo concepts. Recently we were given the latitude to develop the […]
October 8, 2018
People who know me well may stifle a giggle when I tout the benefits of preparedness. This is because I am known to be a tad compulsive and overly prepared. However, in defense of my tendencies in this regard, I find that it really does […]
September 7, 2018
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – August 29, 2018 – Blühen Botanicals, a new hemp processing company, announced plans today to open a hemp processing facility by the end of 2018 in Knoxville, Tenn. The company’s founders aim to make Blühen Botanicals the largest hemp biomass processing and […]
August 28, 2018
From the August 2018 Issue of Knox.Biz We all love social media and the numerous digital tools at our disposal these days . . . except when we don’t! And one of those times can be when our business receives a very public negative review […]
August 20, 2018
From the August, 19 2018 Knoxville News-Sentinel Depending upon the particular marketplace that your company operates in, it is tempting to narrow your communications focus to only those customers and prospects that you already know you should be talking to. Most companies have a defined […]
July 23, 2018
We’re hearing a lot these days about the difficulties that businesses are having in recruiting sharp new employees. With the unemployment rate being relatively low, the competition for top talent has increased dramatically as of late. Therefore, it is more critical than ever for employers […]
July 13, 2018
Sevierville, Tenn. – SmartBank announced today plans to open a fourth Sevier County branch. The new branch will be located at 710 Dolly Parton Parkway, Sevierville, Tenn. According to Billy Carroll, SmartBank President and CEO, the existing building will be renovated to reflect the SmartBank […]
June 25, 2018
Reputation and trust are intrinsically intertwined in business. Companies cannot maintain their positive reputations if a strong bond of trust does not exist with their customers and constituents. It sometimes takes years to build that level of trust, but one “untrustworthy incident” can tear down […]
May 29, 2018
In case you missed Cathy’s contributed Knoxville News-Sentinel column from over Memorial Day weekend, you can read the full version below: There has been a lot said and written in the past few months about both the benefits and the “evils” of how much we […]