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Sprout Social, which provides cloud-based social media management software, announces several enhancements to its Social Customer Care by Sprout platform. Associated Messages will give teams access to a full historical view of a case’s public and private messages. Message Intent Classification leverages AI to help users determine the highest-priority message so that they can be solved first. The updates are intended to help lessen the amount of manual work that customer care teams need to deal with. Other new features include Analyze by AI Assist, which offers executive summary insights for reporting widgets; Conversation Breakdown Widget, which employs data lenses such as sentiment to broaden its view of active conversations; and Comment Sentiment in Reports, a way for marketers to understand how audiences respond to certain content through new positive/negative/neutral comment counts. “We are continuing to invest in product enhancements that enable teams to work smarter and faster,” said Sprout Social chief product officer Erika Trautman.
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Trefoil Group, a Milwaukee-based B2B marketing agency, merges with BrandStar, a horizontally and vertically integrated production company, marketing agency and content exchange platform. The acquisition is BrandStar’s first B2B agency investment. Trefoil will maintain its home office in Milwaukee, along with its current team. Mary Scheibel, who founded Trefoil in 1991, takes on the title of EVP, strategy. The agency’s client base spans a wide range of markets, including manufacturing, medical device, logistics, healthcare and consumer packaged goods. Trefoil says that access to BrandStar’s family of companies deepens its digital and public relations bench strength and expands its creative competencies. “This merger accelerates our ability to deliver B2B marketing that continues to drive our clients’ businesses forward with measurable returns,” said Scheibel.
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The New York Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is launching The Big Apple Podcast by PRSA-NY, a limited-edition series that looks at how New York City became the prime hub for PR pros. Each episode interviews industry trailblazers who share their insights and experiences, highlighting how the city’s environment shapes the world of public relations. Streaming on all major podcast platforms, The Big Apple Podcast by PRSA-NY is hosted by Sandra Fathi, CEO and founder of Grey Matter Advisory, chief growth officer for Global Gateway Advisors, and former president of PRSA-NY, chair of the PRSA Tri-State District, chair of the PRSA Technology Section and a Board Member of the PR Council. “Our board has been laser focused on engaging current and prospective members with new tools, resources, and innovation activities to support their professional development objectives,” said PRSA-NY chapter president and North Sixth Group founder and chairman Matt Rizzetta. “The Big Apple Podcast by PRSA-NY is a great example of this.”
Mark Allen & Co. acquires Alban Communications, establishing its first Miami office... Buchalter, a business law firm, launches a crisis management and strategic response group... 5W PR expands its beauty practice to include TikTok Shop-aligned PR campaigns and creator amplification strategies.
Caster Communications is acquired by long-time agency leaders Alexandra Crabb and Peter Girard... DiGennaro Communications launches The Authority Studio, a freestanding content strategy and production offering... The Brandman Agency, which specializes in luxury travel and lifestyle, rebrands as Brandman.
Public Inc., a social impact agency based in Toronto and New York, acquires Rocket Social Impact, an advisory firm that works with nonprofit and corporate social impact organizations... Ruder Finn launches “What’s Next: The Ruder Finn Podcast,” a new platform hosted by CEO Kathy Bloomgarden... Crowe PR joins United Partners Network, a network of independent PR agencies with members across more than 65 markets worldwide.
Ruder Finn launches rf.Voices, an integrated influence offering that brings together AI-powered influencer marketing, customer advocacy and paid amplification under one measurable framework... The Pollack Group is accepting applications through March 31 for The Big Red Grant, a $40,000 pro bono strategic PR and marketing engagement program awarded to a nonprofit organization ready for growth... D S Simon Media releases a report that says almost seven in ten producers (68 percent) are more interested in airing a story when they know it has been optimized for AI.
Precision Strategies, an integrated strategy and marketing agency with offices in Washington and New York, acquires Firehouse Strategies, a DC-based public affairs firm... AVENIR GLOBAL acquires London-based Thinks Insight & Strategy... Good Company, which bills itself as a “cultural engineering firm,” is launched by DJ Hardy, a veteran of Johannesburg-based communications consultancy arxna and M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment and Casey Stickles, who has worked at 5WPR, Rubenstein and MWW.
