Setting Up for Success with Empire Solutions
August 6, 2025
We travel where our clients need us. That’s what we did last month, heading to Nashville with our friends at Empire Solutions for Aluminum USA.
We travel where our clients need us. That’s what we did last month, heading to Nashville with our friends at Empire Solutions for Aluminum USA.
Dear future interns, I’m Emily, and I had the honor of being part of the 8THIRTYFOUR intern dynasty. It was one of the best experiences
As we approach another Fourth of July, we encourage you to reflect on what this holiday truly means in today’s America. While we traditionally celebrate
One of the PR tools we use is Qwoted, which we highly recommend. Why we love this tool could be a whole blog of its own,
As marketers, our goal is to help companies grow their business. That means using our expertise and kickass tactics to get you where you need
Too often, we forget to give ourselves credit for the many roles we fill. Juggling full-time jobs, raising families in the digital era, side hustles,
We are well aware that we stand on the shoulders of the incredible women who came before us. Those who fought when they had no
Welcome to another enlightening and entertaining edition of 8THIRTYFOUR musings or ravings, take your pick. We love marketing, but we have some serious pet peeves.
Taylor has done it again, but this time with help from Disney. For all those who are not totally obsessed with Taylor Swift (It’s me,
March is a time to take a breather, reflect, and shout out the incredible women who’ve rocked history and today’s world. It’s all about fierce
Instead of some sappy blog about love and hearts, we’re gonna share our love for the organizations and the people making a BIG difference in
“Kim… I have a feeling I’m not in college anymore.” – Overheard at 8THIRTYFOUR Trust us, we get it. Like how Dorothy discovered Munchkinland is
Video has become one of the most effective tools for building a deeper connection with customers. Look at TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube, streaming ads, and
The advertising industry is great at developing snappy acronyms that people can latch on to. For a while, it was SEM. Then it was SEO.
Hey there Ashley Pink Princess. Woah! Haven’t heard this nickname in while. I have grown up quite a bit since we last chatted. Have you
In this edition of This Week in Media we cover it all – politics, entertainment, celebrities no one cares about and climate change. Kind of
If you’re an intern, this blog isn’t for you. This blog is for you to hand to potential employers, the companies wanting to hire you
The 8THIRTYFOUR PR team is hard at work with pitch writing, stalking all the journalists, and navigating summer pitching schedules (insert headache here). We also
June 21 was the official start of summer in Michigan. We wait for it all winter long, wade through the rain in the spring, and
As PR specialists, we’re always seeking ways to accomplish our tasks quickly and efficiently, cause we have a lot to do. Artificial Intelligence has become
We get it, you are super busy. Being in PR means your days are booked. You have media lists, interviews, pitches, press releases, client calls,
We weren’t going to be quiet on this topic. If you’ve been keeping up with sports news recently, you would know that PGA and LIV
The future of marketing is always evolving, just look at AI – we’re all trying to figure out these robots and how to use them
Remember the days when marketing executives would light a cigarette, pour themselves a stiff drink, and scribble some creative ideas on a napkin? The time
When CoPro+ got in touch with us, it was originally for a completely different project for a totally different brand. Wild, right? If you don’t work in
A Comprehensive Guide to Utilizing Color Psychology Take a look at our website or visit us in our office and you’ll realize quickly how much
As marketers, we are always on the lookout for the latest (relevant) trends to jump on and leverage for ourselves or clients. With TikTok being
Isn’t it always the story of a small business owner’s life to want to promote their biz but not have enough funds for really kick-ass
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the local media? For many companies they think ‘small time’ or ‘not worth
Branding is a powerful tool that can make or break a company, but did you know that it can also be used in pop culture?
2023 is the year of authenticity, according to Emplifi (and us), meaning brands are going to rely on customer influencers across social platforms by engaging
If there’s one thing about us, we love proving people wrong. One evening we were doing what we do best – you know, sipping on
We’re kind of partial to the agency world, but we understand it isn’t everyone’s jam. Some people like the dull, mind-numbing corporate world. Fun. We
The times are a-changing and as pop-culture icon and Clueless bestie, Tai Frasier would say, “we are rolling with the homies.” If you are not
Stop throwing shit against the wall to see what sticks, it ain’t a strategy (much like “ain’t” ain’t a word) and it’s making the rest
In this industry, we love to talk about all the shiny parts of our jobs—the new websites, huge earned media placements, gorgeous rebrands, and everything
Alright grads, soon-to-be grads or young professionals; we get a lot of questions about what to bring to an interview or what to submit when
It is exhausting keeping up with all the changes Meta makes. Being a social media manager takes all sorts of talents, from juggling all the
For today’s class, we’re going to be talking Typography. Typography is the differences between various styles of text that create distinct appearances. For instance, one
The world of social media is constantly evolving, and we’re not just talking about the image or video sizing—although there is a blog for that.
As our idol, Leslie Knope would say, it’s “ladies celebrating ladies.” If we had to choose between Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day, well lets just
We’re not talking about pizza rolls in the microwave, although their appeal should never be underestimated, but healthier options you can either prep ahead of
Interviews can be totally nerve-wracking, especially with the combo of video and in-person. We’re expected to crush it no matter the circumstances, which is why
Virtual Reality (VR) is no longer just a concept from a sci-fi movie, it’s weaving itself into every aspect of our lives, including marketing. According
If you’re just rolling around to planning for this year, welcome. You are not alone. It’s 2023 and we’re all doing our best. Does anyone
You’ve written the copy, identified your keywords, and set your budget…but now Google’s asking you what bidding strategy you’d like to choose. Huh? No one
We love numbers. Whether they’re cumulative engagement numbers, little lines on graphs, or slices of a data pie, we’re wild about the metrics that track
Well howdy do, it’s 2023. We plan to start out every blog for the immediate future reminding ourselves it’s 2023 – apologies in advance. As
It’s 2023. Dear people who make resolutions: We know you are busy flooding local gyms, the produce section in the grocery store and are also
Creating YOUR Pitch We recently attended a conference in D.C., we were lucky enough to be asked to speak at, and we caught a session
If there’s one thing we get asked all the time, it’s “how long will it take until my brand/website/product shows up on the first page
Another year ends, bringing with it the same damn thing as last year—another 365 days of keeping up with the Joneses on social media. So
There’s a lot to know about digital. Like, a lot. And let’s be honest, it’s like super confusing unless you’re nerds like us. At the
Unlike Mariah Carey, we do care what presents are under the Christmas tree. As professional ball jugglers, there are certain things that keep us sane,
Guess what? It’s freakin’ Christmas. The holidays are here, and if you didn’t know, we’re huge fans. We have twelve (yes, twelve) trees in the
These blogs are a great reminder when we’re having a shit day to remember we have the best clients, team, family, co-workers, pets and more.
Before you start fidgeting and anxiously bouncing your leg at the thought of a media interview, just breathe — or gulp down a glass of
Another month, more earned media. Want the scoop on what we’ve secured? You don’t have to ask us twice. Meals on Wheels Western Michigan October
We HATE Imposter Syndrome, it’s a real dick. It means we continuously doubt our skills, talents, or accomplishments and have a fear of being exposed
Let’s make this interactive for our adoring fans. We give a description of each team member and our readers (you), drop a comment with your
Here it is—the blog you’ve all been waiting for. It’s finally time to talk about weird cartoon monkeys and yet another acronym. That’s right. We’re
Inefficient meetings are the bane of our existence. No one needs to hear you ramble on for 15 minutes about your visit to the corn
You know us—we like to throw a couple back. This conversation spurred from a team outing (happy hour) and we thought we’d share the results.
If you’re extremely passionate about something, like small businesses and leadership, we recommend starting a blog where you can focus solely on the topic you
No one appreciated you when you were first invented in 1994, in fact until we hit a global pandemic barely anyone knew who you were.
Alright, all you weirdos. We went to town and mapped out our most favorite Halloween movies. We realize this is a very controversial and highly
It’s hard to make blogs talking about work we’ve done exciting, so we’re gonna skip all the blabbering and get to the point, so you
You did it, you finally graduated. Gone are the all-nighters, evening classes, early morning study sessions and all the other extracurriculars. You’ve made it, you’ve
If we read one more boring-ass bio, we are going to scream. Who made the rule that professional bios have to read like an engineering
It’s fall y’all, which has nothing to do with this blog but we’re just so excited. We broke out the fall decor and pumpkin-vanilla scented
When we say we work with a bunch of different industries, we mean it…and yes, that is your official whiplash warning. If you read our
Last week LinkedIn alerted us to the fact we are 16 years old. You’d think we would keep track of such a momentous occasion…we didn’t.
Are you sick of us talking about websites? Yeah, us too. This time we’re shaking it up and discussing cool design trends you’ll want to
I (Kim Bode) had a Twitter scuffle a few years ago, it was between myself and a well-known statewide reporter. No blood was shed, some
Welcome to another edition of This Week in Media, where we break down the shocking, terrifying and WTF moments. If you missed our last one,
Working with the Dunes Resort is a riot, we get to be sassy, a little bawdy, and a lot creative. When you’re running the largest
If you don’t remember Vine, you might be under the impression that TikTok was the first short-form video platform to hit the scene. For this
We dig fall, some might say it’s our favorite season, or at least the person writing this blog will (it’s Kim). It’s the season of
First thing’s first. If you haven’t read part one of our RBV case study, head there so you’re all caught up. When we last left
If you wanna make it in the communications industry, you’ve gotta know how to write. From social posts to blogs and press releases to website
“Good design is a matter of discipline. It starts by looking at the problem and collecting all the available information about it. If you understand
Here at 8THIRTYFOUR, we work with all kinds of clients. From projects and events to long-term relationships, we’ve got it handled. And that’s what makes
Summer in Michigan is what songs are written about—just ask Kid Rock. We spend our time outside by fires, inhaling ice cream, boating, and heading
Some words are just hard to pronounce, like sorbet. It’s not “sore-bet” like it’s spelled—’cuz the English language is stupid—and when you say it wrong,
When we say, “Google,” what comes to mind? For most people, it’s the good ol’ search console, or maybe for you Android users, it’s your
We really do get to pitch the coolest stuff. From Michigan’s most iconic caps, women blasting through glass ceilings, fighting family homelessness in our community
Welcome to our second edition of brand fails, it’s when we call out brands for some really weird, insulting, idiotic products or campaigns. Our 2016
Why do brands these days always have to get political? Um…how can you not? Besides, it’s important, it drives business and create customer loyalty. If
Mood boards serve as a bridge between concepts and the creation of a brand. They are your design process roadmap, if you will. They identify
Summers are made for happy hours on the patio with a cool drink in your hand. We’re kind of experts on drinking, so here are
If you’re just diving into the world of public relations and have made the decision to hire an agency to help with reputation management, brand
A few years ago, SEO was a niche term—the sort of thing pretentious assholes inserted into their sentences to make themselves feel important without ever
Isn’t it awesome when people take to the internets to air their grievances? As a business, reviews can make or break you and it’s incredibly
Everyone can launch a social media campaign, it’s like super easy. It just consists of some posts, maybe a few ads, throw up a story
We’ll admit we had no idea a year or so ago what affiliate marketing was, but we kept running into it when pitching for our
Just kidding, there are no pros. There are no shortcuts to media coverage. If there were, every PR pro would be using them. We have
Hey there! It’s the 8THIRTYFOUR nerds. Kim let us out of the basement to talk about digital stuff, and boy are we gonna. We have
We’re gonna let you in on a not-so-secret part of being a good leader: it’s really, really freaking hard. But here’s the catch—deciding whether or
First off, dive is a relative term; these places are pretty damn awesome. Some of us have been frequenting them for a long time, no
We all procrastinate and then we make excuses for it. We’re declaring May the month of “No Procrastination.” Catchy, right? Are you familiar with the
EOS®, how we love thee. We love it so much, we’re writing about it for the zillionth time. We even chatted with superstar EOS® implementer,
Social media is the wild wild west. It’s hard to know why one post performs better than another, or how frequently to post or what
We do a bad job of celebrating our own successes and when we win for clients, it’s a win for us. We’ve had a busy
We spend all day, every day, in meetings, emailing, at industry events, or knocking out some awesome work to fit client needs. That means a
We were discussing blogs the other day, something we actually do quite often and we realized we have tackled a lot of topics this past
Hi, 👋🏼 As you’ve probably noticed from our socials, we are in a new location on the NE side of Grand Rapids, known as Creston,
If you’re running a business, at some point you’ve debated the need to start a blog. Will anyone read it? Will your (potential) customers care?