HelsBels

Honesty and running: Helen Tamblyn’s HelsBels

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Helen Tamblyn is the top running blogger behind HelsBels. Recently ranked in the top 10 UK running blogs, Helen covers marathon training, health and fitness (with a side of cake and beer). Helen told us about her honesty policy, the blogs she loves to read and working with brands in the way she wants.

What makes your blog successful?
Define successful! I don’t have as big a reach as many running bloggers, but I think I have an audience who have stuck with me over the years and it’s been nice to see my Facebook page grow over the last year or so. I think it’s because I will talk about anything related to running and fitness and I try to be honest with what I say. It has got me into trouble with brands once or twice when I have given negative reviews, but I try to make a point of being honest and saying what I want to say, as opposed to what other people might want me to say. It seems to be working out well!

How do you plan your blog content around your runs?
I don’t. I know most bloggers tend to have a content schedule they stick to, but I tend to write when I feel like it. If I have several evergreen post ideas in mind, then I’ll try to spread them out to create an even flow of content, but generally I write as ideas pop into my head, or if I’ve had a run I want to write about, or if I’ve just completed a race.

What’s the best place to run in the UK?
I moved out of London last year and I absolutely love it as a place to run. There are so many different routes you can take and one of my favourite routes was running along the river from Putney down to Richmond. Impossible to get lost, peaceful by the water and lots of friendly runners and cyclists. It’s also great fun running through the city, taking in the landmarks before turning into one of the parks for a change of pace. It’s never boring running in London!

What advice would you give to new runners?
Believe that you can do it and you will. Running is definitely as much mental as physical for me and going in with the mindset that you CAN do it is really important. Of course, we all have bad runs and bad races, but I also believe that if you can learn from the experience, then was it really all bad?

How important is the right equipment/outfits for successful runs?
Very! Make sure you get a gait analysis to find the best pair of shoes for you – it could well prevent injuries later on. And if you’re female, make sure you have a good sports bra. For me, this is the most important piece of kit and it’s not something that you should try to ‘make do’ with. Get fitted properly, jump around, shop around, just make sure you get the right bra. There is something out there for everyone.

What’s the best race you’ve competed in?
The Spitfire Scramble in 2017. It’s the only 24 race in London and I’ve taken part in it three times now. I did it in 2015 and 2016 with a team of bloggers from the UK Fitness Bloggers network I established, and then in 2017, I did it as a doubles pair with my friend Corey from The Hinz Adventures. This was really her shining moment as I’d come down with pneumonia when in Malta a few weeks before and I wasn’t allowed to run, but my doctor said I could walk a lap. Corey ran nearly 50 miles and I jogged/walked 12 which saw us take second place in the ladies pairs. The atmosphere at this event is second to none, the route in Hornchurch Country Park is beautiful and it’s very special seeing the sun rise at the top of the hill in the morning, if you are out on a lap. I was also so proud to support Corey!

What one thing should PRs know about you?
I am honest and although I am constructive, if I don’t like a product or experience, I will say so. I will always try to be balanced and offer the right to respond, but I will not edit a review or be dishonest through fear of upsetting a brand relationship.

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What’s the best campaign you’ve collaborated on?
I’ve recently just worked on a great campaign with Red Letter Days where they sent me on a bungee jump! It’s not something that I would ever have done otherwise and when they got in touch, I had to say yes because I knew I would regret it if not. It was exhilarating, terrifying and liberating all at once and it has given me a story to tell – for that reason, I have to say that was the best campaign I’ve collaborated on.

Away from working with brands, I partnered up with a friend of mine Stephen from How Many Miles last year on a campaign we called #EndGreatRunHerbalife after Herbalife were announced as the nutritional partners of the Great Run Series. Between us, we wrote a series of posts, set up a petition and rallied runners on social media, which ultimately led to the partnership being pulled. That felt like influencing, although it feels a bit like I’ve been on the naughty step since where working with brands is concerned. But I don’t regret it – it felt like the right thing to do.

What do you call yourself (blogger/influencer/content creator etc)?
Blogger. I enjoy social media and I offer management and content creation on a freelance basis, but I would class myself as a blogger. I don’t have a set social media strategy for my blog and I don’t beat myself up scheduling content.

What other blogs do you read?
Too many to mention, but I particularly make a point of keeping up with A Healthier Moo, How Many Miles, The PHD Runner, Jog on Mum, Paddle Pedal Pace, The Fat Girls’ Guide To Running, Learning Patience, keep it simpElle, JogBlog, and although he doesn’t blog much on his website anymore, Gavin Wren is a beautiful and articulate writer.

Empire State of Mind

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Representing some of the biggest names in luxury and real estate, Relevance International is on a meteoric rise and we’re delighted that Suzanne Rosnowski is joining us for our webinar: Empire State of Mind – Going Global with Relevance International.

Suzanne will be discussing how PR is different in New York and London, and why her clients increasingly want one agency to cover the entire planet. We’ll also explore the ethical boundary between paid and earned media, and how different markets use influencers in different ways.

Watch the webinar to learn:

  • What it takes to communicate on a global scale
  • Whether it’s ever worth paying for PR
  • How to expand an agency to new countries and time zones

empire state of mind

Emma Neachell

Don’t compare yourself to other runners: Emma Neachell, The PHD Runner

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Emma Neachell writes The PHD Runner, which was recently ranked in the top 10 UK running blogs. Emma is a hydrologist by trade but uses the blog to share her running adventures (and misadventures!). We caught up with Emma to talk about the joy of running, how simple it is to start and what’s she’s looking for from PR collaborations.

What makes your blog successful?
I personally don’t think my blog is very successful. However, people who read my blog on a regular basis have said they appreciate my honesty and my willingness to share my unflattering running photos.

How do you plan your blog content around your runs?
When I’m training for a target event, for example the Cambridge Half, this is relatively easy as I’ll produce weekly training updates. I also really enjoy writing race reviews as every race is unique. As a runner, I find race reviews really useful, so I try to include as much information as possible. I’m unfortunately injured at the moment so, although I can’t run, I’ll be able to write about how I deal with being injured.

What’s the best place to run in the UK?
Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield. It’s one of the largest urban parks in the UK and has some amazing trails.

What advice would you give to new runners?
Running is quite hard to start with but it does get easier. Don’t compare yourself to other runners and most importantly, have fun!

How important is the right equipment/outfits for successful runs?
One of the reasons I love running is the fact you don’t have to invest in a lot of running kit when you start out. All you need to start with is a pair of running shoes, some decent socks and a sports bra. If you find you enjoy running, invest in more equipment and running kit. The expensive GPS watch can wait. In my opinion, comfortable, correctly-fitting kit can make or break a run. I’ve actually had to cut training runs short due to kit related issues.

What’s the best race you’ve competed in?
I feel that I should say one of the three London Marathons I’ve completed, but I won’t. The best race I’ve competed in was the Cathedral to Castle 10 mile run. The course was quite challenging but I loved every second of the run. I’ve already entered next year’s event!

What one thing should PRs know about you?
That I exist and love writing! I haven’t had many blogging opportunities this year.

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What’s the best campaign you’ve collaborated on?
This is actually quite a tricky question to answer! I was thrilled to be asked to join the Decathlon Bloggers Community and can’t wait to get involved in some exciting campaigns later this year. I think it’s a case of watch this space.

What do you call yourself?
I don’t think I’m an influencer. I’ll always call myself a running blogger.

What other blogs do you read?
I don’t have as much time as I’d like to read blogs but my favourites include: AnnaTheApple, HelsBels, A Healthier Moo, Maria Runs and Deutscher Wanderwolf.

 

The PHD Runner is listed on the Vuelio Database, along with thousands of other bloggers, journalists, bloggers, MPs and SpAds.  

Five Things: Zuck, Apu, Puma, National Lottery and Mike Bushell

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This week’s Five Things You Shouldn’t Have Missed includes Mark Zuckerberg’s time on Capitol Hill, The Simpsons’ offensive stereotype, Puma’s apology, National Lottery on the move and Mike Bushell’s fall.

1. Zuckerberg’s hearing

Mark Zuckerberg

We’re struggling to remember a Five Things that didn’t feature Facebook. This week, Mark Zuckerberg went to Congress to sit through two hearings. He was questioned for hours, with the focus split between data privacy concerns and Russian interference in the US election.

Zuckerberg apologised, which drew criticism from those that pointed out he has been apologising since he created Facemash. He was questioned by what are effectively old people, whose grasp of social media was also criticised. A couple of senators landed some stinging accusations but generally very few revelations came out of the hearings, beyond the meme-worthiness of Mark Zuckerberg. One piece of good news for the company – Facebook’s share price recovered slightly from its dip after the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Looks like Zuck is on their side.

Some of the most popular Zuckerberg-as-a-meme tweets:

2. Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

The SimpsonsThe Simpsons has inexplicably doubled down on an offensive stereotype, upsetting fans with its tone-deaf approach to modern times. Long-time character Apu was previously featured in a documentary by Hari Kondabolu called ‘The Problem With Apu’. That documentary explores the ways in which Apu is an offensive portrayal, including the fact he is voiced by a white actor doing a bad impression of what the Guardian describes as, ‘Peter Sellers doing an Indian accent’.

The Simpsons hit back this week in an episode, with the least morally repugnant character Lisa saying: ‘Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect. What can you do?’

Fans are upset Lisa voices the words and that The Simpsons are effectively telling people to get over it. There are many things that could be done, with people making suggestions on Twitter, including this remarkable example from Warner Brothers.

 

3. What are Puma smoking?

Puma

Puma has apologised this week after a campaign misstep. The fashion brand organised an event based around drug dealing culture – with invites on ‘burner phones’ being sent out in puma shoe boxes full of fake money. Once the phone was turned on a message appeared that read: ‘Yo G what u sayin today? Pass tru the House of Hustle’. As reported by WWD, the event location was designed to resemble a ‘trap house’ (a place to buy, sell and produce drugs) with graffiti on the walls, dirty mattresses on the floor, and blacked-out windows.

The campaign faced heavy criticism, especially in light of the recent violent crime surge in the capital. Puma released a statement, which said: ‘We want to make clear that Puma in no way endorses or intends to glamorize drug culture. We never intended associations with drug usage, drug culture or drug dealing in any way and we regret any misunderstandings in this respect. We apologise for any upset or offense caused in the usage of this language.’

 

4. National Lottery moves to ITV

The National Lottery has moved to ITV, after more than 23 years with the BBC. The results will be aired as a 90-second segment fronted by Stephen Mulhern during the advert break of Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday. The results have been confined to BBC iPlayer since 2017.

Camelot, which operates the Lottery, has said a range of well-known ITV personalities would join Mulhern in future editions. The actual draw won’t be aired live but will be available on the National Lottery’s YouTube channel.

Mulhern said: ‘I feel privileged to be bringing those lucky numbers to the nation but also being able to show players how the money they’ve helped raise has made a difference to communities across the UK’.

 

5. In at the deep end

BBC reporter Mike Bushell had a nasty surprise while interviewing Commonwealth athletes this week – which is hilarious:

 

The LDN Diaries

From London to St Lucia: The LDN Diaries with Paula Holmes

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Paula Holmes is the author of The LDN Diaries, which recently ranked in the Top 10 UK London Lifestyle Blogs. Covering everything awesome about London, Paula writes the blog with her partner Danny and gives her audience top tips for things to do and places to eat. We spoke to Paula about the best places in London, having a successful blog and working with PRs and brands.

What makes your blog successful?
Over the six years of The LDN Diaries, I haven’t been afraid to take risks with my content, however, I also know what works well and what my readers want to see. I would also credit my high standards of the content I produce and being proud of ensuring my audience would want to see, read and engage with it.

I am always looking for ways to constantly improve, whether it’s photography or a new series on the blog. It’s good to have a mix of consistent posts but something fresh too to keep people coming back and I am confident that is what makes it successful.

I’ve also developed great PR and brand relationships over the years, which has enabled me to work with some amazing brands and keep growing.

Paula Holmes What’s the long-term aim of your blogging?
To continue doing what I love! I don’t think a day goes past where I don’t think of the blog. I’m constantly planning content, social media and collaborations. To be honest, each day of blogging changes, one minute I could be at home typing up my next article, the next I’m in Saint Lucia. I’d love to continue to have amazing opportunities with brands that I love.

Long term I would like to develop out my brand and create my own product that people really love.

Where is the best place in London?
Hard to choose, but I do love Sky Garden and I recommend everyone visiting London to go. I just love the view over London and it’s free to enter.

Where is the best place to eat in London?
There are so many great places to eat in London, but my personal favourite is Hakkasan because the food and service is always outstanding.

What’s the best attraction?
As a tourist I would recommend Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the London Eye, but I do love the Natural History Museum. It is so grand and there is so much to see, I could easily spend a whole day here. I also have done a helicopter tour over London, which was amazing.

If not London, where would you like to live?
New York! I just love the vibe of the city, it’s very like London but more fast paced. In complete contrast I also loved LA, it was very chilled and I could definitely see myself enjoying the sunshine every day.

How do you work with PRs and brands?
I enjoy building good relationships with PRs and brands directly, it’s great to be able to share more of your personality with someone so they get a better understanding of what brands or products would fit better. I enjoy working on campaigns and I love when I can put my own input and spin on the collaboration, to make it work better for both parties and create something great for our audiences.

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What campaigns have you worked on that you loved?
I loved working with Sandals at the end of last year. They flew myself and Danny to Saint Lucia to create content for social media and their microsite. We had an amazing time and the campaign was very well organised and put together.

What do you call yourself (blogger/influencer/content creator/writer etc)?
All of the above! I started out as a blogger but as the industry has grown, I would definitely see myself as a content creator and an influencer.

What other blogs do you read?
I love getting travel inspiration from blogs, some favourites are The Londoner, The Travelista and Clutch & Carry.

 

Paula and The LDN Diaries are both listed on the Vuelio Database, along with thousands of other bloggers, journalists, bloggers, MPs and SpAds.  

A Luxury Travel Blog

The number one in Luxury Travel: Paul Johnson, A Luxury Travel Blog

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Dr Paul Johnson is the man behind the hugely popular A Luxury Travel Blog – which recently retained its top position in the Top 10 UK Luxury Travel Blogs. With a huge pool of travel writers providing quality content, A Luxury Travel Blog has become a valuable resource for all things luxe. After being named number one in the ranking, we spoke to Paul about the joy of South Africa, what PRs need to know about full-time bloggers and the word ‘influencer’.

What makes your blog successful?
It was the very first blog of its kind and has amassed over 500 expert contributors since its inception. In the early days of travel blogging, focusing on the luxury side of travel was not something that others were doing so I’m sure I benefited from being an early adopter. That aside, our success comes down to the quality of the content and our strong online marketing focus.

A luxury travel blog What makes luxury travel better than other types?
I wouldn’t say any form of travel is better than another. It comes down to personal preference. But what sets true luxury travel apart from other forms of travel, I believe, is the staff and quality of service associated with your travel experience.

What destination would you suggest to first time travellers?
South Africa. It has such a great mix to offer, whether it is a city break in Cape Town, exploring the garden route, or taking a once-in-a-lifetime safari.

What about seasoned travellers?
For seasoned travellers, I would suggest destinations that are different to anywhere you’ve been before. By exploring new places and going outside of our comfort zones, we discover so much more about the world, different cultures and even ourselves.

Is there anywhere on your bucket list you’ve yet to visit?
I have yet to make it to Iceland and New Zealand – two places I would love to visit soon.

If you could only take three items with you when travelling, what would they be?
My wife and our two sons!

What should PRs know about you?
PRs should know that A Luxury Travel Blog is my full-time job and that I don’t work for free.

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What’s the best PR/brand campaign you’ve worked on?
I worked on a fantastic campaign with Land Rover, where we spent 10 days driving right across Nepal and into India. It was part of a wider expedition and an official test of the capabilities of a new hybrid Range Rover that was about to go into production.

What do you call yourself (blogger/influencer/content creator)?
If people I meet ask what I do, I usually just tell them I’m a travel blogger. If they quiz me further, I might tell them that I specialise in luxury travel, but I usually ‘play down’ the size of its following and level of influence. I prefer to be modest about the site’s success and, despite winning the award of ‘Best Travel Influencer’ from WIRED magazine, I don’t tend to describe myself as an influencer – I think past clients should be the judge of whether you are influential or not, rather than it being a term that’s self-proclaimed by the blogger. Plus, I think it’s an over-used term – I come across lots of people who call themselves ‘influencers’ who are really just starting out.

What other blogs do you read?
In all honesty, I rarely read other blogs – I’m too busy running and managing my own!  It’s a full-time job and so much more…

A Luxury Travel Blog is listed on the Vuelio Database, along with thousands of other bloggers, journalists, bloggers, MPs and SpAds.  

Globalmouse Travels

Family wanderlust with Nichola West’s Globalmouse Travels

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Nichola West is a top family travel blogger and journalist, who writes for a range of national press titles alongside her blog, Globalmouse Travels. We spoke to Nichola about the importance of social media, planning trips with the kids and ongoing relationships with leading PRs.

What makes your blog unique?
We always say we love to get off the beaten track and not be tourists. That’s not to say we don’t do some of the obvious stuff too but we’ll visit a witch’s weigh house in the Netherlands, a chocolate museum in Havana or go on a night time search for Colugo in Langkawi, Malaysia. We’re always trying to find fun, different things to do.

What’s the best place you’ve ever been too?
Oh gosh that’s so difficult, I absolutely loved the Cook Islands and I’m desperate to get back there, so maybe there. As a family our trip to Oman was something special though, it had everything from beaches, to interesting food and wonderful wildlife and just the friendliest people so it’s up there with the best trips.

Which destination haven’t you visited that you want to?
There are so many – Indonesia, Japan, Costa Rica, Argentina, Texas and more of Russia. I could go on but I’ll stop myself there.

How do you plan your content with the kids (do they help?)?
I love that my kids are getting strong ideas of where they want to visit, my six-year-old’s current dream is to get to New York. We try and build a good mix in all our trips with museums and art galleries together with water parks and playgrounds. We do sit down before going on trips to read a bit about the country, look at photos and get excited about it together. I love that wanderlust seems to already be in their blood.

Globalmouse Travels

What’s the best day out as a family?
The best day out is one that has something for all of us to enjoy – a large dose of fun, learning without realising it, watching my children’s eyes turn wide with delight and everyone dropping in to bed exhausted at the end of a jam-packed day.

How do you use video content?
We love making videos, both for brands and destinations and I also love watching them back and remembering all the happy times we’ve had. We embed them in to our blog posts and also share them on social media.

We’ve discovered that for many bloggers, social media has become the new comments section. How important is social media to your blog?
Social media is integral to my blog. I adore photography and so Instagram is a platform I particularly love and I post daily when I’m on a trip. It’s a great way to keep in touch with my readers and acts almost like a second blog; a preview of everything we’re up to. It really is a great place for a conversation too.

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What are the best PR/brand collaborations you’ve worked on?
I adore working with Crystal Ski as they have some amazing destinations that fit in to our love of somewhere a bit different and they’re always great at reciprocal sharing. I also love working with Universal Studios in Florida (our happy place) and also P&O Cruises. I really like building up relationships with brands and PRs that go further than a work exchange that ends there. Recently, we worked with Four Seasons Fairways in the Algarve which was wonderful, they helped us get the best out of the region with some quirky festivals they thought we’d be interested in (we loved them) and some restaurants and experiences we would never have found.

What do you call yourself (Blogger/influencer/content creator)?
I write for the national press too, for The Telegraph, Wanderlust and The Guardian amongst others, so usually I say I’m a travel writer.

What other blogs do you read?
I love Tigerlillyquinn, Mums do Travel and Five Adventurers amongst many others.

GDPR for Comms

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GDPR is the most important change in data protection in 20 years. It affects everyone who deals with personal data, and getting it wrong is not an option.

Vuelio is delighted to partner with Rowenna Fielding, GDPR specialist at Protecture, to discuss:

  • What GDPR means for the comms industry
  • Why you need to know the difference between ‘legitimate interest’ and ‘consent’
  • How to comply and still communicate successfully

rowenna fielding gdpr

Suze Renner

Travelling with the Luxury Columnist

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Suze Renner is one half of the Luxury Columnist, a top 10 luxury travel blog that also features Suze’s husband Paul. Created to document the couple’s experience of luxury travel, the blog has grown a huge following online and provides regular reviews of destinations, restaurants and hotels. Suze gave us some travel tips, suggested some amazing places to visit and told us how she likes to work with PRs and brands (including country tourism boards!).

What makes your blog successful?
When someone says they’ve found our tips helpful and tried somewhere new thanks to our recommendations, we feel successful. We’re continually learning from others and we try to integrate that on the blog. Insider knowledge is priceless and we get great suggestions from our readers and followers. We’re also members of the Travel Bloggers Influencer Network, with a collective reach of over 6.5 million followers.

the luxury columnistWhat makes luxury travel better than other types?
I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily better but for me, luxury travel is synonymous with quality and being unique. That could mean a behind the scenes tour of an attraction or a stay in a stylish boutique hotel serving produce from their herb garden. Attention to detail and personalisation are key factors.

What destination would you suggest to first time travellers?
For a city break, Amsterdam is a good choice. It’s fairly compact so you’re unlikely to get lost, you can walk almost everywhere and most locals speak English. In terms of countries, Switzerland stands out for its amazing scenery, safety and language skills of the Swiss people.

What about seasoned travellers?
Tanzania is an incredible country for the charm of its people and its amazing wildlife. It is suitable for first time travellers as long as they’re fairly organised. You need to choose carefully what you pack as many of the safari camps are reached by small planes where luggage is limited. However, once you arrive, you’ll be rewarded with completely unspoiled landscapes.

Is there anywhere on your bucket list you’ve yet to visit?
So many places! Costa Rica for eco-luxury, Galapagos for the wildlife and Australia to see friends who have moved there.

If you could only take three items with you when travelling, what would they be?
My camera, my mobile phone and sunglasses.

What should PRs know about you?
I do quite a bit of background research on the places that we visit. We find that people want to read about the destination as well as the hotels that we stay in. I often travel with my husband who’s a dab hand at vlogs and drone photography, so it’s great when PRs incorporate him into the mix!

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What’s the best PR/brand campaign you’ve worked on?
We’ve got a soft spot for Florida as we have an ongoing relationship with the PR and the region. They really tailor each visit to our readers’ interests and build in time to edit photos. We also did a campaign for a Swiss hotel and restaurant group who told us that several people had mentioned us when booking, so that was nice to hear.

What do you call yourself (blogger/influencer/content creator)?
Content creator for sure, as influence is all relative and blogger doesn’t cover the videography aspect of our work.

What other blogs do you read?
Some of my favourite UK-based blogs are London Kitchen Diaries for delicious recipes and London tips, Fitness on Toast for healthy inspiration and Miss Gunner for style suggestions.

 

The Luxury Columnist and its writers are both listings on the Vuelio Database, along with thousands of other influencers including journalists, bloggers, MPs and SpAds.  

Ana Silva O'Reilly

I just call it travel: Mrs. O Around the World

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Ana Silva O’Reilly is the author of top Luxury Travel Blog, Mrs. O Around the World. With a belief that luxury is attainable in some unexpected places, Ana has a loyal readership that check in for tips and travel advice for the most beautiful destinations in the world. We spoke to Mrs. O about where new travellers should visit, the accessibility of the Orient Express and how she likes to work with PRs.

What makes your blog successful?
A very interesting question – namely after I had a challenging year on a personal level. The blog is part of my life; I set a percentage 5 or 6 years ago, and that stayed true until now – the blog is 30-40% of my time and of the income it generates.

I have worked very hard for the last 17 years to be where I am in my professional career (as a marketing consultant) and I am not prepared to give it up. I love my blog but I love it more because I know my life doesn’t depend on it to be what it is. I am incredibly respectful of those who are able to make this a full-time profession, because I am not. It would make me make some questionable choices (I say no to about 90% of invites and paid campaigns because I don’t think I will add any value to them) and, more importantly, will mean nothing to my readers, who I really really value.

And my readers know I work three days a week, have a whole household to run and have some sort of presence on social media, which more often than not, reflects real life, and not everything is dreamy and pink and perfect.

I haven’t written once a week for the past six months and no one has complained. The world hasn’t ended. And it is OK not to be online every day and find something to say. They all understand that. And so do brands.

What makes luxury travel better than other types?
I don’t necessarily call it luxury travel – I just call it travel. We can all go to the same places and then, depending on budget, we can get there in a different way and stay in a different place. Everyone is doing the best that they can, according to their budget.

I think travelling is very aspirational and I always like to put prices on things (which not many bloggers do). It is important to know what things cost and in some cases, there can be some very interesting surprises. An example I always use is the Venice Simplon Orient Express train – the traditional London-Venice trip costs under £2,000, which is less than a business class flight between London and New York. I get that flight probably five times a year (and pay for it a lot more sometimes) – yet we all think that the ‘Orient Express is a once in a lifetime thing’. I cannot tell you how many readers have been and send me photos.

Mrs O Around the World

What destination would you suggest to first time travellers?
Where from? The world is getting so much smaller and people who read the blog are from everywhere. I am a great fan of London – and that is a city that needs quite a few days to explore and you will never ever see more than a quarter of it. I recently wrote a guide to W1 alone, which covers a lot of ‘touristic spots’ and has been really successful.

And if you are going to the USA, explore California. We go every year (for the last 12) and can’t get enough of it.

What about seasoned travellers?
If you have done all the main cities, you may want to try Lisbon, Portugal – my hometown and a city that has been getting a lot of press lately. I personally think it is lovely and has a lot to offer to luxury travellers. Also, I think the Middle East has a lot to offer. We have been going two to three times a year recently (and not setting foot in Dubai except for the airport, as it is a place that I really do not get. I think I am the only person in world in that position, and I have accepted it).

Is there anywhere on your bucket list you’ve yet to visit?
I ticked Vancouver off my list last year, but I wasn’t there long enough, so I have to go back. Oman is absolutely on the list – we love Abu Dhabi and think we will love Oman even more.

If you could only take three items with you when travelling, what would they be?
My phone, my contact lens solution and a cashmere scarf, which I seem to need all the time.

What should PRs know about you?
I have been travelling ‘this way’ my whole life and press trips or sponsored projects are only 50% of my trips – I go where I want to go and will very happily pay for it. I work with very select brands and destinations (more and more recently) who really see value in what I do and understand what I charge for (which many others do for free, and that is absolutely fine by me). And I only travel with my husband or a very close friend and I like to put in the time co-organising my itinerary (which is never too heavy). This makes me a dream to work with for some PRs who really get me (and a handful work with me over and over again) and ‘difficult’ to others. Like anything in life!

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What’s the best PR/brand campaign you’ve worked on?
I really like working with Sovereign. We are on year four now and they are a delight to work with – we are both on the same side and work very well together. The head of the PR team has moved on recently, and despite that, they still want to work with me.

What do you call yourself (blogger/influencer/content creator)?
I am a blogger because I have a blog

What other blogs do you read?
I have what I call my leading ladies of luxury travel, from Luxury Travel Mom with whom I co-host #LuxTravelChat each week to Luxe Travel Family. But I also read what the boys write too: I read One Mile at a Time and God Save the Points.

Ana Silva O’Reilly and her blog Mrs. O Around the World are both listings on the Vuelio Database, along with thousands of other influencers including journalists, bloggers, MPs and SpAds.  

Radio 1

Radio 1 switches to a four-day week

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BBC Radio 1 has announced a major overhaul of its schedule, with weekend programming now starting on Friday.

The new Friday line-up starts with Radio 1’s Weekend Breakfast at 6.30am on Friday morning, hosted by Dev and Alice Levine; followed by Radio 1’s Greatest Hits with Maya Jama; then Mollie King (of The Saturdays) and Matt Edmondson filling the early afternoon slot 1-4pm; finishing with Scott Mills, who will ‘fulfil a lifelong dream’ by presenting The Official Chart 4-7pm.

The existing Saturday and Sunday schedule is unchanged.

Ben Cooper, controller, BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra and Asian Network, said: ‘The weekend will start here at Radio 1 on a Friday morning, giving our young audience that feel good factor a day early. It’s our job at Radio 1 to reinvent the way young people listen to the radio, to disrupt traditional thinking and to look for new ways in which to grow audiences.’

The knock-on effect is that weekday presenters, including Nick Grimshaw, Clara Amfo and Greg James, will now only present on four days. As the BBC reports, this is the first time Radio 1 has scheduled a four-day week despite Chris Evans famously making a request to have Fridays off when he presented the weekday breakfast show.

This new schedule cements Mollie King’s position as a permeant presenter, after her recent stint as a guest presenter with Matt Edmondson. She said: ‘The only person more excited than me is my mum, who is delighted I finally have a proper job. I’ve had so much fun working with Matt over the past few weeks, and I’m so glad I’m no longer just “Mollie from The Saturdays” but “Mollie from the Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays”.’

It is unclear what effect these changes will have on any of the presenters’ salaries, though presumably the weekday presenters will take a hit and the weekend presenters will get a rise.

The new schedule comes into effect in June.

All shows are kept up to date in the Vuelio Media Database – along with presenters, staff and contacts. 

Inside the Travel Lab with Abigail King

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Abigail King is the blogger behind Inside the Travel Lab, which is among the top luxury travel blogs in the UK. Abi was a doctor before she started travelling the world and now writes about the culture, history and food of amazing destinations for an audience that cares about the people and places they visit.

Abi told us about the best destinations for both new and seasoned travellers, the importance of her iPhone and her favourite way to work with PRs and brands.

Abi KingWhat makes your blog successful?
Now there’s the million dollar question… Who knows, really!?

I think it’s because I write for an underserved audience and show the world from a different perspective; it’s luxury travel but for people who want to understand a place. Readers are professionals who are passionate about travel, reading, watching and consuming content but they’re not always the chattiest kind. Many of them work in fields that explicitly forbid them from commenting online and so many travel blogs ignore them.

What’s better, luxury travel or travel on a shoestring?
It’s not the price tag that matters but the quality of the experience. So, often that does mean luxury travel is better but of course, as the cliché goes, the best things in life are free.

What destination would you suggest to first time travellers?
America. You’ve half travelled through it already on screen and you don’t need to worry about water or healthcare.

What about seasoned travellers?
Ooh, now that’s a different one because by then people have really honed the kind of things they like to do. So, in part, I would challenge seasoned travellers to try something new.

Madagascar remains relatively unexplored yet its wildlife and landscape are exceptional and the history is fascinating, especially around World War Two. The beaches are beautiful, too, which always helps…

Is there anywhere on your bucket list you’ve yet to visit?
Plenty of places because the list keeps growing the more I travel!

I long to see polar bears in Churchill, hike across Iceland, taste the flavours of Bali and peer into a volcano on Hawaii.

There are the salt lakes of Djibouti and the rock churches in Ethiopia. The swirling rock in Arizona and the quiet water of Kerala.

Then the old cities I love like London, Paris and New York keep adding highlights to their itineraries and former trouble spots like Belfast reinvent themselves!

I’d better stop. I could go on and on…

Abigail King

If you could only take three items with you when travelling, what would they be?
iPhone, iPhone, iPhone.

Or iPhone, charger, spare battery. Maybe a scarf.

So many travel details live on my phone, together with entertainment for long journeys, top editing software from Adobe, music, translation apps, currency conversion tools. It contains about half of what my luggage used to be.

What should PRs know about you?
Inside the Travel lab reaches an affluent, educated audience who love to travel and do so frequently. It’s been described as one of the best travel blogs in the world by Lonely Planet and National Geographic Traveller, and celebrates its 10th year in business next year.

As for me, I used to work as a doctor so I’m used to tight deadlines and getting things done – accurately. I love to work by email instead of phone so that I can work more flexibly around travel and my young daughter.

Oh, and my media kit and case studies live here.

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What’s the best PR/brand campaign you’ve worked on?
Happily, over the last seven years, I’ve worked on so many good ones that it’s difficult to choose. However, the stand out one remains a project with Eurail where they acted as ‘artistic sponsors’ and invited me to create a trip to inspire other travellers.

I travelled from Istanbul to Berlin, zig-zagging back and forth across the former Iron Curtain, trying to understand the past and exploring and enjoying the present in each of the modern cities.

What do you call yourself (blogger/influencer/content creator)?
I’m old enough to still be saying ‘writer’ but as I now professionally create photos, videos and broadcast for Lonely Planet, a broader term is definitely needed. All of the above?

What other blogs do you read?
Again, too many!

I like Girl Tweets World, As The Bird Flies, Eat Like A Girl, Geotraveler’s Niche, Atlas and Boots, Y Travel Blog, Landlopers, Adventurous Kate, The Travel Hack, A Lady in London… and many more!

They certainly don’t all fit my niche but I find something interesting or inspiring in each one.

 

Abigail King and Inside the Travel Lab are both listings on the Vuelio Database, along with thousands of other influencers including journalists, bloggers, MPs and SpAds.  

PR blogger collaborations

5 top tips for successful collaborations

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Vuelio talks to bloggers, vloggers and ‘influencers’ a lot (which means we know most of them don’t use the word ‘influencer’). We publish spotlights and, as part of these, we get amazing insight into the blogger/PR relationship – what works, what doesn’t and what it takes to be successful.

Every blogger is different, but there are fundamental ‘rules’ that crop up again and again that can help every PR and brand with their influencer outreach and campaign building.

Here are 5 tips, from some of our top blogger friends, on what makes the best campaigns.

1. Find something bloggers are passionate about

The best bloggers will only work with brands and companies they genuinely believe in. No matter how much you pay, few will go against their fundamental beliefs. But if you’re the right fit, then it can lead to stunning collaborations.

For Tamara Kalinic, who heads up the top fashion blog Glam and Glitter, sometimes loving a brand means she doesn’t require payment:

‘My team and I are proud to only accept campaigns with brands we truly love; previously, we’ve worked with brands for free, because it was a natural fit. Some of the projects I enjoyed the most are ones with Cartier, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Louis Vuitton.’

Mike Huxley, Bemused Backpacker, believes the best campaigns he’s worked on are those that tap into his own passions:

‘One of my all-time favourites was the RIGHT tourism campaign with the charity Care For The Wild International. I absolutely loved that because it was a cause that was so close to my heart, and ethical wildlife tourism is something that I still campaign for today.’

 

2. Make their dreams come true

Everyone likes to be treated well, and special campaigns can really stand out and improve your coverage.

This is true for the Best Women’s Lifestyle blogger Lily Pebbles:

‘Last year I went to New York with Bobbi Brown to help promote their new lipstick range. I love NY, I love Bobbi Brown, I loved the new lipsticks… it was a dreamy job!’

And for Angie Silver, who writes the number one London Lifestyle blog Silverspoon of London:

‘Last year I worked with the Mayakoba resort in Mexico. They flew me out to stay at the Rosewood Mayakoba, a spectacular luxury hotel, in order to create content for them. It was honestly a dream come true!’

For top mummy blogger Clare Minall, who writes Mudpie Fridays, luxury treats that produce family memories are the foundation of the best campaigns:

‘We were gifted a Land Rover Discovery for a weekend adventuring in Cheddar Gorge. The reason it’s my favourite is that I will never forget my husband’s sense of satisfaction driving said car and Monkey’s pure excitement about being able to see over the hedges. It was the moment my husband finally ‘got it’.

‘The special memories created by time together as a family are what I hold dearest and the collaborations that mean the most.’

 

3. Challenge them

A press release and guidelines for posting can stifle creativity and make your campaign instantly forgettable. The reason you’re working with bloggers is because they have independently grown a loyal audience, who they know inside out! Take advantage of this – let the bloggers contribute to the campaign plan and find something to challenge them.

For Fiona Maclean, founder of London-Unattached, this approach is vital:

‘I really enjoy being given a challenge and creating something to use a specific ingredient or to pair with a specific wine.’

And for Becky Moore, owner of Global Grasshopper, challenges produce content that’s good for brands and bloggers:

‘We were challenged by Vauxhall to see how much fun we can have in 48 hours in their newly launched mini SUV. So, accompanied by Gary (the team videographer) I took a road trip to the surfer’s paradise: Newquay in Cornwall. We were really lucky with the weather and the scenery was so beautiful and, combined with Gary’s drone footage and creative talents, the video instantly took off on Facebook and YouTube – going viral.’

 

4. Think long-term

When you work with a blogger, you’re tapping into an established brand’s reach and influence. If you do a one off, that’s going to have less impact than working with someone again and again over a period of time, effectively turning them into a brand ambassador.

Angie Silver, who writes the number one London Lifestyle blog, Silverspoon of London, wants you to think long term:

‘I prefer to work on a long-term basis and develop a good working relationship and trust, rather than one-off campaigns or reviews.’

Kimberly Duran, who writes the Best Interior Design Blog Swoon Worthy, also wants the relationship to last:

‘I like to have an ongoing relationship with brands and continuous collaborations. My ideal scenario is having a brand that’s a great fit for my blog so that if they have something in particular or new they’d like to promote, they’ll think of me because they know my audience will respond well to it.’

 

5. Pay your way

There is still a lot of confusion around bloggers getting paid for collaborations. Firstly, they’re not journalists – they’re not on a salary getting paid whether they cover your campaign or not. Secondly, some are professional – which means they need to be paid – and some are hobbyists, which means they might be happy to cover an experience or product for the joy of it.

Remember, it’s not up to you to decide if a blogger decides to charge and you shouldn’t expect professionals to work for free. Often to work with the best bloggers, you will have to pay – but the rewards can be huge!

Craig Landale, responsible for the Best UK Blog – Menswear Style, makes his position on payment clear at the beginning of a relationship:

‘Some brands come through and they know exactly what they want, and they’re up-front about budget – making it clear if they’re willing to pay or not. I always ask about budget to make sure we both know how to work together.’

And Kate Williams, of top arts and crafts blog Crafts on Sea, wishes people would stop offering freebies:

‘In order to pay the mortgage each month you need to know everything about the latest changes in social media algorithm, what hosting companies are the best and be able to code; it’s not just a job about making pretty stuff. I would love people to stop asking to pay me in craft materials – at risk of sounding rude, I have more paints and paper than the average craft store!’

 

The Vuelio Database lists thousands of bloggers, and other influencers from the worlds of media and politics including journalists, editors, MPs and their SpAds. Each listing includes a detailed profile, with pitch tips and PR preferences, to help you make the right relationships in the right ways.

Bemused Backpacker

Travelling the world with Michael Huxley, Bemused Backpacker

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Michael Huxley is an author, nurse and founder of travel blog, the Bemused Backpacker. With hints, tips and advice for travelling the world, particularly those on gap years, Bemused Backpacker has built a loyal following with its stunning destinations and travel reviews.  

We spoke to Michael about travel blogging, particularly how he likes to work with PRs and his personal pet peeves when it comes to PR/blogger outreach.

What makes your blog successful?
My audience without a doubt. There are other factors of course: integrity, tenacity and sticking with it for a long period when many others have given up; treating it as a business and not a blog; and trying to differentiate myself from everyone else out there! But I wouldn’t be anywhere without those who read what I write and say every single day. I have built up a lot of trust and a strong relationship with a good core of my regular readers and that just keeps growing.

How easy is it to become a great blogger?
It isn’t. It is easy to start a blog and call yourself a blogger, but there is a vast difference between that and being successful at it.

What’s the best destination for new travellers?
I used to say Thailand, because it was such a traditional go-to backpacker destination with all the traveller infrastructure any backpacker or traveller would ever need, and it still is to a large extent, but now I would say Indonesia too. Or Malaysia. Hell, just south east Asia in general really!

Bemused Backpacker

What’s the best destination for seasoned travellers?
Anywhere they haven’t been yet!

Where haven’t you been that you’d still like to visit?
I’m still waiting for that opportunity to trek across Antarctica!

If you could only take three items with you when travelling, what would they be?
My camera, my notepad and a pen. I’m assuming I still get to keep my passport with me!

What should PRs know about you?
That I am not just a travel blogger, I am a professional with a business. I have set – and fair – rates for a variety of marketing services and offer a strong ROI for all of them. And I never work for free, so please don’t ask.

What are you favourites campaigns you’ve been part of?
I have been part of so many good ones it is hard to choose. One of my all-time favourites was the RIGHT tourism campaign with the charity Care For The Wild International. I absolutely loved that because it was a cause that was so close to my heart, and ethical wildlife tourism is something that I still campaign for today.

And I was one of the first bloggers to work on the Trip Of Wonders Campaign with the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and that was an amazing trip, but I am proud to have worked on it because of how successful it was, and continues to be.

I have worked on many more but those are two that really stand out. At the moment I am currently working alongside Bug Off, a national campaign to promote awareness of insect-borne diseases and how travellers can protect themselves, and as a nurse as well as a blogger that is something I am passionate about too.

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What shouldn’t PRs do?
There are so many things that PRs do that immediately get bloggers backs up (I am sure there are just as many unprofessional bloggers who do the same for PRs) and I could create a very long list, things like spamming us with endless and largely irrelevant press releases (we are not traditional journalists who need copy and it is not our job to report news/product info in that way); sending irrelevant mass phishing emails (we really don’t care if the initial email isn’t personalised, we understand that you need to send it out to a lot of people but at the very least do a little research. My travel blog is not going to be interested in a fashion show in London or a book on how to cook the plants in your garden!); moving jobs and disappearing halfway through a campaign; approaching us for campaigns and then never responding when we answer back; or getting snarky when we ask for payment and trying to tell us how to do what we do.

And please recognise that our websites are our websites. We are very careful about what we put on there, what we link to and we control how things work. We don’t care if the brand has a list of demands and expects their logo to be front and centre on our homepage; we decide what services we offer and how we execute those services. Our readers trust us, we do not give that influence up easily, and we know how to market to them, so please trust us to do that.

But the primary thing is do not approach us without a strong budget in place to pay us (we know there is a budget in place, that is how you are getting paid, you or the brand just don’t want to allocate any of it to bloggers), and do not expect us to work for free. Or tell us any part of our hard work is at ‘no cost to us’.

Many professional blogs are run as businesses now, mine included, and we expect to be treated as such. Bloggers are experts in what we do, we have built up strong and highly engaged audiences (in many cases as large as a lot of traditional media and in many more cases a lot more targeted with higher reach and engagement), we know exactly how to market to that audience and can give a strong ROI for any brand that we work with. The blogging world IS changing and this is becoming the norm. The freebie grabbing hobby bloggers will always be around but ask yourself what value are you really getting from them?

And please just show us a little respect too. We are the ones at the end of the day that you need to complete the brief from your clients. You know the power of influencer marketing, you know the reach we have and just how powerful a marketing force we can be for the brands you work with, so respect that. Bloggers want to work with you and brands alike, so please build up relationships with us, develop those relationships, and work with us to promote your clients.

What do you call yourself (blogger/influencer/content creator)?
I call myself the founder of a travel website/business. I hate the term influencer (if you have to call yourself one you probably aren’t), but do use blogger occasionally, especially within the industry because that is just a widely recognised and easily generic term. But to be honest I don’t think any of those labels describe fully what professional ‘bloggers’ are any more.

What other blogs do you read?
I read so many blogs from a whole range of different genres and interests, but sticking to travel blogs I read Teacake Travels, TravelBreak and Nomadic Boys amongst many, many others.

 

Mike Huxley and his blog Bemused Backpacker are both listings on the Vuelio Database, and include detailed requests for how he likes to be contacted by PRs. 

At Crufts

Monty Dogge at Crufts

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Top Pet blog, Adventures of Monty Dogge, is written by Mark Sanders and follows Monty – the large white-and-black Newfoundland. Monty was recently invited to the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts, and has very kindly agreed to let Mark tell us all about it!

Monty does Crufties

In what capacity were you at Crufts?
Monty has been going to Crufts for the past four years as a dog blogger. He was invited by the Kennel club to report on the show from a dog’s perspective and it’s very much Crufts unleashed. He particularly enjoys explaining to the ‘hoomans’ who follow the blog how the show is through his eyes, which is usually pretty different from how we perceive it.

Was Monty recognised at Crufts?
Every year people travel to Crufts specifically to meet Monty. It’s amazing how many times you get stopped walking around the show with people wanting to meet him. You hear people saying, ‘That’s Monty’ or ‘Look, it’s Monty Dogge’. As time goes on we meet new friends and it’s lovely to meet people in person and hear how the blog makes them smile and gives them a boost. We hear some very moving stories.

What’s the best thing about going to Crufts (from both your and Monty’s perspectives)?
Easy from Monty’s perspective – it’s the amount of treat stalls around the venue. It’s like watching an antelope graze as he goes from stall to stall fluttering his eyelashes and reaping the rewards. For me it’s an amazing opportunity to promote ourselves to a huge audience of dog lovers. We met with quite a few companies this year who are looking to work with us so it’s good chance to network as well.

What was your favourite product/stall/company at Crufts?
Monty would say any treat stall but in particular Sea Treats, becayse he loves fishy treats. He also has to pay a visit to the Canine Massage guild every year as he gets his pre-show massage and they see how he’s doing. He’s been going every year since we began going and they look forward to his visit. I love going to the dog charity stalls as we really enjoy supporting various animal related causes, like Hounds for Heroes and Canine Partners, throughout the year and it’s a nice chance to catch up.

Eating treats

Who was your favourite winner?
Well this year a Newfoundland got through to best in show which was lovely to see but for us, a puppy that we bred was competing for the first time. Merlot is two and was the only puppy that survived from the only litter we ever bred so she’s pretty special. She lives in Scotland with a friend and it was lovely to see her again. She came a very creditable fifth in a strong class so she was our ‘winner’.

What’s Monty like around other dogs?
Monty is very good around other dogs. He’s particularly good with small dogs and puppies and usually lies down so they can be the same height. It’s not uncommon to see a little dog jumping up trying to give him kisses. There’s no doubt though that his favourites are the ladies, he’s a big flirt. He does get strange reactions from some dogs who are just totally phased by his size and aren’t sure what to do.

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Is Monty a future winner?
Monty will never be a show dog, he’s just too lazy. He’d lie down during the show and if he doesn’t want to move it’s pretty impossible to make him. He trained as a water rescue dog when he was younger but doesn’t like swimming because it’s all a bit too much like hard work. I think his future lies in his continuing school visits and charity work where he can take everything at his own pace… slowly.

How did you use social media during Crufts?
We did some live video this year for the first time, which was very popular. We set up a ‘Crufts according to Monty Dogge’ Facebook page that we use to build up to the show. We do things such as interviews with celebs with dogs and Monty’s explanation of the breeds and groups, which go down very well. This year we were featured as one of the dogs of Instagram and Monty appeared in the Daily Mail, which increased his profile further. I use Twitter quite a lot during the show as it gets quick responses and you can easily @ people or companies and get some good traffic.

meeting people

What’s the next event Monty is visiting?
The next major thing will be the book launch for our third children’s book, Monty and the Poppit Dragon. The two previous books were launched in Waterstones but this time we wanted to do a bit of a book launch tour in Wales, where the story is based. We will then be at the inaugural Dog Lovers show in Glasgow in September. They have invited us to go up and have an area where we can read stories to the children and they can meet Monty and Cookie, the stars of the books. We will then be at the Family Pet Show in Manchester in October and in between they will be visiting plenty of schools, so it’s a very busy year.

Adventures of Monty Dogge (and Mark Sanders) are both listings on the Vuelio Database along with thousands of other leading bloggers, journalists, editors and outlets. 

Silverspoon London

The No.1 London Lifestyle Blogger: Angie Silver of Silverspoon London

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Angie Silver writes Silverspoon London, the lifestyle and travel blog which has been ranked as the UK’s number one London Lifestyle blog. Covering the finer things in luxury London, Angie covers retail experiences, restaurant reviews and uncovers hidden gems! We spoke to her about the best places in London, how to run a successful blog and how she likes to work with brands and PRs.

What makes your blog successful?
Even though blogging has changed so much over the years, the key to a good blog has always been content. I work incredibly hard on my content and produce around three blog posts a week. Photography was never my forte but I’ve worked very hard to get it to where it is today and I’m very proud of it.

Another key to blog success is relationships. In the four and half years I’ve been blogging, I’ve forged very strong relationships with brands and PRs who have returned to work with me again and again. My relationships and friendships with other bloggers has been one of the most significant aspects of the development of my blog. Not only do they provide a support network but we share each other’s content and champion each other’s blogs.

Finally, I’ve always kept it real! Stuck to my brand identity and kept my content authentic.

What’s the long-term aim of your blog?
When I started my blog it was a fun hobby but eventually it turned into so much more. It’s given me opportunities that I never dreamed of, I’ve met incredible people and I’ve been able to be my own boss and make my own hours. Honestly, my long-term goal is to keep being happy creating content and exploring beautiful destinations.

Where is the best place in London?
It’s hard to say the best place but the current popular places are the beautiful Instagrammable cafes. Top choices are Peggy Porschen, Saint Aymes and Aubaine in Selfridges.

Where is the best place to eat in London?
It depends what food you like and what atmosphere you’re looking for but here are my top three:

  1. For Michelin fine dining, Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester is the absolute best in my opinion.
  2. Hakkasan is one of London’s top Chinese restaurants but it also has a buzzy and lively vibe.
  3. Bob Bob Ricard is somewhere that will please everyone. The food is hearty and delicious, the décor is beautiful and there’s even a ‘Press for Champagne’ button at every table.

What’s the best attraction?
Well you can’t miss the obvious such as Buckingham Palace, The London Eye and St Paul’s Cathedral but I’d definitely take the time to explore the more hidden side of London. I know a few people who specialise in coffee house tours or chocolate tours, which give a different perspective on the city.

If not London, where would you like to live?
I love London but the busy pace of life can be overwhelming. When my husband and I visited Australia a few years ago, we fell in love with Melbourne and discussed how it would be lovely to live somewhere so laid-back. The food and the coffee scene there is outstanding too!

How do you work with PRs and brands?
I absolutely prefer to meet face-to-face to establish a more personal connection. I also prefer to work on a long-term basis and develop a good working relationship and trust, rather than one-off campaigns or reviews.

I also think it’s very important that the blogger chosen for campaign is the perfect fit for the brand and market – that way everyone will get a return on investment.

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What are your favourite campaigns that you’ve worked on?
Last year I worked with the Mayakoba resort in Mexico. They flew me out to stay at the Rosewood Mayakoba, a spectacular luxury hotel, in order to create content for them. It was honestly a dream come true!

I also worked with Classic Collection to promote their trips to Santorini which was a dream destination for me.

What do you call yourself (blogger/influencer/content creator/writer etc)?
I’m first and foremost a blogger because my blog is my main platform. However, I do think the term content creator is becoming more and more applicable to people in the industry.

What other blogs do you read?
So so many! For London recommendations I love Heroine in Heels, The Lifestyle Diaries and Adventures of a London Kiwi. For travel The Travelista, The Londoner and The Travel Hack always have great tips.

Angie Silver and Silverspoon London are both listings on the Vuelio Database along with thousands of other leading journalists, editors, bloggers and outlets. 

Hedonist, London unattached

London Lifestyle spotlight with Adrian York

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Adrian York is a contributor to London Unattached, the London Lifestyle blog that recently ranked in the top 10 London Lifestyle Blogs in the UK, and author of The Hedonist. We caught up with Adrian to talk everything London, from the best place to eat, from the best spot to stand at night to see the city lights. We also spoke about blogging and working with PRs.

What makes your blog successful?
Firstly, London Unattached is a contributor blog with a really strong team of specialist writers who are experts in their subject area. I know I want to transmit the excitement I feel to our wonderfully loyal readers when I go to an inspiring concert, eat a wonderful meal or have an amazing trip. Secondly, our boss, blogging ‘legend’ Fiona Maclean, navigates the blogosphere with style, wit and grace and holds the whole thing together brilliantly.

What’s the long-term aim of your blogging?
To share fantastic experiences with our readers. At London Unattached we are given opportunities to sample the best of London, the UK and the world, and the mission is to give an honest and accessible view. On a personal note, I enjoy the process of writing about food, lifestyle, music, men’s fashion and culture whether it is for London Unattached, my own blog The Hedonist, or for online news portals such as The Conversation, The Independent or The Huffington Post. I’d like to keep on doing it and raise my profile as critic and cultural commentator. It provides a different space for me to operate in away from my day job as an academic and jazz musician.

Where is the best place in London?
I love to stand on Waterloo Bridge at night and look at the river and the lights illuminating the greatest city in the world.

Where is the best place to eat in London?
I’ve been eating out in London since the 1970s and have seen a huge change in the range and quality of restaurants. I love how London has become a major player in the global gastro scene so choosing one place is always going to be hard. I’m going to choose a tiny new place in Hackney called Nest that epitomises cutting-edge trends in fine dining.

What’s the best attraction?
The whole city is the attraction. See it all from the top of The Shard. Experience cutting edge theatre at The Young Vic, immerse yourself in the street hustle and small plate restaurants of Soho, soak up the glitz and designer fashion of Bond Street and enjoy incredible Indian restaurants in Southall.

If not London, where would you like to live?
Somewhere warm! I’d love to be an urban nomad spending a few months staying in a place to really get under the skin of a city and then moving on. Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, New York, Madrid, Athens, Rome, Tokyo and Lisbon would do for starters!

How do you work with PRs and brands?
We are contacted by PRs who reach out to us when they have a product, event or launch that they want to publicise.

It’s important only to work with brands that relate to the demographic that you serve. At London Unattached and at my blog The Hedonist we focus on elements that will appeal to Gen X and baby-boomers.

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What are the best campaigns you’ve collaborated on?
I really enjoy cultural and gastronomic trips around the world. I visited Hamburg for the ElbJazz Festival set in the city’s shipyards. I ate my way around Athens on a gastro walking tour of the city and explored the food and culture of Lake Garda in Northern Italy.

What do you call yourself (blogger/influencer/content creator/writer etc)?
I’m a blogger and writer.

What other blogs do you read?
The Sartorialist for fashion, Andy Hayler for restaurants, Pitchfork for pop and Ethan Iverson for jazz.

Adrian York, London Unattached and the Hedonist are all listings on the Vuelio Database along with thousands of other leading journalists, editors, bloggers and outlets. 

The Grocer

Journalist Spotlight: The Grocer’s Marianne Calnan

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Marianne Calnan, recently appointed senior reporter at The Grocer, talks to Vuelio about her new role, balancing her time and how you never know where the best stories will come from…

How are you settling into your new role as a senior reporter at The Grocer? Can you describe a typical working day for you?
It’s been great so far and very full-on – I really feel like I’ve hit the ground running. The day will usually start with news hunting, followed by writing and interviewing for most of the rest of the day for a wide range of articles. Either that, or I’ll be at meetings with industry contacts or events.

What do you enjoy the most about your job? What are the main challenges you face?
I’m really enjoying learning more about the FMCG industry, and my challenges include balancing my time between my writing and event-attending duties.

How do you decide what content to focus on?
The editorial team has pretty much constant discussions about what to cover and what to prioritise.

Do you have a good relationship with PRs? What advice would you give to PR professionals who want to work with you?
Definitely, and I would say send me anything and everything you think may be relevant to my remit, as you never know where the best stories could come from.

What type of press material are you interested in receiving?
Mainly press releases and background info about any new developments or changes.

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Marianne Calnan and The Grocer and her blog are both listings on the Vuelio Database along with thousands of other leading journalists, editors, bloggers and outlets. 

Vloggers, YouTube and Brands – Who is Responsible

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Logan Paul thrust vlogging into the global spotlight, with a controversial video making him headline news around the world. The post led to a huge backlash against the millionaire vlogger, with YouTube changing its rules about monetising content and booting Logan Paul off its elite preferred ad programme.

But who is ultimately responsible? Should vloggers be regulated like journalists?

Lucy Wood, vlogger, blogger and freelance journalist, will guide us through the confusing world of brand collaborations on YouTube and outline best practice for everyone.

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London-Unattached

Food and Travel: Fiona Maclean, London-Unattached

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London-Unattached is a multi-author blog covering a range of lifestyle topics, with a strong focus on food and travel. Founded by Fiona Maclean, London-Unattached covers topics of interest to Generation X and up. Fiona told us about her best travel experiences, working with PRs and meat fruit.

What makes your blog unique?
London-Unattached is a contributor blog or blogazine – I work with six talented individuals, each with a different focus. So, for example, I have one writer who specialises in theatre reviews – she’s an actress and theatre coach for her day job; another is a university lecturer in music and jazz musician. We are all Generation X upward (over 45) so we address a niche that I believe is under represented but has a high disposable income and wants to explore. We all cover food (restaurant reviews and recipe development) and travel.

What’s your biggest aim with the blog/what would you ideally achieve with it?
I’d like to get to the stage where we have, say, a quarterly print magazine to complement the online content.

What’s your favourite location in the UK?
The Scilly Isles – I went last year and the islands had a wonderful Enid Blyton feel to them – very unspoilt!

What’s your favourite trip abroad?
As always, it’s my most recent trip! I’m just back from Rodrigues, a tiny island the size of Jersey, 150 miles north of Mauritius. Although it lacked the ‘resort luxury’ of some of the other destinations I’ve visited, it made up for it in a big way by having totally empty beaches, coral reefs, a plethora of wildlife and some fantastic food (French Creole with a seafood bias)

What’s the best thing about blogging about your travels?
Finding places like Rodrigues that I’ve never heard of but which are astonishingly beautiful – and then having the opportunity to share them with other people. Or finding a special feature that I know will be a hook for my readers – in St Lucia for instance, I’d have to highlight the luxury of the resorts as well as the activities, while in Bruges, for me, it was that the food was more than a match for the heritage and architecture.

Best meal you’ve ever eaten?
Last year, at Dinner by Heston (sorry to be so obvious – but I still dream of the Meat Fruit!)

What one thing should PRs know about you?
I’m more cautious on paper than I am in real life. Generally, given a bit of encouragement, I’ll have a go at things I’d say no to if you asked me ahead of time.
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What are the best PR/brand collaborations you’ve worked on?
I love doing recipe development projects. I really enjoy being given a challenge and creating something to use a specific ingredient or to pair with a specific wine. I’ve done one recently with Spanish Sherry and a couple with Grana Padano and Prosciutto di San Daniele including this set of festive canapes.

I also like working with a country destination on a long-term basis. One of my first press trips was to Portugal and I’ve subsequently been back every year and now have a wealth of content about a country I love. Last year, I worked with the Czech Republic for the first time, went on two trips to Prague, Pardubice and Brno, produced six blog posts and won their ‘Blogger of the Year award’.  I think it takes time to get to know a destination well – so being given the opportunity to go back really helps.

What do you call yourself (Blogger/influencer/content creator)?
Freelance writer (I do work on a number of other writing projects, from website development through to writing newsletters and blogging for other people).

What other blogs do you read?
Too many to list. For quirky blogs I wouldn’t normally come across, I love the ‘Big up Your Blog’ group. It’s full of passionate and lovely people like Jill Creighton who writes Midlifesmarts and Suzanne Vickery who writes about her experience travelling the world as a House Sitter.

Fiona and her blog are both listings on the Vuelio Database along with thousands of other leading bloggers, journalists, editors and outlets.