Dapper Chapper

Talking men’s lifestyle with The Dapper Chapper

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Adam Tanous is The Dapper Chapper, leading men’s lifestyle blogger who recently ranked in the Top 10. Grown from a style blog, Dapper Chapper now covers everything from bars and travel to fitness and interiors. We caught up with Adam who told us about his favourite designers, what PRs should know before they contact him (and not just his favourite tipple), and the evolution of bloggers.

How many different areas does your blog cover, and do you have a primary focus?
We initially started as a style blog but have since diversified to add other sections including Grooming, Lifestyle, The Dapper Chapper Bar and Places to go. Lifestyle is again quite broad and within it we cover things for the home, interior design, fitness, and cars.

What are the main differences between men’s and women’s lifestyle blogs?
Regarding content and aesthetics, I’m not sure there is much difference these days as boundaries are constantly being blurred. What is clear is that there are far fewer active men’s lifestyle blogs compared to women’s, which is probably why we’ve had access to so many amazing collaborations.

Dapper Chapper

Who is your favourite designer?
Tough one because different designers tick different boxes for me. For Summer probably Orlebar Brown and Autumn maybe Private White V.C but easily my most blogged about brand is Clements and Church, who are a bespoke tailoring label. They have a high-profile client list and most of the tailoring that I wear now is by them – tailoring’s best-kept secret.

What’s your favourite grooming product or service?
Perhaps a bit obvious but Aventus by Creed is perhaps the fragrance that I get most comments on when I’m wearing it but that said, all of these are good too.

We’re also a big supporter of BEAST in Covent Garden which is a male-focused grooming destination. They are fantastic curators of interesting male grooming products and worth visiting.

What’s the best night out near you?
I’m a few miles from Stamford Bridge, so I’d probably say an evening watching Chelsea. Team colours aside, these days we spend most of our time socialising at either The Hospital Club in Covent Garden or one of the Soho House venues.

The Ned is also a good shout because you’re likely to find whatever you’re looking for there.

What’s your favourite travel destination?
Tough one, but Costa Rica still just about leads the way. It has everything; tropical climates, the rainforest, wildlife, unbelievable beaches and interesting cultures.

I’ve also had two European trips recently that I’ve been raving about. Firstly, driving around the lakes and the north of Italy and secondly, to Northern Ireland. Both produced great food and spectacular scenery if you’re looking for something a little closer to home.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
If you email me (or anyone at TDC for that matter) without writing our first name at the start of the email, it won’t be read. If you’re too busy to look up who we are then we’re too busy to open your email.

More crucially, I like whisky and gin – this is good to know.

What are the best campaigns you’ve collaborated on recently?
We’re lucky to regularly work on interesting campaigns. We’re collaborating with the Crown Estate to showcase everything that’s going on around St James’s which presents some fun activities.

One of the most interesting trips I’ve been on since I started blogging was out to the fabric mills in Biela, Italy with Clements and Church. It was incredible to see what goes into the fabrics and something I want to write more about.

Dapper Chapper

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
Blogging is going through an interesting time at the moment. For us, the blog is still the heart of The Dapper Chapper brand and every piece of content we put out on social links back to something we’ve written for the blog.

Now, online influencers can create content for social channels without necessarily writing a blog post but to remain at the forefront I believe it’s important to be active on various channels.

I think an industry association would be helpful to provide a place to guide bloggers through the continued evolution within the world of blogging.

That said, Vuelio does a great job of creating blogging debate along with championing the blogger, particularly at the annual awards!

What other blogs do you read?
We work a bit with the guys at Menswear Style so I’m always checking in with them. I also appreciate the content by Robin James. I like the way it helps people practically, which is something we want to work towards.

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ape to gentleman

Interview with Ape to Gentleman’s Chris Beastall

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Ape to Gentleman recently ranked second in the Top 10 UK Men’s Lifestyle blogs. Written by Chris Beastall and his team of experts, Ape to Gentleman primarily focuses on grooming and style but also covers cars, tech and drink.

We caught up with Chris to chat about the best travel destination, the need to stay on brand and his recent whisky trip.

What are the main differences between men’s and women’s lifestyle blogs?
I feel as though the men’s blogs are more factual and educational, whereas the women’s blogs tend to be more inspirational. For example, we wrote an article on the best aftershave balms. Whereas the women’s blogs I follow might focus more on the influencer editor, and how to get her look. Very much a sweeping generalisation here!

Who is your favourite designer?
Currently, Alexandre Mattiussi of AMI for modern classics. For all-time, it’s Ralph Lauren.

Ape to gentleman

What’s your favourite grooming product or service?
Favourite grooming product would have to be my Philips beard trimmer. Great build quality and keeps my stubble the right length.

What’s the best night out near you?
Sheffield – mainly because everyone’s so friendly. It’s a big enough city, but with a small-town feel.

What’s your favourite travel destination?
The South of France. A bit cliched but it’s sophisticated, has good weather and is old school chic.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
Everything has to be on brand for Ape.

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What are the best campaigns you’ve collaborated on recently?
A recent trip to the Isle of Jura for Jura whisky was great – full of interesting creative types, and great whisky of course. And ‘Barbershops of America – Then and Now’; Rob Hammer, a photographer, documented barbershops old and new across the US and his images just ‘feel’ emotional. They conjure thoughts of all the stories shared in these places.

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
Probably. It would legitimise the category. There’s a lot of bloggers creating some seriously good and original content out there.

What other blogs do you read?
Honestly, I don’t. We have an extensive editorial schedule which we stick to and therefore, don’t need inspiration from others. I tend to read or view photographers stories and work. And, of course, scroll through Instagram to check in on the people I follow.

Chris Beastall and Ape to Gentleman are both listings in the Vuelio Media Database along with thousands of other blogs, vlogs, outlets and opportunities.

The Everyday Man

Spotlight on leading men’s lifestyle blog: The Everyday Man

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John Robertson is The Everyday Man, and recently ranked in the Top 10 UK Men’s Lifestyle blogs. Covering a huge range of topics, from travel to cars, The Everyday Man has been supplying readers with the latest men’s lifestyle content since 2012.

We caught up with John, who told us about premium high street brands, the lovely people of Glasgow and working with PRs and brands.

How many different areas does your blog cover and do you have a primary focus?
I have eight subsections from Art & Design to Travel but my main focus is lifestyle, which more or less can encompass anything really.

What are the main differences between men’s and women’s lifestyle blogs?
I don’t think there is a massive difference if I’m honest, in fact about a third of my readers are female. I guess some of the experiences and products may be geared more directly towards men but with lifestyle topics they are generally relevant to everyone.

Who is your favourite designer?
I prefer premium high street brands to high level designers. My favourite shops that make up the bulk of my wardrobe are Reiss, Cos and H&M.

What’s your favourite grooming product or service?
I love getting my hair cut and struggle to go more than two weeks without having the sides trimmed. It’s a tad OCD I know, but I always feel great after a fresh trim!

What’s the best night out near you?
I live in Glasgow, which is a great city for a night out. The people are the friendliest probably anywhere, so you can always be guaranteed to have a fun night no matter what you decide to get up to. My ideal night out would probably be a nice meal while catching up with mates followed by a refreshment or two.

What’s your favourite travel destination?
I love Amsterdam as a city break destination. I’ve been there lots and never tire of it. I love that it’s small enough to wander around and has lots of cool and quirky shops and bars to have a nosey around.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
I hate phone calls. I’d much rather just communicate over email as I find it easier to manage and keep on top of things when I have it all written down.

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What are the best campaigns you’ve recently collaborated on?
I worked on a design focused campaign with AC Hotels recently and really enjoyed it as I had lots of freedom to interpret the brief on my own and create content that worked well for my channels.

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
Yes, it would be great for the industry. I hear horror stories about people not getting paid for jobs or people being ripped off all the time. A collective to support people would be a great thing.

What other blogs do you read?
I don’t read that many nowadays to be honest as I struggle to find the time. I try to keep an eye on Hypebeast (is that a blog?) as they always share the coolest sneaker releases and I’m a bit of a sneakerhead.

John Robertson and The Everyday Man are both listings in the Vuelio Media Database along with thousands of other blogs, vlogs, outlets and opportunities.

Five Things: BDC, Netflix, Dec, Brexit and Fabricant

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This week’s five things includes the Corbyn’s proposal for a BDC, Netflix acquiring the rights to the Bake Off, the new Ant, pick your own Brexit and Michael Fabricant in a whipping.

1. BDC

Corbyn

The Edinburgh International Television Festival is on at the moment, which always throws up a multitude of gems. For example, Ian Katz, director of programmes at Channel 4, today revealed that Sacha Baron Cohen’s Who Is America? is the first Channel 4 series to have a bigger audience on All4 than live TV.

However, the story from the festival that has grabbed all the headlines is Jeremy Corbyn’s Alternative McTaggart lecture. The leader of the opposition used his speech to propose a British Digital Corporation (BDC), that would, as reported by The Guardian, ‘commission online TV, offer easy access to archive material held by public sector institutions and operate a social networking arm that could play a role in direct democracy’.

While his full speech explains some of the functions of the BDC, it’s unclear how it would be funded to compete with the likes of Facebook, Google, Amazon or Netflix (all would be direct competitors), nor how it would be different from the BBC (which presumably it would be sharing the licence fee with, or perhaps the aim is to replace the broadcaster).

The BDC is not Labour policy but the leadership is committed to the proposals as part of its plans to reform the media.

 

2. The Great British Baking Show

GBBO

Netflix has acquired the rights to air the Great British Bake Off in the US. The streaming giant will show last year’s series (the first from Channel 4) on 31 August, with this year’s series showing later this year. It has also secured the rights to a third future series, which will stream next year.

The show will be streamed under the title ‘The Great British Baking Show’, which is what it is known as in the US. The previous BBC series aired on PBS.

Let’s be honest, this story is included so I can remind everyone that this year’s Bake Off starts on Tuesday. Exciting.

 

3. ? and Dec

Ant and dec

Ant McPartlin will not feature on the next series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here, as he is recovering from his addiction to prescription drugs. While it had been assumed Dec would be presenting the show alone, Kevin Lygo – director of programmes at ITV – has revealed at the Edinburgh TV festival that Ant will be replaced.

Different outlets are suggesting different presenters are favourite to fill the space, with Scarlett Moffat and Holly Willoughby the most likely frontrunners and David Walliams, Vicky Pattinson, Philip Scofield and Cat Deeley also in the mix.

 

4. Bloomberg’s Pick Your own Brexit game

Brexit

It’s hard to write a great deal about this, you really have to play it. Bloomberg has created a choose your own adventure game with two options for each round. Your aim? To get a Brexit outcome, whether that’s hard, soft or not at all.

 

5. Michael Fabricant’s whipping

Michael Fabricant

Michael Fabricant MP ‘hit’ the headlines after publishing a video explaining what the Government Whips are and do. Above is a picture of him whipping someone with a shoe horn. Below is the full video:

SocialBookshelves.com

Spotlight with leading literature blogger Dane Cobain of SocialBookshelves.com

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Dane Cobain is the blogger behind SocialBookshelves.com, the book review blog with a difference. Recently ranked in the Top 10 UK Literature Blogs, SocialBookshelves.com posts reviews where the word counts are determined by the number of pages in the book. We caught up with Dane to talk about his favourite authors and books, being a writer himself and why PRs need to cut through the noise.

What makes your blog unique?
SocialBookshelves.com is unique because each of my reviews has the same word count as the number of pages that the book has. On top of that, it’s a log of my personal reading and includes a review for every book that I can ever remember reading, as well as reviews for each book that I’ve read since starting it.

What’s your favourite book ever?
I get asked this a lot and I usually say Northern Lights by Philip Pullman, which is also known as The Golden Compass in the United States. It was my ‘gateway drug’ and the book that really cemented my love for reading as a kid. And the ending of The Amber Spyglass, the third book in the trilogy, is the only time a book has ever made me cry.

Who is your favourite author?
This one’s a harder one to answer and so I’m going to go for Terry Pratchett because he’s my most-read. Here’s the list:

  1. Terry Pratchett: 59 books
  2. R.L. Stine: 51 books
  3. Agatha Christie: 43 books
  4. Graham Greene: 41 books
  5. Stephen King: 40 books

Which new authors should we all be aware of?
Me! I’m a writer as well as a reader and have seven books out including my latest, a quirky cosy detective novel called Driven. I’ve also been really enjoying the Doris books by fellow indie author Charles Heathcote. They’re inspired by old comedies like Keeping Up Appearances and they’re hilarious.

What’s the best book you read in the last year?
So far, it’s The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. I think it’s going to be tricky for anything else to top it, but we’ll see.

Have you ever judged a book by its cover?
I think we all do to some extent. It’s certainly a factor when I’m skimming through dozens of pitches from PR agents, but I also buy a lot of my books from charity shops and with those, I don’t really look at the cover. I just have a long list of books that I want to buy, and charity shops help me to find them.

What one thing should PRs/brands know about you?
I’ve been blogging for years now and also have a reasonably successful BookTube channel, which means I get a lot of requests for review. I don’t respond to pitches because I get so many of them, so please don’t take it personally if you don’t hear back from me. I also don’t accept many of the pitches (maybe around 1% of them), which means that if I do agree to accept your book, you managed to cut through the noise and attract my attention.

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What are the best campaigns/collaborations you’ve had with PRs?
Well the most recent highlights for me included a press trip to Latvia (with Abegail Morley from The Poetry Shed and some others) and sitting in the shadow panel for the Young Writer of the Year Award (with Clare Rowland from A Little Blog of Books and others). It was too to see both of their blogs on this year’s Vuelio list, too.

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
Probably not. I think it’s becoming more accepted as a subgenre of journalism these days and bloggers tend to be more informal etc. anyway. I personally wouldn’t join an association unless there were obvious benefits to it purely because I think I do okay without. But I’m sure it’s just personal taste.

What other blogs do you read?
Honestly, these days I tend to get most of my book news from BookTubers and there are too many to mention there, although one of them is Savidge Reads who was also in this year’s Vuelio list of bloggers. I also use Goodreads a lot and follow most of my blogger friends there as they usually cross-post their reviews. I know I do!

 

Dane Cobain and SocialBookshelves.com are both listed in the Vuelio Influencer Database along with thousands of other blogs, vlogs, outlets and opportunities.

Party Conference

How to make the most of Party Conferences

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Party Conference Season is just around the corner, and with Brexit looming large over every major party, we’re in for an explosive autumn. If you’re gearing up for Conference, don’t miss our next webinar.

ZetterParty Conferences give MPs and party leaders the chance to announce new policies and strategies, and debate key issues that matter to their members and the country as a whole. They also give you an unrivalled opportunity to lobby MPs and the party’s constituents directly.

But with so much activity packed into just four days – not including the long nights – how do you know where to start? How can you get the most out of the Conferences without missing anything that matters to you?

Our next webinar – hosted by political and communications supremo Lionel Zetter, author of Lobbying, the Art of Political Persuasion – will guide you through Party Conference season, revealing how you can get the most out of every day and the biggest return on your time.

Webinar: Making the most of Party Conferences
Date: Wednesday 12 September 2018
Time: 11:00 – 11:30 BST   

Lionel is a former President of the CIPR and former Chairman of the Government Affairs Group. He is the current Chair of the PRCA Public Affairs Group and has been attending Conservative Party Conferences since 1974. Lionel is also a regular attender of Labour, Lib Dem and SNP conferences.

Altogether he has attended over 100 party conferences and when we asked for his top tip for conference, he said: ‘It is all about pacing yourself. If you are going to do morning events, and stay late in the bar in the evening, it is important to have some down time in the middle of the day – even if that means sneaking back to your hotel for a siesta!’

Lionel will be joined by Jonathan Isaby, editor of BrexitCentral and Sabine Tyldesley, account manager at PLMR.

Jonathan has been editor of BrexitCentral since its founding in September 2016. His journalistic career has seen him working for the full range of broadcast, print and online media, having initially joined the BBC as a political analyst in the corporation’s busy Westminster newsroom in 1999. Four years later he was recruited by the Daily Telegraph, where he spent five years, latterly writing his own political column, as well as blogging about politics on its website.

In 2008 he became co-editor of ConservativeHome.com, making him the first journalist from a British national newspaper to leave the mainstream media to become a full-time professional blogger.

Sabine specialises in immigration and home affairs, rights, justice and employment. She is part of PLMR’s Brexit Unit, has extensive knowledge in parliamentary processes and tracking legislation. At PLMR she primarily advises on integrated public affairs campaigns, political engagement and journalist engagement but also supports PR campaigns and crisis work across different sectors.

Sabine has been leading on organising PLMR’s Conservative Party Conference exclusive events and meeting space, the Business Hub.

 

Join this webinar to learn:

  • Why Party Conference is your best opportunity to make a difference
  • How to maximise your time at Conference to get the most from every session
  • The secrets of successful conference networking
  • How to avoid the pitfalls and the pratfalls!

Interview with Aaron Mark, editor-in-chief of Boyfriend Magazine

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We recently spoke to Aaron Mark, a fashion stylist and editor-in-chief at the recently launched Boyfriend Magazine. Aaron discusses the motivation behind launching the magazine, what sets it apart from other fashion magazines, why no two days are ever the same, and dancing for Atomic Kitten at Wembley Arena…

Boyfriend Magazine launched its first print issue in August. Can you tell us a bit about the publication and how it came about?
Boyfriend Magazine is a fashion forward publication that explores themes of masculinity and femininity. We pride ourselves on celebrating the works of successful creatives, while also showcasing emerging ones, and we believe this concept to be unique within the publication market.

I initially thought of the magazine and its concept when I was submitting my own work to publications, and I felt so frustrated at the lengthy process, which felt like a lot of work for little to no reward at times. I wanted to create a magazine that didn’t base its published works criteria on the CVs of the creatives, we simply wanted to publish works based on talent and creativity.

Boyfriend MagazineWhat sets it apart from other fashion magazines? Who is the target audience?
We believe our submissions criteria sets us apart from other magazines, getting us to focus on the stories themselves and not the individuals creating them, and that gives us some of the strongest content out there. Our target audience is anyone with a passion for fashion, and appreciation for editorial works, but we ensure we remain commercial in our approach by also including some great beauty product reviews, celebrity and industry interviews and features.

What are the main challenges when launching a new magazine?
I think the most challenging thing for us has been getting our name out there. We have been very lucky with the brands and PRs that have approached us who love what we’re doing and embrace working with us with open arms, and the press exposure we have received to date has been amazing – but marketing to a wider audience of people outside the industry is difficult, and is something we know will continue to challenge us.

I understand that you are also a stylist. Can you tell us a bit about your work as a stylist? How do you juggle your various roles? Does your work as a stylist give you a different perspective when creating content for the magazine?
I think my work as a stylist gives me a different perspective as an editor – I look at the wardrobe first and that’s a typical stylist trait – whereas my Beauty Editor will go straight for the make-up – and ultimately you need that balance on the editing panel to really build a beautiful product. It’s my understanding of future trends and commercial opportunities within retail that help me build the magazine into something that not only tells a beautiful story, but ensures it’s supporting the industry in its endeavours.

I have worked with various industry professionals and seen all the aspects of how the industry works, from photoshoots to runway shows and working with brands on their route to market. That gives me a well-rounded approach to my work.

I would certainly say that the word ‘juggling’ is appropriate when describing how I manoeuvre my way around my various roles, but I wouldn’t change it for the world and I think that’s what makes me appreciate my down time even more.

Boyfriend magazineCan you describe a typical working day for you? What do you enjoy the most about your job, and what are some of the more difficult aspects of your work?
A typical working day for me starts at about 6am. I usually spend the first half hour of my day answering emails before getting myself ready for the day. I then find my days to be very diverse, some can be spent working with retailers operationally as this has been a strength of mine even before I was styling, or I could be on a photoshoot, or even running around the city between PR appointments and editors meetings – no two days are ever the same and that makes it even more exciting!

I do, however, have a routine of getting home and for the last hour or two of the day, I will go over the graphic design elements and layouts of the upcoming issue and any online exclusives we’re releasing, and I’ll make notes of any amendments etc. I find this is the best time of the day for me to do this for some reason.

Do you have a good relationship with PRs? What top tips would you give to PR professionals who want to work with you?
We have some great relationships with some fab PRs, but we know there are even more relationships to build and we look forward to expanding our network even further.

I would simply ask any PRs that want to work with us, to really consider our magazine’s concept, and be open to collaborations that you normally wouldn’t have thought of, because that’s the beauty of our focus on talent and not credits.

What type of press material are you interested in receiving?
We are currently receiving a variety of press materials to create some diverse content for our readers, which includes but is not limited to beauty and hair products, fashion products, lookbooks, news and updates including fashion, beauty, lifestyle and entertainment, and anything else that you feel may be relevant to our zine – we will always strive to get back to you and let you know if it’s something we feel will work for us so get in touch!

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Aaron Mark and his new magazine are both listings in the Vuelio Media Database along with thousands of other blogs, vlogs, outlets and opportunities.

Pembroke and Rye

Pembroke and Rye’s Charlie Hampton on how PRs can take advantage of silly season

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Silly season is the period in August when Parliament is on Summer Recess, many people are on holiday and less serious stories fill up the news agenda. While some items may be frivolous, silly season provides a great opportunity for PRs to fill column inches and score some excellent coverage for their brands and clients.

Charlie Hampton, chief client officer at Pembroke and Rye, has over 20 years’ experience in communications and now oversees the agency’s account strategies – delivering programmes for companies ranging from Panasonic to Canadian Affair. We spoke to Charlie about his approach to silly season and what PRs should do to score a summer success.

What kind of stories do well during silly season?
The relative shortage of political and business news during silly season means that stories in these two areas tend to do well. Just look at huge number of column inches that Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn have received in the past couple of weeks.

That said, the reduction in these types of story creates more space in the media overall, so many outlets have more capacity than usual for stories of any kind.

The drop in political and business news is partially rebalanced by stories such as celeb holiday news – which seems to be everywhere at this time of year! – so competition to place celeb-related stories during silly season remains as high as ever.

How does your pitching/media outreach change during silly season?
We don’t step back from pitching stories during silly season but do sometimes look to place stories that are less time-specific – especially business stories – as the media may have more space to consider them than at other times of the year.

Our media outreach changes a bit as many journalists are on holiday, and therefore working to longer lead times and deadlines, so we look to develop stories further in advance wherever possible.

What are the benefits of getting coverage when the news agenda is quieter?
In a nutshell, you have the potential to achieve wider and deeper coverage for stories than might be possible at other times of the year. A story that might result in a nib in October, could well be an article of several paras in August.

This enables comms professionals to create a bigger impact for their clients, driving greater recognition and engagement with their key stakeholder groups.

We saw this all too clearly in recent weeks when a story we’d developed on behalf of an aerospace client about a new location with the creation of new jobs was very widely covered in the industry, business and local media, and to a greater extent than would have happened after silly season.

 

Need to reach the media during silly season? Get Vuelio. 

Five Things: influencer marketing, Google in China, Alex Jones, Scottish papers and Heat

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While everyone in the office is trying the Dele Alli challenge (easy when you know how), here are the stories you probably missed, but shouldn’t have.

This week, Five Things includes the CMA influencer marketing investigation, Google staff protesting censorship plans, Alex Jones banned (again), Scottish papers to merge and 1,000 Heat magazines.

 

1. CMA launches influencer marketing investigation

CMA influencer marketingThe Competition and Markets Authority has launched an investigation into celebrities and social media stars who aren’t disclosing paid-for content. The CMA has identified the practice as a major issue and has written to a number of users to find out how they are working with PRs and brands.

We spoke to leading industry experts to gauge their reaction to the announcement, with the overwhelming response being in favour of anything that standardises practices across content creators and their collaborators.

 

2. Google staff protest China plans

CensorshipOver 1,000 Google employees have signed a letter to protest the company’s plans to a build a censored search engine for the Chinese market.

As reported by The Guardian, the letter calls for executives to review the company’s ethics and transparency – the latter point referencing the secrecy of the project codenamed Dragonfly. Google staff demand to know what they are building and why.

Google, which left China in 2010 due to censorship and ‘state-sponsored hacks’, has made only vague references to the project and claims it is ‘not close to launching a search app in China’.

 

3. Alex Jones banned from Twitter

Alex jonesObviously wanting its own headline in Five Things, Twitter waited a week to join every other major social network in banning right-wing conspiracy theorist, and Info Wars owner, Alex Jones. The platform appeared in last week’s edition defending its decision to leave Alex Jones’ account running as he hadn’t broken any rules.

Now the account has now been considered to have broken to rules against abusive behaviour but the punishment is small; Alex Jones has only been banned for one week and a majority of his tweets remain on the platform. The Independent suggested Twitter, which often faces criticism for its handling of abusive users, was responding in the most ‘minimal way it possibly could’.

 

4. Daily and Sunday paper to merge

HeraldsGlasgow’s Herald is merging its editorial team with the Sunday Herald, as the publisher seeks to save on costs. Plans being mooted include rebranding the Sunday Herald as the Herald on Sunday, and making the papers share the same editorial line and broadsheet format.

As The Guardian points out, The Sunday Herald was the only paper to back independence in the referendum, a move which saw the paper’s readership double in 2014. It has since declined, though, as many pro-independence campaigners accuse the paper of turning on the cause.

The news is just the latest blow to the print industry, which continues to suffer in the digital age.

 

5. 1,000 Heat magazines

100 issueHeat magazine is celebrating its 1,000th issue this week with a bumper edition, including a mini mag that features all the original content from its first issue in 1999. While the magazine boasted a massive print circulation of nearly 600,000 copies back in its 2006 heyday, now it has fallen to less than 120,000.

However, as the Press Gazette reports, thanks to its app, radio station, website and social platforms, the brand claims to reach 4.3m, keeping it relevant to a modern audience.

Marking the thousandth issue, a Heat spokesperson said: ‘Like the Queen and a cup of builder’s tea, Heat is a much-loved British institution – and one that has entertained millions of loyal readers over the years and is still going strong, outperforming our competitors on a weekly basis.’

 

Did we miss something? Let us know on Twitter.

CMA investigation

CMA investigates influencer marketing

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The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into celebrities and social media stars who are not disclosing paid-for posts. If the CMA determines that influencer marketing is regularly breaking consumer law, it can take enforcement action and tighten up the rules.

The use of influencer marketing is on the rise; according to last year’s CIPR State of the Profession research, more than half (52%) of public relations professionals now spend most or some of their time working on influencer relations.

Ethics is a huge area of concern in influencer marketing, whether it’s not disclosing paid-for posts or buying fake followers to swell numbers – as Scott Guthrie, freelance influencer marketing consultant, discusses here.

As the CMA explains: ‘Online endorsements from celebrities and influencers can help brands reach target audiences and boost sales. Where influencers are paid or rewarded to promote, review or talk about a product in their social media feeds, consumer protection law requires that this must be made clear.

‘If they do not label their posts properly, fans or followers may be led to believe that an endorsement represents the star’s own view, rather than a paid-for promotion.’

As part of its investigation, the CMA has written to celebrities and social media influencers to gather more information about their posts and the nature of their agreements with brands and PRs. It has also welcomed contributions from the public, especially anyone who has made a commercial decision based on a social media post – you can contribute to the investigation here.

Industry reaction
The CIPR has welcomed the announcement. Alastair McCapra, CIPR chief executive, said: ‘Influencers’ endorsements must always be clearly labelled. The public have a right to distinguish between authentic and paid-for endorsements. PR professionals need to be aware that working with influencers who fail to declare a paid-for endorsement is a breach of our Code of Conduct.

‘PR practitioners have a responsibility to their clients, the profession and the public to place ethics at the heart of all they do. I’d urge anyone unsure of the rules to contact the CIPR or the CMA for guidance.’

In the recent Vuelio Webinar: ‘How to improve your influencer relations’, Anne-Marie Lacey, managing director of Filament PR and Debbie Sharratt, independent PR practitioner and blogger at My Boys Club discussed this very topic, explaining why everyone needed to be using the ASA guidelines and disclosing paid-for collaborations.

Commenting on the CMA announcement, Anne-Marie said: ‘As PR professionals, it’s our job to protect the reputations of the brands we work with. At Filament PR, we’re leading the way when it comes to guiding our clients through the minefield that is influencer marketing, showing them what best practice looks like and teaching them how to successfully implement campaigns that work, while still adhering to the ASA guidelines and CAP Code.

‘A huge part of building brand trust is about integrity and transparency when engaging with a brand’s audience through all communication touch points. We welcome the CMA investigation if its outcomes will be clear-to-follow guidelines that can be implemented by PRs and the influencers they engage with, allowing brands to build their reputation online without misleading its audience. Ultimately, this is in everyone’s best interests – comms professionals, brands, bloggers and other influencers too.’

Debbie said: ‘Working as both a PR and a blogger I am very aware of the importance of being both professional and ethical. Influencer marketing and PR is a hugely exciting discipline and brings many benefits to brands, organisations, bloggers and, most importantly, the consumer.

‘However, this developing industry does need to continually look at its practices and evaluate how they impact on its reputation and further success. I very much welcome any developments that make honest disclosure a simple process that is both clear and transparent, building strong relationships between all parties involved based on trust.’

The need for an association?
The investigation raises further questions over the needs for standards across the entire blogging industry, which would be much easier to implement through a centralised association. Parenting bloggers John Adams, of Dad Blog UK, and Tim Liew, of Slouching Towards Thatcham, have both written guest posts for Vuelio advocating the need for a bloggers association.

In John’s post, he specifically suggested an association could produce a code of conduct, which members would have to follow, that would include elements such as disclosing paid-for content.  Commenting on the CMA investigation, John said: ‘So long as the aim is to create a level playing field between print and online media, this investigation is to be welcomed and I would be delighted to contribute to it.

‘This is an area creating intense debate and interest among the general public. There’s a clear need for bloggers and content creators to be open and transparent. At present this doesn’t always happen, and it leads to a lack of trust. I hope this investigation will result in the production of clear rules or guidelines that anyone using social media on a commercial basis can and will adhere to.’

Tim, who wrote in his post that, ‘The individual interests of bloggers, brands and agencies alike would benefit from a body whose role it is to look after our collective interests, raise professional standards and support new entrants’, also welcomes the investigation.

He said: ‘I’d welcome any investigation that leads to pragmatic standards that are easy to understand for influencers, brands and consumers alike. As influencers, our relationships with our followers are built on authenticity and transparency.  Anything that helps to build trust can only be a positive.’

Vuelio supports the need for an industry association and a code of conduct that makes collaborations between brands and influencers more transparent, ethical and ultimately successful for all interested parties. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on Twitter @Vuelio.

Nursing Times

Interview with the new Nursing Times editor, Steve Ford

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Steve Ford was recently appointed editor at Nursing Times. Having previously worked as the news editor at the publication, Steve speaks to us about stepping into the editor’s shoes, the future of Nursing Times, traditional and social media trends, and going to the same primary school as Russell Brand! 

How are you settling into your role as editor at Nursing Times? What is a typical working day like for you?
It’s been great so far. It’s a brand I know well and am passionate about, having previously been news editor for quite a few years. Being in the editor’s chair brings new challenges but also lots of opportunities. We’ve got a lot done in terms of improvements, especially to the website, over the last couple of months. But it’s an ongoing journey.

My typical day involves many meetings – both internal and external – lots of problem solving and communication, some editing and possibly writing the odd leading article.

What are some of the best things about your job? What are some of the more challenging aspects?
Being the editor of a publication with such a rich history and feeling like my team and I are supporting a profession that really matters is a rare opportunity in publishing. It’s also exciting being the editor of brand that is doing well – touch wood – but that also has so much potential.

Rarely having enough time to do as much as I want to do in a day or week is a challenge.

What role does social media have to play in your work? How do you engage your audience?
It is a vital and increasingly important tool for telling people about our content and engaging with our audience. I, alongside the Nursing Times brand, mainly use three platforms – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. I mainly use my personal Twitter account for work, but we have corporate accounts across all three as well.

What can we expect from Nursing Times over the next 12 months or so?
Our usual great quality clinical, news and opinion content – but with a slightly sharper, more campaigning edge and backed with more strategic use of social media. You should also notice increased integration between the different types of content that we produce, so that it complements each other. In addition, we might dip our toe into trying to develop some audio-visual packages.

Are there any trends you are noticing/can predict?
A tough question. We’ve been on a journey over the last decade from being entirely print focused to becoming very digitally focused, but now find ourselves using the two very much to complement each other. Whether this continues will depend on what our readers tell us they want, as with all things.

Generally, we are seeing social media become the new place where news breaks and engagement takes place – how traditional media adapts to this will be both interesting and key to its survival. Social media moguls could become the new media moguls full stop. It remains to be seen whether the tabloids will survive the transition.

What advice would you give to PR professionals who want to work with you?
Write me an email clearly setting out why you think your press release or other pitch is important to my readers. If I don’t get back to you after you’ve sent a follow-up reminder email, then take it as likely that it’s not the right fit for Nursing Times. Call me if you know me. If it’s a clinical news release, where possible include a quote from a specialist nurse as well as all the usual doctors.

What type of press material are you interested in receiving?
Anything of interest to nurses and the nursing profession really. That can be about a range of subjects – policy and guidance on workforce, education and regulation, or best practice, clinical research and local innovation. We are interested in writing and commissioning news, opinion pieces and clinical articles; but not really features or case studies.

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That squat bot

That Squat Bot – a brand new entry in the Top 10 Fitness Ranking

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Sarah Harradine writes That Squat Bot, which recently joined the Top 10 UK Fitness and Exercise Blogs. Covering workouts, strength training and Crossfit, That Squat Bot is the one-stop-shop for all things fitness no matter what your level. We caught up with Sarah to find out what exercises newbies should learn first, why regular exercise is more important than heavy exercise and why working in-depth with brands is the way forward.

What keeps you interested in blogging?
It gives me a real opportunity to learn and try new things, as whenever I want to write about something I like to research as much as possible, so my content can be used by beginners and more experienced people alike. In a weird way I miss researching essays for uni, and blogging helps me scratch that itch.

At what age do you think you’re fittest?
It depends – the age where you can balance out sleep, stress, strength training, eating enough and moving enough. For some of us this could be 21, for others it could be 61. So far in my life I was ‘traditionally’ fittest at around 28, but I was also stressed and eating too little! I hope my fittest years are yet to come.

How easy is it for someone to incorporate fitness into your daily routine?
It should be achievable for most of us to add in a 30-minute brisk walk or low-impact home workout into each day. Doing something consistently is more important than going all-out once a week or less.

What exercises would you suggest someone starts with if they’re just starting out?
I would always suggest you learn to squat, hinge, push and pull. Once you’ve got the movement patterns nailed, add some weight.

What’s your favourite healthy snack?
Mangoes, pomegranates and watermelon, or anything with peanut butter!

What one thing should PRs and brands know about you?
I also work in health and fitness marketing, so I like to ensure the campaigns I work on are fair for all parties involved. I also like a list of deliverables to follow when creating content for a brand – it prevents ambiguity around what the brand really wants.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
I have a collaboration coming out soon with a big running brand that I’m really proud of, not least because we spent over eight hours filming it in a very sweaty room on the hottest day of the year so far! I also absolutely loved walking the Camino de Santiago with G Adventures last year.

Do you think your relationship with PRs and brands is changing over time?
I find that I’m working more deeply with fewer PRs – I love doing as much as I can when I have a great relationship with an agency or individual at the agency.

Reach-the-right-influencers-with-the-Vuelio-media-database

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
I think that we’re certainly on the cusp of needing some set guidelines for the industry. Many new bloggers are taken advantage of by companies, and some bloggers use underhand tactics to try and get ahead.

What other blogs do you read?
I love Carly Rowena, Imperfect Matter, Keep It SimpElle and Break The Loop!

Sarah and That Squat Blog is listed in the Vuelio Influencer Database along with thousands of other blogs, vlogs, outlets and opportunities.

Daily Mail

Dacre out, Greig in

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Paul Dacre has reportedly edited his last edition of the Daily Mail, months before his supposed November departure date. The Press Gazette also reports that Geordie Greig will take over earlier than planned in the role, becoming editor on 1 September.

Press Gazette questions whether Dacre will be given the official Fleet Street banging out, as some mail staff are calling his low-key departure a ‘soft exit’.

The change of editors has created a big question mark over the future editorial direction of the Daily Mail – the paper is one of the most vehemently pro-Brexit nationals, which is completely at odds with Greig’s remain stance.

Greig, who has already left his role of editor at the Mail on Sunday, received a custom front page from colleagues, which carried the headline: ‘You lot Remoan here. I’m heading for the Grexit!’, as well as the strapline: ‘Remainer-in-chief Geodie Greig’s farewell to his troops as he rides to the dark side.’

The Guardian reports that Grieg will ‘only gradually tone down the strident pro-Brexit agenda espoused by his predecessor’. Grieg apparently fears alienating readers, who have, for some 26 years, hungrily consumed Dacre’s idiosyncratic editorial line. There’s also concern about the wider political situation, which remains uncertain, and Greig will be wary of heavily supporting a political position when it could all change overnight.

The Guardian also reports that during Greig’s leaving drinks, he praised his Mail on Sunday colleagues’ efforts as ‘tireless and fearless’, ‘imaginative and persevering’ and ‘collegic’. The Guardian suggests the last point is an emphasis on teamwork that has never been associated with Dacre and his hierarchical management style.

To help support his slow and steady editorial transition, Greig has brought a number of staff from the Mail on Sunday with him: Gerard Greaves and Tobyn Andreae as his new deputies; Ruth Sunderland as financial editor; and Simon Walters – the Mail on Sunday’s political editor – as his assistant editor. Walters is considered to be closely attuned to Greig’s thinking and will be used to assert the new editorial line.

Whatever Greig does to the paper, he’s likely to have Dacre breathing down his neck now that the latter has ascended to become chairman and editor in chief of publisher DMG Media. Though Dacre won’t be directly involved in day-to-day decisions (especially now he has sold his remaining shares in the company), if readership figures start to slip, Dacre will be in a strong position to oppose Grieg’s changes.

Influencer Marketing

5 Influencer Marketing lessons from Scott Guthrie

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Influencer Marketing is now a vital part of any comms strategy but getting it wrong can be damaging for both your finances and your reputation. Scott Guthrie works with brands, agencies and platforms to generate meaningful results from influencer marketing and recently spoke to us about fake follower fraud.

Scott researched fake followers and discovered that not only could influencer fraud be a criminal offence, but few companies seem prepared to deal with it in an effective way.

So, how do you get it right? Here are 5 influencer marketing lessons from Scott:

1. Don’t just focus on audience size
Sure, size matters, but is it the most useful way of finding the best influencers for your campaign? Scott says: ‘The relevance of an influencer’s following to your brand and key messages is more important.’

Scott discusses the need to comprehensively vet your influencers, judging things like tone of voice and their alignment with your brand values – as well as using all the other measurable metrics that may be helpful. If you use the Vuelio Influencer Database, you can use the Influencer Score that draws on over 40 data points to create a more comprehensive view of genuine influence, saving you a lot of leg work.

 

2. Use micro influencers
This follows on from audience size – just because someone is Insta famous, doesn’t mean their engagement rate is any good. Scott says: ‘Brands looking to encourage high engagement rates for their influencer work should focus on a micro influencer strategy.’

Not only are they more likely to have a more engaged audience, they’re also likely to be cheaper so your budget can go further and take in more influencers. A word of warning though, proper vetting takes time so don’t forget this in your planning stage.

 

3. Sponsored content needs to be high quality and infrequent
Many influencers on Instagram have found the official #ad or #spon hashtags, which identify paid-for content, have less traction and reach – possibly falling foul of the network’s shadow ban. Scott says: ‘The drop-in engagement rates is because the paid-for content posted fails to meet certain criteria’. The criteria are that adverts are clearly labelled (so the audience isn’t hoodwinked); the content is good quality; and there’s a ratio of at least 3:1 in favour of organic over paid-for content on the influencer’s feed.

It’s worth considering all three of these points when looking at a potential collaborator’s previous posts.

 

4. Pictures should be realistic and representative
Filters, editing and post-production look out! Scott says: ‘Image manipulation will be scrutinised more closely. Using post-production techniques that exaggerate the effects of an advertised product could mislead.’

Make sure your pictures are accurate because existing advertising rules from the regulators applies to content whether it’s on TV, in print or online. And if you’ve paid for the content, you could be responsible for its accuracy.

 

5. Prepare now, because it’s coming anyway
The influencer marketing industry is already rife with unethical behaviour, but this cannot last. Scott says: ‘A commercial imperative for tangible results from brands alongside influencers’ audiences heightened demand for high-quality content will force a maturation of the influencer marketing industry.’

He believes the future will only have space for social media influencers that produce thoughtful, creative content and the rest will fall by the wayside. Working ethically isn’t something you should see as a chore, but a means to build your influencer marketing strategy so it lasts long into the future.

 

Need help with influencers? You need the Vuelio influencer Database.

Five things you shouldn't have missed

Five Things: Alex Jones, online TV, Twitter Tories, Queen portraits and Ed Balls

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This week’s Five Things You Shouldn’t Have Missed includes a high profile social media ban, the rise of online TV, the very shy Tories, Australians going mad for portraits of the Queen and Ed Balls being Tased. Scroll to the end for that video.

1. Social media bans Alex Jones

Alex jones

Alex Jones, the far-right US conspiracy theorist who owns InfoWars, has been banned from nearly every major social media platform. Apple removed five podcasts by Jones and Infowars, a move which was almost immediately followed by Facebook unpublishing four pages run by Jones, YouTube deleting his account and Spotify removing all of his podcasts.

Of the major platforms, only Twitter has left Jones untouched. Co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted his explanation:

The other platforms all claimed violations of some sort against their company rules, often linked to hate speech or glorifying violence, apart from YouTube who banned Jones because he ignored a 90-day ban.

The move has sparked a ‘free speech’ debate in the US, where the first amendment is held in high regard and often creates confusion for people who don’t understand that the right to free speech does not include the right to be listened to.

 

2. Online TV use soars

Online TV

Nearly half of all adults have watched Netflix, Now TV, Amazon Prime Video or a similar service in the last three months. The data comes from the Office for National Statistic’s Internet Access and Use report.

The huge rise, up from 29% in 2016, compounds the findings from last week’s Ofcom Communications Market Report 2018, which found that the revenue for online TV continues to rise, now up to £2.3bn from £1.8bn.

Other findings from the ONS report show that weekly internet use is broadly the same year-on-year; the number of over 65s shopping online has trebled in the last decade; 25% of adults who use smartphones do not have smartphone security; and 70% of employed adults need computer skills for their job.

Oh, and yes, you do recognise the woman in the middle of the above picture.

 

3. Are there Tories on Twitter?

TM MP PM

MPs from all political parties are on Twitter, with nearly every MP having their own account on the platform. Some MPs’ party allegiance is easier to identify than others, which hasn’t escaped the notice of Gizmodo’s Gavin Whenman, who trawled through every single MP account to find out if they declared their party in their bio.

Nearly every party has proud members: 100% of MPs from the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and Green party identify their party in their bio, as well as 91% of MPs in Labour and the SNP. In Northern Ireland, 89% of the DUP declare and 85% of Sinn Fein do.

So, what about the Tories?

Just 42% of Conservative MPs declare their party affiliation on Twitter. Whenman posits a number of theories, suggesting they keep it secret because Twitter abuse in the run up to last year’s election was mostly directed at Tory candidates, or perhaps they hide it on purpose in order to hoodwink people into sharing their content.

Whatever the explanation, Twitter is clearly now home to the Shy Tories.

 

4. Australians request portraits of the Queen

Duke of Edinburgh

Australia has official rules that allow citizens to request ‘nationhood’ material from their MP. This material may be an Australian flag, a recording of the national anthem or portraits of the head of state – Queen Elizabeth II. It seems this was a little known rule until a Vice story exposed it and now hundreds of Australians have made requests for portraits of the Queen.

MPs’ staff have been busy fulfilling orders that also include portraits of the Duke of Edinburgh. Tim Watts MP said most requests for portraits of the Queen were due to a case of ‘excellent trolling’. Terri Butler MP said: ‘I’ve been talked out of providing a photo of Beyoncé to constituents whose correspondence does not adequately particularise their request for a picture of the Queen’.

In other news, it’s silly season.

 

5. Ed Balls getting Tased

Ed Balls

Did we mention it was silly season?

Vuelio Blog awards

Get your tickets to the Vuelio Blog Awards

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The Vuelio Blog Awards are the biggest celebration of bloggers, vloggers, Instagrammers, social media stars and content creators in the UK. Taking place on 30 November, the Vuelio Blog Awards are now selling tickets, so get yours today.  

EntertainmentFollowing exceptional feedback from 2017, the Vuelio Blog Awards are returning to the Bloomsbury Big Top, a magical venue that promises to wow guests along with our live entertainment, death-defying acts(!) and the most delectable dishes this side of the Michelin guide.

Whether you work in PR, communications or marketing, the Vuelio Blog Awards present an unrivalled opportunity for you to rub shoulders with the biggest names and brightest stars in the ‘influencer’ (if you’ll excuse the term) community.

Last year’s finalists had a social following of over 18 million people, which is more than the combined daily circulation of every national newspaper and doesn’t factor their reach on their own platforms – the award-winning blogs.

Unsurprisingly, the event is a top trend on Twitter every year – so you’re guaranteed to be at an event that means something, with people that have the power to make you famous!

Single tickets are available as well as full tables of 10. Find out more about tickets and pick the option that’s right for you here.

If you’re a blogger, vlogger, instagrammer, facebooker, tweeter, snapchatter, pinterester, writer, content creator or influencer (some people do call themselves this) and wondering where you get your tickets – you have two options. You can either secure your place at the event by purchasing a ticket OR wait until later this month to enter the blogger ballot – which will be open to any and all wonderful creators.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns – get in touch or tweet us @Vuelio.

Love Island

Love Island USA

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The cult phenomenon, Love Island, is going stateside following the announcement that ITV has sold the rights to CBS. In a further boon to the broadcaster, the new series will be produced by ITV Entertainment.

The show’s appeal to international broadcasters is almost certainly down to its ability to regularly attract a 16-34 year-old audience; ITV claims the show was watched at some point in its series by almost half of the age group. The final episode, which saw Dani Dyer and Jack Fincham crowned winners, had a peak audience of 3.6m on ITV2, a record for the channel.

Sharon Vuong, senior vice president, alternative programming at CBS said: ‘Love Island has been a massive success overseas. It’s currently seen, or about to premiere in several European countries as well as Australia, and we’re thrilled that ITV has partnered with us to bring their most successful show to American television.

‘Having seen the reaction of audiences across the pond and around the world to this most recent season, we expect American viewers will be captivated by this engaging format. Additionally, Love Island is more than a pop sensation; this series has generated compelling ‘sociological think pieces’ in major publications here and abroad.’

As The Guardian reports, past series of UK Love Island are already shown on American catch-up service Hulu, where it has ‘attracted a cult audience and baffled interest from highbrow US media outlets’. The Washington Post decided Americans were attracted ‘by the Britishness of it all’.

David George, CEO of ITV America – which owns ITV Entertainment – said: ‘As a format, Love Island breaks the mould with high levels of viewer interactivity and participation that influence the content of the show in a way that’s extremely addictive. It’s a cultural phenomenon that builds anticipation with every episode and creates appointment viewing – a pretty hard thing to do in today’s TV landscape. We’re ecstatic the show has found a home at CBS and look forward to working collaboratively to engage its millions of viewers.’

Several foreign editions of the show are already running, or scheduled, around the world, all of which are produced by ITV. Love Island Australia launched this year and ‘broke viewing figures’ and became the ‘most streamed programme in Australian history besides sporting events’. Germany also has a successful version, while local versions will launch later this year in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland.

How to create an award winning campaign II

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How do you create an award-winning campaign that challenges consumer perceptions?

Creative PR specialist Tin Man knows how – as its recent win at the CIPR Excellence Awards shows. Its #ISeeMore campaign tackled the challenge of getting young girls to consider careers in engineering for The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

Join Mandy Sharp, founder and CEO of Tin Man, and Hannah Kellett, External Communications Manager, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, as they explain why the campaign worked, what it takes to win awards and what lessons can be taken from their success.

Award Winning Campaign II

Scott Guthrie

Influencer marketing: Fake Follower fraud, influencer metrics and #ad

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Influencer marketing is on the rise, with more money and interest than ever before. But as bloggers, vloggers and Instagrammers become established career options, how easy is it to sort quality collaborators from those attempting to make a quick buck?

Unethical practices exist throughout the industry, with both influencers and PRs accused of wrongdoing. There is also a great deal of confusion from brands over what constitutes quality ROI and why high follower counts don’t always lead to killer results.

Scott Guthrie is the former Ketchum digital director – influencer relations, and now works with brands, agencies and platforms to generate meaningful results from influencer marketing. Scott is also one the Top 10 UK PR Bloggers, writing about industry analysis, insight and best practice guides at sabguthrie.info.

We spoke to Scott to find out more about why buying fake followers could be a crime, what metrics PRs and brands should be using when working with collaborators and why #ad is proving problematic for the whole industry.

You’ve recently been researching how buying fake followers is fraud – what did you learn?
I learned three things from researching the realities of influencer fraud:

  1. Influencer fraud is more than reputationally damaging and ethically unsound, it might also be a criminal offence. If a social media influencer buys followers with the intention of misleading an organisation into paying them to promote a product, they could be breaching the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008. Acting in this way could also potentially be considered fraud.
  2. Influencer fraud appears to be new territory for the organisations I spoke with. Each spokesperson was very obliging and extremely knowledgeable about their specific area of expertise, but it appeared to be the first time they had been asked this question.
  3. The process is complicated. Brands and consumers have a steep learning curve ahead if they want to bring wayward influencers to book through legal recourse. It might be an easier approach to spend time in the effective selection, vetting and onboarding phases when finding the most appropriate influencers for their programmes

I dig into the topic in my article Influencer fraud could be criminal offence.

 

Why are fake followers such a problem for brands and PRs looking to work with big names?
Simply put: fake followers don’t buy stuff. At its core, influencer marketing works because, as consumers, we find influencers more relatable than brands speaking at us via social media.

The essence of an influencer’s power lies in their ability to either alter the behaviours or change the opinions of their following. If their audience is fake they will not have the ability to influence.

Of course, fake followers only become a problem when you choose influencers based on audience size alone.

Obsessing over fake followers is to look at the wrong end of influencer marketing’s problem. Communicators should focus instead on the impact not the outputs of their influencer marketing campaigns.   

 

How can you check if someone has bought followers, colludes with others or otherwise operates unethically?
You can weed influencers with fake followers by checking:

  • Sudden spikes in their follower figures
  • Quality of the follower (i.e. are their followers’ bios fully filled out? Do they have followers in their own right?)
  • Average engagement rates (separately & combined organic content vs paid-for content). Engagement rates either well below or well above average for the platform and vertical might point to bought or colluded engagement.
  • Followers in surprising countries
  • Amount of content published vs number of followers (i.e. high follower count but low content output)

Weeding out fake followers is just one part of a thorough vetting process. Vetting takes a blend of algorithm doing the heavy lifting augmented with the contextual intelligence of a PR professional to do the job effectively.

There is no denying that thorough vetting and selecting influencers takes time. But it should be considered in the long term. A lot of the time, effort and therefore costs for influencer marketing is front loaded. The costs decrease proportionally the longer the brand and influencer relationship endures. You get better results, too, when brand and influencer build trust over the long run. This is a win for brand, influencer and – of course – consumer.

 

What metrics should PRs be focusing on when selecting influencers for campaigns?
The metrics to focus on depend on the communications and business objectives you’re working towards. Sure, audience size has an impact, but the relevance of that following to your brand and key messages is more important. As is how both influencer and audience interact with each other through comments, likes, shares and other engagement.

Selecting the most appropriate influencer for your brand requires both hard and soft skills. Beyond metrics you also need to check their tone of voice and brand values. Do theirs mesh with those of your brand’s? Has the potential influencer ever worked with your competitor? Do they work with any other brands? If so, how many? I’ve explored how to vet influencers in earlier articles.

 

How important are micro influencers compared with macro influencers for different campaigns?
Average engagement rates on brand-sponsored posts decline as influencer account sizes rise. Brands looking to encourage high engagement rates for their influencer work should focus on a micro influencer strategy.

Also, while influencer account size remains the main yardstick for agreeing fees, a micro-influencer strategy gives you more bang for your buck. However, a note of caution: marshalling micro influencers at scale requires greater coordination and management from PR practitioners – and therefore cost. You also have to make a risk assessment when considering the thoroughness of the vetting process for each micro Influencer.

 

Many influencers don’t like using advert labels (eg #ad or #spon) because it lowers engagement – what advice do you have for them?
I get asked this question a lot. I am an advisor for CampaignDeus, which has produced some interesting research recently on Instagram posts. It found there is a significant negative variance when using an admarker on paid-for content versus organic content.

The variance widens depending on the admarker used. The most popular admarker is #ad with over 60% of posts containing this hashtag. This admark also has the lowest negative impact on engagement rate. Instagram’s Paid Partnership fares the worse. This hashtag reduces engagement rates by over 30%.

However, it’s my contention that, as consumers, we don’t have an issue with advertorial and sponsored content on three provisos:

  1. We don’t feel hoodwinked into thinking the content is organic — i.e. admarks are used effectively
  2. The content is good quality; it educates, informs or entertains us
  3. We’re not inundated with paid-for content – our favourite influencers produce a ratio of organic to paid-for content which we deem to be acceptable. This is probably no more than 1:3 sponsored to organic

The drop-in engagement rates is because the paid-for content posted fails at least one of these three criteria.

 

What else should influencers be aware of when working on paid-for content?
Image manipulation will be scrutinised more closely. Regulators’ codes require that advertising should not either mislead or exploit consumers credulity, inexperience or lack of knowledge. Using post-production techniques that exaggerate the effects of an advertised product could mislead. In an age of ubiquitous image filters and smartphone-ready editing apps there is scope for influencers to mislead consumers inadvertently or by design.

 

Will the issues of unethical practices between PRs, brands and influencers be resolved or do you think it’s too late?
Exposing unethical practices is great news for the influencer marketing discipline. After all, sunlight is the best disinfectant.

A commercial imperative for tangible results from brands alongside influencers’ audiences heightened demand for high-quality content will force a maturation of the influencer marketing industry. Social media influencers who produce thoughtful, creative sponsored content will do well in the new results-driven era of influencer marketing. The rest will need to find new careers.

Anyway, from a brand’s point-of-view what’s the alternative? We hate banner ads, pop ups and search ads.

 

Want to work with bloggers, vloggers, Instagrammers, content creators and influencers in the right way? You need the Vuelio Influencer Database. 

BBC

BBC spends £2.5m to hire PR agencies for licence fee promotion

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The Times reports that the BBC is spending £2.5m to hire six PR agencies that will ‘promote the licence fee and spell out the consequences of non-payment’.

The BBC has put out a tender for six regions, with successful agencies representing their geographical area. The regions are: London and the South East, Midlands and East Anglia, Northern England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Drum reports that the agencies will be tasked with ‘fielding enquiries from journalists as well as placing stories in local papers about who must purchase a licence by law or face a £1,000 penalty’.

The successful pitches will also be required to promote campaigns on ‘Twitter and beyond’.

The Times suggests the £2.5m is an unnecessary cost as it is the equivalent of 16,000 TV licences and TV Licensing already has a devoted press team, as does the BBC.

A spokesperson from TV Licensing said: ‘The work of the agencies and the BBC’s TV Licensing communications team has been proven to bring in more money from TV licence sales than it costs.

‘Those working on TV Licensing communications perform a completely different job to the BBC press office, including spending half their time on working with stakeholders such as money advice organisations to help people pay their licence.

‘We will, as always, be looking for the best value for money in the procurement and we have kept the cost of these contracts down at the same level for the last decade.’

Francis Ingham MPRCA, director general, PRCA, said: ‘The BBC is absolutely right to invest in agency support as it seeks to maximise revenue and to remind viewers of their legal responsibilities.

‘Money spent well on PR and communications activity delivers a significant ROI, and this commitment will undoubtedly repay itself several times over.

‘There is something frankly tiresome about this ignorant, kneejerk reaction to any public spend on communications. Not least as it comes from organisations and publications which almost invariably themselves have significant PR and marketing operations, and which therefore know that their apparent outrage is entirely fabricated and false.’