The Money Shed

Blogger Spotlight: Jonathan Gutteridge, The Money Shed

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Jonathan Gutteridge is the author of The Money Shed, which recently ranked in the Top 10 UK Personal Finance Blogs. The largest community websites focused on earning money online, The Money Shed helps people find home-based opportunities and shares experiences of making money in the digital world. We spoke to Jonathan about avoiding judgement, engaging his readership, working with PRs and his absolute favourite blogger.

How would you describe your blog?
The Money Shed is the UK’s largest community website dedicated to earning money from home. People can come to our site and instantly find out how to earn £1,000+ a month from home without any trouble. We have a community forum with over 100,000 posts on it as well, which is chocked full of thousands of UK members all talking about how they earn money from home.

Why did you start your blog?
I wanted to create an alternative to MoneySavingExpert. I wanted to create somewhere where people could ask questions and get helpful replies instantly to get them earning money as soon as possible. I wanted to create a culture that wasn’t just advising people to do surveys for pennies but would promote higher paying things such as Web Search Evalulator work or Risk Free Matched Betting .

What’s the biggest issue facing personal finance today?
Judgement. People made decisions a lot of the time because they are right for them at that point in their life. Sadly, that can come with a lot of judgement, either from their family or friends or from the banks. There’s sadly a real culture of looking down on people who are just trying to crawl their way out of debt in the best way they can.

How do you think Brexit, once enacted, will affect our finances in the UK?
Well it’s already affected our exchange rate with the Dollar. I remember working the night of Brexit and literally watching it nosedive as it became clear ‘out’ was going to win. Apart from that I just think it’s too difficult to say at the moment how it will change things financially, heck, not even the Government seem to know!

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What piece of advice would you give a young adult in relation to how they manage their money?
Make a spreadsheet. I know it sounds boring to anyone under 40 but visually being able to track where your money is going can really set you up for life. If spreadsheets really aren’t your thing then you can look at using one of the many money tracking smartphone apps around so you can keep on top of things.

How do you engage with your readership?
The forum is the number one place to find me. As the UK’s largest community site dedicated to earning from home, it is always busy but I personally connect with every new user who signs up to get an understanding of what drew them to The Money Shed and what I can do to help get them earning and improve their financial situation. On top of that I would say social media is a biggie, it can feel like you are on a conveyor belt sometimes trying to manage Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. all at once but it’s worth it when you connect with people and are able to help them out.

What makes your blog successful?
It’s been featured in The Sun, Daily Mail, The Mirror and all sorts of other places but I wouldn’t say that’s what makes successful. Instead I look at how many lives The Money Shed has been able to change. People have been able to have holidays or even just been able to afford the bills easier thanks to my site once they are shown how easy it is to earn a decent amount from home.

How do you like to work with PRs?
Always, until I get told there isn’t a budget and ‘others’ have worked for free and they sort of expected me to do the same. Lol.

What’s the one thing all PR pros should know about you?
That I don’t work for free but your content will get cross promoted across both our blog AND our forum so you get double the bang for your buck!

What other blogs do you read?
Slummy Single Mummy is probably the only regular one that I read every few days if only because I like to see her latest middle-class japes.

 

Jonathan Gutterridge and The Money Shed are just two entries on the Vuelio Influencer Database, which is the UK’s leading influencer database available to the PR and communications industries.

Tweeting

Everyone has #280characters

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Twitter has finally rolled out 280-character tweets across the platform, after trialling the initiative with a handful of users at the end of September. As with any change on social media, the general consensus is to be outraged – but some brands are making use of the new limit to have ‘fun’.

*unneccesary warning* this post is much longer than it would have been before the new 280-character limit.  

To check that your account has been accepted into the 280 club, either write a really long tweet or check for a little blue ring, which has replaced character count, when you write a new tweet. It should look like this:

280 characters

280 characters

280 characters

A character count appears for the final 20 characters and the ring then turns yellow:

280characters

When you hit zero and beyond, it turns red and your numbers become negative:

280 characters

Not everyone on Twitter is delighted with the change, and for many social media managers this is seen as ruining Twitter’s USP.

Our own social media manager, Kirsti Kauronen, said: ‘One of the main reasons Twitter became so successful was because of the brevity of posts – if you can’t say what you want in 140 characters (which I think is most people’s attention span anyway) you might begin to bore people and Twitter might not be the right platform for you.

‘From a communications perspective, I can see why many social media managers would be happy to avoid the everyday battle with the character limit but, personally, I’d prefer to keep it!’

Keeping to such a short limit encouraged creativity and so some are planning to stick to 140 characters:

For charities, and those that generally have more worth saying, the new limit is being welcomed (and used to make a point):

But for other brands, the new limit seems to be more of a challenging target to reach:

Of course, the new character limit explicitly ignores the only technical request users ever seem to make to Twitter. And so, this morning, the most popular tweet is variations on:

What do you think of Twitter’s new limit? Is it killing creativity, or have tweeters now got a chance to express themselves properly?

Politics

Today’s Political Headlines – 8 November 2017

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A round-up of the latest political headlines from the UK’s media, including Priti Patel, Brexit, Paradise Papers and the NHS. 

Priti Patel returns to London amid further accusations
Priti Patel, the International Development Secretary, is flying back to London, following further revelations about unauthorised meetings in Israel. The Times reports that she breached Government protocol by visiting the Golan Heights, had further unauthorised meetings after returning, and that Lord Polak, ‘a leading figure in a corporate lobbying group’, sat in on meetings. The Daily Telegraph claims that Priti Patel departed for Uganda earlier than originally planned yesterday, missing questions in Parliament.

Brussels says that the UK needs to concede to secure trade talks, banks warn of job moves and Government handling of negotiations faces public disapproval
The Guardian has been told by Brussels officials that there is less than a month for the UK to make a concession to secure trade talks. The Financial Times says that a group of large financial institutions warned the US commerce secretary that slow progress with Brexit planning and an unstable government may force them to move thousands of jobs out of London. The Daily Telegraph has a poll showing that the Government’s handling of Brexit negotiations has a 66% disapproval rating.

Paradise Papers revelations continue
The BBC and Guardian are continuing to publish revelations from the ‘Paradise Papers’. Recent revelations include that the Prince of Wales has a ‘conflict of interest’ (according to Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life) between his investments and his environmental lobbying, and the use of the Isle of Man as a tax haven, with Margaret Hodge suggesting that Lewis Hamilton should not receive a knighthood. The Times has revelations about the use of tax havens by Labour councils.

NHS will need £24bn more funding by 2022
The Guardian reports that Jim Mackey, Chief Executive of NHS Improvement, told the NHS Providers conference that the NHS in England could need as much as £24.2 billion more funding than currently pledged by 2022, or it will have to scale back services. A report produced by the King’s Fund found that ‘there will be a significant and growing gap between the resources given to the NHS and the demands it faces’.

Corbyn aide suspended
The Mirror says that David Prescott, Jeremy Corbyn’s aide and son of the former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has been suspended ‘amid the sexual harassment crisis’. He has not commented on the allegation, and the Labour Party would not comment on this specific case.

Carl Sargeant, former Welsh minister, found dead
Carl Sargeant, former Welsh communities secretary was found dead yesterday, after being sacked from his job and suspended from the Labour party on Friday following accusations about his behaviour. The BBC reports that Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones, is facing criticism about his handling of the situation.

Johnson says words were ‘taken out of context’ in Iranian prisoner remarks
The BBC reports on Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s said that his remarks about Nazanin Zagheri-Ratcliffe, currently imprisoned in Iran, were ‘taken out of context’ and that he intends to visit Iran to discuss the case before the end of the year. Her husband said that Johnson’s clarification was a ‘good thing’.

IFS warns of uncertainty surrounding Scottish income tax increases
According to The Daily Telegraph, research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies has found that Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s planned tax increases could backfire, with there being ‘a lot of uncertainty’ over whether more money would be raised. The Scottish Government said that it had considered ‘a range of potential revenue impacts’.

Get in touch for more information about Vuelio political services. 

Eva Thompson

Blogger Spotlight: Eva Thompson, Eva and Amelia’s World

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Eva Thompson writes Eva and Amelia’s world about the adventures she has with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Amelia. Recently featuring on the Top 10 UK Pet Blogs, Eva and Amelia’s World reviews style products and accessories. We spoke to Eva about the dog-friendly side of London, Amelia’s love of attention and forming friendships with PR professionals.

How would you describe your blog?
Our blog is very picture based, set with a white and light pink theme. I wanted to create more of a lifestyle magazine feel to it than a classic pet blog – a London lifestyle blog with your dog! We live in Knightsbridge and our blog features snippets of our daily life, where we like to go and so forth. We have had the pleasure of working with many companies since our launch this year and product reviews have taken centre stage! Our Instagram account and blog complement each closely.

Why did you start your blog?
Being a dog owner in London is wonderful as so many places are dog friendly. Particularly when you own a small dog it’s very easy to spend all day out with them in London without being turned away from shops or restaurants. I wanted to share my knowledge of dog-friendly locations with others.

What’s it like having a famous pet?
It’s such a joy! Every couple of days someone recognises Amelia and comes up to us wanting to stroke her. It’s very sweet. Some people have been too shy to come up to us directly and message us on Instagram later on to let us know they saw us today. It’s such an incredibly nice feeling to know people around the world know of Amelia and feel connected to her.

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How does your pet cope with the pressure?
Amelia loves being the centre of attention and meeting new people. As soon as the camera comes out she is excited and ready to pose! I think from her point of view every day is just a fun day of meeting people and receiving treats! Of course, when attending full day events or photoshoots it can be very tiring for both human and hound! We try to split up these long days by playing with her favourite ball and having a cuddle in a quiet spot.

What’s your favourite pet product?
I couldn’t live without our Teddy Maximus carrier. Amelia comes with me everywhere I go and it’s very convenient to have a bag with me for her. Whether it be rush hour on the tube or a bed on the go at a cafe having a stylish carrier makes all the difference!

Amelia in a bag

What’s your favourite post?  
My all-time favourite post is one of my first ones, ‘Valentine’s day with your dog’. This was the first post I had planned in my mind when starting our blog. It is set at Peggy Porschen in Belgravia, which has remained our signature spot.

How do you like to work with PRs?
Getting to work with PR companies is a privilege many don’t get to experience. Forming working relationships is based on trust. I like to be very honest and when this is returned from PR executives it forms a lasting working relationship.

What one thing PRs should know about you?
We are very organised. We like to have a clear idea of what is expected and in what time frame. I firmly believe that when both parties feel comfortable and in the know the relationship becomes more of a friendship.

What’s a memorable campaign you’ve worked on?
Amelia was chosen to promote the Just Eat Food Festival this year which was great fun! The team had organised a shoot with dog ice cream that Amelia got to enjoy while being photographed this past summer. We both had a fantastic time on set and at the event itself, thanks to her agent Layla at Urban Paws.

What other blogs do you read? 
A personal favourite of mine is South Molton St Style. Anna has an authentic voice you can relate to and Lopez, her adorable little dog, features in her blogs and Instagram alongside her.

 

Eva and her blog are just two entries on the Vuelio Influencer Database, which is the UK’s leading influencer database available to the PR and communications industries.

Marks and Spencer Christmas ad 2017

Tis the season to take on John Lewis

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Marks & Spencer is launching its Christmas advert this evening during the Pride of Britain awards. The Paddington-fronted #LoveTheBear campaign, goes beyond just a 90-second TV spot, with in-store product tie-ins, charitable fundraising and cross-channel promotion making it a campaign worthy of undisputed Christmas-advert king, John Lewis.

The association with Paddington will be seen in soft toys and duffle coats, just two of the 90 products M&S will sell in its campaign shops in 78 stores. The advert will play in cinemas before screenings of Paddington 2, released this week in UK cinemas.

M&S are also using the Paddington campaign to raise money for the NSPCC to fund its ChildLine service over Christmas, strengthening its family-friendly approach this year.

Turning a Christmas advert into an event has become John Lewis’ speciality and what’s surprising is how long it has taken competitors to catch up. John Lewis reportedly sold £2.5m of campaign-related goods in 2014 with its Monty the Penguin advert, and last year raised money for The Wildlife Trusts with its Buster the Boxer ad.

The biggest difference between this M&S campaign and previous John Lewis efforts, is that John Lewis doesn’t associate with existing products or ideas. Only time will tell if the Paddington relationship will pay off.

M&S are saying the campaign fits with its ‘Spend it Well’ philosophy launched earlier this year, which encourages customers to: ‘focus on the people, experiences and things that matter to them most, something that is never more important than at Christmas.’

It is even going as far as to encourage staff to carry out ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ in stores throughout December, which could include free marmalade sandwiches in cafes and ‘cheeky’ Paddington chocolates at the till.

Though M&S has the jump on John Lewis this year, it is by no means the first Christmas advert of 2017 with Argos, Asda, Aldi (with a welcome return for award-winning Kevin The Carrot) and Lidl’s ads already released. The advert schedule over Christmas could now rival Hollywood, as no one wants to be lost against the big one (ads: John Lewis, Films: Star Wars) but no one wants to go too early and peak too soon.

With the press coverage this Paddington advert has already received, and an organic trend on Twitter with #lovethebear, M&S may have found the sweet spot for 2017 success.

Sascha Taylor-Curtis

Blogger Spotlight: Sascha Taylor-Curtis, Beauty Geek UK

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Sascha Taylor-Curtis writes the top 10 beauty blog, Beauty Geek UK. Reviewing all the latest products, Beauty Geek UK has an expert focus on skincare. We caught up with Sascha to talk about the rise of Korean beauty, building relationships with PR pros and all of her favourite beauty blogs.

How would you describe your blog?
A six-year-old beauty and lifestyle blog with a special interest in problem skin that features passionate reviews on skincare and makeup, interspersed with features on lifestyle, health, life and being a mum.

Why did you start your blog?
I was trying so many different treatments and products to try and clear up my acne, with varying degrees of success. I wanted to share my experiences so that other people with similar issues would be able to make more informed decisions. That’s the main reason, but I also needed to find a way to justify spending horrendously large amounts on lipstick!

What’s the current beauty trend we should be aware of?
I think Korean beauty has been slowly gaining credit in the UK beauty market over the last few years, but it’s finally becoming a lot more mainstream, which is great news as it’ll hopefully take UK beauty in an exciting new direction. I also think colourful hair is now a lot more accessible thanks to more modern application techniques, so it isn’t just for the brave and the bold anymore; anyone can add a touch of peekaboo lilac or pink under the top layer of their hair.

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How does video fit in with your blog?
Every few months I decide to start vlogging, as it’s something I think that works so well alongside blogging, but it’s also something that I think you need to be very good at to make a success of, and I’m definitely much more comfortable with writing. Never say never, though!

What makes your blog successful?
I would like to think it’s because I provide detailed and honest features on what I perceive to be important and informative beauty news and reviews. I also think the fact that I talk honestly about my continuing battle with acne (at the age of 33) is useful for those struggling with similar concerns.

How do you like to work with PRs?
I really like to develop mutually beneficial relationships with PRs and I now count many of them as friends. I find the easiest way to work together is to be honest about what we want from each other and how we can deliver it. I also like to have regular catch-ups with PRs to find out what’s new as I find this a lot easier than events or e-mails.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
It might be obvious ,but I don’t always need product to feature a new release – if something is very exciting, I’ll want to share it with my readers as quickly as possible and will happily do that with press releases and imagery for reference.

What campaigns have you enjoyed working on?
I loved featuring Makeup Revolution when it first launched as it was so fresh and innovative. I also love to work with the guys at Deciem as they produce such inspiring products at an impressive rate, so there’s always something to get excited about and I love to feature their news. For me, though, the most exciting features are QVC ‘s TSVs [Today’s Special Values]; you can always feel the excitement surrounding them, especially as they’re often really amazing brands such as Elemis, Decleor, tarte and NIOD, and I always feel like sharing them with my readers develops a real buzz.

What other blogs do you read?
So, so many! I check my Bloglovin’ app at least ten times a day. Jane at British Beauty Blogger is great for breaking beauty stories (I especially love her beauty news updates), Ree at Really Ree is brilliant for product swatches, Laura at Laurzrah.com creates amazing imagery, as does Michelle at Thou Shalt Not Covet, and of course Temptalia is my beauty bible for whenever I want to start building a shopping list. Vicki at Let’s Talk Beauty gets the balance of beautiful pictures and detailed reviews just right, and finally, Laura at Laura Lou Makeup is a great ‘real’ makeup artist, by which I mean, she shows you exactly how to achieve certain looks and techniques which she demonstrates so that it appears entirely achievable, even if you’re like me and lack the skill and talent!

Sascha and Beauty Geek UK are just two entries on the Vuelio Influencer Database, which is the UK’s leading influencer database available to the PR and communications industries.

Politics on Sunday – 5 November 2017

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Missed any of the political coverage from the weekend?

After a week when sexual harassment in Westminster has continued to dominate headlines, it’s no surprise that this issue was the focus of Sunday’s political shows. After a flurry of rumours that Whips had been using information about sexual misconduct in order to maintain party discipline, Home Secretary Amber Rudd used her appearances on Marr and Paterson to deny the existence of any such ‘black book’. Meanwhile, Anna Soubry criticised the ‘trial by media’ taking place against MPs in light of a lack of system to investigate claims made against them.

Labour has also been under pressure to explain its response to harassment allegations. Emily Thornberry said she was ‘ashamed’ of on-goings in her party after it emerged that Kelvin Hopkins had been promoted to shadow cabinet after claims were made against him, while a young party activist was told not to report her rape at a Labour event.

Beyond sexual harassment, Mark Carney appeared on Peston to discuss the ‘Brexit effect’ on the economy, which he claims has lowered the bank’s predictions for foreign investment in Britain by 20% since the month before the referendum.

Check out our dedicated Canvas of political coverage by clicking here or on the image below. Want to make your own canvas? Find out how. 

Canvas for politics 6 November

 

Stranger Things

6 PR lessons from Stranger Things

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While you’re probably not fighting the upside down at work, there’s still plenty we can take from the Stranger Things gang to apply to our everyday PR practices.

*WARNING – mild spoilers lurk ahead, though Stranger Things 2 has been out long enough for everyone to have watched it multiple times over. Totally Tubular!*

1. ‘Mornings are for coffee and contemplation’ – Hopper
You’ve probably checked your emails all the way into work, and once you hit your desk you’re swamped – digging your way through your inbox until it once again has some semblance of sanity. When you first get in take a breather, talk to your colleagues and plan the day ahead – everyone is their most alert and this period of ‘contemplation’ can produce the best creative ideas.

2. ‘Friends don’t lie’ – Eleven (and others)
Working as a team is vital for public relations. While it may seem that you have a different story to tell different stakeholders – and often you do – making sure you’re consistent with your allies lets them pull in the same direction. To make this simple, Vuelio Stakeholder Management allows you to track who in your team has said what and to whom, so everyone is on the same page.

3. ‘Class, please welcome, all the way from sunny California, the latest passenger to join us on our curiosity voyage: Maxine!’ – Mr Clarke
How many teachers would take a call from a child at 10pm to help build a sensory deprivation tank? Mr Clarke is keen to encourage his class to push boundaries and think outside the box. Too often in a PR organisation the most senior directors are pulling the team. Great concepts and knowledge can come from anywhere (including the ‘kids’), and the best agencies push their teams, encouraging ideas no matter what the source is.

4. ‘Nobody normal ever accomplished anything meaningful in this world.’ – Jonathan
Being different and unique is the best way to stand out for both you and your client. It may seem like obvious advice, but don’t always do what’s been done before, don’t stick to accepted wisdom and don’t be normal. Floating something large down the Thames caught everyone’s attention the first time, but it’s now become a norm. Find something new and keep pushing boundaries.

5. ‘I am on a curiosity voyage, and I need my paddles to travel. These books are my paddles.’ – Dustin
Research, research, research. In-house have a distinct advantage here, they should know their brand, product and service inside out. Agencies have to work twice as hard to fully integrate themselves with the client before being able to effectively communicate on their behalf. Sector specific content and finding the right influencers is vital to understanding the company, the company’s aims and the company’s target audience. Research can also predict potential pitfalls along the way, so there is no excuse to end up curiosity creek without a paddle.

6. ‘I may be a pretty s**tty boyfriend, but turns out I’m actually a pretty damn good babysitter.’ – Steve
No you’re desperate to fit Steve into this article. To be honest there were lots of golden Steve moments that could have made the list, but his character arc from confused jock boyfriend to solid advice-wielding parental figure is both heart-warming and spot on. If you find out you’re good at something, there’s no shame consistently being excellent at it. That doesn’t mean you don’t ever leave your comfort zone (see: Steve in the tunnels surrounded by Demadogs), but playing to your strengths is a no-brainer, even if that means staying on the bench to save the day.

What other PR lessons can we take from Stranger Things? Post your comment below.

Rachel and Daisy

Blogger Spotlight: Rachel Spencer, The Paw Post

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Rachel Spencer is the author of The Paw Post, which recently ranked in the Top 10 UK Pet Blogs. Rachel is a freelance journalist and content writer who started The Paw Post in 2017 after taking her friend’s dog Daisy in. In this Spotlight, we speak to Rachel about her lovely dog Daisy, working on charitable campaigns and her favourite pet tech.

How would you describe your blog?

It’s a mix of news, human interest stories about animals and people making a difference in the pet world, travel and reviews. My dog Daisy and her adventures feature lots, and I try to create content that’s helpful, interesting and informative.

Why did you start your blog?

I work as a freelance journalist writing pet stories for newspapers and magazines, but there would always be stories I wanted to tell in my own way and that’s where the idea for the blog came from.
I’ve worked with pet businesses writing content and thought a blog would be a way to showcase my writing too.

The more I wrote about pets, the more people approached me with stories and interesting pet brands, and I thought it would be a good idea to create my own platform to share them.

What’s it like having a famous pet?

Oh my gosh, I still don’t see Daisy as famous, she’s a little scruff from Manchester Dog’s Home but she has featured in lots of articles now so I guess she is! It’s lovely.

She has a fun life and still is like a regular dog who loves chasing her ball and rolling in fox poo, but she also has some lovely opportunities come her way too.

How does your pet cope with the pressure?

It doesn’t faze her. She’s very good when it comes to having her photo taken and has done shoots from when she first came to live with me and my photographer friends used to take photos of her.

I think she’s oblivious to it. No one day is the same for her and she relishes her adventures.

What’s your favourite pet product?

I think it would be the PitPatPet activity tracker. It was the first ‘techy’ item we reviewed, and it’s a UK based product that has been picked up worldwide.

We’re thrilled to have been able to review it at the start of their journey back in January 2016.

They went on to appear on Dragon’s Den and now work with insurance companies helping dogs stay healthy.

Rachel and DaisyWhat’s your favourite post?

I did a post for a contact of mine, Liz Haslam of Beds For Bullies rescue. I’ve known her for many years and she was going through a tough time, struggling with bills and was worried she might have to close her rescue.

I set up a JustGiving page and told the story of all 16 of her dogs, many of which I had written about individually, but when I put them all together, I realised just how remarkable she was and readers did too.

The response was overwhelming, it was shared worldwide and people donated £2,000. It was amazing to be able to help her and her dogs. I spent most of that weekend crying happy tears!

How do you like to work with PRs?

Ideally send a pitch via e mail first, then I’m always happy to chat on the phone if I feel it suits the blog.

I look for human interest stories, usually case study led, and I’m interested in trends, products and technology.

The blog is an extension of my work as a journalist and I try to ensure each post either makes people laugh or cry, think ‘Aw that’s cute’, ‘Ooh that’s interesting/helpful’ or ‘Wow, that’s someone doing something really out of the ordinary.’

What one thing should PRs know about you?

I’ve always worked with PRs as a journalist so I’m completely new to doing it as a blogger. One thing that has come up is people saying: ‘can you just put something up on your blog for me?’ and I’d like people to realise that it takes a lot of time for me to do a post and I have bills to pay!

I’m very open to ideas and I like people to be clear about what is expected of me, treat me fairly and understand that I try to make my posts newsworthy because of my background.

What’s a memorable campaign you’ve worked on?

This week I worked with Jade Statt of StreetVet who launched her new website on #worldhomelessday and she approached me as a blogger rather than as a journalist.

I was totally thrilled and spent a day shadowing her as she helped homeless dogs and their owners.

She is such an inspiration and being able to tell stories like hers without having a word limit and having my work edited is what my blog is all about.

What other blogs do you read?

I love Rocky the Traveller, he’s an English Bull Terrier who has travelled the world, and Philleas Dogg, as Atlee is a rescue dog like Daisy and it’s lovely seeing them both on their adventures and having fantastic lives.

I enjoy Twilight Bark UK too, her Instagram photos of her lovely Sausage dogs Ted and Millie are brilliant!

 

Rachel and The Paw post are just two entries on the Vuelio Influencer Database, which is the UK’s leading influencer database available to the PR and communications industries.

03 November

Five Things You Shouldn’t Have Missed – 3 November 2017

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A round up of the biggest PR, comms and media stories this week including the sexual harassment scandals, a spoilt Bake Off, Ian Katz’s appointment, Fake News and Halloween.

1. Sexual harassment dominates the news

The allegations against Harvey Weinstein quickly led to allegations against others in the Hollywood, this week including Kevin Spacey and Dustin Hoffman. But the entertainment industry is not alone in the scandal, a #MeToo campaign on social media – which gave people a chance to share their own experiences of harassment – followed, and now the allegations have hit the UK’s Government and media.

A so-called ‘sleaze list’ (of questionable intent and accuracy), appeared in the media before Michael Fallon MP left his role as Defence Secretary amid the allegations, causing a minor reshuffle.

What’s clear, and obvious to many individuals outside of the mainstream media’s gaze, is that sexism and sexual harassment is rife everywhere. Now that people feel able to share their stories, expect this one to continue to hit the headlines.

 

2. Prue Leith spoils the final Bake

bake Off

The Great British Bake Off has been flying high – the series, which moved to Channel 4, was expected by some to be a flop but the familiar format and atmosphere in the tent has led to sizeable viewing figures and peak-time audience shares for Channel 4. All was right in the world (if you excuse the fact Liam went home two shows too early #JusticeForLiam) before Prue accidentally tweeted the winner 10 hours early.

Yikes.

Though she quickly deleted the message, the damage was done. Prue, who was in Bhutan, claimed the time difference was to be blamed, before telling the Press Association: ‘I’m in too much of a state to talk about it. I fucked up.’ Channel 4 was less concerned (probably due to its record numbers) as Prue, Noel and Sandi will join Paul again for the next series.

 

3. Ian Katz appointed Channel 4’s director of programmes

Newsnight, Channel 4

BBC Newsnight’s editor, Ian Katz has been appointed to the top creative role at Channel 4, following Jay Hunt’s departure in September. While Katz doesn’t have significant programme commissioning experience, he is considered by Channel 4’s CEO Alex Mahon to ‘live and breathe’ the Channel 4 values. The role is considered one of the most influential in the UK’s media – Hunt’s departure followed her acquisition of the programme in our second story. Katz starts his new role in January.

 

4. Fake News is the ‘word’ of the year

Trump figure fak news covefefe

Collins Dictionary once again announced its word of the year, which follows in-depth research of language trends across millions of sources. The ‘word’ that has most increased in usage for the last year is ‘Fake News’. (Yes it’s two words, which has upset a surprising number of people).

The phrase (that’s better) was thrust into the spotlight by Donald Trump who used it repeatedly throughout his Presidential campaign to attack first the ‘mainstream media’ and then anyone who disagreed or cast allegations against him. More recently, Fake News has been flipped against the President, now describing Russia’s influence on the American election results.

 

5. All Hallows’ Marketing

Halloween feature

The Halloween season is now embedded in British society where people wish each other ‘Happy Halloween’ and brands and businesses spend increasing amounts on their Halloween tie-ins. On the Vuelio Blog we’ve rounded up five of the best campaigns, including Google’s heart-warming Doodle (no really), Fanta’s big budget 13th floor experience and the Beano’s investigation into the scariest outfits (pictured).

 

That’s everything from this week – think there’s something we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments below.

Martin Gallagher

Blogger Spotlight: Martin Gallagher, Learning To Dad

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Martin Gallagher writes Learning To Dad, a blog that recently ranked in the Top 10 UK Mental Health Blogs. Covering a mixture of parenting and mental health issues, Learning To Dad is also used for equality activism for Gypsies, Romani and Irish Travellers (GRT). Martin told us about the myth of ‘manning up’, the need to open up and working with PRs.

Why did you start your blog?
I started the blog whilst being a stay at home dad doing my degree. It was hard. At the time I needed an outlet to clear my head as my depression had me in a dark place for a long time. My writing, and being able to control the content I could put online, meant I could be honest and raw about my life, whilst having some fun and joking about it all!

All of the above, plus the fact I don’t have the money for a councillor!

What’s the biggest issue facing mental health in the UK today?
Society still has a problem with thinking that getting some fresh air, or ‘manning up’ cures depression. It’d be dead good if that was the case, as the GRT community, who are the human embodiment of ‘manning up’, are still seven times more likely to commit suicide than the rest of the general population. Also, the need for accessible services that meet the need and demand without unbearable waiting lists.

How do you think mental health awareness has changed in recent years?
I think the work being done is brilliant so far!

Through campaigns from Time to Change and CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), I felt that I could open up and visit my doctor. Being an Irish Traveller, opening up about depression is a massive ‘NOPE’. So, those organisations helped me massively.

By challenging the perceptions that have stopped people from opening up about their mental health in the past, I believe these campaigns, as well as each individual who are speaking out, have already shaped future generations to be more accepting and open about mental health.

What advice would you give someone who was struggling with their mental health?
The best piece of advice I would give is to open up, and speaking to your friends and family if you feel like you can do so. I was fortunate to have family who are supportive, and gave me the patience I needed to get to where I am now. Unfortunately, some people may not be as supportive, which may make you feel isolated, so make sure to use one of the many free helplines that can be found with a quick search. The path to feeling able like you can manage your mental health issues is a long one, but it begins with reaching out for help.

How do you engage with your readers and community?
Being a chatty person, I’m fortunate that social media makes it easy for people to get in touch! Through Facebook and WordPress, I’ve had Q&As with people about the GRT community and our lifestyle, for example, or people have messaged who have just needed to talk about their own mental health issues, and I’m happy that people feel that the can talk to me about it!

How do you like to work with PRs?
When aiming to appeal to different communities, I have to be flexible. The same goes for PR. I was fortunate to work with an online store earlier this year, which was a good experience for me. I now write for two print magazines, speaking about mental health and GRT lifestyle, all because of the blog! I am always open to new opportunities that the world of blogging and PR can bring!

What one thing should brands or PRs know about you?
I like to be as honest and raw as can be, and I feel honesty is the best way to connect with your audiences. I always want to have fun and add a bit of humour, (at my own expense mostly) to anything that I am involved in!

What other blogs do you read?
I LOVE The Blunt Backpacker, the author, Noni Roberts writes about the things you would never think about whilst travelling and it hilarious. Speaking of travelling, Travel Mad Dad and Travel Mad Mum, have made us decide to travel for six months.

To name a few more, DADventurer, Rachel Hawkins, Dad Blog UK and Toby and Roo, (worthy award winners this year!). All enjoyable reads.

 

Martin and Learning To Dad are both listed on the Vuelio Influencer Database, which is the UK’s leading influencer database available to the PR and communications industries.

Trump figure fak news covefefe

2017 is FAKE NEWS

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‘Fake News’ is the Collins Dictionary word of the year for 2017. Defined by Collins as ‘false, often sensational, information disseminated under the guise of news reporting’, Fake News has taken the political world by storm thanks to Donald Trump.

Trump’s presidential campaign violently objected to the mainstream media, doing what it could to portray them as ‘Fake News’, while the culprits of fabricating stories have more often been among the fringe ‘publishers’, who lack journalistic integrity and standards.

More recently, ‘Fake News’ has turned against its creator and is being used to describe the nefarious influence of Russia during last year’s presidential election – allegedly to help Trump win.

Now it has been named as Collins’ word of the year (the second time word of the year has been two words, following ‘binge-watch’, which is at least hyphenated, in 2015), Fake News will be included in the dictionary from next year. This makes it a permanent part of Trump’s legacy as President, one of the few certainties to come from his time in office so far.

Has one of your expressions made it into the dictionary? No? SAD.

As a mark of its power in the current zeitgeist, it is hard to pick out tweets mentioning ‘Fake News’ in relation to its word of the year status against the new Lion King being fake news, CNN being fake news, or Julian Assange’s accusations that the BBC and ABC are fake news.

When you can find tweets that have noticed Fake News’ new found glory, users are mostly upset that it is actually two words:

One user even went as far as to suggest the story was itself fake news because it is two words rather than one. Meta.

The other words monitored by Collins as having grown in usage over the last year were unicorn, gig economy, echo chamber, echo chamber and cuffing season. This mix is typical of previous word of the years, which flit between serious newsworthy terms (Brexit in 2016) and social trends (Photobomb in 2014).

With Brexit negotiations starting to ramp up, Trump’s presidency continuing to surprise and technology evolving at a rapid pace, 2018’s word of the year could come from literally anywhere.

DADult life

Blogger Spotlight: Zen Terrelonge, DADult Life

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Zen Terrelonge is the founder of DADult Life, a new parenting blog started by Zen during his partner’s pregnancy. With baby Roma now just over five months old, we caught up with Zen to talk all things proud parent, joining a crowded parenting blogging industry and working with PRs.  

What inspired you to create your blog?
Finding out I was going to be a father filled me with such incredible pride and passion that I wanted to scream the news from the rooftops – I couldn’t for 12 weeks, of course.

In the meantime, I contented myself by writing about what was happening behind-the-scenes and finally decided I’d make it a regular thing, leapt two feet in and had a website launched.

My close mates aren’t dads yet, so, being something of a lone wolf in that regard, I wanted to share my thoughts throughout pregnancy, birth and fatherhood to reflect on the serious and the funny. And if anyone takes something away from what I’ve written, then even better.

I’m a journalist by trade, so writing is something I do on a daily basis, but with parenthood and my family, they make me feel so strongly and deeply that writing is even more of a pleasure than I would have thought possible.
Zen Terrelonge What is the most challenging part of being a blogger?
I suppose the biggest challenge is giving people a reason to listen or to sit up and pay attention. There are a lot of blogs in operation, so getting heard in the noise of the online world can be tricky.

Launching a blog in such a popular space almost feels like being the new kid in a school. It can be quite cliquey and you just hope someone wants to be your mate instead of flushing your head down the loo or writing about you in their Burn Book – the blogging equivalent of which I guess would be indirect tweets.

How have you built up your audience?
I’ve been as engaged as possible. Whether it’s on Facebook, Instagram or comments on the site, I’ll make sure I react to what people are saying and attempt to foster conversation.

And as I mentioned, given that writing is my profession, I pride myself on the content I’m pushing out, so I won’t rush anything or put out a blog that’s been written with a half-arsed approach.

Since starting your blog, what have you learned about the industry?
I’ve learnt that there is a genuine community of parents who love to talk and share. As someone who doesn’t know lots of young parents, it’s been a brilliant way to connect with others going through the same things I am, as well as learning from others further ahead in the parenting journey or offering my experiences to those just starting theirs.

Struggling to reach influencers? Try the Vuelio Media Database and get access to 11,000 UK Bloggers in parenting, travel, lifestyle & more.

Get in touch

Is there any advice that you would like to share with any PRs or aspiring bloggers?
To PRs: please spare a moment and take the time to recognise who you’ve approached – make sure what you’ve sent is relevant and addressed to the right person. Respond to all emails if they’re genuine because everyone starts somewhere, and look beyond high follower numbers – what is the content itself really like?

To aspiring bloggers: You’re not alone – come and say hello! I don’t have snacks, but I have memes and hug emojis to provide.

How do you like to be approached by PRs?
I’m flexible; email is great because it spells everything out in front of you and it’s fast, and phone calls are also welcome – but if you call someone and don’t get an answer, leave a voicemail!

I’ve become friends with some PRs over time, and ones I’m pally with will just send a message via WhatsApp for guaranteed delivery and convenience.

Do you consider social media an important tool in directing traffic toward your blog?
Certainly. You can showcase your personality via social media in terms of what you’re about with posts, whether that’s through pictures, statuses, videos and even captions, so doing so should support redirection to the meatier stuff on the blog, which ultimately has the richest content of all.

What are your plans for DADultLife in 2017/18?
I’m embracing fatherhood as much as possible, so naturally that’s going to result in some interesting scenarios. In just under three months since Roma has arrived, I’ve been blasted by a poozooka, invented the prambrella, as well as taken her to the cinema and a festival – not locations you’d normally associate with a newborn.

I’m having an incredible amount of fun while also gaining knowledge with parenting, which I hope comes across with my work – I plan to continue that, meeting other amazing dads and mums along the way.

What kinds of PRs or campaigns are you interested in working with/on in the future?
I can openly say my knowledge of baby and parenting brands is still a work in progress. I’ve tried a few gadgets and gizmos and whosits and whatsits, as well as various nappy brands, but I’m by no means an expert.

If any PRs want to educate me on the wares of their clients, then I’ll be only too happy to listen to what they have to say – I’m one of the good guys.

Just as long as it doesn’t involve me using ten brands of teeth whitener like a reality TV star, I’m open to suggestion and available to talk.

 

Zen Terrelonge and his blog DADult life are just two entries on the Vuelio Influencer Database, which is the UK’s leading influencer database available to the PR and communications industries.

UK – 2 November 2017

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Today’s Media Updates covers moves and changes including appointments at Prima, Red, S Magazine, The Sunday Times and the Paisley Daily Express. 

News & Politics

  • Gavin McInally has been appointed editor of the Paisley Daily Express. Gavin was previously a senior reporter at the title.
  • The Clare Echo, a free weekly local newspaper covering local news from County Clare, Ireland, was launched on 19 October. The paper is published on a Thursday. The editor is Stuart Holly and the news reporter is Elaine Tubridy.

Lifestyle

  • Jen Crothers and Elisa Roche are now acting entertainment director and acting celebrity director respectively for Prima, Red and Good Housekeeping. They are covering for Rosamund Dean and Jessica Callan, who are both on maternity leave.
  • Victoria Gray has been promoted to lifestyle director at The Sunday Express’ S Magazine. She was previously lifestyle editor.

Business

  • Alice Gledhill has been promoted to assistant editor and Robert Hogg has been promoted to emerging markets senior reporter at the International Financing Review.
  • Liam Kelly has been appointed junior business reporter at The Sunday Times.

 

Everyone who moves jobs or changes publication is updated in the the Vuelio Media Database, which lists thousands of journalists, bloggers, influencers, publications and media outlets. Find out how you can reach them all here.

Newsnight, Channel 4

Newsnight’s Ian Katz appointed Channel 4 director of programmes

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Channel 4 has announced that Ian Katz has been appointed director of programmes, following Jay Hunt’s departure in September.

Katz is currently editor of BBC’s Newsnight and was previously deputy editor of the Guardian. His new role will propel him to one of the most influential positions in British broadcasting, as well as earning him a reportedly significant pay increase.

Jay Hunt’s 2016 bonus of £180,000 in the role was more than Katz’s entire salary £151,600.

Hunt left Channel 4 after missing out on the role of CEO, which later went to Alex Mahon, and was recently appointed creative chief at Apple’s European video operations.

As the Guardian reports, Katz has limited experience of commissioning programmes but a Channel 4 source praised his ‘history of risk-taking’ and ‘promoting new talent’.

Alex Mahon backs this up, he said: ‘Ian is an inspirational leader who assiduously builds and nurtures talented and empowered teams. He has fantastic instincts and intelligence, huge editorial strength and is a proven creative and digital innovator, who lives and breathes the Channel 4 values.’

Katz is the latest high-profile departure from the BBC, after the director of news and current affairs, James Harding, and the former head of its political team at Westminster, Robbie Gibb.

Gibb was succeeded by Replacements for Harding and Katz are yet to be announced.

Talking about his appointment, Katz said: ‘I’m impossibly excited to be joining a broadcaster whose unique combination of innovation, risk-taking and elan I have admired for decades as a viewer – and more recently as a frequently envious rival. Channel 4’s deeply held values and relentlessly challenging sensibility have never been more important or relevant and I feel incredibly privileged to play a part in shaping the next stage of its remarkable journey.’

Katz starts in the new year, when he will take over from interim chief creative officer Ralph Lee.

All media moves and changes are updated in the Vuelio Media Database. 

UK – 1 November 2017

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Media-Updates-New-Featured

Today’s Media Updates covers moves and changes including appointments at Stand Out, DC Thomson Media, Business & Finance and the Despatch. 

News & Politics

  • The Despatch has been relaunched by the team responsible for The Northern Echo. The newspaper, which hasn’t been published for 31 years, now serves Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor, Newton Aycliffe and Willington.
  • DC Thomson Publishing has rebranded and is now DC Thomson Media. This reflects its role as a modern media creator and distributor.

Lifestyle

  • Charlene McElhinney has been appointed lifestyle editor at the Strathclyde Telegraph.

Business

  • Lauren Barnett has been appointed editorial assistant at Stand Out magazine. Prior to this role, Lauren was editor at Park World.
  • Stephen Dorney has joined Business & Finance as a multimedia journalist.
  • Louise Denvir has been appointed online content and social media manager at the Irish Farmers Journal. Louise was previously a broadcast journalist at RTE.

 

Everyone who moves jobs or changes publication is updated in the the Vuelio Media Database, which lists thousands of journalists, bloggers, influencers, publications and media outlets. You can access them all in one place.

Dog blog

Blogger Spotlight: Rosemary Kind, Alfie’s Diary

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Continuing our spotlights of amazing pet bloggers – who all feature on the Top 10 UK Pet Blogs – we’ve caught up with Rosemary Kind, author of Alfie’s Diary. The blog has been updated every day since its creation in 2006 with the exploits of Alfie, the ‘leader of the Pet Dogs Democratic Party’, Aristotle and Wilma. Alfie has three books to his name and they have accompanying merchandise.

We caught up with Rosemary to talk about Alfie’s fame, the best pet products and her advice for PR professionals.

How would you describe your blog?
Alfie’s Diary is the world through the eyes of Alfie, Aristotle and Wilma, three Entlebucher Mountain Dogs, each of whom have their own views of the world. Alfie is the serious one and is founder of the Pet Dogs Democratic Party. Aristotle is too clever for his own good and Wilma is everyone’s friend and loves life.

Why did you start your blog?
Alfie was just 10 weeks old when he moved in with us. We were living in Belgium and so much around us was new and different. It coincided with me leaving a more traditional career to write full time. The blog was initially a way to share all the funny things that were happening living abroad with a new puppy and a way to make sure I wrote every day. I planned to write it for a year or so, but as it became popular with a much wider audience we just carried on. Alfie has missed posting his diary one day in nearly twelve years and that was because of unexpected hospitalisation so he couldn’t get the password from me!

What’s it like having a famous pet?
It’s really fun. He’s been interviewed in a radio studio and I regularly get people coming up to introduce themselves to him and ask about him and the others.

pet blogger

How does your pet cope with the pressure?
He’s doing well. He hasn’t let it go to his head and now he’s older he’s taken semi-retirement, sharing the workload with Aristotle and Wilma. Wilma being the youngster is usually up for anything and will be off to meet the Swiss Ambassador in a couple of weeks.

What’s your favourite pet product?
Oh, that’s a hard one. At the moment, it’s probably Wilma’s new rucksack. It means she can carry her own things when we go out for the day. Their answer would be different. I’m guessing they’d all say they couldn’t live without their Bonio bedtime biscuit.

What’s your favourite post?
Alfie has written some lovely Christmas messages over the years but one of my favourite posts was the one he wrote as a message to young pups.

How do you like to work with PRs?
It can be great or difficult depending on how they approach things. At the end of the day, I earn my living writing and whilst the blog is mainly for fun it takes me time and when companies ask for ‘something for nothing’ it is a little unreasonable. There has to be give and take and if for any reason what is proposed is not something that is a good fit for us then it is far better if PRs accept that and don’t try to keep pushing.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
I won’t say I’m interested in something if I’m not!

What’s a memorable campaign you’ve worked on?
I think the Panasonic Home Monitoring and Control Kit has been one we had most fun with!

 

Rosemary Kind and Alfie’s Diary are just two entries on the Vuelio Influencer Database, which lists thousands of bloggers, influencers and journalists, editors, titles, publications and channels. 

Halloween feature

Top 5 brands doing Halloween right

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In a world where we now apparently say Happy Halloween, the haunted seasonal event has firmly embedded itself in the awkward summer’s-over-but-Christmas-isn’t-really-here-yet advertising cycle. Here are five of the best campaigns for this year’s Halloween.

Google’s doodle

Google has taken a page right out of the John Lewis Christmas Advert playbook with its Halloween doodle this year.

The heart-warming tale follows ‘jinx’ the ghost trying to fit in with trick or treaters that aren’t ghosts. In an attempt to blend in, the ghost uses a variety of costumes before eventually Jinx is just accepted for who it is. That’s nice.

As with the annual John Lewis advert event, this sentimentality has struck accord with viewers:

Fanta’s 13th floor

Moving in a completely different direction from Google, Coca-Cola’s biggest Halloween investment has come in the form of a Fanta elevator-crash VR experience at Thorpe Park and Westfield Stratford.


If you’ve been on Twitter in the last week, you’ve probably seen the promoted tweets already using the #Fanta13thFloor. The campaign has spread further to allow anyone to experience it online. While not as immersive as the VR experience, the content has still managed to hit the right scare notes among its audience.

Hammer House of Horror’s Hoxton Hive

Hammer Films, responsible for nearly every great British horror film pre-1980, has created an immersive theatrical experience at Victorian music hall, Hoxton Hall. With over 105 ‘scenes’ to explore in the two-hour ‘Vampire Hive’ show, the makers promise a unique and unforgettable experience. The run has also been extended, due to its popularity, until 4th November.

 

Make Halloween Great Again

Trick or Treat is back on the menu with Beano.com’s take on one of the ‘scariest’ outfits for children according to its poll of 2,00 parents. The Donald is ranked alongside Voldemort and Frankenstein as one of the top outfit choices for children this year. To celebrate this, Beano.com enlisted the help of reader Jonathan McCarthy, 6, to take to London’s streets and say amazing things like ‘Halloween is fake’.

 

Stranger Things

Have you seen it yet? All 458 minutes of series two has been out since Friday – which means you could have watched it 14 times already! Outside of the awesomeness that is Steve and Dustin (no spoilers), The Drum has very helpfully detailed all the brand collaborations with Netflix’s Stranger things, including Oxford Circus and Top Shop takeovers (the latter displaying a Barb shrine), Reebok’s limited Ghostbusters release (thank you Dustin), Eggo’s waffles (obviously) and even the nicest cease and desist letter ever.

Seen something better for Halloween? Don’t leave it in the upside down, link it in the comments below!

UK – 31 October 2017

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Today’s Media Updates covers moves and changes including appointments at Metro.co.uk, Empire, Research Europe and the Evening Express. 

News & Politics

  • Zoe Drewett has been appointed assistant news editor at Metro.co.uk. Zoe was previously video news reporter at the Daily Star Online.
  • Ryan Cryle has been appointed head of sport at the Evening Express (Aberdeen). Ryan was previously deputy chief sub editor at the title.

Lifestyle

  • John Nugent has been appointed news editor for Empire. John is currently social media editor and an online staff writer for the title, and takes up his new role on 13 November.

Business

  • Sarah Richardson has been appointed editor at Research Europe. Sarah was previously editor of Building.
  • Luke Dicicco has been appointed group business editor across the CN Group‘s brands including in-cumbria.

 

Everyone who moves jobs or changes publication is updated in the the Vuelio Media Database, which lists thousands of journalists, bloggers, influencers, publications and media outlets. Find out more.

Baking Fanatic

Blogger Spotlight: Philip Friend, Baking Fanatic

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Philip Friend is the Top 10 UK Baking Blogger who writes Baking Fanatic. Featuring bold twists on classics, Baking Fanatic also specialises in the perfect bakes for Philip’s favourite – afternoon tea. We caught up with Philip to discuss his quirky bakes (crab meat profiteroles!), viennoiserie as comfort baking and working collaboratively with PRs.

How would you describe your blog?
A collection of recipes for bakes that I love to bake and eat, without any shame whatsoever. The lack of shame is crucial as I feel that with baking, one should never feel guilt and should enjoy the bakes and share the baking love. I also include masterclasses for perfecting bakes such as croissants, cake decorating tips, macarons and breads that I have honed over years. My recipes are rooted in the classics, but I often have my own twists on them, such as my chocolate, orange and cranberry sourdough loaf and my warm savoury choux buns filled with crab meat in a chive mayonnaise.

What’s the best thing about being a baking blogger?
Meeting other bloggers, either virtually or in person, and discussing anything baking related, whether it is dissecting a new recipe or chatting about the latest trends in baking.

How much does Great British Bake Off affect your blog?
Most of the technical and other bakes on Bake Off have featured in my blog, often before the episode is aired, as I love to try and second-guess bakes that could pop up on Bake Off. I get many emails from others who love Bake Off and after episodes are aired I get people asking me if I have a recipe for a bake that has just featured.

What’s your favourite bake to make?
Croissants and any related viennoiserie. Very much a labour of true love, but for me croissants are the epitome of comfort baking.

Baking fanatic

What’s the best bake you’ve ever eaten?
My multi-tiered chocolate and raspberry cake that I made for my anniversary of my Civil partnership. This also featured on a recent episode of James Martin’s ITV cookery show.

What makes your blog successful?
I think my blog is set out simply and without too much fuss. My recipes are easy to navigate now that I have an index, and my photographs have improved considerably in quality: several people have commented to me that my photos often ‘sell’ my blog and make people want to get in the kitchen to have a go; it is always nice when others want to do that.

How do you like to work with PRs?
I like to be guided with what it is PRs want and I have established a good, warm working relationship with many PRs over the years. Once I am given a brief, I love the challenge of working through it to deliver, what I aim to be, a bake that others want to make for themselves.

What’s a memorable campaign you’ve worked on?
For Macmillan Cancer Research, I showcased a few of their bakes for last year’s Coffee Morning – this was an honour, as it is a charity so close to my heart.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
I keep my blog posts honest at all times and pride myself on both the quality and clarity of my writing.

What other blogs do you read?
So many, but I am a very regular visitor at The Pink Whisk, BakingQueen74 and Deliciously Ella.

Philip Friend and the Baking Fanatic feature on the market-leading Vuelio Influencer Database along with thousands of other bloggers, influencers and journalists.