February 2022 - Compass Advocacy

Cybercrime

Posted on February 18, 2022March 11, 2024 by Compass Advocacy

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) most recent Internet Crime Report, the number of internet crime complaints more than doubled in 2020 (791,790 complaints) compared to 2019 (300,000 complaints). The 2021 report should be released soon but is sure to show the number of complaints continue to increase.

The ease with which a criminal can open a bank account now thanks to the banking industry providing consumers with the opportunity to open a bank account online is a primary reason for this trend.

Have you or has your business been the victim of a cybercrime? Have you lost money as a result? Compass Law attorneys have experience recovering the money you lost.

Changes in Leadership for Maryland 2022 Session

Posted on February 18, 2022January 31, 2024 by Compass Advocacy

The Maryland House of Delegates will have a new look this year as the Economic Matters and Ways & Means Committees, two of the six standing House committees, have new leadership.

Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary, the former Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee, has taken the reigns as the Chair of Ways and Means. The Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction over tax policy and a significant portfolio of education matters, and we are eager to see the approach of the new Chair. She replaces Former Chair Anne Kaiser who will not be seeking re-election to assume a leadership role at the University of Maryland.

There is a great deal of change in the Economic Matters Committee following the departure of Chairman Dereck Davis, the newly elected State Treasurer, and Vice Chair Kathleen Dumais after her appointment to a judgeship. Delegate CT Wilson, an attorney by trade, assumed the chairmanship while Delegate Brian Crosby was named Vice Chair. Both delegates were members of the Economic Matters Committee and have a rich understanding of the myriad issues the committee handles, including energy and labor policy.

We look forward to working with our clients as they work with these new leaders. Additionally, more change is incoming as current Appropriations Committee Chair, Maggie McIntosh, and Health and Government Operations Committee Chair, Shane Pendergrass will be retiring at the end of this session.

Employment and Business Law Legislation Could Affect Your Business

Posted on February 10, 2022January 31, 2024 by Rob Garagiola

As of today, February 7, 2022 1548 bills have been introduced in the Maryland General Assembly and 325 have been introduced before the Delaware Legislature this session.

In Maryland, House Bill 8 would establish a family and medical leave insurance program, which would impose additional taxes on employers – up to $536/employee – to fund the employee leave. There are also bills to modify Maryland’s wage and hour law requirements and that would change the law affecting limited liability companies – or LLCs.

In Delaware, SB 1, Healthy Delaware Families Act is the bill that I think should be highlighted. This legislation would require employers with 25 employees or more to provide up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave to their employees. This bill has momentum and was highlighted by the Governor in his recent State of the State address.

Now it’s more important than ever to engage a firm that can represent your interests before the legislative branches in Maryland or Delaware. Changes are coming that could affect your business.

Building Emails That Open & Engage Your Audience

Posted on February 5, 2022January 31, 2024 by Addison Pruitt

Every day we receive tons of emails. From breaking news to product launches to event reminders, we are constantly inundated with content from individuals or brands in hopes of us taking an action; However, that isn’t always the case because not all emails get seen!

So, what motivates us to click on an email when it arrives in our inbox?

The truth is that emails are only as good as the reader who views them. You could be offering the deal of a lifetime, but your messaging needs to grab your reader’s attention.

Compass PR is here to help with your email marketing with just 5 easy steps!

Start with an engaging subject line
Your subject line should be clear, enticing, and connected to the content in the email. Ensuring that the subject line aligns with the body of the email will help build trust and loyalty with your reader.

Use a fluid layout
Incorporate a layout that’s easy to follow and consistent throughout your campaigns. It should also match your brand’s color scheme and identity. A great source of inspiration is to look at email layouts you’ve received from brands you consistently interact with.

Keep it concise
Always put the most important information at the beginning. Readers generally do not want to read long text. Ensure that your email is easy to skim through and digestible through a quick read.

Have a clear call to action
A call to action rounds up the reader’s journey, serving as an intuitive action step based on the content provided in your email. It should directly link to your website, a form, or service with the goal of converting readers into customers.

Segment your contacts into lists
Segmenting your contacts into lists helps provide unique value based on interest and the different content you’re offering. When lists are segmented, it enables you to send targeted campaigns that help boost engagement.