Archive for: PR

Blogging about travel and luxury on Dukes Avenue has been Sarah Barthet’s ticket to freedom. Needing an outlet outside of her work in the corporate and male-dominated field of finance, Sarah started her blogging journey in 2018 and has now made it her full-time career.

Find out how time in the finance industry can help with becoming a successful blogger (the pitching and networking skills help) and what kind of experiences writing about luxury can bring.

How did you get into blogging and what does it mean to you?
I began my blogging journey in early 2018. I had heard about blogging before, but I had no idea that you can actually make a career out of it. I had been feeling unfulfilled by the world of finance for some time – the excitement I had for it ten years ago just wasn’t there anymore. Travelling and luxury goods have always been a passion of mine. Travelling specifically was something I knew I wanted in my adult life, but I was first introduced to luxury goods when I was 18. At the time, I worked in a perfumery while I was studying for my undergrad degree in economics. When I learned that blogging could be a viable career option, I started planting the seeds to make this my new career path. It wasn’t until July 2019 that I felt ready to say goodbye to finance and become a full-time blogger and content creator.

Blogging has been my ticket to freedom and it was my creative outlet in a world that was so corporate and male-dominated. I am now free to be myself, free to work on projects I am actually passionate about and free to create my own working hours. I’m also now my own boss – and you cannot put a price on that feeling.

In what ways does your background working in finance influence you in your role as a blogger?
While I no longer enjoyed working in finance towards the end (just because I knew where my passions lay and it wasn’t in stock markets!), I am actually very grateful for everything I learned and experienced in those ten years. I had always worked within investor relations and business development, and that also meant that I initially had to prepare monthly newsletters, update the firm’s website, create pitchbooks and communicate any firm updates to investors or fund databases. As my career progressed, I eventually began travelling to meet with investors, to attend conferences and to present the firm I was working for at the time. The funny thing is I do all of these things now. I write a weekly newsletter for my audience, I set up and run my website single-handedly, I create and use my own pitchbooks. I also attend industry conferences, network and instead of pitching to investors, I now pitch to brands.

Being in the corporate world for so long meant that I went into this new role with a set state of mind. I treat this like a business, not a social media popularity contest. I have a system for emails and for diary management; all of my work is done with contracts and a high degree of professionalism is incredibly important to me. Ultimately, I want the star of this show to be my brand, Dukes Avenue, and I want the brands that I work with to expect a high level of quality from the work I produce.

What are the most enjoyable aspects of running a blog?
Learning all the time. Whether that’s about different brands I would never have been exposed to previously or learning about this new industry I find myself in. I also love that I can steer which way this business moves and that is not something that I could do previously. I’ll also admit that being my own boss is pretty amazing, even though it means that I now put so much more pressure on myself.

What are some of the challenges you face?
Being a one-(wo)man band. I find myself having to be a writer, photographer, photo editor, student, social media manager, SEO analyst, web developer, business development manager and Pinterest expert. Among all of these things I also need to travel, attend conferences and network. To fit all of this in within a 24-hour day is extremely challenging and I definitely do not get as much sleep as I would like or need. I hope that by the end of the year I will be able to expand my team so that I can offload some of these tasks to people that are actually much better qualified to do them, so that I can focus on writing and content creation.

What makes the luxury travel and lifestyle blogging community different (and better!) than others?
The blogging community overall is one of the best things about this. Everyone is so supportive of one another and happy to share tips and tricks picked up on the way. To me luxury is all about the experience – experiences like jet skiing around a tiny island in the Caribbean, like running around in a sunflower field or exploring hidden waterfalls when there are few others around. It’s discovering new or under the radar brands that have been crafted with such finery but are not mainstream. That to me is true luxury lifestyle and why I decided to make it my niche.

On another note, I also want to be as authentic as possible. I only blog about things I have actually experienced, and admittedly my career in finance allowed me to do this. Had I not have had this career in finance, I probably would not have had the pleasure of staying at some hotels, or visiting some countries, or buying certain luxury goods. In a world of Instagram contrivance, being genuine is incredibly important to me.

How do different social channels feed into your blog?
Pinterest is probably the channel that feeds into my blog most. People use Pinterest to find things to do, try or buy, and that means that it is a great segway to the blog. Ultimately, I always want my articles to be answering a question that the reader has.

In terms of social media, I would say Instagram is the only social media app I spend much time on, and it definitely is useful for directing my audience to the blog – but definitely not as much as good SEO or Pinterest.

How do you decide what content to focus on?
I try to mix it up across a number of content pillars, with an overall theme of luxury lifestyle. To me that means travel to new places (think travel guides and hotel reviews), trying new restaurants, fashion and beauty reviews and lastly, I also include the odd article on career advice – because after all, a successful career (in whatever industry) is needed to do all of these things (at least for most of us).

Where is your favourite place you have travelled to?
My favourite holiday destination, hands down, is Tobago! There is nothing I didn’t like about it! From the people, to the food, to the beaches. There are so many other places I enjoy though like the UAE, Oman and – of course – pretty much anywhere in Italy.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
I feel lucky that despite being relatively new to all of this, I have worked with some amazing brands. In the hospitality space, these include hotels such as the Park Hyatt and the Hyatt Regency, the Kulm in St. Moritz and the Grand Hotel Kronenhof in Pontresina. I have also worked with some incredible beauty brands such as Sothys Skincare, Manos Gerakinis Parfums, Great Lengths and so many more.

Do you accept press releases?
If the press release relates to anything in line with the Dukes Avenue brand, I will generally reply and enquire as to whether there is a way that we could work together going forward.

Do you have a good relationship with PRs? What advice would you give to PR professionals who want to work with you?
I do! A lot of the work that I am getting (and offered) lately is through my relationships with PR professionals. My advice to PR firms is to reach out via email or my website! I love making new connections and always prefer face-to-face meetings to start the relationship.

What are your future plans for your blog?
So many! In the short-term, my plan is to build out the blog and expand the team so that I can spend more time on learning about new destinations, hotels and products and step away from the backend part of the business. This will allow me to create even more content for readers.

In the long-term, I want Dukes Avenue to become a brand with a mark of quality in the hospitality, fashion and beauty space. I have many plans in my head that I have had for years, and will reveal all when the time is right! I’m a long way off from where I want to be and I’m excited about where I’ll be this time next year.

Image credits: hair styling @sophiethomashair and photography @misslittleemily1.

Don’t feel downhearted if you’re still struggling to get back into a fitness regime after the festive season – blogger Annie Brooks from Tales of Annie Bean is here to help you get your routine back on track.

Fitness blogging is now Annie’s main passion after getting into triathlon training with her partner (and co-blogger) Nick following her time in the fashion community. Having found her fit, the active blogger is an expert on finding the right sport and the right soundtrack for getting set to sweat…

How did you get started with blogging about fitness?
Believe it or not, I wasn’t really into exercise. I did a fitness class now and again but I wouldn’t call it a big part of my life. I started blogging as a fashion blogger, actually… like most people! But when I was diagnosed in later life with epilepsy, I decided to do a triathlon to raise money for charity. My husband was an iron distance triathlete and I thought I could do the triathlon as my challenge and that would be it. That sort of backfired because I completely fell in love with triathlon! I got far more active because of it, so not only was I racing, I was also trying new sports and activities. I decided to document it all and move into fitness.

What’s your favourite thing to post about on your blog (training tips, reviews, experiences)?
I love to share all of those things, but mainly my personal experiences. The whole point of a blog for me is the personal side, and the writer’s perspective and their views. I know that’s what I’d read other blogs for.

What are your tips for getting back into an exercise routine after the festive season?
Firstly, don’t be too hard on yourself because everyone has a break over Christmas and often we do over-indulge. I don’t like to think of the festive season as a setback, but instead of working on the physical side you’re actually working on the mental health side. Having time to unwind, catch up with loved ones, and switching off from the normal routine can’t easily be achieved any other time of the year. So, appreciate it.

Next? You pick up where you left off, but the last thing you do is stress out over how many Quality Streets you’ve consumed, or how many extra helpings of your Auntie’s bread and butter pudding you had. It’s happened, so draw a line. I’d start by slowly reintroducing your routine, if you exercise four times a week, start with two then bring it back to whatever your normal sessions are. You’ll get it back.

What makes the fitness blogging community different (and better!) than others?
As previously mentioned, I used to do fashion blogging many years ago now, and I always felt that bit more intimidated. Perhaps I’ve just grown up, but I do find the fitness blogging community to be so friendly, inspiring and helpful! We all know how hard it is to train for races, juggle full-time jobs and blog… so we’re all on the same page.

Weirdest fitness trend you’ve tried/heard about?
I know it is a ‘thing’, but Dog Yoga. I mean, how can anyone feel mindful when there are cute dogs everywhere, and if I took mine she wouldn’t be practising her downward dog (she does actually do that), she’d be more interested in the other dogs!

What are the best songs to get you fired up to work out?
Honestly, people are going to judge me based on my musical taste here. I’m mildly trapped in the 80s and have a ridiculous love for 80s’ hair metal! My top 5 are…
1. Motley Crue – Kickstart My Heart.
2. ACDC – Thunderstruck
3. Rick Springfield – Jessie’s Girl
4. The Clash – Should I stay or should I go
5. ZZ Top – Gimme all your lovin’

Who are your fitness heroes/inspirations?
Lucy Charles, Scott Jurek, Angela Naeth, Jenny Jones and Aimee Fuller.

How do you work with PRs and brands?
It varies, to be honest – I sometimes work on blog content with them or via video creations. I only work with brands and on campaigns I am truly passionate about, though.

For PRs looking to work with you and your blog, how would you prefer they approach you?
Drop me an email, pick up the phone – just a nice personal message reaching out.

What other blogs do you read?
Huge fan of all the blogs on the Fitness & Exercise UK Top 10 and actually read the majority of them already. But I must admit I’m quite the YouTube girl, especially when it comes to trainer reviews.

‘That Grape Juice is effectively a site for music fans by music fans. We aim to inform, but also entertain in equal measure’. Here to entertain and inform us on music blog That Grape Juice, is Sam Ajilore who started the website as a hobby in 2007 and now draws in music fans across the world with in-depth features and interviews.

Read on to find out what makes the music sector such an interesting space to blog in, whether The Voice is still a good idea for new musicians and what lyric comes after ‘Hello’…

How did you get started with writing about music?
In school! My sister would always buy Urban magazines such as Essence, Pride and S2S – all of which I’d pick up and get lost in. The stories, the interviews, the reader feedback. It was such an immersive experience.

So, when blog culture had its initial boom in the mid-late 00s, I had a firm grasp on my Pop cultural palette and knew what the tone and approach of my site would be if I ever had one.

As history has it, I did launch That Grape Juice in 2007, but initially as a hobby. So to be here chatting with you, 13 years later (especially for this feature), is an honour!

What’s your favourite thing to post about on That Grape Juice?
At this point, it’s definitely original content! Celeb interviews, in-depth articles and editor round tables, as well as exclusive stories. Sure, the ‘trending’ finger-on-the-pulse stuff is the key driver (as is the case for most sites), but we have really realised the value of cultivating content people quite literally can’t find anywhere else.

What makes That Grape Juice different than others?
A few things! That Grape Juice has a distinctive tone of voice. It’s rooted in fact and is reliable, but it can also skew cheeky and get involved in the conversation it’s igniting.

Unlike pure celeb or gossip platforms (which I do enjoy, too), we also cater to the niche that are interested in music sales, industry trends and the behind-the-scenes happenings. Put simply, those who (like me) pick up a CD and get lost in the credits: who wrote what song, which label released it, so on and so forth.

That Grape Juice is effectively a site for music fans by music fans. We aim to inform, but also entertain in equal measure.

Mainly, though, I’d say it’s our emphasis on sparking discussion and debate. Humbly speaking, our comment section is popping! Which is something I’m really proud of; especially at a time where so much of the pop cultural dialogue has shifted to social media (an arena we also enjoy solid engagement in, too).

Do you think shows like The Voice and Britain’s Got Talent are still a good route into the music industry for wannabe musicians? What are the pros and cons?
I think it depends. On one hand, we live in such a DIY time that it totally makes sense for someone to appear on shows of this ilk – if the simple goal is exposure to acquire a bigger audience and leverage that towards a long-term plan. Winning, from that angle, would essentially be a bonus.

Yet, given how few stars are being churned out by such platforms these days, it does beg the question of whether it’s more valuable investing time and resources in direct-to-consumer approaches such as YouTube and playlisting on streaming services.

Ultimately, there are multiple ways of breaking in. The one consistent necessity though is having a DIY mentality. So, rather than waiting for a show to make one a star or dropping one song on YouTube with no strategy, it’s about having a plan. If it doesn’t work, then hatch another, then another and then another. Whatever the approach, acts today have to take agency over their careers if they want to advance.

Do you see the increase in the intersection of tech with music as a good thing – VR shows, holograms of musicians who are no longer with us?
I think it’s too soon to tell. I’m a tech geek at heart and a lover of spectacle, so I’m super intrigued about the elevation of the live music experience. At the same time, there are definitely ethical points of consideration that make it tricky terrain.

Beyond the growing fascination of reviving those who’ve passed away, I’d much prefer to see such technology used to cultivate exciting concert experiences for acts that are still here. Like a ‘Live In Your Living Room With _______’.

What was the first song/album you bought (and would you still listen to it)?
I honestly can’t remember! Much of my childhood was spent hounding my mum to buy us singles from Our Price, Virgin Megastore and HMV. By the time I was old enough to do so for myself, net culture meant anything you wanted to listen to was at your fingertips. Cornerstone albums for me, though, are Thriller, Janet and The Emancipation Of Mimi.

Favourite song lyric of all time?
Too many to name! But, I do find it fun watching what people follow with when singing the word ‘Hello…’

It’s pretty 50/50. Either Adele (‘…it’s me’) or Lionel Ritchie (‘…is it me you’re looking for’).

How do you work with PRs and brands?
On the PR front, it’s everything from content (hundreds of press releases a day), to arranging interviews, live reviews and original features.

With brands, it tends to be sponsorships and event coverage.

For PRs looking to work with you and your blog/website, how would you prefer they approach you?
We love working with PRs; it’s pretty much one of the most integral parts of our operation.

I think first it’s imperative those reaching out know the platform they’re contacting. For example, trying to solicit a feature for a heavy metal band on That Grape Juice is unlikely to yield fruitful results. While something of the pop or urban skew is much more on-brand.

I also find myself much more inclined to reply to personalised emails rather than the generic ‘Dear Sir/Madam’.

What other blogs do you read (whether music-related or not)?
I find myself super into lifestyle blogs of late. Randomly, interior design blogs, too.