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Joe Wade, founder at London ad agency Dont Panic, reflects on Cop26 and why it highlighted that social purpose cant be led by marketing departments.

Projections by the University of Melbourne have shown that although Cop26 didnt go far enough to limit the world to the targeted 1.5C temperature rise, we may now be on track to an increase below 2C for the first time. So, along with being grateful for a milder apocalypse, we know we need to do more.

I was in the Green Zone at Cop26 and it was absolutely heaving with companies trying to make the case that they were already all over climate change. The implication was: Please politicians, dont regulate us to save the planet, it sounds costly and were already invested in this flashy but futile eco scheme.

A bit like that billionaire couple who recently bought a vegan helicopter, theyve missed the point.

Social purpose, particularly around the most pressing issue of our time, cant be led by the marketing department and it should hit your bottom line not only because its the right and only thing to do for young people, future generations and people already suffering the impact of climate change in the Global South. It has to be approached in an authentic way because if its not everyone will know youre full of shit. Its like Shell sponsoring the climate change exhibition at the Science Museum while simultaneously appealing against the Dutch court ruling that it needs to cut its emissions.

Our new Get Fit for Purpose report is structured around the ESGs, and so along with an environment section it outlines how to tackle social and governance issues.

You might be thinking, who the fuck are you to tell us about the ESGs? Well, apart from having been doing social purpose since before it was a thing, the report is actually brought to you by over 20 charities, NGOs and advocacy groups. Why? Because who knows better how to tackle issues and causes than not-for-profits, especially Extinction Rebellion, WaterAid, Amnesty International, WWF, Greenpeace, Crisis, Stop Hate UK and Age International? These key individuals have helped us build a framework for businesses to pave the way for incremental change and accommodate a small wins approach that can get bigger companies closer to being truly value-led.

The report kicks off with a foreword by Richard Curtis, whos been encouraging businesses to do better since Ceefax with Comic Relief, Sport Relief and more recently Make My Money Matter. Hes also the person who put the Global Goals on the map, which weve also used to shape the reports recommendations.

The Get Fit for Purpose report is available to download from the Dont Panic website here.

Heres a taster of our dos and donts of Social Purpose:

Social purpose cant be led by the marketing department. Marketing can only kick in after work has driven real change, then it can be shouted about. Otherwise its bullshit, like Gillette or Pepsi, or some kind of initiative the fossil fuel companies cook up involving offsetting. One of our clients has been working for five years on a gender-based initiative and is only ready to talk about it publically now.

When ready, use lead-in or trial initiatives before going full-throttle and rehauling your existing brand.

Make small changes that ladder up to a genuine shift in behavior rather than making one big move, which can make audiences skeptical.

Invest in campaign efforts that make a difference in their own right. Even if youve not got it all figured out just yet, if the execution itself creates real positive change, thats a step in the right direction.

If purpose isnt inherent to your product or service, partner with a non-profit with the relevant experience. This ensures you are supporting existing initiatives (bottom-up) and provides a platform for the nonprofit.

Know your place and dont overclaim. Small steps are great, but they cant single-handedly change the world.

Transparency is key. Its OK to admit youre not perfect, but couple this with the tangible actions you are taking toward change. This is disarming for critics and leaves you with a roadmap for internal and external orientation.

Dont forget to look at your internal processes as well as external ones. Bring stakeholders and employees along for the ride. This will give your team something to be proud of and helps with recruitment.

Spend money. Social purpose will generate ROI but is likely to require investment in the short term. If its not costing you much, you might not be going far enough.

Dont be too worthy with your advertising its easy to get sucked into classic purpose tropes using language like togetherness, but its better to entertain and be memorable.

Become a catalyst for change not only in your business, but throughout your industry and sector. Be an ally by prompting businesses to behave responsibly.

Dont turn back. Commit to longer-term change rather than a one-off sustainability campaign. Real change is made through long-term commitment.

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Cop26 showed us that social purpose can't be led by the marketing department - The Drum

If the online space wasnt competitive enough already, 93M more mobile phone users entered the market in 2020. The need for businesses to stand out got that bit more difficult, and to get ahead of their competitors, many businesses sought to boost their digital marketing strategy. More businesses needing marketing means more agencies needed people. It soon became apparent that the talent pool wasnt big enough to sustain this explosion of growth.

While the need for digital skills spans just about every marketing principle, there are a few that stand out. If you work in the digital marketing world, you wont be surprised to know that paid social the internet marketing strategy that places ads on social media platforms is currently the biggest skill, with demand having increased by a staggering 116.4%. Thats huge pressure on agencies who now need to more than double their paid social to cope with workloads.

Unsurprisingly, paid social was the big winner of 2020 that continued to grow in 2021. As lockdown hit, most of us moved online to cure the boredom. There was a whole new market for social media advertising, explaining the spike in need for experienced professionals in the field.

Similarly, content marketing has seen a surge in interest from companies with a 31.9% increase in demand, no doubt related to surging levels of online engagement, and web content writing also rose by 30.3%.

While the demand for these roles is on the rise, the talent pool hasnt grown at the same rate.

More significantly, the need for SEO executives declined in the last year by 12.6%. This doesnt mean that the industry is on a downward trend. Rather, to cope with the competitiveness of moving online, businesses turned to instant gratification with paid media as opposed to the longer-term SEO strategies.

While SEO executives arent in high demand, this doesnt mean that SEO isnt growing. Many well-established brands, decided to focus on SEO during the pandemic as opposed to pushing ads and product launches through paid media to avoid seeming inappropriate or insensitive to the situation. Of course, they had the existing brand reputation and online presence to do so smaller businesses didnt have this luxury.

Other marketing roles such as account executives and account managers, seem to be the job titles that are slipping out of the mainstream. This is because the need for digital skills is now outweighed by that of real-world marketing. Of course, we could see this change again as the world continues to move towards pre-pandemic lifestyles.

The need for digital skills has reached a critical point, and the amount of available work doesnt reflect the number of digital marketing professionals in the market. In previous years digital marketing jobs were hard to find, with agencies receiving hundreds of applications for jobs. Now, with more work than ever, there simply isnt enough talent to fill these positions.

Earlier this year, the BBC reported that the UK was headed for a digital skills shortage disaster. This much is obvious when you consider the idea of remote working. Even outside of the digital marketing world, basic digital skills are essential for any kind of office work today.

Within digital marketing, agencies are also driving up salaries to secure candidates. While plateauing recently, salaries are still significantly higher than pre-pandemic salary levels.

Theyre also trying to incorporate flexible working as a benefit. But while this is certainly an improvement on pre-pandemic working patterns, its a waiting game as to whether these changes are permeant, or whether some agencies are piggybacking on what they see as a recruitment trend.

In the early days of the pandemic, recruitment was a mixed bag. Candidates were either looking to jump a sinking ship, or were too worried to leave a stable job amidst an uncertain job market. This inevitably broke when companies started making redundancies and agencies snapped up those digital marketing professionals looking for work.

Today, the drive for digital marketing is still at full speed but the talent pool hasnt really grown in that time. This means that most agencies are now struggling to adapt to the aftermath of the employment boom.

The recruitment industry is definitely feeling the effects of the digital marketing boom. Every agency out there seems to be hiring for the same roles and finding candidates is becoming more and more challenging, said Sara Smith, Talent Acquisition Manager at Modo25.

At Modo25, were still getting lots of applicants which we think is largely down to our entirely flexible approach to working. Even before the pandemic, we embraced flexible working by allowing our team to work wherever they feel most productive. We also use a 4-day work week model which massively helps considering work/life balance is at the forefront of everyones long-term career plans following the past year and a half.

As we move in 2022, its unclear as to how the market will adapt. New graduates are entering the market every year which should take off the pressure for many agencies. But the need for ongoing training may put some off making the investment.

Morgan Mitchell is senior content marketing executive at Modo25.

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How companies are competing for talent in the digital marketing world? - Maddyness

The Biden administration announced today, during the 33rd annual observance of World AIDS Day, its recommitment to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, and renewed the U.S governments bipartisan and decades-long commitment to ending the HIV epidemic at home and around the world.

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted every aspect of the HIV/AIDS response, from prevention to treatment to research, the United States is redoubling efforts to confront the HIV/AIDS epidemic and achieve equitable access to HIV prevention, care, and treatment in every community particularly for communities of color, adolescent girls and young women, and the LGBTQI+ community, the announcement states.

The news comes weeks after South African scientists reported another variant of COVID called Omicron, which has increased cases in the country evidence shows that though reported first in South Africa, the Omicron variant was found to have been in Europe days before. But South Africa is no stranger to leading efforts against epidemics and pandemics. It was one of the countrys most prominent figures, after all, who helped mobilize efforts around HIV awareness.

Winter was approaching South Africa in June 1999 when Nelson Mandela stepped down from his historic post as the countrys first Black head of state. Giving a personal declaration, Mandela said:

Let us give publicity to HIV/AIDS and not hide it, because the only way to make it appear like a normal illness like TB, like cancer, is always to come out and say somebody has died because of HIV/AIDS, and people will stop regarding it as something extraordinary.

Mandela, a towering figure for human rights, founded the Nelson Mandela Foundation to include a focus on HIV research that same year.

As of 2020, 37.7 million people around the world are living with HIV, according to UNAIDS, with another estimated 680,000 dying from HIV-related illnesses last year alone.

Each year on December 1, since its founding in 1988, World AIDS Day is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV. It's also dedicated to mourning those who have died of the disease.

Mandela is neither the first nor the last leader to fight the epidemic and the stigma that fuels it.

World AIDS Day is an opportunity for us to remember those we have lost in the epidemic and celebrate the lives of those still living and thriving with HIV, Dr. Allison Mathews tells me.

Mathews has been a force in dedicating her work to HIV and AIDS. She serves as executive director and research fellow in faith and health at the Gilead COMPASS Faith Coordinating Center at Wake Forest University. She specializes in integrating technology, social marketing, community engagement, and social science to examine the intersections of race, class, gender, sexuality, and religiosity on HIV-related stigma and to innovate clinical research engagement and access to health care for underserved populations. Mathews has spoken about HIV and COVID-19 on both national and international platforms, including TEDxCaryWomen, and cofounded December 14 as HIV Cure Research Day, alongside her colleague Kimberly Knight, to raise awareness about HIV cure research and encourage community involvement in ending the HIV epidemic.

As a sociologist, I have always been concerned with the consequences we experience as a result of inequality and oppression against racial and ethnic minorities, women, and LGBTQ people, she says. The HIV epidemic disproportionately affects the most marginalized in our communities, largely due to societal inequalities that exist. I have experienced my fair share of discrimination and refuse to go down without a fight. I am fighting for those, particularly people living with HIV, who have been relegated to the margins.

Dr. Christopher Irving Mathews, the capacity building and technical assistance manager at Emory Centers for Public Health Training and Technical Assistance, says that World AIDS Day used to be a day of mourning and a day he would spend reflecting on the deaths of many of his friends who have lost their lives to HIV.

I would start [World AIDS Day] having a good long cry in the shower, and then I would go to some event that would only trigger a flood of memories that I was working diligently to avoid, he says. But now it has become a day of celebration. A day I spend with my friends. Friends who are not just surviving their diagnosis but thriving. Theyre living their best lives. Their days are filled with good times and intimate moments.

Christopher Mathews says he uses those treasured memories as ammo to continue to fight.

I fight for the day when my friends will wake up and no longer even have to think of their diagnosis. It is the reason I get up every morning, pull myself together, and join my colleagues at the Emory COMPASS Coordinating Center, where we continue to support the work of eradicating HIV in the South.

The theme of this years World AIDS Day is Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone's Voice. Heres why equity is key: Black Americans and LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly in the South, experience the highest number of cases of HIV due to limited access to support and prevention resources.

According to Wake Forest University School of Divinity, HIV is a social justice and racial justice issue. Black Americans account for more HIV diagnoses (42 percent of the total) than any other racial and ethnic group in the U.S. despite being only 13percent of the population.

These vulnerabilities are systemic and due to structural barriers which are rooted in racist and anti-Black policies and practices, according to Wake Forest University School of Divinity much the same as limited resources within health care, education, employment, and housing. Black gay men, Black cisgender women, and transgender women of color are the most affected by HIV.

HIV is no longer a deadly virus, but should be considered a chronic health condition, says DeAshia Lee, the COMPASS program manager for the Southern AIDS Coalition. Lee makes strategic investments into community organizations that are committed to ending HIV-related stigma in the Deep South.

It is a chronic health condition that is treatable and manageable, Lee tells me. There have been incredible social and medical advances to address the HIV epidemic in the past 40 years, but it is important to acknowledge that we still have a lot of work to do regarding HIV-related stigma, access to equitable health care, and high-quality systems of HIV prevention, especially in the Southern United States.

Lee says that she is continuing a fight that was initiated 40 years ago and bringing attention to HIV that significantly impacts marginalized communities.

There is still a need for resources, education, advocacy, research, and funding to continue the fight to end the HIV epidemic in our communities.

The stigma around HIV continues to be one of the most dominant social issues. According to GLAADs 2021 State of HIV Stigma report, there remains an unfounded fear about people living with HIV, even though those receiving proper medical treatment cannot transmit it. The study found that 53percent of non-LGBTQ+ people surveyed noted that they would be uncomfortable interacting with a medical professional who has HIV, 44percent would feel uncomfortable around a hairstylist or barber living with HIV, while another 35 percent would be uncomfortable with a teacher living with HIV.

Advocates are doing all they can to remind all Americans that HIV is a chronic health condition, not a death sentence. It can be prevented, tested for, and treated like any chronic disease such as diabetes, and people living with HIV and on treatment can be healthy, have children, and not pass on the virus (Undetectable = Untransmittable). In most cases, HIV treatment even means just taking one pill a day.

Another issue the Faith Coordinating Center at Wake Forest School of Divinity notes is that faith-based HIV stigma hurts, and it helps spread HIV. More than 10,000 U.S. congregations have members living with HIV, which makes it vital for faith communities to take leadership in addressing HIV stigma. Shaming people living with HIV or for being on medication to prevent HIV stops people from seeking the care they need and lets undiagnosed people pass on the virus.

Allison Mathews says she wants community members to know that the HIV epidemic is not over and that we still need to fight for equitable access to prevention, treatment, and eventually cure therapies.

I want people to know that their voices matter in advocating for access to resources to end the HIV epidemic and that all issues, including those related to the environment, transportation, housing, food, education, criminal justice, and employment have an impact on our health and wellbeing, she tells me.

Together we can push our policy makers, scientists, and institutions to be better stewards of our health.

Lee states that the future of HIV activism is through social media and online platforms, where outreach is much greater because your words are not limited to a particular room, locale, country, or even language.

There are often conversations happening online that many people would not have been a part of because they are not in those rooms or at those tables, Lee says. Online, all voices can be equal, and you do not have to pass the mic because everyone has a mic.

Christopher Mathews says he doesn't want the future of HIV activism to look like anything. I hope, pray, and believe that there will be no work in the future, he said. I hope there will only be tales of how we overcame.

Lee says she will observe the day by participating in the Ending the Epidemics SC's Statewide observance of World AIDS Day, in which there will be a series of in-person and online events that promote HIV self-testing, PrEP, and safer sex practices.

Allison Mathews tells me the Gilead COMPASS Faith Coordinating Center at Wake Forest Universitys School of Divinity is planning numerous activities to commemorate World AIDS Day.

We hosted a worship service dedicated to remembering those we have lost to complications with AIDS and hope and healing of our faith communities to address HIV stigma moving forward, she said.

We are also celebrating 14 days of HIV awareness that starts with World AIDS Day (12/1) and ends on HIV Cure Research Day (12/14), which is a day I cofounded with Kimberly Knight to encourage the public to learn more about HIV cure clinical trials and advocating for health equity as we develop new HIV therapies. Our PI, Dr. Shonda Jones, will be speaking on a panel entitled'The Impact of HIV/AIDS in the Black Community' for the National AIDS Memorial day of events.

Christopher Irving Lee says he will spend the day by having dinner with a few of his close friends while recounting stories of those who brought joy to our lives but are no longer here.

Those who we loved and lost, but who we will never be forgotten. Also, planning new memories with those who live on.

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On World AIDS Day, HIV Activists Say There's More Work to Be Done - Advocate.com

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, November 29, 2021 --(PR.com)--Award-winning Vietnamese PR and marketing agency EloQ Communications has been recognized as one of the best social media agencies in Fall 2021 by Top Digital Agency (TDA), best 16 social media agencies by BestStartup.Asia, and top 10 content agencies in Vietnam by PR Expert.

This fall, EloQ Communications has proven itself to be a true force to be reckoned with in the areas of public relations, social media and content marketing. After winning Best PR Agency at the prestigious 3rd ASEAN PR Excellence award, EloQ has continued to receive praise as an up-and-coming leader in the field by various platforms.

Best social media agencies, Fall 2021, by TDAAs one of the biggest platforms for digital agencies globally, TDA holds its awards program to celebrate marketing agencies of all shapes and sizes coming from many regions and countries. TDA honors best agencies based on a variety of factors: work quality, recent projects, the agencys expertise in the field, and willingness to share helpful knowledge and insights with the community through online publications.

Top 10 social media marketing solutions, 2021, by PR ExpertPR Expert showcases the top picks for the best Vietnam-based social media marketing companies, from cutting-edge startups to established brands. These startups and companies were selected for outstanding performance, evaluated based on innovation, growth and societal impact.

Top 16 content companies, 2021, by BestStartup.AsiaBestStartup.Asia features startups and companies that are taking a variety of approaches to innovate the content industry. Companies that made it to the list are selected for their innovative idea and exceptional growth strategy.

Dr. Clra Ly-Le, Managing Director of EloQ Communications, shared: It is the third consecutive year that TDA awarded EloQ with this title, and the first time with BestStartup.Asia and PR Expert. The continuous recognition and our diversified clientele are proofs that speak louder than words for our expertise and service quality in delivering PR and marketing projects. Were proud and honored to achieve these acknowledgments.

EloQ Communications is highly experienced in supporting multinational brands, from market entry and familiarizing with the Vietnam business environment, to building brand love and strengthening brand reputation in the local market. Social media marketing has always been one of EloQs strengths, alongside public relations, digital strategy, influencer marketing, and creative solutions.

EloQs mission is to promote the image of Vietnams public relations industry to new frontiers. To realize the dream of empowering the voices of Vietnamese public relations professionals, EloQ Communications aims for global standards and adopts these standards in conducting local public relations and marketing activities.

About EloQ CommunicationsEloQ Communications is an independent communications agency that acts as its clients eyes, ears, and voice in the Vietnamese market. Combining local expertise with a global perspective, EloQ works with foreign and Vietnamese companies of all sizes and industries to enhance their images and extend their reach in the Vietnamese market.

EloQ offers a range of marketing services, including PR, social marketing, digital marketing, influencer marketing, business and product branding, crisis communication, integrated strategic planning, and event planning. The agency values modernity, transparency, and flexibility above all.

For more information about EloQ and its services, please visit http://www.eloqasia.com.

About TDATDA is the first global marketplace for companies and digital agencies in the world. We function like an online dating site for companies and digital agencies and help them connect in 3 simple steps: (i) Companies leave project requests on the site; (ii) Agencies see the projects and pitch to the company; (iii) Companies then decide whether or not to contact the agencies for further discussions. Through this process, TDA makes it possible for any company and any digital agency to meet no matter where they are in the world without leaving their office.

About BestStartup.Asia and PR ExpertBestStartup.asia and PR Expert are managed by Fupping LTD, a London-based media company, with the mission to promote the greatest Asian companies, businesses and innovations on the global stage.

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EloQ Communications Continuously Recognized as One of the Best Content and Social Media Agencies in Vietnam - PR.com

Elmsford, NY, Dec. 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NanoVibronix, Inc., (NASDAQ: NAOV), a healthcare device company that produces the UroShield and PainShield Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Portable Ultrasonic Therapeutic Devices, today announced that sales of its Painshield device to the Veterans Administration (VA) has been accelerating.

Brian Murphy, CEO of Nanovibronix, stated, Sales of our PainShield device to the VA commenced mid-summer, and we are pleased to report that adoption is happening at a relatively rapid pace in the first facilities where it is available. All indications appear to us to show that our revolutionary device is recognized as an effective treatment, as our devices are being prescribed by VA healthcare providers at an increasing rate to remedy pain suffered by so many of our veterans. Furthermore, we are experiencing higher than usual reorders of the disposables that accompany the device, which generally signals a high level of patient compliance and satisfaction. The VA is committed to finding better ways to manage pain, limit the risks of opioid therapy and address the growing epidemic of opioid misuse. As a non-opioid alternative, PainShield aligns directly with these goals.

The VA is the largest integrated health care system in the United States providing healthcare to nine million enrolled veterans each year, continued Murphy. This represents an enormous opportunity and will serve as a key catalyst for further growing our business as we expand our footprint throughout the VA system. Importantly, we are in the process of adding additional manufacturing capacity that has been deemed as Trade Agreement Act (TAA) compliant enabling us to meet current and hopefully future production targets to support the increase in sales.

PainShield is an ultrasound device that delivers a localized ultrasound effect to treat pain and induce soft tissue healing in a targeted area, while keeping the level of ultrasound energy at a safe and consistent level. Its range of applications includes acute and chronic pain resolution through its many mechanisms of action. The product has broad applications for sports injuries. PainShield can be used by patients at home or work or in a clinical setting and can be used even while the patient is sleeping. Patient benefits include ease of application and use, faster recovery time, high compliance, and increased safety and efficacy over existing devices that rely on higher-frequency ultrasound.

About NanoVibronix, Inc.

NanoVibronix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NAOV) is a medical device company headquartered in Elmsford, New York, with research and development in Nesher, Israel, focused on developing medical devices utilizing its patented low intensity surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology. The proprietary technology allows for the creation of low-frequency ultrasound waves that can be utilized for a variety of medical applications, including for disruption of biofilms and bacterial colonization, as well as for pain relief. The devices can be administered at home without the assistance of medical professionals. The Companys primary products include PainShield and UroShield, which are portable devices suitable for administration at home without assistance of medical professionals. Additional information about NanoVibronix is available at: http://www.nanovibronix.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements may be preceded by the words intends, may, will, plans, expects, anticipates, projects, predicts, estimates, aims, believes, hopes, potential or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Companys control, and cannot be predicted or quantified; consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with: (i) the geographic, social and economic impact of COVID-19 on the Companys ability to conduct its business and raise capital in the future when needed, (ii) market acceptance of our existing and new products or lengthy product delays in key markets; (iii) negative or unreliable clinical trial results; (iv) inability to secure regulatory approvals for the sale of our products; (v) intense competition in the medical device industry from much larger, multinational companies; (vi) product liability claims; (vii) product malfunctions; (viii) our limited manufacturing capabilities and reliance on subcontractor assistance; (ix) insufficient or inadequate reimbursements by governmental and/or other third party payers for our products; (x) our ability to successfully obtain and maintain intellectual property protection covering our products; (xi) legislative or regulatory reform impacting the healthcare system in the U.S. or in foreign jurisdictions; (xii) our reliance on single suppliers for certain product components, (xiii) the need to raise additional capital to meet our future business requirements and obligations, given the fact that such capital may not be available, or may be costly, dilutive or difficult to obtain; (xiv) our conducting business in foreign jurisdictions exposing us to additional challenges, such as foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, logistical and communications challenges, the burden and cost of compliance with foreign laws, and political and/or economic instabilities in specific jurisdictions; and (xv) market and other conditions. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward looking statements is set forth in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SECs web site at: http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

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NanoVibronix Announces Early Success in the Marketing of - GlobeNewswire