Press and Bloggers - Vuelio

Women of Colour: an interview with Stephanie Yeboah

May 15, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, PR News, Blogger Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Jake O'Neill

In this series, Vuelio media researcher and freelance journalist Maz Halima speaks to some of her favourite women of colour in the media industry about their experiences. This week, Maz chats with blogger extraordinaire and e-guide author, Stephanie Yeboah, about her journey so far.

Hey Stephanie! Let’s start with what do you do in the media industry?
I am a plus size style blogger, freelance writer, fat acceptance advocate and public speaker!

What difficulties have you faced as a woman of colour in the media industry?
It’s very difficult to gain the visibility you deserve as a woman of colour within the media, as you are only either used as a token in a bid to promote ‘diversity’, or you are ignored altogether. The media still subscribe to the westernised standard of beauty – white, and for the most part, slim. Anyone outside of this is automatically ‘othered’. We see this on TV, in movies, advertising, modelling and even within the influencer community.

How have you managed to overcome these difficulties?
I think the difficulties will always be there until the powers that be decide to champion inclusivity instead of being performative with the buzzword for the sake of headlines. That being said, I’ve continued putting out content that I’m proud of and consistently write about the state of the media and the changes that need to be made in order for women of colour to achieve the same amount of visibility as non-WOC.

I work hard to create high-quality images that I feel are on par with the mainstream campaign images of today. I speak at panels about issues of diversity and body positivity in order to open up the conversation regarding the marginalisation of WOC.

Despite the difficulties, what do you love most about the media industry?
My favourite thing is creating visual content. I absolutely LOVE being in front of a camera and producing captivating photos. I have always wanted to be within the fashion industry and I was an extremely meek and shy child, so I feel like I have come full circle in not only being able to live out my dream, but by showing younger women that through these images, they too can wear whatever they want, produce amazing visuals and make a mark on the industry too.

What is your dream brand to work with?
My dream brand would be ASOS Curve, because the brand launched as I had just started my self-love journey and they were the first brand I’d come across that featured plus-sized clothes that weren’t old looking and ‘mumsy’. I absolutely LOVE their pieces as they reflect my style and brand – I reckon about 90% of my wardrobe is ASOS.

I’d also love to collaborate with or feature in Vogue; it would be a win for fat, black girls everywhere!

What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you first entered the industry?
That industry folk can be fickle and to not take everything to heart. There will be times when I would be approached to do a show, then at the last minute they’d pick someone else. I would always be personally offended, but I’ve learned that it is the way the industry goes: ideas can come and go, things can be dropped at the last minute and you’ve just got to roll with the punches and acknowledge that a lot of the time, it’s nothing to do with who you are as a person – unless it definitely and blatantly is a racist/fatphobic/stereotypical sacking, and in that case I feel you have all the permission to cancel them!

What would you like to see media folk doing (editors, PR companies, etc) to encourage the inclusion of people of colour in the industry?
We need the powers that be to HIRE MORE PEOPLE OF COLOUR. We need diversity behind the scenes, so we can get diversity on screen. You can’t champion inclusivity of a campaign if 100% of the staff behind it is white. That leads to issues such as cultural appropriation and racially insensitive campaigns. It’s so important that people of colour have a chance at holding the reins too; our opinion on what we want to see broadcast is also important.

What advice would you give to the young women of colour who want a career in the media industry?
Don’t give up on your dreams. Cheesy, but true. We need every single woman of colour to carry on creating, carry on writing and carry on speaking their minds, because I reckon a change is coming.

Within the next couple of years I believe the landscape of the media will be a lot different, and it’s thanks to platforms like Twitter and Instagram that give women like us an opportunity to create our own narratives and show off our work. Keep fighting the good fight!

Stephanie recently released the e-guide ‘SPUNK: How To Love Yourself in a World That Tells You Not To’. The e-guide is available to purchase on her website, www.nerdabouttown.com. Follow Stephanie on Twitter @nerdabouttown and on Instagram @nerdabouttown.

Stephanie is listed alongside thousands of other bloggers, freelancers and journalist on the Vuelio Media Database.

‘95% of comms from PRs is crap’ – is Amol Rajan right?

May 13, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, PR News, PR Club Media Database, PR, Comms, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Jake O'Neill

Amol Rajan, media editor at the BBC, gave a speech at the PR360 and Media360 gala dinner last week, in which he made the claim that 95% of comms from PRs is crap. He said this comms is: ‘insulting, infuriating, irrelevant or a waste of time, or some combination of all of those’. Is he right?

Before we go further, it’s worth pointing out that Rajan doesn’t believe it’s all doom and gloom – he explained that the remaining 5% ‘makes all that crap worth it’, but this is a silver lining at best.

The short answer to whether Rajan is right is obviously no, PR comms is so much more than media outreach, which is surely the bulk of what Rajan is talking about. And we do hear this at Vuelio, whether it’s from journalists and editors like Rajan or freelancers, bloggers and social influencers, there’s a sense that some PRs are sending irrelevant, see-what-sticks comms in the hopes for success-by-numbers.

Losing control
But this isn’t the bulk of PR work, nor is it a majority of PRs. As Rajan continued, he said, in relation to public narratives: ‘All of us in this room have to a very significant degree have lost control, and taking it back is impossible. A lot of people think of this as democracy in action. But when it comes to controlling the reputation of a brand or an individual, or crisis management, I think a better description is anarchy.’

This suggest Rajan does have a more comprehensive understanding of PR, and that bad press releases is not where his issue really lies. Is this more problematic for PR? Perhaps not. The suggestion that everyone is losing control of public narratives highlights this not as a PR problem but as the entire media industry’s problem.

The rise of social media has to some extent given power to the people, but more so to the social media companies – the data aggregators who curate our experience online.

So, while direct access to individuals, businesses and leaders is surely a good thing for a democratic society, algorithms are creating oft-maligned echo chambers, and where once both PRs and journalist had control over their own, and others’, stories, that power has slowly slipped away.

What’s the solution?
Rajan offered two pieces of direction, if not full advice: ‘It means recognising the yawning demographic divide whereby reaching young and old increasingly happens on completely different platforms and channels, both of which require time and expertise to master.

‘It means realising, frankly, that your contacts book is not only constantly out of date, but is becoming more out of date by the minute.’

Let’s take these one at a time – no one in PR should be targeting their audience, via influencers or others, through one channel. Rajan breaks it down into young and old, but the truth is there’s a variety of reasons and demographic details that defines how someone consumes media, where they consume media and how they consume your narrative.

It’s not just about social media, either. It’s understanding the difference between all channels and mediums you and your audience use – that may be one of the myriad social platforms, print media (newspapers, local news or magazines), digital media or face-to-face at events or political surgeries. What’s important is you continue to understand, track and react to the way your target audience behaves.

As Rajan points out, it’s all of our jobs to stay on top of the tech and developments in the media, so we continue to reach our audience – our stakeholders – in the right places and understand how best to create messages for different platforms.

And then there’s Rajan’s final point – your contacts book is becoming out of date by the minute. We’re not sure we agree with that. Obviously, Rajan doesn’t use a media database that is continually updated by an in-house research team, which also allows you to record relationship status and search for new contacts based on the topics they’re covering today, right now.

Amol Rajan does not have the Vuelio Media Database, but he is listed on it. Whether it’s journalists, editors, broadcasters, bloggers, vloggers or social influencers – make sure your contacts book is always up to date; get a free demo of the Vuelio Media Database today.

Automotive blog spotlight: Paul Hadley, Motor Verso

May 10, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Paul Hadley is the founder and editor of Motor Verso, a top 10 automotive blog. Joined by a team of writers, Paul tests the latest cars and products, helping consumers get a real impression of the cars to make the right purchasing decision. We caught up with Paul to find out about his blog’s audience, the effect of electric vehicles (EVs) on the industry and what advice Paul has for automotive PRs.

What content creation are you planning for the blog in 2019?
Every year we try to grow our audience size by focusing on content creation and delivering informative and current features to our readers. An example of this is we spent days researching the cheapest cars available to buy in the UK then created a high-value article that summarises all you need to know in one place. There will be more of this as the year goes on.

On another note, we are constantly striving to create high-quality car features. We have organised a trip around the Scottish Highlands to show off one of the latest SUVs and this will be a great opportunity to take some scenic pictures of the car.

How important is your audience to your content creation?
The audience is the most important part of our content creation. We focus our website traffic on organic search, so we typically start with a topic and then research the keywords that people are searching for. This tells us what readers want to know, so we can create the most informative content to please them. A good example of this approach is that we wanted to offer some guidance regarding the cost of car tax in the UK as this is a confusing area. We used tools such as Ahrefs to do the keyword research, then filled out the content to answer all the questions in one article. Our aim is to assist our audience as much as possible.

Which social media channels work best for automotive (and why)?
For many years, using Facebook has led to hits on our website. However, it is a pay to play option for businesses. Our organic reach on Facebook is down overall and most posts need some kind of budget behind them for greater influence. However, we are not complaining as Facebook ads is a great way to target attention on our content creation and has worked well for us in the past.

What’s your all-time favourite car?
As you can imagine, we get asked this all the time. You could ask me three times in one day and get three different answers. But one that often comes up is the Tesla Model S P100D. I just love its straight-down-the-line supercar-killing performance and all the gadgets. Failing that, I would be happy with a large SUV like the Volvo XC60 T8, which I think is a good balance between raw power and usability.

What car do you currently drive?
For the past year between testing other cars, I have been driving a generation one Nissan Leaf to learn about electric cars and their infrastructure and create content around this. That has just been sold and I have replaced it with a Volkswagen Golf GTI. It should be a good compromise between fun and practicality. Throughout the year we will be creating content around this VW icon.

Which marque should we be keeping an eye on in 2019?
The Tesla Model 3 should be an intriguing proposition. A UK release date has not been confirmed as of yet, but it may be later this year. This vehicle could be the most interesting car to hit the roads here in a long time.

How will/are EVs changing the landscape of the automotive industry?
I have some experience in this area after owning an EV for one year and testing many other models and using the charging infrastructure.

The problems with the charging infrastructure will need to be sorted out as demand increases. Even in 2019, living with an EV takes planning and consideration if your model has a shorter range than 200 miles per charge. Charge points can be out of order, combustion engine vehicles park in the bays and there can be long queues at the charge points. It isn’t as simple as it first appears.

But we will see more EVs being released and being purchased and they are credible replacements for the combustion engine in a lot of cases, but this transition will take time.

What about driverless cars?
Today we see a lot of assistive systems in the cars we test, such as motorway focused cruise control technology. However, these systems are meant to be used when you are fully alert and have your hands on the wheel.

Though they are not fully autonomous, they give you a flavour of driving in the near future. These systems will work well in some environments but not too well in others, I think. Again, it will take time for this to develop and be rolled out at scale on the roads.

What are the best PR campaigns you’ve collaborated on?
For me, one of the most enjoyable campaigns was working with Volkswagen to raise awareness about their hot hatches during the launch of the up! GTI. We got to spend the day on Ascari race circuit in Spain with the up!, Polo and Golf GTi. It was a great demonstration of just how capable these cars are and led to some great content created about the GTI range.

What advice would you give PRs in the automotive industry?
This is an interesting question. I think often with automotive PRs, I see lots of money being spent that could be used more wisely. I would encourage them to learn about effectively auditing an online outlet for readership and value before making decisions about working with a publication. I think if brands were more aware of a website’s readership, then they would get a greater return on their investments all year around and improve audience reach and sales.

What other blogs do you read?
I don’t follow too many other motoring blogs, to be honest. My particular favourite is Drifted.com which I check out regularly and I also enjoy anything about a Charger or Challenger. The rest of the blogs I read are marketing-focused and deal with building audiences, business and technology.

Football Blog Spotlight: Paul Tomkins, The Tomkins Times

May 9, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Christina Pirilla

The Tomkins Times was recently included as a new entry in the Top 10 UK Football Blogs. Created by Paul Tomkins, The Tomkins Times has a team of editors covering Liverpool FC in a grown-up, intelligent way. We spoke to Paul about Liverpool’s season, the importance of his community and paywall and the changing face of football fandom.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
The Tomkins Times was originally set up in 2009 to be a platform for my football writing, which is almost entirely Liverpool FC-focused, with roughly half of the content paywalled to enable me to make a living from it – having had to give up my career as a designer years earlier due to being diagnosed with M.E.. So, it was just a small entity, hence the name.

In time the site has become a vehicle for other writers too, although we remain fairly niche. I pay no attention whatsoever to the number of hits the site gets, I just monitor the quality of work, and if we have enough subscribers to pay all the wages.

How important are the different social channels when they feed into your blog?
I used to spend a lot of time on Twitter and built up a fairly big following, but I’ve barely used it for three years. It’s too negative and stressful. I occasionally log in and post, and use it to promote my work, but more than a few minutes makes me anxious. I have my own Facebook and Instagram accounts, and a Facebook page for The Tomkins Times, and post stuff to that, too. But it’s hard to run a site and various social media accounts, and with my health problems, it’s hard to rely on too many other people.

The aim of the business is not to grow and make more money – it’s to stay viable. This is our 10th year and it remains a viable business, even if it’s usually a case of making a small profit, after paying all my bills and paying all the contributors.

Which team is going to win the Premier League on Sunday?
I obviously want to say Liverpool, but it’s in Manchester City’s hands. I’ll be at Anfield on Sunday, cheering the Reds on, but now Liverpool are also in the Champions League final, the league is not the only thing on the line.

Who’s your player of the season?
My player of the year is Virgil van Dijk, who is quite simply the best all-round defender I’ve ever seen. You sense he could play as a striker or a goalkeeper and still be this good.

How is football fandom changing the way we consume football content?
As a middle-aged writer with an older than typical audience – mostly men aged 30-70 – it’s perhaps hard for me to say. I started writing for various Liverpool FC blogs 20 years ago and now I’m one of the older guys. I was at the vanguard and an early pioneer of paywalls after someone suggested I try it, but I can’t keep up with all the developments. As is the way, the next wave will always come along and find a new way to do things.

There’s less patience in football in general and perhaps in society. And more football content seems to be about transfer speculation – living in the future, in terms of what some new signing will bring, rather than just enjoying the here and now and living in the moment. I love a bit of transfer speculation too, but it can become all some fans seem to care about; the actual football is secondary. So, we try to do some analysis of potential transfer targets using professional scouting tools, rather than just peddling speculation for hits.

What’s your view on esports and the likes of teams having their own esports players/teams?
I’m probably in the wrong age demographic to answer this! I play the PS4 with my teenage son, and I love Overwatch, but beyond that I don’t really pay too much attention. I have enough difficulty finding the time and energy to follow everything about the ‘proper’ Liverpool team without any esports teams they have, but I did hear that they won the first ePremier League. Which is good, I guess!

As much as I love playing Overwatch, I still think of sport as being in the physical word, rather than online, but due to my poor health, and age, a bit of online team-based gaming can sometimes give me the feeling of when I used to play football! So, I can see how it all works, but it’s not something I’d watch if I wasn’t playing.

How important is the community to your blog? Do you accept press releases?
The community has become everything. All comments are behind the paywall, even if articles are free, so a community was built up with a lack of trolls. The site became much bigger than initially intended, but equally, I don’t want it to become much bigger than it is now, as it would become harder to manage, and more impersonal. We only run original content, and don’t publish press releases, sponsored content or anything like that. We don’t really do ‘news’ articles either, just analysis and opinion.

As you have a paywall, do you work with PRs?
If I find something I like – such as the film Free Solo – which I can work into my writing, I’ll do so, but nothing is ever sponsored. So sometimes I’ll give ’shoutouts’ to things I like, but never for anything in return. The same applies to other football blogs – if I find something I like, I’ll reference it with a link to their site. The one exception is one of our regular freelance writers recently having the chance to meet an ex-Liverpool player for an interview, and it was ‘in association with’ a betting company he also does some writing for. I’d never choose to go down this route, but as it was offered to me as original content that would be written by one of our regulars, and would be of interest to our readers, I thought it was okay.

I’ve unfollowed a lot of people on social media for promoting stuff without admitting that they are being paid for promoting stuff. I don’t mind if they make it clear, and don’t do it too often, but I’m only really interested in following people who are open about such things – once they lose their integrity in my eyes they’ve lost me as a fan/follower/reader.

What other blogs do you read?
I read a lot of other football blogs and websites, but too many to mention. I listen to quite a few podcasts, often because I do so much writing I like to rest my eyes, and listen to something with a sleep mask on! A lot of football podcasts, but also true crime, and anything on psychology or writing/creativity.

How Vuelio helped Cats Protection save time and money

May 7, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Charity, PR News Media Database, Media Monitoring, News Distribution, PR, Canvas, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Jake O'Neill

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity with a nationwide network of over 250 volunteer-run branches, 36 centres and over 100 charity shops that together helps around 200,000 cats and kittens each year.

We spoke to Kate Angel, Media Assistant at Cats Protection, who talked us through the charity’s need for a new solution and explained how Vuelio had saved them time and money.

Cats Protection’s Media Team promotes the charity throughout the UK and provides PR support for volunteers and other departments. The team sends out a daily Media Update to the network that summarises news stories from print, online and broadcast outlets that have featured Cats Protection or are relevant to the charity in some other way.

The charity uses Vuelio Media Monitoring to source the stories using a list of keywords that is continually reviewed. It also uses Vuelio to send out press releases, for media contact management, evaluation on a monthly basis, and for specific communications campaigns.

The Challenge
Prior to working with Vuelio, Cats Protection used a different supplier that was ‘more expensive and less innovative’. The charity found that it was rarely using the supplier to send out press releases as the method was clunky.

The Solution
Cats Protection got quotes from three suppliers prior to its contract with its previous supplier ending. It was given a demo of Vuelio and shown what it could do – the team was looking for a one-stop-shop, which Vuelio was able to offer. The price was a big factor as well as Canvas, which allows Cats Protection to display its coverage in a modern, visually attractive and user-friendly way. The team is also now able to track the success of press releases and campaigns more effectively.

Benefits and Results
The team now use Vuelio to send out all its press releases and find it helpful to see the tracking of how many have been opened. The contacts and influencer functions are more detailed than the charity’s previous supplier.

The hourly coverage alerts mean the team is able to see coverage when it appears, and the reporting process is much improved with Canvas.

Looking for a one-stop comms software solution to save you time and money? Find out more about Vuelio.

Number 1 Green Blog Spotlight: Wendy Graham, Moral Fibres

May 7, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Wendy Graham is the creator of Moral Fibres, which was recently ranked number one in the top 10 green blogs. Designed to help anyone easily, affordably and stylishly live a greener life, Wendy is on a mission to bust myths about sustainable living.

In this spotlight, Wendy told us about the changing perceptions of environmentally conscious people, the power of people, the best ways to collaborate with PRs and her five tips for individuals to live greener lives.

How do you describe what you do?
I write at Moral Fibres – a blog that seeks to inspire people to live a little greener, by suggesting habits and actions to adopt. This includes tips such as reducing plastic, shopping ethically and cleaning your home in greener ways. It’s all wrapped up in the tagline ‘sustainable living that’s hip, not hippie’ because when I first started the blog in 2013, I had been working professionally in the environmental sector for nearly 10 years and there was still very much a widespread belief that caring for the environment was for ‘lentil weaving tree huggers’, and I wanted to challenge this preconception. Things have changed massively since then – environmentalism is seen as less of a niche interest thanks to people like David Attenborough and the actions of amazing activists like Greta Thunberg – so maybe one day I should look at changing my tagline!

How important is social media to your blog – are any channels more important than others?
Social media has always been hugely important to the blog – being able to continue to conversation off the blog and build community with likeminded individuals has always been a key goal of mine to help spread the word about green living and climate change, because one person alone can’t bring about change on the scale we need to help reduce the impact of climate change. It needs lots of people talking and doing things, and social media can help you feel part of that wider movement. There are lots of great hashtags to follow to feel connected to the wider environmental efforts, no matter where your specific green interests lie.

In the last six and half years, different platforms have brought more traffic to the blog. In the early days, Twitter brought the most traffic, then Facebook took over and right now Instagram is the biggest social driver. Different platforms have different strengths and you have to adapt your approach to each platform to get the most out of them.

Climate change is in the news a lot, do you think it’s getting the attention it needs?
It’s certainly been on the news more recently, but it’s definitely not given the attention it needs, considering we don’t have long to make the changes we need to make to help limit the impact of climate change. It’s where bloggers, like the other bloggers in the Top 10 Green Blogs, and social media comes into play – keeping that conversation going when it’s missing from the media.

What do you think Extinction and Greta Thunberg have done for the conversation?
Their impact has been massive. With Parliament declaring a climate emergency, and more and more people joining the climate conversation, it’s proof that activism works, and of the impact that using our collective voices has.

Who is ultimately responsible to make change?
Ultimately, it’s everyone’s responsibility to make change. The Government, corporations and manufacturers undoubtedly have a huge role to play in driving change, but as individuals we need to make change too, by consuming less and consuming better. These individual changes will help drive change at the business level – businesses adapt to changing consumer demand, for example, packaging products in compostable materials rather than plastic.

What are the most important steps people can take at an individual level to be more green?
If you want to bring about big changes fast then there are five easy things you can do:

Switching who you bank with to an ethical bank that doesn’t use your money to invest in fossil fuels is a great place to start.
If you own your home, then insulating it to current standards using the grants and funding available is an incredible way to save a load of energy (and fossil fuels) in heating your home, and conveniently a whole lot of money. We’ve insulated our house – we got free loft and cavity wall insulation through the green grants available and reduced cost underfloor insulation – and the difference has been incredible. If you rent your home, try talking to your landlord to see if they will apply on your behalf.
Switching your electricity to a 100% renewable tariff is a great step that doesn’t necessarily cost more. Shop around on uswitch.com to find a good renewable deal.
If you eat meat, try to cut back on your lamb and beef consumption, and see if you can have at least one meat-free day a week. If you’re vegetarian, try to cut back on your dairy consumption. This is the best vegan milk I’ve found.
For being such a small island the UK has some truly amazing spots to holiday in that you don’t need to fly to get to; from beaches to mountains, forests to cities, there really is something for everyone.

What advice would you give PRs and comms?
Do your research before contacting bloggers. Take a look at recent content on their site to see what they blog about and how they tend to work with brands before contacting them. I’m often contacted by PRs and comms about matters unrelated to green living, but if they had spent a minute on the blog they would realise it wouldn’t be something I would cover.

What are the best campaigns you’ve collaborated on?
I really enjoyed working with Little’s Coffee recently. They have switched to using 100% recyclable and plastic-free packaging materials across their entire range of instant coffees and packaging materials and it was a pleasure to work with such a forward-thinking company to help spread the word and deliver exactly the kind of content Moral Fibres readers enjoy and find useful.

Do you accept press releases?
No, Moral Fibres is a one-woman show that I work on part-time. I don’t have the capacity to post news articles on a daily basis, but if your press release has been published elsewhere then do send me that link and if it’s relevant then I might include it in my weekly environmental news roundup that I publish every Sunday.

What other blogs do you read?
Aside from the other blogs in the Green Blogs Top 10 (there are some great ones in there, and it’s a pleasure to be in their company!) I enjoy Reading My Tea Leaves and Peppermint Magazine.

Green blog spotlight: Brenda Cuby, The Green Familia

May 2, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Brenda Cuby is the blogger behind The Green Familia, which was recently ranked in the top 10 Green Blogs. Helping families shop green and live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, The Green Familia is packed with tips for anyone who wants to be more environmentally conscious.

We caught up with Brenda to find out how everyone can make changes to make a difference, climate change starting to get the attention it needs and how she works with PR.

How do you describe what you do?
I am a light green blogger, who blogs about easy ways to make eco/ethical changes to your life. We highlight products that you can use that will help our readers to become greener and do their bit. If we all make small changes then the world makes big changes.

How important is social media to your blog – are any channels more important than others?
Social media is very important it drives traffic to our blog and allows new people to find out what we do and the different ways they can make a difference. I find Twitter used to be a big platform for us, but Facebook has become more popular. I know we need to do more with Instagram and YouTube and eventually we will move into these platforms.

Climate change is in the news a lot, do you think it’s getting the attention it needs?
I think that finally attention is gathering traction, but I think there is still more that can be done. I notice more friends are thinking about the planet now than they used to which is great.

What do you think Extinction and Greta Thunberg have done for the conversation?
I think they have been brilliant for the conversation. Greta has caught the attention because of her age and her passion for the cause and because she is very articulate. I love seeing how engaged this generation are with the conversation and that gives me hope.

Who is ultimately responsible to make change?
We are all responsible for change, if we stop using plastic bags, they have to stop manufacturing them. If we stop eating junk and start looking at what we are consuming and how we consume it then we take the responsibility.

What are the most important steps people can take at an individual level to be more green?
Recycling on all levels will help. Make ethical choices, learn and educate ourselves into how we can make changes. Try to reduce our carbon footprint.

What advice would you give PRs and comms?
Keep engaging in the conversation.

What are the best campaigns you’ve collaborated on?
Frugi, E-on, Wikaniko and Electric Transport.

Do you accept press releases?
Yes.

What other blogs do you read?
Little Green Blog and Moral Fibres in the green sector.

Mental health is key to the best PR workplaces

May 1, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

Looking to escape an office with drippy taps in the kitchen, no teabags or… something even worse? PRWeek has released the Best Places to Work Awards 2019, which represent all sectors of the industry, from the largest agencies to in-house comms. In PRWeek’s overview of the winners, there’s no mention of in-office teabag situations (if that’s what’s important to you), but there is something much more vital – a culture of mental health support and employee wellbeing.

‘It’s a cliché, but in our industry, people really are our most important asset,’ believes Nicky Young, group MD at Mid-Size Agency and Culture winner MullenLowe Salt. ‘Employees and prospective candidates rightly and increasingly demand a workplace that nurtures their wellbeing rather than destroying it. Our working lives have the potential to be hugely fulfilling and enjoyable. As employers we need to strive to create working environments that make this possible.’

MullenLowe Salt’s approach includes mental health ‘champions’ among its 40-strong team (with more being trained) as well as ‘Head Talks’ to help employees work through any issues they may be facing. The agency’s B-Corp status also highlights its commitment to its workers, something that’s integral to its success.

‘We were a founding B Corporation in the UK and that philosophy (that business can and should be a force for good) combines with our own purpose – to drive positive change through communications – to inform the way we prioritise and manage our culture.’

If you’ve ever checked out Glassdoor for the goss on which companies are good (or very bad) to work for, cultures of support and even protection is what gains staff loyalty, or as Glassdoor has put it: ‘The three top drivers of long-term employee satisfaction are company culture, career opportunities and trust in senior leadership.’

‘We’ve worked hard to put processes in place to schedule support for the team,’ says UKTV’s director of comms, consumer and social, Justine Bower, of its win in this year’s In-House Communications Department category. ‘We are particularly proud of the work being done at UKTV to ensure a consistently open and understanding approach to mental health […] The whole team is delighted and proud to have such a prestigious award as testament to our culture. It’s never taken for granted.’

Taking employee satisfaction – and their resulting effectiveness – for granted is something agencies cannot do if valuable staff are to be retained and growth is to be achieved. UKTV has trained mental health first-aiders as part of the team, partnered with CALM and supports Mental Health Awareness Week and Time to Talk day – and it’s all paying off. For Justine, it has to: ‘Communications and social is ‘always on’ – we are hard-wired for news and it can be difficult to switch off […] We try to be honest and supportive, if someone is too busy they put their hand up and ask for help.’

If you think this sounds too warm and fuzzy, or you came up in harder times when enforced pub visits and borderline-lethal working hours were the norm in PR, consider the statistics from CIPR’s State of the Profession report around mental health – nearly a quarter of those surveyed had taken time off work due to stress, anxiety, or depression.

And even if the human aspect doesn’t concern you, it’s just really bad for business.

‘Our industry does attract high potentials who are proven to be more prone to give too much of themselves, often to their own detriment,’ says Nicky. ‘There may be additional pressures that come from wanting to serve and delight, to please clients quickly and from being only as good as the quality of your last piece of work. We know that when culture feels the strain, so does the business.’

For Nicky, she uses her own experiences to make MullenLowe Salt special: ‘One of my first roles in the country was at an unsupportive workplace and it made me realise what I didn’t want from a workplace; that I wanted to enjoy going into work every day.’

And a welcoming environment is one Justine also advocates at UKTV: ‘I’m a big believer in team as family – you support each other and create an atmosphere of trust.’

More successful than access to caffeine and long working hours? Those warm and fuzzies – especially if you want to be a winner in building worthwhile and happy teams that work.

Running blogger spotlight: Emma Neachell, The PhD Runner

April 30, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Christina Pirilla

Emma Neachell is The PhD Runner and was recently ranked in the top 10 UK running blogs. A self-confessed injury-prone runner, Emma finds the balance between recovery and competition. We caught up with Emma to find out how she describes her blogging to the uninitiated, the best places to run, her favourite shoes and her love of testing and reviewing products.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
I’ll be completely honest; I don’t think my family and friends understand blogging and social media. On the very rare occasion I get asked about this blog, I describe it as an online running diary with bonus product reviews. As for my full-time ‘proper’ job, I’m a hydrologist and find that people don’t tend to understand what I do on a day-to-day basis.

How does social media feed into your blog – are any channels more important?
I share all my new blog posts on Twitter and occasionally in a couple of Facebook groups. Twitter is definitely my preferred social media channel and I’m trying to get to grips with Instagram. Otherwise, I don’t think I’m very savvy when it comes to social media. I could definitely do more to promote my blog.

How important is the right clothing/gear for running?
Vital! In my tips for completing the Couch to 5k, I recommend people buy a decent pair of running shoes. You can get by without technical running clothing to start with but a decent pair of running shoes is essential. Female runners should also consider purchasing a sports bra. You don’t really need technical gear to start with. Just wear clothes that are loose fitting and comfortable in a breathable material such as cotton. If you do want to invest in technical running gear, then shop around for bargains. Running doesn’t have to be an expensive sport.

What’s your favourite pair of trainers?
Definitely Brooks Adrenaline GTS trainers.

Where’s the best place to run in the world?
I may be a little biased but Sutton Park in the north of Birmingham.

How many races do you compete in a year?
It varies depending on how many injuries I pick up during the course of the year. Last year, I completed 21 races, this year I’m yet to make it to the start line of any races.

What advice would you give PRs?
Please give me time to complete my product reviews. Some PRs have slightly unrealistic expectations and expect bloggers to be able to produce meaningful reviews after a week. I like to test products thoroughly before writing a review. Also, I know that PRs are busy people, but please remember to acknowledge emails.

Do you accept press releases?
If they are relevant to my blog and I’ll think my readers will find the content useful, yes I do.

What’s the best collaboration you’ve worked on with a brand or PR?
Now this is a really tricky question! I’ve worked with some awesome brands recently, but I would have to say Supacore Compression. PRs if you read this please get in touch; I love testing and reviewing products!

What are your favourite blogs?
I read a lot of running blogs but these (not in any particular order) are my favourites: AnnatheApple, Maria Runs, A Healthier Moo, HelsBels and Lazy Girl Running.

Who can you trust? Newsguard ranks the UK’s news brands

April 29, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, journalism, PR, PR Club Media Analysis, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

Picking the right news brand used to mean careful considerations, such as: ‘Does this brand align with my ethics?’, ‘Can I open this one on the tube without elbowing someone in the face?’, ‘Do I really need to see past this paywall?’ But no more – here to help with the decision on what to read/cite/trust/work with comes NewsGuard’s UK launch, rolled out midweek with traffic lights to lead the way.

The US news rating tool is simple – green is good, red is bad – and decided by nine key factors:

Not repeatedly publishing false content
Gathering and presenting information responsibly
Regular corrections and clarifications (where necessary)
Handling the difference between news and opinion responsibly
Avoiding deceptive headlines
Disclosing ownership and source(s) of financing
Clearly labelling advertising
Revealing who is in charge and any conflicts of interest
Providing names of content creators with either contact or biographical information

Aside from a short stall with the MailOnline earlier this year – NewsGuard originally placed the brand as a red for its US product, later backtracking on the rating – the big UK news brands have, by and large, come out clean (well, green). Purely green reads include The Guardian, the Financial Times and Buzzfeed News UK, but the colour is also assigned to outlets that don’t get a full score across the nine factors.

These slightly fuzzier greens go to brands like BBC News (which failed on providing the names of content creators, and contact and biographical info), Sky News (not perfect on correcting and clarifying errors) and The Independent (issues with disclosing ownership and financing, and labelling its advertising, apparently).

As for the reds, PressGazette reports that Politicalite UK is the first to be publicly named.

Tastes may differ on which media outlets are most nourishing, but, according to Wikipedia co-founder and NewsGuard global advisory board member Jimmy Wales, NewsGuard offers a ‘unique tool for helping people understand who is feeding them the news’. And Wikipedia has form with this, having questioned the validity of Daily Mail reporting in the past (also backtracked, by the way).

It’s not just the usual suspects that have been classed as red or green, however, as 150 websites were reviewed by the news rating tool’s team for its UK launch – accounting for 90% of online engagement across the country, when it comes to traffic and social media statistics.

Not taken into consideration for each are issues like the arm span needed to open a print copy, or whether you should be embarrassed to be found with it on your mobile screen during the commute. But trustworthiness? That’s what everyone in the media, those working with it and those looking to consume it, need to be aware of.

A NewsGuard-commissioned YouGov poll for the launch found that nine in ten of those surveyed believe misleading information online is a problem. There’s proof of that easily found in the real-life impact of the online anti-vaxxer movement as we watch it play out across school playgrounds and in the media (both red and green). There’s the rise of fake news and other disturbing trends, like, say, the enduring belief that Goofy is actually a cow (he isn’t).

Those looking for information – whether vital, or frivolous – deserve trustworthy sources, and in a world filled with misinformation, the easier it is to access them, the better.

Know which news brands you want to work with but don’t have the right contacts? You need the Vuelio Media Database, which lists over 1 million contacts, influencers and opportunities.

Running blogger spotlight: the5krunner

April 26, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Christina Pirilla

Running blog, the5krunner, has again ranked in the top 10 running blogs. Anonymously written, the5krunner covers running tech and the best routes, as well triathlon training and competing. We caught up with the5krunner to find out about blogging in secret, the right gear for running and the best kinds of press release.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
I am somewhat secretive about my blog. Even to friends. So, I suppose I should have a good answer to that question.

I would say that I probably angle my repose about what I do between the blog’s three main pillars: journalistic research and analysis of emerging sports tech; product reviews and opinions; and a good dose of lifestyle blogging about a wannabe age group triathlete’s trials and tribulations.

How does social media feed into your blog – are any channels more important?
It has taken me a long time to better understand my readership and it is THEIR use of social media channels that I invest in rather than ones that I think I ought to or that some expert or other has told me that I ought to. Eg. I wasted a lot of time with Instagram last year.

The blog itself is by far the most important channel although a notable number of readers use Facebook. I use Twitter as email proxy for one-to-one communications rather than as a means of capturing traffic. YouTube would work for my type of reader but I don’t have the skills or time to take that further right now… if anyone who is reading this does then give me a call.

How important is the right clothing/gear for running?
I would give the classic ‘it depends’ response. Most of the time it does not really matter in the UK but if there are specific weather or performance requirements then clothing is very important. Ranging from: keeping arms warm in the winter; to stopping chaffing on long runs; to allowing cooling on hot days; all the way to simply providing a means of carrying a gel, smartphone and key.

What’s your favourite pair of trainers?
I have the New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v4 right now. I bought three pairs (no freebies). I don’t especially want to like them but I rarely seem to get injured when wearing them so that is a massive bonus for me. No injury = favourite.

Where’s the best place to run in the world?
The London Borough of Richmond-on-Thames is pretty cool in a very safe-cum-pretty-cum-boring kind of way. Maybe I should get out more? but I love the Royal Parks here and the Rivers, nearby canals and more besides.

How many races do you compete in a year?
Excluding parkruns, it would probably be about six races with two of them being ‘A’ races. I train properly for them as best I can yet always set myself goals that are unachievable! If you are of a competitive nature then the beauty of triathlons is that there is a good level of ‘proper’ competition in age-group events. My goal is to win a medal at a national triathlon championship at some distance or other. That will be difficult but possible for me this year or next.

What advice would you give PRs?
The advice would be to understand the motivations of the blogger they are contacting. Some of us do it for fun, some for freebies and some for money. If your pitch to me is that you want 500 words and original photographs syndicated over all my channels in exchange for a free pair of running socks, then perhaps you might want to reflect on how much you are paid and how much of my free time you are requesting.

Do you accept press releases?
Yes. I probably look at all I receive. I probably act on 5% of them. That would be the 5% that are either of interest to me or to my readership.

What’s the best collaboration you’ve worked on with a brand or PR?
I can think of generous brands/PRs, stingy ones and I can think of prestigious ones. The BEST collaborations are those where the PR can respond quickly and intelligently to requests to clarify facts.

What are your favourite blogs?
I have a web dashboard thingy that brings up new content as the blogs that I follow produce it. It’s very much informational/transactional for me. I don’t really enjoy them. Only a very small number that I follow tend to inject an element of personality into what they do but not enough for me to call them my favourite. My favourite channel would be the GCN channel for cyclists on YouTube.

Spotlight with the No. 1 Running blog: The Runner Beans

April 24, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR News, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Christina Pirilla

Charlie Watson writes The Runner Beans, which was recently ranked as the number one running blog in the UK, a title it’s held for years. Charlie has been blogging her passion for running since 2011 and now runs around the world – this year she’s running three marathons!

We caught up with Charlie to find out how important running gear is, the rise of Instagram and how she works with PRs.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
It’s a tricky one – I think it depends who I am talking to (and their age!). I tell a lot of people that I ‘have a blog and Instagram’ whereas to the older generation I often say I’m a ‘freelance writer’.

How does social media feed into your blog – are any channels more important?
Yes, my Instagram is so helpful for driving traffic (through the swipe up feature) to my blog. I would say that recently brands are more keen on doing collaborations on Instagram and Instagram stories, with the other social and blog as supplementary channels.

How important is the right clothing/gear for running?
There is NOTHING worse than running 20+ miles in shorts that ride up/fall down, a sports bra that chafes and shoes that give you blisters. I’ve tried and tested enough shorts that I’ve found the right pairs for me (I love lululemon Track and Train and Oiselle pocket joggers), and I won’t wear anything other than Triumph Triaction sports bras.

What’s your favourite pair of trainers?
I just bought myself another pair of the Nike Vaporfly 4% for my marathon in November – there’s something so light and bouncy about them that make you feel like you’re flying.

Where’s the best place to run in the world?
For me it’s anywhere near water – I love the Thames towpath in west London from Putney to Richmond, but equally love running on the coast when abroad, or in Central Park in New York.

How many races do you compete in a year?
I’ve honestly never counted – but I do know that this year I’ll run three marathons!

What advice would you give PRs?
Don’t send blanket emails – engage with the blogger and target them with the right product for them. Understand how they work and it will create a more symbiotic relationship for everyone.

Do you accept press releases?
Yes – but again, when they have been targeted and personalised.

What’s the best collaboration you’ve worked on with a brand or PR?
I’ve worked on some incredible partnerships over the years, but most recently I am loving the partnerships that involve travel for races – like a recent partnership with Visit Savannah and the Savannah Women’s Half Marathon for the weekend, and the LA Marathon back in March.

What are your favourite blogs?
My favourite blogs are honest recaps, sharing fashion, fitness, recipes and real life – anything with beautiful photography but a sense of realness. I like A Foodie Stays Fit, Cat Meffan, Hello Fashion, Pumps and Iron, Fit Foodie Finds, Run to the Finish and so many others!

Luxury lifestyle blog spotlight: Laura Scott, SheHearts

April 17, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, PR News, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Jake O'Neill

Laura Scott is the blogger behind SheHearts, the luxury lifestyle publication. Covering a huge range of subjects, from travel to beauty, Laura draws on her own experiences and SheHearts benefits from Laura’s expertise as a social media consultant. We spoke to Laura about living a luxury lifestyle, when she realised she had ‘made it’ and her advice for others.

How would you introduce SheHearts?
SheHearts is a luxury lifestyle publication run by myself and blog partner covering travel, fine dining, fashion, beauty and events, emphasising personalised experiences. Creating unique and in-depth features are incredibly important to our readership.

Creative thought goes into our content curation and editorial, it’s important that readers feel at home on SheHearts by providing personalised content people can relate too. SheHearts started off as a blog with the main foundation being ‘all things that I love’ and that is at the heart of the brand.

How did you go about setting up the luxury blog?
Being in social media consultancy, photography and PR, after organising a specialist event in London for a luxury client, a fellow blogger suggested I started my own blog and of course it had been at the back of my mind due to my love of photography, editorial and social media. I started off as I meant to go on, if I’m going to create anything, the heart has to be authentic, personalised and photography-driven. Telling a story through the use of image is a powerful tool, where passion shines there’s truth, and for me that happened to be in unique and luxury experiences in any aspect of life. SheHearts was born.

When did you start getting invites to events?
Being in social media consultancy for many years, I created events so I had a knowledge of how things worked. It was through my own events I met other industry connections and in turn got invited to their events. I’m incredibly thankful to have met many inspiring individuals through SheHearts and my profession.

How much of your content is paid-for collaborations?
It’s truly dependant on the project and nature of the collaboration.

When did you know you’d made it?
When it comes to any aspect of business what is important in terms of success isn’t just about income, but authenticity – set out to be yourself and to inspire others. Personally, for me having the opportunity to work on a one-on-one basis with couture luxury fashion designers, management in the luxury hotel and food industry and creating unique and in-depth visual features makes me feel accomplished.

Some highlights: A personalised tour around The Ritz London and having a menu created for us by executive chef, John Williams MBE was an honour. Interviewing and collaborating with international designer Omar Mansoor has been wonderful and supporting Top Model where Omar showcases his work. Top Model also supports the charity Children with Cancer so it’s wonderful supporting a fantastic cause.

How do you balance blogging and personal life – do you find you always have to be on?
When it comes to lifestyle I treat each experience as such, life is all about balance and taking time to embrace special moments.

What’s your favourite luxury?
Cherished moments and unique experiences with brands, for example when warmth shines through in terms of hospitality during travel/hotel review collaborations in turn creates fond memories for me to promote to my readership. Personalisation goes a long way and hospitality is important. Dining experiences with welcoming touches adds appeal, and brands who enjoy creating personalised experiences are just wonderful.

What advice do you have for luxury brands who want to work with bloggers like you?
Reach out and talk, communication is key and great collaborations are always a result of purpose-driven conversation. Adapting is also important and being flexible to create something truly unique is important. Just be friendly as I absolutely love talking to people and getting to know the heart of their company or brand. Creating on-going relationships is personally important, I love reviewing conceptual change and developing relationships with companies who truly love building trusted friendships in a digital space.

What advice would you give someone who is just starting their blog?
Create a blog for the sheer purpose of creating something you love personally, talk about what you truly enjoy and you will relate to others. Be yourself and don’t compare, enjoy your creativity. Your blog is your online space online to express through digital expression.

Is Lush building its own social network?

April 15, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Social Media, PR Club Media Analysis, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Jake O'Neill

Lush hit the headlines last week when it announced the closure of its main UK social media accounts. The announcement claimed social media is ‘making it harder and harder for us to talk to each other directly’, the company is ‘tired of fighting with algorithms’ and Lush doesn’t want to ‘pay to appear in your newsfeed’.

Its plan is to highlight more voices, and some have read this as more influencer marketing, but that still requires a reliance on existing social media channels whether the company is using them directly or not. On the announcement to quit social media, Lush encouraged people to engage directly via live website chat, email or phone.

Within 24 hours, most major news sites, both mainstream and trade, had picked up the story in what’s undeniably a publicity win for a company that doesn’t spend money on traditional advertising. Unfortunately many of the stories focused on how confused Lush customers were by the news – like this story from the Mirror – with many suggesting that Lush’s target audience are unlikely to call, chat or email the company.

While there is likely to be a bigger plan to come (more on that in a moment), this is half an announcement. Without explaining the ‘What’s next’ part of ‘we’re quitting social media’, many have been left in the dark. To some, this tease may be exciting and the intrigued superfans will be on tenterhooks. But in the age of social media, where attention spans are measured in seconds, this tactic is also likely to lose members of its audience who lack the patience for a protracted stunt.

Not everyone is against the move though, Lush has a fan in David Parkinson, managing director of Brave & Heart who, writing for The Drum claims to have considered this type of move for many of his clients. He says: ‘For several global clients, my agency has looked at similar strategies […] we have started to think beyond the platform and back to the purpose and the people. Asking “who?”, “why?” and “where?”, not just “what?” and “when?”.

‘This is why a brand the size of Lush gets my thumbs up; its big enough for people to take notice, small enough to have the chops to do it.’

Signs of a new network
On the surface it may seem like a baffling move for a company such as Lush, for whom social media engagement seems to come easily for both its products and ethical campaigns. And it’s that level of content engagement that Lush won’t want to lose, which is why the final line of the announcement points at more to come: ‘This isn’t the end, it’s just the start of something new. #LushCommunity – see you there.’

The accompanying image says Lush is ‘switching up social’ – not abandoning it. Clarity can perhaps be found in the company’s annual report, which was published the week before this announcement. The report highlights a growth in online sales and the claim that it is ‘optimistic that our new global website launch will help generate further growth’.

The company is investing heavily in its ‘digital estate’, which is being created to ensure a ‘safe haven for our Lush communities online’. It is continuing to focus on ‘developing features in beta, an evolving brand led commerce experience online’. Beta.lush.com, or #LUSHLABS, is already open to UK customers with plans for it to roll out globally by the end of June.

At the moment the site is ‘by invitation only’ and encourages registered users to ‘invite collaborators’. Users – who have to create an account – will ‘hear it here first’ with ‘early-bird content reveals and news’.

The homepage finishes with the line ‘Want to know a secret? By joining you’re helping us build a new Lush platform. Lush has always been a community-led company. Lush Labs is the next step in putting your feedback at the front and centre’.

An online community with free-flowing engagement for registered users? Sounds like a social network to me.

What do you think of Lush’s move? Tempted to quit the Gram or leave Facebook? We’re still on social media so let us know your thoughts on Twitter @Vuelio.

Foodie blogger spotlight: Dannii Martin, Hungry Healthy Happy

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

Hungry Healthy Happy was created in 2011 by Dannii Martin as a place to share delicious and healthy recipes as she embarked on her weight loss journey. Recently ranked as the number one food blog (once again), Hungry Healthy Happy is also a top recipe book alongside an expanding library of books by Dannii.

We caught up with Dannii to find out about the growth of food blogging, the joy of avocado and how she likes to work with brands.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
I create recipes that show healthy food doesn’t have to boring and how to sneak in extra veg, then share those recipes on the internet. I also write books.

How does social media feed into your blog – are any channels more important?
Social media makes me feel connected to our audience. It’s a great way to communicate with them, hear what they like and want to see more of, and get feedback. We use it as a way to show the behind-the-scenes of the blog too. Instagram stories are our favourite, as there is a great community there.

What’s your favourite ingredient and why?
Avocado! I have a bit of a reputation for being avocado obsessed. But in terms of an ingredient to make recipes with, then maybe Greek yoghurt. It’s such a great healthier substitute in creamy sauces.

Can you tell the difference between a food fad and a genuine culture shift?
Yes, and I think there has been a massive culture shift recently. Everyone has left ‘clean eating’ behind and there is much more interest and focus on a healthy balanced diet without cutting anything out and we love that.

What’s the best course in a meal?
The main course. It’s the main for a reason.

Food & Drink was revealed as a supersector in the UK Bloggers Survey – how do you feel it fits in to the broader blogosphere?
The food and drink blogger category is huge now and pretty over saturated. Anyone that can cook and write can set up a food blog and that’s definitely not a bad thing. But very few people stand out. You have to be offering something other people aren’t.

The survey revealed that bloggers post less frequently, is that your experience?
Yes, because SO much more work goes in to a blog post now. SEO is (or should be) the main focus of a blogger now and gone are the days of being able to write and publish a blog post in 30 minutes. It takes a day or two to create one post now – to create professional quality photos, edit, write and then all the keyword research that goes alongside it. We try to post twice a week and then really dedicate time to each post – it’s only fair to the brands we work with to.

Do you accept PR press releases?
Yes, however it would be helpful if they also said what they were looking for. Like, do they want to collaborate or are they just looking for free advertising?

How do you choose which PRs and brands to work with?
The brand has to be a good fit for our audience – that is the most important thing for us. Our readers trust us and trust that the products we promote are only things we really believe in and would use ourselves. We have some great relationships with PRs that we have worked with many times over the past few years, which is great because they know how we work and we know what they are looking for.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
I don’t think it would be fair to single out one brand, but the best collaborations for us is when there is a clear brief from the beginning. So, there is not going backwards and forwards with drafts and re-dos for weeks because the brief has changed. We appreciate that sometimes things do change but making it as clear as can be from the start helps.

Also, it helps to know if brands want licensing from the beginning, rather than that being sprung on us after the post has gone live and we have to change the fee.

Ultimately, the best collaborations are ones that are a little bit different too. That allows us to have some creative freedom to do something we know will be popular with our readers.

What other blogs do you read?
I read a lot of American blogs, because blogging over there is way ahead of the UK in terms of brand collaborations and professionalism. Don’t get me wrong, there are some amazing UK blogs, but there are a lot of inspiring US blogs like Pinch of Yum and Half Baked Harvest.

Wedding blogger spotlight: Louise Baltruschat Hollis, Whimsical Wonderland Weddings

April 11, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Christina Pirilla

Louise Baltruschat Hollis is the face behind Whimsical Wonderland Weddings, which has once again been named in the Top 10 UK Wedding Blogs. Covering DIY tips, inspirational editorials and real-life wedding stories, Whimsical Wonderland Weddings has been a key part of the wedding blogosphere since it was created in 2010.

We caught up with Louise to find out why any time of year is perfect to get married, the importance of going with your gut and working on creative with PRs and brands.

How does social media feed into your blog – are any channels more important?
Social media has always been crucial to our blog. In the beginning it was all about Twitter before moving onto Facebook, then Pinterest and now Instagram. Instagram and Pinterest are definitely where we see the most engagement and both platforms bring something totally unique.

When’s the best time of year to get married?
I think any time of the year can be perfect to get married. Each season brings something different, from festive cosy winter weddings to fresh bright spring weddings and golden light filled autumn weddings. Summer is always popular for weddings in the UK, with longer days and hopefully more sunshine. It really depends on what makes your heart sing.

Where’s the best wedding location in the UK today?
I love that more and more couples are thinking outside of the box when it comes to wedding venues. We have featured more and more couples trying the knot in a legal ceremony beforehand, leaving them free to have a ceremony or blessing wherever they wish. I myself did this and got married in the woods, so I am a little bias towards woodland weddings.

What advice would you give people planning their wedding?
Go with your gut, always. I think it’s really important to sit down together and really work out what is important to the both of you and include your personalities as much as possible. Don’t be afraid to ditch any traditions that don’t work for you too.

Wedding themes: yes or no?
Wedding themes can be so fun. We’ve featured lots of different wedding themes over the years, although we have also featured more and more weddings without any theme. Matchy matchy colour themes seem to have been less popular with our readers in recent years and we’ve seen more mix and match styles, which always works wonderfully.

The UK Bloggers Survey revealed that bloggers post less frequently, is this your experience?
I have reduced our blogging schedule slightly over the years. So I really focus on quality content rather than quantity. Saying that, we still blog at least once each and every day.

Do you accept PR press releases?
We receive many PR releases. Some are more targeted to our readership than others. If I think our brands are well aligned I will reach out to see if the brand would like to work together.

How do you choose which PRs and brands to work with?
I only work with brands which totally capture my attention, in terms of product and service. I will also take time to look at their reviews as we only work with brands with the highest quality and a top notch reputation. It’s important I love the product or service on offer so that it is a genuine and authentic recommendation.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
I think my favourite collaborations have been with brands we have worked really closely with to create a wide-ranging campaign. With imagery and styling by me, and blog and social media coverage too.

What other blogs do you read?
I read a wide range of blogs, at the moment I am into interiors as we are renovating our home. Roses and Rolltops has been a long term fave of mine.

Reaction to Government proposals to tackle ‘online harms’

April 9, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, journalism, PR, PR News Media Analysis, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Jake O'Neill

The Government has published a white paper that proposes a new regulator to oversee and enforce a ‘statutory duty of care’ by online tech companies. Enforcement includes the ability to issue ‘substantial fines’ and to ‘impose liability on individual members of senior management’.

The detailed white paper proposals draw a particular focus to terrorist activity and child sexual exploitation and abuse online, and say the Home Secretary would have final sign-off on the codes of practice that govern these harms. In what may be seen as a big threat to social and search giants’ proprietary practices, the proposals also call for the regulator to have the ability to see the impact of algorithms in selecting content for users.

This white paper comes off the back of Mark Zuckerberg calling for government regulation of the internet – and though cynics may suggest a tech boss requesting specific regulation is not as wholesome as it appears, ‘harmful content’ is an area he wants more regulation over. Of course, having read the Government’s white paper, Zuckerberg may now regret inviting this in to his company’s ethos.

Reaction to the proposals has been mixed, with many questioning the ethics of Government intervention in online spaces in what could be perceived as an attack on free speech. The fact the white paper claims it has a vision for ‘a free, open and secure internet’ with ‘freedom of expression online’, seems in many ways to directly contradict the requirement for tech companies to actively remove harmful content.

The Guardian has summarised many of the fears around the proposals here, which includes the line, ‘critics say online harms white paper could lead to North Korean-style censorship’.

These concerns were reflected across Twitter:

Even smaller voice: Have they any inkling how big the Internet is?

— David Banks (@DBanksy) April 8, 2019

Though the voices in the media may not fully reflect the public’s perception (imagine), as this Martin Lewis Twitter poll suggests:

Today’s Twitter Poll: Do u support the govt’s proposal today, to set up a formal UK regulator of social media & the internet; to govern online harms (inc child sex abuse, hate crimes, harassment, sale of illegal goods). Critics say ending self-regulation is worrying censorship.

— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) April 8, 2019

It’s very possible that the high-profile stories of tech giants and social platforms accused of failing their users, such as in the death of Molly Russell, have perhaps permeated the public’s collective conscience more than the media’s ingrained fear of Government censorship.

In PR land, the reaction has not been as strong, which is perhaps surprising as media concerns are typically comms concerns. The difficulties of strongly taking one side (Government potentially threatening freedom of speech) against another (we want children to be safe online) is summed up by the PRCA’s director general, Francis Ingham; he said: ‘The Online Harms White Paper builds on the political consensus around online safety, public concern, and the need to “rebuild” public confidence. The question of online platform regulation touches on sensitive subjects such as freedom of speech and our shared desire to keep people (especially children) safe online.

‘The devil is in the detail here and the Government itself argues that voluntary action from the industry has not “gone far enough”. While most people would support the intentions behind this White Paper, if all of these online harms are not clearly defined then the consequence would be far larger than intended.’

The CIPR similarly highlights that in theory this white paper is a positive step to protect people online but that any regulation must also allow tech companies to operate freely, a tightrope balancing act. Jon Gerlis, CIPR senior policy office, said: ‘This Paper is a welcome addition to the conversation around tackling the ills of harmful online content and the spread of disinformation online. The paper accepts that self-regulation has failed.

‘It is therefore right that the law addresses this in a way that allows it to keep pace with advances in the digital world and ensure tech companies operate freely but regulated to a clear set of standards expected of any other kind of business.’

What do you think of the regulation? Long overdue to keep people safe or the end of freedom of speech? Let us know on Twitter @Vuelio.

Mummy blogger spotlight: Sarah Anguish, Boo Roo and Tigger Too

April 8, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Sarah Anguish is the mummy blogger behind Boo Roo and Tigger Too, which was recently ranked in the Top 10 UK Mummy Blogs. Sarah told us about focusing on the bigger picture, the best thing about being a mum and working with brands and PRs in an honest and open way.

How has your blog changed in the last year?
Towards the end of last year, I found myself feeling somewhat overwhelmed by attempting to juggle too many plates. Saying yes to things for the fear of saying no and never getting future opportunities with that brand or PR. I took some time off over Christmas and New Year to reassess things and have adopted a better work/life balance this year. I’ve also focused on different topic areas to bring out regular content, such as parenting, family travel and fun recipe ideas for families.

How does social media feed into your blog – are any channels more important?
While I was away over the festive break last year I decided to take a look at my social media channels. In an ideal work I would be able to rock them all and engage with followers on each platform, but that isn’t something that I am able to manage at the moment. So, I opted to see which platforms give me the most enjoyment and work from there. Instagram has been the platform I have been giving the most focus to this year. And instead of trying to copycat others or play the follow/unfollow game, I am adding a micro post alongside a snapshot each day. Sometimes I’m chatting about a family day out that we’ve enjoyed or grumbling that it’s Monday again.

What’s the perfect Mother’s Day?
Mother’s Day isn’t about the gifts for me, it’s about the children recognising all the things that I do for them throughout the year. From playing mum taxi, juggling 101 after school activities, ensuring they have all the supplies they need for school/clubs etc. Alongside the everyday tasks as cooking, cleaning, washing etc. Knowing that they are thankful for this is priceless.

What’s the best thing about being a mum?
Unlimited cuddles, no matter whether it is one to offer them support or comfort. The ones at the school gates that they don’t really want to do in front of their friends. Or the ones that caught you by surprise because they just wanted to give you a cuddle.

What advice would you give new mothers?
Take each moment as it comes, rather than focusing on the bigger picture. There will be trying times ahead but try not to dwell on how long it has taken to get your little one to fall asleep, feed or the fact that you are still wearing the same pyjamas from three days ago. Focusing on that task at hand, changing a nappy, bath time or running to the toilet uninterrupted will give you lots of tiny wins throughout the day.

The UK Bloggers Survey revealed Parenting as a supersector – how do you feel parenting fits into the broader blogosphere?
The parent blogging community has grown so much since I started blogging almost eight years ago. Parent bloggers are able to offer support and advice to parents (new or seasoned ones) that they might not have in real-life or are not willing to ask their friends and loved ones.

The Survey also revealed that bloggers post less frequently – is this your experience?
I think that just as in life, blogging and bloggers have peaks and troughs when it comes to producing content. There will always be times when there are lots of things to share and times when life gets in the way and you aren’t able to post as frequently as you’d like.

Do you accept PR press releases?
I receive a number of press releases each week and while they might not be relevant to me or to my blog, they can be intriguing to read. It’s a very privileged position to be able to find out details of new products, events and activities ahead of time.

How do you choose which PRs and brands to work with?
I always look to see whether that brand, product or event would work for our family and something that would interest my readers. There are some amazing brands and PRs out there who value bloggers honesty in saying, ‘Thank you, unfortunately, this campaign isn’t suitable for me because of XYZ’, rather than accepting something because you want to work with that brand/PR and it not really being relevant to you or audience.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
A few years ago we were selected as the family to represent the UK at the Disneyland Paris 25th anniversary celebrations; a surreal weekend of discovering all that Disneyland Paris has to offer families. We enjoyed the celebrations and standing in front of the iconic Sleeping Beauty’s castle with Mickey Mouse.

What other blogs do you read?
I’m an old-fashioned blog reader, still missing the days of Google Reader where I was able to scroll through the list of posts published that day from across the blogging community. Thankfully, my Bloglovin app allows me to continue to do this and I like to scroll through to see what catches my eye as well as keeping up-to-date with some of the bloggers who have now become firm friends.

These 5 supersectors can’t afford to ignore influencer marketing

April 8, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, PR Club Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Jake O'Neill

Influencer marketing is growing rapidly, with more professionals entering the industry and partnering with PRs and brands on collaborations. The Vuelio UK Bloggers Survey 2019 has revealed five supersectors that dominate influencer marketing both in terms of the number of influencers, and the number of PR pitches they’re receiving every week.

Lifestyle, Fashion & Beauty, Parenting, Food & Drink and Travel account for around two-thirds of all blogs. While Fashion & Beauty is in decline, Parenting, Food & Drink and Travel have all seen increases since 2016 and cannot be ignored by businesses and organisations in those respective sectors.

Age groups
The Survey reveals that different age groups specialise in different categories. Those aged 18-24 typically focus on Lifestyle and Fashion & Beauty; 25-34 year-olds focus on Lifestyle and Parenting; 25-54 year-olds cover all categories, but Parenting is the most popular; 55-64 year-olds are most likely to cover Food & Drink and Travel; and over 65s are most likely to cover Food & Drink.

Reflecting the broader blogsphere, four of the five supersectors are dominated by women, with only Travel having an even male/female split.

Pay

The Survey also contains information on pay across the supersectors, the first time this information has been reported on such a scale.

When it comes to individual blog posts, Fashion & Beauty and Food & Drink are mostly likely to command the top pay of over £1,000, while Parenting appears to be the most standardised supersector, as 48% charge between £101-£250 per post. This reflects the maturity of Parenting, which found its feet early on and has developed a strong influencer community.

When it comes to collaborations, Parenting is again the most standardised with 40% receiving between £100-£250. This reflects that many campaigns in the Parenting supersector are one-off single posts, which is why there isn’t a great deal of discrepancy between pay for posts and pay for collaborations.

Fashion & Beauty and Travel, on the other hand, show a much higher percentage of those paid in the top bracket (over £1,000) for collaborations compared to single posts. For Travel, this is not surprising – it’s very difficult to engage a travel influencer for a single post when trips typically take place across multiple days. These numbers also suggest Fashion & Beauty PRs and brands are reaping the benefits of long term collaborations.

Why does long term work?
While single posts can be effective, long-term multi-post collaborations makes influencers into ambassadors for your brand. It requires more work and typically more investment, but most influencers have loyal, regular audiences who are more likely to buy into your brand and messaging if exposed to it over a long period of time.

If you do want to work on long-term collaborations, building and maintaining the right relationships with the right people is the most important part of the process. Rather than blanket emailing a large number of individuals in the right sector, you need to carefully handpick the right people and understand why they’re the perfect fit before you send the first email. Using the Vuelio Influencer Database – the most comprehensive source of influencers, which includes detailed profiles – gives you a head start and takes the work out of research.

Do you work in a supersector? What’s your approach to influencer marketing? Let us know on Twitter @Vuelio.

Mummy blogger spotlight: Clare Nicholas, Emmy’s Mummy and Harry’s Too!

April 2, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Clare Nicholas is the author of Emmy’s Mummy and Harry’s Too! a Top 10 UK Mummy Blog. A former nanny, Clare covers life with her two children and posts reviews, activities and competitions on her blog. We caught up with Clare to find out what’s best about being a mum, setting up a YouTube channel for her daughter and working with brands and PRs.

How has your blog changed in the last year?
It’s continued to grow from strength to strength, although I have also launched a second blog to start getting back to writing for me again. Starting from scratch again was a little daunting though and I certainly need to add more hours into my day.

How does social media feed into your blog – are any channels more important?
This year I’ve taken more of a focus on growing and improving my Instagram content and followers. I’ve dipped my toes into IG stories and love interacting with my followers over there. My goal for this year is to hit 10k and gain that much wanted swipe up.

I have turned YouTube over to my daughter. Emmy has been desperate for her own channel and has a love of watching Vlogs. She now has her own channel and she’s working hard (with my help) on adding content over there.

What’s the perfect Mother’s Day?
I’ve actually just written about this one and as much as I adore and love my kids, a day to myself would be amazing. No cooking, cleaning or breaking up fights.

What’s the best thing about being a mum?
It’s a dream come true for me, there were years when I didn’t actually think it would happen for me, but I didn’t give up that dream and it was fourth time lucky.

I love everything about being a mum, but the best times are those sleepy times when they sneak into my bed and all they want is a cuddle with mum.

What advice would you give new mothers?
Take any help offered and there is no right or wrong way to do things. Work out what works for you and trust your instincts.

The UK Bloggers Survey revealed Parenting as a supersector – how do you feel parenting fits in to the broader blogosphere?
While it may be the largest sector, many start out as parenting bloggers to document their children’s milestones (which is what I did) before finding their niche and moving onto with something completely different or combining it with crafts, travel or even cooking alongside.

Parenting blogs can help others from feeling alone, they help to show other parents that their problems are normal, that we all get stressed and can help to relieve the boredom of a 3am feed. They can be a mix of factual and humorous and make for more entertaining reading than a textbook in those lonelier times.

The Survey also revealed that bloggers post less frequently – is this your experience?
I guess it depends on the age of their children. Those with young babies may find it harder to find the time to post but as my children are older I post more frequently than I ever have done. I struggled with posting when the kids were home and young and could only do so in the evenings, but now they are in full time school I’ve no excuse not to find the time.

Do you accept PR press releases?
I do and I try my hardest to reply to all of them, posting which are relevant and forming a relationship with the PRs at the same time. Not all fit our family but it takes two minutes to reply and say why it’s not a good fit and by doing so it helps to build an ongoing relationship for future work.

How do you choose which PRs and brands to work with?
They have to be something we would use or the kids enjoy, gone are the days of saying yes to every review that was pitched to me.

They need to be in keeping with our family feel so gambling is a no-no and payday loans etc won’t feature.

I’m open to suggestions on many topics and can easily turn my hand to writing within my own style to fit what the brand wants if the price is right.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
Attending the red-carpet premiere of the BFG remains my all-time favourite event. Of course, we love working with various travel companies on holiday reviews, the press launch of the Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas was amazing and working with Merlin Annual Pass was possibly the kids’ favourite.

What other blogs do you read?
I struggle to find time to read many any more sadly but The Oliver’s Madhouse, written by my good friend Jaime, hits my inbox weekly as I don’t see enough of her and her lovely boys,

Whinge Whinge Wine also gets my vote. Written by the lovely Fran, every post has me giggling out loud.

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