The Latest Blog…
✨A lifestyle marketing blog✨
THE LATEST
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MARKETING AND PR TRENDS
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THE LATEST ~ MARKETING AND PR TRENDS ~
Small But Mighty: Why Local Media is a Game-Changer for Small Businesses
If you run a small business or an emerging brand, you’ve probably felt the pressure to “go big.” Everyone’s chasing viral moments, national press features, or that elusive spot on a morning show. But here’s the truth: you don’t need national media to make a big impact.
In fact, focusing on local media can be one of the smartest, most effective moves for building trust, visibility, and loyalty—right in your own backyard.
5 Top Ways for Lifestyle Brands to Market Comfort (Without Being Cliché)
In a world that never stops moving, comfort has evolved from a nice-to-have into a non-negotiable. For lifestyle brands, it’s no longer just about selling a product—it’s about creating a feeling. Whether you’re offering cozy candles, plush loungewear, calming teas, or a soothing space to unwind, your audience is craving comfort more than ever.
How to Sell the Feeling: 7 Lifestyle Marketing Strategies That Create Emotional Connection
In today’s marketplace, product features aren’t enough. Customers don’t just buy candles, skincare, gourmet food, or wellness goods—they buy a mood, a moment, and a version of themselves they want to become. That’s why the most successful lifestyle brands don’t just market products—they sell the feeling those products create.
The Next Evolution of Marketing: Survival of the Friendliest
You’ve probably heard the phrase “survival of the fittest” — but what if I told you that when it comes to growing your business, actually it’s cooperation over competition that wins? Evolutionary anthropologists Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods discuss the concept in their book “Survival of the Friendliest”.
In their book Hare and Woods suggest that friendliness and cooperation, rather than just physical strength or dominance, have been the key drivers of evolutionary success, particularly in human history. This theory suggests that societies and species that prioritize cooperation and empathy are more likely to thrive over those that don’t.
So What’s Next For TikTok?
If you’re a brand that’s had success on TikTok, you may be on the edge of your seat as yet another deadline for the app to either sell its American interests, or go dark in the US is just days away.
As of April 1 2025, all eyes seem to be on The Blackstone Group - the world's largest alternative asset manager, who may take a small stake in TikTok’s US operations. The New York Times reported last week that the investment would most likely be miniscule compared to most of Blackstone’s investments and it’s unclear if it would be enough to fulfill the requirements of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act that was signed into law last year.
What’s Happening in April
Tax Day and Easter are the big things that most of us think about in April - but there’s so much more going on. As with trees leaf out, the world’s attention is drawn to eco friendly ideas and stories of all kinds. Much of the media focuses on a range of eco stories. Sustainability within the lifestyle industry is so important, every brand should be embracing this trend.
CozyMaxxing Your Brand Into Spring
One of the top trends on Google search this week is Cozymaxxing! When I first heard about this I thought it was a clever TJ Maxx hashtag - and it may have originally started that way a few years back - lively discussion boards on Reddit focused on the concept in depth more than 2 years ago. As of yesterday it was peaking as a search term across all internet platforms.
Winter is a natural time to snuggle and stay in bed, but what as we head into Spring this trend offers a fresh look at the idea.
Cozymaxxing is not to be confused with the Danish concept of hygge. Hygge emphasizes simplified, comfortable atmospheres and a sense of well-being. It involves creating an uncluttered, inviting environment, often through warm lighting, comfortable textiles, and shared moments with loved ones.
Hygge and cozymaxxing share similarities, but they are not the same.
Trending: Earthy Easter
Easter is late this year, it’s date is determined as the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring Equinox* - which is usually around March 21st. This year it’s almost a month later than normal, celebrating on April 20, with Earth Day right on it’s heels on April 22.
While sustainability has been a consumer focus for some time now, this Easter the trend will be enhanced substantially by virtue of the calendar. If you’re a brand in the lifestyle space, this offers a great opportunity to set yourself apart from others in your field through media pitches, company initiatives, social media, and in-store promos.
Saying It With Pastry
Want to get your customers drooling over your products? Try covering it with frosting!
While using a decadent dessert or two as a photo prop isn’t completely new, there’s a fresh crop of over-the-top designs that are bringing new life to the concept.
Why does this work so well? An evocative cake is incredibly eye catching, PLUS you just really want to run your finger through that icing and take a luscious taste. Messy, indulgent frosting - a luxurious color palette, and expressive decorations all unite to provide a rich canvas for a brand.
Here’s What’s Happening in March!
With the approach of Spring, people are emerging from their Winter cocoons and embracing bright colors, cheerful prints, and floral scents. Spring Cleaning and whole house recharging will be on our minds, as will garden planning, seed planting and chicken raising.
January Offers a Wealth of Marketing Opportunities!
January Offers a Wealth of Marketing Opportunities! The Age of Aquarius, The Year of the Snake, and Pie vs Pi
3 Key Reasons Media Outreach During the Holidays is So Crucial.
We’re heading into the holidays, and the warm shades of Autumn will soon be replaced by vivid evergreens, twinkling lights and jewel tones. It’s a transformative period that offers heightened marketing opportunities for growth, customer engagement, and brand recognition not available most of the rest of the marketing year. Here are 3 reasons media outreach during the holiday and Winter months delivers an improved return on investment:
Seven Steps to Consider When Getting Your Website Ready for the Holiday Rush
Whether you’re actively recruiting press placements for your products or just want to make the most of your website, here are some simple elements you should consider.
Gift Guides 2024: Here are 5 Essential Elements to Make Sure Your Products are Front and Center
Gift Guides 2024: Here are 5 Essential Elements to Make Sure Your Products are Front and Center
Here are some interesting dates coming up to mark on your marketing calendar.
It’s the beginning of August and heatwaves and beach days are most likely your reality.
Here are some great internet holidays coming up to post about over the next few weeks:
August 8: International Cat Day
August 9: Book Lovers Day
August 15: 55th Anniversary of Woodstock
August 17: National Bee Day
August 17: National Thrift Shop Day
August 19: Full Moon (Sturgeon Moon) is a Blue Moon: occurs when there are four full moons in a single astronomical season, instead of the usual three. There will not be another Blue Moon until May 31, 2026
August 19: Coco Chanel’s Birthday
August 30: National Beach Day
The Second Half is Here! Here’s What’s Trending in June and Beyond.
Brand owners who sell wholesale know that June is the month that kicks off a frenzy of activity.
The big media players like Oprah, The New York Times, Glamour, Goop, Vogue ect are researching trends and investigating the popularity of specific brands for inclusion in their exhaustive holiday gift guides. They’ll roll out their recommendations to readers in late September through mid October, which means that if you have special designs, gift sets, price breaks or new products you’d like to sell a lot of at Christmastime, June is the month that you must start pitching.
The reason for this long lead time is the colossal importance of the season for media players who rely on the ad sales that these gift guides bring. Digital versions of these guides bring commissions earned from click throughs. Holiday gift guides also go a long way in the promotion of media brands - they can demonstrate their influence on the consumer product market by generating great sales, thereby attracting year round advertising revenue. Key editors from these guides appear on numerous morning shows and entertainment programs to promote their choices, further strengthening their brand and generating traffic and circulation to their pages.
Here’s What’s Happening in March (2024).
March spells the end of Winter and there’s a palpable sense of relief from frost weary souls throughout North America:
Create a sense of regeneration through social and blog posts and include your products that fit this vibe. For media outreach, editors are looking for products and ideas that evoke a sense of renewal.
SEO-powered storytelling is key for product placement PR in 2024. Here’s how to do it.
Major publications are under intense pressure to keep traffic flowing to their sites. They can’t do this if they write about subjects that aren’t hugely interesting, which is why there’s so much focus on celebrity news in pop culture media.
Years ago when I ran a commercial blog of my own, anytime I’d write about a celebrity, especially Kim Kardashian, traffic to my site would quadruple. And this is the effect that major publications live for … literally.
Don’t miss these unique editorial opportunities coming up for lifestyle brands.
Special Days in February and March You’ll Want to Pitch Your Products and Suggestions For
How to Make the Most of Q5
Q5, or the “fifth quarter” of the marketing year, also known as the post-year-end period, is an extension of time that comes after the completion of the traditional four quarters. Interestingly, Q5 is such a novel term to many brands that it’s defined differently depending on who is discussing it.