Creative Blog - Rettew Creative

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What does it really mean to implement agile storytelling?

This past June during the PRSA Southeastern Conference here in Greenville, SC…my friend Kevin Purcer of Erwin Penland led a discussion surrounding something he termed as “Agile Storytelling”. Much of his premise surrounded the ideas of what makes really good content and when should we share accordingly…I wanted to critically think through this idea.

Kevin specifically looks through the brand storytelling lens, creating narratives that represent the brand image, versus content curation storytellers leveraging narratives in real time for for sharing and engaging.

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Thornton Kirby is really driving a wonderful conversation around state of healthcare and consumerism! #DigitalHealth

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Photo taken at: Clemson University MBA Programs

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Shifting Your Digital Ad Budget —> Match Ad Dollar Spend With Content Curation Investment

The role of B2B digital communications has challenged me in so many ways, every day as a storyteller. I am attracted to the projects that brings audiences new places to explore, learn, feel, connect, and share. I have struggled to think through the marketing lens, actually…it is quite hard for me.

Over the last year, we have been working with groups ranging from large national clients to smaller business/organizations…and many things are ringing with the same tune. Digital marketing is a lot of damn work because people just do not like digital ads. We have to tell stories and put digital ad dollars being content for more effecting impact.

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Concerns of Auto-Pilot Mode of Scheduling, Digital Automation, and Digital Ad Buys

The time is now! Telling rich stories has become ever more important in the world of organic storytelling. It is providing a much needed balance to digital content marketing efforts inside agencies and inside organizations. With more and more access to digital marketing tools and automation, the temptation is to put more thrust behind reach rather than substance.

We are finding more and more groups and willing to jump the digital ad buys quickly and begin to ignore the far reaching sustainable efforts of organic storytelling they have built.

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The truth behind the on-camera interview

It was just the other day as a storyteller and I sat through another amazing interview…an interview that not only brought me to tears, but the people around me. Laneika is a more than a domestic violence survivor and her story is one of purest of crystal balls…you have to carefully take care of her story or it will slip through your fragile fingers and crash all upon the floor.

Storytellers have a tremendous burden, one of not only crafting the story…but finding the right characters and helping them find the right words at the right time. It is a special dance and we carefully step around the ballroom. The largest part of that dance, those steps, is finding the path through the interview.

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Just a reminder… #Storytelling

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Yes…we are doing this again in 2016! #DigitalHealth

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500 Homes is a BIG DEAL

Yes…500 homes! Can you imagine building a home, two homes, or even 500 homes?

500 homes represent 500 families who have been impacted through safe, & energy-efficient, affordable housing in the state of South Carolina– that’s 500 stories of true life change. All this organized, cultivated, and executed by an amazing organization called Homes of Hope in Greenville, SC.

We had a tremendous opportunity to help tell three stories and help share this excitement. First, we created a promotional video showcasing the 500th home celebration.

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Stop the talking heads and flapping lips on social video! :)

Yes…stop it. No one wants to hear your rants and dialogue? Just because you have an iPhone and video camera…it just is not working. People want more than you flapping your lips and ranting your thoughts on Facebook and Instagram.

I feel the old newsroom junkie in me coming out in this rant. My old news director used to preach to us…do not let me see your talking head during your live shots. People want you to show and tell, give the audience the opportunity to explore the story visually.

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Sharing Brittny’s Story at Fashion with a Passion 2015

In January we had the opportunity to meet Brittany Speed, a survivor of domestic violence. We sat down to capture her story and we were amazed with her path, how she came to Safe Harbor, and how her story is empowering others.

Our friends at Safe Harbor asked us to capture, tell, and share Brittny’s story as a featured video for their March event called Fashion with a Passion.

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Nurse-Family Partnership is more than a job, it’s a calling

Nursing is more than a job…it is a passion. I fully understand this statement first hand, I am a product of a nurse’s salary growing up. I remember my mother as a nurse from the moment I could tie my shoes, she taught me right from wrong from a nurse’s lens.

My mom is now a Nurse Practitioner who put herself through school while I was in high school. She graduated with her BSN two years before I graduated from high school. She put herself through graduate school and then put me through graduate school. Nursing is a part of my DNA.

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Storytelling, Apple, and Anderson University

There is nothing more exciting than to see one of your clients being recognized by world wide brand. I was asked to join our friends at Anderson University to watch a special announcement. On Thursday, February 12th, Apple came to Anderson University to present a special recognition.

Anderson University’s Henderson Auditorium was packed with faculty, staff, students, community leaders and they had a few special guests on stage. Two representatives from Apple came to present Anderson University with the Apple Distinguished School designation for 2014-16.

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Say yes to storytelling and no to brand journalism!

I have been thinking about this idea of “brand journalism”. I think it is funny terminology that is almost a paradox, conflicting, and has no merit to the pairing of the two words.

A few weeks ago, I was sitting in a group discussion and one of the ladies from our church looked me and asked, “Bobby…I am trying to figure out exactly what you do.” I had always told people I am a storyteller and I work with organizations to find and tell stories.

This past week, she asked me again, “Bobby…I still am trying to figure out what you do.” I replied jokingly, and with a bit of a smirk in my tone, “sometimes I wonder the same thing.” One of my friends, noticing I need some help in this conversation, pepped up and and helped me with a response, “I think he is a brand journalist, he helps brands tell stories.”

At first, I thought her response sounded smart…but something did not seem right. What are the ethics in brand journalism?

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#DigitalHealth Mini MBA Certificate Program at Clemson

I’m very excited to share with you something I have been working on for quite some time.

We have all been very busy at the Social Health Institute developing a Mini MBA Certificate Program with our friends at Clemson University. A year in the making, this six-course offering provides a unique approach to deliver thought leadership in the space of digital communication, social media communication and healthcare business management.

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In the world of healthcare, is earned media really earned?

I just watched a Facebook post come across my news feed from a hospital employee. They were sharing a story from the local news paper’s website praising a hospital’s initiative. We see this everyday, employees and brand ambassadors sharing stories online, specifically recognizing their workplace.

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Just turn around and listen…then be patient! #storytelling

Meet the two Sarah’s that attended SC Mission 2014.

It is one of the hardest things to do…to just turn around, listen, and trust our instincts. Major events allow communicators to tell rich stories. Many times we focus more time on the event and less time on the people attending the events.

Planning is key!
For the last few years, I have been capturing and telling stories of the un-insured in South Carolina. Each year I help document SC Mission…but this year was different…it was time to really find a good story.

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