Posts

Blog

Broadband Marketing, Digital Marketing, Marketing Campaigns, Member/Consumer Experience

Timeless Storytelling Insights from Thomas Alva Edison

The first bill for electricity — a whopping $50.40 — was paid to Edison Electric Light Company 140 years ago this week on Jan. 18, 1883. A decade later, people were still not convinced electricity doesn’t impact sleep or make you sick. We pull three story-sharing ideas from the past to help you reach today’s consumers.

Megan McKoy-Noe, CCC

January 18, 2023

Blog

Broadband Marketing, Marketing Campaigns, Member/Consumer Experience, Writing

Three Ways StoryConnect Strengthens Your Story

At StoryConnect, rural telco and electric utility communicators swap stories, share inspiration and connect with peers. Never been? Discover some of the sessions and networking opportunities featured this spring, and learn three ways the conference supports your storytelling skills and strengthens your peer network, too.

Megan McKoy-Noe, CCC

January 12, 2023

Podcasts

Community Engagement, Member Meetings, Member/Consumer Experience, Uncategorized

Rethinking Your Annual Meetings

When WREC's annual meeting attendance sagged, the co-op reworked the meeting into a series of events that focused on local students. Garrett Hylton explains the results and how they made it happen.

Andy Johns

December 19, 2022

Podcasts

Member/Consumer Experience

The Case for Multigig Broadband Service

The number of people who need (or even understand) multiple gigs’ worth of broadband speed might be small now, but Matt Daniel lays out the case for why offering such top-end packages makes sense.

Andy Johns

November 7, 2022

Blog

Magazines, Member/Consumer Experience, Pioneer News

Reader Survey Shows Strong Preference, Loyalty for Print

Pioneer partnered with statewide magazine editors to conduct a national magazine readership survey. The results answer commonly asked questions from our Utility Pioneers, including what gives you the biggest bang for your communication buck.

Leon Espinoza

August 30, 2022

Blog

Consumer Education, Magazines, Member/Consumer Experience, Writing

Seven Ways to Keep Reader Trust

Our readers trust us. But it’s a relationship that cannot be taken for granted. Leon Espinoza, with a nod to Hollywood classics, shares seven ways to use thoughtful editing and solid storytelling to stay in your readers’ Circle of Trust.

Leon Espinoza

August 16, 2022

Case Study

Consumer Education, Content Planning, Marketing Campaigns, Member/Consumer Experience

Focus Groups Help Identify Communication Gaps

Wonder what your members really think about your utility? The Utility Pioneers at Appalachian Electric Cooperative decided to ask. Learn how the utility partnered with Pioneer to develop member focus groups to help guide their strategic plan development.

Jim Keiffer

Case Study

Community Engagement, Magazines, Member Meetings, Member/Consumer Experience

Webinar Recording: Where to Find Champions for Your Story

How do Utility Pioneers find people and community groups to feature as community champions for their story? Hear ideas from NCTC's Amy Phelps and Pioneer's Susan Bain in this webinar recording!

Megan McKoy-Noe, CCC

Podcasts

Member/Consumer Experience, Staff Engagement

How Do You Prove the Value of Communications to Utility Leadership?

Chris Jones discusses the shift from reporter to CEO, the biggest challenges for utility communicators, the evolution of utility communications and how staff can prove the value of consumer engagement to utility leadership.

Megan McKoy-Noe, CCC

July 18, 2022

Podcasts

Consumer Education, Member/Consumer Experience

Sales Tips from a Pro

Jodi Sjolie has sold everything from broadband to vacuums, and she says sales has a lot more to do with listening than talking.

Andy Johns

June 7, 2022

Podcasts

Member/Consumer Experience, Staff Engagement, Uncategorized

How Can You Effectively Communicate Change?

Many utilities are coping with change. Mark Owen shares how his team communicated with staff and membership about the case for change during a building and utility brand consolidation.

Megan McKoy-Noe, CCC

June 1, 2022

Podcasts

Broadband Marketing, Member/Consumer Experience

Defining the Subscriber Experience

What does subscriber experience even mean and why does a standard definition matter to the broadband industry? Naylor Gray of Calix is leading a discussion seeking to define that at the Calix Marketers Summit on May 4 in Ft. Lauderdale.

Andy Johns

April 28, 2022