• Sarah Lancaster

  • Blog

    AEO: Is Your Website Ready?  

    You can't train artificial intelligence to recommend your broadband company, but you can influence how it finds and references your content. Learn the website strategies that improve your visibility in Al-generated answers while strengthening your traditional SEO foundation.
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    Sarah Lancaster
    October 5, 2026
  • Case Study

    West Carolina Helps Members Protect Their Data Around the Clock

    To protect their subscriber base, West Carolina created a new level of service, WiFi X, backed by Calix’s ProtectIQ solution. The co-op paired this approach with award-winning community education classes, and now 91% of subscribers use the digital defense.
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    Sarah Lancaster
    October 14, 2026
  • Blog

    The AI Search Playbook:  How AI’s Changing the Way People Find Answers 

    If someone asked artificial intelligence for the best internet provider in your area, would your broadband company be recommended? As Al transforms the ways people search, Generative Engine Optimization and Answer Engine Optimization are becoming essential for providers wanting to stay visible and relevant.
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    Sarah Lancaster
    October 5, 2026
  • Blog

    Five Ways to Compete Cooperatively 

    Competition may be new for electric and telco cooperatives, but the local trust that built your reputation remains your strongest edge against national brands moving into your community. Get five practical strategies to compete without abandoning your co-op values, from staying focused on your “why” to turning data into smarter, more targeted campaigns.
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    Sarah Lancaster
    July 14, 2026
  • Case Study

    WK&T Partner Connection Creates Cohesive, Time-Saving Storytelling

    Challenge: WK&T faced a common problem in today’s fast-paced marketing world—how to keep their brand message the same while using content from different sources. The marketing team needed to balance quick content needs with longer-term campaigns. Without a cohesive story, they risked sending mixed messages that could confuse members and weaken the brand. Solution: WK&T […]
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    Sarah Lancaster
    May 19, 2026
  • Blog

    Beyond Speed: Why Customer Experience Drives Broadband Success

    Speed and price used to be the deciding factors for broadband subscribers. Today, the landscape has changed. Learn how to use experience- and persona-based marketing to connect with subscribers, then download our free guide, “How to Boost Broadband Connections,” for more peer insights.
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    Sarah Lancaster
    May 22, 2026
  • Blog

    Turn Bills into Story-Sharing Tools

    Utilities are increasingly challenged to drive home their messaging through the fog of a fractured media landscape and reduced consumer attention spans. Bills are a handy place to share your story. Are you taking advantage of all of your potential story-sharing space? We talked to our friends at both NISC and Meridian to find out how you can share your story on bills.
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    Sarah Lancaster
    May 27, 2026
  • Podcasts

    Are you an Explorer, Creator or Servant? Use Brand Archetypes to Strengthen Campaign Strategies

    Dig into the psychology of marketing with Pioneer’s Sarah Lancaster to learn how using archetypes can help your marketing create more meaningful connections with your target audiences.
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    Sarah Lancaster
    May 21, 2026
  • Three Shopping Tips to Find Branded Items Members Love
    Blog

    Three Shopping Tips to Find Branded Items Members Love

    Flyswatters, coffee beans and bucket trucks, oh my! We all need ideas of gifts to buy. Since spring is meeting time for many Utility Pioneers, we asked Pioneer’s storytellers (and branded item collectors!) to share the best branded gifts they’ve seen.
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    Sarah Lancaster
    April 19, 2026
  • Generating Broadband Buzz
    Case Study

    Generating Broadband Buzz

    There are few activities more tense than developing a logo and branding strategy for a new business line. AsCovington Electric Cooperativein southern Alabama learned, Pioneer Utility Resources has the staff expertise to generate broadband buzz. In an explosion of creativity and teamwork, Pioneer and CEC joined forces to name “Buzz Broadband,” the cooperative’s new, wholly-owned […]
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    Sarah Lancaster
    April 19, 2026
  • Case Study

    How to Craft the Perfect Campaign

    Couldn’t join us at Pioneer’s Member Meeting? We kicked off the meeting with a webinar, How to Craft the Perfect Campaign. A recording is below. Be sure to register for more webinars here! How do you balance creative ideas with market segmentation and ways to measure success? Utility storytellers Sarah Lancaster, Jenn Urban and Will […]
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    Sarah Lancaster
    April 19, 2026
  • Blog

    5 Ways to Strengthen Email Engagement

    Have you ever noticed there are some emails in your inbox you instantly gravitate to and others you quickly scroll past? There are 5 simple ways to create emails consumers want to open.
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    Sarah Lancaster
    April 19, 2026