You can’t out-perk a trust problem. Try as many brands might, they can’t seem to get past building their loyalty strategies around symptoms of the deeper issues they’re ignoring. This reactive approach leads to pouring money into the same three “fixes”: richer loyalty perks, sleeker UX updates, and shiny new branding. In this edition of Plain Talk, we’ll explore the main reasons why your customer loyalty strategy is failing and what you can do about it.

Consumer demand matters, but it’s only half the battle for CPG brands. Without retailer and distributor support, even popular products struggle to earn shelf space. Success depends on connecting shopper appeal with clear business value that convinces buyers, making strong B2B messaging just as essential as consumer marketing. This edition of Plain Talk explores how to punch up your B2B messaging and strategy, so it resonates with buyers and turns more impactful consumer campaigns.

Social media is transforming the way patients engage with healthcare providers. Platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and Reddit are now being considered go-to sources for health and wellness information. In this edition of Vital Signs, we’ll explore how healthcare organizations can cut through the noise on social media and restore trust with patients.

Everyone in healthcare marketing wants to do media better. They want the easy button—press it, trim the budget, and watch the sales roll in. But in reality, the equation isn’t that simple. Consumers expect personalization and a seamless digital journey, yet they also bristle at the idea of advertisers using personal data to reach them. And let’s be honest—most people don’t even like ads. They just want you to show up, relevant and helpful, at the exact moment they need you. In this edition of Vital Signs, we’ll explore why more organizations are asking the same question: Should we build an in-house media team, or partner with an agency?

As long as the marketing industry has existed, it’s been the case that when global financial disruption strikes, marketers must pivot. Those pivots represent challenges, but they’re also opportunities for brand leadership and differentiation. In this edition of Plain Talk, we explore how marketers can take a disciplined, strategic approach to budget planning in the face of global tariffs and economic uncertainty.

Every touchpoint, from emails to waiting room screens, either builds confidence or erodes it. And when the appointment ends, the story doesn’t. Patients keep remembering, comparing, and deciding whether they felt seen and supported. In this edition of Vital Signs, we’re sharing our playbook on how healthcare marketers can help their brand create meaningful patient touchpoints before, during, and after the visit.

Technologies often lack the human touch that comes with face-to-face interactions with a physician. This is where storytelling plays an important role in enhancing current trends and everyday marketing efforts. In this edition of Vital Signs, we will explore how organizations can humanize their brand and differentiate themselves through sharing stories.

In today’s digital age, bad news can go viral in minutes. A single misstep—a social post gone wrong, a supply chain hiccup, a partnership backfire—can quickly spiral into a crisis. Without preparation, these moments can be disasters. With the right strategy, they can instead showcase resilience, authenticity, and creativity. In this edition of Plain Talk, we explore how brands can move beyond crisis management to build trust and long-term loyalty.

Effective patient engagement means delivering clear, empathetic, and actionable communication that builds trust and drives patients to act. This edition of Vital Signs explores how to improve messaging with personalization, the right tools and timing, and trust-based strategies, and how to measure the real impact of your communication efforts.

In times of economic uncertainty, smart brands are shifting from broad awareness to focused, measurable tactics that influence buying decisions. In this edition of Plain Talk, we’ll give the humble trade show its due as B2B marketers flood back to this time-tested selling tool.