The Bliss Group

Today, we begin an exciting new chapter as part of Highwire. By joining forces with Highwire, we’re combining the strategic depth, industry expertise, and client dedication that have defined both our firms. Together, we’re building a modern agency. One that helps visionary organizations navigate complexity, shape reputation, and drive growth, above all. Our shared values and complementary strengths—especially in financial services, health, and professional services—make this a natural fit. Highwire’s integrated model, technology-forward approach, and sector fluency unlock new opportunities for our clients and our people. To our clients, thank you for your trust. We look forward to delivering even more value as part of this next chapter. Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/erJ-fyXw

What are the terms shaping the future of impact communications? The answer is changing, and fast. The Bliss Impact Term Tracker measures quarterly shifts in the volume of social impact terminology across media, social platforms, and press releases to reveal when, where, and how this language is evolving. For communicators navigating a politicized environment, understanding term trends is essential to building relevance — without losing resonance. Download the full tracker to see what the data reveals → https://lnkd.in/ez8YWYS5 #ImpactCommunications #CorporateCommunications 

As AI adoption accelerates in marketing communications, teams face new questions about visibility, credibility, and measurement. Three major shifts are coming that will redefine how brands reach and measure their audiences. Vice President Rona Vaselaar outlines key areas where change is happening fastest: ➝ Generative AI platforms are exploring advertising models ➝ Rising engagement with human-created content ➝ New challenges in tracking brand presence across AI-driven search These shifts are influencing how brands plan budgets, create content, and measure success in the year ahead. Read The Bliss Group’s full 2026 marketing and public relations predictions here: https://lnkd.in/eadXWR4i #PublicRelations #AIAdoption #2026Predictions

Leading an in-house team after time at an agency means rethinking how you approach strategy, collaboration, and time. On the latest episode of The Better Angle, hosts Cortney Stapleton and Kathleen Rennie, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA sit down with Jill Carapellotti, Head of Brand Communications & Public Relations at Signet Jewelers to explore what shifts when you move from advising clients to leading communications for a single brand. Jill actively seeks out team members with agency experience—and gets excited when she finds them. Her own agency background taught her to appreciate the demands of billable hours, last-minute client requests, and cross-agency collaboration. That perspective now shapes how she leads and how she views her agency partners as extensions of her in-house team. The conversation covers the mindset adjustments required for long-term brand focus, the importance of investing in relationships, and why finding mentors who are 5–10 years ahead in their careers matters more than most people realize. Listen now: https://lnkd.in/ejBKZa9N #MarketingCareers #BrandCommunications #PublicRelations #InHouseCommunications

Authenticity has been a critical brand differentiator for years, and its value is only growing as AI blurs the line between human creativity and technology. According to LinkedIn, 94% of B2B marketers agree that trust is the key to success, with authenticity and credibility being the top priorities when building brand relationships To thrive in 2026’s AI-saturated landscape brands should embrace human authorship through three essential pillars. 👇 #DigitalMarketing #ContentStrategy #BrandAuthenticity

2025 was one for the books. From award wins and standout media placements to smart storytelling across blogs and social, this year reflected the power of great partnerships and even better people. To our clients, partners, and the incomparable Bliss team – thank you for collaborating with us and pushing us to do our best work yet. Wishing you all a restful holiday season as we look ahead to 2026 with optimism, momentum, and plenty more stories to tell. #2025Wrapped #MediaRelations #MarketingCommunications 

Influence has far more to do with trust than title. In the latest episode of The Better Angle podcast, hosts Cortney Stapleton and Kathleen Rennie, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA Rennie sit down with Kayla B., Senior Manager at Walmart Foundation, to discuss influencing through belonging. Kayla works with stakeholders across multiple work streams. Her role involves unifying everyone and ensuring the group moves as one team instead of working in silos by: ✅ Listening to feedback intentionally and using it to shape smarter decisions. ✅ Setting up regular one-on-ones to understand work styles and preferences. ✅ Celebrating individual contributions throughout the journey. These relationship-building practices have helped her develop strong networks and collaborate effectively with leadership. Tune in for practical insights you can apply immediately: https://lnkd.in/eVsgx_dj #Leadership #RelationshipBuilding #Collaboration

Should PR professionals still be calling reporters? Spoiler: probably not. Bliss SVP Bill C. Smith Smith went straight to the source to find out by surveying business reporters from Axios, WSJ, and more. His findings are now live in Talking Biz News. While 96% of journalists prefer email pitches, Bill spoke with four reporters who revealed the nuanced truth that phone calls can work, but only under the right circumstances. Here’s what Bill uncovered: ·      Established relationships trump communication channel every time  ·      Timing and relevance matter more than medium ·      Gen Z is changing the game with texts and DMs ·      Cold calls? Still a hard pass for most From fax machines to AI assistants, PR tactics keep evolving. But one thing stays constant: understanding how journalists actually want to be reached. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ehMF8Z4d #PublicRelations #MediaRelations #Communications 

The path to CEO is never a straight line. On the latest episode of Leadership Lessons with Management Today, Cortney Stapleton shares how she reinvented her career four times. Now CEO of The Bliss Group, she has spent more than two decades not only reshaping her own path, but redefining what leadership looks like in the agency world. Cortney credits her rise to CEO to her intrapreneurial spirit: the ability to forge your own path within an established organization, an approach she actively encourages across The Bliss Group. Shaped by founder John Bliss, her leadership philosophy continues his legacy, empowering teams to try new ideas, take smart risks, and learn from failure without fear. 🎧 Listen to the latest episode to hear how Cortney has redefined leadership, backed bold thinking, and built a culture where people grow by doing. 👉 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/evKv3Kmy #CareerGrowth #CSuite #LeadershipLessons

According to Gartner, marketing budgets have shrunk from 11% in 2022 to just 7.7% in 2025, a decline that comes amid what many are calling “The Era of Less.” Reduced budgets, leaner teams, and mounting pressure to prove ROI are forcing communications leaders to be more strategic in how they allocate time and resources. In her latest blog, Brooke Tremain breaks down how to leverage AI to work smarter, stretch budgets further, and maximize impact when every decision counts. Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/eHTwPM5W #MarketingStrategy #AIforComms #MarketingAutomation