Press and Bloggers - Vuelio

CIPR AGM hears from Reuters Institute’s Meera Selva

June 21, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Jake O'Neill

The CIPR held its AGM last night, reflecting on last year’s results, the Institute’s accounts and presenting this year’s Sir Stephen Tallents Medal to Laura Sutherland (congratulations from all at Vuelio!). Following official business, the audience heard from Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism’s Meera Selva, who talked through the current state of digital journalism around the world.

Selva discussed the Digital News Report, which is based on 75,000 respondents in 38 countries.

The general theme of the report is one of concern for digital media, which is still struggling to keep up with audience requirements and societal pressure. While some mediums are doing better than others – the popularity of podcasting in particularly is rapidly increasing – there’s still issues of trust, payment and competition.

Selva pointed out that people seem to be putting more trust in news brands, but it is in established brands while others are seen as suspicious. And while more individuals in the US, UK and Nordic countries are willing to pay for quality news, the technology is currently creating a barrier, as readers too often come up against paywall login screens.

A demand for a ‘Spotify for news’, where one login gives you permanent access to all paywalled brands, is very unlikely to materialise according to Selva, as there will always be publishers that believe readers will come directly to them who don’t want to subsidise lesser brands.

There’s also an issue of competition, which is increasingly likely to come from outside traditional news organisations. In the US, most people have one online subscription, but that isn’t just for news. For example, a US citizen might make a choice between the Wall Street Journal or Netflix. Again, funding models have not found a way to compete with slick entertainment services and are therefore falling behind.

Selva also discussed the impact social media has had on news, where people are increasingly likely to access their news via social platforms rather than go directly to news sites. As such, algorithms and tech companies are the de facto news editors while publishers are having to become SEO wizards.

This is a problem for PR and communications because it allows fake news and misinformation to spread unchecked and makes the ‘official line’ of communication harder to determine.

The PR industry should be taking the decline of trust in the media and its reduced ability to hold those in power to account very seriously – without a robust, trusted, independent media, the PR industry cannot survive to serve its current function.

How to manage crisis comms for terrorist related events

June 19, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, PR News PR, Comms, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Jake O'Neill

New guidance has been published by the CIPR and CPNI for best practice communication management before, during and after terrorist incidents.

The CIPR has partnered with the Government’s Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) on the 38-page guide, which features a communications toolkit designed to help PR professionals mitigate the harmful effects of terrorist incidents on brands, businesses and communities.

Download Crisis Management for Terrorist Related Events here

The guidance explains that communications can help deter terrorists and encourages professionals to be wary of the diverse threats facing organisations, from left- and right-wing terrorism to cybercrime and hacktivism.

The comprehensive toolkit is a valuable resource for anyone working in communications (in any industry) and includes guidance on working with the police, the steps to takes before, during and after an incident, and how to deal with different types of terror-related events.

It is informed by CPNI research based on interviews with 30 communications heads and security professionals from 24 organisations that have experienced a terrorist-related incident. The research found that the success of communication is often determined by the strength of security culture within the organisation. As a result, the guidance encourages PR professionals to align closely with the security function as part of crisis preparations.

Emma Leech, president of the CIPR, said: ‘The fear and horror we feel when people and places we work for or represent are targeted by terrorists has to be separated from the way we manage communication in a time of unique crisis. It demands a clear and calm response that demonstrates empathy and understanding for those affected by these tragic incidents.

‘It is imperative that we consider the operational and emotional needs of the organisation and its stakeholders, and allow sufficient time for planning and recovery. I’d like to thank the CPNI for working closely with the CIPR on the guide and hope that the lessons we’ve highlighted provide support and assurance to PR professionals across the UK.’

Sally Alsop, MD of Agfora, which worked on the research, said: ‘Agfora interviewed 30 comms professionals in high risk businesses; 13 had been directly involved in a major crisis. Although generally well prepared, they readily admit they could always do more. The assumption is that a terror related crisis should be treated like any other, but the research shows there are clear differences and demand for specific guidance. Participants shared their experiences with us, the lessons they learned and tips for fellow colleagues who might one day face such an incident.’

The guidance was produced for the CIPR by Sarah Pinch, Dan Gerrella and Claire Spencer.

What’s your podcast strategy?

June 17, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Podcast, PR Club Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Jake O'Neill

Podcasts have finally become mainstream media, with big tech companies creating infrastructure to support millions of global users. With listener numbers rapidly increasing, podcasts are now a viable channel for PRs to reach new and existing audiences.

Since The Ricky Gervais Show in 2005, every year has been the year of the podcast. They’ve always been the ‘Next Big Thing’ and if you weren’t into podcasts you were probably behind the times (or even worse, too old!). While anecdotally this may have seemed true, it’s only now – in 2019 – that technology is supporting large-scale growth and podcasts are going mainstream.

Whether it’s Spotify making a number of podcast acquisitions and changing its UI to separate music and podcasts; Apple killing iTunes and replacing it with Music, TV and Podcasts; or the BBC launching BBC sounds – podcasts are big business.

How do podcasts fit into your comms strategy?
In many ways, podcast content is still finding its feet. While there are distinct categories – such as fiction stories, comedy, true crime and health – the types of content PRs are used to working with is now playing catch up.

But it’s playing catch up in a big way – the BBC has its own platform and the Guardian and Economist have been creating popular podcasts for years. They’re now joined by many other national titles who cover everything from the arts to business and politics. Presenters and guests are typically traditional journalists and columnists, which means PRs don’t even need to create relationships with new people to reach a podcast’s audience.

Remember it’s a podcast
It may seem obvious but there are a couple of key things to remember that make podcasts different to print or digital content. First, this is a channel for intelligence and thought leadership, which means – at the moment – it’s probably not the right place for campaign promotions. Podcasts are often discussions, so find ways to add value with informed speakers or valuable information. Check out the Journalist Enquiry Service for the typical requests journalists send out for podcast contributions.

The second, and perhaps most obvious point, is this channel is audio only, which means no visual contributions. If you have radio PR experience, then you’ll already be ahead of the competition.

Outside of media relations, PRs can also get involved through advertising – whether that’s via the presenters themselves (in which case it’s very similar to the influencer marketing model) or on the platforms.

The Drum reports that Spotify now allows advertisers to target free users based on podcast preferences, the first time it has segmented its audience by podcasts rather than music. This will allow you to target relevant audiences from business and tech to lifestyle and health. It’s being rolled out across 10 territories with Samsung and 3M already testing the tool.

This is just the beginning for what’s finally deserved the title of the Next Big Thing. As podcasts grow even more popular throughout 2019, expect more sophisticated targeting and advertising, as well as new content types, formats and PR opportunities to emerge.

Did you know Vuelio lists podcasts alongside newspapers, magazines, websites, blogs, vlogs and broadcasters? Find out how the Vuelio Media Database can help you get ahead.

Daddy blogger spotlight: Tim Liew, Slouching Towards Thatcham

June 13, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Tim Liew is the blogger behind Slouching Towards Thatcham, which was recently ranked in the top 10 UK Daddy Blogs once again. Covering life as a father of three – with his fitness journey and incredible musical parodies along the way – Tim’s blog is known for its honest and insightful take on being a dad. We caught up with Tim to find out about being able to pick and choose collaborations, the changing roles of fathers in society and his broad range of favourite blogs.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
I often describe myself as ‘a writer who just happens to have a blog’ rather than being a ‘blogger’ in the more commercial sense. I don’t write for a living and I don’t necessarily write to nurture an audience either.

My blog has always been a form of self-therapy that helps make sense of my thoughts and experiences and record them for posterity. If some of my stories resonate with people or reassure them that they’re not alone on the rollercoaster ride that is fatherhood, that’s a bonus – but it’s not why I write. If I’m being pretentious (which I will admit I often am) I would say ‘scribo ergo sum’: I write therefore I am.

How do social channels work with your blog – are any more important than others?
I primarily use a combination of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Broadly speaking, Facebook is for traffic, Twitter for conversation and Instagram for fun.

Determining the ideal mix is really up to you, though. Some people rely on Pinterest a lot. Others will openly admit they just don’t get Twitter but feel they need to be on there. There’s a lot of pressure, particularly for those trying to make a living from blogging, to be always-on on every channel. But my advice to any blogger is to focus on a few channels that you enjoy the most and to share the best possible content across them. It’s better to have a big presence on a few channels than to spread yourself too thinly across all of them.

What’s the perfect Father’s Day?
A little bit of ‘me’ time and a lot of family time. I’m not bothered by material gifts at all. Most years the best presents I get are hand-drawn cards from the kids and their proud grins as they serve up breakfast in bed.

How much does Father’s Day affect your content?
It doesn’t, really. I have often written about my Father’s Day experiences in the past but I don’t make a point of generating lots of Father’s Day content such as gift guides or best days out every year. If I have something original to write, I will, but I don’t force it.

How is the role of dad changing in society?
It still has some way to go but it has changed enormously in my lifetime alone. So many dads are much more involved and present in their children’s lives than our fathers were. And it goes way beyond changing the odd nappy or ‘babysitting’ the children while mum’s out. You can see it in the increasing number of stay-at-home dads or the number of fathers who do the school run or share childcare responsibilities. The lines between ‘dads’ and ‘mums’ have blurred. Increasingly we’re now ‘parents’ and more of us expect – and thrive on – the added responsibility and time with our kids.

What’s the best balance between visual and written content?
A little from column A, a little from column B. Visuals – whether it’s photos, longer-form video or Instagram Stories – are increasingly important and can make a blogger really stand out from the crowd. But – and I knowingly say this with the bias of someone who has always been a writer first – the words are still important. A blogger’s visuals are the equivalent of a film trailer that draws you in but it’s their words that are the movie itself, adding substance to the style. These days you need to be good with both.

Do you accept press releases?
I do occasionally but only if it is something that genuinely interests me or sparks off some creative ideas of my own.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
I do very little commercial work nowadays so I can afford to pick and choose. But all my best collaborations have been built on two-way relationships with brands I have an emotional collection with. I respond best when working with a brand who is genuinely receptive to my ideas, as opposed to ‘We just need a blog post and an Instagram story by Friday’. And, of course, it’s always easier to produce great content about products you already feel good about. I’ve always been honest with my reviews and I won’t write half-hearted platitudes just to keep a marketer happy.

What advice would you give to PRs/brands reaching out to you?
Appreciate the value that bloggers can bring and treat us as creative partners rather than blank advertising hoardings. Yes, I know you need us to deliver audiences and numbers. And I know you’re talking to 100 different bloggers about ten different campaigns at the same time but treat a blogger well and they will not only deliver great content for this campaign but will be a willing partner for you on future projects too.

What other blogs do you read?
I read several of the other dad blogs in your top ten but I also read across a variety of different genres beyond parenting. As a lifelong Arsenal fan, I religiously read Arseblog and listen to its sister podcast, the Arsecast. I love professional cycling so my go-tos are The Inner Ring for his expertise and Velovoices for their fan-led views (full disclosure: I founded the latter, although I’m not involved with it any more.) And, as a former TV reviewer, my first port of call is often The AV Club for their in-depth and thoughtful observations on my favourite US shows.

Daddy Blog Spotlight: Tom Briggs, Diary of the Dad

June 11, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Tom Briggs is the man behind Diary of the Dad, which recently shot up the charts in the Top 10 UK Daddy Blogs. Started in 2010, Diary of the Dad has gone from hobby to full-time profession as Tom tracks life parenting three kids. We caught up with Tom to find out what makes father’s day special, why his own dad is his hero and how he works with different brands and PRs.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
I just tell them I’m a full-time blogger. People sometimes still ask how that works but blogging for a living seems to have become much more recognised as ‘a thing’ in the last couple of years.

This doesn’t necessarily equate to people respecting it as much as other career choices yet, but it’s just a matter of time. Perceptions of social media jobs have changed dramatically since the first ones were advertised and the same will happen here.

How do social channels work with your blog – are any more important than others?
I think they’re all important as they appeal to different audiences so I have a presence on all of the main platforms.

Personally, I’ve always preferred Twitter but I think it’s vital to be on a few – particularly if you make a living out of blogging.

What’s the perfect father’s day?
This probably sounds really cheesy but spending the day with my family is all I need. The usual routine is breakfast in bed with a gift and cards from the kids.

We often go to my parents’ house for a barbecue, so I get to spend time with my dad too. In fact, we play five-a-side together every Sunday evening as well. I hope I’m still playing when I’m almost 70 – it’s one of the many reasons he’s my hero!

How much does father’s day affect your content?
It has always been my busiest time of year in terms of approaches from brands and PRs, so that translates to my blog content.

It’s also a good opportunity to write about topics related to being a dad. Last year, for example, I wrote posts calling out dad-bashing and dad skills lists.

How is the role of dad changing in society?
I think we’re in the early stages of a cultural shift in attitude but it will still take years or even decades for dads to be truly recognised as equal parents. Workplace legislation has a key part to play here. It needs to change to help things along.

Paternity leave is woefully inadequate while shared parental leave is open to relatively few, so dads are already at a disadvantage. I’d love to see the UK following in the footsteps of countries like Sweden by making it easier for fathers to spend time with their families from day one.

What’s the best balance between visual and written content?
I started out as a journalist so written content has always been more important to me. Achieving a balance is vital though and, to a certain degree, blog posts will succeed or fail based on how they look at first glance.

I’ve really upped my game with photography in recent years and need to get braver when it comes to creating more video content too.

Do you accept press releases?
Yes, I’m always open to receiving press releases and they’ve led to some brilliant collaborations as well as ideas for content that has performed really well.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
There have been so many over the years and I’ve only ever agreed to things that really appeal to me, so most have been great. Going to Berlin with Coca-Cola to blog about its annual grassroots football event ranks highly though.

I witnessed kids from all over the world making friends over the common language of football, met three World Cup winners and even scored a diving header in the match arranged for media and PR!

What advice would you give to PRs/brands reaching out to you?
The best approaches I’ve received are where the PRs or brands have taken time to read my ‘work with me’ page plus a post or two to get a feel for who I am and the kind of content I work on.

Those that come with a detailed brief are always good too. Having all of the important information in one place makes collaborations so much easier, particularly if a quick turnaround is required.

What other blogs do you read?
I read a lot of other parenting blogs and, perhaps unsurprisingly, many of them are written by other dads. Dad Blog UK, DIY Daddy and Father Hood are among those that I read most often.

Daddy Blog Spotlight: Nigel Higgins, DIY Daddy

June 5, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Nigel Higgins is the brains behind DIY Daddy, recently included in our Top 10 UK Daddy Blogs. DIY Daddy combines Nigel’s years of experience in decorating and DIY with tips and advice on parenting as he brings up 5 kids.

We caught up with Nigel to talk about what makes the perfect father’s day, how the role of dad is changing and the best collaborations he’s worked on.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
This is a great question! Whenever somebody asks me what I do for a living I either say I’m a blogger or an influencer. It definitely gets a varied selection of responses from people, but they mainly ask what that means, followed by asking what my blog is called. Trying to explain to somebody who has no idea what a blog is can be difficult. I usually resort to saying that I write a website and then they appear to understand. When you try to explain that you review products or work with large brands most people instantly think you just get lots of freebies which of course you don’t, you have to work for it.

How do social channels work with your blog – are any more important than others?
Social channels are where you promote your latest blog post and there is no doubt I use them extensively to promote my blog. There is no point in writing something and hoping people will read it without some sort of promotion.

I think they all have a place and are important. Over the years I have seen the popularity change dramatically between social media channels. Without question Instagram is definitely the most popular social media channel at the moment, I probably use that more than the others. While they may be flavour of the day at the moment, but not so long ago Twitter was the one, so I’m sure something will come along and knock Instagram off its perch at some point.

What’s the perfect father’s day?
The perfect father’s day for me is having all my children around me, even if it’s only for a couple of hours. The icing on the cake would be to have Sunday lunch all together.

How much does father’s day affect your content?
Leading up to father’s day I am offered many opportunities to collaborate with brands so there will always be more blog and social posts relating to father’s day, but I always try to be careful that there are not too many father’s day posts and that I also continue with my normal posts.

How is the role of dad changing in society?
The role of dad in society has changed dramatically over the years. We now see so many more dads becoming the main carer for their children and the reason for this is that mums could be continuing with their careers, or they could be the higher earner. This of course means that dads will become the main carer. I think it’s great that dads are more involved with their children’s lives. It is a positive move to have dads as a major influence on their kid’s lives daily. In my opinion, society has finally realised that dads having family time is vital for their children. It’s early days but it’s moving in the right direction.

What’s the best balance between visual and written content?
I have always considered written content to be the most important. That’s probably because it was what I started out as. Of course, blogging has changed and evolved, and part of your content has to be visual. I write approximately 5 blog posts a week, but nowadays I include a number of Instagram posts with a photo per week.

Video has become a large part of my content this year and I usually do a couple of IGTV videos a week.

Do you accept press releases?
I will accept press releases if they are relevant to the theme of my blog, otherwise I generally don’t accept them.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
The most incredible part of blogging for me has been the incredible opportunities that it has given us as a family and there have been plenty of them. I will always try to collaborate with people that fit in around our family and our family values.

I have to say that possibly the best collaboration that I have done is literally just the weekend gone. We were invited to Bluestone National Park by Persil UK for a weekend of adventure and fun to celebrate their ‘Dirt Is Good’ campaign. It was all about getting outdoors and just getting muddy and enjoying ourselves as a family. It involved a nature trail, cooking marshmallows on an open fire etc and it was just a magical moment being outdoors as a family. The PR team and Persil looked after us brilliantly and made it an awesome weekend.

What advice would you give to PRs/brands reaching out to you?
I get a lot of enquiries from PR’s and many I will just skim read and delete. You may ask why and it’s really simple; they aren’t saying exactly what they want.

If you are a PR or a brand I would like to know exactly what you want, and if a fee is involved what deliverables do you want from me. That way I can then make an informed decision if we are suited for a collaboration.

Thankfully most of the PRs and brands I deal with are very up front from the beginning about what they want from me.

What other blogs do you read?
John Adams who writes Dad Blog UK. I have always read John’s blog. It is always fresh and very interesting.

Tayla who writes Motherhood: The Real Deal. I was on the radio with Tayla this year and we instantly hit off, I started reading her blog and just love her insightful look into parenting.

Finally, I have always, and always will, read my wife Emily’s blog, Twin Mummy and Daddy. I love her incredibly positive outlook on life, and her writing is always so engaging.

Daddy Blog Spotlight: John Adams, Dad Blog UK

June 5, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

John Adams is the creator of top Daddy blog, Dad Blog UK, taking the number one spot in our Top 10 UK Daddy Blogs. Dad Blog UK has great advice for parents and John shares the milestones in his children’s lives with his readers alongside offering insight into what it’s like to be a stay-at-home dad in 2019.

We caught up with John to talk about life as a blogger, the importance of social channels and how father’s day impacts his content.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
Until 18 months ago, I would have described myself as a stay-at-home dad. Blogging was more of a side hustle. With both my daughters having been in the education system for a little while now, I happily describe myself as a “fatherhood, parenting and lifestyle blogger.”

I’m still the kids’ main carer because my wife is out the house 12 hours a day. During school hours, however, I work on the blog.

Generally speaking, younger people, those in their thirties and below, get what I do. For older people, I have to explain what a blogger is and how I earn money. No matter who I am speaking to, I often find I’m an object of curiosity!

How do social channels work with your blog – are any more important than others?
My social channels revolve around Dadbloguk. I own the blog and parent company so it’s my channel. You’re at the whim of algorithms with social channels and they can be de-activated (think Vine and Google+).

Twitter and Facebook are my main channels for promoting blog posts. Pinterest also works well for me, although I only really embraced it properly earlier this year.

That said, I am producing increasing amounts of stand-alone content, especially on Instagram where I have experienced more engagement over the past 12 months. I’ve increased my output on Stories and I am ever so slightly in love with IGTV.

A brand-new venture for me is TikTok. I posted my fourth video to TikTok seven days ago. It was in support of a motoring-themed campaign and at the time of writing, the video had 56,500 views with no paid-for promotion whatsoever. I appreciate many people think it’s a channel for young people, but that, to me, is a sign TikTok has huge potential.

As an aside, short-form video is ideal for the mummy or daddy content creator. We’re often juggling kids and work so pushed-for time and don’t have gangs of friends to help with shooting and editing footage. It’s quick, easier to produce than long-form and is better for authentically portraying the messy nature of family life.

What’s the perfect father’s day?
I was asked this the other day and I said something about lying a beach in the Seychelles. That’ll never happen, so I’ll settle for a sunny day, a barbecue with the family and a bike ride with the kids.

How much does father’s day affect your content?
The build-up to father’s day is often one of the busiest times of year. I get a lot of requests to write about possible father’s day gifts. There’s also a lot of interest in the media about the role of fathers, so I often find myself giving comment to print and broadcast media about life as a dad. That brings me on nicely to the next question…

How is the role of dad changing in society?
In the decade I’ve been a dad, fathers’ roles have changed hugely. When I became a dad, it was kind-of a question as to whether a man would be a hands-on dad. Now it’s more of a question how hands on a man is going to be.

I’m delighted to see more discussion and debate about flexible working and men. Volvo, Aviva, British Land etc. are among employers who have equalised parental policies. It’s happening slowly, but employers seem to be accepting that men are central figures in their family’s lives. All the evidence shows millennial men and women expect to have their needs as parents respected by their employers and to be treated equally. Flexible working and childcare should not be treated solely as a women’s issues because they aren’t, they impact on men and children too. If you don’t have equal workplace policies in place, you effectively force women out of the workplace and trap men in it.

Okay, I’ll get off my high-horse. Moving on. . .

What’s the best balance between visual and written content?
You need some visual content on a blog. I tend to post a photographic, image-led blog post at the weekends. At the beginning of 2019 I completely revamped Dadbloguk and I considered doing away with this feature. Truth is, I enjoy photography and my visitor stats prove that weekly post is phenomenally popular so it ain’t going anywhere!

I think of myself as a writer so there will always be long-form, written content on my blog. For commercial clients, I would say well-written, long-form content is very valuable because of its evergreen nature. I keep a very close eye on what visitors to my blog are reading and it never ceases to amaze me:
a) How popular review posts are
b) The length of time people spend reading review posts and
c) How much traffic such posts receive months and years after they are written.

It’s a healthy reminder that us bloggers have a responsibility to produce well written, honest, detailed reviews.

Video content I tend to keep on my social channels. This is becoming more important on Instagram and you can expect me to do more on TikTok as well!

Do you accept press releases?
I am very happy to receive media releases and approaches from PR people.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
Just recently I’ve worked on a few campaigns with tech companies to highlight the parental controls their products have, working with Apple was a highlight and I did a similar with Xbox also. I’m passionate about online safety so these campaigns were a great fit for me.

Thinking of road safety, I’ve just worked on a fun campaign with Peugeot in which I had to reverse a van around an obstacle course to test its Surround Rear Vision reversing system. The TikTok video I mentioned was part of this campaign.

What advice would you give to PRs/brands reaching out to you?
I am always happy to hear from PR representatives and brands. If you are inviting me to an event, I need as much notice as possible (us mummy and daddy bloggers often have to arrange childcare).

Ultimately, however, if you have an idea, run it past me.

What other blogs do you read?
This question always makes me feel uncomfortable because I feel like I’m going to miss someone really important off the list!

Believe it or not, I do visit Inthefrow. The fashion and styles on display don’t interest me, but I like to read blogs that operate in completely different spheres to see what other people are doing. It challenges you to think differently and Victoria produces an exceptionally well-designed blog and you can see why the content appeals to her core readership. Time and again I return to Diary of the Dad because I love Tom’s writing. He can also be very funny and witty. I think Daddy and Dad offers a great insight into adoption and life as a same-sex couple. Jamie and Tom are going places I think. I’m a huge fan of Grey Fox because of the way David promotes classic British style. He also deserves recognition for pioneering online style for older guys

How a Vuelio ‘blind date’ led to featuring on the BBC

June 4, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, Communications, Media, Freelance, Influencers Media Database, Comms, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Rebecca Potts

Vuelio continues to connect journalists and PRs with its increasingly popular ‘blind dates’ series. These face-to-face meetings prove the power of building professional media relationships in the right way. A recent Vuelio ‘blind date’ between Maz Halima and Farhad Ahmad has already led to the pair working on a video project for the BBC.

The chat flowed from the start as Farhad, a press officer and Imam at Ahmadiyaa Muslim Community discussed with Maz, a freelance journalist, about the challenges he faces promoting a positive message about Islam and the Ahmadiyaa Muslim Community. As a freelance journalist, focusing on the social issues she encounters as a Muslim woman, Maz took away plenty of great advice from Farhad, promising to get more involved in her local community.

Fast forward to the end of May, and Maz is working on a short film for the BBC about Ramadan. She needed a spokesperson from the local Muslim community, and, luckily, Maz now knew someone she could call upon for just such an occasion – Farhad.

My Ramadan Diary: Fasting for 18 hours with depression and anxiety is now live on the BBC website and follows Maz throughout her day of fasting, including a visit to Farhad at the mosque.

Thanks to the Vuelio ‘blind date’, Maz was able to put her recent comms connection into action, ensuring her powerful film got made and provided coverage for the Ahmadiyaa Muslim Community on the BBC, one of the most respected media outlets in the world.

Maz is now an advocate of the ‘blind date’ process, she said: ‘When I went on my Vuelio ‘blind date’, I thought it would be great to get some insight into the world of PR and have some delicious food – but I have to say, I didn’t imagine the experience would come in handy so quickly.

‘But just weeks later, the BBC wanted me to interview someone in the local Islamic community who could provide a light on the importance of compassion when it comes to mental health during Ramadan – and I knew Farhad would be a good person to have that conversation with. I’m glad I met him via Vuelio, as it saved me from all the man hours of finding someone to speak to that I’d probably have never met before.’

Are you looking to grow your network? Maz and Farhad had a ‘blind date’ at the First Dates restaurant – the Paternoster Chop House. We’re always looking for PRs and journalists to take part so if you’d like to have a success story like Maz and Farhad get in touch!

Football Blog Spotlight: Neil Vaughan, The Spurs Web

May 31, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Christina Pirilla

Neil Vaughan is the man behind The Spurs Web, recently included in the Top 10 UK Football Blogs. The Spurs Web is the main source for everything Tottenham Hotspur, from match days to transfer talk and even has an app who need the latest news instantly. We caught up with Neil to talk about his player of the season, how football fandom has changed how we consume football content and the power of social media.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
I would describe it as providing football fans with a platform to have their opinions heard and read by their fellow supporters from all around the world.

How important are the different social channels when they feed into your blog?
Social channels are critical to driving visitors to the website. It depends on the demographic of the supporter, some like to hang out on Twitter as the game unfolds, whereas some on Facebook prefer to see the build-up for a match via the Live facility. It also gives the supporter the chance to interact with fan-generated content which we often feature, such as goal celebrations from the stands recorded by fans. This is content which official channels tend not to offer.

Who’s your player of the season?
Heung-min Son. The South Korean has performed fantastically well in the absence of the injured Harry Kane and has opened a completely new market of supporter to the club with his cult-like following in his homeland of South Korea.

How is football fandom changing the way we consume football content?
The rise of the ‘vlogger’ is something which is definitely something to watch. You only have to look around any Premier League stadium and you will see vloggers filming themselves watching a match.

What’s your view on esports and the likes of teams having their own esports players/teams?
The rise of esports has been nothing short of stratospheric over the past ten years and it has been a surprise that it has taken professional football clubs up until only recently to start to embrace the new market. If it means that clubs can generate increased revenue, awareness and attract a new type of supporter then it can only be good.

How important is the community to your blog? Do you accept press releases?
Critical. Without the football community there is no website. They are the lifeblood of our content and this is how it will remain. Our mantra is ‘for the fans, by the fans’. We are in a unique position where unlike official club websites or major publications, we can provide a level of coverage and passion that you just cannot generate from a paid journalist.

Do you accept press releases?
Yes, we certainly welcome press releases.

What are the best campaigns you’ve collaborated on with PRs/brands?
Surprisingly, given our vast social media following and website which attracts over three million page views per month, we haven’t really had many PRs/brands collaborating with us. This is something which we hope to change given the fact that they would be engaging with a passionate and bespoke audience that we have built over many years.

What other blogs do you read?
eConsultancy is a big favourite to try to keep on top of digital trends in order to further improve the service which we offer our visitors.

Luxury travel spotlight: Angie Silver, SilverSpoon London

May 30, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Angie Silver, luxury travel blogger and mum to be, is the brains behind SilverSpoon London. Sharing her travels to incredible destinations across the globe, SilverSpoon London couples detailed reviews and travel stories with beautiful photography, and as a London local, Angie also covers the best things to see and do in the capital.

We spoke to Angie about out how she uses social channels and what works best, her favourite hotel in the world and the best collaboration she’s worked on.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
I’m a luxury travel blogger with a focus on beautiful destinations, hotels and food. I also cover my home town of London with restaurant reviews, events and other fun things to do.

How do social channels work with your blog? Are any more important than others?
Social channels are vital for my blog. Twitter is great for promoting my latest posts and for having conversations with like-minded people. I love Instagram as a highlights reel or ‘shop window’ to show off my best photography and I use Instagram Stories for closer interaction with my readers and followers. Pinterest is great for driving traffic.

Do you feel travel blogging is segmented (luxury/standard/local/family/budget etc)?
It can be, but I think blogs should reflect real life and that means fluidity. A budget traveller for example may stay at a luxury hotel for a special occasion and choose to review it. I don’t think that jars with regular content as their readers may find this useful too. As I’m about to have a baby I’m planning a slight shift in focus. I’ll always write about luxury travel but I’m going to introduce a family angle to my content. Many of my readers have been there since I start my blog over five years ago and I’m hoping for them to grow along with me.

What’s the best balance between visual and written content?
I think it depends on your angle and readership. More and more blogs are becoming curated and photography-led but I started my blog because I loved writing so that is what came first for me. My love of photography came next and I found myself enjoying learning how to create beautiful images too. Part of a blog is showing your personal experience through photography and your own voice, so both will always be important.

What’s your favourite hotel in the world?
Tough question as there are so many that I love! The best I’ve stayed in is Singita Boulders, a safari hotel is South Africa. Not only did I enjoy the magic of safari but the décor of the hotel, service and food were just second to none! I love hotels that are different, unique and special and offer a very personal service.

Which airline is the best (and why)?
I don’t know about them being the best but British Airways are the airline that I travel with most frequently. I have loyalty points with them so it makes sense, plus I find them reliable and the planes are comfortable with good service.

How conscious are you of political upheaval and local issues when travelling?
I’m very conscious. I’ll only travel to places that I feel are safe and would recommend my readers to travel to.

Do you accept press releases?
I would never write a blog post on the basis of a press release as my blog is wholly experiential. However, I do like receiving press releases in order to keep up to date with the latest news in the luxury travel sector.

What’s the best PR campaign/collaboration you’ve worked on?
For me my favourite collaborations also provide rich and unique experiences for me personally. Last September I worked with Original Travel in order to promote their travel planning and bespoke itinerary creation. This saw me saw me travel to Morocco to stay in Richard Branson’s hotel in the Atlas Mountains, as well as enjoy local experiences in Marrakech.

What other blogs do you read?
I love Adventures of a London Kiwi and Binny’s Food and Travel Diaries to read about fun things to do in London and the rest of the world.

The Curious Pixie, Follow Your Sunshine and The Travel Hack are great for family travel. I’ve read The Travelista, Lux Life London, Heroine in Heels, Twins That Travel and Kalanchoe for years. I know all these bloggers personally too, I love reading posts by friends and seeing what they get up to.

Luxury travel spotlight: Suze Renner, Luxury Columnist

May 30, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Suze Renner is one half of the team behind Luxury Columnist. Discovering hidden gems around the world, the luxury loving pair review hotels, restaurants and share the most interesting things to do, making Luxury Columnist a must-visit for anyone looking to have a holiday with a difference and a touch of luxury.

We spoke to Suze about out the segmentation of travel blogging, how local issues impact their travel and their favourite travel blogs.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
We describe ourselves as content creators and multi-channel marketers who feature the latest luxury travel trends and destinations.

How do social channels work with your blog? Are any more important than others?
In terms of social channels, the two that work best for us are Instagram, which is great for immediate visibility, and Pinterest, which drives long term traffic to our website. Pinterest users are generally in a purchasing mindset when browsing the platform, so they’re highly valuable to luxury brands. Twitter is great for connecting with ultra-high net worth consumers and Facebook continues to be popular in many countries.

Do you feel travel blogging is segmented (luxury/standard/local/family/budget etc)?
Yes, although these days the lines between luxury and budget have become more blurred. Glamping and back-to-nature accommodation are increasingly popular, with some people choosing to splurge on a luxury hotel for a few nights at the end of their stay while staying somewhere more low-key for the rest. We focus on bespoke experiences and high quality, whatever the price range

What’s the best balance between visual and written content?
Visual content draws the reader in, but detailed written content is key to keeping them interested long term. We focus on writing in-depth articles that will be ranked higher by search engines; increasingly, those search engines are prioritising quality edited photos highly in their rankings, as they recognise that these are important to readers.

What’s your favourite hotel in the world?
It’s hard to choose just one, but a favourite is Monastero Santa Rosa, which is a former convent on the Amalfi Coast in Italy with an amazing infinity pool.

Which airline is the best (and why)?
Again, there are many great airlines, but we like Emirates for the friendly staff and quality of the food and beverage offering.

How conscious are you of political upheaval and local issues when travelling?
We always research our destination in detail before travelling, and check with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website that it is advisable to travel to the region. We like to speak to as many locals as possible while on the ground, in order to get a full picture of current events.

Do you accept press releases?
We can’t use press releases as we write about our personal experiences.

What’s the best PR campaign/collaboration you’ve worked on?
One of the best ones was a recent campaign for Visit Tokyo. They were clear about project deliverables, yet they listened to our input about activities that we knew readers would be interested in. We suggested to them that we integrated Tokyo’s plum blossom season into the campaign, as it is much less well known than cherry season. The best campaigns are those where we establish a long-term collaboration, and where the destination or hotel brand shares our content on their own site and social channels.

What other blogs do you read?
We like blogs and websites that give detailed information on the places that we are travelling to. For Japan, Travels with Nano was helpful and for Paris, we love the photography by Paris in Four Months.

Luxury travel spotlight: Ana Silva O’Reilly, Mrs. O Around The World

May 28, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Ana Silva O’Reilly is the founder and creative force behind Mrs. O Around The World. Travelling to far-flung places around the world, reviewing hotels and discovering the best way to spend a weekend, Mrs. O Around The World is perfect for discovering luxury whether you’re in the city or the countryside.

We caught up with Ana to find out how important social media is to her blog, which airline is the best and her approach to press releases (both sending and receiving them).

How do you describe what you do to other people?
I always tell them I have two very different jobs – I run my own marketing consultancy firm (and have worked in marketing for almost 20 years now) and I also write about travel.

The next question is always ‘who do I write for?’ and I always say ‘for myself and a group of like-minded people who are a bit picky with how they travel and where they stay from all over the world’.

My split has been 70-30 since the beginning and I find it that it works very well for me.

How do social channels work with your blog? Are any more important than others?
It depends what the purpose is – I have different followers on different channels, so I tend to have very different conversations in each. I am equally active across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and I enjoy all three.

I love the ‘fast and furiousness’ of twitter chats (and very proud to continue to co-host #luxtravelchat weekly every Thursday which will celebrate its 5th birthday this Summer).

I am a big fan of Instagram stories (but frustrated with IG itself), and I do have some good conversations and return with Facebook.

I have also started a YouTube channel – driven by brand work and it has worked quite well. I have done a bit of work on Pinterest with the help of a professional and hoping to turn that around – that has never been my channel!

Do you feel travel blogging is segmented (luxury/standard/local/family/budget etc)?
It is – but the world luxury is completely overused, which is a shame. We need to bring the hotel stars back – the standard was never consistent across the world, but it levelled things out.

On the other hand, there are very few people who write about luxury travel who get to experience it outside press trips, which I find somehow misleading. You can’t tell people to part with their money if you never do it yourself. Don’t get me wrong – I work on brand projects and indeed I get paid to travel, but I go on real holidays often and that is a really important balance (for me, at least).

I’m glad that disclosure is becoming finally ‘a thing’, but I was disappointed to see some bloggers ‘joking’ about it almost – as if it was beneath them (’thank you for the glass of juice, brand X). Sasha from Liberty London Girl has always led the way – and is someone I don’t know in real life and enjoy following.

What’s the best balance between visual and written content?
Everyone has their own. I’m a great believer of less is more – I don’t think people need to hear from me more than they do from their best friends. And ‘being on’ every day because some ‘influencer course’ told you so, may not work for everyone.

I have started doing more video – but the blog is and always will be my priority. It’s the only thing that’s really mine.

What’s your favourite hotel in the world?
I am a great fan of Finca Cortesin in the south of Spain – I went for the first time seven years ago as Mrs. O and return every summer as Ana. Heading back in a month’s time and very much looking forward to it.

Which airline is the best (and why)?
I’m a British Airways Executive Club gold cardholder (oneworld emerald) and have been for nine years now – which means I buy a lot of tickets each year and I am loyal to BA.

Obviously, it is my home airline (I am a T-Fiver) and that plays a part. I do tend to fly within OneWorld but lately I have been venturing out and may have something interesting coming up which will show top tier BA flyers that may be worth ‘cheating’ every now and then.

How conscious are you of political upheaval and local issues when travelling?
I would think a fair bit – I actually got used to reading all medical warnings as Zika has conditioned my travels in recent years (my IVF journey and failures have been documented, with the incredible support of my readers).

I don’t need to be the first or the last to experience anything – the BAE (‘before anyone else’) syndrome is not one Mrs. O suffers from (and absolutely not why my readers come to me).

Do you accept press releases?
No. I only write about my trips, so I don’t do features about places I have never visited and there are no exceptions. But of course I do use press releases to keep myself up to date of new openings and events.

What’s the best PR campaign/collaboration you’ve worked on?
I have had a very successful collaboration with Visit California in the summer of 2018 (following a first project in 2017), which then led to a Winter 2019 campaign as well. And more to come soon. Why? Because I love California and have been going at least once a year for the last 14 years. And everyone knows that! And needless to say, free creative reign to do as I pleased.

What other blogs do you read?
Kim-Marie from Luxury Travel Mom and Nancy from Luxe Travel Family are very good friends of mine and we really have a similar way of travelling, in terms of our expectations – so I always go to them (and have for years).

I really enjoy Damsel in Dior – I identify with the way that Jacie travels and absolutely adore her sense of style and shoes. Nobody makes me buy more shoes than she does! I also get lots of air travel tips from Michele at Turning Left for Less, which I highly recommend.

Luxury travel spotlight: Bonnie Rakhit, TheStyleTraveller

May 28, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Bonnie Rakhit, former fashion editor at Elle is the fashionable face behind TheStyleTraveller. Bringing plenty of style to our luxury travel blog ranking, TheStyleTraveller couples beautiful photography to spark your wanderlust with fashion tips and hints.

We caught up with Bonnie to find out how she balances visual and written content, her favourite hotel in the world and the best brand collaborations she’s worked on.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
It started out as journalism, in that I was the Fashion Editor at Elle Magazine and then it morphed into blogging on my blog, TheStyleTraveller, but over the years particularly due to the changing media landscape it has become so much more. I’m an influencer, a content creator, a writer, a model, a blogger, YouTuber, presenter, I’m not sure where the list ends!

How do social channels work with your blog? Are any more important than others?
They all work together organically. With regards to bringing traffic to the blog Pinterest and Facebook work the best, but with regards to promoting the imagery from the blog Instagram is a great showcase. Now that I’m also doing YouTube I guess they all compliment the brand as a whole.

Do you feel travel blogging is segmented (luxury/standard/local/family/budget etc)?
It can be. People do have specific needs when they travel so it makes sense to have genres and niches. I focus mainly on luxury travel as that’s what I love. But essentially everyone is looking out for the best deal they can get.

What’s the best balance between visual and written content?
It depends which platform you are on. With the blog I tend to have around 15-20 images per post and balance it with relevant copy. Visuals are very key to my experience when I’m looking at travel inspiration, so I focus on that when putting together my blogs too.

What’s your favourite hotel in the world?
There’s too many to mention! But I love the Taj Palaces in India, the incredible Belmond hotels in Peru and the cliff side hotels in Santorini.

Which airline is the best (and why)?
Again, each has their own attributes, but I do love flying Virgin to America or if I’m headed to Asia, Emirates and Qatar are great.

How conscious are you of political upheaval and local issues when travelling?
I always check with foreign office websites before travelling to potentially dangerous areas. It’s not worth getting into trouble in an unknown country for the sake of a sunny holiday.

Do you accept press releases?
Yes, they are really useful. Particularly ones which showcase the destinations with images. You’d be surprised how many releases I get with no photos of the property or destination, it seems crazy not to include imagery of the places in an email when we live in such a visual age.

What’s the best PR campaign/collaboration you’ve worked on?
I love working with Ferrari (for obvious reasons) and also Laurent Perrier who I’ve been on a few trips with lately. Clothes-wise I love working with Revolve and this year I plan to venture into beauty more.

What other blogs do you read?
I love my friend Angie Silverspoon for her luxury foodie edits, Sincerely Jules for the fashion and Gypsea Lust for her never-ending wanderlust.

Luxury travel spotlight: Paul Johnson, A Luxury Travel Blog

May 22, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Dr Paul Johnson is the brains behind A Luxury Travel Blog, which has once again been named the number one luxury travel blog in the UK. Covering the finer side of global travel, Paul covers the most luxurious hotels, resorts and restaurants around the world.

We caught up with Paul to find out more about the travel industry, his favourite experiences around the world and how he works with PRs and brands.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
I tell people as it is – I run a blog about luxury travel. I don’t like to dress it up with confusing terms such as ‘travel influencer’ or, worse still, ‘digital media architect/guru’ and other horrible terminology.

How do social channels work with your blog? Are any more important than others?
Our social media channels are very much used to drive traffic to our blog. We have over a million followers across all channels, with Twitter (715k) and Facebook (275k) being the most important two.

Do you feel travel blogging is segmented (luxury/standard/local/family/budget etc)?
For sure, there is a lot of segmentation within the travel blogging industry, and I would say it’s very much necessary. People will tend to read and visit a blog because its area of specialism resonates with their own specific interests.

What’s the best balance between visual and written content?
I don’t think there is a best balance, really. It will be different for different people. Some people will prefer to focus on the text while others will opt for graphically-heavy posts. Personally, I like to intersperse my articles with occasional, good quality images. From the perspective of a blogger, it’s important to have plenty of content for SEO reasons, while great quality imagery always makes a huge difference but must be incorporated without adding significantly to the page’s load time, in my opinion.

What’s your favourite hotel in the world?
I have been lucky enough to stay in many of the world’s top hotels, from the Burj al Arab in Dubai to Raffles in Singapore, that I couldn’t possibly pick just one. I do tend to prefer luxury hotels that are smaller and more intimate, and not overly fussy and pretentious, though.

Which airline is the best (and why)?
I very much enjoyed my flights with All Nippon Airways (ANA) when working on a campaign with them. It has been rated a Skytrax 5-star airline for seven consecutive years now and remains the only 5-star rated airline in Japan.

How conscious are you of political upheaval and local issues when travelling?
Very conscious. I would go so far as to say it would be irresponsible not to be. To visit a country with little knowledge of any ongoing political turmoil would be a little foolhardy in my opinion.

Do you accept press releases?
If you mean, do we copy and paste press releases on to our website, then the answer is ‘no’ (although, despite this, many PR companies will email them to us, without any introduction, with that expectation). If it’s the right fit for our blog and there’s budget to work with, what we will do though is work from press releases and other material to craft unique content into a form that we can use on the blog.

What’s the best PR campaign/collaboration you’ve worked on?
Again, I have enjoyed many different collaborations. One that stands out for me is a collaboration I did with Land Rover many years ago, where we drove four prototype Land Rovers from Kathmandu, right across Nepal, and to New Delhi. This was a 10-day collaboration and part of a much wider project from Land Rover (the vehicles were driven from the UK along the Silk Route, eventually finishing in Mumbai).

What other blogs do you read?
I am so busy with A Luxury Travel Blog (we have had more than 700 different contributors to date and recently passed our 10,000th post on the blog!) that I rarely have time to read other blogs, sadly. Rather than following specific blogs, those that I do read are ones that I just stumble upon from time to time, be it through search or social media.

Luxury travel spotlight: Abigail King, Inside the Travel Lab

May 22, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Abigail King has just been ranked second in the Top 10 UK Luxury Travel Blogs. Previously an intensive care doctor, Abigail is a writer, journalist and blogger. Her blog, Inside the Travel Lab, covers holiday tips, destinations and the beautiful world we live in with advice for our to make the most of it. Here, she tells us about the other side of luxury travel, how she works with PRs (and the fact she loves press releases!), and her favourite blogs to read.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
I run a luxury travel blog for those who care about the people, places and cultures they visit. I hope to bring the world alive through words and pixels, and draw attention to stories that others miss.

Although, I’m pretty sure my family just think I play around on Facebook every day.

How do social channels work with your blog? Are any more important than others?
Increasingly, social channels are where the conversation takes place and the blog is the library for in-depth information and think pieces. Facebook Live is great when I’m actually on the ground, and I broadcast regularly on the Lonely Planet channel.

Instagram stories feel more like a real conversation between readers, while Twitter tends to be more for colleagues. I love Pinterest, but it’s really a bookmarking site for future travel plans rather than a social hangout. This year, I’m really expanding into video, which is going really well.

Do you feel travel blogging is segmented (luxury/standard/local/family/budget etc)?
Yes and no. Those segments are a useful starting point but luxury travel, for example, can mean very different things. For some, it’s about labels and shopping, while for others it’s about accessing the best experiences the world has to offer, whether expensive or free. We’re more in the latter camp. We’ve introduced a family travel strand to our work since I had a baby and that helps other young families or would-be families. But the main core of the blog is the same as it’s always been.

What’s the best balance between visual and written content?
Always have both. People learn (and love) in different ways.

What’s your favourite hotel in the world?
Ah, so difficult to just choose one. I love The Chedi in Muscat. I love the clear lines of its architecture, the view to the sea, the staff. But also, perhaps, the emotional connection. I stayed there as part of my honeymoon and then returned ten years later for a ‘babymoon’ when pregnant.

Which airline is the best (and why)?
Both Cathay Pacific and Virgin Atlantic have never let me down.

How conscious are you of political upheaval and local issues when travelling?
Very. It’s a core part of what we cover. It’s important for safety but it’s also important for respect and harmony. It sounds a little dramatic, or perhaps naïve, to describe travel as a vehicle for world peace but the more people understand each other, meet each other, share food and stories with each other, the better everyone gets on.

Do you accept press releases?
Yes! In fact, the more the merrier. We don’t publish them on the blog and we can’t respond individually to each one to give feedback but it’s good to know what’s going on and helpful to store information for future work.

What’s the best PR campaign/collaboration you’ve worked on?
Again, there are so many strong ones to choose from. I’d like to highlight a recent project with Visit Florida, travelling to less well-known destinations with baby and uncovering the art, food and national parks en route. We found so many unexpected and beautiful places right in the heart of one of the most visited states in America.

From the injured dolphin who led to advances in human prosthetics and a Hollywood film to stunning beaches, chic donuts and wild, cultural parks. The trip took two weeks and we had a lot of freedom to highlight and explore.

What other blogs do you read?
Lots! All for different reasons and I tend to binge-read.

Time Travel Turtle, Uncornered Market, Geotraveler’s Niche and Atlas & Boots find unusual angles on familiar places and talk about sustainable and responsible travel.

The Travelista, Mrs O Around the World, Landlopers and Velvet Escape all cover luxury travel in very different ways.

The Travel Hack and Girl Tweets World always bring a smile to my face!

Green blogger spotlight: Jeremy Williams, The Earthbound Report

May 21, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Jeremy Williams is the author of leading green blog The Earthbound Report. Previously called Make Wealth History, Jeremy covers a huge range of environmental issues around the belief everyone should consume less to create more space for all. We spoke to Jeremy about climate change and the work of Extinction Rebellion, how people can be more environmentally aware and how Jeremy wants to collaborate with PRs and brands.

How do you describe what you do?
At its simplest, I try to find solutions to big problems and describe them in straightforward language. The blog ranges across social, environmental and economic issues, and tries to draw connections between them all. I try to strike a balance between being realistic about the challenges we face and being hopeful about our ability to change.

How important is social media to your blog – are any channels more important than others?
Most new readers find the blog through search engines, but social media runs a close second. Posts are often shared on Facebook, and on the occasional times a post has really taken off, it’s been because of Facebook shares.

Climate change is in the news a lot, do you think it’s getting the attention it needs?
Climate change is enjoying a moment in the spotlight, thanks to protests and school strikes. That’s long overdue, and the challenge now is to translate that popular attention into political decision making. Lots of people are agreeing that it’s important, but examples of action are a little harder to find just yet.

What do you think Extinction Rebellion and Greta Thunberg have done for the conversation?
Both are examples of truth telling – they’ve confronted people with the reality of the situation and provided a wakeup call. They’ve also changed the terms of the debate and injected a new urgency. I’ve been able to get involved a bit with Extinction Rebellion, and in over a decade of climate campaigning, it’s feels like the most significant thing I’ve had a part in.

Who is ultimately responsible to make change?
It’s tempting to say the Government needs to act, but we live in a democracy – the Government will take its cues from the people, so it’s up to us to say what we want and prove we’re serious. Same goes for business. They’re taking their lead from consumers, so we need to vote with our wallets and show what kind of business will thrive in the 21st century and which ones will get left behind. Everyone will be involved in making change happen, but responsibility starts with us.

What are the most important steps people can take at an individual level to be more green?
From a climate change perspective, the three things that will make the biggest difference are to have one less child than you were considering, stop flying and eat less meat. Those can all be big decisions, but we shouldn’t be daunted by them. It’s okay to take one step in the right direction and see how it goes. Minus the first of those, of course – babies are very much an all or nothing commitment!

What advice would you give PRs and comms?
Treat bloggers as real human beings, rather than abstract link placement opportunities. That starts with the simple courtesy of addressing me by name. Emails that begin ‘dear admin’ or ‘dear editor’ tend to get deleted unread. It’ll take two seconds to find out who I am from the blog homepage. If you haven’t done two seconds of research into who I am, what are the chances of your offer being relevant to me? Any serious comms person knows this of course, but I still get emails like that every day.

What are the best campaigns you’ve collaborated on?
I think my favourite collaboration was a series on eating insects. A number of brands and businesses helped with that, sending information and samples, including some foods that weren’t on the market yet. I’m not sure my family think of it so fondly, but I had fun with it.

Do you accept press releases?
I get story ideas from press releases fairly regularly, so in that sense yes. They tend to be an inspiration rather than a source of material, and I almost never use their actual content beyond the initial idea.

What other blogs do you read?
There are dozens that I’ll look in on from time to time. Some that I read more regularly would be Carbon Brief, Unearthed, Inhabitat, Grist and Inside Track, which is also in the top ten.

8 PR tips for generating leads through Facebook

May 20, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, PR Club Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

Generating leads through Facebook is a sure-fire way to increase sales and show off your social media skills to your managers.

In this Monday PR Club guest post, digital marketing agency Hallam looks at eight ways you can boost your lead generation expertise through Facebook.

1. Optimise your business page
This may seem like an obvious one, but many businesses fail to complete this step properly or to the right standard.

It is vital that your Facebook business page has all the relevant contact details filled out. This is because users who land on your page have often found it themselves and are in search for more information. By providing your business’s contact number, opening hours and address, you can generate leads. You can also use your Facebook page to showcase a website link and implement a Call To Action, such as ‘Shop Now’.

2. Organic engagement
Make sure you optimise your organic posts for maximum engagement as this will not just give the Facebook algorithm positive information about your content, but will allow you to organically grow a loyal fanbase.

It also means that users who interact with your content are much more likely to be shown your future posts by Facebook. Building this user trust will allow for strong leads to be generated and may even turn consumers into endorsers! Responding to positive comments and reviews should come naturally to any social media marketer. It’s important to make sure you put the time in liking and commenting back to those who engage with you.

However, if you come across a negative review, don’t worry – we have top tips on how to respond to negative comments.

3. Links to your website
Putting a link in every post for Facebook may seem like a great way to generate leads, but Facebook’s algorithm won’t like this very much, as you’re trying to divert traffic away from the Facebook platform. Ideally, you should be looking to create engaging content that will make the user to want to learn more about your products and services.

Links are not a bad thing, you shouldn’t stop using them altogether. However, it is important to find the right balance – we’d recommend one link in the text of every third post.

4. Lead generation adverts
Boosting is great, but it is important to ensure you are getting the most value from your budget when trying to generate leads.

If you’re not, then now might be the time for you to take the plunge into Facebook Ads Manager. This allows you to create sponsored posts with the primary aim of generating leads, which will open a whole range of new users to your business.

While it is important to create great content and even better visuals for this type of post, targeting is key! Be sure to spend time on creating an audience that fully works for your business to gain the most reward.

If you are unsure on how Facebook Ad Manager works, make sure you take a look at ‘Get Started with Advertising’ through Facebook Blueprint to help increase your knowledge of this great lead generation option.

Once you are happy with your targeting, aim to increase your relevance score to make absolutely sure that your ads are relevant to those who are seeing it.

5. Split testing
Don’t be afraid to spend some of your initial budget on testing, as this will enable you to understand how the Facebook marketplace works and how your audience interacts with your lead generation techniques. Although this may seem like you are not getting much ROI at first, everything you learn will ensure that the remainder of your budget is being maximised!

6. Zapier
Did you know a new lead is at its hottest within the first five minutes? If you are collecting leads through Facebook Adverts, you’ll know that to access the leads you have to go onto Facebook to view them or download them as a CSV file. Utilising a tool that sends leads straight to your email address is a quick win to make sure you stay ahead of your competition, and will allow you to act upon the lead in real time. One great tool for this is Zapier, and with a free 14-day trial – it is certainly worth giving it a go.

7. Facebook Pixel & Google Analytics
Ensuring that Facebook Pixel is set up allows you to link your Facebook ads with Google Analytics. This means you are able to see which adverts have generated leads on your website and, in turn, will allow you to make the correct decision on which adverts to carry on with and which ones you might want to pause or amend.

You can learn more about Facebook’s attribution system here.

8. Influencer marketing
If you haven’t tried working with an influencer yet, it is certainly worth giving it ago. Not only does it allow for a truly integrated digital campaign, it enhances your marketing efforts to be targeted at a group of users who are highly engaged. These users are more likely to turn into customers as they respect the influencers they follow. With 70% of teens trusting influencers more than traditional celebrities, it’s definitely a marketing method that should be considered to gain customers.

Struggling to find the right influencers to work with? Find out how the Vuelio Influencer Database can connect you with genuine influencers for the categories and sectors you work in.

Family gardening blog spotlight: Catherine Hughes, Growing Family

May 17, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Growing Family was recently ranked in the top 10 UK gardening blogs. Written by Catherine Hughes, the blog makes the most of family life both indoors and out. We caught up with Catherine to find out how social channels work with her blog, the best ways to get into gardening and working on campaigns close to her heart.

How do you describe what you do?
Growing Family is my home and garden blog where I share ideas, inspiration and tips for making the most of busy family life. I also provide freelance writing services and social media promotion.

How important is social media to your blog – are any channels more important than others?
Social media is so important for helping to spread the word about my blog posts, it’s also a great source of inspiration for me and a place to catch up with fellow bloggers. I love the visual nature of Instagram, but I would say Twitter is my biggest channel in terms of engagement.

How does the Chelsea flower show affect your blog, if at all?
Chelsea is always a great barometer for gardening trends, and it never fails to inspire me – both in terms of what to write about, and ways to make my own garden look better. The show also provides some lovely opportunities to collaborate with gardening brands.

What’s your favourite plant?
Now that’s a hard one to answer, I have so many! If I had to choose just one, it would probably be clematis; they’re easy to grow, you can create so much impact in a single growing season, and there’s a huge variety of colours and sizes to choose from.

What advice would you give people who only have a small garden?
Don’t try to fit everything you like into the space, it just won’t work. With small gardens you have to be quite firm about the look you’re going for, and really focus on the plants you love. Simplicity can work really well, whether that’s in the layout, the planting scheme or the colours you choose to introduce.

What’s the best way to get into gardening?
Just get out there and grow something! Having a go yourself really is the best way to learn. You don’t need to be an expert, and there are loads of great blogs and books to help you when you need advice. I’d also say start by growing something you either love to look at or love to eat – you’ll enjoy looking after it so much more.

What’s your favourite garden in the world?
I’m a sucker for a walled garden, and the garden at Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire would probably be top of my list. In addition to the fruit and veg elements of the garden, there’s also a 400ft herbaceous border, a rose garden, and a beautiful old glasshouse. The whole place has its own unique atmosphere, with whispers of the past everywhere you wander. It’s just magical.

What’s your favourite PR/brand collaboration you’ve worked on?
I loved collaborating with Baby Bio on a photographic diary of a growing season at my allotment. It really allowed me to appreciate all that I achieved with my plants and gave me the opportunity to take some lovely close-up photography. I also really enjoyed working with RSPB to help promote their Wild Challenge campaign, encouraging families to help wildlife and connect with nature – two garden-related topics that are very close to my heart.

Do you accept press releases?
I’m always interested in press releases related to my blog’s content as they keep me up-to-date, but I don’t tend to publish them on my blog. I prefer to collaborate with brands on a more personal basis, and I think my readers prefer that too.

What other blogs do you read?
Lots of gardening blogs, obviously! The Middle-Sized Garden always has articles that inspire me, Sharpen Your Spades is brilliant for all things grow your own and Gardens, Weeds & Words is beautifully written with stunning photography. I also love Thrifty Home for great family budgeting tips and Love Chic Living for fantastic interiors inspiration.

Gardening blog spotlight: Alexandra Campbell, The Middle-Sized Garden

May 16, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Alexandra Campbell is the journalist and avid gardener behind The Middle-Sized Garden, which specialises in advice for other middle-size garden owners. Recently ranked in the top 10 UK gardening blogs, Alexandra writes about everything from the best small trees to encouraging wildlife.

We spoke to Alexandra to find out how blogging is an extension of journalism, the power of the Chelsea Flower Show, how to get into gardening, how PRs should be working with bloggers and the other blogs she reads.

How do you describe what you do?
I regard blogging and vlogging as an extension of journalism. I used to work in women’s magazines and we always felt that our writing was quite personal and like a one-to-one conversation with the reader. So, when I’m visiting somewhere or getting special access I try to think about what the reader would like to know.

How important is social media to your blog – are any channels more important than others?
Social media was hugely important in getting the blog known at the start. Currently I get a lot of traffic from Pinterest to the Middle-Sized Garden blog, but I probably spend the most time on Twitter and Instagram. I also have a Middle-Sized Garden Facebook page, which is very useful, but the Facebook algorithm means you can’t rely on Facebook as a means of communication.

How does the Chelsea Flower Show affect your blog, if at all?
The RHS Chelsea Flower is very important to the blog and YouTube channel because it’s the high-fashion show for plants and gardens. It sets the scene for the year ahead, and some new directions seen at Chelsea do filter down to ‘ordinary middle-sized gardens.’ It’s great fun trying to spot them early on.

What’s your favourite plant?
My favourite plant changes every month (or even every day) but dahlias probably come top, because they are so easy to grow. And they can be elegant or showy, and they give you flowers for months at a time.

What advice would you give people who only have a small garden?
If you only have a small garden, I’d advise focusing your planting around one big bed. Don’t try to plant round the edges. Go big in one place. And always add a tree. Every garden needs a tree and a crab apple tree is wonderful for small gardens because it has flowers in spring and fruit in autumn.

What’s the best way to get into gardening?
The best way to get into gardening is probably to volunteer for a community gardening project. There are more and more of these every year, and they are great opportunities to both learn and to give back to the community you live in. If you’ve just acquired a garden and you know nothing (which happened to me), then spend the first year just weeding and mulching. That means finding out which plants are weeds, pulling them out, and covering the earth with compost or well-rotted horse manure. You really get to know your garden close up, so you understand it better before you make changes.

What’s your favourite garden in the world?
My favourite public garden is probably Doddington Place Gardens in Kent. Because it’s close I can drop in at different times. It has a gorgeous herbaceous Sunk Garden, a recently restored rock garden and a woodland garden. But I’d also like to mention Great Dixter, because it is a garden that everyone must visit at least once. It is both a joy to look at and a wonderfully experimental garden.

What’s your favourite PR/brand collaboration you’ve worked on?
I very much appreciated the collaboration with Phostrogen/Baby Bio, which I worked on with Cathy Connan. They really understood that blogs need to do things their own way, and that the main point of collaborating with a blog is honesty and transparency.

Do you accept press releases?
I do accept press releases, although I don’t often use them. But they sometimes trigger off an idea, so after reading one I might ask for an interview or a visit.

What other blogs do you read?
I read a lot of other blogs, although I tend to come across them on social media rather than subscribing to them. The list would include Mr Plant Geek, ThinkinGardens, DigDelve, The Frustrated Gardener, The Blackberry Garden, VegPlotting, The Teabreak Gardener, London Cottage Garden, Letitia Maklouf and lots more.

Spotlight with the No. 1 gardening blog: Alison Levey, The Blackberry Garden

May 15, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

The Blackberry Garden has once again been named the number one blog in the top 10 UK Gardening Blogs. Written by Alison Levey, The Blackberry Garden follows Alison’s journey turning a lawn into a beautiful garden. We spoke to Alison about her favourite plants, the draw of the Chelsea Flower Show and how she works with press releases.

How do you describe what you do?
In terms of my blog I am a freelance blogger and writer. I love sharing my garden and gardening adventures.

How important is social media to your blog – are any channels more important than others?
Social Media is very important to my blog. Twitter is a key audience and I also have a dedicated Facebook page.

How does the Chelsea Flower Show affect your blog, if at all?
It massively affects my blog as I love going to the show. It is the highlight of the gardening year for me. I usually write at least two blog posts on it.

What’s your favourite plant?
Ooh now there is a hard question, but I think it has to be the simple corn poppy.

What advice would you give people who only have a small garden?
Think big and enjoy the space you have.

What’s the best way to get into gardening?
One plant at a time. Just do something small and easy and then see where it leads you.

What’s your favourite garden in the world?
That is really hard as it does depend a lot on what mood I am in. Often my favourite is the last one I visited but I am a huge fan of Great Dixter so that has to probably be top of the list… today…

What’s your favourite PR/brand collaboration you’ve worked on?
I genuinely do not have a favourite, but there are some events that are huge fun such as the Garden Press Event.

Do you accept press releases?
I do but I only use them when they work with what I am doing.

What other blogs do you read?
The Cynical Gardener, Gardens, Weeds and Words and Bramble Garden spring to mind but there are many I dip in to.

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