Stuff that PR consultants just do

There are some things that good PR consultants just do. It’s part of their DNA, and they don’t give it a second thought because it’s so fundamental to the way they operate – they simply don’t question it until they realise that not every other PR consultant does what they do.

Here are just three things […]

By |25th April 2023|PR|Comments Off on Stuff that PR consultants just do

5 ways to measure the success of PR campaigns

How do you measure the success of a PR campaign? This is one of the first questions that come up when working with new clients – which is normally couched in the killer question: “what does PR success look like to you?”

And that’s where the measures of success can vary wildly. For some, it’s more […]

By |26th January 2023|PR|Comments Off on 5 ways to measure the success of PR campaigns

Journalists are customers, not the enemy

PRs can build better relationships with journalists if they think of them as customers.

That’s a hugely contentious statement that will stick in the craw of some on both sides of the divide, but the reality is that PRs won’t achieve anything for their clients if they’re not focused on delivering a great service to their […]

By |27th September 2022|Customer service, Journalists, Long reads, PR|Comments Off on Journalists are customers, not the enemy

What journalists want: be the hero of your story

Journalists are all too willing to give PR folks and their clients the heads-up about what they need so that everyone gets what they want: the journalist gets a great story, the client gets great media coverage and the PRs gets a feather in their cap.

In a webinar hosted by Jon Card, a freelance journalist […]

By |27th June 2022|PR|Comments Off on What journalists want: be the hero of your story

Global coverage for world’s first flying classroom

What a throwback. I’ve just come across this project and it’s bringing back lots of happy memories.

A primary school in Stoke bought an old commercial airliner to use as a new classroom. The project was such fun because I worked with the children so they became the PRs for the project – which attracted global […]

By |4th March 2022|PR|Comments Off on Global coverage for world’s first flying classroom

The press release is still king

A recent survey of journalists working for broadcast outlets and national daily and Sunday newspapers has found that the press release is still the most recognised source for PRs to serve up news stories.

Of the journalists polled – from media including BBC News, ITV News, Sky News, MailOnline and London Evening Standard – 94% plumped […]

By |12th February 2020|Journalists, PR|Comments Off on The press release is still king

Behind the scenes at a football press conference

I had the privilege of attending a pre-match press conference at my beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers, where Head Coach Nuno Espírito Santo faced the media ahead of the final game of the Premier League season against Liverpool.

It was one the busiest pre-match ‘pressers’ of the season and was crammed full of TV, radio and print journalists […]

By |13th May 2019|PR, Press conference|Comments Off on Behind the scenes at a football press conference

Stupid job titles – and other things that really annoy journalists

Sam Metcalf is one of the most influential business journalists in the East Midlands and gets hundreds of press releases every day, all vying for use on TheBusinessDesk.

His tweets, expressing various levels of frustration at some of the news stories he receives – or the calls he gets offering editorial ideas or comment pieces – […]

By |21st May 2018|Journalists, PR|Comments Off on Stupid job titles – and other things that really annoy journalists

Is fake new old news?

It’s undoubtable that reporting and journalism have changed – thanks to social media and the 24-hour news cycle, anyone can get a message to the press instantly.
This has resulted in a revolution in getting up-to-date information to the masses, whether it’s the latest travel information or something more important, like evacuating coastal regions in response […]

By |2nd June 2017|Fake news, PR|Comments Off on Is fake new old news?

How to waste loads of money at exhibitions

Why do companies spend shedloads of money exhibiting at trade shows – only to be let down by staff who are more interested in looking at their phones than talking to potential customers?

I went to a very big trade show recently and was appalled at the amount of exhibition stands where people who were supposed […]

By |28th October 2016|Exhibitions, PR|Comments Off on How to waste loads of money at exhibitions

Trump V Clinton – the battle of the brand names

Is the US presidential election going to be won on the policies being put forward by the two candidates, or are we witnessing a personal brand showdown?

It’s official: we live in an era where your name is your brand – from your social profile to your designer jewellery range. But, in politics, where you’d expect […]

By |8th October 2016|Brands, PR|Comments Off on Trump V Clinton – the battle of the brand names

PR is the real winner of Rio 2016

There were so many outstanding Team GB performances at the Olympic Games: Mo Farah’s track double-double, Jason Kenny riding in to the record books at the Velodrome, The Brownlee brother’s one-two in the triathlon. The list goes on.

However, for me, the real star of Rio 2016 is somebody that I’ve never heard of – and, […]

By |23rd August 2016|PR|Comments Off on PR is the real winner of Rio 2016

Bin backlash for Halifax Top Cat campaign

I bet the marketing team at the Halifax bank thought they were on to a winner with their latest campaign, which features legendary cartoon character Top Cat.

With the antics of the animated 1960s wise-guy hustler, who was always getting one over Officer Dibble with friends Benny the Ball, Choo Choo, Brain and Fancy-Fancy, about to […]

By |3rd May 2016|PR, PR stunts, Social media|Comments Off on Bin backlash for Halifax Top Cat campaign

Is Facebook the right marketing channel to promote your business?

A school recently approached me and asked my advice about whether it should be on Facebook, as the governing body was looking at ways to improve its communication with parents and the local community.

I said “no”.

It’s not because Facebook isn’t a fantastic communication platform. It is. And there are plenty of schools who do use […]

By |10th March 2016|Facebook, PR, Social media|Comments Off on Is Facebook the right marketing channel to promote your business?

What nobody tells you about business awards

Any PR expert will tell you that helping their clients to win business awards is part of their daily routine – it improves the client’s reputation and creates many opportunities for positive coverage.

But what they won’t tell you is that entering and winning awards are tricky processes involving jumping through many hoops.

With award hosts receiving […]

By |8th February 2016|Awards, PR|Comments Off on What nobody tells you about business awards