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International Women’s Day events and initiatives round-up

March 6, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Charity Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

With International Women’s Day approaching on 8 March, the PR industry is gearing up to celebrate the success of women in the sector and to reflect on what still needs to be done to improve the lives of women in public relations and beyond. Here are a few of the initiatives launching in time for Sunday.

The Future (of PR) is female
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry has teamed up with non-profit organisation I Can Be to introduce seven and eight-year-old girls to the possibilities of a future career in PR. I Can Be’s work focuses on introducing girls to opportunities in the workplace as well as the women already working there, and will be collaborating with the Red Lorry Yellow Lorry UK director Hannah Patel for a three-month series of interactive workshops with girls from London schools.

‘To tackle the diversity issues that are rife across all areas of corporate life we have to do whatever we can to encourage the next generation of female minds,’ says Hannah of the initiative. ‘We need to invest time in early-stage education to really make a long-term change. The future is definitely equal, and if we all make a little more effort we’ll be there a lot faster.’
Shattering stereotypes

Finn Partners is also hoping to help open up a world of opportunities for girls in its work with Modern Muse, a charity connecting children with successful female role models – the ‘Muses’ – across a range of jobs. Sharing stories from their education and careers, the women that take part encourage girls to fully explore the career options available to them.

‘To me, International Women’s Day is a timely reminder to think about all the great women I’ve been lucky enough to work with – as well as those I don’t know but are doing amazing things in the world,’ says Finn Partners managing partner Flora Haslam.

‘As the parent of a preschool girl, it also makes me reflect on how far we’ve come as women in recent years, yet how far we still have to go. In 2020 I am amazed how much gender stereotyping there is for young children in terms of toys and clothes. It’s my hope that the next decade will see a shift.’

Sharing what it takes to be successful
The PR people over at Fizzbox have created an interactive graphic for International Women’s Day, highlighting the daily routines of ten successful women including celebrity stylist Marian Kwei, MUHU founder Sally Wynter, award-winning author Jini Reddy and Rich Visions’ Mavis Amankwah. What becomes clear when looking at each time-line is that balancing wellbeing and a healthy work/life ethic is more than just a full day’s work (and it takes getting up at around 6am every morning).

Advocating for flexibility
Committed to the cause of supporting women working in PR all year round, Women in PR is focusing its efforts on flexible working campaign ‘What the F?’ and has launched a survey with Opinium to find out what flexible working looks like in the industry. It is open to men and women, takes only five minutes to complete and is open until 13 March – take part here.

‘Women in PR’s mission is to increase the number and diversity of women in leadership roles in our industry,’ says committee member Natalie Trice. ‘Over the past couple of years as a committee we have made every effort to show that Women in PR welcomes everyone, including men, to join our network and support our work in sharing expertise and encouraging more women, of all backgrounds, to reach their full potential.
With 87% of the UK’s full-time workforce wanting access to flexible working, the PR industry desperately needs to change its attitude towards flexible working provision. The younger generation expect flexible working to be a given and to be treated equally. To retain the best and the brightest talent, organisations, PR or otherwise, need to be alert to the changing needs of the workforce.’

Breaking the glass ceiling
This week saw the PRCA B2B Group event Finding and addressing the glass ceiling in PR, where panellists including The Inner Circle’s Crystal Cansdale, business coach Maria Darby-Walker and president of Women in PR Bibi Hilton discussed how a more inclusive environment can be created in PR and why women start to disappear from the line-up when it comes to positions of seniority.

Fighting for more F(emales) in Fintech
Hotwire has plenty of initiatives in place to help its employees thrive, including a ‘thoughtful working’ policy that recognizes the flexibility needed to maintain a healthy work life. Diversity initiatives at the agency also extend out to industry specific groups with F in Fintech, championing the women leading in the sector in an effort to welcome more workers from minority groups.

‘Our sheer numbers alone give us so much power,’ says Hotwire global CEO Barbara Bates. ‘If more women backed women, we’d be unstoppable.’

PR Blogger Spotlight with Ella Minty, Power & Influence

March 5, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

‘This expectation that we all have to sing and dance, go to the pub and be merry and joyful when that is not how you really feel can take an immense toll’ – today’s spotlight falls on PR pro and Power & Influence blogger Ella Minty, who knows the unique pressures of working in public relations as well as the highs (creativity and stereotype shattering) that go with the occasional lows (long hours and stress).

Encouraging knowledge sharing in her popular #PowerAndInfluence Twitter discussions as well as on the Power & Influence blog, Ella shares extra wisdom with us on how important deeper thinking and diversity is for happiness in the office environment and making more meaningful work.

How did you originally get started with writing about PR, marketing and comms?
I wanted to share what I know and provide a different take on some of the aspects we don’t come across that often but, when we do, they become crucially important to get right from the start.

What’s your favourite thing to post about and why?
It has to be business, through the lens of a PR practitioner and vice versa. I am bemused by how much time we spend looking through a magnifying glass at ourselves (naval gazing) as opposed to really understanding what those who need our services – besides a campaign for a toothpick – are really looking for.

What are some of the recent campaigns you’ve written about that you really liked and why were they special?
I haven’t written anything about campaigns because I haven’t found any to be ground-breaking and really soul-searching. What I can tell you though, after having judged three PRCA MENA’s 2020 Awards categories (and here I’m only referring to the Best PR Campaign: Digital category) I was really blown away by Golin MENA’s ingenious and innovative approach to making a boring and rather bland product such as paint really stand out. Their Jotashield campaign for Jotun Paints was really something else.

With mental wellbeing being a big issue in the industry at the moment, what do you think agencies can do to support their employees?
Listen – like, really listen and observe. This expectation that we all have to sing and dance, go to the pub and be merry and joyful when that is not how you really feel takes an immense toll. Allow people to be themselves and express their feelings; if all agencies did that to begin with it would be a massive step forward. Encourage authenticity and self-reflection.

How can the PR industry work on its diversity problem?
We should understand that diversity has two main forms of manifestation: one is physical and the other is mental. The former is ‘people like us’ and the latter is ‘no more nodding heads’. This reminds me of that splendid Procter & Gamble campaign aimed to shatter stereotypes ‘Like A Girl’, and of how far we are to even comprehending that another view, someone else’s experience and take on issues may, actually, help us become better.

We often stop at skin colour and gender and we shouldn’t; innovation, forward thinking, competitive advantage and so on, all these imperatives for business growth are in the mind, not in the body. When you submit a proposal, are brought in to sort an issue or help in a crisis, it is your mind that will make all the difference, not the way you look or dress. The quotas on diversity need to be very carefully considered, especially when it comes to gender diversity – bring a woman in because she is the best at that job, not because she is a woman.

How has the relationship between the media and public relations changed during your time in PR?
It has changed dramatically. When I started, almost 20 years ago, the journalists were the authors and the keepers of the ‘Bible’. There was a very clear demarcation line: they asked, you answered, then you could only hope they understood. Today, the lines are blurry and I am quite sad to see that some journalists forget that they are supposed to be neutral, ethical and professional. Equally, it never ceases to amaze me that we still have PR practitioners who treat journalists like the fish in a pond: throw something in and see how many fish you can catch.

Do you think calling to pitch stories to journalists can ever be a good move?
It can, providing the right story is pitched to the right journalist. A journalist cannot be expected to be everywhere, read everything and know what is happening in their sector 24/7. If we can provide them with something that is of real interest to them, we should. This is how many professional and long-lasting relationships start: as transactional.

What are the pros of working with influencers versus ‘traditional’ media?
I have very strong views on this, and often my views are rather strong, one might argue. Influencers to me are pretty much as ‘influencing’ as the answer to the question: ‘how long is piece of string?’. Celebrities are still good at raising awareness when it comes to products – credible they are not, for the most part. Social media influencers, and I cannot help mentioning the case of the ‘over four million followers’ ‘social media star’ who couldn’t make it through one of the dance-offs of Strictly Come Dancing last year; how ‘influencing’ was that influencer? I’ve written quite a lot about this subject and I would always urge caution. If treated strictly as a paid-for transactional relationship, the contractual terms must be very strict to ensure both parties are clear on what their obligations, liabilities and expectations are.

The ‘pros’ of influencer marketing are reach, awareness and, potentially, sales impact – but the last point needs to be very carefully tied back to the actual influence of that person. And I’ll give you an example of a perfect influencer in my book: Stephen Waddington. Before I created my blog, I used to write a lot for CIPR’s Influence (online version) without even thinking to go through the effort and trouble of creating my own blog – between ‘Influence’ and LinkedIn’s Article feature, I was ok. But then Stephen wrote something and urged us to create our own platforms – after all, I can be as hard as I want on one topic or another in my own blog as opposed to someone else’s. Then, it was also Stephen who, when I complained about something to do with our practice a several years ago, when he was the President of CIPR, he turned to me and said just this: ‘and what are you doing about it?’. The penny dropped and I thought to myself ‘I’d better do something about it’ – and I did.

So what I am trying to say here is that an influencer’s ‘influence’ can only be measured, realistically, in their ability to influence someone to do something: change, use, buy, etc.

Do you work with other PRs on your blog? How would you prefer they approach you and with what kind of content?
No, I don’t – never had the chance to because, although I’ve been sent numerous press releases, those I found really interesting to have a constructive dialogue with were only interested in ‘broadcast’, not in anything else. I’m happy to be approached by anyone who has a very interesting story to tell, particularly in our line of work, and is ready to answer my questions – some I’ve even invited to host a #PowerAndInfluence chat but, when they learned that the chat is a conversation and not a prescriptive Q&A or a chest-beating opportunity, never came back to me.

If I like what I read, then I’ll approach the sender – I will never ask to be paid for my writing about them or doing a #PowerAndInfluence together; I have a blog because I am passionate about what I do/write – it’s not a means of income for me and it will never be; this is why I don’t accept any advertisements etc. My blog is very personal and special to me, so any co-operation with any other PR professionals will be based on that premise.

What other blogs do you check out regularly?
I read Stephen Waddington, Scott Guthrie and Jessica Pardoe quite regularly, as well as Sarah Waddington’s FutureProof – I like learning something new every day and look for ‘wow, I didn’t know that’ or ‘I never thought about that’ kind of content. But I read many others, too, depending on the topic/subject. The blog articles I loathe are those who invite you in (clickbait style) and bore you to death in the first five minutes with their services on the topic, how you can work with them, etc. I appreciate that some or many make money from writing blogs, and that is fine with me – but it would be great if they could wow the reader with their knowledge on that topic first and, right at the very end of the article, promote what they do and how they do it.

Cut for time: extra answers from the How to build a charity brand webinar

March 4, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Charity, Webinars Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

Our recent webinar How to build a charity brand included discussion on communicating with stakeholders while building relationships with supporters. Expertise came from Scouts’ director of communications and marketing David Hamilton and brand and ambassador manager Chris James, as well as Shape History’s co-managing director Lauren Kay-Lambert.

Watch the full webinar here.

We ran out of time to answer all of the questions that came in during our chat with the experts – but Lauren and Chris have very kindly answered the additional questions regarding research, best practice and rebranding for further reach, below.

How much research has to be done to get branding right? Is it possible to use only data and information we already have?
Lauren Kay-Lambert: It’s important you gain a good understanding and honest insight from multiple stakeholders, both internally and externally from beneficiaries/donors. Existing data, especially around user journeys/Google analytics to see where traffic is coming from will definitely be beneficial.

Chris James: This depends entirely on what data you already have. We’d recommend that you consult widely with internal and external stakeholders and give people scope to give you frank and honest opinions.

How could a volunteer-run community group use this best practice to increase its impact on people and its reach on social media?
Lauren: The key is to get your volunteers and end beneficiaries involved – speak to the people you’re trying to reach on social media and ask them what type of content they’d like to see. Also, don’t feel as though you need to be present on every single social media platform – assess what brings you the best return and engagement.
Chris: The key is understanding your audiences and what they need from you. Test different ideas and approaches and then use these insights to increase your engagement and reach.

How can a smaller charity without the reach and recognition of a big charity undertake a full rebrand to improve its effectiveness?
Lauren: Still use the same process, but don’t spend a huge budget on an agency to do the design work. I suggest hiring a freelance designer (go onto The Dots/use Major Players, etc.) to find someone who will be cheaper. I’d suggest focusing on the ‘Understand’ phase and nailing down your verbal identity.

Chris: You don’t need a huge budget for a rebrand. However, you do need huge buy in. Start by building the case for a rebrand – why do you need to do it? What’s not working? Who are you not reaching? It may be that you need a refresh rather than a full rebrand. Before looking at colours, fonts and logos, the key is identifying your key benefit – answering the question ‘why do we exist?’ Run some informal workshops where stakeholders get a chance to answer these questions. The key is taking people with you – a rebrand that is foisted on an organisation, charity or company will not succeed.

How do you measure your relevance?
Chris: We regularly track our perception across a range of key audiences – across relevance, trust and other factors. We work with research partners to do this.

Can you explain more about ‘self-service culture’?
Chris: Self-service is simply about providing your members or customers with the tools and resources to speak confidently about your brand, whether online, in print or in person. We provide a free online hub with templates, videos and other assets members can use with minimum expenses and expertise.

When you establish a charity, how do you choose right types (trustee, foundation… etc.)?
Chris: We’d recommend seeking specialist advice and research widely on this, as it depends on what you’re setting out to achieve.

How much did the Scouts rebrand cost from start to finish (budgets are always tight in our sector, and so often we see these great examples of what can be done, but they are way out of our reach)?
Chris: We were fortunate in that a number of partners were willing to work with us at significantly reduced rates or free of charge. For that reason we agreed that we would keep the arrangement confidential so it would not affect their wider business. We recommend that you have honest and open conversation with potential partners and you also have the option of doing this in house – although external perspectives are invaluable.

Watch the How to build a charity webinar here. Want more expertise from charity brands? Check out advice from Tiny Tickers and The Wildlife Trusts on creating successful PR campaigns on shoestring budgets.

Top tips for finding an effective tone of voice for your online brand

March 2, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Branding, PR Club, Content Marketing Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

This is a guest post by Marketing Island.

Tone of voice isn’t the words we say but how we say them. It is the language we choose, and the personality behind the screen. Brands often rely so heavily on graphics, colour pallets and typefaces, but having a distinct tone of voice is just as important for building brand affinity and familiarity.

In the wise words of Maya Angelou, ‘People won’t always remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel’. Mastering your own tone of voice is crucial, it’s a major part of what makes you unique. A consistent tone of voice ensures you are easily recognisable and can resonate with your customers.

When we speak face to face, we are not solely relying on the words leaving our mouths as we have the assistance of non-verbal communication. Using facial expressions, gestures and different pitches allow us to correctly communicate what we are trying to say to others. A carefully considered tone of voice is vital for the representation of a brand online, as we lose all these additional factors. Online marketing such as email and social allow you to build strong relationships with your consumers through one to one conversations. Therefore, portraying the correct tone of voice can help you stand out against competitors and communicate authentically and honestly.

‘If you’re looking for your voice, tap into how you write and talk to your best friends – when you’re not trying to impress or be someone else, but just telling your stories. That’s the quickest way to find it.’ – Jess Pan

Since establishing Marketing Island in 2017, our tone of voice has always been an important factor in our overall branding. Marketing Island was created with a specific audience in mind and this enabled us to quickly establish who we were talking to and how to talk to them – women like us!

Being human has always been the most important thing for us, we have always prided ourselves on being genuine and passionate about the topics we share. We have found this vital to our engagement; it allows us to build connections and bonds with our readers.

Our Top Tips:

Understand your values and personality
Your tone of voice should express your brand’s personality and values. Figure out if you want to be humorous, empathetic or serious (but always ensure you’re relatable!). Your customers are only human (like you), so be approachable and break down that fourth wall – you are not a robot!

Know your target audience
Who will you be talking to? As with all marketing, understanding your audience and their needs is vital. Ensuring your tone of voice aligns with their purpose and ethos as well as your product or service is extremely important.

Write down guidelines
Once you’ve nailed your tone of voice then document it, this can be a part of your overall brand guidelines. Having documentation in place informing of your tone of voice is extremely important to ensuring everyone in the organisation is on the same page.

Be consistent
Through finding your authentic tone of voice your audience will learn to understand your brand and expect a certain experience from you. They will begin to recognise you and build a trusting relationship. Consistency is key here, they need to have the same experience with you 24/7, 365 days a year.

Continue to check that your tone is relevant to your brand. Over time, external and cultural factors can influence organisational change. As important as it is to keep a consistent tone of voice, it’s just as important to be mindful when things may need to be adapted.

Marketing Island is an award-winning online marketing magazine set to inspire women in the digital industry. Find out more here, and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

PRFest 2020 launches with a new format and keynote

February 27, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Event Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

June’s PRFest 2020, taking place in Edinburgh, is launching with a refreshed format focused on individuals, participation and evolution with the theme Purpose Over Profit.

The first keynote confirmed for the event is Manifest CEO and founder Alex Myers, who brings experience from agency’s work in offices across London, New York, Stockholm and Manchester as well as creative comms work with brands including Virgin, Help for Refugees. He will be sharing expertise on ‘Building a creative process fit for the purpose economy’, detailing how Manifest ensure that purpose is at the centre of each client’s strategy.

Other conversations already announced for this year’s PRFest include:

– Waging ethics battles for positive outcomes with senior strategist and MPRCA Mary Beth West
– How can PR influence organisations and their sustainability plans? With Good Will Studios’ creative consultant and designer Will Saunders
– Three is the magic number – How to manage your time more effectively so you can be successful in life with mindfulness coach and former PR professional Sarah Lloyd

Further conversations, and their hosts, will be revealed when the ‘Organised People’ tickets are released on 13 March. The first tranche of tickets, for ‘Super Organised People’, are available from today.

The PRCA continues to support PRFest. Director general Francis Ingham said: ‘We’re excited to return to Edinburgh for PRFest in June. It offers communication professionals the perfect opportunity to get away from London and other cities, and network with colleagues from across the UK. Its fresh approach to out-of-office learning has a richly deserved reputation for sharing intelligent thinking on the latest PR trends.’

PRFest was originally launched by Aura PR’s Laura Sutherland as a two-day public relations festival and now boasts attendees from across the world.

More information about the PRFest 2020 launch, this year’s programme, the speakers and how to sign up for tickets can be found on the PRFest website.

Music Blogger Spotlight with Mark Millar, XS Noize

February 25, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

‘I pinch myself when I think I have interviewed people like Jim Kerr from Simple Minds, the guitar legend Johnny Marr and many more.’ Music blogger Mark Millar of XS Noize has met many music monoliths since starting his blog back in 2014, but also loves giving new bands and artists a platform for their music to be heard.

Writing about music has changed a lot since the days of Smash Hits magazine – read on for what Mark counts as the pros of digital publishing and which platforms for new musicians aren’t the best route to take if you want longevity in the charts and music collections.

How did you get started with writing about music?
I have loved music for as long as I can remember. My aunt made me sing along to Bye Bye Baby by the Bay City Rollers when I was three. So I suppose I was hooked from then! My parents played everything from Meatloaf to Simon & Garfunkel around the house growing up so I was exposed to loads of great stuff. Then I started buying my own records and tapes as I got older. I read all the music magazines like Smash Hits, Number One and NME from cover to cover.

I did an HNC in Interactive Multimedia. I planned to get into web design, but that didn’t work out. So I decided to marry my knowledge of web design and my passion for music and created XS Noize in 2014. It started as a hobby and now XS Noize is recognised as an authority in music, which is amazing.

What’s your favourite thing to post about?
I like to feature new bands and artists to give them a platform for their music. Also, I love to interview musicians who I admire and have been a fan of. It’s always interesting to hear about their process. I pinch myself when I think I have interviewed people like Jim Kerr from Simple Minds, the guitar legend Johnny Marr and many more.

What makes the music blogging community different (and better!) than others?
People love listening to music either on radio, streaming or by playing records and CDs, so it’s a real pleasure to be able to inform those people about new music. To do that I have to have my finger on the pulse by regularly checking my emails throughout the day because I never know when I’ll receive news about the next big release or confirmation about a band or artist I will be interviewing. My laptop is with me everywhere I go (even on holiday) to enable me to publish on XS Noize immediately. XS Noize is a team effort – we have contributors worldwide who are passionate about music and what they do, and it’s a real pleasure to work with them all.

Do you think shows like The Voice and Britain’s Got Talent are still a good route into the music industry for wannabe musicians?
No, not really – they are only entertainment shows. If you want 15 minutes of fame then go for it but today no one remembers who wins these shows. I don’t think any winner of The Voice has ever been successful. I suppose it’s a foot in the door for the acts, but ultimately those shows are about the judges. The best route for musicians is to play the circuit to as many people as they can and write loads of songs.

Do you see the increase in the intersection of tech with music (VR shows/holograms) as a good thing?
I have no problem with it – it’s novelty and fun, but it’s not the kind of show I would go and see. I would rather see the real thing.

What was the first song/album you bought and would you still listen to it?
The first single I bought with my own money was Wide Boy by Nik Kershaw. And yes, I would stick on his greatest hits now and again.

Favourite song lyric of all time?
‘Life’s a bag of Revels/And I’m looking for the orange one/She’s gone’ – Polar Bear by The Charlatans.

How do you work with PRs and brands?
Working with PRs is the lifeblood of XS Noize. I have built amazing relationships over the past six years with PRs. We work closely every minute of the working day on new content by arranging interviews, gig passes, photo passes, reviews and loads more. With brands, we have sponsored live events and organised competitions.

For PRs looking to work with you and your blog/website, how would you prefer they approach you?
PRs can get in touch with me mainly via email, but sometimes they get hold of my phone number and call me directly – I don’t mind either way. I get sent hundreds of emails daily from PRs and it’s impossible to go through them all, which I feel terrible about.

What other blogs do you read (whether music-related or not)?
I like The Quietus, it’s great! And Chordblossom and The Thin Air. The latter two are also based in Northern Ireland, and I like Nialler9, who is based in Dublin. They write fantastic coverage of the local music scenes and beyond, so check them out.

PR Blogger Spotlight: Jessica Pardoe

February 25, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight, PR Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Want a fresh take on the high-profile PR campaigns hitting the headlines? Jessica Pardoe, PR and digital media executive for The Source PR, may still be at a relatively early stage of her career, but knows good (and less-good) work when she sees it: ‘I could write about campaigns all day, every day – I find so much joy in dissecting PR stunts and praising their successes.’

Blogging about big news in public relations has grown from a project started during university into a genuine passion for Jessica as she makes her way in the industry. Read on for more on what makes jessicapardoe.com one of our top ten PR blogs in the UK.

How did you originally get started with writing about PR, marketing and comms?
We were advised in my second year of university to start a blog for an online PR module. Me and a couple of my course mates accepted the challenge. It later transpired that we didn’t actually need to create a blog – in fact, it was never brought up again. I’d spent a fair bit of time on it though and didn’t want to see it go to waste so I carried on writing blogs for a little while.

I started out with two-three views on each post, but I powered through as I was finding that I was really enjoying writing about PR – particularly exciting campaigns I’ve seen recently – and then things kind of just escalated from there. I’ve been blogging for over three years now, and though my blog has seen a fair few different names in its lifetime, it’s now firmly jessicapardoe.com.

What’s your favourite thing to post about and why?
Oh easy – campaigns. I could write about them all day, every day if my life permitted. I find so much joy in dissecting PR stunts and praising their successes. One day I’d really love to be involved in, or even heading up, a team that pulls off big marketing campaigns for well-known brands. But for now, I’m still finding my footing in PR and am learning more about reputation management and targeted marketing – and I’m loving that at the moment!

What are some of the recent campaigns you’ve written about that you really liked and why were they special?
It’s not that recent, but without a doubt one of my favourite ever campaigns is the vegan sausage roll by Greggs. It’s literally paved the way for a vegan fast food revolution and is undoubtably in my mind one of the best product launches of recent years. More recently, I’m loving KFC’s collaborative Valentine’s Day campaigns, and the ‘free Costa Coffee’ campaign that was released late last year.

With mental wellbeing being a big issue in the industry at the moment, what do you think agencies can do to support their employees?
Understanding work life balance is fundamentally important. I’ve been in jobs previously that didn’t value that, and it very nearly caused me to burn out completely. Now, I’m with a PR agency, The Source PR, that really respects our mental health, praises us for our work and understands the concept of balance. That kind of attitude only helps me to be more creative and productive, I feel. PR is largely a stressful job, it does require employees to be switched on and it definitely isn’t always easy; understanding that, but also understanding you have to take care of your mental health outside of your job is the key, I think. It’s okay to switch off your phone, take off your thinking caps and take some time to yourself when you need to. Any good agency should encourage their employees to adopt this attitude.

How can the PR industry work on its diversity problem?
Something I’ve spoken a lot about is how PR has a PR problem. It’s not widely taught in school curriculums, and honestly, we get a lot of bad rep as an industry. To some people, PR is perceived as a deceitful and sometimes seedy career. That isn’t the case at all. Too many age-old stereotypes have seen some people presuming that PR is spinning the news and mastering coverups. That might have been true in the past, but it certainly isn’t any more. These negative perceptions could potentially be deterring people and could be causing diversity issues within the realm of public relations. To work on this, I think we need to see PR integrated into school curriculums, more A-Level courses and more emphasis placed on opting to study PR and marketing at university, or undertaking a relevant apprenticeship. After all, we need to focus on encouraging young, talented and diverse minds into the sector.

How has the relationship between the media and public relations changed during your time in PR?
Well, I haven’t actually been in PR that long. I started studying Business & Public Relations at LJMU in 2015, and have worked in PR since 2018, just coming up to two years now. I don’t think the climate has changed dramatically since my career really started, but I do think now that we’re thinking more about reputations and less about media relations. Meaning that there’s less of an emphasis in getting brand coverage here there and everywhere, but more getting great exposure for your clients in areas that are really relevant to them. I’ve also noticed a massive shift in influencer marketing over the past couple of years, and I think that despite its flaws, influencer marketing is absolutely here to stay.

Do you think calling to pitch stories to journalists can ever be a good move?
Calling to pitch, no. Follow-up calls after an email pitch, it depends. So long as your story is relevant to the journalist you’re contacting, I think it’s fine – however I do have some conditions. When working with national press, I’ll very seldom phone up journalists as not only are they super busy, but I find many prefer talking over email. With regional newspapers though, phone call follow-ups almost always result in positive outcomes for my clients. Just make sure you’re pitching the right kind of story to the right journalist.

What are the pros of working with influencers versus ‘traditional’ media?
Influencer marketing is an incredible new branch to the PR and communications sector. Media coverage is fantastic, but you can’t always see its value (let’s not open that can of worms about measuring ROI in PR). With influencer marketing however, you’re opened to this whole new world of social engagement. Some of our most successful campaigns in recent times have been with influencers, and from well-known people interacting with our clients; we’ve seen engagements, impressions and even follows fly through the roof. I think probably the biggest advantage of working with influencers is you can target those who fit your brand like a glove, and it’s very easy to see if they have an engaged and tuned-in audience who will actually be interested in your brand if the said influencer is promoting it. Though media coverage is always fantastic, that’s an insight you can’t always get with traditional papers.

Do you work with other PRs on your blog?
I used to, I don’t do it as much as I should now (oops!). I’ve had a few guest posts in the past, and in the early days of my blog I used to do a ‘meet the PR blogger’ series which was really popular. I’m always open to hearing ideas for topical guest posts about the PR, marketing or advertising space, so feel free to contact me if you’d like to chat.

What other blogs do you check out regularly?
Oh, I could be here absolutely all day, so let me tell you the top ten I read religiously: MK, Orlagh Claire, Wadds, Famous Campaigns, PR Academy, Power & Influence, Ulster PR Student, Arianne Online, Scott Guthrie, and Rise At Seven.

PR Spotlight with Jess Hawkes, host of PR podcast OutSpeech

February 21, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Podcast, PR Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Amy Wilson

Last month digital marketing agency Impression launched monthly podcast OutSpeech for PRs, marketers and SEOs who want to build links effectively. Its host is digital PR specialist Jess Hawkes, who will be addressing the evolving discipline of digital PR, the latest trends and challenges.

‘There’s so much chat about digital PR across the internet already, particularly on Twitter, and sometimes it feels like it’s the ones who shout the loudest that get the most attention. I wanted to create a platform for everyone to have a say and a podcast is such an accessible format to do that.’ Read more to find out how Jess hopes the podcast will allow more opinions from the digital PR industry to be heard, without shouting about it.

How did you enter the world of PR?
From a young age I’ve always obsessed with language, in particular the power it can hold in shaping ideals and changing minds. I realised very quickly that it was easier to talk my way out of something by using language effectively, and this level of influence fascinated me. Naturally, this led me straight into the world of PR and marketing.

Why do you think a podcast will be a good vehicle to use to discuss the digital PR industry?
There’s so much chat about digital PR across the internet already, particularly on Twitter, and sometimes it feels like it’s the ones who shout the loudest that get the most attention. The digital PR industry is broad though, and I wanted to create a platform for everyone to have a say – a podcast is such an accessible format to do that. You don’t have the sometimes toxic Instagram culture that comes from social media, and you don’t have to spend hours reading through blogs and articles – it’s something anyone can stick on in the car or on the train.

What are you hoping that the podcast can achieve that perhaps hasn’t been done before?
There are already several PR and SEO podcasts, but nothing specific exists for digital PR, which is such an evolving discipline. I wanted to be able to create something that would really be able to shape our malleable industry in a way that represents everyone.

Are there any other podcasts that you will draw inspiration from?
Professionally, I think PR in a Car is a really great resource for broader traditional PR topics. In my spare time, I like to listen to Guilty Feminist, and I’ve long been a fan of the Joe Rogan casual style of interview whereby you just encourage the guest to speak their mind in a relaxed environment.

Which trends do you expect will increasingly come up in your discussions?
Digital PR is changing all the time, so there’s always discussions about where it is going and what will be the ‘next big trend’. We have set topics for the year, which includes measurement, link buying, influencers and the rise of the affiliate.

What would you say are the biggest misconceptions of the digital PR industry?
A lot of people who speak to me from traditional PR seem to think digital PR is simply an online version of PR, and completely miss the link building side of it. Digital PR is entirely different to ‘doing PR online’. It’s a discipline built from SEO and fundamentally differentiates itself from traditional as it is measurable, and can tangibly prove the value and ROI to clients through organic search benefits, rather than ‘awareness’.

How do you expect the shape of digital PR to change in 2020?
I think this year in particular there will be a lot of chatter around relevance, and how that will play a broader role in the style of link building activity that is happening; whether it will still be applicable to create news that sits on an orphan page off the main domain and has little bearing on the actual user journey, or whether we’re going to have to start being far more integrated with our marketing and digital PR efforts.

Is discussion of mental wellbeing in the PR industry overdue?
PR is a discipline which, no matter how it is managed, will always have some level of uncertainty or lack of control, and I believe this has multiple repercussions on mental wellbeing. In so many jobs the outcome of your work directly reflects what you put in, but this isn’t always true in PR since there are so many variables to getting a result. You can put a load of physical and emotional resource into a campaign and get very little in return, as success hinges on a whole host of wild variables, sometimes including the weather or the mood of a journalist!

This is only heightened in digital PR, as there are so many more variables to consider. Even if you get a result and a journalist features your piece, digital results can always be better; they need to include a link, it needs to be followed, from better domains, more optimised anchor text or going to deeper, more targeted areas of the site, to name a few. It leaves digital PRs potentially feeling that no matter what they do, they could always be doing better. That can be a positive motivation, but on the other hand, you can understand why this mentality might wear people out and be a detriment to mental wellbeing if it isn’t addressed.

Who would be your dream guest to interview, from the world of digital PR or otherwise?
Hands down: Edward Snowdon. For me he represents the often lost, true integrity of the media.

Listen to Jess Hawkes on the OutSpeech podcast here.

Dating Blogger Spotlight with Natalie Lue, Baggage Reclaim

February 20, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Christina Pirilla

Sometimes blogs are inspired by bad dates, sometimes by a mix of ‘bubble guts and a busy mind’. Natalie Lue’s Baggage Reclaim was born from a combination of all three and has since become our top relationship and dating blog in the UK.

If you aren’t yet a Reclaimer, read on for more on that killer combo that kickstarted Natalie’s love affair with blogging, as well as the most romantic places in the world and some baggage-related dramas.

How did you originally get started with writing about relationships?
It started with a bad date and me wondering why I’d say that I wanted to be with a ‘nice guy’ but then feel bored and turned off by them. I woke up in the middle of the night with bubble guts and a busy mind thanks to the dodgy date dinner – ten minutes later, I had my then-personal blog. And here I am almost sixteen years later.

How do you stay enthusiastic (and not cynical) about Valentine’s Day?
I’m not, and never really have been, into Valentine’s Day. Even as a child, it bemused me how it changed people for a week or two! It was the anxiety over gifts and cards, and whether they were loved. My husband and I pick and choose which year we want to give each other cards. We do it for a laugh and to get sentimental.

What’s the most romantic place in the world?
Tough call, as I absolutely love New York and have wonderful memories of trips there with my husband. I’m going to say Paris, as he surprised me with a trip there for my 40th. There is something magical about it. I highly recommend going on an electric bike tour for a few hours.

What is the worst date you’ve ever been on?
Too many to choose from. I’ve previously said it was a guy who was stoned out of his tree (I didn’t realise until towards the end of our date). He was very pervy straight away, and after I tried keeping him at bay, he tried to make a move when he dropped me home. I declined and so he proceeded to touch himself up as I exited the car…

Has blogging about relationships ever impacted your own relationships in real life?
Yes. One acquaintance stopped talking to me – she read my blog after finding out about it in a newspaper and fumed that I’d said she served us all Blue Nun at her party (she did). And someone else thought I was talking about their relationship (I wasn’t) and that I’d written about them revenge-cheating on their ex.

What are your favourite dating shows?
I don’t really watch dating shows any more, although I loved watching Take Me Out – it’s a fascinating social experiment that teaches a lot about misconceptions around compatibility and attractiveness. My husband watches Dinner Date and Dress To Impress religiously, so I sometimes catch a bit of those.

How do you collaborate with brands and which kind do you really like working with?
I don’t currently collaborate with brands for Baggage Reclaim. I built a lot of brand relationships from when I ran Bambini Goodies and the now-defunct Nest Goodies, so if I am occasionally gifted something it’s through personal relationships.

For PRs looking to work with you and your blog/website, how would you prefer they approach you and with what kind of content?
I am open to working with brands, but I do get turned off by stock approaches and requests for reviews. DM me on Instagram or drop me an email. In order for me to work with a brand, it has to offer as much value to my audience as it does to me, so we have to share core values. The likelihood is that it would be for the podcast, Instagram or for collaborating on an event. Book publishers, wellness, eco-friendly, and sustainable and creative brands are certainly of interest.

PR Spotlight with Missive’s associate director Gemma Dunn

February 20, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, Technology, Technology, PR Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

‘Technology is ubiquitous so has evolved to become a byword for disruption. Every business is underpinned by technology, so tech PR now covers everything.’ Working in a sector of public relations that now encompasses almost every industry, Missive’s multilingual and multi-skilled Gemma Dunn brings experience from her time in journalism as well as a passion for communication. Having spent ten years in PR, Gemma has seen measurement move from press clippings to email alerts and the evolution of the industry’s approach to campaigning, collaboration and supporting staff under pressure.

As one of the forces behind PRWeek’s UK Best Place to Work (Small Agency) for 2019, Gemma shares the importance of integration in the work and the working environment to produce disruptive – and effective – results.

Tell us a bit about how you got into PR originally, and what keeps you passionate about the work?
I studied languages at university, which I chose because I loved communication and travel. This led me to move to Chile where I had a brief stint in journalism. I loved the storytelling required as a journalist, but the job was too solitary for me – I spent most of each day completing research or writing on my own. I wanted the chance to be part of a team and spend my days being interactive, which led me to look at PR. Fast forward ten years and the teamwork aspect of my job is a big factor in why I’ve stayed passionate in my career. Between my team and clients, I meet and learn from a huge range of people from different cultures and with very different experiences. It makes the job hugely varied.

Missive works with clients in the technology sector – what have been some of the big changes you’ve noticed in tech PR during your time in the sector?
I’ve seen two fundamental changes in tech PR in recent years. Just like in other sectors, clients expect tech PR campaigns to be fully integrated. PR used to be siloed from the rest of the comms mix but in an ever-integrated content world that doesn’t make sense anymore. Getting ahead of what clients (and their customers) need means we have to be channel agnostic and use audience insight to determine what is the best way to reach customers – whatever that might be.

Another big change is that tech is ubiquitous so has evolved to become a byword for disruption. Every business is underpinned by technology so tech PR now covers everything from the banking and insurance industries to veterinary services, property and commodities trading.

Is there anything you really miss about how the PR industry worked when you started?
I used to love that moment of popping into a newsagent to get the paper and find my client’s coverage. The thrill of seeing a story do well is still there but it isn’t as much of a moment when the email alert arrives. Of course, the flip side is that nobody has to scan press clippings anymore!

Missive won the PRCA best place to work award last year – what are the best things about working at Missive and how do you keep employees happy and fulfilled in their work?
It meant a lot to us to win the PRCA Best Place to Work and receive recognition of the distinct culture we have – and the hard work of the founders to create something special. They wanted Missive to be a brilliant agency where people had the opportunity to take ownership of their career and have a say in how the agency is run. It sounds obvious but we treat people like adults and expect people to manage their own time – this means if you decide to work from home last minute, or leave early to play tennis, it’s fine as long as you get the job done.

We also have a healthy rewards programme that includes benefits ranging from an all-company annual holiday abroad to a weekly personal trainer as well as an annual wellbeing and tech allowance. Underpinning all of this is a commitment to innovative, ethical and open behaviour that the team is a part of creating and sustaining.

What do you think it is about the creative industries that can result in mental health issues, and how can companies work to prevent it/support their workforce?
The challenge of being in a creative industry is that your work is always under scrutiny and has to be delivered to a deadline (and in budget). This can create a real pressure cooker, which becomes even more of a problem when you’re trying to navigate the overwhelming amount of information we have to get through. It’s why there are such sustained mental health issues in the industry.

Tackling the problem has to start with being open about when people are experiencing difficulty and working together to tackle the pressure someone might feel under. We check in with our team at Missive to encourage people to find a work/life balance that works for them including a daily routine that is focused to their overall wellbeing.

Do Missive work with influencers/bloggers? What are the pros and cons of working with ‘new’ media versus print?
With every brief we get from a client, we start with research into the target audience to gain insights into who (and what channel) will have greatest impact; this could be an influencer, blogger, broadcaster, politician or journalist. For some of our audiences, influencers will be the most credible way to have impact. For others, it could be through the FT newsdesk.

The benefit of working with this new media of influencers is that you more often have the chance to partner and collaborate on the content you create. Whatever the channel or the individual, the most important thing is to be authentic to the audience.

Missive have been shortlisted for more awards recently for client work – how important are awards for PR agencies?
I think awards are a great way of showcasing results delivered to clients and giving the industry an idea of how you create success. What they don’t always show is overall value to clients in terms of strategy, commercial objectives or brand awareness. When clients are choosing agencies, I think it’s important they look at both awards and style of working to understand whether the agency is a ‘fit’. For example, do they have a strong track record in strategic consultancy that may not be highlighted through award wins?

What is the process for creating content/encouraging ideas for campaigns at Missive?
We have a really collaborative work environment with regular team-wide brainstorms for clients and those we are pitching to. We try to look outside of our immediate industry to get inspiration from other areas, and we’re not afraid to steal ideas where we see something that worked well in a different sector!

How have you noticed the relationship between PR and journalism changing during your career and what do you think is next for both?
PRs now outnumber journalists (64,000 journos to 95,000 PR) which has changed the relationship fundamentally. Journalists are more time-poor than they’ve ever been so on the one hand they need help from PRs to find stories, experts and case studies but on the other hand they are inundated with content they don’t often need, ruining relationships between the two sides.

Understanding the right journalists and industry analysts to take a story to isn’t hard if you have the right tools and a bit of common sense, and I think PRs who invest time in this are always those who have better relationships with the media (and probably with their clients as a result).

Learn more about the Missive team and their work on the website here.

Music Blogger Spotlight with Stefan Toren, A&R Factory

February 18, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

How does the music blogging sector continue to adapt as the way we share and stream music changes? For A&R Factory’s Stefan Toren, it’s ‘the creativity in connecting people’, whether through traditional features and interviews, curated playlists or Instagram stories.

Aiming to explore the meaning behind the music rather than straight-forward industry updates, Stefan’s blog has become a ‘hotspot’ for professionals in the sector. Read on for his approach to writing about music, how the music industry is changing and whether reality TV is a good thing for artists.

How did you get started with writing about music?
A+R Factory started around 10 years ago when I was working as a music manager for a few bands. Originally I just wanted to write about the different artists I had the pleasure of working with, but it started to evolve into something much bigger when I found we had organically become a hotspot for music industry professionals – ranging from unsigned talent to A+Rs from some of the world’s top labels. I guess the answer is almost boringly simple: I began because I wanted my own platform to give a voice to the unheard musician. A decade on, here we are.

What’s your favourite thing to post about on your website/blog?
Just go on over to our homepage and take a look for yourself. We don’t tend to focus on industry news and developments – we focus purely on music and what it (might) mean to the listener. Exploring artists and their new projects is therefore, by far, our favorite stuff to post.

What makes the music blogging community different (and better!) than others?
Oh, it’s different alright – in all the good ways (and some bad, but let’s not get into that here!). One of the parts that make it so good is the ability for a blog to help curate a listener’s taste, and get them to explore new artists and new music that (literally) resonates with them. We’re also seeing the blog community explore different avenues to tell those artists’ stories too; some of the best music bloggers don’t even write these days, they curate playlists, create videos and post insta stories. I think the creativity in connecting people with art is the special something that makes music blogging stay relevant as online culture evolves.

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?
Have they ever been? Facetiousness aside, I think these shows have a cultural value to offer and do help show artists that they don’t just need to be good musicians – they need to be characters and have a story to tell. But I think it goes without saying that ten times out of ten, an artist should focus on their art and marketing before considering a musical reality show to be a viable option for getting into the industry.

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, etc.?
I think most people look at tech in the music industry as these ‘flashy’ PR pieces – and that’s fair because a Tupac hologram catches eyes and ears. The real tech in the music industry is a lot more hidden and it’s all about data. Just like a brand needs data about its customers, music labels all need data about their listeners, and platforms like Spotify have all the value in this space. Because of this data, we’re seeing music labels adopt different approaches to new releases to maximise streaming value, perhaps at the risk of compromising artistic value. But for many artists, data can be their most powerful tool in building a following and cracking the online space – so there’s lots of pros and cons on all sides for tech being adopted more heavily in the music industry.

What was the first song/album you bought (and would you still listen to it)?
Eric B and Rakim’s Paid in Full. Who doesn’t still listen to it? It’s one of the seminal hip-hop albums.

Favourite song lyric of all time?
‘All my exes live in Texas’ by George Strait. I can’t explain why. I’ve never been to Texas.

How do you work with PRs and brands?
Our approach is heavily tied to our original and simple vision of spotlighting the world’s best independent artists and musicians. So of course when we work with PRs and brands, we only choose the ones with an offer that can bring something truly helpful to the table for unsigned musicians. There’s so many incredible services out there that act in line with A+R factory’s values, and we make sure each one we work with gives artists a real digital leg up in this crazy industry.

For PRs looking to work with you and your blog/website, how would you prefer they approach you?
We have a delightfully simple contact page here where you can reach out to us.

What other blogs do you read (whether music-related or not)?
Earmilk is great. Indie Shuffle and Resident Advisor are two other staples.

How to build a charity brand

February 17, 2020/in PR, Press and Bloggers /by Jake O'Neill

How do you build a successful charity brand?

At a time when public trust in charities is at an all time low and Brexit has put a strain on funding in the sector, it’s more important than ever to build a solid brand with a proactive communications strategy.

Our webinar, How to build a charity brand hears from industry experts on how to strengthen relationships with brand supporters while communicating effectively with all stakeholders, from families and healthcare professionals to journalists and MPs.

We are delighted to host Scouts‘ Director of Communications and Marketing, David Hamilton and Brand and Ambassador Manager, Chris James. We also hear from Lauren Kay-Lambert, co-managing director at purpose-led creative agency, Shape History, who shares insights in working exclusively with good causes.

Watch the webinar to learn:

Why proving trust is central to brand building in 2020
How to improve insight and action in charities
Why charities have the potential to gain the most engaged audiences

6 stats to help agencies work with comms directors

February 17, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, communications research, Event, PR Club Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

Over 200 senior communications directors, consultancies and agencies gather at The Richmond Communication Director’s Forum each year and their views and opinions of the industry form the conference’s annual research report.

From the numbers on how comms professionals are allocating their budgets to sourcing new agencies to work with, here are six useful statistics to help you improve your agency’s work.

1. Change management is the biggest business challenge (even more than the prospect of Brexit)
When asked about the biggest challenges they were facing back in November, respondents’ answers fell into the five categories of Change, Resources, Technology, Political and Talent and Value. Change came out as the most challenging, with over half replying with concern. Surprisingly, worries concerning Brexit (rather a big change) had gone down since the year before – from 36% to 19%.

2. Budget reduction is down – only 13% were planning to decrease their budget spend for 2020
Whether careful and canny spending or a sign of belt-tightening, a reduction in budget spend wasn’t a big concern for the delegates at the forum – of 2019’s delegates, 20% had planned to reduce their communications budget, for 2020, it’s down to 13%. Hopefully a sign of healthy budgets to work with. Over half (58%) reported they’d be spending the same, and 29% reporting an increase.

3. Comms directors use an average of seven agencies, but new projects mean new appointments
Exploring how respondents interact with and choose new suppliers to work with, the Forum discovered that comms directors use an average of seven agencies. A further seven are likely to be spoken with as prospects, and 3.2 new agencies a year are appointed. What causes delegates to look for new agencies to work with? New projects (for over 80%) and the need for new technology (for just over 50%). Less than half were looking for cheaper or better alternatives.

4. 70% of those making the decisions on agency appointments are looking for new products and technologies to try out
What most of the directors who decide on budget spend – and which new agencies they’ll be spending it on – are looking to hear about are new-launch products and technology. Less important for them – discussing the outlook for the economy (10%), agency employees (under 20%) and the competition people are pitching against (20%). So, shiny new things that will make their work easier, and not so much with the bad-mouthing of competitors or staid economy talk when pitching.

5. Cold calling is bad: over 90% of sellers of services and over 50% of buyers still prefer face-to-face contact over email or telephone for building professional relationships
Both word-of-mouth recommendations and face-to-face meetings are what those surveyed said were most important with forming new business connections and choosing suppliers to work with. Telephone calls were not popular with buyers of services and products – 0% of those surveyed mentioned it as they way they find new suppliers to work with.

6. What most (60%) comms directors are looking for when picking a supplier or agency? Personal chemistry
Reinforcing that face-to-face is the way to attract companies and brands to work with you, rather than email or phone, is the 60% of comms directors looking for personal chemistry with the suppliers they sign with. Price (over 50%) and innovation (almost 50%) were the next most important considerations. What may turn people off from working with you and dim the chemistry, though, is desperation – ‘Hunger for my business’ was a positive for only 30% of the people at the latest Richmond Communication Directors Forum.

Find out more about The Richmond Communication Directors’ Forum Industry Research Report 2020 on the Richmond Events website.

Dating Blogger Spotlight: Eve Greenow, Never Settle

February 14, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Christina Pirilla

‘Shows like Take Me Out and Dinner Date, to me, are just for people who fancy five minutes of fame – sorry!’ Hoping to build more genuine connections with people looking for advice and support in love is Never Settle blogger Eve Greenow. Originally launched in November 2014 as ‘Eve’s Blog’, its first posts helped Eve come out of a toxic relationship, and has since evolved into an ‘honest, confidence-building go-to of what to do when dating, in a relationship, breaking up, having sex, dealing with mental health issues… you name it, I want to help people with it’.

Even if you’re choosing to ignore Valentine’s Day completely, make a commitment to checking out Eve’s thoughts on dating shows, her worst date ever and whether blogging about dating is a good or bad thing for her own relationships…

How did you originally get started with writing about relationships?
Truth be told, I never started my blog with the intention of writing solely about dating, sex, relationships and millennial lifestyle. Actually, Never Settle was founded in November 2014, as it’s original conception of ‘Eve’s Blog’ (revolutionary name, right?) six months after I came out of a four-year toxic relationship.

Nowadays, Never Settle pushes the latest trends to the forefront of discussion, tackling controversial and taboo subjects head on, and looks to provide a range of outcomes and a way of achieving them, based on a mixture of personal experience and extensive psychological and sociological research. I’ve even got my own Ask Eve section where I accept anonymous questions, and podcast…

What’s your favourite thing to post about and why?
My favourite thing to write about is real, honest posts for people who find themselves in difficult dating situations. Often my Ask Eve inbox is full of lovely, brilliant people who are stuck in a difficult scenario and are so confused. Helping people just feel heard or listened to is my favourite thing. It’s not even giving advice, because often those who write in already know in their heart of hearts what they need to do; it’s just allowing them to have the cathartic experience of writing down their issues and knowing it’ll be read, and that they’re not alone.

I know many bloggers who blog for brand collaborations and the perks, but that was never why I created Never Settle – it’s to help people feel less alone and realise their true potential. Knowing I’ve helped someone is the best thing I ever get out of the blog.

How do you stay enthusiastic about Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day is an interesting one. I used to be super into it, but as I’ve got older, I’ve not become cynical as such, but I’ve just realised that while Valentine’s Day is nice to celebrate your partner, it’s super-important to not just exclusively do so on this one day. I do think it’s become commercialised, and ultimately real relationships shouldn’t need the grand gestures and the expensive presents (depending on their love languages of course). Also, it can make singletons feel super-rubbish, and frankly, even more alone. So I think if someone would like to celebrate Valentine’s Day – absolutely, enjoy it! But if you’re single, honestly, it’s not the end of the world – 15 February is just a day away.

What’s the most romantic place in the world?
Oooh, that’s a toughy. Probably not the answer you’re looking for, but the most romantic place in the world is somewhere that means the most to you. It doesn’t need to be Paris or Rome, it can just be somewhere that makes you feel happy and romantic. It may be a place you share with your partner and means something, or somewhere you love to visit. Memories make the romance, and it builds to a whole new level when you love that place.

What is the worst date you’ve ever been on?
I guess the worst one-off dating experience for me started off as a really nice evening. We had some drinks in a Soho bar, and got on well initially. I was surprisingly calm, and just spoke naturally about what we do, our jobs, hobbies, etc. – had a laugh, even. After a few drinks and no dinner, he spoke about my blog and the fact that I review ‘lots of dildos’… and, as expected, things took a turn for the worse. Not only am I very protective of my blog, but I also find it says a lot about a person in the way they talk about intimacy. Before I knew it, he was complaining about his ex-girlfriend (who he’d been with for a long time), telling me intimate details about her and generally being really derogatory… safe to say, I took his ex-girlfriend’s side. Which went down like a lead balloon. He wanted a second date, remarkably. I did not.

Has blogging about relationships ever impacted your own relationships in real life?
Ha! Oh gosh yeah, unfortunately. People think I write about my life, my dating experiences and private information – which is simply not true. I’ve found people presume when I write a post, it’s about me or my boyfriend. Unfortunately, I have lost a few friends because of the blog. They’ve seen me as a hypocrite for doing something which goes against my own blog advice, or just ‘don’t get it’. It’s amazing how many people will give you backhanded compliments about your achievements, or always find the negative in something you hold pride in.

When I was single, men thought they would become a new feature on my blog. It was regularly said ‘oh, I guess this will end up on the blog then,’ which, again, if they’d read any of it, they’d know they would definitely not. My boyfriend’s friends took the mickey out of him about it too for a long time, which was tough. But to be honest, where I am with the blog, and what I’ve achieved, shows me that it was all worth it.

What are your favourite dating shows?
Ahh, I really hate many of the dating shows. Only because they don’t really do well to pair people up in the best way and basically it nearly always ends in a flop relationship – which is just a bit pointless.

I really like First Dates because they actually try and match people appropriately based on a variety of factors, and often that means you won’t waste your time. Celebs Go Dating is another one I really like. The matchmaking and coaching allow people to actually handle their baggage and deal with their problems, rather than jump from relationship to relationship and make the same mistakes.

Shows like Take Me Out and Dinner Date, to me, are just for people who fancy five minutes of fame – sorry!

How do you collaborate with brands and which kind of brands do you really like working with?
I really do love collaborating with brands. I’ve worked with sooo many and have a handful I love to work with. Ann Summers, LELO, Lovehoney are among my favourite pleasure brands, and I love that they continuously push towards smashing taboos around female pleasure. Brands which are relevant to women’s health, relationships or dating are what I look for, and anything promoting equality and feminism is a big plus!

For PRs looking to work with you and your blog/website, how would you prefer they approach you and with what kind of content?
If you actually research my blog, it will get you so far! I get all sorts of emails, but recently received one from a PR agency who had actually clearly done their research and I felt so warm towards them. It really helps! Brands who care about a mutual relationship really tick my box – someone who just wants to use my blog, or make out like they’re doing me a favour for free promotion will most likely never hear back from me.

What other blogs do you check out regularly (whether relationship-related or not)?
I have so many! I still love to read Naomi Narrative, Lucy Goes Dating and Alice in Wonder. Also love Natasha Atlas and my blogging besties, Hannah of The Giraffe’s Life and Jess from Fierce & Fabulous Revolution. These are some of the hardest working ladies in the blogging world!

Film Blogger Spotlight: Alton Williams, BRWC

February 13, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Alton’s Williams BRWC – that’s Battle Royale With Cheese, to give it the full Pulp Fiction-inspired title – started life as emails between film-fanatic friends. Now a popular blog, BRWC serves up the freshest of movie morsels to Alton’s fellow cinephiles across the world and has taken him to some exciting launches and events along the way (including a rather special one…).

How did you get started with writing about film?
I was exchanging film-related emails with friends and colleagues at a dead-end job years ago. This led to contributing to Brendon Connelly’s influential Film Ick blog for a while. I then saw an ad to buy a website for a pound…

What’s your favourite thing to post about on your website/blog?
Definitely uploading our contributor’s reviews. Sharing their thoughts on film and receiving thanks and feedback from the filmmakers and readers is the greatest feeling. It’s so rewarding.

What makes the film/entertainment blogging community different (and better!) than others?
The community is great at the moment as there are SO MANY bloggers doing this. Loads! And everyone has their own thoughts and own way of doing things. It’s great to see. The passion for film is awesome!

What’s the most exciting industry event you’ve been invited to?
We’ve been lucky to attend a load of screenings, events, festivals, etc. The one that springs to mind was the visit to the BBFC offices! What an eye opener. And of course, the Online Influence Awards!

What were your thoughts on the controversy around the lack of diversity in his year’s Oscar nominations line-up?
We need diversity in every industry, not just entertainment. Regarding film, diversity needs to mean different types of people being represented in every part of the industry. And diversity for me also means diversity of stories. We need to see new ideas, from new voices.

Do you agree with Martin Scorsese’s thoughts on superhero movies?
I love superhero movies, but I understand Scorsese’s thoughts. Perhaps they are becoming a little formulaic? There’s been a number of interesting directors leaving superhero films and franchises due to ‘creative differences’…

Favourite three films of all time?
Rear Window, Superman II, Punch-Drunk Love. In that order!

How do you work with PRs and brands?
We get a lot of emails about screener and screenings and I get them sent out to review. As soon as we’ve watched and reviewed, I send them links. With brands, I like to find out more about them before we look into working together.

For PRs hoping to work with you and your blog/website, how would you prefer they approach you?
I prefer email – there’s record of the correspondence and it’s easier to organise.

What other blogs do you read (whether film-related or not)?
Blazing Minds, Slashfilm, Live For Films, SquareBlind and A Touchline Rant.

2020: The new political landscape – how social media has reshaped political campaigning

February 13, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, Politics, Event, Public Affairs Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

How do policy makers become vital to the new Government in an era where social media has reshaped political campaigning? Join us for a discussion on standing out in the new landscape of social media-driven activism in the Vuelio panel event 2020: The new political landscape, Thursday 27 February at our office in Hatton Garden.

Speaking on the panel alongside Vuelio’s head of political and stakeholder strategy, Kelly Scott are:

– Institute for Government’s programme director for digital, data and transparency, Gavin Freeguard
– Trafalgar Strategy founder and former head of press at Number 10 Downing Street and spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron, Giles Kenningham
– The British Psychological Society’s psychological Government programme lead, Saskia Perriard-Abdoh
– BDB Pitmans’ head of public affairs, Dr Stuart Thomson

Following the publication of Vuelio’s analysis of MPs’ use of social networks to engage with constituents and sister company Pulsar’s research into social media engagement in the run up to the General Election, the panel will focus on how policy makers and the public affairs industry can work with decision makers to make a difference.

Sign up for 2020: The new political landscape here to join us on Thursday 6.00 – 7.30pm at The Johnston Building, 79 Hatton Garden, London.

Film Blogger Spotlight: Karen Woodham, Blazing Minds

February 11, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

With the Oscars just behind us (congratulations, Parasite!), what better time to catch up with Blazing Minds film blogger – and one of our UK top ten – Karen Woodham. Writing about the world of cinema and entertainment for Karen is a joy, as is the supportive and sharing film blogging sector she loves.

Read on for Karen’s thoughts on diversity (or rather, lack thereof) in the Academy Award nominee line-up this year and which films originally sparked her interest in cinema.

How did you get started with writing about film?
It all started after heading to the cinema one night to see Captain America: The First Avenger. I came back home after seeing the film and decided to write a review of the film on my blog that I hadn’t had for long. Shortly after the post went live, the cinema saw it and asked me to review more films for them. My blog developed and over time it’s taken me further into the world of film, events and much more.

What’s your favourite thing to post about?
It has to be the film reviews. I’ve had a passion for film since seeing Star Wars: A New Hope back in 1977 – it blew me away and set me on the path of seeing as many films as I could. Now with the advance of 3D, IMAX and 4DX, going to see a film on the big screen is even more exciting and exhilarating than ever before. Writing about the film afterwards is a joy.

What makes the film/entertainment blogging community different (and better!) than others?
It’s sad to say, but some of the various blogging communities can have an ‘it’s all about me’ issue and don’t like others doing what they are doing. With film/entertainment blogging I’ve not picked up on any of that; we all seem to be willing to help one another out with not only sharing contacts in the industry, but also with spreading the word by sharing articles and helping with website stuff. Now that’s how the blogging community should work.

If you/your team ever attend industry events/launches, what’s the most exciting/fun/weird one you’ve been invited to?
Me and some of the team have been to the usual film-based things such as previews/premieres, but the one thing that kicked off events for me on Blazing Minds was attending my very first Sci-Fi Weekender. It was certainly an eye-opener in the world of ‘geeks and nerds’; film celebrities that take time to chat with fans and the amazing cosplayers that attend the events and put all the effort into their cosplay. I’m now attending my 11th SFW in April this year. I can’t wait – it’s my big diary date for every year.

With #oscarssowhite trending again this year before the Oscars, what were your thoughts on the lack of diversity in 2020 Academy Awards nominations?
As with most film bloggers, I would have to say that I am disappointed by the lack of diversity in this year’s Oscars. We are now in 2020 – it’s time for the Oscars to step into the 21st century and bring much more diversity into the awards.

What’s your take on Martin Scorsese’s thoughts on superhero movies?
I don’t agree with Scorsese, but he has his right to criticise the massive franchise of movies that are packing out the cinemas. Personally, I think they are great for bringing families together for an evening of entertainment, spending quality time watching a movie and then talking about it afterwards.

Favourite three films of all time?
Blade Runner – it’s a movie that I still go back to a lot.

Citizen Kane – a true classic from Orson Welles. It’s a movie that is not only delightful to watch but also beautifully shot.

Star Wars – the original cut from 1977, before those days of it having ‘A New Hope’ attached to it. After all, it’s the film that got me into the world of film and sci-fi in the first place.

How do you work with PRs and brands?
I do like to work with them on regular basis. Many have been great over the years and I still work with many of them for news on new releases, previews and some fantastic competitions that not only spread the word for them, but also for Blazing Minds as well.

For PRs looking to work with you and your blog/website, how would you prefer they approach you?
Probably the best way has always been to get in touch via email, that way I have a record of things that I can go back to when needed. Of course, if needed, there are times that I chat with them over the phone to sort things out that may be urgent, or to work in a price for work to be completed with sponsored articles, etc.

What other blogs do you read (whether film-related or not)?
There are some great blogs out there and I have many of them in my RSS feed in Thunderbird. The main ones I enjoy and read the most are BRWC, Back To The Movies, SparklyPrettyBriiiight and LoupDargent, to name but a few.

Social media surge around Buttigieg ahead of New Hampshire primary

February 11, 2020/0 Comments/in Politics, Social Media, Public Affairs Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

Interest in Pete Buttigieg has rapidly increased after his strong performance in the Iowa caucuses according to analysis of social media and online conversation from the Pulsar Primary Index. In terms of digital profile, Buttigieg is now catching up to Bernie Sanders who continues to drive the largest online conversation volume of all Democratic Primary candidates.

In the analysis of more than five million social media and online conversations referencing the Democratic Primary candidates over the past week (2 – 8 February), Sanders continued to drive the largest volume of conversation (more than 1.37million mentions, to Buttigieg’s 0.95million). Interest in Buttigieg has been growing faster, however, with a week-on-week growth rate of 440%. Conversation about Buttigieg also showed the fastest velocity in terms of the level of conversation the candidate is able to drive within a given hour.

Pulsar’s analysis takes five factors into account to evaluate audience interest and engagement. This includes how much social media and online interest the candidate generated; how much momentum there is on social media about the candidate; how much interest on social media the candidate can drive in a given hour; whether the conversation about the candidate is stable and consistent, or highly variable; and to what extent the engagement and conversation about the candidate maintains high volumes over time.

The Pulsar Primary Index also shows that audience interest growing around Mike Bloomberg following the Iowa Democratic Party’s inability to accurately report results of the caucuses and the consequent chaos and uncertainty about the winner. Bloomberg benefited from the mainstream media’s analysis about his prospects following what happened in Iowa, seeing a huge week-on-week growth (+290%) in mentions.

‘Audience interest in Buttigieg has skyrocketed after Iowa, and his momentum has continued to grow even after the New Hampshire debate. While Sanders is still the leader of the pack, it’s the first time in our tracking that we’ve seen another candidate generate a higher Velocity of buzz than Bernie – prior to this, no one else had even come close to attracting as many posts per hour,’ said Pulsar VP of research and US strategy Marc Geffen.

‘The big swing in momentum for Buttigieg suggests that the Iowa caucuses remain a pivotal moment in the primary process and can shift audience perception in a big way. In the last week, Bloomberg has also experienced a huge bump in conversation following the caucuses, benefitting from mainstream media analysis about his prospects given the debacle in Iowa.’

Read more analysis from the Vuelio political team here and sign up to the new weekly newsletter Point of Order.

A shiny PR spotlight with author and PR pro Natalie Trice

February 11, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, PR Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

‘We all have an ego but if you want PR to work for you, you need to be seen in the media closest to your tribe on an ongoing basis – that’s when the magic happens.’ Finding the right mix of media contacts for your campaigns is just a taster of the tips PR professional Natalie Trice shares in her second book PR School – Your Time to Shine.

Having worked in the PR industry for 23 years, Natalie recently joined the Women in PR committee and has secured column inches and supported on campaigns for brands including Betty Crocker, Sense and the Discovery Channel. Read on for Natalie’s advice on how and where to shine the spotlight to get your stories coverage, because, in her words, ‘let’s face it, you can’t be everywhere all of the time, unless you are the Beckhams and even they have their off moments’.

What inspired you to write PR School: Your Time to Shine and what are you hoping readers take away from it?
PR School: Your Time to Shine is my second book and it came from meeting so many people who had a story to tell and a product to share, but either didn’t know how to do it, or didn’t feel good enough to go out and shout about themselves. It’s aimed at small businesses, freelancers and entrepreneurs with a story to tell and a voice to be heard. It comes with a side serving of my signature cheerleading approach, giving readers the confidence to put their learning into practice and start securing the column inches that are there for the taking.

There are lessons rather than chapters, homework dotted across the pages and I encourage readers to scribble in it, highlight the bits that work for them and use it is a self-development tool and part of their business strategy.

How would you advise someone looking to make contacts in the media with picking the right mix of print media, online, and influencers?
Each journalist, blogger, vlogger and influencer brings something new to the table and just because they aren’t Vogue, it doesn’t mean they don’t count. If that person has the key to potential success for you and your brand, they matter, and if you want them to work with you, you need to build a relationship with them and don’t think they are just going to come running and do you a favour for free.

Remember it’s always important to step back and do some research, rather than diving right in. Also: make emails personal, know your stuff and never presume anything is a given until it’s out there.

What are the pros and cons of working with different sectors of the media to tell a brand’s story?
Really look at your target audience to know what media they consume – is it glossy magazines, TV guides, newspaper websites, trade newsletters, podcasts or blogs?

You may think you need to be in Red magazine but if you are targeting time-poor mums on the go who scroll at the school gates, maybe it’s on Insta and lifestyle blogs that you are going to have the most success?

What do you see as the big upcoming trends for the PR industry in 2020?
One thing I do think will carry on growing is podcasting. Many of my clients now either have a podcast, or want to be guests on podcasts, and this is because they reach the people they want to reach. Podcasting is a brilliant way to self-publish content and be your own media maker. As people continue to experiment with content and formats, this medium will keep growing and can only get better.

Which brands/agencies do you think have been hitting it out of the park over the last year with their PR, and what can others learn from their approach?
As in indie PR, I like to keep up with others in the industry to ensure I’m always learning and like to be inspired so my clients get the best service, and outcomes, possible.

I think that Lesley Singleton at Playtime PR has done a phenomenal job at bringing together a fantastic offering and totally smashes client results time and time again! I also love the work of Angie and her team at Fourth Angel and I love scrolling through social media and watching her and her ‘ministers of truth’ spread the word about their clients and have what looks like a lot of fun, at the same time.

It’s really key to watch what others do and learn, but also key to stay in your own lane because otherwise you can get overwhelmed and ‘comparisonitis’ and imposter syndrome get in the way of anything happening. It’s not about how big the agency is, how fat the budget is, or whether there are duvet days on offer and beer in a fancy fridge on the office floor; it’s about knowing your worth, understanding your ‘why’ and getting results that convert into sales, awareness or change.

With the boundaries between journalism and PR getting blurrier, how have you noticed the relationship between the two industries changing during your career?
I’ve worked on both sides as a PR and a journalist and while the lines are blurred, I do think that there are boundaries to be maintained. PR is all about relationships and I work really hard to ensure that I’m there to give members of the media what they need, be that comment pieces, images, products or interviews.

And finally, with the name of your book being ‘PR School’, what were you like at school?
I was really shy and a bit of a swot and was generally found in the library reading and that is absolutely where I was happiest. I still love the library now and if I ever gave up PR, that old librarian role I had at school might beckon to me.

Natalie Trice is an author and PR Director based in Devon and has worked with CEOs of international TV channels and finance directors at IT companies, to entrepreneurs at the forefront of their industry and ambitious start-ups. Today, as well as retained clients, Natalie mentors people around the world and gives them the PR skills and confidence to go out and talk to the press. When she isn’t working you can find Natalie on the beach in Devon with her husband and two sons as well as their dog and if she isn’t there, she’ll be drinking coffee somewhere and reading a magazine.

ICCO partners with COE to represent PR in European digital policy decision-making process

February 10, 2020/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, Politics, PR Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

The views of the PR industry are to be represented in government as the Council of Europe (COE) has inducted the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) as an official partner for its European policy work on digital information and disinformation.

The COE, responsible for upholding the rule of law, democracy and human rights across the continent, includes 47 member states, with 28 being members of the European Union. Quarterly meetings to support its efforts in upholding human rights in the digital space will be attended by representatives from ICCO alongside those from worldwide organisations including Google, Facebook and Microsoft.

‘This is a powerful endorsement of the strategic value of public relations and a testament to the growing respect businesses and Institutions hold for PR and communications,’ said ICCO deputy CEO Rob Morbin.

‘I’m proud that CCO will play a prominent role in shaping the Council’s policy on digital information. Our members are responsible for the way in which information is communicated with the public; whether via social media, through the press or directly from brand platforms. We are committed to implementing the necessary frameworks to ensure new technologies are used ethically.’

Read more on how PR will be helping to shape policy in the full press release about the ICCO and COE partnership here.

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