Vuelio are exhibiting at B2B Marketing Expo 2019

On 27 and 28 March, the ExCeL Centre will transform into Europe’s leading marketing event, B2B Marketing Expo. Exhibiting on stand 2212, the Vuelio team will be ready to answer any questions about our portfolio of products, from the market-leading journalist enquiry service to our fully integrated communications suite.

You’ll find the Vuelio stand close to three masterclasses, including digital marketing, customer acquisition and empowering your ecommerce, so why not get up to speed with the latest marketing theory and visit our stand all in one trip!

With hundreds of other exhibitors to visit at B2B Marketing Expo this year you’ll need to make sure you’ve got a solid plan, so you don’t miss anyone out.

And we’ll be running a special competition for a chance to win £100 for a charity of your choice. Just speak to any member of the Vuelio team – you can’t miss us.

Unable to make it this year? Follow @Vuelio and stay up to date with the latest news, events and blog posts.

UK Bloggers Survey PR opinions

The blogosphere is evolving – what does the PR industry need to do to catch up?

Bloggers are getting smarter about navigating the industry and finding success, according to results from the UK Bloggers Survey 2019, but could the PR industry be doing more to adapt alongside them?

According to the statistics, more bloggers are choosing to monetise their posts, with women in particular utilising blogging as a business rather than a hobby. But there’s still improvement to be made in how PRs can work with the community to measure success, to improve diversity within the UK blogging sphere, and to work on the gender split that continues in key verticals.

72% of the female bloggers surveyed blog for professional reasons rather than personal, in comparison to a 44% personal/56% professional split for male respondents
Is the fact that women are leading the way in monetising their blogs a sign of dominance in the sphere? ‘I think it’s to do with men blogging for fun outside of a day job and not seeing it as generating the kind of income they might like’, says Fiona Scott, who works with bloggers for her Wiltshire-based media consultancy. ‘Women may be more willing to accept a lower income in return for doing something they love which fits around their other responsibilities, e.g. children.’

That the results are a reflection of continuing gender inequality is a view backed up by Mindy Gofton, head of marketing strategy & innovation at i-com.net: ‘Research has shown that women’s spending money is more likely to get spent on the family as a whole, while men’s spending money is more likely to get spent on themselves. Given that women have lower average salaries and that they are far more likely to work part-time or to be full-time carers or full-time parents, it stands to reason that monetising a blog is a way to have a little additional financial freedom that their male counterparts simply don’t need.’

89% of the bloggers felt that PRs should focus on the quality of engagement to measure success
Methods of measuring success is something PRs and bloggers still disagree on, with bloggers valuing quality over the PR focus on quantity. Is this something that needs to change?

‘Measuring the success of a blogger campaign is something the PR industry needs to work on’, says Nobull’s junior account manager Amy Green, who has previously decided not to work with higher-following bloggers if they don’t fit a campaign’s specific objectives. ‘The standard “PR Value” and “Circulation” almost don’t apply anymore. Understanding what the purpose of the campaign is defines how you are going to measure the success.’

‘I think it’s important to not only focus on numbers but also on the engagement,’ says Nicole Rohde at luxury fashion brand Maxwell-Scott. ‘We are all aware that nowadays there are millions of fake accounts on social media and there is also the hidden world of buying fake Instagram followers. I often ask bloggers for case studies on previous collaborations so that I can estimate the level of engagement a post about my brand will get. It’s more important to find a blogger that absolutely fits in with the overall strategy of your brand, rather than the biggest.’

40% of bloggers consider themselves more trusted than traditional journalists (down from the 54% the year prior)
What do PRs consider better value – features in traditional media, or posts from high-profile bloggers? 40% of bloggers surveyed believe they’re more trusted than journalists, and they may be onto something. Bloggers often have more capacity to work on a piece, according to Procoal’s Tom Bourlet: ‘With the expectancy now on many journalists to burn and churn through content on a much more regular basis to match online demands, they simply don’t have the time they used to.’

Speed is something Model Village CEO William Soulier also sees as a positive: ‘The limited red-tape in terms of sign-off and internal processes enables bloggers to turn around content much faster. This ultimately gives them an edge.’ But it’s detail that Nicole appreciates in the fashion sphere: ‘Bloggers will usually provide outfit suggestion to go along with your product. They show how the item can be used in everyday situations, which provides the target audience with a better idea.’

Whether bloggers are a more reliable choice that traditional journalists is something head of outreach and content Simona Bojare considers in her work at Ascent Group: ‘I still work with A LOT of bloggers but I’ve become a lot more selective than I was few years ago. As an industry, we’re definitely seeing people/readers be a lot more sceptical when it comes to influencer/blogger endorsements. This is due to those few that have had lousy disclosure practices in the past.’

Danny Whatmough, managing director, Integrated Media at Weber Shandwick believes both traditional journalists and bloggers need to be judged on their individual work and merits: ‘Trust and authenticity are topics that are sensitive but important in both disciplines. There are examples on both sides where practitioners have not been trustworthy or authentic and this has an impact on the whole industry.’

None of the female bloggers who took part in the survey write about politics, gaming, music, or tech. Of those that took part in this survey, 93% identified as White British
Results from The UK Bloggers Survey 2019 mirrored a continuing gender disparity across certain subjects in the wider blogging community, as well as the shockingly low percentage of high-profile BAME bloggers and influencers in the UK. Whether the existing, predominantly white, blogging community isn’t an inviting space for BAME creators to join, or PR companies and brands aren’t doing enough to work with those who are already a part of it, there’s no disputing that there are many voices out there, and more needs to be done to find and elevate them.

‘For PRs to make a strong difference, they need to stop following and repeating what their competitors are doing and to look elsewhere, see the people who are trying to get their name out there and just need the opportunity to be heard’, believes Tom Bourlet. ‘They need to analyse their previous marketing efforts or influencers worked with and see if they have followed a consistent pattern and see whether there is an opportunity to change this and to build in more diversity.’

‘Lack of diversity is a problem that the PR industry faces too’, says Danny at Weber Shandwick. ‘It’s important that we work hard – including through surveys like this – to hear from a diverse range of opinions and properly reflect the audiences that we are looking to reach. Whether that’s through PR outreach, data and insight or news articles, we all have a responsibility to support diversity that will, ultimately, make the output and results of campaigns stronger.’

Work in PR and want to work with the best bloggers in the business? You need the Vuelio Media Database.

Webinar: Understanding the Blogger Survey Results

The UK Bloggers Survey has revealed there’s more professional bloggers working full time, but they’re posting less frequently and generally not using press releases or publishing traditional PR pitches.

Our next webinar will be looking at the results of the survey with top blogging guests: Yaya Onalaja-Aliu and Lloyd Griffiths from Hand Luggage Only and Elle Linton from Keep it simpElle.

Sign up to join our live webinar on Tuesday, 26 March 2019

Elle, Lloyd and Yaya will be sharing their own experiences of working as bloggers, and how their commercial work is shaped by their relationships with PRs and brands.

The results revealed that 32% of blogs still receive over seven pitches from PRs a week, but less than 2% result in published content. This is not surprising when we know that 58% of bloggers believe they should be paid for all coverage they give to brands, which is probably the clearest indication of difference between traditional PR/journalist relationships and ‘new’ PR/blogger relationships.

Bloggers and PRs use different measures to agree levels of compensation – PRs often looking at evidence-based facts and data, whereas bloggers consider the time it takes to create content and their own levels of experiences in the industry.

Reasons to agree compensation

We’ll also be discussing results that suggest a majority of bloggers still believe that PR regard traditional journalists as more important than bloggers even though most believe bloggers give a platform to opinions the mainstream media neglects.

Join us live for our webinar and Q&A on Tuesday 26 March at 11am or sign up to receive a recording of the webinar after it airs.

UK Bloggers Survey 2019 Featured Image

19% of bloggers charge over £250 per blog post

Over a quarter of all blog content is compensated for in some way, with some bloggers charging over £1,000 per post.

The number of full-time bloggers – for whom blogging is their main source of income – has increased 50% year-on-year. While the vast majority of bloggers charge under £250 per post, the 19% who command fees above this reflect a broader professionalisation of the industry, which is fast becoming a recognised career choice.

Professional bloggers earn even more for collaborations, which typically involve multiple blog posts and social media posts. A quarter of bloggers charge over £250 for a full collaboration, with 4% earning over £1,000.

The stats come from the UK Bloggers Survey 2019, the annual report of the blogging industry from Vuelio and Canterbury Christ Church University, which has included pay for the first time. The survey also covers bloggers’ views of their industry, how they’re working with brands and PR, the use of social media and the growth of the ‘supersector’.

‘Supersectors’ – Fashion & Beauty, Lifestyle, Parenting, Food & Drink and Travel – account for around two thirds of all blogs. While three of these supersectors have grown since 2016, Lifestyle and Fashion & Beauty have seen declines, with the latter experiencing a 14% drop over the last two years. The rise of Instagram is probably a factor as these visual-friendly topics have found natural homes on the social platform without the need to have their own blogs.

The supersectors receive more PR pitches for stories than any other category, suggesting they’re key to the growth of influencer marketing, which is already considered to be worth anywhere from $2bn to $10bn. This is reflected in charges for blog posts – Fashion & Beauty and Food & Drink have the biggest proportion of bloggers who charge over £1,000 per blog post.

The survey follows a recent spate of bad press in influencer marketing, with fake followers and non-disclosure two of the biggest issues facing the legitimacy of the industry. A huge majority of bloggers (88%) believe sponsorship disclosure is important for every collaboration but that still leaves a sizeable minority for whom this requirement is not a priority.

Bloggers have also commented on the future of their industry, with almost a quarter (24%) believing that blogs will become driven by advertisers’ needs and nearly half (42%) believing their audiences will become more sceptical of bloggers’ motives.

Download the full survey here

Want to work with bloggers, vloggers and influencers? You need the Vuelio Influencer Database – the definitive source of bloggers who accept PR materials in the UK. 

Heather Baker feature

International Women’s Day: Advice for young female PR professionals

This is a guest post from Heather Baker, Founder and CEO at TopLine Comms.

Reassessing the gender pay gap on International Women’s Day

Today marks the 108th International Women’s Day. It serves as a collective call for gender parity and this year’s theme #BalanceForBetter is, in my opinion, one of the best yet. It recognises the fact that balance isn’t just an issue that affects women, but a business issue: and it’s a really important distinction to make.

Even though PR has historically (and somewhat stereotypically) been perceived as a female-led industry, there is still a marked gender pay gap. According to the PRCA’s 2018 PR and Communications Census, the current pay gap between male and female PR professionals stands at 21%. When you compare this to the 2018 ONS stats, which put the gender pay gap at 8.6% for full-time workers (the closest it’s been for 21 years), you realise how far behind the PR industry really is.

Initiatives like International Women’s Day are important because they help create change and raise awareness. On the topic of gender parity, you can already see positive changes in education, with more children being taught how to code at primary school in the UK. By comparison, I went to an all-girls school and had to learn knitting and cooking alongside maths and physics. I ended up studying psychology at university; I would have preferred engineering but it just didn’t occur to me at the time.

Fortunately, my mum was a career woman and my dad always treated me like an equal, which helped me develop some valuable self-belief. After graduating, I went into PR. I’m proud to say that my company, TopLine Comms, is an equal opportunities employer and that our STEM specialist team comprises an equal gender split.

Having built TopLine from scratch, here are some of the things I’ve learned along the way that might help anyone starting out in public relations, or any other career for that matter.

Help others
Watch enough romantic comedies and you’ll end up believing that female colleagues need to be archenemies, but that shouldn’t be the case. Women must help other women succeed. The first step is to help others and hold yourself accountable for speaking up about positive gender parity and equality in your workplace.

Mentorship is extremely important to empower younger generations to fill the shoes of their seniors. Look out for mentorship programmes, or simply ask a more senior female colleague to mentor you and show you the ropes

Run your own race
Social comparison theory is the belief that humans are driven to self-evaluate by comparison to others. It’s easy to believe that your peers are better than you – maybe you think that they have better senior relationships, get to work on more exciting opportunities or get better results. But comparison is the thief of joy. It’s a dangerous practice and one that stops you from running your own race and focusing on you. Be yourself, know your strengths, use them wisely and the rest will follow.

Set boundaries
If you haven’t read Michelle Obama’s book ‘Becoming’, I strongly recommend that you do. In the book, she talks about the idea and importance of balance – precisely the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day. Juggling a career, family and friends, and still having time for yourself is no easy feat, so it’s vital that you set boundaries and stick to them.

Try to identify what you feel comfortable sacrificing and what you don’t, and then make sure that don’t compromise on it. It’s different for everyone so, as mentioned above, don’t compare your choices to others. You’ll find lots of articles with top tips from successful people, from not reading emails first thing in the morning to creating lists and getting enough me time. Ultimately, it just comes down to what you need to do to be your most productive self. Find what helps you to balance your time and don’t be embarrassed to incorporate it into your schedule.

Awareness days give us an excuse to reflect on important issues that affect our lives. Let’s use this year’s International Women’s Day and theme of #BalanceforBetter to tackle the gender pay gap and talk more openly about how women can succeed in the workplace.

PR Tips for Monzo success

4 PR tips for Monzo success

This is a guest post from Katy Bloomfield, Comms Director at TopLine Comms.

Monzo is arguably the UK’s biggest fintech success story to date. Just look around any London underground station and you’ll see hordes of commuters tapping in and out with their bright coral cards. Millennials are mad about Monzo; they make up its biggest market and help to drive its popularity, which continues to spread like wildfire.

In 2018, Monzo welcomed its millionth customer and secured new finance through customer crowdfunding, boosting its value to more than $1bn (£787m). Not bad for a digital bank that first launched in 2016. From its semi-humble beginnings, Monzo has grown into an industry leader. Plenty of start-ups want to emulate its success, and many PR agencies would love to work with them.

There is no doubt that Monzo’s spectacular trajectory is a great story, but it’s important to remember that a number of factors contributed to its rise. Here are four lessons PR firms and professionals can learn from Monzo.

1. Pay attention to timing
When it comes to PR, there is little better than being in the right place at the right time. To maximise this sweet spot, you need to understand your market fully – that includes your target audience as well as your competitors. Pay attention to trends, behaviours and events – this will help you identify the perfect moment to announce yourself.

Monzo, of course, could not have timed its arrival better. The 2008 recession did some serious damage to banks’ reputations, and consumer confidence hit rock bottom. The financial services industry worked hard to rebuild its reputation, but an increasingly tech-savvy customer base wasn’t satisfied with more of the same.

Digital disruptions were upending all sorts of status quos, from hailing a taxi (Uber) to booking accommodation (Airbnb) – and banking was no exception. In 2016, the foundations for a fintech revolution were already in place: 47% of the world, for example, used mobile banking. Monzo was not the first fintech to launch, but it launched during a perfect storm of opportunities and, crucially, launched with a better product than its competitors.

PR lesson: Keep a close eye on the market, and make sure your communication is well-timed.

 

2. Play the long game
Good timing requires patience, agility and a stockpile of content to release at the right time. It doesn’t pay to publish everything all at once, you’ll simply overwhelm your audience and drown them in messaging. Monzo used incremental communication tactics like focus groups, online surveys and social media teasers, and only then did it launch its first campaign.

Monzo also knows how to whet appetites and seed interest. The company cleverly staggers news, product updates and announcements: and the strategy works well. Founder and CEO Tom Blomfield recently penned a blog post on the company’s planned updates for 2019, introducing an exciting next stage of features that could add some serious value to Monzo’s core offering. The response has been positive, loyal and anticipatory – you can almost ‘hear’ the bated breath.

PR lesson: Keep your powder dry.

 

3. Know your audience
Monzo knows its target audience inside out. The company is enmeshed in millennial culture; using collaboration to create a democratic business. The Monzo Community Forum is one such example, encouraging customers to become advocates and evangelists known as ‘Monzonauts’. This community is treated to special events and their insights and ideas are fed back into product development for testing in Monzo Labs.

The Monzonauts are such an integral part of the bank that when the company’s original name, Mondo, faced a trademark challenge from another business, they came up with ‘Monzo’. By allowing Monzonauts to guide the company’s development and get involved, Monzo created a product that people want and will recommend. It worked; early referrals accounted for 80% of the company’s early-stage business.

PR lesson: Focus on the customer. They are your biggest asset.

 

4. Get out there and network
Blomfield has a rather rarefied circle of friends which assisted the company’s ascent. That said, he had to get out there, meet them and convince them of his idea’s viability – which he did. Blomfield cofounded GoCardless, a business aimed at streamlining direct debit collections, with two friends while studying at Oxford. They pitched the start-up to Y Combinator, an innovation incubator in Silicon Valley and in the process, met – among others – Mark Zuckerberg.

In 2014, Blomfield became Chief Technology Officer at Starling Bank. This was one of the UK’s first fintechs to launch after the financial crisis. During this time he met and worked with many top industry people, some of whom now work for Monzo or helped cofound it.

PR lesson: Building a business relies on making good relationships with key people. Make sure your communication efforts are targeted at the brand’s network of contacts – as well as its customers.  

 

Whether you’re a PR agency, or looking for one, keeping these four tips front and centre at all times will give your marketing efforts more oomph in the highly competitive world of fintech.

Amanda Coleman

PR Blogger Spotlight: Amanda Coleman

Amanda Coleman is head of corporate communication at Greater Manchester Police and uses her blog to share opinions and expertise on issues across the industry. Amanda’s blog is featured in the Top 10 UK PR Blogs, and we caught up with her to talk about how Brexit and other issues are affecting comms, and why it’s important to love what you do!

What’s in store for the blog in 2019?
I never really make firm plans for the blog I just see what happens and then work from that point. It was set up so I could share some thoughts, views and ideas as long as I can still do that then I will be happy.  

How has PR changed since you first got into the industry?
It has changed almost beyond recognition. There was no social media when I moved into PR and we had one computer that could access the internet for the whole office. At the heart of it though the skills are still similar, it is about people and understanding them as it was when I started. 

How much is Brexit affecting comms in the UK?
I think the uncertainty is what is affecting people the most.  

What’s the biggest issue facing the industry (outside of Brexit)?
The issues remain broadly as they have in recent years. The lack of diversity is a critical issue as is the gender pay gap that still exists. The challenge is also to demonstrate real business benefits and to have the right data and analytics to support what we do.  

Are traditional media outlets losing their importance to the industry?
From my perspective no. Their role is changing but the move for media to rush to break the news digitally means they are moving to be more relevant to modern audiences. The way our society is organised means they are still influential among stakeholders. 

What’s the best campaign of 2019 so far?
I think it has to be the Greggs vegan sausage roll mainly for the interaction that the brand had with Piers Morgan. As a vegan, though, I  am yet to taste one. 

What advice would you give students looking to join the PR industry?
Find the right brand or organisation for your values and interests. You spend a lot of time at work and if you can’t love what you do then you can’t give your best.          

What are your best pitch tips for PRs?
Understand the business and know the data. 

Do you receive pitches from other PRs looking to work with you in your capacity as a blogger?
Very rarely but that is probably because I work in the public sector and people realise I need to be careful about any conflicts of interest.  

What other blogs do you read?
I love finding new blogs or first blogs from people. I am always drawn to communication and PR blogs. I love all those who are on the Top 10 including Sarah Hall, Ella Minty and Stephen Waddington

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Magazine rack

ABC releases magazine circulation figures for the second half of 2018

According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC), many magazines saw a decline in circulation for the second half of last year.

For women’s magazines, Red and Bella grew the most, by 7% and 6% respectively but for a large number of magazines it was a different story. The biggest year-on-year falls were experienced by Now magazine (43% decline) and Cosmopolitan (23% decline).

Mark Winterton, managing director for women’s weeklies and TV at TI Media, told Press Gazette: ‘We are starting to see the benefit of our bold decision to go against the grain and remove our women’s weeklies titles from bigger packs.

‘While the overall ABC results reflect the initial impact of stripping out the bigger packs from our promotional activity, which inflates sales figures, these single copy sales are indicative of the rewards of doing so. Our investment in audience research and editorial redevelopment will continue across all titles in the portfolio.’

Rob Munro-Hall, group managing director at Bauer Magazine Media UK, owner of second highest circulation magazine Bella, said: ‘Our focus on curating the highest quality content continues to drive engagement on all platforms – with print remaining proudly at the heart of what we do.’

For men’s interest magazines, Stuff’s circulation fell 27% year-on-year between July and December 2018. The now-closed free magazine Shortlist recorded the highest circulation, shifting an average 500,000 copies per issue.

For news magazines, The Week’s circulation fell by over 25%, while its sister title The Week Junior grew by as much.

Marina Haydn, managing director of circulation at The Economist, said it has worked with ABC to change how its circulation figures are reported, consolidating its print offerings and separating it from its digital publication figures. Haydn said this reflected The Economist’s “product neutrality” as customers can choose between print and digital’.

This new format shows The Economist with a print circulation drop of 38%, as print figures are being compared to combined print and digital figures from last year.

According to the Economist, like-for-like figures would put its print circulation down by 10% year-on-year and its digital circulation up by 83% year-on-year.

All the ABCs are updated in the Vuelio Media Database, helping you to make informed decisions about which outlets work for you. 

Forward planning

5 ways to get the most out of Forward Features

Forward features are a great way to plan your campaigns and content throughout the year. Outlets across the media landscape use forward features to request PR materials and content, so they can provide a simple route to securing earned media coverage.

The Vuelio Media Database already has tens of thousands of forward features for 2019 and more are being added every day. They typically include brief descriptions, submission deadlines and dates of publication.

Our latest white paper, Get Ahead With Forward Planning, covers a range of forward planning activities in comms, including these five simple rules for getting the most out of forward features, saving you research and pitching time and ultimately helping you meet your goals.

1. Be specific
The Vuelio Media Database allows you to find upcoming features by keyword but broad terms, such as ‘IT’ or ‘technology’, can be applicable to a number of different industries. Work out what unique keywords match your aims and identify and remove irrelevant categories from your search.

2. Research the relevance of media outlets
You can further refine your results by taking a closer look at the media outlets each forward feature comes from. Profile information allows you to get a better idea of how a media outlet may be appropriate to your brand and campaign. Only target the outlets that are consistent with your campaign’s objectives.

3. Prioritise the list
You may be surprised at how many relevant opportunities you find, particularly in the B2B sector. By identifying the opportunities that have the most worth to your campaign and making these a priority, you will be able to manage your leads more effectively.

4. Diarise the opportunities
Journalists are often working to strict deadlines. We give the same advice for PRs receiving enquiries through the Journalist Enquiry Service – making sure that you have the right information for the right journalist at the right time can be the difference between getting coverage and missing out. Also be aware that deadline dates could be months before the issue date.

5. Pitch your idea well in advance
Forward features will often have a named contact that is responsible for the editorial. You can increase your chances of coverage by contacting them ahead of time to find out more about the feature and how you can contribute. It also presents you with the opportunity of pitching an idea or viewpoint for the feature they may not have considered.

Ready to access the forward features and opportunities relevant to you? Get a demo of the Vuelio Media Database today.

Connects Agency

Connects agency launches #VerifiedViews video and podcast series

London influencer marketing agency Connects is providing an unadulterated look into the stories of top influencers in its new video and podcast series #VerifiedViews.

Aiming to provide a unique view of what it’s like to be an influencer, through honest and open interviews, #VerifiedViews follows the mantra of ‘No scripts, no agenda, no #Spon’.

Content is available as a shorter form 10 minute IGTV video series, alongside longer-form full podcasts of around 30 minutes.

The first episode features The Mac Twins opening up about life on Love Island, being female DJs in a male-dominated industry and how they are seeking to improve the nation’s gut health. Viewers can expect open, honest, unfiltered views from Lisa and Alana as they discuss how they feel the responsibility to use their influence to drive positive change.

Watch here: #VerifiedViews Ep #1 The Mac Twins on IGTV

Listen here: #VerifiedViews Ep #1 The Mac Twins podcast

The second instalment includes Edd Kimber (The Boy Who Bakes) discussing his experiences of being trolled online, coming out as gay, and what life has been like since winning The Great British Bake Off. Edd ends by offering positive and helpful tips on how to remain true to yourself and build a lasting career in social media.

Watch here: #VerifiedViews Ep #2 Edd Kimber IGTV

Listen here: #VerifiedViews Ed #2 Edd Kimber podcast

Commenting on the launch of #VerifiedViews, Connects founder and managing director Sedge Beswick said: ‘At Connects we’re constantly looking to push the boundaries of influencer marketing, blur the lines between content and real life. Working with some of our friends from our network of social media influencers, we’re excited to bring to light these influencers’ lives with behind-the-scenes access to find out what it’s like to be an influencer and what makes their views verified. We’re hopeful #VerifiedViews will be a platform for sharing these positive and impactful stories for all to hear.’

James Preece blog

Dating Blogger Spotlight: James Preece

James Preece is a leading dating expert and dating coach, and his blog is featured in our Top 10 UK Relationship and Dating Blogs. James has been working in the industry for over a decade and is involved in a wide variety of different areas, such as personal dating coaching, online dating, singles events and consulting for many dating companies. He is a very experienced relationship expert and has helped tens of thousands of men and women find love, build confidence and improve their relationships. We asked James for his dating tips, the recipe to a perfect date and how brands can get involved with the site.

What’s in store for the blog in 2019?
I’ve been working on some big plans for this year.  I’m creating some online courses and have written some new books, so these will be featured on my blog. I’m going to be teaming up with some other leading world-renowned dating coaches to bring joint content. Dating is always evolving so I like to stay on top. This also means much more video content!

What’s the secret to a great date?
Focus on making the other person feel special. That way you won’t have time to worry about what they think of you. People like people who like them, so pay them some compliments and find out what they are passionate about. Oh and don’t be too picky if there’s any chance things might work. Chemistry is often something that develops between dates rather than during them. It’s when you are thinking about what they are up to and looking forward to seeing them again.  You know you’ve had a good date when you are still smiling a few days later.  

What are your dating no-nos?
The language you use gives away so much information. If you use negative language and talk about negative topics (Brexit, your horrible job, bad dating history etc) then you’ll be associated with these things. Instead, focus on only saying positive things. This could be future dreams, ambitions, holidays planned or life achievements. That way you’ll be viewed as a happy, positive person worth getting to know.  

How does Valentine’s Day affect your content?
Valentine’s Day is always a key time for me as a dating expert. Every brand wants to push a Valentine’s story and I’ve been getting feature requests since November! This year I focused on promoting some great singles events by an upcoming brand called My Friend Charlie. I thought they were of great interest to all my single readers. 

What’s your idea of the perfect date?
The perfect date is around 90 minutes long – at least for the first one. That’s long enough to find out if you like each other but also short enough to leave something for next time. Drinks are your best bet rather than dinner as it’s more relaxed. Avoid going to the cinema or theatre for your first meeting. Do you really want to get stuck in the dark with 400 other strangers? End with a peck on the lips as that signals you are into them.  

How has the rise of dating apps changed the dating scene?
They definitely have – and that’s not always a good thing. While dating apps can allow people to get matches very quickly, it’s also made it so much harder to make a real connection. We’ve become fussier than ever and we are making judgements based purely on one photo. My dating coaching clients are coming to me more and more because they are frustrated. I teach people to try a bit of everything – online dating, singles events, approaching people they like. If you focus on what you’d like and take action you’ll soon get it. 

How do you work with brands for the blog?
I often get approached to feature brands on my blog, but I have to be very selective about what will appear.  If it’s not a good fit then I have to say no. For those that would be interesting to my audience, then I work out a detailed promotional plan. I like to give them a good return for their investment.

What’s the best collaboration you’ve worked on?
I worked with a Universal Pictures a little while ago to promote a film they were featuring. I got to advertise a competition on my blog which had a prize of a celebrity dating seminar I was running. I had so much interest and the event was amazing. 

What other blogs do you read?
I absolutely love reading anything from Naomi Narrative and Hey Saturday. Both are very experienced in this industry and are constantly thinking up new ideas and content. They’ve kept going while many other dating bloggers have long gone. 

 
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Rachel Miller

Blogger Spotlight: Rachel Miller, All Things IC

Rachel Miller is the creator of the award-winning All Things IC blog, specialising in advice for anyone working in internal comms. All Things IC was recently ranked in the Top 10 UK PR Blogs, so we caught up with Rachel to discuss changes to the industry, the importance of research when pitching to bloggers, and why the Greggs vegan sausage roll campaign worked so well. 

What’s in store for the blog in 2019?
My All Things IC blog turns 10-years-old in March 2019. To mark the occasion, I’ll be highlighting some of the forgotten gems that I published years ago, dusting them off and seeing what’s changed since they first appeared. I’ve published 1,250 articles, so there’s a lot to choose from! I’m also working on online masterclasses to bring my blog content and consultancy work to life through a new medium for internal communicators.

How has PR changed since you first got into the industry?
I started my career as a Journalist in 1999 and moved into Internal Communication in 2003. PR and comms has changed a lot in that time. The fundamental principles of good, effective communication haven’t, but the methods and media have. For example, there was only one computer with internet access in the newsroom when I was a journalist and it was incredibly slow. I started my blog in 2009 to help me research how social media could be used for internal communication. There were only two case studies globally I could refer to in my post-graduate diploma in Internal Communication Management dissertation back then. Ten years on, I’d be spoilt for choice!

How much is Brexit affecting comms in the UK?
Many of my clients are spending a lot of time trying to provide clarity and create clear instructions for their employees around Brexit. Looking for certainties when everything seems uncertain and unclear is frustrating. A lot of time, money and effort is being spent trying to plan for every eventuality.   

What’s the biggest issue facing the industry (outside of Brexit)?
The biggest issue facing the industry is keeping up with the pace of change. Although the fundamentals of comms haven’t changed, the pace of technology and speed of communication has. This has resulted in an ‘always-on’ mentality which is having a detrimental effect on the mental health and wellbeing of many comms professionals.  

Are traditional media outlets losing their importance to the industry?
No, I think there will always be a place for traditional media outlets. Importance is relative to status, as long as people value something they will continue to choose it. We have such a rich variety of media to choose from, I think it’s healthy to have a mix of traditional and modern.  

What’s the best campaign of 2019 so far?
The Greggs vegan sausage roll launch. I thought the white boxes sent to Journalists, Apple style, and hype around it was fascinating to observe. I read yesterday that their sales climbed 10% in seven weeks, so they’re clearly on the right tracks.  

What advice would you give students looking to join the PR industry?
Go for it! Build your network and work on being known and communicating your personal brand (who you are and what you’re known for/want to be known for). Start writing using your own blog, create articles on LinkedIn and offer to guest blog on established blogs to build your presence.  

What’s your best pitch tips for PRs?
Make sure you’ve read/heard/watched whatever you are pitching to. It stands out a mile if you haven’t done your homework. Tailor each pitch and demonstrate why you’re a good fit. 

Do you receive pitches from other PRs looking to work with you in your capacity as a blogger?
Yes, daily. The best ones have done some research, they’ve looked at the content I’ve published, spotted a gap and sent me a relevant message. I have guest article guidelines and it’s obvious when they haven’t read them. I prioritise publishing internal communicators sharing their stories, I’ve published around 300 of these articles and that’s what my readers are interested in. I say no to pitches 90% of the time because they are from agencies wanting to use my blog for their own gains, rather than thinking about how they could add value to my readers.  

What other blogs do you read?
So many! I enjoy the weekly round-up from PR Place, edited by Richard Bailey, as it helps me uncover new voices in the PR world. I like to support those who are just starting out by reading and sharing their posts to encourage them.
 
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MK 2019

PR Blogger Spotlight: Marcel Klebba, MK

Marcel Klebba, or MK to those in the know, is a rising star in the PR industry, with his award-winning blog that has once again been named in the Top 10 UK PR Blogs. A master networker in the industry, MK’s blog features interviews with leading comms voices as well as posts following his career and experience of PR.

We caught up with MK to find out what advice he has for PR students, why he’s launching ‘Comms School’ with Stephen Waddington and what PR blogs are on his reading list.

What’s in store for the blog in 2019?
I’m running a marathon*. Promise I won’t be trying to top your top fitness bloggers list, but there might be a few updates on how my training is going and a few lessons that this journey teaches me. But I’ll be also exploring the fascinating world of communications, building networks and succeeding in careers.

What’s the biggest issue facing the industry (outside of Brexit)?
Fake news. Not a new phenomenon but more amplified than ever. Comms professionals need to be aware of it and act upon it.

Are traditional media outlets losing their importance to the industry?
No. Some of our target audiences will be still reading press and will treat it as the most reliable source of information. Personally, I couldn’t live without having a flick through The Economist each Friday and City AM each morning (both in print, of course!).

What’s the best campaign of 2019 so far?
Aren’t we still in February, though?! I was really impressed with how WWF used the #10YearChallenge trend on social media to raise awareness about plastic pollution and global warming.

What advice would you give students looking to join the PR industry?
Start blogging and create a network. Stephen Waddington and I recently started a community called Comms School, which aims to help students get ahead. Blogging helps you explore a plethora of subjects, makes writing a habit and, most importantly, helps you connect with some brilliant people.

What are your best pitch tips for PRs?
Know the outlet you’re pitching to. Do your research. Make the pitch short and snappy.

What other blogs do you read?
There are a few solid ones in PR community. I’ve always read Stephen Waddington’s blog; work from Ella Minty is always thoughtful and engaging; Scott Guthrie always teaches me something new about influencers, and there’s many more.

I shouldn’t forget those who are still students or only recently graduated, just like me. Jessica Pardoe does amazingly well, and I’ve also started following some other luminaries including Beth Smith, and Ulster PR students who are running their community blog. My Friday mornings wouldn’t be the same without PR Place, edited by Richard Bailey, and its regular roundup ‘This week in PR’.

Metia, where I work, also runs a resourceful blog, full of insights into the world of marketing, that I read regularly, too.

 

*You can sponsor MK’s marathon run here.
 
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Sarah Hall, Sarah Hall Consulting

PR Blogger Spotlight: Sarah Hall, Sarah Hall Consulting

Sarah Hall covers a huge range of PR industry subjects on on her Sarah Hall Consulting blog. With a breadth of consultancy experience, and as a former President of the CIPR, Sarah brings unique knowledge and advice for anyone in PR. Sarah Hall Consulting is featured on the Top 10 UK PR Blogs and we spoke to Sarah about changes to the industry, her favourite recent campaign and the biggest issue in the industry at the moment.

What’s in store for the blog in 2019?
There’ll be more management and leadership content as I look at how organisations can articulate their purpose and improve their performance in order to drive profile and profits. Good reputation hinges on good business so I’ll be talking much more about that. 

How has PR changed since you first got into the industry?
PR has radically changed since I started in PR nearly 20 years ago. Much of the entry role has been automated (we’ll see more of this) and the lines between disciplines have blurred. Influencer relations was always a big part of our work but the paid element has grown exponentially and falls under our remit, whereas it might not have done so before.  

How much is Brexit affecting comms in the UK?
Whether we like it or not, Brexit offers a great opportunity for strategic PR professionals. Our role is to help organisations navigate change but to do this you need the appropriate training and qualifications. It’s why I’ve been talking about public relations as a management function via my #FuturePRoof community and latterly via the CIPR to encourage practitioners to upskill accordingly.  

What’s the biggest issue facing the industry (outside of Brexit)?
A huge issue is social mobility in public relations. We talk a lot about diversity and inclusivity but there has been very little change in recent years and the problem is getting increasingly acute. While there are some schemes helping those from more disadvantaged backgrounds to get into PR, there is not much help for those already in employment, which is why I’m setting up a charity called Socially Mobile later this year, which will provide educational grants to help people increase their earning potential. Watch this space! 

Are traditional media outlets losing their importance to the industry?
Traditional media outlets have an important role to play in society (not least in holding power to account) and therefore have an important role for anyone in PR. A healthy eco-system relies on public relations and media working hand-in-hand and I hope together we can find a way to drive a resurgence in regional media, which continues to struggle.  

What’s the best campaign of 2019 so far?
Can I cheat and go back to 2018? I’m still obsessed with the Childish Gambino song, ‘This is America’ which drew global attention to racism and gun crime in the US. Brilliantly creative, it’s a cultural phenomenon. We need more campaigns that cut through in this way. Right now it feels like everything is getting lost in Brexit.  

What advice would you give students looking to join the PR industry?
Start with the Global Alliance Capability Framework. Benchmark yourself against this as you move through your career. Make sure your lecturers and employers are aware of it if they’re not already and remember CPD is a joint responsibility. It’s up to you to focus on your own progression as much as your boss.   

What’s your best pitch tips for PRs?
Always start with what’s in it for them, whether you’re speaking to a prospective employer, client or journalist.  

Do you receive pitches from other PRs looking to work with you in your capacity as a blogger?
Yes, mainly on the #FuturePRoof site. 

What other blogs do you read?
Wadds.co.uk (a relationship break up would ensue if I didn’t); www.stuartbruce.bizwww.paulsutton.cowww.ellaminty.com and www.aura-pr.com. To be honest I pick up and read a wide variety of content as it’s served to me on Twitter so this is only a small reflection.  

 
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The Economist logo

The Economist releases daily news podcast

The Economist has launched a daily 20-minute global current affairs podcast called ‘The Intelligence’.

The new show has been created by host Jason Palmer, co-editor of Economist Espresso, alongside a team of eight newly hired editors and producers. Each podcast episode will be split into three parts: a news story analysis, an in-depth feature, and a lighter piece.

Tom Standage, head of digital strategy and deputy editor at The Economist said: ‘This is central to what we do and a great way to introduce the nature of our journalism to others. We absolutely believe in the power of audio.’

The new daily news podcast will sit alongside The Economist’s current set of five weekly podcasts, on topics such as tech, finance and science. According to the publisher, these existing audio shows fetched seven million average monthly listens and downloads in 2018.

The podcast will be competing in a market already well-served by the likes of the Guardian’s ‘Today in Focus’, The Financial Times’ ‘FT News’ and the BBC’s ‘Beyond Today’.

Susie Warhurst, global head of content at podcasting platform Acast said: ‘The Economist’s global outlook and tone of voice will set it apart from other daily news podcasts.’

Podcasts have grown in popularity over the last few years in the UK. According to stats from Radio Joint Audience Research (RJAR) 6.9 million adults, 13% of the adult population, listen to a podcast in an average week, up from 5.5 million in 2017.

Keep up-to-date with new podcasts, journalists and opportunities with the Vuelio Media Database

influencer

In defence of the influencer

‘Influencers’ are receiving a huge amount of bad press at the moment. From the CMA’s new rules around disclosure to the Fyre Festival documentaries and Panorama’s ‘Million Pound Selfie Sell Off’, a picture is being painted of a vacuous industry intent on getting as much as it can for as little as possible. But how much of this is actually true and what does it teach us about influencer marketing?

The word influencer tells us a lot about the issue. At Vuelio, we interview bloggers – in many ways the pioneers of this industry – every week and we ask them what they like to be called. While some do say ‘influencer’ many more specifically say, ‘not influencer’, and choose blogger, vlogger, writer or content creator instead.

The Kardashian effect
‘Influencer’, though clearly just a term that means one who influences, has become synonymous with social media influence – and is often the label for people with huge, visible followings that are paid to endorse products. More specifically, Instagram is often seen as the channel of the influencer thanks, in no small part, to the Kardashians, who have grown exponentially on the platform and are known to be paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single post.

This has created a trickle-down effect, where mini Kardashians – typically reality TV stars – tread a similar path to fame and riches, and many now have huge Instagram followings and are paid to endorse products and brands.

While paid celebrity endorsement is nothing new, there has never been so much control given to the endorser. Advertising, and celebrities ‘being the face of’, traditionally required brands to manage the endorsement, whereas Instagram accounts are run by the celebrity, so the format of the endorsement is largely in their hands.

This has led to confused practice where some don’t seem to care about the rules but many more don’t actually understand them. And while the ASA, CAP and CMA are catching up, the speed at which this industry is growing means influencers have to work it out themselves, and then share their expertise around.

Professional content creators
Many professional content creators – bloggers and vloggers – take this very seriously. Their influence, and therefore earning potential, tends to be based on high quality content and genuine expertise. While celebrities use their star power to build an audience, content creators have built loyal followings through their knowledge, excellent writing and great media content.

The way these professional content creators work with brands and are seen by their audience plays a huge part in their ability to thrive in the industry, again because their content is directly linked to their influence. Bloggers and vloggers are now at the forefront of ethics in the influencer marketing industry – actively calling for clear rules and guidelines for everyone to follow to make it an even playing field.

This doesn’t mean that celebrities are the problem, but they are high profile and tend to be names that feature in the mainstream press. So, when one of them does something wrong – or perhaps a group are taken advantage of by a brand that should know better – they further establish the term ‘influencer’ in a negative way.

The influencers in influencer marketing are not one type of person or professional working in one way, which is why the term ‘influencer’ is so problematic. Brands – it’s time to know your influencers, why they’re influential and which type of influence is right for you.

What does this mean for PR?
The PR industry has just as much trouble deciding what an influencer is. As this PRWeek article points out, opinions vary from it being someone who has high engagement with their target audience to social media users with large followings.

Katie Hunter, social and influencer lead at Karmarama, makes a strong point – she said: ‘We definitely need to stop thinking about ‘influencers’ as YouTube celebrities, Insta-stars or a way to buy quick reach of advocacy. A lot of the coverage recently (often negative, let’s be honest) focuses on a very shallow pool of (often very famous) creator talent that certainly isn’t representative of the enormous breadth and endless possibilities open to us through influencer marketing now.’

Once brands and agencies understand the full potential of influencer marketing, and the differences between micro, macro and celebrity influencers, they can collaborate with the right creators who can help them reach their goals and tap into new, loyal audiences both ethically and effectively.

‘Influencers’ have a bad rep and it’s time for every side of the industry to come together and start painting a new picture of how diverse this industry really is, how important it is to brands and how professional it’s becoming.

If you want to work with the right influencers to reach your goals – you need the Vuelio Influencer Database.

Flickering Myth logo

Film Blogger Spotlight: Gary Collinson, Flickering Myth

In the number one spot in the Top 10 Film blog ranking, Flickering Myth was created by author Gary Collinson, a fan of superheroes, Star Wars and LEGO. In this spotlight, Gary tells us all about relaunching the Flickering Myth Podcast Network, which film he is most excited about this year, and the importance of brands providing mutually beneficial content.

What’s in store for the blog in 2019?
Our main aims for 2019 really are to just to keep on improving, building and engaging with our audience, and having fun with what we do. We’ve recently relaunched our Podcast Network, and we’re currently in the process of revamping our original video content, so they are two areas we’ll be looking to grow in 2019, assuming all goes to plan!

Which film are you most excited about this year?
It has to be Avengers: Endgame. Anthony and Joe Russo have been knocking it out of the park with each of their Marvel movies, and the way they brought everything together with Avengers: Infinity War (without it feeling totally overstuffed) was exceptional. I can’t wait to see how it all ends.

How are the likes of Netflix changing the industry?
There are definitely positives and negatives to the rise of Netflix and other streaming services. Netflix is putting out a LOT of original content, and that has to be a good thing for the talent involved. It has a huge built-in audience, and doesn’t need to convince people to get up, leave the house, travel to a cinema and spend a fortune on overpriced tickets, food and drink, so it can take more of a chance on projects – some of which may never get made via the traditional route, and certainly wouldn’t get the same level of exposure. In theory, it should force the studios to raise their own game.

However, no matter how good your home cinema set-up is, there’s nothing like the theatrical experience, and with more and more streaming services popping up, it could get quite costly to keep on top of everything you want to see. Sadly, for people like me who treasure their Blu-ray and DVD collections, it also seems to be killing physical media, which is a real shame in my opinion. I miss the video shop.

Which films/stars will win the big categories at the Oscars?
Best Picture – Roma

Best Director – Alfonso Cuaron

Best Actor – Bradley Cooper

Best Actress – Olivia Coleman

Best Original Screenplay – Vice

Best Adapted Screenplay – A Star Is Born

How does awards season affect your content and planning?
Awards season doesn’t affect our content and planning too much. We cover the nominations and winners for the major awards ceremonies, and maybe offer a few predictions, reactions and op-eds along the way. We’ve also been fortunate enough to attend the British Academy Film Awards for the past few years, and so we’ll have some coverage and content going up from there on the site and our social channels.

What advice would you give PRs/brands who want to work with you?
If your products are relevant to our audience, then get in touch! But please visit the site beforehand; find out what we do, and who our audience is. We’re not a travel site, or a motoring site, or an insurance site. We’ll happily work with those clients, as long as the content is relevant to our readers and to our niche. But if you get in touch asking us if we’d like to write a feature on ‘The Ten Best Holiday Resorts in the Algarve’, you’re really just wasting your time.

What do PRs do that’s wrong?
We’ve worked with some fantastic PRs and agencies over the years, so I’d like to stress that by no means is this applicable to everyone. But, in my experience, I believe there are some agencies that expect too much, for too little in return. Sometimes, it can be a one-way street.

We’re more than happy to promote your clients’ movies or video games, share the posters, the trailers, a review, and maybe even a little more beyond that, if it is relevant to our readers. It’s what we and our audience both love after all, and we do our very best to accommodate. But we are not obligated to do so. Sometimes we have other priorities.

Occasionally, it’s also nice to receive something in return, like an interview for the movie we’ve promoted solidly for six months. Take into consideration the ROI, and the value that sites offer your clients. Of course, we fully appreciate this isn’t always possible, but a straight-up, honest rejection is always better than radio silence, or an excuse.

As I said, this certainly doesn’t apply to every agency. However, you tend to find that the agencies that expect the most – the ones that bombard us with requests, and reminders to their requests, and reminders for their reminders – are generally the ones who offer the least in return.

What other blogs do you read?
Unfortunately due to the demands of Flickering Myth I don’t get anywhere near enough time to read as many websites as I’d like. Dark Horizons has always been a great site for movie and TV news, and I also enjoy Den of Geek, The Playlist, Screen Rant, Bloody Disgusting… there’s likely a few more I’m forgetting too. As a fan of LEGO, The Brick Fan is a regular read, and Fantha Tracks is a good place to keep up to date with all things Star Wars.

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Phil Edwards Live for Films

Film Blogger Spotlight: Phil Edwards, Live for Films

Phil Edwards created Live for Films to share his love of films, comics, video games and TV. Live for Films holds a place in our Top 10 Film blogs, so we spoke to Phil to find out all about which films he is excited about this year, his Oscars predictions and the importance of good communication from brands. 

What’s in store for the blog in 2019?
As always, Live for Films will be building to bigger and better things. We will be covering various Film Festivals around the World, heading off to the New York Comic Con once again and sharing the latest news, interviews and reviews for the many movies heading our way. 

Which film are you most excited about this year?
I am also a huge comic book fan so I cannot wait to see what happens in Avengers: Endgame. We have also got Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood heading our way, which should be great. 

How are the likes of Netflix changing the industry?
Netflix and other streaming services are bringing new movies to a huge audience. That means some smaller films are getting seen by a wider range of people, but it will be having an impact on the number of people heading off to the cinema. For me, the cinema is still the best way to experience a movie. 

Which films/stars will win the big five categories at the Oscars?
Best Actor - Bradley Cooper- – A Star is Born 

Best Actress - Yalitza Aparicio – Roma 

Best Supporting Actor - Mahershala Ali – Green Book 

Best Supporting Actress - Regina King – If Beale Street Could Talk 

Best Picture - Roma 

How does awards season affect your content and planning?
It means a lot more planning ahead and keeping track of the various award presentations. There is also a lot more scope for follow up articles and interviews based around the various winners. As I am based in the UK and many take place in the US, it also means a lot of late nights! 

What advice would you give PRs/brands who want to work with you?
Send out clear, concise emails detailing their requests. Included relevant images, trailers or whatever else is needed to promote the films. 

What do PRs do that’s wrong?
After the initial request for coverage of films or invites to screenings, there is often a delay in getting the actual information or screening confirmations over until the very last minute. That can make it difficult to arrange coverage for the films being promoted. Good communication makes everything better. 

What other blogs do you read?
I read Generation Star Wars and The Studio Exec.

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Eve Greenow Never Settle

Dating Blogger Spotlight: Eve Greenow, Never Settle

Never Settle was created in 2015 by Eve Greenow and is featured as one of our Top 10 Dating and Relationship blogs. Eve shares her advice on dating no nos, what would happen on her perfect date, and how she works in partnership with brands to create mutually beneficial content. 

What’s in store for the blog in 2019?
I’m super excited for what’s in store for Never Settle in 2019.  

Going forward, I will continue tackling taboo subjects head on, which is what I’m passionate about. Whether it be mental health, contraception, sexual wellbeing, or more conventional dating subjects, I will continue to push these issues to the forefront of discussion, and take one step further. Further collaborations with brands who I feel most appropriate to send important messages to my readers, will continue, as well as pushing out my Ask Eve agony aunt section more, for those who need direct advice! I am also currently writing a self-help book, which is under wraps for now, but follows the general themes of the blog – which is really exciting…!  

What’s the secret to a great date?
Remember it’s just two people meeting, avoid putting too much pressure on yourself or the situation. Listen attentively, avoid asking too many interrogatory questions (it’s not an interview!), smile, be yourself and enjoy it! 

What are your dating no-nos?
There are so many good things which can happen on a date, but some serious no-nos would be:  

  • Don’t bitch about your ex – all bitching does is show a lack of respect – they were a big part of your life, and I don’t want to end up being referred to like that in the same way…  
  • A lack of basic hygiene is a big turn-off – make sure to shower or at least use deodorant… 
  • There’s nothing worse than someone who sneers at something you say or takes the mickey out of something you care about.  
  • Try not to brag… whether it be your job or lifestyle, or anything – it’s really not endearing!  
  • Give each other a chance: try not to come away from the date realising you know absolutely nothing about the other person because you spoke about yourself the whole time!  

How does Valentine’s Day affect your content?
Valentine’s Day for a dating and relationship blogger is huge. We get inundated with products to promote for the day, and it’s about choosing the ones we genuinely feel work. On top of this, it’s important to remember that even though it’s an integral occasion for the blog, it is just a day. And if you’re single then that’s okay too. I like to ensure my Valentine’s Day content is a mix of topics, catering for those in relationships, singletons and also including brands. I do tend to ramp things up on the blog on the lead up to Valentine’s Day.  

What’s your idea of the perfect date?
The ideal date would be just that – fun! I actually wouldn’t like going for a first date which is a dinner… I’d just spill something down myself! If you can have a laugh, and it’s not awkward, then fab! 

My favourite date is the one I had with my current boyfriend. We went geocaching, which is like treasure hunting using coordinates. It was so fun! Although because it was in the woods, I was a little apprehensive… I had my friends on standby if I didn’t come home by a certain time…! But it was great in the end and we had a real laugh.  

How has the rise of dating apps changed the dating scene?
The whole dating and relationship world has been tipped upside down.  

A lot of people have found real love via a dating app or website. Like social media, the tool of dating apps can open your eyes to people you’d never normally have the chance of meeting, as well as great for busy people. But what most will agree on is that internet dating has created the illusion of abundance. That the grass is always greener. 

We now live in a disposable society, where if something isn’t working as we want it to – we throw it away and get something newer, or so we believe – ever dissatisfied. Often finding the newer version isn’t much different from the previous one. 

When you’re on a dating app, you have literally endless amounts of people looking for love at your swiping fingertips. It is easy to believe that all of these single people are available, viable, options. The reality is, most of these people won’t be interested or compatible, however the sheer volume of singletons creates this falsehood that there are literally thousands of options out there. This warps our minds to think that our “ideal” person, with no flaws, is actually attainable. 

How do you work with brands for the blog?
I like to ensure when I work with PR agencies and brands, that it’s mutually beneficial. I don’t generally accept work with brands that aren’t relevant to my content (as it messes with the consistency of the site), but it’s about ensuring that we work as a partnership, and both of us are happy with the content. Whether it be working on a giveaway or sponsored post, or reviews, I always love working together with brands and PR agencies to push conversions, ROI and give my readers something new and fresh to discover. 

What’s the best collaboration you’ve worked on?
That is a really tough one!! I’ve worked with many brands on a whole range of products. I absolutely LOVE trying out new pleasure toys from brands like LELO, Bondara, Lovehoney,  and Ann Summers – to name a few of my favs. But I’ve also completed harder hitting campaigns such as with Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor, with a focus on looking after your sexual health, which is super important to me too.  

What other blogs do you read?
I love reading other blogs, it’s one of my favourite past times, and I really enjoy discovering new ones too! Some of my favourites are Naomi Narrative, Natasha Atlas, Lucy Goes Dating.

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Media outlets - job cuts and closures

Journalism job cuts and closure of publications

BuzzFeed, HuffPost, The Pool, and Vice are just some of the outlets that have announced cuts and closures over the last couple of weeks, with thousands of media jobs already cut in 2019.

Across the UK, US, and Australia, BuzzFeed has cut editorial roles and closed BuzzFeed Spain entirely. In London, almost half of editorial roles have been cut, down 17 from an original 37. Roles being sliced are primarily across the Buzz team, but also the news and celeb teams. BuzzFeed has also made its head of quizzes redundant because free user-generated content is proving more popular.

The Guardian reported: ‘BuzzFeed founder and chief executive, Jonah Peretti, said the company would reduce headcount by 15 percent, or about 250 jobs, to around 1,100 employees globally.’

 

 

In the US, Verizon, owner of HuffPost, Yahoo and AOL, has reportedly announced cuts for up to 1,000 staff. This would trim seven percent from its media team across all brands. Verizon began by laying off 20 employees at HuffPost on 23 January, including opinion writers and political reporters.

CNET reported that in a memo to staff, Guru Gowrappan, CEO of Verizon Media said: ‘These were difficult decisions, and we will ensure that our colleagues are treated with respect and fairness, and given the support they need.’

Next was Gannett, the largest newspaper publisher in the US, cutting around two percent of its workforce. Poynter reported on cuts that affected editors and senior journalists at local papers owned by Gannett in regions across the US. The New York Post reports that cuts affected as many as 400 people.

Last week, women-focused online magazine, The Pool shared the news of its closure on Friday, after almost four years.

 

 

Also on Friday, Vice Media announced cuts across the US, UK and Canada, laying off 10% of staff following reorganisation from new CEO Nancy Dubuc.

Business Insider reported: ‘Vice Media will reportedly refocus around its TV production unit, its international news team, it’s digital properties, and its original TV content.’

Press Gazette editor Freddy Mayhew said: ‘There seems to be no end in sight to redundancies at online publications.

‘If the likes of The Pool, Buzzfeed and HuffPost can’t make digital journalism pay when they’re the experts, who purely publish online with no print offering, then the industry truly is in crisis.’

 

As journalists move on to new roles and freelance careers, all changes and updates are made in the Vuelio Media Database.