Sweeney Names Hetzel Assistant Account Executive Sweeney, a leading full-service marketing and public relations firm, announces the hiring of Emily Hetzel in its Wilmington, N.C. office. Hetzel will support key consumer and business-to-business accounts, including Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores and Acuity Brands.

Many brands use sentiment monitoring as a tool to see "who" is saying "what" about their brand, products and/or services. It can be very beneficial, but also tedious and costly. Before purchasing a sentiment monitoring tool, take a minute and determine what you would do with the information if you had it...

There are many components to keep in mind these days in regards to website design - and many that are always changing with the evolution of technology. From tablets to computers to cell phones, the web is viewed on a variety of devices that have multiple screen sizes, and is used for everything from research to online shopping.

In March of 2013, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released the first update to the .com Disclosures guide, which illustrates how to make effective disclosures in digital advertising. 1. The FTC requires disclosure and truthfulness in social media. This applies to traditional online advertising (e.g.

Want to give social media marketing a chance, but feel like you don't have the time? The truth is there are a bazillion social media platforms out there... okay, that may be an exaggeration... but there are a lot. So, it is safe to say that you can (and must) be selective.

Starting today, your Google+ is getting a makeover. Ever since its inception, Google+ has fought hard to catapult its popularity (190 million active users) beyond Facebook (1 billion active users) and Twitter (300 million active users) - and has yet to do so.

Tradeshows are a great way to cultivate relationships with media. While many companies focus on customer relationships (as they should), it is also a chance to spread the word about the latest and greatest products and/or services, and position the company in the industry.

LinkedIn is a valuable social media tool for many businesses and is often overlooked as just a resume/job-seeking platform. While it is certainly beneficial for those uses, it can also serve as a tool for marketing your experts and ultimately your company.

Waahhhh...Google is shutting down Google Reader on July 1. Gee thanks Google. Now how are we supposed to keep up with our favorite blogs, news sites and interests? Following are some tools to check out as potential "substitutes" for Google Reader's absence: Feedly: A mobile application that allows you to organize blogs, news sites, podcasts and YouTube channels and access them all in one place.

As humans, we often move too fast and do not give ourselves time to really think about "what we are doing" and "why" with our marketing strategies. As marketers, it is imperative to slow down and reflect. Taking that time to assess marketing efforts ensures you are meeting (and hopefully exceeding) your marketing goals.