Rachel Miller

Blogger Spotlight: Rachel Miller, All Things IC

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

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

MK 2019

PR Blogger Spotlight: Marcel Klebba, MK

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

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

Sarah Hall, Sarah Hall Consulting

PR Blogger Spotlight: Sarah Hall, Sarah Hall Consulting

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

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.biz; www.paulsutton.co; www.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.  

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

The Economist logo

The Economist releases daily news podcast

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

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

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

‘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

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

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.

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

Phil Edwards Live for Films

Film Blogger Spotlight: Phil Edwards, Live for Films

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

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.

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

Eve Greenow Never Settle

Dating Blogger Spotlight: Eve Greenow, Never Settle

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

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.

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

Media outlets - job cuts and closures

Journalism job cuts and closure of publications

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , /by

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.

Faya Nilsson - Fitness on Toast

Fitness blog spotlight: Fitness on Toast

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

Faya Nilsson created Fitness on Toast in 2013 to share great recipes and advice with her personal training clients. The site has since evolved into a one-stop shop for everything fitness, from active escapes to fashion and tech. Accompanied by beautiful imagery, Faya uses her knowledge and expertise to inform readers about how to stay fit and happy throughout the year.

We spoke to Faya after she was named in the Top 10 Fitness & Exercise blogs to find out what she likes best about working with brands, why an 80/20 split helps to keep on top of fitness, and the importance of Instagram for immediate feedback.

What are your plans for the blog this year?
I’m working as a PT daily which I love alongside creating blog content. I’m looking forward to doing some active travel for the blog – including Mauritius in March. I’m also working on a few bigger exciting projects which I hope to talk about and have ready for summer.

How important is the new year to your content?
Working in the fitness industry, you observe these seasonal trends – ‘new year, new you’ being one of them. I don’t subscribe to the January frenzy; instead I believe healthy is a lifestyle choice all year round. Having said that I do like the idea of new beginnings, marking a point in time and re-setting, checking in with yourself and for that reason it’s a conversation I like to be participating in, albeit with a slightly different perspective.

What advice would you give people who want to stay fit and healthy all year?
I personally go by the 80/20 rule. Be healthy, eat well, train well, sleep well – 80% of the time and 20 percent of the time you can be ‘unhealthy’, socialise with friends in less healthy restaurants, go for a cocktail or dessert. This is realistic, sustainable in the long term and you’ll enjoy training more – it should be fun and varied. If you go 100% all-in chances are you’ll feel deprived and you may come to resent all that ‘healthy’ represents.

The added advantage of 80/20 is that you’ll never need to panic ahead of a beach holiday or a hike you want to sign up to (or whatever it may be); you’re in a good place already, and with a bit more of a push, you’re good to go!

This, in practice, means being consistent throughout the year – training on a regular basis, moving on a daily basis, eating well, drinking plenty of water, and investing in your sleep.

What’s the best activity to get into if you’re new to fitness?
If you’re completely new to fitness I would suggest trying a few different things as the only way you’ll ever stick to something is if you enjoy it. There are countless fitness studios and classes to try these days – the world really is a veritable fitness oyster!

I’m a huge fan of weight training – it builds strength, increases metabolism at rest (meaning you’re burning more calories throughout the day), to name but a few benefits. However, if it’s your first time in the gym I’d suggest booking in a couple of sessions with a trainer. The last thing you want to do is train incorrectly. It can be quite pricey but perhaps see if you have a couple of friends who are in a similar situation and you can train in a group and that way decreasing the overall cost per person.

Generally speaking, people who decide to get into training as a New Years resolution go too hard too quickly. Be realistic – if like me, you love chocolate, then the likelihood is ZERO that you’ll one day wake up and decide never to have chocolate again, and stick to it. Equally, if you haven’t trained for years gradually get back into it. You’ll do your body more harm than good by not allowing it to properly recover between sessions.

Faya Nilsson - Fitness on Toast

How much exercise should we be doing each week?
This is highly individual – it depends on a bunch of things – what your starting point is, your preferences, your routine, what you’re doing etc. Recovery is super important so as a general rule of thumb if (for example) you’ve trained your legs on a Monday and on Tuesday you have DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) wait until it’s passed and you’re ready to train legs again.

How important are your social channels compared with your blog?
I love writing quite lengthy in-depth posts and always end up chopping away a lot. Equally I love photography so for that reason personally the blog has always been my favourite platform. What I like about Instagram though is how it’s so instant. You get immediate feedback as to whether people appreciate a post or not.

What are the best PR campaigns you’ve collaborated on?
I’ve been blogging for six years so it’s quite a list of fun and varied brands but all under the health umbrella in some capacity. One of my stand out favourite campaigns was going to the Olympics with Adidas as their global ambassador. I also loved working to create the Westin Hotel Group’s signature Wellness programs as their Wellbeing ambassador as well as Garnier to name but a varied selection of great long-term partnerships. The commonality is the professionalism and ambition of the activations, which weren’t one-off in nature but were connected as part of a longer-term brand storyline. Anything that focuses on the awareness part of the consumer funnel is very much a favourite of mine as you can get quite creative and broad that way, as a blogger!

Do you accept press releases?
Yes, they’re always welcome in my inbox. Press awareness is another part of the ‘shadow purchase funnel’ so even if I just skim the mail, it’s good to have unconsciously paid attention to it. In order to preserve the integrity of my blog, however, I only ever write reviews (and that sort of thing) if I’ve tried tested and love the product myself. So, for that reason I don’t accept guest posts or product placement messages.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
I’m remarkably easy to work with and I love mucking in alongside PR agencies to get a great result!

What other blogs do you read?
The Blonde Salad, A Blog To Watch, Sheerluxe blog, The Food Effect, AJ Odudu’s blog.

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

Fyre Festival

5 PR lessons from the Fyre Festival

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

The Fyre Festival, the botched attempt to run the most luxurious and Instafriendly festival ever, was already famous thanks to several viral posts highlighting failings at the time in April 2017. 

However, two documentaries, on Netflix and Hulu, have shed new light on the fiasco and brought the event back into the spotlight. The documentaries have also inadvertently provided simple lessons (the good, the bad and the ugly) for anyone working in PR and comms.

1. Influencer marketing works – but needs strategy
How do you make an event super famous? Get the most famous people on Instagram to promote it for you. Fyre Festival had a simple plan, pay a fortune to social media influencers – from Bella Hadid to Kendall Jenner – to promote the event and create a ‘big buzz’.

As evidenced in the documentaries, the budgeting was way off and the cost of the influencers unsustainable, but to make matters worse, the promotion wasn’t clearly labelled by many of the influencers, and the wording suggested all the stars would be in attendance, potentially misleading the audience of ticket buyers. After the event, the rules around disclosure tightened in the US as a result of this lack of clarity.

Yes, influencer marketing works, but it needs to have a clear strategy, be affordable and be ethical.

2. Communication, communication, communication
Seems like a given in a PR post but if the documentaries taught us anything, it was how important it is to have good comms. There were a number of occasions communications let down the event – at the beginning, middle and end – but perhaps one of the most obvious, particularly highlighted in Netflix’s documentary, was when they failed to alert guests to the fact that the festival was not going to take place.

This is crisis management 101 – be transparent and honest before things get worse. The lack of communication led to a number of guests arriving and sharing the chaos (and cheese sandwiches) on social media. It also led to a number of them becoming stranded and was when the story became the viral sensation it didn’t want to be.

3. Never lose sight of the purpose of an event
How many people knew Fyre Festival was intended to promote a celebrity booking app? The event became the company’s sole focus to the detriment of the app it was intending to promote.

Sometimes publicity can seem like the greatest goal but if no one knows what you’re publicising, a great stunt is a spectacle and nothing more.

4. Make sure you’re consistent
The event filmed a glamorous promo promising an experience on an island that wasn’t the one used for the actual event. From start to finish you have to be consistent with your message and if circumstances change outside of your control, then communicate them professionally and clearly – see point 2.

5. Big campaigns need an integrated strategy
It’s hard to say if traditional media outreach was part of the Fyre Festival PR plan but there’s little evidence of it in the documentaries. That means when the only news about the event was from the disgruntled guests on social media, knee deep in mayhem, there was no official channel of communication and the press could only report the news they were presented with: basic cheese sandwiches and soaking wet mattresses.

Big campaigns, the kind of campaigns that intend to support the greatest festival event ever, need to be fully integrated and consider every type of media, relationship and channel.

Did you spot any PR lessons in the Fyre Festival documentary? Let us know on Twitter. 

Want to create integrated campaigns, work with influencers in the right way and manage all of your relationships in one place? You need Vuelio.

A and R Factory, Stefan Toren

Music blog spotlight: A&R Factory

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

A&R Factory was launched in 2012 by Stefan Toren and has grown to become one of the most respected artist and repertoire (A&R) blogs. With a hugely influential readership made up of record labels and radio stations, A&R Factory is the place to come to discover new music and sign the hottest acts. Alongside new artists, A&R Factory has interviews and reviews spanning all genres of music, from R&B to Punk. We spoke to Stefan to find out the plans for the blog this year, who’s going to be hot this year and how brands can get involved.

What are your plans for the blog in 2019?
We have big plans for 2019 including working and growing or sync music platform launching later in the year which will help musicians gain exposure through TV/film/game placements.

How is music changing and does this affect your content?
Music is ever growing with technology, our writers need to stay ahead of the curve to ensure we are posting relevant hit content!

Who’s your favourite band/artist?
Always a hard one to answer, recently we have been more into hip hop action, Bronson, L’Orange to name a few, but we have also recently shown a lot of love to Blossoms, BLOXX and Lion.

Who’s going to be hot in 2019?
So many artists are doing well right we featured Ari B on our website some time ago who has just signed a deal. And of course, the amazing Yebba who we featured back in 2017 this will be a big year for her.

Do you play any instruments?
Drums, guitar, bass and GarageBand.

What’s the best song ever?
One Direction – Best Song Ever, but more seriously, Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

How do you work with PRs/brands on content?
Typically we work with influencers and build relationships with PR agencies to share content.

What one thing should they know before contacting you?
Submit via our website here, it is the best way to ensure we get the tracks to the right journalists that work for us.

Do you accept press releases?
Yes, you can submit them on our website

What other blogs do you read?
Music Business Worldwide is our go-to blog at the moment!

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

Celebrities to disclose ads blog post

Celebrities pledge to disclose ads

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

Following an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), 16 celebrities including Ellie Goulding and Rita Ora have agreed to make it clear when they have received gifts or payment to endorse products online.

The CMA, alongside the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA), is responsible for enforcing laws for sponsored posts. The ASA deals with complaints over individual adverts, while the CMA takes action on the people involved.

Other celebrities that have committed to declaring ads are:

  • Actress Michelle Keegan
  • Writer and model Alexa Chung
  • Designer and model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
  • Vlogger Zoella
  • Mario Falcone from The Only Way Is Essex
  • Alexandra ‘Binky’ Felstead from Made In Chelsea
  • Holly Hagan from Geordie Shore
  • Model Iskra Lawrence
  • Camilla ‘Milly’ Macintosh from Made In Chelsea
  • Reality TV personality Megan McKenna
  • Chloe Sims from The Only Way Is Essex
  • Louise Thompson from Made In Chelsea
  • Fashion vlogger Jim Chapman
  • Fashion blogger Dina Torkia

The CMA has not mentioned whether the named celebrities have breached the law, but following an investigation they have all volunteered to be more transparent with their social media sponsorship.

By agreeing to be clearer when posting ads, the stars have avoided court action, however the CMA says its investigation is still in progress.

Andrea Coscelli, Chief Executive of the CMA, said: ‘Influencers can have a huge impact on what their fans decide to buy. People could, quite rightly, feel misled if what they thought was a recommendation from someone they admired turns out to be a marketing ploy.

‘You should be able to tell as soon as you look at a post if there is some form of payment or reward involved, so you can decide whether something is really worth spending your hard-earned money on.

‘The enforcement action taken by the CMA has seen a number of social media stars pledge to be more transparent when posting online. It also sends a clear message to all influencers, brands and businesses that they must be open and clear with their followers. We will also continue our work to secure more improvement in this space.’

Many influencers, bloggers and content creators have seen celebrities posting sponsored content without following CMA guidelines and are left wondering how they get away with not following the rules that the rest of the community must stick to.

John Adams, writer of fatherhood and parenting blog Dadbloguk.com said: ‘For some time now, there has been quite a bit of discussion among content creators. Many of us know the rules regarding sponsored content and adhere to them, but have had to watch from the sidelines as various celebrities have either posted undeclared, sponsored content or used unclear language. It has felt like there have been two systems in place: One for the celebrities and one for the rest of us.

‘I welcome the CMA’s actions. I think it’s sent a very clear message that content creators are being monitored and enforcement action is a real possibility. I hope it leads to us all playing on a level field and an improvement in standards all round.’

Setting clear industry standards and ensuring audiences are able to trust content creators is one of the reasons Deb Sharratt of DebSharratt Communications and My Boys Club welcomes the cut down on undisclosed ads. Deb said: ‘I’m really pleased to see best practice in influencer PR and marketing being promoted and actively encouraged by the CMA. As a CIPR member, PR professional and a blogger, it is important to me that our audiences can trust our views, believe us to be authentic and know they can count on the industry to let them know when payment or payment in kind has encouraged online support and endorsement for a brand.

‘It can only benefit the future of influencer marketing and hopefully encourage other influencers to always fully disclose too.’

Anne-Marie Lacey, managing director of Filament PR, a creative communications agency specialising in influencer marketing campaigns while training its clients to work ethically and effectively with social media stars, said: ‘The news from the CMA today is most certainly welcome and not before time. We applaud these celebrities for agreeing to change the way they disclose paid-for content with brands across their channels. Often, breaking the rules isn’t done on purpose, it’s because brands, bloggers and PR practitioners don’t know the guidelines themselves, and better education is needed for all.

‘The fact is, influencers have masses of clout over consumers, and without clear and concise legal and ethical guidelines in place, that everyone is following in a bid to be transparent and not potentially mis-sell to an online audience – that includes brands, bloggers and PRs – then we aren’t going to see an effective change any time soon.

‘That said, this is certainly a step in the right direction, and we’ll be watching the findings of the CMA’s ongoing investigations with great interest.’

If you’re looking to work with the right influencers in the right way, you need the Vuelio Influencer Database.

 

Reuters media trends report

Reuters media predictions for 2019

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Reuters Institute has released its annual Journalism, Media, and Technology Trends and Predictions report for 2019.

It surveyed 200 editors, CEOs and digital leaders, one-third from the UK, the rest across 29 countries including Germany, USA and Australia.

The key findings from the report:

  1. Over half (52%) of editors will focus on subscription and membership, expecting it to be the main revenue focus in 2019.
  2. Almost two thirds (61%) are concerned or extremely concerned about staff burnout.
  3. Over three-quarters (78%) think it is important to invest more in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help secure the future of journalism – but not as an alternative to employing more editors.

For PRs, nothing above should seem too outrageous. The need to grow revenue to support publications, the worry of staff being overloaded in the ‘constant news’ society, and the hopes that AI can provide time-saving alternatives to basic tasks, are common across the media industry.

Other findings from the report include:

  • Less than half of respondents (43%) say Facebook is likely to be important or extremely important this year, a similar number to Apple News and YouTube – but far less than for Google (87%).
  • Over half of those surveyed (56%) are concerned about current newsroom diversity.
  • Platforms are increasing their focus on tackling misinformation and disinformation, however as this moves further towards dark social it becomes a harder task.
  • Trust indicators will be increased so readers have more information to decide who to trust.
  • With many publishers launching daily news podcasts, it’s not surprising that the majority (75%) think audio will become a more important content type. A similar proportion (78%) think that voice-activated technologies, like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant will have a significant impact on how audiences access content over the next few years.
  • With consumers increasingly conscious of the time they are wasting online, more people are likely to be leaving social networks, more tools will emerge for digital detox, and there will be a greater focus on ‘meaningful’ content.
  • With more platforms using paywalls, people are being shut out from quality news. Consumer irritation will build this year, leading to a combination of news avoidance and the increased use of ‘paywall-blocking’ software.

A key point from the report is how newsrooms are going to cope with tackling misinformation across dark social, battling paywall-blocking software, and how publications can grow their audiences when all focuses are on distribution across Google.

For PRs there’s clearly an opportunity for meaningful, voice-assistant-friendly content and audio, as well as having valid credentials and ethical practices. Quality content is just one piece of the jigsaw though – PRs also need to rely on traditional strengths, like relationship building and media outreach, to ensure they’re supporting these editors and their publications so that everyone’s a winner.

Chris Evans Virgin Radio

Chris Evans is back on Virgin Radio

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Chris Evans is back on Virgin Radio presenting the breakfast show, nearly 18 years after he left.

The Virgin Radio Evans has joined is different to the one he was dismissed from, as that version became Absolute Radio in 2008. This Virgin Radio is owned by Wireless Group, which in turn is owned by Murdoch’s News Corp, parent company of News UK (publisher of The Sun and The Times).

As Chris Evans joins the show, something else is removed – adverts. Evans’ show is sponsored by Sky, so he’ll discuss Sky programming but otherwise it’s the first commercial radio breakfast show without conventional adverts.

Monday’s show featured live performance from The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft, as well as guests Fay Ripley, Paul Whitehouse, Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett. To introduce Ashcroft to the show Evans said: ‘There’s been a lot of talk about the first song I’m going to play, but I press buttons, I don’t play songs, musicians play songs. Why don’t we get a musician to play a song live? How about Richard Ashcroft?’

Ashcroft played Lucky Man.

After nine years presenting on BBC Radio 2, Evans said he was pleased to be back at Virgin Radio: ‘It’s so great to be back at Virgin and I have to say it’s a real treat. I feel blessed and we couldn’t be more grateful.’

Evans is now up against Zoe Ball, who took over the Radio 2 Breakfast Show last week. Coincidentally, Evans’ first breakfast show on the original Virgin Radio in 1997 started on the same day as Zoe Ball’s Radio 1 Breakfast Show.

News UK’s publications were positive in their reviews – The Sun focused on the reaction from the fans, writing that Evans was ‘praised by fans and celebs’; while The Times gave the show four stars, writing: ‘Flash Chris is still full of himself, but there were glimpses of a humble, new age Chris, a parent who gives some thought to how radio can be a form of positive energy’.

The Telegraph gave the show three stars, writing: ‘The energy, one of the most successful parts of Evans’ breakfast show experience, was identical: optimistic, loud, and greeting the day with full-beam sunshine.’

The Guardian also gave him three stars, Mark Lawson – who last week gave Zoe Ball four stars – said: ‘Success of his Virgin venture will depend on whether listeners are more irritated by the disguised advertising of Murdoch interests than of a public service broadcaster.’

The Daily Mail highlighted the similarities the show had to his old Radio 2 slot: ‘As part of his exit deal it appears that Evans has been able to bring over many of his old jingles. The programme also features the return of items that were a staple on his BBC show, such as Big Screen Belter, Golden Oldie and Gobsmackers.’

Lots of reactions on Twitter were positive:

Though clearly not everyone was impressed:

 

Keep up to date with all the latest moves and changes on the radio and in the media with the Vuelio Media Database. 

Instagram egg

Is this the beginning of the end for influencer marketing?

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

In the latest influencer marketing twist, an egg is now more Instafamous than Kylie Jenner. This may seem trivial, but are the cracks already showing for influencer marketing?

Scott Guthrie, lead analyst at Luxmoore Consulting and all-round influencer marketing expert, led an insightful panel session covering influencer marketing at the PRCA’s recent 2019: The Year of… event.

Though the term influencer is increasingly harder to define, it appears that this hasn’t stopped people trying to get involved; the search term ‘influencer marketing’ was more popular on Google than ‘social media marketing’ in 2018. This is an industry worth $10 billion, but can influencer marketing come back after the accusations of buying fake followers and engagement, lost ad revenue and the ethics of influencer marketing being called into question?

While some influencer campaigns get it spot on, it is the campaigns that miss the mark that make the news for all the wrong reasons. Guthrie said that the importance of authenticity and ethics needs to be at the heart of influencer marketing because people are switched on to how influencer marketing works and can tell when a brand and an influencer don’t fit.

Joining Guthrie and adding their insight on the panel were: Candace Kuss, director of social media at H+K Strategies; Will Cooke, executive director, strategy and innovation at Golin; and Andrew Jennings, an independent consultant.

If influencer marketing is to survive and retain credibility, both agencies and influencers need to take responsibility for the message they’re putting out. Cooke said that agencies need to invest more in the vetting process for influencers and make sure that they’re the right fit for the brand. This means we need to look for who has influence that fits the campaign and brand, not just for people who call themselves ‘influencer’.

Another area of consideration is reputation, which is at the heart of all PR campaigns. Jennings suggested that we need to look for, and be aware of, the potential downfall if the brand and ethics are not aligned. Guthrie also pressed the importance of building relationships with influencers and keeping in regular contact, this way if their tone of voice changes or there’s a possibility of the brand being at risk, you can act quickly.

The theme of humanity also ran through the event and Kuss said we need to remember that influencers are not just Instagrammers and YouTubers, they are subject matter experts and we need to recognise them as such.

So, is this the end for influencer marketing? No. However, Guthrie has predicted that it could be the end for influencers who post with #ad and little consideration, because influencers need to post content that matters to their audience and is authentic to them.

What this means for world_record_egg – which has started hatching – remains to be seen.

Want to build relationships with the right influencers? Whether it’s bloggers, vloggers and Instagram stars or journalists, editors and broadcasters, the Vuelio Influencer Database lists thousands of contacts who have detailed profiles and genuine influence to help you reach the right audience.

Sam Ajilore and Mariah Carey

Music blog spotlight: That Grape Juice

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

That Grape Juice is the number one music blog created by Sam Ajilore. Now over a decade old, That Grape Juice continues to be at the forefront of urban music and culture, with bases in London and LA. We caught up with Sam to find out what’s on the agenda for 2019, who are the greatest artists of all time and how the blog works with PR.

What are your plans for the blog in 2019?
Growth! If there’s one thing that’s a guarantee in the digital landscape it’s change. Thankfully, I’ve long approached That Grape Juice as being a ‘voice’ that can permeate a multitude of platforms. Hence, moving forward, the plan is to make the site’s ‘voice’ as accessible and omnipresent as possible – via the web, podcasts, and streaming services.

How is music changing and does this affect your content?
The music industry is most definitely in the midst of one its most pronounced eras of change thanks to streaming, which is now the primary means of consumption.

Because of this, the traditional rulebook has been tossed out of the window and artists have been gifted much more agency over what they release and when they release it.

This, in turn, has de-emphasised the immediate importance of ‘the single’ and ‘the album’ as well as the rigid promo schedules that used to define both. It’s made for a much more interesting arena, one where artists are now framing releases as they choose, which is evidenced by the surge in mixtapes, EPs and songs rolled out simply to feed fans.

As a music news and review platform, it’s resulted in much more content to cover – with some acts working multiple tracks at the same time. It’s really exciting.

Who’s your favourite band/artist?
I’ve always loved spectacle and performance as much as I have music itself. So, the genesis for me will always be Michael Jackson. More contemporarily though, I’d say Beyoncé. She pretty much carries the MJ baton for me personally.

Who’s going to be hot in 2019?
It’s always tough to call and there’s so many variables. I will say that I’m super excited about Normani (formerly of Fifth Harmony). She’s a dynamite performer and is navigating the solo landscape exquisitely so far. She’s making all the right moves and musically has ample potential.

On home soil, I’m really enjoying what I’m hearing from rapper Dave. He has a unique perspective and articulates it in a super compelling way.

Do you play any instruments?
I wish!

Humbly speaking, I feel I have a fairly good ear for melody. As such, I really hope (at some point in this life!) I can parlay that towards learning the piano.

What’s the best song ever?
Wow, this is so hard! And for that reason, I have to list at least three. In no particular order:

  • Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
  • We Belong Together by Mariah Carey
  • I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston

I have a thing for songs that are lyric/story driven while still being easy on the ear. Traits each of these tracks possess.

How do you work with PRs/brands on content?
There’s the standard influx of press releases – of which we receive up to 100… per day!

At a more involved level, we routinely collaborate with PRs on artist interviews, live show reviews, robust features and campaign-long story-telling.

What one thing should they know before contacting you?
A personal approach is often the best approach! We’re pleasant music-lovers who are dually committed to serving our audience the freshest content, while working with PRs, brands, and similar to achieve their campaign goals too.

As such, while mass targeted press releases are sometimes a necessity, it’s so much more impactful when we receive emails from folk who understand the platform they’re reaching out to and have a clear goal in mind when touching base.

It’s surprising to still see generic emails filled with all-encompassing verbiage such as ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ and ‘your blog’ instead of the blog’s actual name.

Put simply, the more personalised the better.

Do you accept press releases?
Yes! From all regions. Music is so universal these days, with the internet being a ‘global village’. So, we’re happy to receive content from everywhere.

What other blogs do you read?
Far too many to name! I will say, though, that I really enjoy reading personal blogs.

My field (music) is rooted in fantasy, spectacle, and escapism, whereas such blogs are anchored in the real, the here, and the now. All of which speaks to me outside of my ‘professional self’.

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

Bionic Basil

Pet Blog Spotlight: Bionic Basil

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

The Bionic Basil pet blog was created by Cathrine Garnell and inspired by Basil, the cat. Ranked in the Top 10 UK Pet Blogs, Basil and the ‘B’ Team of feisty felines share humour, brain training, mindfulness and cuteness. In this spotlight, Cathrine shares how she portrays each cats’ unique personality, why cats rule, and which kitty is most likely to endure a costume photo shoot.

How has your blog changed from when you first started? 
Where the blog began and where it is today is a lot different; it started out as just Basil’s blog but as it progressed the rest of The B Team joined in, and as time passed they each got an exclusive post which suits their personalities, sharing lots of really fun things to keep any cat fancier entertained on a weekly basis.

What’s the best thing about being a pet blogger? 
Crafting with Cats, Colouring with Cats, Gardening with Cats, Brain Training with Cats, Fashion with Felines, Feline Fiction etc… did I mention cats!

How conscious are you of the animal’s personality as opposed to your own when writing? 
Basil, Amber, Smooch, Parsley, Pandora and Fudge, aka The B Team, each have their own personalities, expressions and voice. They are all completely different individuals so when writing their posts, it’s all about them and what they’re doing at that moment.

Bionic Basil, the B team

What are better cats or dogs?
Oh now there’s a tough question, obviously I have many cats, but I love dogs too, though sadly don’t have the time to have another at this point. So at BBHQ, cats rule supreme at the moment.

Did you have a pet growing up? 
I had lots of pets, mainly dogs, though I also had ponies, donkeys, and my father used to keep rare breeds cattle, so from an early age I’ve been surrounded by all kinds of animals, hence the reason I have my own little cat-herd today.

What’s the best top tip you have for pet owners? 
If you can, do get pet insurance.

How do you work with PRs and brands?  
Most of the time, agencies, publishers and PRs will contact us via email and we simply take it from that point forward. Assessing the brand’s needs along with how we can best present their product/idea in the style of our blog.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?  
A couple of the best collaborations we have done recently are with Miaustore and Catit. Both are such great companies and produce such innovative products for feline enrichment.

Do bloggers need their own industry association? 
A dedicated Pet Blogger association/platform would be great in the UK. Our American friends have Blogpaws, so a UK counterpart would be great, and would help address questions and issues for new and seasoned pet bloggers alike.

What other blogs do you read?  
We read lots every week. On our blog we have a page dedicated to pet blogs, a directory of sorts and we visit most of those regularly. Though our favourite UK pet blogs in no order are:  Erin the Cat Princess, Katzenworld, Memories of Eric and Flynn, Speedy the Cheeky House Bunny and Athena, Cat Goddess.

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

Zoe Ball

Zoe Ball takes on Radio 2 breakfast show as first female presenter

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

Yesterday, Zoe Ball presented her first Radio 2 breakfast show after taking over from Chris Evans. From next week, Ball will be up against Evans – presenter of the show for nine years – when he starts presenting a rival show on Virgin Radio.

Ball said: ‘It’s going to be interesting times, I’m going to be up against Chris, I’m up against Jamie Theakston [on Heart], my old telly husband. But I feel generally it’s a really exciting time for radio, and I hope we can make a success of it.’

Ball isn’t the only new presenter for the channel, as Sara Cox launches her drivetime show, Jo Whiley begins a new evening solo slot, and Trevor Nelson brings his Rhythm Nation to late nights.

Ball told BBC news: ‘The thing we really wanna do is bring lots of music, lots of energy, not too much chat – but enough, and we want people to have learned something by the end of the show.’

The Telegraph said that Ball and the team began the show ‘fast-talking and jumpy, clearly excited to be there, if wary of the reaction’.

It continued: ‘The programme that unfurled after the first hour or so was warm and bright.

‘The really good news is that Ball was sparky and friendly, and not at all cheesy, braggy or shouty.’

The Guardian’s Mark Lawson gave the show four stars and said the first show was helped by celebrity guest John Cleese: ‘Cleese has helped start a dawn format that feels built to last’.

Ex-BBC boss Roger Mosey, writing for the Mail, was less impressed with the ‘underwhelming’ guests but is generally positive about the new breakfast show. He said: ‘This is an amiable programme with decent music, and Ball is warm and lively as a breakfast companion. I predict most of the audience will stay with Radio 2, and she’ll beat Evans’ digital-only offering by many multiples.

‘Whether it will be as compelling a listen as Evans at his best, I doubt, but the reduction in egotism is refreshing. I think the BBC can be optimistic that Radio 2 will at least stay afloat in these choppy waters.’

The Times’s Clive Lewis only gave the show two stars, as it was ‘too frantic’. He said: ‘At its best, Radio 2 manages to hold together an enormous, disparate audience by making the various shifts in tone seem unforced and perfectly natural. Ball, on the other hand, sounds as if she is still working her way through a recipe on how to bake a new personality.’

BBC director-general Tony Hall, who was at Radio 2, told the Press Association that Ball was ‘brilliant, absolutely brilliant’.

On Twitter, the reaction was generally positive:

 

 

 

However, some listeners were still wary about Ball presenting the show:

 

 

On The Radio urged listeners to give the show some time: ‘It isn’t fair to make a judgement on the first day. Any new breakfast show takes time to sound right to listeners as they get used to a new routine first thing in the morning, but Zoe and her team got off to a flying start. They’ve probably put in a lot of time doing “dry-runs” for the show and it certainly paid off.’

Zoe Ball and BBC Radio 2 are both listed on the Vuelio Media Database, along with thousands of other presenters, journalists, programmes and PR opportunities.

Fiona Bruce

Praise for Fiona Bruce’s first Question Time

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

The reviews are in for Fiona Bruce’s first episode of Question Time, which aired last week.

Fiona Bruce took over from David Dimbleby following his departure at the end of 2018 after 25 years of presenting the show. Question Time has aired almost 1,400 episodes and still pulls in around two million viewers for each.

There were rumours that the BBC were choosing Bruce to give a ‘softer feel’ to Question Time, but before the show Bruce said: ‘They’d have the wrong person if they were.

‘The person I am in the newsroom, which you won’t particularly see on air because you’re so sublimated in a studio, is opinionated, feisty, argumentative.

‘That’s what I’m known for there. I think you’ll see more of that.’

Her debut was considered a success with positive reviews in the press and online.

Thursday’s show had a panel comprised of the Conservative deputy chairman, James Cleverly, the shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, columnist Melanie Phillips, comedian Nish Kumar and Jo Swinson, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats.

The Telegraph said: ‘She brought calmness, clarity and even some dry wit to her impressive debut’.

The Guardian said Bruce ‘felt fresh and effective’, however, it felt that perhaps ‘the BBC should have taken advantage of the succession to shake up the structure as well’.

Following the show, Press Gazette asked its audience what they thought – with 78% saying she ‘Smashed it’.

Some viewers said that Bruce needed to speak louder, but general feedback was very good.

Fiona Bruce and Question Time are both listed on the Vuelio Media Database, along with thousands of other presenters, journalists, programmes and PR opportunities.