Blog Interactive Archives - communications 21

3 Reasons to Use Snapchat as a Marketing Tool – With a Reality Check for 2026

Jamie Donaldson — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 21:31:41 +0000

Social media platforms continue to be a powerful tool for strengthening a company’s brand through awareness and audience engagement. But as the social landscape evolves, marketers need to re-evaluate long-standing assumptions about which platforms deliver ROI and which may no longer be the right fit for every brand. After 10+ years, Snapchat remains a part of the social media ecosystem, but it’s no longer the standout “must-have” it once was, and in most cases, we don’t recommend it for our clients.

Here’s an updated look at Snapchat’s role in digital marketing today, including what it can do well and where it falls short compared to other platforms.

Snapchat Still Has a Desirable Young Audience – But Reach Alone Isn’t Enough

Original point: “Snapchat has a huge and desirable audience.”

Update for 2026: Snapchat’s strength remains its reach among younger users, particularly Gen Z and younger Millennials. However, while Snapchat continues to see growth in daily active users globally, user numbers in key markets like North America have stagnated or even declined, and its total global base (hundreds of millions daily) still trails platforms like TikTok and Instagram in scale.

That means Snapchat’s audience can still be valuable for certain brands targeting young demographics, but reach isn’t as broad or as reliably growing as it once was. Marketers should weigh whether that specific audience is worth the investment compared with platforms that offer both large scale and strong growth.

Advertising Tools Have Improved – But Effectiveness and ROI Are Mixed

Original point: “Snapchat offers different advertising options to fit your company’s goals and budget.”

Update for 2026: Snapchat does provide advertisers with a range of tools that are much more sophisticated than when we wrote the first iteration of this blog in 2016. Now Snapchat’s advertising toolkit includes full-screen video ads, geofilters, lenses and newer formats like Sponsored Snaps and Promoted Places. Recent investments in AI-powered advertising and direct-response options are helping small and midsize advertisers reach users more efficiently.

Even with all the latest Snapchat Ads solutions, Snap has struggled to prove clear ROI and platform value compared with competitors. In 2025, technical glitches in Snapchat’s ad delivery system significantly impacted ad performance and contributed to advertisers pulling back ad spend. As digital marketers, we always prefer platforms where returns are easy to measure and benchmark.

In general, results aren’t consistently strong enough to justify prioritizing Snapchat over bigger social platforms unless you have a very specific, research-backed strategy.

Authentic, Ephemeral Content Can Be Engaging – But It’s Not Always Marketing-Friendly

Original point: “Snapchat gives your audience a behind-the-scenes, more exclusive look at your business.”

Update for 2026: Authentic, disappearing content once made Snapchat feel like a “real” way to connect with audiences and was unique to the Snapchat platform. Years later, other social networks feature disappearing content too, so Snapchat isn’t the only sheriff in town.

Of course, brands that lean into genuine storytelling can see engagement from loyal followers but Snapchat’s intimate IRL (in real life) friend-centered nature limits how far branded content spreads. Content on Snapchat doesn’t have the same discoverability or algorithmic reach that platforms like TikTok or Instagram offer. Moreover, building and maintaining a following on Snapchat is significantly harder because users tend to connect primarily with personal contacts or influencers, not brands.

The Bottom Line on Snapchat in 2026

Snapchat still matters for specific audience segments (especially younger users), but it’s increasingly a supplemental part of some broader strategies and not a core platform for most brands.
Clients demand clear ROI. While Snapchat’s tools have improved, competition from TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts and others has intensified and many marketers see more predictable returns on those other platforms.
Snapchat’s strength lies in authentic engagement, not broad reach. That’s valuable, but only if your brand strategy and goals support it.

Snapchat can still be part of your digital marketing toolkit, but it shouldn’t be the centerpiece for most plans in 2026. Consider it when your audience skews young, your budget allows for experimentation and you’re ready to measure whether the platform helps achieve specific business goals rather than relying on it as a default choice.

The only certainty is that the social media landscape is constantly changing. c21 can help you decide whether Snapchat fits your brand goals and prioritize the platforms that deliver real, measurable results. (And spoiler – we probably will not suggest Snapchat for most clients.) Let’s optimize your social media marketing plan for 2026 and beyond!

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Redefining Success: Starting Over at Any Age

Jamie Donaldson — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 18:08:12 +0000

by Meghan Stoneburner, Director

“Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.” – Dale Turner

Did you know Ray Kroc, the founder behind McDonald’s, didn’t get into the food industry until he was 52 years old? Or that Vera Wang, famous fashion designer, started in the design business when she was 40 years old?

From these examples, it seems it’s never too late to start on the path of a new adventure, whether that’s a complete career change or starting college at a later age. I don’t think there’s necessarily a “right” age to start something new. However, when you picture a college student, you immediately envision someone young, full of life, eager to learn and ready to take on their future. That was me back in the late 90s, but that was definitely not me by the time I graduated in 2013.

Because I grew up in South Florida, I knew since I was seven that I wanted to go to school at Florida State University (FSU). Floridians pick a college football team when they’re young and stick with them! I also knew from that young age what I wanted to become when I grew up—a writer—a traveling journalist, to be exact! I was determined, a bit stubborn and slightly delusional because FSU was the only college I applied to, and thankfully, by October of my senior year, I had already been accepted.

I had it all planned out! I attended FSU right out of high school. I majored in English and minored in Classical Mythology. (Because that makes sense!) For three years, I made the honor roll every semester. Then life happened, as it does sometimes. An obstacle dropped into my path — and I wondered, am I Sisyphus constantly pushing the boulder uphill or am I Odysseus having to choose between Scylla and Charybdis?

I was forced to make a choice and had to withdraw from college to handle serious family issues. This required my undivided attention and took the life out of me for a bit. I was heartbroken to see my plans disintegrate like Icarus’ wings flying too close to the sun. But I was determined to return to FSU and finish that degree as soon as possible. I was seriously begging the universe to calm down at that point when, true to ancient mythological form, life happened again. Aphrodite struck when I met my now husband. Within one year, I went from a young college student to a new wife and mother living in a different state. How’s that for life-changing?!

Eventually, I became a mother of two little girls and was a dedicated stay-at-home mom for 12 years. I loved being a mom but did not love being a stay-at-home mom. I wanted more, and despite the mom-guilt, I knew I had to choose a new path if I wanted more for my life. The moment my youngest daughter entered the school system, I returned to college. Even though it had been years since I initially attended a university, there was never a doubt in my mind that I would become a college graduate one day. The reason I was so determined is because I knew I could become the first person in my family to earn a college degree.

Growing up with a single mom who struggled with mental health issues and addictions, I grew up incredibly poor, living on welfare when we were lucky and buying my school clothes from the Dollar Store. There were times I went to bed hungry, but all of that taught me to be resilient, dedicated and determined despite my limitations. Earning a degree and getting out of poverty was all I wanted in life.

My husband, daughters and I had settled in Georgia by this point. While my dream of graduating from FSU was dead, I was quickly accepted into Kennesaw State University (KSU). My love for words wasn’t gone by any means but I knew teaching wasn’t my passion and an English degree doesn’t give a direct career path outside of education. Instead of continuing my English degree, I found that I was fascinated by the marketing industry. The psychology around marketing drew me in, and when I learned that writing was a huge part of the industry, I dove head-first into this new path. Despite being a 30-something-year-old college student, I knew I could do this.

When I learned statistics was required for a marketing degree, I cried and contemplated quitting on the spot. But instead, I tackled Stats like Perseus conquered Medusa and made it my first class. I told myself, “This is it. If you can’t pass Statistics, you’ll have to find a new major.” Not only did I pass that Stats class, but I scored a perfect grade on the cumulative final, receiving an A in the class. I knew from that moment on that nothing would stop me from earning my degree.

Even as a mother of two, I figured out how to make college work. It was one of the most stressful times of my life where I would parent all day, go to classes at night and stay up until the wee hours of the morning studying. Balancing college life with mom life was more difficult than I expected it to be, especially because my husband was traveling two to three weeks every month for work.

My daughters watched every moment of that struggle, and I wanted to set a good example by persevering and finishing what I started. They were my inspiration as much as I was theirs. I knew I had to keep going and earn this degree for my future and theirs. And I did just that. I graduated from KSU in 2013. Eleven years later, I’m writing this blog as a Titan — I mean one of the Directors for communications 21. How’s that for career growth?!

Over the years, I’ve had bosses and coworkers younger than me. In fact, half of my current coworkers could be my children. It doesn’t bother me at all because my age has given me additional experience they don’t have. I’ve lived through the absolute lows of life and struggled to find my way to the highs. That alone has given me a perspective that few have, and I’ve used that to help further my career as the years progressed.

I’m also aware that learning from the younger generations is a privilege that my age group may tend to brush off. My young coworkers don’t know life without social media and the internet — and I do. The internet has always been available to them, but it didn’t play a part in my life until I was in college at FSU. There is a lot to learn from the younger generations but just the same, there is a lot they can learn from me.

Like the trials of Hercules, it hasn’t been an easy career path, to say the least. But I truly believe every step along the way was meant to bring me to this company, to this position, to this life. I’ve never felt so at home with a group of people who inspire me to do better and step my game up every single day.

I became the first person in my family to earn a college degree all while raising two little girls. If I can handle all of that, I believe people can handle just about anything. Whether you are contemplating going to college later in life like I did, or perhaps changing career paths completely, I hope my Odyssey can serve as inspiration for you to keep going and never lose hope for too long. Remember, you can take a new path in life whenever you want. Starting over is not an Achilles heel. You just have channel the spirit of the Amazons and be brave enough.

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c21tv, Episode 9: Wazzup with Tara?

Jamie Donaldson — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 15:36:16 +0000

Transcript:

c21tv episode nine – Wazzup with Tara?

Tara: Wazzup? So like, this is a question that I do have an answer to and it’s very different than if you ask me just “what’s up?” Because if you ask me, “Tara, what’s up?” then I’m going to say, “not much” or “I’m a little busy today.” But if you ask me, “wazzup?” you are already starting the social interaction by being weird and extra and you’re kind of breaking the social convention of just asking me a random little pleasantry in a way where clearly I’m supposed to answer it quickly and uninterestingly.

What Do You Like About Interning at c21?

What do I like about interning at c21? I think it’s an environment that allows me to sort of like put some of my personality into the work which I really appreciate. I was going to do just a boring video about my career or my coursework and the team let me do this video of just weird stuff that let me flex my creative muscle a little more and have fun with it and I think a lot of work environments – even a lot of work environments that I myself have worked in – would not have encouraged me to have fun with my work and sort of take the opportunities to be creative and kind of grow in sort of unexpected ways and I really appreciate that. And I think that I’ve grown a lot more than if I was just forced to take my personality out of my work entirely.

Where is Waldo?

I don’t know. I feel like – I used to do Where’s Waldo books a lot when I was younger. I feel like what’s really fun about them is that they’re really freaking difficult and you just have to sort of like. I don’t know – I think like the fun of them is more the challenge of trying to do them that it is actually finding Waldo. And I feel like that is a good mindset that I have academically and professionally as well. In the process of trying to find something kind of like abstract and arbitrary that doesn’t actually mean anything, I get like – a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction just from the progress of like wandering around and proving myself. And then I find Waldo and I’m like, “Oh. He was in the corner.” Obviously.

The Best Part of Waking Up

I think the best part of waking up is like when you’re not really awake yet and you’re sort of still in your dream. Like, I’ll think of random sentences or like little bits of nonsense from when I was waking up and it sort of sets the mood for a very weird first hour of my day. Like I have really weird, random starting points for other good ideas from the random things I’m thinking of when I’m waking up. Like I’ll have a dream that I’m in some weird warehouse or something and then I’ll wake up and just sort of be in the mood to like think about liminal spaces or ambiguous concepts.

How Now Brown Cow?

How now brown cow. An excellent question and one that we are brave enough to ask and get the answers to when no one else will. I could’ve talked about something really boring like how I make lists or how I stay organized at work. And if you’re ever trying to do something creative and you start with something really practical and boring, chances are your answer will also be extremely boring. So if you’re ever trying to think of, I don’t know, a cool idea for a video or like a fun way to start an interview or something, and you ask yourself a question like, “how now brown cow?” the odds of you thinking of something extremely boring to say in response to that are very low because that is an interesting and creative prompt and it’s a lot more exciting than someone asking you how you stay organized. How now brown cow?

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Gifts Are a Viable Marketing Tactic to Build Your Brand

Jamie Donaldson — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 14:56:44 +0000

You may not think about gifting as part of your branding strategy, but we’ve successfully included it in our c21 marketing toolbox for 30 years! Following is a Q&A from an interview I did in 2020, and I thought the information was still relevant and fun to share as you consider how to zig when your competitors zag.

Can a gift help you to connect with new clients or business partners?

When I started my company in 1992, I was 28 years old, and honestly didn’t know too much about running a business. I loved working in marketing and PR, and loved my clients, but I was inexperienced at business operations – including invoicing, which of course is the lifeblood of a small agency (or really any small business). To ensure my invoices were opened, I used to buy and insert $1 scratch off lottery tickets and include them in my mailed invoices. My clients looked forward to getting my bills! Who can say that? And on occasion, I would hear from clients who had won money – which was also fun! I did this for the first 10 years in business and as a result, my company played a small part in funding the Georgia education system through the lottery. It was a win-win.

Bat Mug client gift

Do gifts help you close deals quicker (or with more ease) than without them, generally?

I think giving gifts before gaining business can be tricky. With increased scrutiny on transparency, I err on the side of caution when pitching new business and giving gifts, and honestly, I would hope to win new business on our merits and not because we swayed the client with cool swag. We have on occasion brought small gifts, like a box of donuts from a local small business in the potential client’s market, for early morning or midday pitches where we know those listening to the presentations will have a long day. It’s usually appreciated (even if they enjoy them after the presentation).

When would you consider using a gift in the process of winning a new client?

After winning new business, we usually hold a kickoff meeting and bring small gifts for everyone. We’ve created more traditional branded items that people use like glasses, pens and journals, but we often try to make them as unique as possible. For example, we had a logoed pint glass made of silicone that holds both hot and cold drinks and can even sit on a grill (that was a big hit!).

How can a gift help you maintain a relationship?

Cooking Class Gift Experience

I was recently at an event with a [long-standing] client, where I spoke with my client’s wife who immediately started the conversation with…” I look forward to your holiday gifts every year!” That was a huge compliment! We pride ourselves on sourcing and assembling highly creative holiday client appreciation gifts each year. The gifts are meant to reinforce our creativity as a marketing agency and provide our clients with added insight into the c21 team’s personality – all while hopefully standing out from the ordinary or typical gifts they might receive.

We’ve done everything from board games, slinky toys and other “creativity starters” to sending each c21 team member’s favorite item in a “brown paper package tied up with string” to a survival guide-themed gift when the economy took a downturn to an Instant camera to an Oscars-theme that included a book of Cocktails featuring Hollywood stars, a silicon popcorn popper, popcorn, movie tickets and more. The key is we create a card that cleverly explains the gift in a fun way. For example, the card that accompanied the Instant Camera read – “We can change your image in an instant!”

Virtual Mixology and Cooking Class

Do you ever use digital gifts, or always physical gifts?

We tend to give physical gifts, but we use digital marketing to reinforce the physical gift, meaning we will send email holiday cards to clients who receive gifts to tell them to be on the lookout for us as we deliver or ship their gift. With that said, a few years ago we held an experiential event at the holidays and cooked a dinner together with our clients. Our clients loved it and it was great to spend time together in a more casual setting. Two years ago, we also held a virtual cooking class via Zoom, led by a professional chef and mixologist, and our clients had a blast! We were so happy to be able to bring everyone together for a little fun despite needing to stay distant for COVID precautions.

Happy c21 client with a custom martini glass

As you can see, client gifts can help to reinforce a brand and showcase a company’s personality, beliefs and more. In my opinion, it’s a fantastic way to stand out from the crowd and show off your creative side. Try it yourself and let us know how it goes! If you need help, we’re happy to brainstorm with you!

The post Gifts Are a Viable Marketing Tactic to Build Your Brand appeared first on communications 21.

30 Things I’ve Learned in 30 Years

sgoldmacher — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 17:57:50 +0000

by Sharon Goldmacher, President, communications 21

Adages speak the truth. Sayings like “if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life,” and “time flies when you’re having fun.” I can honestly say that it’s hard to believe that I have been at the helm of communications 21 for 30 years – but it’s true. And to this day, I can honestly say that I love what I do, and time has definitely flown by.

I still learn every day, and fail often, but I also believe that I have learned a few things over the years that might help other entrepreneurs. I hope you’ll enjoy this listicle!

Having great people on your team makes all the difference in the world.
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses helps you find the right people to fill in the gaps and make you better.
Winning is the greatest feeling in the world, but clients will come and go – even though you’ve done your best.
Let your team do what they do best.
Be flexible – (this one took me a long time to get, but it’s important!)
Managing people is the hardest part of any job. Everyone is different and while it’s hard to please everyone all the time – you have to try.
Use tests like DISC and Meyers Briggs to understand your team’s work styles – it truly helps and makes you a better manager.
Time entry sucks but it sucks less when you keep on top of it. Unfortunately, I never do.
Support (and encourage) training and education.
You’re never too old to learn new tricks…although I still don’t get Snapchat.
Take risks and try. Go for the projects you’re mostly qualified for – you never know what can happen.
When I started at 28, I was too young. As I approach 58, some may consider me too old – but age is just a number.
Specialization will likely make you more money, but if you have ADD, it’s boring! Squirrel!
It’s ok if interns come in once and never return. It wasn’t meant to be! It’s better to find the right fit rather than fill a position quickly. The payoff will be greater in the long run.
Coming up with cool holiday gifts for clients can help make your company more memorable.
Keeping the office clean is harder than it looks – so much cardboard. Amazon…STOP!
Treat yourself like a client – don’t neglect your own marketing and PR – it’s critical.
There will always be a competitor that is bigger, more profitable, more successful, but you contribute, provide livelihoods to your team and are valuable to your clients.
You can never adequately prepare for a pandemic.
Take the time to plan for your company’s future – and then try to work that plan!
“21” is simply my favorite number.
Find mentors – they provide great outside perspectives.
Join organizations and stretch your skills.
Digital marketing moves fast! Staying current is critical – but man, it’s tough. And from where I sit currently the metaverse is today’s version of “the emperor has no clothes…. or probably how my parents felt when I wanted a pet rock…a head scratcher that is making people money.
It’s ok to say “No” sometimes.
Determine your values and try to live your life so that your actions maintain those values.
It’s ok to not be a morning person (or to not like coffee).
Don’t set team meetings on Mondays at 9 a.m. or Fridays at 4 p.m. – people hate that!
As the boss, you set the tone. It’s hard to be upbeat all the time but do your best!
Work will always be there. Find time to celebrate the wins, great work and each other!

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c21tv, Episode 7: Exploring New Horizons with Danielle

Jamie Donaldson — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 17:17:00 +0000

Transcript:

c21tv episode seven – Danielle Impara

The Personalities

Danielle: The thing that I love most about being a c21 intern is 1000% the people. I am definitely an extrovert and I like to be around different kinds of personalities and c21 – the team here is just so unique and I get to do that – be around all these personalities. And you can see those personalities come out in all the work that everyone does and that’s just – I love it.

The Connections

The advice that I give to people looking for internships is network, network network. Whether it’s making connections actually from your school or from family members and friends, or even Facebook groups, and just make those valuable connections and build off of those.

The Passion

So my experience in sports marketing and management kind of blossomed from me participating in almost any sport you can ever think of as a child and it just fueled my passion for sports. And so I actually worked for the UGA baseball team as a special events intern and also managing on-field games where I was in charge of umpire experience and improving overall game experience and speeding up the already slow game that is baseball.

The Explorer

Moving to France in the middle of a global pandemic was crazy in and of itself. The restrictions imposed by the French government were a little bit insane but I got to explore a whole new city and improve on my French language skills which is something you can’t just do by taking classes. And pursuing a master’s degree in a foreign country was something that just takes you out of your comfort zone and I didn’t even know that I needed it until I came home.

The Riviera

My favorite place that I’ve visited is – well I’ve been to a bunch of different places for various reasons – but for like, pleasure I guess, I really love the French Riviera. I studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence and it was just an incredibly cute little town with so much history and culture and it was right next to the Mediterranean and also it was very close to the lavender fields which are beautiful by themselves. And my favorite place around that area too which is the Gorges du Verdon which is basically the Grand Canyon of France and it was just – the turquoise waters just shine and glitter and it’s magical.

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c21tv, Episode 6: Failing is Okay with Sharon

Jamie Donaldson — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 19:27:12 +0000

Transcript:

c21tv episode six – Sharon Goldmacher

The Inspiration

Sharon: What inspired me to start c21 is I went on a trip to Australia. It was the farthest I’d ever been. I went to visit a friend and when I met his friends they all were so much happier than I was. I was kind of grinding away at a job where I enjoyed what I did but didn’t really love the people I worked for. So I thought, gosh, they seem really happy. They’re doing their own thing. I mean, I met a farmer. I met a business person but they all just seemed a lot happier. It was probably because they lived in Australia but when I came back I decided I would just try to start a company and it was kind of on a whim – with a little bit of planning – but it really was just to see if I could do it.

The Plan

Did I have a backup plan? No. I did not. I felt like my skills at the time, I was at least marketable so I feel like if I’d failed I could probably get another job or maybe I’d have to leave the state. But, you know, I was very young and very dumb and I think part of that was I didn’t really have a fear of failure because I felt like, what would I lose? I was 28 so I was really kind of getting started and getting my feet under me and I think that lack of fear of failure was helpful and it’s hopefully something I carry on to this day and also try to inspire other people that failing is okay because I’ve failed a lot and, on occasion I feel like I fail every day, but I learn from failure and I think everybody does and I do encourage my team to fail because you learn how to do it properly – hopefully – the next time.

The Leader

I would describe my leadership style as – I guess I try to lead by example. I do tend to be a bit of a perfectionist but I hopefully don’t pass that illness on to other people. I’ve tried to – definitely over the years I’ve become much more flexible. When I first got started I definitely was no flexible and I think I lost good people as a result of that but have learned over time that flexibility is really key and again it’s kind of important to put other people first so I don’t know if that’s a leadership style but, again, I try to be flexible and I try to lead by example and hopefully give people enough freedom to discover and learn on their own. And share and – I certainly am taught new things every day by the team because I’m an old, so that’s okay.

The Hero

Who’s the person I admire the most and why? It would be my dad. He was super special. He was very smart. He really knew the ins and outs about business and managing and I think he actually did end up working for himself but he grew up kind of working for others and I think he was so excited when I launched c21 just because it was a little bit of vicariousness. But he taught me a lot about how to deal with people – both clients and team members – but he also, he was really good at arguing both sides of an issue so he was one of those types that could be very fair and balanced. I did not get that great skill from him but hopefully I picked up a few others and my dad also reminded me to stop and smell the roses and celebrate successes because you don’t want to work your whole life away and look back and not remember the successes and the fun times. He was great about that as well.

The Office

My favorite item in my office – now that it’s super clean and I can see everything – I think is my Fatz Domino poster. It was from New Orleans Jazz Festival. I had gone with a girlfriend of mine. We had a great time and it just reminded me of being at school and how much fun jazz festival is and what a quirky and odd place New Orleans is and it just kind of reminds me of really fun times.

The Team

I think what makes c21 special are the people, honestly. I have learned over the years, while I love most of our clients – or all of our clients – most of our clients, clients are going to come and go and I think it’s really important if you’ve got a great team like we do today that I work really hard to make sure that they’re happy first and put their needs first. Clients will come and go but a happy team makes for a really great office environment that’s fun and we have a lot of camaraderie here, I think, but at the same time the c21ers are all very different and very individual. And I like that. I think everybody brings their own interests and experiences to the table. I will say that we do share a lot of the same Netflix and Amazon interests which makes it great because we can talk about the latest and greatest but I truly love everybody’s individuality and what they bring here and it makes it fun – for me – to come to work. I know work is a four-letter word as they say but I love what I do and I love the people I work with. So I feel really lucky.

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c21tv, Episode 5: Jade of All Trades with Jade

Jamie Donaldson — Fri, 21 May 2021 19:58:00 +0000

Transcript:

c21tv episode five – Jade of All Trades – Jade Woods

The Internship

Jade: My favorite part about being a c21 intern is the experience itself. It’s very unique. All of the work I do is extremely hands on and it’s unlike any other internship I’ve ever seen. The work that we do – the work that I do, especially – I find meaningful and challenging, yet fun. Our clients are diverse and unique so being able to help out with the team, as well as with the clients, is something that I’m really proud of and I’m fortunate to be here.

The Mantra

The most valuable thing that I’ve learned being at c21 is just to be patient with myself. Sometimes I’m overly critical and I just need to remind myself, you know, don’t stress, do your best, forget the rest. And everything will work out in the end.

The Moniker

So “Jade of All Trades” is a cheesy moniker I call myself – or go by – and it’s because of my different eclectic interests or abilities. So, I’ve done a lot of different things. I’ve dabbled in graphic design, I’ve dabbled in photography, videography, guitar, DJing, music mixing, golf, a little bit of everything and all of that has kind of just come together and really has helped me and shaped me into the person that I am and it’s also helped me connect the dots between different parts of my life.

The Rockstar

So one of my biggest personal achievements in music is learning how to play Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen on lead guitar, which is really difficult. If you’ve heard the song you know that it’s really long and it has a lot of intricate parts. The solo. The chorus. Everything. The verses. And it was all great learning it, so it’s definitely one of my proudest moments.

The Advice

So my advice for people who are looking for an internship or job is to shoot your shot. You never know what may happen and you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. So when in doubt, just go for it. I think a lot of times we tell ourselves that we can’t do something and then we actually end up believing it – that we can’t do it. So just go for it.

My second piece of advice is to learn a new skill that maybe other people don’t know how to do or they just don’t have time to do it, that way you can make yourself a lot more valuable and be able to really help your team grow.

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The Evolution of c21pr.com

Jamie Donaldson — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 08:29:00 +0000

When you’ve been in business for almost 30 years, you accumulate quite the archive of digital historical documents – and by that we mean c21 has had a lot of old website designs over the years. Thanks to entertaining internet archive website, Wayback Machine, the c21 team had a laugh over the old designs and reminiscing about the days of Web 1.0.

Since you’re now here on our beautiful new, modern website, we invite you to take a quick stroll down memory lane:

The communications 21 website circa 2003 – 2007 – complete with our old logo and colors

Our website circa 2007 – 2013

The previous iteration of our website from about 2013 – 2020

Did you feel like you stepped back in time there for a minute? No worries. We’re back in 2021 – for better or for worse. We are, however, very thankful to have closed out 2020 and entered 2021 with a brand new website to showcase our plethora of services and our Real Results. From the modern design to the updated content, clients new and old alike can more easily find the information they need. As we add more case studies to showcase the noteworthy projects we’ve been working on (and finally get our new post-COVID headshots taken), the site will evolve to become even better – much like the year 2021 itself.

Do you find your website has become embarrassingly out of date? Well, we’re here to help. We can either create a completely new design or, in some cases, we can refresh what you already have with updated content and imagery. From navigation to content creation to launch and maintenance, c21 can manage your entire website redesign project. Contact us for more information.

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c21tv, Episode 4: Forty under 40 with Maggie

Jamie Donaldson — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 07:38:00 +0000

Transcript:

c21tv episode four – Forty Under 40 – Maggie McDaniel

The Progress

Maggie: I would say my biggest accomplishment at c21 is my growth within the company. I started out as an intern hoping I was going to be able to find a job, not just at c21 but anywhere because as recent college grads know, it’s really hard to find a job – especially one that you’re going to like. But luckily being at c21, they hired me as an account manager and soon after I was promoted to a senior account manager and now I serve as a director. So it’s been a really interesting ride but it’s been exciting and I’m really thankful for everyone here at c21 and the growth in my career.

The Rising Star

In 2019, I was named one of PRSA Georgia’s Forty Under 40 PR pros and it was an amazing accomplishment. I can honestly say that I don’t think that I ever would have thought that I would be named Forty Under 40 for anything but it’s an incredible honor and it motivates me to go even further in my career and it also shows that when you put in a lot of hard work, not just within your company or agency, but as a volunteer for an organization, you can really shine and your peers will notice that and it’ll also just go a long way in the long run. Like maybe even becoming PRSA of Georgia’s Forty Under 40 winner.

The Challenge

I love PR and digital marketing but I would say the most challenging part of my job is trying not to be hard on myself. I’m a perfectionist and when I make mistakes I often get carried away and really beat myself up about it. But I’ve learned that making mistakes is OK and they only make you better and help you improve your craft.

The Trip

I went to the University of Mississippi and when I was a junior in college I was very active in the school of journalism there and through being active and just connecting with teachers and everything, I was selected to go on a trip with about ten other students to Ethiopia and this was an experience like no other. It was really exciting because our whole purpose of being there was to really engulf ourself into the culture as well as the university over there that my school was a partner with which was Addis Ababa University and I would say the most interesting thing about it all was one night we did a goat roast and they literally went out, got the goat that day, came back and was literally roasting it on an open fire and it was like nothing I’ve ever seen before in my entire life. It was cool. And it was surprisingly really good. I was a little skeptical about it at first but it was delicious.

The Pandemic

The most valuable lesson I’ve learned since the pandemic is to really live in the present. I feel like we often get carried away with the future of our career or social life that we forget to live in the present and during this pandemic I have allowed myself to sit back, relax and enjoy everything that’s happening around you because if you only worry about the future, it’s only going to make you more stressed out.

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