General Archives - Trade Press Services

Busy Isn’t Better: The Case for Rest in Leadership

Posted on May 11, 2026 by Jamie Pagett

For many business leaders, taking a break has long been treated as a luxury instead of a necessity. In many organizations, exhaustion is still worn as a badge of honor, mistakenly equated with dedication and strength. Well-known leaders, including Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Margaret Thatcher, openly acknowledged they have sacrificed sleep in pursuit of a perceived competitive edge as in leadership. Leaders are expected to make high-stakes decisions, motivate teams, manage constant change, and maintain operational stability. These demands require sustained energy, clear thinking, and sound judgment. Without recovery time, these capabilities inevitably falter.

The Power of Brand Purpose in Building Trust and Loyalty

Posted on April 6, 2026 by Jamie Pagett

Brand purpose refers to the reason a company exists beyond simply making a profit. While profitability is essential for any business, purpose answers a bigger question: What impact does the organization want to have on its customers, its industry, or the world? People often confuse purpose with a company’s mission or values. A mission typically defines what the organization does and how it operates, while values explain the principles guiding employee behavior. Purpose is the deeper motivation that explains why the company’s work matters.

The Power of Managing Up: Strengthening Communication for Organizational Success

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Jamie Pagett

The ability to manage teams and tasks effectively is essential, but one often-overlooked skill is managing up. Managing up involves building an effective working relationship with one’s supervisor, including understanding the manager’s priorities, pressures, and preferences. In a fast-moving business ecosystem, where leaders juggle competing priorities and decision cycles are tight, managing up has become an essential career skill. When team members manage up effectively, leadership is better informed, more confident in delegation, and less likely to experience delays.

Leading Forward: The Shift from Traditional to Future-Focused Leadership

Posted on February 16, 2026 by Jamie Pagett

The definition of business leadership has fundamentally shifted. Gone are the days when just simply holding a title was enough, when leadership meant control over collaboration, and certainty was valued more than flexibility. Over the past several years, changing workforce dynamics, technology, and global disruption have reshaped how leadership is defined, measured, and rewarded. For

Hiring High-Performing Marketers Using the Right Assessments

Posted on January 5, 2026 by Jamie Pagett

Marketing roles demand a unique blend of creativity, analytical skill, adaptability, and cross-functional collaboration. Yet traditional hiring methods only reveal how well a candidate presents themselves, not how well they can perform. As a result, even strong interviews and resumes can mask weak problem-solving capabilities, poor communication skills, or limited analytical capacity. Research shows that more than 70% of hiring decisions rely on human intuition rather than data. This approach results in a failure rate of up to 82 percent in some job levels.

A Lasting Legacy: Gerri Knilans on Founding, Leading, and Evolving Trade Press Services

Posted on December 29, 2025 by Gerri Knilans

After 30 years at the helm of Trade Press Services, Co-founder and President Gerri Knilans prepares to step into retirement at the end of this year, passing the torch to longtime friend and colleague, Jamie Pagett. In this special Q&A, Gerri reflects on the company’s founding, significant milestones, cherished memories, and the principles that have

Corporate Gifting Strategies that Deliver Year-round ROI

Posted on September 15, 2025 by Gerri Knilans

Corporate gifting is more than sending tokens of gratitude. When done strategically, it becomes a powerful tool for strengthening client loyalty, nurturing prospects, and motivating staff and other stakeholders. When recipients open a gift and read a heartfelt note, they feel valued and appreciated, turning them from loyal partners into raving fans. In fact, 94% of corporate leaders believe gifts create a deeper personal connection and are important for organizational success.

The Power of Private Communities in Building B2B Customer Loyalty

Posted on July 21, 2025 by Gerri Knilans

In an era of saturated inboxes and content overload, memorable marketing isn’t a catchy slogan or polished pitch. It comes from people. Specifically, people who tried your solution, wrestled with the same hurdles faced by other prospects, and are willing to recount their experience. That subtle force is fueling the rise of private communities and is gaining serious traction with B2B brands.

Building a Workplace Loss and Grief Support Plan

Posted on February 24, 2025 by Gerri Knilans

Grief in the workplace can significantly impact employee well-being and productivity, which can translate to lower revenue. According to Maureen Desmond, founder and CEO of M. Desmond Coaching and Consulting, and Michelle Arentz, workforce development consultant and owner of Strategic Talent Rx, grief costs U.S. businesses $225 billion per year due to lower productivity and performance, loss of business, and absenteeism.

Overcoming Common Goal-Setting Pitfalls in Business

Posted on February 3, 2025 by Gerri Knilans

Goal setting is supposed to be the blueprint for success, but for many businesses, it’s a road to frustration. Despite having clear intentions, many companies fall short of achieving their goals due to common missteps in planning, execution, and alignment. These pitfalls aren’t always obvious, but they can sabotage even the best strategies. The good news? Once you are aware of them, dodging these pitfalls becomes easy.

Focus Word: A Meaningful Alternative to New Year’s Resolutions

Posted on January 13, 2025 by Gerri Knilans

As the new year unfolds, many individuals and businesses set ambitious resolutions aimed at self-improvement and organizational success. Yet, studies reveal that 94 percent of resolutions are abandoned by the end of February, often leading to disappointment and self-criticism.

Dos and Don’ts of Outsourcing

Posted on January 6, 2025 by Gerri Knilans

Outsourcing helps companies reduce costs, improve efficiency, scale operations, access specialized skills, and focus on essential business functions. By leveraging external providers, businesses can maintain steady growth without the commitment of hiring in-house employees. The growth of the global outsourcing services market is fueled by technological advancements, The Great Resignation, shifts to remote or hybrid work environments, and myriad other factors. As outsourcing becomes more ubiquitous, now is the perfect time to leverage outsourcing. To reap the rewards, however, it’s crucial to know the right steps to take—and the mistakes to avoid.

Managing a Remote Workforce: Insights and Best Practices

Posted on December 23, 2024 by Gerri Knilans

Today’s workplace is vastly different than it was just five years ago. In 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that approximately 27 percent of the U.S. workforce was at least partially remote. Today, more businesses are implementing return-to-office policies, yet the desire for full- or part-time remote work shows no signs of declining. As companies strive to find a happy medium for their organizations, employees and leaders are navigating a new workplace environment and culture.

Last-Minute Holiday Gifts for Business Associates and Clients

Posted on December 2, 2024 by Gerri Knilans

The holiday season is a great time to show appreciation for colleagues, employees, clients, mentors, and strategic partners. Yet, with tight schedules and end-of-year deadlines, finding thoughtful gifts can sometimes slip through the cracks. If you’re scrambling for last-minute ideas, here’s a curated list of practical, professional, and thoughtful gifts that will leave a lasting impression during the holidays or year-round.

How Great Leaders Inspire Action: The Power of ‘Why’

Posted on November 4, 2024 by Gerri Knilans

Great leaders don’t just lead—they inspire. This characteristic often means the difference between an organization’s success or failure. Without great leadership, corporate culture suffers, leading to employee apathy, high turnover, reduced productivity, lack of innovation, and a toxic work environment. These negative consequences can have a lasting impact on individuals and on the business.

The Importance of Well-Being for Business Professionals and How to Manage It

Posted on August 5, 2024 by Gerri Knilans

In today’s “always on” business world, professionals are under mounting stress that can lead to burnout and other stress-related conditions. A recent study by Deloitte reveals that 77 percent of respondents have experienced burnout at their current job—and more than half of them say it’s not an isolated incident. Stress doesn’t just affect the employee. Nine out of 10 respondents said that unmanageable stress had a negative impact on the quality of their work, and eight out of 10 said it negatively affects their personal relationships. Moreover, chronic stress can take a toll on health, contributing to poor sleep, muscle tension, headaches, weight gain, heart disease, high blood pressure, and even stroke.

The Importance of Communicating “Why” to Your Audiences (and How to Do It Effectively)

Posted on June 24, 2024 by Gerri Knilans

When communicating with customers, successful brands understand that focusing only on the features of their products and services isn’t enough to foster meaningful relationships. Buyers, especially B2B buyers, expect their purchase decisions to result in lasting partnerships that can sustain ongoing results. In a marketplace where competition is high and brand communications are frequent, it takes more than describing your services to entice clients. Rather, buyers want to know more about the purpose, values, and mission behind your organization.

The Power of Leading with Kindness: Its Transformative Effects on the Workplace

Posted on June 17, 2024 by Gerri Knilans

In today’s fast-paced business world, kindness isn’t a strategic priority for most organizations. In fact, it is often considered a weakness. After all, nice guys finish last. Or do they? International leaders such as Mother Theresa, Princess Diana, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela are recognized for using kindness to inspire millions and change the world. When business leaders recognize that kindness is not only a virtue but also a strategic advantage, they can elevate their employees and organizations to new heights.

Mastering Productivity: How to Harness the Power of Tiny Habits to Achieve Remarkable Results

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Gerri Knilans

If you could improve yourself by just one percent each day, at the end of one year, you will be 37 times better than you are right now. This concept of how tiny (or atomic) and incremental change can yield huge results is the first lesson in James Clear’s best-selling book Atomic Habits. By challenging our beliefs about how we value goals over systems, Clear provides a clear path to help break bad habits and create new ones.

Closer Than You Think: How to Build a Team of B2B Brand Ambassadors

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Gerri Knilans

A brand’s success depends on its reputation, visibility, credibility and even popularity. But simply promoting a brand is not enough. To stand out from the competition, potential buyers are looking for credible and authentic input from real people who have worked with your company. That’s where a brand ambassador strategy can make a big difference. Brand ambassadors are individuals who serve as the face of the brand and share less biased perspectives that are often more trusted by target audiences.

Lessons Learned in 2023 and How to Use Them in 2024

Posted on January 2, 2024 by Gerri Knilans

Moving into 2024, many marketing teams are reviewing, revising and optimizing their marketing plans for the new year. The challenges we encountered can shape those plans and provide a solid foundation for seizing the opportunities that lie ahead. Based on the topics that have been addressed in our own blog and newsletter over the course of 2023, there are some key lessons learned that can be leveraged for success in 2024.

25 Acts of Kindness to Bring the Holiday Spirit to the Workplace

Posted on December 18, 2023 by Gerri Knilans

With the holidays upon us and the new year around the corner, the spirit of giving is in the air. While holiday traditions may not permeate the workplace the same way they do at home, there are many opportunities to bring a spirit of giving into your organization. Small acts of kindness tell your colleagues

How to Foster Empathy to Drive Powerful Marketing Campaigns

Posted on November 26, 2023 by Gerri Knilans

Empathy-based or empathetic marketing is a topic often discussed in the B2C space. Evoking empathy in B2B buyers, however, isn’t always easy. In an environment marked by “professional” and less “emotional” communication, it can be more challenging to connect with buyers on a deeper level. The solution to this challenge starts from building an empathetic culture within the organization.

Nine Essential Soft Skills That Empower Marketing Teams

Posted on October 9, 2023 by Gerri Knilans

Marketing teams are made up of individuals who wear many hats and possess a wide variety of skills. While it’s common to focus on the hard skills that align with specific marketing tactics such as search engine optimization, copywriting, graphic design or email marketing, there are many soft skills that are essential to building a strong marketing team. Also called people skills or emotional intelligence, these traits distinguish top-of-class marketing professionals from the pack.