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dchan87 · 9 months ago

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A team doesn’t lose 117 games and counting because of just one thing. In the case of the 2024 Chicago White Sox a meddling owner, dubious leadership, injuries and an inability to properly value and integrate analytics only begin to tell the story. The White Sox would need to win seven of their last nine games to avoid tying the 1962 Mets’ 120 losses for the worst record in modern baseball history. They are the first team since 1900 to have three separate losing streaks of 12 or more games. Opponents have outscored them by more than 300 runs. Few expected the South Siders, who lost 101 games last year, to contend. But no one predicted this level of incompetence.

*Shouts from the rooftops*: SELL THE FUCKING TEAM, JERRY!

And yet for all the factors that led to this season’s disaster, when players and traveling staff try to encapsulate how things reached such a sorry state, again and again they bring up one thing: the plane.

The White Sox charter an Airbus320, a plane first manufactured in the 1980s. It features only eight first-class seats; the rest is coach. A majority of MLB teams charter bigger 757s, with ample first-class seating for the players and the coaching staff. Even well-known frugal franchises such as the Tampa Bay Rays, Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins charter nicer planes. But not the White Sox.

When a player new to Chicago first stepped onboard this season, he said loudly: “C’mon, man, no show plane?” A chorus of players burst into laughter. Last year, a tweet comparing the planes used by MLB teams caused a stir when it was shared among White Sox players while they were onboard.

A team plane doesn’t make errors or poor baseball decisions. But the White Sox’s decision to use a smaller, older plane reflects how they operate. The difference between the White Sox and other clubs is so stark, players who leave Chicago for other teams celebrate their freedom by texting each other “This is the big leagues.”

“They don’t do the little or the big things right,” said a recently departed veteran.

The Athletic spoke to nearly 40 current and former White Sox employees and others in baseball about the larger issues plaguing the dysfunctional franchise, which is run according to the whims of owner Jerry Reinsdorf. The 88-year-old Reinsdorf led a group of investors who bought the team for $19 million in 1981. (He also owns the Chicago Bulls.) They won the World Series in 2005, but have made only three playoff appearances since, losing all three series.

Many of those who spoke to The Athletic, some of whom requested anonymity to speak candidly about Reinsdorf and the state of the franchise, said that the owner’s views on the game have calcified. That while at times Reinsdorf has carried a big major-league payroll, he has refused to invest in the cutting-edge amenities and infrastructure needed to succeed.

Some of Chicago’s wounds were self-inflicted and immediate, such as hiring Tony La Russa to manage. Others festered for years, such as the team’s reluctance to adapt to analytics, and a leadership structure that led to division. All can be traced back to Reinsdorf, who last season ignored pleas by others in the organization to interview outside general manager candidates and promoted internally instead. Reinsdorf even let popular broadcaster Jason Benetti leave because he didn’t like his style.

“You got a baseball fan owner who thinks he knows everything, and maybe he did in 1992,” said a former employee, “but the amount of info has skyrocketed in the last 30 years and he’s put his middle finger up at that.”

“As long as Jerry’s philosophy is the overarching one,” another former employee added, “they won’t ever succeed.”

In a recent season, while addressing new employees, Reinsdorf was asked which matters more: the Bulls or White Sox winning? Rather than answer diplomatically, Reinsdorf, without hesitation, said the White Sox.

A baseball-obsessed Brooklyn native, he fills his office with autographs and sports memorabilia and loves chatting with scouts, talking about the game and its history. Reinsdorf will proudly tell you he went to Jackie Robinson’s first game in a Dodgers uniform, and he values his friendships with Hall of Famers such as La Russa, Dennis Eckersley and George Brett.

But Reinsdorf’s affection for baseball is also an affection for how the game used to be played. Sources describe him as stubborn and generally unwilling to adapt to an era where his preferred style of play — “get ’em over and get ’em in”— is no longer the sole recipe for success.

“I’m not sure if any owner loves baseball as much as Jerry,” said another former employee. “That’s why he can’t get out of his own way.”

Though he rarely appears on television during broadcasts, Reinsdorf frequently watches games from his suite at Guaranteed Rate Field, which has a door connecting to the baseball operations department.

His influence on the team is everywhere. It’s not unusual for Reinsdorf to text broadcasters in-game about what they’re saying, to attend offseason and spring training meetings (he lives in Arizona) or to solicit advice from his cabinet of handpicked advisors. Last offseason, Reinsdorf let Benetti out of his contract to go to another AL Central team, the Detroit Tigers. Reinsdorf didn’t like Benetti’s personality; he featured analytics, made jokes and wasn’t always effusive toward a losing White Sox team. (Benetti declined to comment, though he made references to feeling disrespected on a podcast with The Athletic.)

“He’s hands-on in every part of the organization,” said former White Sox player and team vice president Kenny Williams of Reinsdorf.

Williams played for the team from 1986-88, then rejoined the franchise in 1992 as a scout. He rose to GM in 2000 and oversaw the construction of the 2005 team, becoming the second Black general manager to win a World Series — the team’s first since 1917 — and cementing his place in Chicago sports lore.

Williams refers to Reinsdorf as a second father and bristles at suggestions that the owner – who Forbes estimates is worth $2.1 billion – only cares about profits.

“He just wanted to break even,” Williams said of Reinsdorf, who reportedly is willing to help finance a new proposed ballpark in the more desirable South Loop location. “I always thought over the years it was a little unfair when people would say, ‘All he cares about is making money.’ I’m sitting in the office and he’s saying, ‘I’m going to give you what I got.’”

The White Sox are run like a family business. Many employees have personal relationships with Reinsdorf, and the team’s job security is arguably the best in baseball. But Reinsdorf can be loyal to a fault.

“They have people there with no business being in Major League Baseball,” said an executive with another team.

The 2005 World Series win was the franchise’s crowning achievement under Reinsdorf, but it also gave the organization a false sense of confidence that kept it from evolving. Reinsdorf and a certain faction of the organization felt no pressure to adapt. The personnel was so insular that multiple former employees described it as a time warp.

One of the Sox’s most glaring failures has been the team’s limited embrace of analytics. Reinsdorf, sources say, would make comments in meetings such as: “You guys know I’m not an analytics person. I’m not big into this.” He questioned at least one White Sox player about whether it was possible to have too much information.

The team didn’t shun the movement entirely. The White Sox were one of the first teams to invest in a spring training pitching lab, purchased iPitch machines for approximately $15,000 each to help train hitters and hired the analytically savvy Ethan Katz as pitching coach in 2020.

“Did we have a large analytics department when I was there? No, we didn’t,” said Williams. “We didn’t have those kind of resources to allocate towards that. But did we (make investments)? Absolutely, and with total support of ownership on that. As long as we proved, or at least made the case, that it could be beneficial for the on-field product.”

But the White Sox’s investment only went so far. To reduce overhead, the team outsourced some number crunching to Zelus Analytics, a private outside firm.

“(They) are good if you have nothing,” one rival executive said. “But the whole point of analytics is to have your own customized models for your players to gain an edge. You don’t get that from an external firm.”

Nor do teams advance when their decision makers are split on data’s value. General manager Chris Getz, like his predecessor, Rick Hahn, advocates for the White Sox to make greater use of analytics. But, like Hahn, Getz never worked for an organization at the forefront of the movement, such as the Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays or Los Angeles Dodgers.

Even when they tried to use analytics, the White Sox weren’t sure how. For years, they used two sets of adjusted Trackman data: One, like most teams, they received from a third party, and another was developed by their own analytics people. Sometimes the two sets of data would be dramatically different, making it difficult to evaluate players and write reports. In 2019, a debate about using spin rate versus adjusted spin rate caused internal strife.

“It was comical,” said a former baseball operations employee of different departments using different sets of data. “No one knew what was what.”

In 2024, the White Sox are still untangling the lines of data communication. Several former members of this year’s team pointed to defensive positioning as an area of concern. The White Sox rank near or at the bottom of publicly available defensive metrics, in part, former players say, because their fielders often are in the wrong spots.

“That’s a huge area I felt could be better,” said outfielder Tommy Pham, who signed with the White Sox as a free agent in April and was traded in July. “They know it.”

Former pitchers describe Chicago’s game planning as almost rudimentary. Rather than provide individual plans for each hitter, the White Sox offer generalities such as, “Your sinker will play down in the zone” — an insufficient answer against, say, a lineup full of left-handed hitters who handle sinkers in that area. Minor league pitchers with high walk totals were told things like “work on your command,” with no other specifics, in the offseason.

Hitters expressed similar concerns. “They had information,” one former position player said. “But you didn’t get an explanation or a plan.”

Reinsdorf told The Athletic via email: “Analytics are a very important part of the game, a useful tool that compliments but will never completely replace human judgment.”

Before the 2013 season, Reinsdorf promoted Williams to executive vice president, with Hahn — Williams’ longtime right-hand man — becoming general manager. Hahn was seen as a rising star, a Harvard Law School and Northwestern business school graduate who was part of a new wave in front offices. He planned to modernize the organization, in part by better incorporating analytics.

The White Sox finished no better than 17 games out of first place in the first three seasons under Hahn, and announced a shift in philosophy midway through 2016. The club was “mired in mediocrity,” Hahn said, and in need of a rebuild.

But Hahn and Williams had different views on how organizations should be run, and over time, that dynamic impacted the operation of the team, sources say.

“I was known as and called ‘a baseball guy,’” Williams said. “It was like it was an insult, that I could go in and see a guy work out for a day and tell you he was going to be an All-Star.”

Hahn, facing opposition from the old guard, struggled to bring changes to the team’s usage of analytics and technology. He often pushed back against the perception he wasn’t calling the shots, but effectively had to please multiple power brokers, including Williams, Reinsdorf and, later, La Russa.

Hahn declined to comment for this story. Williams said of their dynamic: “We had a great relationship. During the good times, it was better. During the bad times, there was only one other person it seemed like we could laugh with, and that was each other.”

Williams became less of a day-to-day presence as the team rebuilt, sources say, a point Williams disputes. But in a meeting before the 2020 season, as the White Sox were starting to rebound, Williams announced it was time for the team to turn the corner and that he’d be taking a more active role.

“It was like the (Michael Jordan) unretirement. It caught people off guard,” said one person involved in the meeting.

“Rick Hahn was much better suited to take them forward. Kenny was a platinum employee,” said another former baseball operations employee. “He would show up and block certain trades and want to take the No. 1 pick in the draft. … There was a lot of resentment from people inside about that (dynamic).”

The divide manifested further in the polarizing lieutenants each man chose. Williams had his son, Ken Williams Jr., who eventually ascended to assistant farm director. Hahn trusted Jeremy Haber, another Harvard grad. The younger Williams butted heads with many in player development and, despite his inexperience, was quick to offer dissenting views. Haber could be bullish as he advocated for his boss’ point of view and was seen as an aggressive climber. (Both men are no longer in the organization. Williams Jr. declined to comment; Haber did not respond to interview requests.)

Still, for all their issues, the White Sox’s rebuild progressed. The team developed homegrown players such as Tim Anderson and Garrett Crochet, traded for Lucas Giolito, Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jiménez, Dylan Cease and Dane Dunning and agreed to long-term extensions, with Reinsdorf’s approval, for Jiménez, Moncada and Luis Robert Jr.

The White Sox made the playoffs in a shortened 2020 season. Hahn’s peers voted him Sporting News Executive of the Year.

And then Reinsdorf made a hire that helped unravel it all.

A.J. Hinch’s suspension from baseball for his role in the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal ended the minute the 2020 season came to a close. Almost immediately, he was courted by Al Avila, then the Detroit Tigers GM, and Hahn.

On paper, the White Sox job was the better of the two. Coming off its playoff appearance in 2020, Chicago was considered much closer to the World Series than a Tigers team with back-to-back last-place finishes.

Hahn told reporters at the time the White Sox were looking for someone who has “experience with a championship organization in recent years,” which was taken as a thinly veiled reference to Hinch, who guided the Astros to two World Series appearances, including their 2017 win.

Hinch and his wife packed for interviews in both cities. Detroit came first, but Hinch was being advised by friends on places to live in Chicago, sources said. But before Hinch even made it to Chicago, Reinsdorf pulled a stunner: He hired 76-year-old La Russa, who hadn’t managed in a decade.

Thirty five years earlier, Reinsdorf had allowed then-White Sox GM Ken Harrelson to fire La Russa from his first major-league managing job, a decision he later called “the dumbest thing I ever did.”

The email the White Sox sent out to fans announcing La Russa’s hire included an image of Hinch’s signature. The blunder was later chalked up to a graphics glitch, but it was seen inside and outside the organization as further proof that Reinsdorf had passed over Hahn’s choice for his own.

La Russa’s hiring was widely criticized, particularly after it was revealed that he had been charged with driving under the influence — his second such incident — that February. The White Sox lost to the Astros in the first round of the playoffs in 2021, their first season under La Russa. And things fell apart in his second season. Injuries to several players in whom the White Sox had invested heavily were a significant factor, but La Russa made bizarre in-game decisions, acted as a one-man show rather than the head of a collaborative staff, and failed to get the most out of his players. His health also suffered. He dealt with cancer, required a procedure to repair the circuitry of his pacemaker and did not manage the team after Aug 28.

Asked about La Russa’s nearly two seasons as manager, Williams said, “I don’t yet have a way to talk about that period of time because it takes me to a bad place, and it will take me from the person I aspire to be.”

The White Sox hired Pedro Grifol to replace La Russa. Nearly 10 months later, Reinsdorf dismissed Williams and Hahn, making a rare pivot away from employees with long-standing ties to the organization, executives who had led the team to back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time in franchise history before some of their moves backfired.

Grifol was an outside hire; he came from the Royals. People within the organization advocated for Reinsdorf to go outside for his new GM as well. He ignored those appeals and instead promoted Getz, a former White Sox player, just nine days after Hahn and Williams were dismissed, without interviewing a single external candidate. The decision required the Sox to work with MLB on a backfill plan to satisfy the Selig Rule, which is aimed at diversifying front office candidates. Reinsdorf said at the time that he selected Getz because he knew the White Sox organization intimately and “we want to get better as fast as we possibly can.”

Under Getz, who spent two years with Kansas City before he rejoined Chicago as farm director in 2017, the White Sox player development system wasn’t exactly thriving. There were off-field issues as well. Former Double-A manager Omar Vizquel did not return in 2020 after a former batboy who has autism accused him of sexual harassment (the batboy in 2022 dropped claims against the White Sox and reached a confidential settlement with Vizquel). And Triple-A manager Wes Helms was placed on an indefinite leave of absence in May 2022, with no reason given for his exit.

Why not at least interview people from other organizations, even just to learn how other teams operate?

“Jerry just thinks he has the answers,” said a former staffer.

The White Sox are now on their fourth manager in five seasons (or their fifth counting Miguel Cairo, who managed while La Russa dealt with his health issues). Grifol – bilingual like La Russa, but 25 years younger – seemingly had a better chance to connect with the team’s young players. But former reliever Keynan Middleton said last season that problems under La Russa continued under Grifol, with players skipping meetings and refusing to participate in drills. Grifol this season frustrated his players on several fronts, calling them “f—ing flat” after a loss to the Baltimore Orioles on May 26, instituting mandatory pregame workouts before night games after the All-Star break and at times employing questionable strategy.

Grifol, speaking publicly for the first time since his dismissal, said the required workouts and his strategic decisions were efforts to help the team improve. Regarding the extra work, he said, “This was (on) all of us, myself included — I’m the manager. Our work ethic has to be spot on during that type of storm.”

Some players and staff sympathized with Grifol, given the team’s poor talent level and lack of quality analytics.

“What manager could have made things better?” Pham asked.

Getz replaced Grifol on Aug. 8 with interim manager Grady Sizemore, and said the White Sox would conduct a search outside the organization for a permanent replacement. He vows to get the new hire better analytical support.

“When I was hired and given the position of farm director, my goal was, let me show everyone the positive impact analytics and technology can have (in the minors),” Getz said. “We had a lot of wins along the way … My intention from the beginning was to modernize. We are going to modernize.”

Reinsdorf promoted Getz with talk of him orchestrating a rapid turnaround. But some of the new GM’s early moves puzzled rival executives.

Getz’s trade of reliever Aaron Bummer to the Atlanta Braves last November brought back five players, but the group included some to whom the Braves were unlikely to offer contracts. In the ensuing roster congestion, the White Sox waived two players who are now useful major leaguers elsewhere: Boston Red Sox infielder Romy González and Miami Marlins reliever Declan Cronin. Getz also traded Jake Cousins for cash and released Tim Hill — effectively getting nothing for two relievers now contributing for the New York Yankees.

It’s too soon to know whether Getz’s four-player return from the San Diego Padres for ace Dylan Cease was adequate, and whether he made the correct call holding pitcher Garrett Crochet at the trade deadline despite receiving attractive offers. The GM’s big move at the deadline, a three-team deal in which he parted with three in-demand players in right-hander Erick Fedde, reliever Michael Kopech and Pham, netted an unproven hitter, Miguel Vargas, and two prospects who, according to MLB.com, are not part of the White Sox’s current top 10.

Making matters worse: Because of MLB’s new anti-tanking measures, Chicago could set a new record for baseball losses and still pick 10th in next year’s draft.

“No one can project a timeline to winning,” Reinsdorf told The Athletic, “but there are many examples of organizations, some very recently like Kansas City and Baltimore, that have rebounded very quickly.”

The Royals, who averaged 100 losses over five full seasons, and Orioles, who averaged 105 over four, did not rebound that quickly. But as the White Sox talk about moving forward, they are in some ways becoming less insular.

This season the franchise added a dedicated coach at each minor-league affiliate to help with analytics. Getz, sources said, tried to push that through several years ago and met with resistance. Getz also brought in notable outsiders in Brian Bannister, Josh Barfield and Jin Wong to the front office, and a committee evaluating all facets of the organization recently presented its findings and a plan for the future to Reinsdorf.

“My experience so far is if it can be presented in a way that is educated and you use the people you have around you, it’s well-received,” Getz said. “Jerry now has a better understanding of the value of analytics. He’s very open-minded and supportive of investing further.”

La Russa remains active within the organization. His title is special advisor to the executive vice president. He travels with the team. It’s not uncommon for him to lend his thoughts to the manager or hitting coach, or to find him in the cage, offering advice and picking up baseballs. He was present when the committee evaluating the organization presented to Reinsdorf.

“I’m not a decision maker,” La Russa said of his involvement. “Chris Getz is our leader with quality support all over. I’m asked to contribute my experiences about how a team plays together.”

Reinsdorf has told people La Russa is the smartest baseball person he knows. He told The Athletic that La Russa’s role involves using his “expertise, experience and excellence” as a strategic resource for the team’s manager. He added: “We would be foolish to not take advantage of his Hall of Fame accomplishments in this game.”

Reinsdorf still watches games. But this year, a year Reinsdorf didn’t want to waste, has turned into a 162-game nightmare. Some of his focus has shifted to his quest for a new ballpark, which would increase the value of the franchise. The White Sox tried to generate excitement for the project this week by leading a boat tour for investors to the site along the Chicago River.

Reinsdorf has said he would advise his family to keep the Bulls and sell the White Sox upon his death.

“Friends of mine have (asked), ‘Why don’t you sell? Why don’t you get out?’” Reinsdorf said last year. “My answer always has been, ‘‘I like what I’m doing, as bad as it is, and what else would I do? I’m a boring guy. … And I want to make it better before I go.”

For now, as his franchise craters, Reinsdorf continues to conduct business in his preferred style, operating out of his suite, surrounded by old friends and memorabilia.

“The rumor was always we will never figure it out until ownership changes,” one former player said. “That the real thing holding it back isn’t the people and player development; it’s the owner.”

(Top image: Meech Robinson / The Athletic; Photos: David Banks / Getty Images; Nuccio DiNuzzo / Getty Images; Griffin Quinn / MLB Photos via Getty Images)

#chicago white sox #SELL THE TEAM #baseball #major league baseball #jerry reinsdorf #long article

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megashadowdragon · 8 months ago

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an analytical breakdown of sukuna

There is an interesting pattern of how Sukuna's characterization as an “enlightened” hedonist is done. Of course, he does whatever he pleases every time he's on panel. But more importantly, the central theme is how his ideals are consistently treated by the story as “correct.”

Gojo didn't have a real sense of self → got locked up. Yuki worked with Tengen and didn't fight with her own domain → got bisected and had to blow herself up. Yuji, a cog, fights for a system, and God knows I don't have to mention how much my boy has been beaten down.

Gojo is the pinnacle of the current Jujutsu system, and Tengen is the symbol of the old Jujutsu order. The implications of the both of them being affected by Sukuna from a meta perspective are obvious for the larger story.

Moreover, the expressions on Sukuna's face are vastly different when you consider the panel where we objectively know he's staring at Jogo's burning corpse vs when he's talking to him. There are stronger grounds to state that the conversation happened in Jogo's head too.

In fact, that was the point of putting the word enlightened in quotation marks in one of the very first tweets of this thread. The idea that he's enlightened comes from the iconic "tenjō tenge" line being delivered by the narrator/Nanami, not by Sukuna himself.

Consider how he is based on a Shinto deity of the same name. This piece of information also plays a substantial role in our perception of his enlightenment.

Of course, this is explained by how Gege plays around with the traditional idea of enlightenment. More on this later. detective critics · Mar 17, 2023 This assertion that he adapts to the perceptions of those viewing him is supported by his very characteristic matrix. One of his abilities, Cleave, literally adapts to his opponents.

Moreover, when he temporarily got control of Yuji's body, the primary threat was Mahoraga.

And what is Mahoraga's special ability? That's right, it's to adapt. It all fits perfectly.

At the risk of getting lost in a tangent, this sequence concretely foreshadows Sukuna's connection to angels as well.

The Cherubim are called the "many-eyed," and, along with the Seraphim, are depicted in flames. This is because of their close proximity to God. His radiant fire is reflected in the depictions of the Seraphim and Cherubim. Sukuna has many eyes, and he also has flames...

Much to Jogo's surprise. In fact, Sukuna even reasons that a cursed spirit wouldn't know about this, meaning humans, who are privy to Christian lore, would be able to make the connection.

Further, in said lore, angels appear to humans as and how it's necessary.

Not to mention, Sukuna explicitly states he's not going to change back to his four-armed form, because his current form is more suited to fight sorcerers. He has forever been seen adapting to the situation, the reiteration of this concept is almost obsessive.

So far, we've explored Sukuna's character before a certain turning point in the series, which is none other than Sukuna leaving Yuji's body and occupying Megumi's.

Ever since then, we've learned a lot about Sukuna. The difference is that we learn about him FROM HIM.

detective critics · Mar 17, 2023 Sukuna is the ultimate example of what you get when you optimize CE. In fact, Kenjaku models his plans after the revival of the Heian era, when Sukuna ruled as the King of Curses.

Yuki explicitly states she wants to research Maki as an example of away from CE. detective critics · Mar 17, 2023 This contrast also extends to Maki's portrayal as a true enlightened being vs Sukuna's enlightenment obviously being an imposition of perception, and it further emboldens me to claim that Sukuna has as much characterization from a meta perspective as Maki. detective critics · Mar 17, 2023 Final point: In the latest chapter, Sukuna summons Mahoraga. But this time, Mahoraga's wheel, the symbol of perfect adaptability, appears over his head like a halo.

This likely points to Sukuna's newly gained agency; to adapt or not is his privilege. detective critics · Mar 17, 2023 To wrap up this thread, I believe Sukuna is one of the more overlooked characters in JJK right now in terms of quality of writing, and hope I substantiated that belief in this thread.

#jjk meta #ryomen sukuna

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gagfadget · 1 year ago

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People LOVE misinterpreting Black folk. I have a friend who's been the victim of a years long harassment campaign that has devolved into the craziest shit ever because she posted a take that was immediately misinterpreted by all the YT folk around her. Black trans woman btw, and the harassment campaign has got people convinced she's a TERF, lying about her age, secretly pretending to be trans, a kiwi farmer. Like you name it, they've said it about her. The most outlandish shit, all for being Black and daring to make a tweet. Like she literally got outed to her mother and doxxed over that stuff. The absolute abysmal treatment of Black folk on the internet is so depressing.

Oh my god I’m so sorry that happened to your friend! And yeah it is very easy for people to misrepresent what we’re saying for their own gain and clout so they can feel like they can get their chance to scold us.

For tvc fandom, I feel like a lot of them aren’t used to being in a fandom with a lot of black people in it and so they’re unfamiliar with the way black ppl in fandom approach texts. The black ppl in this fandom are very analytical and they love meta especially because we’re watching a show about racism and vampirism and how the two interact with each other. We are able to speak more on this and we are able to pull from our experience and pull from our history whenever we discuss this show and some of the white/nonblack book part of fandom do not get that some of the things they say are just flat out wrong or missing the point of what show Louis is trying to convey and the black fans have more of an understanding and more nuance with things that that book side may be confused about because this is our lived experience. They aren’t used to black people telling them to shut up when they say something racist and they’re view on what is racist is very skewed. They don’t see how saying things like “show Louis is inferior to book Louis” and then putting that in the tag for show fans to see is racist. They don’t get how annoying it is to go out into the world as a black person and then coming online only to see that. It’s frustrating and our frustration is always seen as an attack and never as an invitation to self reflect.

I’m tired so I may not be putting this in the best way but yeah 💀

#moth ask

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ask-serendipity-sky · 2 years ago

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Hi! Just wanted to share a hopefully-less-inflamtory viewpoint on the numbers theories. It bothers me absolutely nothing if any one person does or doesn't buy into the theories but for me, it's definitely on a scale. I'm personally more open to the blatant number examples rather than the ones that require extrapolation.

Example: Jimin's Live with the not current time on his watch.

Fairly low hurdle to jump to connect it to JKs birth time. Especially since it was right at the beginning of the Live and very easily could have been intentionally set.

Example: JK's post time being linked to JM's birth time.

This is more of a stretch for me whenever addition needs to be applied. Seems rather arbitrary when the decision is made to apply addition or not. Why sometimes the full date is included and other times it isn't.

As someone who is paid to generate data analytics for a worldwide organization, I can attest that the exact same data points can be used to draw exact opposite conclusions given any set of data. It's all about the justification in why specific methods are applied in each case.

In conclusion though, we are all just strangers on the internet in pursuit of elevating our fandom experience by having these discussions and absolutely no one should be criticized for what level they choose to partake. In other words: Don't Yuck someone else's Yum!

Hello,

Oh yes. I agree with you on the addition of numbers and dates.

There is a way to do it that is constant and simple.

I've been trying to get someone to explain the exact way the dates and times should be added but I haven't found it so far which is why I've been cautious with that.

From what I've observed in kjkkr tweets, they add the time only. But perhaps, I haven't seen enough.

Of course, adding an interpretation to the patterns is up to each person. But I wonder how you view this since these patterns have been observed since 2015. Can it still be said that we are drawing conclusions from something that has been happening for years? At what point can it be taken as a "fact"? When does a hypothesis become a theory in the scientific sense? It's when things can be proven but how would this be proven? Do we have to do statistical analysis? I'm curious.

But yes, I agree! These are observations and no one is forced to view them or agree with them.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

#lets apply statistics to jikook

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necromancy-enthusiast · 2 years ago

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I found a recent video on youtube called "The Anatomy of Pixar's Cars", it might be worth your perusal

Like... The anatomy of the film from an analytical point of view, or an 'anatomy' of the actual cars? Either way, potentially fascinating. Gee I love how people I originally met on twitter associate me with Cars now because I just kinda went nuts about how weird and insane its worldbuilding is and live-tweeted Cars 2 because man that. That sure is a movie alright. Pope car and Queen Elizabeth II car and attempted car murder and car ableism.

You know, everyone (rightfully) talks about how the car pope indirectly confirms the existence of car Jesus, but it also arguably insinuates the possibility of other car religions. Car Buddhism. Car Judaism. Car Islam. Car Hinduism. Car religious figures. Car Bodhisattva. Car saints. Car monks. Cars...

Car protestantism.

#asks

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cindylouwho-2 · 2 years ago

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RECENT ECOMMERCE NEWS, RESOURCES AND STUDIES, EARLY JULY 2023

As expected when I posted the recent Etsy and SEO news update in June, I didn't get much time during my road trip to work on the other portion. So here it is, covering ecommerce sites, social media, content marketing and lots of other things small and microbusinesses might need to know.

I've also updated my Tumblr theme to make it easier to read and more accessible overall. Please let me know what you think!

Finally, the next update will be out in a few weeks, and will contain everything together in one post again. If you don't want to wait for it, follow me on Twitter or on LinkedIn for more timely news.

SOCIAL MEDIA - All Aspects, By Site

Facebook (includes relevant general news from Meta)

You can now pay for a verified Meta account, and unlike Twitter, they actually verify your ID.

Speaking of Twitter, Meta’s copycat app Threads took off rapidly, hitting over 100 million signups in the first week.

If you have a Facebook or Instagram Shop, note that many countries will need to use Meta’s checkout as of April 24 2023. While the US is one of those countries, the following places will not have to change anything at this moment: “Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, U.K. and Ukraine”.

Wonder how Facebook ranks posts these days? Search Engine Land covered the topic for you.

Meta is pulling all news content in Canada after a new law passed that makes platforms pay media sources for their content. Google followed.

LinkedIn recently changed its algorithm, and is giving more weight to people you follow, and to “knowledge and advice”.

Make sure you are using LinkedIn content analytics to see how your posts are performing. The company released some tips on how to get more views and interaction on your ads and posts.

Pinterest is introducing Amazon ads that lead directly to Amazon so browsers can buy there. This is expected to take a few years to fully roll out.

The Shuffles feature is particularly popular with Generation Z women.

Yes, you can use Reddit to promote your business, but it is tricky. “It’s perfectly fine to be a Redditor with a website; it’s not okay to be a website with a Reddit account.”

TikTok

TikTok is selling its own products through the app, called “Trendy Beat", although this is only happening in the UK so far. The items seemed to be based on trending videos.

TIkTok is the latest to test searching by image, in its Shop feature.

Twitter

The Twitter algorithm now promotes Elon Musk’s tweets above all others. Yes, really.

YouTube

YouTube ended Stories on June 26, but plans on doing more with Shorts in the future.

ECOMMERCE NEWS, IDEAS, TRENDS (minus social media)

General

Handmade alternative marketplace Artisans Cooperative has settled on its organisational structure now that they are moving forward with incorporating the co-op, and enrolling new members. Check their blog for all announcements on their plans.

A new California initiative involves both ecommerce and brick and mortar businesses to help track down stolen items. Each site agrees to “assign staff and tools—dedicate webpage, online portal, or point of contact—to address concerns of theft that come in from retails or law enforcement, and to monitor listings “to affirmatively prevent and detect” organized crime.”

50% of online shopping trips start at Amazon, amazingly enough. Google comes in second. After peaking last year, TikTok’s share of product searches has dropped.

Many merchants are reconsidering their return policies, and even free shipping.

Amazon

Some Amazon sellers had huge issues with verifying their information to comply with the INFORM Act. The deadline for completing verification was July 7, after which Amazon will place a hold on all payments.

Amazon will now charge US buyers for returns to UPS stores.

Many backpacks made for adults were removed from Amazon automatically, and sellers were told they needed to show proof the packs had met children’s safety standards.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce has followed Shopify in raising fees for the same amount, although existing users didn’t see the increase until June 1. As with Shopify, site owners can keep their current rate by opting for the annual package.

eBay

If you are worried about eBay showing your home address to prospective buyers (due to the INFORM Act), you can apply for an exception.

Ebay international shipping is available to US-based stores now, but there are a lot of complaints. Other recent eBay announcements and plans are discussed here in coverage of the summer Seller Update.

Sales on eBay continue to drop, as do buyers. Here’s coverage of the 4th quarter report written for sellers, and the 1st quarter 2023.

eBay is now offering Canadian collectible sellers a new “Expedited Lite” Canada Post rate that costs as little as $5.85 to send 200 grams from Toronto to Yellowknife. Tracking and $100 insurance are included. [Attention other platforms - Canadians need these cheap rates!]

Poshmark

Poshmark now operates in the United Kingdom.

Poshmark joined the vast majority of large ecommerce sites in the past year by laying off employees, although the reported numbers were just 2% of the workforce.

Shopify

After making big moves to enter the fulfillment market, Shopify sold off the logistics network to Flexport, which it will continue to work with, as well as owning 13% of Flexport’s stock.

Shopify is resisting a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) request for 6 years of tax records for 121,000 stores. Note that the CRA must get a judge to approve such a request, which they filed for in April 2023.

Shopify managed to beat the market estimates for the 4th quarter 2022, but predicts growth will continue to slow

There are ways to make your Shopify site more accessible for various disabilities; for some larger merchants, this is a legal requirement.

All Other Marketplaces

Bonanza is trying to improve its shipping label options, with the first step being decreasing the cost of USPS labels. It also now has a synced eBay importer, and is expanding its loan program to more sellers.

Michael's has finally opened its maker supply online marketplace to third-party sellers. While this initial group of merchants was invited, the company is now accepting applications from experienced ecommerce merchants. Fees are a flat 15% commission, so no monthly subscriptions, listing fees or even payment processing fees (apparently). There is also a Shipstation integration. This could be a good channel for high-volume supply sellers who make/design their own products, especially if they work in a niche Michael’s doesn’t already service. Note that their makers website that would compete directly with Etsy is now taking a waitlist.

Kohl’s opened a third-party marketplace, which includes their loyalty program benefits for buyers.

All Other Website Builders

Squarespace bought Google Domains, but Google is still a domain registrar, and this should not affect your Google rankings.

Payment Processing

Apple is very late to the buy-now-pay-later game, introducing Apple Pay Later for some users.

Shipping

There is a UPS strike looming; the union contract expires August 1. This could not only affect businesses who ship products via UPS, but also those of us who order supplies etc.

Also note that the port workers in British Columbia are on strike as of July 1. “Analysts have said a strike could have a significant impact on worldwide shipping and the Canadian economy. According to the Maritime Employers Association's website, its members contribute $2.7 billion to the national GDP and handled roughly 16 per cent of Canada's total traded goods worth $180 billion in 2020.”

Chinese ecommerce businesses could lose their US tariff exemption, which allows companies in China to ship to the US cheaply. The bill is not yet law.

USPS raised stamp prices and combined several services into the new USPS Ground Advantage plan, as of July 9.

(CONTENT) MARKETING (includes blogging, emails, and strategies)

Is your small business making some common content marketing mistakes? 5 frequent errors and their solutions.

Email welcome pages are a good way to increase sales from your list. “Imagine a shopper subscribes and is sent immediately to a page that, first, shares the discount code and, second, includes a short (30-second) welcome video that explains how to apply the code — without having to check email.”

ONLINE ADVERTISING (NOT SOCIAL MEDIA OR ECOMMERCE SITES)

Advertising through “retail media” (such as Amazon) will probably be greater than television ad revenue by 2028. “Retailers from Amazon, Walmart and Target to grocers such as Carrefour, Ahold Delhaize, Tesco and Sainsbury's are working aggressively to attract big advertisers to their websites” which could constitute more than 15% of all advertising spend by 2028.

Google’s Merchant Center will be getting easier to use next year, with the introduction of Merchant Center Next. Looks like complicated product feeds will be a thing of the past.

Google Ads users are encouraged to import the conversion info from Google Analytics 4, to potentially improve ad performance.

STATS, DATA, TRACKING

Many sites are incorrectly reporting visits as direct when they actually come from sources such as social media; here’s a study showing how that can break down.

Google’s latest instructions for migrating from Google’s Universal Analytics to Google Analytics 4 even includes videos. If you don’t like Google’s explanation, here is another good tutorial [video and transcript] And here is a detailed outline of how to track organic search traffic in GA4, and how to set up site search. Don’t worry if you haven’t migrated your account yet - although it will not collect new data starting some time after July 1, 2023, Google will transition the account to GA4 for you, and will also let you download your old Universal Analytics data for the next year. If you didn’t update to GA4 yourself, you are in the majority of website owners.

Once you do start with GA4, make sure to connect with the Search Console and activate reports. There are also some reports you cannot get with GA4, but this article explains what you can come close to replicating from the old version.

You can now move all of your Google Search Console data into Google’s BigQuery, which is great for really large sites. If you struggle to digest the info provided by Google Search Console, then you might be interested in a few integrations to make things easier. Some are even free!

BUSINESS & CONSUMER TRENDS, STATS & REPORTS; SOCIOLOGY & PSYCHOLOGY, CUSTOMER SERVICE

How to answer common buyer questions to make purchasing easier (and more likely!)

Generation Z (born from 1997 to 2012) uses social media differently than other age groups, and that affects how you can market to them. Check out the different values and behaviours they have as a group.

Many sole proprietorships struggle with how to deal with demanding customers. Maybe you should fire them instead? [Twitter thread] Example: “Bad Clients are “un-leveragable”. You cannot

Learn from them

Use them as references

Earn a good margin to fuel your biz

Factor the intangibles when calculating your ROI. Not everything that counts can be counted.”

Consumers are always changing how they shop and buy; here’s some data from the end of last year, explaining that buying through social media is slowly growing, among other points. Also, “42% of consumers have chosen a product based on it being made by a small business in the last three months, up 8% from May 2022.” Hubspot also released more data on the social media angle of the research, giving reasons why some buyers are still hesitant.

US ecommerce sales were up 3% in the first 3 months of 2023. The total was $272.6 billion.

IMAGES, VIDEO, GRAPHIC DESIGN, & FREE ONLINE TOOLS

Need new icons for your website? Here are 20 free sets.

And here are some free web design tools, although you should note many use AI.

#ecommerce #microbusiness #cindylouwho2 #marketplace #social media #content marketing

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protagonistheavy · 2 years ago

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The downfall of Twitter, to me, is the express transition of the platform's purpose: from being a message board-lite website intended for community engagement and updates, into a nonstop scrolling list of advertisements.

If youve got a Twitter, I ask that you go through your timeline and just tally up how many tweets you see that are about promoting something. It's a more surprising amount than you might realize! Because chances are, you willingly follow a bunch of people -- artists, content creators, writers (wait, no one reads, nvm) -- who post a LOT of self-promotion. And sure, that's not as obnoxious as a forced-ad on your dash from some corporation, but it also isn't how Twitter used to be.

Part of this is due to the platform's audience gradually encompassing Everyone On The Internet, and so everyone wants to use it like a giant billboard. But in becoming this, its lost the unique identity that separated Twitter from other social media. It's sad that so many Twitter users are wannabe power-users, people obsessed with seeing Numbers Go Up on their aNaLyTiCs... to the point that they forget that they need to also, uh, make good content? Like I see people complaining so hard that their twitch clips on twitter get so little views, and instead of admitting "maybe this is just a really mid clip in an oversaturated market," they go "It must be the algorithm's fault! It must be Twitter's fault! The numbers aren't going up enough!!"

And then they buy Twitter Blue lmao. A system that artificially inflates their numbers and gives them the dopamine they're addicted to. Seriously, as I've seen more and more twitter users reacting to the website's decay, it's become extremely revealing how shallow so many people have either been or become -- so many people who really do just crave and feel entitled to an exact amount of attention, or people who were never interested in being personable, only interested in shoving their business onto peoples' feeds.

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sassypotatoe1 · 1 year ago

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Look I studied social media management the two singular platforms we get to fuck around on unsupervised are Tumblr and tiktok because no one takes these platforms seriously. Tiktok is becoming more popular for marketing so that's fading away but Tumblr? I could use a branded account on company dime to plan out and execute and then brag about the assassination of Elon musk, with people going "yass queen pop off!" on every post and I'll send the screenshots of these comments and analytics to my boss over email and get promoted with a pay raise.

While I don't believe that amtrak is the actual account of an amtrak social media manager, I'm saying I wouldn't at all be surprised if it is. The reason that social media posts on other platforms are milk toast is because companies have highly regulated style guides and posting policies and the content gets heavily sanitized to stick to it. What I'm saying is let my colleagues vaguepost about their crush on company accounts I promise you it'll have more engagement people know when it's a person tweeting and not a character of a company.

My biggest engagement booster atp for our community newspaper, that has brought our Facebook engagement up to over a million views daily from 300k ish, is literally just getting 4 dumb holidays a month and on each one at 9am, when most of our followers are on Facebook, I post "hey it's eat ice cream for breakfast day! What's your favorite ice cream flavor?" and then people who don't typically comment on or engage with our news comment on this because it's dumb and fun and no one is gonna rip you to shreds over your opinion on ice cream. Then Facebook puts more of our actual shit on their feed because they commented on our page.

If I had the spoons I'd be making word searches, spot the difference and crosswords to put on our Instagram, which is currently dead af, and then put our videos on the Instagram stories which is not currently being done at all. But I don't and it's also not officially in my job description.

mcdonalds is on twitter like "hmm i want a big mac rn... anyone else?" and some people honestly believe that amtrak is on tumblr talking about lesbian sex and hating train cops

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tresources7 · 14 days ago

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Public Relations Branding: Elevating Your Business with a Digital Public Relations Agency

In today’s fast-moving digital world, how people see your brand can make or break your success. Building a strong reputation isn’t just about having a good logo or a catchy slogan. It’s about shaping perceptions and creating trust. That’s where public relations (PR) play a vital role. PR helps get your message out and makes your brand more relatable.

Partnering with a digital public relations agency can take your brand to the next level. Instead of relying on old-school methods, these agencies use online tools, data, and influencers to boost your visibility. Among the latest trends are integrated digital strategies, campaigns driven by real data, and collaborations with social media stars. All these elements work together to craft a brand image that sticks.

The Fundamentals of Public Relations Branding

Defining Public Relations Branding

PR is all about shaping how people view your brand. It’s more than just getting media coverage — it’s about influencing opinions and building reputation. Good PR makes your business seem trustworthy and relevant.

Digital PR differs from traditional methods by focusing on online channels. It uses social media, blogs, and digital press to reach audiences where they spend most of their time. Consistency across these platforms is key. Your message should look and sound the same whether it’s a tweet, a blog post, or a news story.

The Role of a Digital Public Relations Agency

A good digital PR agency personalizes strategies to match your goals. They handle everything from media outreach to content creation and crisis management. For example, if a negative review pops up online, your agency handles it fast to protect your reputation.

Partnering with a specialized agency offers many perks. They know the digital world inside out. They also stay updated on trends, saving you time and effort. Plus, agencies bring fresh ideas and wider connections that in-house teams might miss.

Building a Strong Public Relations Brand Strategy

Conducting a Brand Audit

Start with a quick check-up. Look at your current online presence — website, social media, reviews. What are people saying about you? Conduct a SWOT analysis to see where you shine and where you can improve. This helps you map out what to keep and what needs change.

Developing a Unique Brand Voice and Message

Your brand voice is how you sound. Friendly, professional, witty? Choose what fits your audience best. Be clear about what you stand for. Create messages that your target customers will connect with. Make sure your tone stays consistent everywhere your brand appears.

Setting Measurable Objectives

Set clear goals for what you want to achieve. Do you want more website visitors, media mentions, or mentions on social media? Define KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to track progress. Use analytics tools to see how campaigns perform and adjust your approach if needed.

Digital Public Relations Tactics for Brand Enhancement

Content Marketing and Thought Leadership

Share valuable content like press releases, blog posts, or articles. Position your brand as an expert in your industry. Guest posting on other sites or commenting on trending topics can also help you get noticed.

Media Relations and Digital Outreach

Build relationships with online journalists, bloggers, and influencers. Use digital press kits that include multimedia like images and videos for easy sharing. Partnering with influencers can boost your reach and credibility.

Social Media and Online Reputation Management

Social media platforms are perfect for telling your brand’s story. Respond quickly to customer reviews and mentions. Managing your online reputation helps build trust and keeps negative feedback from spiraling out of control.

Crisis Communication in the Digital Age

When a crisis hits, act fast. Have a plan in place for quick responses. Use honest, transparent communication to prevent issues from worsening. Examples include addressing rumors, resolving customer complaints, or managing misinformation.

Measuring Success and ROI in Digital PR Campaigns

Quantitative Metrics

Look at numbers. Track website visits, media mentions, or social media shares. Engagement rate — likes, comments, retweets — shows how your audience interacts. Share of voice indicates how much visibility you have compared to competitors.

Qualitative Metrics

Check how people really feel about your brand. Sentiment analysis tells if mentions are positive, negative, or neutral. Also, consider the quality of media coverage and whether your message has truly spread.

Tools and Technologies for Measurement

Use analytics platforms like Google Analytics and media monitoring tools. They bring all your data into one place, making it easier to see what’s working and what isn’t. This ongoing analysis helps refine your strategies.

Working with a Digital Public Relations Agency: Tips for Success

Selecting the Right Agency

Ask questions like: Do they understand my industry? Can they show results from previous campaigns? Is their style a good fit for my brand? Picking the right partner is crucial.

Collaboration and Communication

Set clear goals from the beginning. Schedule regular check-ins and reports. Open communication keeps everyone aligned and helps adapt strategies quickly.

Maximizing Impact

Combine PR with other marketing efforts like digital ads or SEO. Encourage staff and brand ambassadors to share your message. Consistency and teamwork multiply your results.

Strong public relations branding is essential in today’s online world. Combining a clear message with digital tools can boost your reputation and grow your business. Working with a digital PR agency offers expert guidance and broader reach. Start by auditing your brand, setting clear goals, and choosing the right partner. Keep your efforts consistent, authentic, and measurable, and long-term success will follow. Your brand’s future depends on it.

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mysticalwriterwithintrusivethoug · 1 month ago

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Trust in PR: How PR Review Agency Are Making Transparency a Win for Entrepreneurs

Public relations (PR) can make or break a business, especially for entrepreneurs trying to get their name out there. But the PR world has a problem: it’s often hard to know what you’re getting when you hire a firm.

Promises are big, results are vague, and it’s tough to trust what agencies say. That’s where Golin PR Agency comes in a company known for clear, results-driven work with clients like ASICS and LEGO.

They show what PR can be when it’s done right. Transparency in PR means being open about what a firm does, how they do it, and what results they deliver. It’s about building trust so entrepreneurs can make smart choices without guessing.

PR Agency Review is a game-changer in this murky industry. It’s a platform that gives honest, detailed reviews of PR firms, helping business owners pick the right one.

With PR often feeling like a black box, this transparency is a lifeline for entrepreneurs who can’t afford mistakes.

This article dives into why transparency in PR is so important, how PR Review Agencies makes it happen, and what it means for entrepreneurs. We’ll look at the challenges, recent changes, and what’s coming next, using real examples and data to show why this matters.

Why Transparency in PR Matters

What Is Transparency in PR?

Transparency in PR means being upfront with clients. It’s about sharing clear plans, honest results, and any risks involved. Instead of vague promises like “we’ll boost your brand,” a transparent firm gives specifics like how many people saw your campaign or how it changed their view of your business.

For entrepreneurs, this clarity is everything. They need to know their money is well spent and that their PR firm is working for them, not just chasing headlines.

Think of it like ordering food at a restaurant. You want to know what’s in the dish, how it’s made, and whether it’s worth the price.

If the chef hides the ingredients, you might not trust the meal. PR is the same — entrepreneurs need to see the “recipe” to trust the results.

Why Entrepreneurs Need Transparency

Entrepreneurs, especially those running startups or small businesses, don’t have cash to burn. A bad PR choice can sink their budget or even hurt their brand.

Transparency lets them see exactly what they’re paying for, whether it’s media coverage, social media buzz, or crisis management. For example, a startup launching a new app needs a PR firm that explains how it’ll reach tech bloggers or track online engagement, not one that just says, “We’ll make you famous.”

Transparency also builds trust over time. When a PR firm shares regular updates and honest feedback, entrepreneurs feel confident their investment is working. T

his is crucial in today’s world, where a single tweet on platforms like X can spark a PR crisis. A transparent firm helps entrepreneurs avoid disasters and build a solid reputation.

The PR Industry’s History of Hiding Things

PR hasn’t always been open. Back in the day, PR pioneers like Edward Bernays focused on shaping opinions, often without explaining how. Clients got flashy campaigns but little proof of impact.

This made it hard for entrepreneurs to know if their PR firm was delivering value. Even today, some agencies rely on buzzwords like “brand synergy” instead of hard numbers, leaving clients in the dark.

Digital tools have started to change this. Social media and analytics make it easier to track PR results, but they’ve also created new problems, like fake news or data overload.

PR Review Agencies steps in here, offering clear, honest reviews to help entrepreneurs cut through the noise.

What’s Changing in PR

The PR world is getting more open, thanks to new tools and higher expectations. Digital platforms let firms track things like how many people read an article or liked a post, giving clients real data.

Golin PR Agency, for instance, uses these tools to show clients like LEGO exactly how their campaigns perform, from website clicks to social media shares.

Another big change is the focus on doing good. People want brands that care about things like the environment or fairness. Patagonia, for example, shares details about its eco-friendly practices, which builds trust with customers.

PR Review Agencies checks if firms help clients tell these stories honestly, which matters to entrepreneurs who want to connect with today’s audiences.

Social media has also made PR trickier. A bad post on X can spread fast, so firms need to act quickly and truthfully. Starbucks showed this when they faced a crisis over racial bias, they openly admitted the issue and trained their staff, earning back trust.

PR Review Agencies looks at how firms handle these situations, helping entrepreneurs pick ones that can manage tough moments.

Challenges in Being Transparent

Even with these changes, transparency isn’t easy. One big issue is balancing openness with keeping some things private. Firms like W2O Group use special data tools to create smart campaigns, but they can’t share everything without giving away their edge.

PR Review Agencies helps by rating firms on how well they share what matters without spilling trade secrets.

Another challenge is dealing with fake news. With information flying around online, PR firms have to correct lies fast. But rushing can lead to mistakes, like sharing half-truths that backfire.

PR Review Agencies checks if firms have solid plans for handling these situations.

Ethics is another hurdle. Some firms might hide bad news to make a client look good, but that can hurt trust. PR Review Agencies makes sure entrepreneurs pick firms that play fair, avoiding those that twist the truth.

Data That Shows Why Transparency Matters

Numbers back up the need for transparency. A 2023 survey by Edelman found that 63% of people trust brands that are open about what they do, up from 58% in 2020.

Younger people, like Gen Z, care even more, 71% say transparency affects what they buy. For entrepreneurs, this means PR campaigns need to be honest to win customers.

A 2024 PRovoke Media study showed that 68% of PR clients are frustrated by unclear results. PR Review Agencies fixes this by giving detailed data, like how many people saw a campaign or how it changed their opinion.

For example, Golin PR Agency’s work with ASICS boosted brand positivity by 25%, according to PR Agency Review’s reports.

Transparency also saves money. A 2022 Forbes report said businesses with clear PR strategies keep 15% more customers than those that aren’t open.

For entrepreneurs, this means happier customers and better growth, which PR Review Agencies helps them achieve by pointing to trustworthy firms.

How PR Agency Review Helps Entrepreneurs

What PR Agency Review Does

PR Review Agencies is like a guidebook for picking PR firms. It rates agencies on things like how well their campaigns work, how happy clients are, and how honest they are.

Each review includes examples, data, and client feedback, so entrepreneurs get the full picture.

For instance, it might show how W2O Group helped a healthcare company reach more people with clear, trackable results.

The platform compares firms across industries, so whether you’re in tech, fashion, or food, you find one that fits. This takes the stress out of choosing a PR partner, letting entrepreneurs focus on running their business.

Real Example: A Tech Startup’s Success

Take TechTrend, a small company building AI software. In 2023, they needed PR for their product launch but didn’t know who to trust.

Pragencyreview pointed them to Golin PR Agency, which had great scores for transparency and tech experience. Golin gave TechTrend a clear plan targeting tech blogs, tracking social media buzz, and preparing for any issues.

Six months later, TechTrend’s brand was 30% more recognized, with articles in top tech magazines. This shows how PR Review Agencies helps small businesses make smart PR choices.

Why PR Agency Review Is Great

Clear Information: It shows exactly what firms do, so entrepreneurs know what they’re getting.

Saves Time and Money: No need to guess which agency is best — it does the research for you.

Honest Firms: It picks agencies that play fair, reducing the chance of problems.

Matches Your Needs: It finds firms that fit your industry and budget.

Works Globally: It reviews firms like W2O Group for businesses anywhere in the world.

Where It Could Improve

PR Review Agencies isn’t perfect. Some worry it might favor firms that push for good ratings. The platform uses independent checks to stay fair, but keeping this up as it grows is tough.

Also, it focuses a lot on numbers, which might miss things like creative ideas that are harder to measure. Adding those could make it even better.

Another issue is cost. Basic reviews are free, but extra features cost money, which might be hard for small startups.

Offering cheaper options or free trials could help more entrepreneurs use it.

Key Areas of Transparency in PR

1. Building Trust with Clear PR

Trust is the heart of good PR. When firms share clear plans and results, entrepreneurs feel confident their money is well spent.

PR Review Agencies checks how open firms are, helping business owners pick ones they can trust.

Example: Patagonia’s Openness

Patagonia tells customers exactly how its clothes are made, from eco-friendly materials to fair labor.

This builds trust and loyalty. PR Review Agencies highlights firms that do this well, so entrepreneurs can find partners who share their values.

2. Handling Crises Openly

When things go wrong, like a bad news story, PR firms need to act fast and be honest.

PR Review Agencies checks how well firms handle crises, so entrepreneurs pick ones that won’t let them down.

Example: Starbucks’ Quick Fix

In 2018, Starbucks had a problem when two Black men were arrested in a store. They quickly apologized, trained staff, and shared their plan.

PR Review Agencies likes firms that do this, helping entrepreneurs find crisis-ready partners.

3. Using Data to Be Clear

Data, like how many people saw a post, makes PR clearer. PR Review Agencies rates firms on how they use data, helping entrepreneurs pick ones that show real results.

Example: W2O Group’s Healthcare Work

W2O Group uses data to show healthcare clients how their campaigns perform, like how many doctors saw an ad.

PR Review Agencies highlights this, helping entrepreneurs choose data-smart firms.

4. Being Ethical in PR

Ethical PR means telling the truth, not hiding bad news to make a client look good. PR Review Agencies checks if firms are honest, so entrepreneurs avoid ones that bend the truth.

Example: Microsoft’s Privacy Work

Microsoft was open about protecting customer data from government snooping, which built trust.PR Review Agencies points entrepreneurs to firms like this.

What’s Next for PR Transparency

New Tools Changing PR

Technology is making PR more open. AI can track how people feel about a brand in real-time, so firms can share better results.

PR Review Agencies could use these tools to give entrepreneurs even more detailed reviews.

Blockchain, a tech that keeps records safe, might also help. It could let firms share campaign results that can’t be faked, making PR Review Agencies ratings even stronger.

Firms like Golin PR Agency are already using data to be clearer, and this will grow.

People Want More Honesty

Customers and investors now expect brands to be open about things like the environment or diversity. Patagonia’s eco-friendly campaigns show how this wins fans.

PR Review Agencies will likely add these topics to its reviews, helping entrepreneurs pick firms that match these values.

Challenges Ahead

As transparency grows, firms might worry about sharing too much and losing their edge.

Also, too much data could confuse clients. PR Review Agencies can help by keeping its reviews clear and focused.

How This Affects Everyone

Transparency in PR is a must for entrepreneurs who need to trust their PR partners. PR Review Agencies is leading the way, giving clear, honest reviews of firms like Golin PR Agency and W2O Group.

It helps business owners pick agencies that deliver real results, handle crises well, and act ethically. From saving money to building trust, transparency changes how PR works, and PR Review Agencies makes it happen.

As technology and expectations evolve, PR Review Agencies will keep pushing for openness, helping entrepreneurs succeed in a tough industry. It’s not just a tool it’s a guide for business owners chasing big dreams, making sure their PR partners help them shine.

#news #spiderman #pragencyreview #strategic pr #pr for startups #pr #publicrelations

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