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From media strategy to reputation management, we explore the trends shaping public perception and share the approaches that drive measurable results for growing brands.

Best Practices for a Successful Panel

I am currently a public relations intern at Communiqué PR, working toward a BA in marketing and management at Seattle University (SU). In addition to school and work, I am nurturing leadership opportunities by running for executive positions, making connections with professors and community leaders, and taking full advantage of public speaking and panel opportunities. Various conferences and retreats have provided me firsthand panel experience, so I can learn from other experts and share my insights on professional opportunities, Filipinx empowerment, and workplace diversity and inclusion practices from a POC perspective.

Participating in a panel is a positive opportunity for people who have not had the chance to speak in front of large groups. While I am still early in my career, I have spoken at several events and panels. Below are some tips and best practices for you to consider for your next panel opportunity.

  • Prepare your speaking points as if you are creating a TEDx talk. Although panelists aren’t responsible for the entire presentation, the audience will benefit the most from their engaging content, including thoughtful anecdotes or stories to which audiences can relate, positive tone toward the subject, interacting with other panelists’ or audience’s input, and more.
    Another best practice is to avoid winging your speech or messaging points at the risk of sounding unprepared and letting down fellow panelists. Audiences can often tell a panelist is unprepared if they hear filler words such as “oh” or “um,” long pauses, or incomplete thoughts. When preparing for a panel, it’s better to prepare by rehearsing your points a few times in front of a mirror or with peers or family members. Rehearsal is essential for preparedness, so it’s helpful to think through a compelling opening and closing statement, bring personal anecdotes to spark discussion, and write down the main points you want the audience to take away from your speech.
  • Connect with your co-panelists and panel moderator before the event. Often, if schedules allow, moderators will convene the co-panelists before a presentation to connect and prepare to help ensure that the group’s points don’t repeat, overlap, or slow down the proceedings. These meetings also allow panelists to learn from one another, sharpen each other’s speaking points, and hopefully help foster long-lasting professional relationships. 
    Panel moderators play a valuable role because they bridge the panelists to the audience. Therefore, building a connection between the panelists and the moderator is vital because it fosters a productive and familiar space where individuals feel comfortable sharing ideas.
  • Keep the energy high throughout the panel. The success of a forum stems from the compelling energy moderators and panelists generate. An energetic and engaging speaker actively supports and listens to their co-panelists, is conscious of posture, projects when speaking, reacts, and builds onto the panelists’ and moderator’s points.
    If you serve as a panel moderator, you help set the tone and energy level for the discussion. Best practices for the moderator include creating questions specific to your seminar and making the dialogue unique, lively, and helpful for your audience. An effective moderator can carry positive energy for the whole event, facilitating exciting back-and-forth, supporting healthy and respectful debate, and checking back with the audience to maintain crowd engagement.

These seemingly small details can make the difference between an average panelist and a transformational speaker; one who inspires humble leadership, is conscious of their co-speakers, doesn’t dominate the conversation and strives to connect their experiences to the audience and facilitate panelists empathy.

Pursuing and taking advantage of speaking opportunities can dramatically improve your public speaking skills, help make new connections, and aid in learning how to foster an engaging environment. My panel sessions have provided me with confidence, insight, and growth that I will take into my post-grad and future endeavors.  

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How Proposal Management Software Supports Future Remote Work Models

Due to COVID-19, many workforces worldwide shifted into remote work weeks. Although much of daily life has returned to “normal” this year, remote work isn’t going anywhere for some businesses. In fact, nearly three-quarters (74%) of U.S. companies plan to permanently shift employees to remote work after the COVID-19 pandemic ends.

Due to this, tools that enable collaboration and communication across locations are becoming necessary. Last month, our client QorusDocs debuted their new Not Your Average Benchmark study, an in-depth report highlighting how proposal management software supported companies as they handled an influx in business requests and RFPs this year.

In particular, the QorusDocs study highlights how proposal management software supported employees as they continued working remotely and completed business proposals in 2021.

On average, 28 professionals within an enterprise respond to RFx requests. However, the work-from-home transition in 2020 made it difficult for many teams to collaborate seamlessly on responses, causing the whole process to become a slow and complicated effort filled with miscommunication and fulfillment bottlenecks.

With proposal management software, however, teams were able to see several benefits that aided their ability to efficiently respond to RFPs and other business proposals no matter from where in the world they worked.

 

Improved collaboration and internal communication

Collaboration is key to any business’s success. However, COVID-19 left a lasting impact on how employees collaborate. Before the pandemic, U.S. workers spent an average of 43% of their workweek collaborating either in person or virtually. That number fell to 27% for professionals who worked from home in 2020.

In 2021, however, many remote teams saw collaboration on business proposals and RFPs improve using proposal management software. According to the QorusDocs study, companies reported that collaborations on RFPs improved by a staggering 56%.

Additionally, 85% of survey respondents using proposal management software agree that it’s easy to collaborate when working on a request. 83% of enterprises also reported that the internal RFP completion process became more apparent and straightforward since implementing proposal management software.

Proposal management software enables teams to keep response templates and approved content in a single location, helping them get a head start on every project. Additionally, having materials grouped in a centralized location enables team members to quickly find answers for their questions, locate content relevant to prospective clients, and collaborate effectively with co-workers to produce high-level responses. 

 

Automated processes

Proposal management software equips teams with automated tools designed to enable the efficiency and quality of their proposal responses, ultimately leading to increased wins and more revenue-generation opportunities.

This past year, proposal management software greatly supported enterprises’ capacity to complete an increased volume of quality, personalized RFPs, and secure new business opportunities. Seventy-four percent of companies utilizing automated proposal tools saw a positive increase in deal velocity, and 54% could process a greater volume of RFP responses overall.

Additionally, the efficiency and automated process proposal management software brings to RFP development helped decrease the time spent responding to proposals by 53%. Along with this, 85% of companies using automated proposal software reported having the tools needed to effectively respond to proposals and cater to each specific request with greater detail and information.

 

The future of proposal management software and remote work

The U.S. job market is currently seeing a massive shift in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As industry experts predict the “Great Resignation” will continue in 2022, employers and companies are adding new incentives to keep current employees and attract new ones.

With many professionals not wanting to return to in-person workdays, remote and hybrid work weeks are common perks offered to the workforce. In fact, recent research has found that 74% of workers say that working remotely would make them less likely to leave a company.

Along with this, the global market for proposal management software is projected to grow from $1.5 billion in 2019 to $3.1 billion by 2024. The growing shift to cloud-based technologies, the integration of artificial intelligence-enabled tools, and the adaptability for remote work are just a few factors driving automated proposal software adoption.

As shown in 2021, many companies have benefited from the numerous tools automated technology offers, including the ability to build personalized RFx responses more efficiently, leading to a greater volume of completed requests, an increase in deal velocity and revenue, and growth in business win rates. Due to this, proposal management software will continue to be an integral tool for many workforces in 2022, especially as remote and hybrid work models become the “new normal.”

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Year in Review: Snapshot of Bylines and Blogs Developed on Behalf of Intrado

Communiqué PR has had the opportunity to work with Flowroute, now part of Intrado, for nearly seven years. Throughout this time, we have worked with the company’s team to support various communications projects, including announcing company news, developing blog content, and conducting media outreach around industry trade shows. In 2021, we began working with Intrado’s UCaaS group to develop blog content that would support SEO efforts and increase awareness of Intrado among enterprise collaboration IT decision makers.

For background, Intrado, formerly West Corporation, is a telecommunications company that develops innovative, cloud-based technology to help enterprises and their customers effectively and efficiently connect in an increasingly complex world. Our work with Intrado has focused on the company’s Cloud Collaboration business unit, including cloud calling, collaboration, contact center and customer experience solutions. Flowroute’s services fall under this umbrella of solutions.

When kicking off our work with Intrado’s UCaaS group, we collaborated with the team’s enterprise collaboration subject matter experts. Our recent blogging focused on sharing insights about Intrado’s established partnerships with Microsoft and Cisco and tips to help enterprise IT decision makers optimize their communications stacks to thrive in the changing workplace ecosystem.

Below is a snapshot of some of the team’s blog posts published in 2021.   

We’ve also continued developing content for Flowroute’s blog and supporting proactive pitch campaigns with the team. Recent topics we’ve covered across these activities include the evolution of voice solutions, eliminating communication silos across IT investments, takeaways discussed at industry trade shows, and other trends impacting enterprise telecom decision makers.

Below are a few recent blog posts and thought leadership articles published by Flowroute.

Blog Posts

Thought Leadership Articles

It’s been a pleasure to partner with Intrado through different projects and ongoing campaigns. As the company continues to distribute telecommunications and enterprise collaboration, we’re excited to help them connect with decision makers and raise awareness of the growing role of cloud-based telecom services. As the global remote workforce grows, the ability to scale and connect through modern communication tools remains critical.

Check out the following blog posts to learn more about our work with Flowroute and experience supporting SEO and blogging.

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Insurance Claims Monitoring Platform Eliminates Bias in Fraud Detection, Raises $30M in Series-B Funding

One of our newest clients, owl.co, an insurance claims monitoring platform, recently announced securing $30 million in Series-B funding.

The funding round was led by Cota Capital and joined by Sorenson Ventures, FUSE, Impression Ventures, Luge Capital, and Plug and Play Ventures.

owl.co will utilize the funding to scale its insurance claims monitoring platform and expand its team. The company plans to increase its full-time staff in the U.S. and Canada by 20% before the end of 2021, with additional hiring planned for 2022.

While this latest round of financing brings the company’s overall funding to $40 million, this was the company’s first announcement. The company has been focused on execution and, until partnering with Communiqué PR, had not connected with media regarding its platform.

Since launching the platform in early 2021, owl.co has already secured six of the 10 largest U.S. insurers as customers to automate their fraud detection and claims monitoring processes. owl.co’s claims-monitoring platform enables insurance providers to stop unwarranted claim payments, release reserves, and adjust expenses, helping keep premiums down, ultimately saving consumers money.

Unlike many other service providers, owl.co does not use claimant data such as age, gender, neighborhood stats, or race in its models to eliminate biases. owl.co’s platform flags potential fraud intuitively empowering organizations to prioritize and deprioritize claims.

We are excited to continue building awareness regarding owl.co and its continued growth. Below is some of the coverage regarding its announcement.

Congratulations, owl.co!

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Publication Spotlight: Payload

Our “Publication Spotlight” series is designed to showcase publications that resonate with clients and future clients. This week’s spotlight is on Payload, a publication that provides daily insights on the most important news impacting the space economy. Below is a Q&A that provides insight into commonly asked questions.

Q: What is Payload and when was it established?

Payload, a new digital media company that was established this year, is a daily newsletter covering the business and policy of space – an industry that’s growing very large, very quickly. Space exploration is currently a $350 billion a year market and is forecast to grow to $1.4 trillion by 2030.

As technology becomes a larger part of the world’s economy, more media companies are launching around niche business and policy verticals, such as cybersecurity, biotechnology and now space. Payload sees an opportunity in being able to provide marketers with a place to reach high-level space influencers.

Q: Who is its audience?

For years, space coverage has focused on the consumer-facing aspect of space travel rather than the business and societal implications of the industry. Payload’s coverage aims to go a step deeper by providing business and policy information about the space industry. There are an estimated 2.19 million workers in the U.S. aerospace and defense industry.

Q: Does Payload offer a newsletter? What does it entail and how do I sign up for it?

Payload’s flagship product, a daily newsletter, features a combination of original reporting, news curation and industry analysis. Readers can subscribe through the Payload website.

Like many new media companies, Payload’s business model revolves around sponsorships to its newsletter. In the future, the editors plan complementary things like events and podcasts, and perhaps additional newsletters.

Q: How do you submit content to Payload?

Those who are interested in submitting content can share news and updates with Ryan Duffy, founding editor, at Payload. Ryan was previously at Morning Brew, where he launched and wrote the company’s Emerging Tech Brew, a triweekly newsletter about machine learning, autonomous vehicles, VR and a variety of tech trends.

As the space industry experiences unprecedented growth, I suspect publications that provide a niche perspective, such as Payload, will increase in popularity. 

While publications that cover the complex technology within the space industry are foundational resources, there is equal value in helping readers understand the business and policy implications, as well. I like to think of it as the yin-and-yang intersection, where business perspective and industry trends complement each other to provide a comprehensive snapshot. Balance is key.

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Thanksgiving for Relationships

As PR professionals, we are information brokers. We endeavor to provide clear and accurate information to specific audiences on behalf of our clients. This work is the “what” of this profession, but the “how” is where the real work comes in. Our work often requires intellectual horsepower, the ability to write, and creativity, among other things.

Relationship building is another essential skill. To do our jobs effectively, we must build, nurture and maintain relationships with many players, including media, clients, industry partners and colleagues.

At this time of year, particularly amid the persisting upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, it feels appropriate to recognize the people who enable us to accomplish all we do. We are perpetually grateful for the following:

  • Journalists. We rely on them to cover our news and provide us with information, guidance and insight. They make our jobs possible, and they reciprocate by providing us with information and feedback to help us improve. Amid economic challenges, journalists have adroitly covered an ever-expanding amount of news, literally doing more with less.
  • Clients. We are profoundly grateful that they trust us to share their stories. Our clients continue to challenge us to grow and evolve while making our work worthwhile and rewarding.
  • Coworkers, partners and freelancers. These are the people who generously offer their talents and support our work in ways large and small. Our team proves the saying that success is virtually impossible without teamwork. Recognition and gratitude are default positions for this team. This attitude empowers us to support each other in times of overload and struggle to keep our commitments to our clients and teammates. Our continuing success, above all else, stems from the strength of our relationships.
  • Family. Our families and support systems provide much-appreciated encouragement in normal times. The relocation of our workspaces to our living rooms and guest bedrooms had required a new level of accommodation and understanding. We are grateful for their support and for reminding us that it might be a good idea to get outside once in a while.

I also want to recap some small and large milestones we marked as a team this year:

  • We celebrated the firm’s 17th anniversary with a virtual group cooking class
  • We gathered for countless virtual morning meetings, sharing weekend plans and favorite Teams backgrounds in addition to our project priorities and successes
  • At least five of us have moved, with two purchasing their first homes and one completing a home remodel
  • One of us returned from maternity leave while another took time off to welcome his first child
  • One of us was married, and another got engaged
  • We marked first days of school, one kindergarten and one college, as well as high school and college graduations
  • We welcomed new pets and said farewell to others
  • We weathered a historic heatwave, power outages and internet service interruptions, as well as flooding
  • We worked from multiple states and at least two locations outside the U.S.
  • We welcomed new team members and bid farewell to others, including launching two interns and welcoming two more
  • We marked birthdays and work anniversaries on virtual happy hours and are preparing for our first in-person holiday celebration in a couple of years
  • We gathered for two (socially distanced) group walks and an outdoor happy hour

In PR, the relationships we develop are essential to our work. Through the challenges and upheaval of this pandemic, we are grateful for strong connections that endure adding joy to our days and making our work so rewarding.  

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