Five Things 26 October

Five Things: Injunction, Ross the thief, Radio 2, Facebook and Popémon Go

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This week’s Five Things You Shouldn’t Have Missed includes the one with the injunction, the one with the David Schwimmer lookalike, the one with the departing Radio 2 host, the one with the Facebook ads and the one with the catholic Pokémon Go.

Don’t forget next week’s Five Things will be an hour later because the clocks go back this weekend.

 

1. Injunction

Sir Philip Green

The biggest story of the week is undoubtedly the injunction that stopped the Telegraph from publishing its investigation. Making the front page of The Daily Telegraph midweek, the story was headlined ‘The British #MeToo scandal which cannot be revealed’.

With speculation rife over the ‘leading business’ who was at the centre of the storm (including this amusing denial from Lord Sugar), Lord Hain used his parliamentary privilege to name Sir Philip Green as the man behind the injunction.

As reported by ITV News, Green has ‘categorically and wholly’ denied being guilty of any ‘unlawful sexual or racist behaviour’. Hain has been criticised for using parliamentary privilege – and the Guardian reports this will now reopen the issue of whether MPs or Lords should be able to speak with impunity.

It’s also likely to throw the use of injunctions into the spotlight, with many MPs earlier this week claiming you shouldn’t be able to ‘buy silence’.

Expect this one to rumble on.

 

2. The Geller Yeller

Ross Geller

The second biggest story of the week is the David Schwimmer lookalike who was wanted in connection with a theft by Blackpool Police. Not only did the original police appeal on Facebook spawn thousands of jokes in response, it also led to this comedy gold from Ross Geller himself:

[INSERT YOUR OWN FRIENDS/ROSS JOKE HERE]

 

3. Radio 2

Simon Mayo and Jo Whiley

The Radio 2 Drivetime show will end in its current format after co-host Simon Mayo has announced he is leaving the station for good.

He has only been hosting Drivetime with Jo Whiley since May, though has hosted the show solo (alongside his team) for eight years. The new format has never really sat well with listeners who have complained about the lack of chemistry between the two presenters.

BBC News reports that Mayo will not be moving to a rival broadcaster, despite social media reports suggesting otherwise. He will continue to co-host the film show at 5 Live with Mark Kermode.

Mayo’s departure is part of a bigger catalogue of changes at Radio 2 – not only will the Drivetime show get a new host (Whiley is moving back to the evening slot), the breakfast show is losing Chris Evans in the New Year when he is replaced by Zoe Ball. Radio is often overlooked when we discuss PR and campaigns, but with 50 million radio listeners a week, it’s still one of the most popular media channels in the UK and PRs should take note.

 

4. Facebook

Vice News Facebook

Last week, Nick Clegg was appointed head of global affairs at Facebook, which drew praise from the PR industry. Now he may have his first issue to tackle – no not the £500,000 fine for the Cambridge Analytica data breach issued by the ICO – but VICE News pulling apart Facebook’s ‘more transparent’ political advertising.

VICE placed ads on behalf of prominent political figures including Mike Pence and Tom Perez, which Facebook approved. It also approved an advert on behalf of ‘Islamic State’. VICE tried imitating adverts that have been identified as Russian bot/interference during the election and, again, they were approved.

Facebook did stop an advert submitted by ‘Hillary Clinton’ but gave VICE no explanation as to why.

To submit political ads, VICE was required to submit a valid ID and proof of residence, but there was nothing requiring this to match up to the public facing ‘paid for by’ name.

Check out the full story here.

 

5. Popémon Go

Follow JC Go

A new Pokémon Go-style game is being released by a Florida-based Catholic evangelical group where instead of pocket monsters, you catch saints and biblical figures. While not coming directly from the church itself, the Pope apparently approves of the idea. The app group’s executive director, Ricardo Grzona, said: ‘You know, Francis is not a very technological person, but he was in awe, he understood the idea, what we were trying to do: combine technology with evangelization’.

The app is called ‘Follow JC Go!’. As one Twitter user pointed out they missed a trick – they should have called it Popémon Go.

 

Seen something we missed? Let us know on Twitter @Vuelio. 

Digital radio

Are you taking advantage of the digital radio boom?

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Radio Joint Audience Research (RAJAR) has released its quarter-three listening report, which shows that digital listening is at an all-time high.

At the start year, digital listening reached its tipping-point when just over half (50.9%) of radio listeners were tuning in via digital channels. The latest report shows digital channels rise further, with 63% of the population listening each week – that’s three in five adults.

Overall, almost 50 million people switched on their favourite radio station each week. This equated to a total average of just over a billion hours listening each week in quarter three.

Of those, 34 million people selected BBC channels, 51% of those now listening through digital means – the highest number on record.

Bob Shennan, Director of BBC Radio and Music, said: ‘While millions continue to listen every day we’ve also been reinventing radio to expand our digital offer for the increasing number of online listeners’.

Digital listening hours across all radio stations has reached 538 million, up 5% year-on-year. Following the increased popularity of smart speakers and the availability of radio apps, listening to radio digitally is extremely accessible.

This change in listening habits prompted the Government to consider the future of the FM frequency. Reported earlier this year by The Guardian, it is proposed that there will be a complete switch-off of major FM radio services in the 2020s.

For comms professionals, the shift to digital could offer more targeted opportunities to reach your audiences. There are hundreds of national and regional radio stations available on DAB devices, which means you can be more selective of channels and still reach large audiences.

And it’s not just large audiences that make radio an exciting medium. Some 44% of 15-24 year olds and 32% of adults say they follow their favourite presenters and radio stations on social media. People are not just listening to radio but also engaging with it, especially younger audiences.

Radio is often overlooked when it comes to integrated campaigns or award-winning PR but with 50 million people listening across the UK each week, now is the time to reconsider your strategy.

Planning a radio PR campaign but lack the right contacts? You need the Vuelio Media Database. 

Britt Box

Baking Blog Spotlight: Britt Box, She Who Bakes

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Britt Box is the author of She Who Bakes, a new entry in the Top 10 UK Baking Blogs. Britt started baking as a means to tackle depression and has now turned it into her business, which includes the bestseller book Cakes, Bakes & Business. We caught up with Britt to talk about turning your blog into a business, improving her bakes and making magic with brands and PRs. 

How has your blog changed from when you first started?
When I first started, I didn’t have a proper blog website, it was just a page of information. I was also making commission cake at the time and most of my blog posts were documenting whichever cake I was working on that week. Now I concentrate more on recipes and tutorials.

Britt Box

Why baking?
I accidentally fell into baking in 2010. I was suffering badly with depression, anxiety and septicaemia after an operation. I was signed off work and not having a great time. A friend of mine was running a charity bake sale and asked if, as I had a bit of spare time, I wanted to make a cake for it. I bought a packet mix and a block of icing and made an (inedible) mess. BUT I enjoyed it so much I kept doing it, I kept going, started a blog about what I was doing and years later here I am. I baked my way out of depression and now I help others.

How do you make your blog stand out?
My blog is aimed at beginners. I talk about the highs and lows of baking. I keep it completely real. I felt it was important that people should know cakes don’t always turn out how you planned and that’s ok!

What’s the best bake you’ve ever made?
Caramel blondie cups. It’s all of my favourite flavours and I ate most of them just to myself.

She who bakes

What’s the best bake you’ve ever eaten?
A madeira cake. I can do it in my sleep now and I always get great results with them.

Who will win The Great British Bake Off?
Kim-Joy.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
Creating recipes, tutorials and writing articles about baking is something I love doing. Get in touch and let’s make magic together.

Britt Box

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
Working with Homepride Flour & Macmillan Cancer Support. I lost my mum and nan to cancer so that was a job close to my heart.

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
I think so, yes. Nowadays bloggers are making up more and more of the people who write reviews, collaborate with brands and we are who people turn to for advice in specific industries. I think bloggers as a whole need to be taken more seriously.

What other blogs do you read?
Iced Jems, The Baking Explorer and BakingQueen74.

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

Tortoise

Will slow news benefit PR?

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Tortoise is the new publishing venture from James Harding, Katie Vanneck-Smith and Matthew Barzun, which aims to disrupt current journalism models with a focus on ‘slow news’. Backed by private investors and a very healthy Kickstarter, Tortoise seems to have caught the imagination of its audience months before it launches. But what does a slow news organisation mean for the PR and communications industry?

Harding, who was previously director of BBC News and editor of The Times, says he began to feel overwhelmed by the news agenda towards the end of his tenure at the BBC. Tortoise aims to cure this modern-day condition by focusing on fewer stories in more depth, giving context without the need to chase the highly-prized ‘breaking news’.

Tortoise will have three offerings for members: a five-story ‘Daily Edition’ for smartphones each morning; a daily ‘ThinkIn’ conference from 6pm to 7.40pm that members can attend; and a quarterly print magazine. All of this work will be split into five broad topics: technology, finance, natural resources, identity and longevity.

Does this mean slow news will become the norm?

No; not least because breaking news is vital in the information age and needing to know what’s happening as it happens is necessary for individuals, businesses and organisations to function correctly.

In the short term, Tortoise is unlikely to take a big enough slice of the pie to disrupt the industry that much, though if its membership models are successful, other news brands are likely to take notice. They will have already spotted Tortoise’s big-name financial backers including David Thomson (from the Thomson Reuters family) and Saul Klein, from the venture capital firm Local Globe.

They will also be looking at the Kickstarter, which, with 25 days still to go, has massively overfunded. The project was aiming to raise £75K but already has some £350K pledged by 1,370 backers (that’s a whopping average of £255 each!). Tortoise has the backing to hit the ground running when it launches in January, but what does this mean for PRs?

Opportunity.

Above all else, every new development in news and media should be seen as an opportunity. Slow news means an audience spending more time on a topic, which potentially means more time with your product, service, brand or spokesperson. It means more than a passing mention and more time to develop concepts and ideas – why have one comment from one expert organisation for a piece about climate change when you can have ten experts from ten companies?

There’s also the daily ThinkIn events, which are intended to inform an audience and produce regular long-form content. These will need expert advice and opinion too – another opportunity for PRs to help journalists and reach an engaged, dedicated audience.

As BBC’s Amol Rajan reports, Tortoise will have 10 editors who will each have a budget for freelancers, which means there will be dozens of opportunities to build relationships with the new brand. And as ever with media outreach, relationships will be at the heart of every opportunity. While Tortoise’s methods may be disruptive, the old rules of relationship building still apply and good PRs can easily be part of a slow news revolution.

Want to build relationships with the right journalists? With Vuelio, it’s easy.

Metro

Journalist Spotlight: Jess Austin, Metro

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Jess Austin was recently appointed communities producer at Metro. We caught up with Jess to find out how she is getting on in her new role, why it’s important to provide a platform for people’s voices to be heard, how to scour social media for interesting opinions, working with PRs and her party tricks!

How are settling in to your new role as the communities producer at Metro? What’s a typical working day like?
Really well, thank you. I work on a brilliant team of three with communities editor, Aimee Meade, and her deputy Qin Xie.

We discuss the big stories of the day, first thing in the morning, and then brainstorm unique angles and voices that we would like to hear discuss these topics.

We then approach people to write, publish pieces we already have lined up for the day and respond to pitches.

Largely, we are searching for unique perspectives on the back of news stories or personal stories intertwined with opinion. Consequently, we are constantly on the lookout for people we’d love to write for us.

We’ve also recently launched our ‘Labels’ series – my first project for the site, which is pretty exciting – that hears from individuals who have been labelled – whether that be by society, a job title, or a diagnosis.

Throughout ‘Labels’, writers share how having these words ascribed to them has shaped their identity – positively or negatively – and what the label means to them.

Working on the series has been a fantastic learning experience, and I dedicate some time each week to planning and commissioning for the series.

MetroHow did you first get into journalism?
My mum used to be a journalist and as a child I always thought it sounded like the coolest job, although I never thought I’d end up one too.

I went from dreaming I’d be an astrobiologist throughout school (until I realised science wasn’t my strongest subject) to having my sights set on being a history teacher throughout university.

It was becoming an editor at the Tab Leeds in my final year that really made me want to go into journalism.

As much as I enjoyed writing, I loved reading other people’s stories, so when the job of Blogs Assistant at HuffPost UK came up as I was approaching the end of third year, I knew I had to apply.

Right after my last exam I skipped clubbing to stay home and apply for the job with a can of Strongbow Dark Fruits to help me write my application. Despite nearly falling over as I left the first interview – I’m fairly clumsy – I got the job and had two amazing years there.

What do you enjoy the most about your job? What are the main challenges you face?
I love to read, so getting to read such a diverse range of opinions every day on a whole host of topics is the dream.

I’d say the most challenging bit is getting everything perfect and ready to publish at a time where it’s still relevant.

How do you decide what content to focus on? Are there any particular trends you are noticing?
While the news largely shapes what we commission, we are interested in a whole range of topics. One of the things I’m most passionate about is giving a platform to those whose voices aren’t usually heard.

I have a background in lifestyle, style, parents and tech, so I do find myself naturally gravitating towards these topics. I ran a project back at HuffPost UK about the end of the world, and existential risk really fascinates me.

Some of the pieces I am most proud of commissioning over the years have been from people who aren’t professional writers or journalists and are just people who have a message and really want to share their story.

Good examples that spring to mind are: the lady who found the nurse who treated her childhood cancer 30 years ago on Twitter, the organisation working to tackle space junk, the charity asking us to no longer call the historical unnamed murderer Jack the Ripper and the lady who invited a girl whose life she saved by donating her stem cells to be the flower girl at her wedding.

What role does social media play in your work?
A lot of our time is spent on social media. Our team are constantly using it to find people to talk about certain issues, scouring Twitter and Facebook for interesting opinions. We’re also keen to make sure the pieces we commission get the attention they deserve so we actively share all of them on our social channels.

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

Do you have a good relationship with PRs? What advice would you give to PR professionals who want to work with you?
We do. My mum went from journalism to PR and I spent a lot of time in her office when I was a child, so I like to think I have a meaningful understanding of her day-to-day.

While we do mainly go directly to individuals for comment, we’ve had many op-eds that have come through working closely with PRs.

The best advice I could give to PRs who would like to work with us is to read over our comment section to get an idea of the kind of format and tone of what we publish, and to make sure the topic hasn’t been covered already.

We love strong opinion-led pieces from people with expertise or experience in the field that they want to write about, so making sure their client is the right voice would be ideal.

And lastly, we won’t run anything too promotional, so it is essential that every pitch has a message and argument that doesn’t just exist to bolster the writer’s company or product.

What type of press material are you interested in receiving?
We’re interested in a myriad of press material:  book releases, comment on news stories from charities and organisations, information on upcoming research and reports, line ups for talks and festivals etc.

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Stephen Waddington

Stephen Waddington to join Metia

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Stephen Waddington, chief engagement officer at Ketchum, has been appointed UK managing director at international digital marketing agency Metia.

Stephen will join Metia from Ketchum in January 2019 where he’s worked for the past six years in various roles including chief engagement officer and european digital & social media director. Prior to this he co-founded and managed two agencies, Rainier PR in 1998, and Speed in 2009.

In his new role, Stephen will be responsible for leading a team of 60 people, managing the development and delivery of content marketing, social media, lead generation and communications campaigns. In the past two years, the agency has delivered campaigns in 88 countries in 39 languages for clients including Amazon, Dell, Microsoft and BMW.

Metia’s capabilities include social media analytics and insight, an international content network, content planning and optimisation, media strategy, web design and development.

Stephen said: ‘If you were asked to design a blueprint for a modern agency it would look a lot like Metia. Its expertise in analytics, content and technology, combined with intellectual property in planning, optimisation and reporting tools, and an international content network, gives it a rock-solid point of differentiation and significant opportunity for growth. I can’t wait to get cracking in my new role.’

Steve Ellis, founder of Metia Group, said: ‘Stephen is a hugely experienced and talented agency leader. He is a great addition to our senior leadership team. Stephen’s experience at helping global brands to tell their story through digital and social channels is a perfect fit to our strengths and capabilities.’

Stephen is a visiting professor at Newcastle University and the author of eight books on learning and development, and modern aspects of marketing and public relations. He was president of the CIPR in 2014, and is a fellow of the PRCA and CIPR.

directional signs

Is your digital strategy diverse enough?

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With news that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is ‘actively considering’ launching an investigation into the digital advertising market, is it time to reassess your digital strategy?

The Guardian reports that the comments were made by the CMA’s chief executive Andrea Coscelli, who was speaking to the House of Lords communications committee.

Coscelli said: ‘A month ago, this committee asked us to look at digital advertising. That is something we are actively considering, subject to Brexit in the next few weeks, because it has a big resource implication for us. It is certainly something we are interested getting involved in.’

The UK’s digital ad market is estimated to be worth £13bn, and Google and Facebook are thought to be responsible for over half of this. With Facebook advertising set to be worth almost as much as the entire commercial TV ad market by 2020, there’s strong grounds for the CMA to investigate.

But what does this mean for you?

As any great PR knows, putting all your eggs in one basket is unsustainable. If you work in travel and rely on a travel editor at a top newspaper to get your story out – what are you going to do if they move on, retire or leave the profession?

It’s the same with any platform or outlet you don’t control – ask any Instagrammer what happened when the shadow ban hit, or YouTuber when Google changed its revenue rules. Just because there are new platforms and methods of reaching your audience, it doesn’t mean the rules have changed:

Diversify or die.

You can’t rely on a single successful source for your ROI. Sure, Google or Facebook ads may be scoring you huge results right now, but what will you do if the platforms are regulated or change their algorithms?

Great PRs have a diverse portfolio of contacts and outlets – leveraging relationships everywhere to ensure their coverage and results are spread out. That means using journalists, newspapers, magazines, broadcasters, websites, bloggers, vloggers and even tweeters. And that’s just earned (and possible paid) media; great PRs also have owned content – both on social media AND their own sites, blogs and materials.

By ensuring you have a diverse route to your audience, you can survive if one channel takes a hit. Build more relationships, use more platforms and weather the storm – it’s what PRs excel at.

Planning to diversify? Vuelio gives you access to every contact, opportunity and channel you need on one platform, in one place. Find out how we can help.

Vuelio ResponseSource

Vuelio extends journalist network with acquisition of ResponseSource

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Vuelio, the stakeholder engagement software company, buys journalist request and media database provider ResponseSource.

Access Intelligence Plc, the parent company of Vuelio, has acquired ResponseSource Ltd for a cash-and-shares consideration of £5.5 million to create an unrivalled portfolio of stakeholder engagement software.

Access Intelligence CEO Joanna Arnold said: ‘Vuelio and ResponseSource have a lot in common. They are both SaaS businesses providing great communications intelligence to PR, marketing and journalism professionals. But at the same time, they are extremely complementary, and ResponseSource will from day one add significantly to the portfolio while accelerating our combined product development, particularly in journalist services.’

Vuelio clients now have the option to access a powerful means of media engagement thanks to the ResponseSource Journalist Enquiry Service, which allows journalists to directly request information from PR professionals. This creates an unprecedented opportunity for Vuelio clients to gain coverage by providing comment, opinion and other content on a huge range of topics for leading newspapers, publications and influencers.

Journalists and influencers using the service will also benefit as over time they will be able to access a wider range of leads through the Vuelio client base – a rich source of blue-chip businesses and sector-leading organisations.

Joanna Arnold added: ‘ResponseSource’s trusted journalist services are representative of the strong links between the team and the journalist community. These links provide a platform for relationship building and research, and it needs to deliver value for everyone involved. We plan to continue to invest in the ResponseSource brand, in its services, and in its people.’

ResponseSource founder Daryl Willcox will remain at the combined company and becomes Director of Audience Strategy for Access Intelligence. He said: ‘It’s a great outcome for our customers, journalist users and the team at ResponseSource that we are now part of an ambitious UK Plc that really understands the importance of the journalist network we have built. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow this strategically important side of the business that benefits journalists and PR professionals alike.’

Google+

RIP Google+

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It’s the end of an era, you might say. Google has announced it is to close the consumer Google+ network, following a massive data flaw it did not report, allegedly for fear of regulation. 

 

Google+ was, for years, the punchline to many social media jokes, but more recently it had fallen from even that status out of the collective conscience. It is now going the way of Klout, which closed earlier this year on the same day the new GDPR rules came into force.

 

The closure of Google+ comes with news of a potential data breach that could have affected up to 500,000 users. The flaw, which would have allowed third party developers access to private data of users and users’ friends, was discovered and fixed earlier this year but kept quiet as, reportedly, Google wanted to avoid regulation.

The Guardian reports on an internal Google memo, which says: ‘Disclosure will likely result in us coming into the spotlight alongside or even instead of Facebook despite having stayed under the radar throughout the Cambridge Analytica scandal’.

It has not been lost on the commentariat that this flaw sounds almost identical to Facebook’s issues centred around Cambridge Analytica.

 

The memo also warns that CEO Sundar Pichai would likely have to testify before Congress and that the disclosure would invite ‘immediate regulatory interest’.

Google claims it decided not to report the security flaw for three reasons: it was unable to identify any of the users who were potentially affected; it found no evidence that the security flaw had been abused; and there were no actions either developers or users could have taken to improve the situation.

On announcing the closure of the social network, Google revealed what everyone had assumed – engagement rates on the platform are shockingly low, with 90% of interactions lasting just five seconds. (“I’ll just click on this… nope, that’s taken me to Google+. Now, how do I go back?”)


Google+ will still be around for a little while longer; to give people the opportunity to ‘transition’ (their jokes presumably), the site will wind down over a 10-month period to the end of next August. 


Enterprise customers are apparently making much more use of Google+ as a ‘secure corporate social network’ and will therefore be unaffected. 

Judges

The Vuelio Blog Awards Judges for 2018

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The judging panel for the Vuelio Blog Awards has been announced for 2018.

The Vuelio Blog Awards pride themselves on their independence – we don’t ask for nominations, we don’t make people ask for votes and we don’t require people to promote their participation. Our judging panel is a core to this independence – the judges each come from a different background, with different experiences, to choose winners who know they truly deserve their prizes.

The Vuelio Blog Awards are taking place on 30 November 2018 – tickets are still available on a first come first serve basis. Find out more here.

We are delighted to announce this year’s judging panel:

DecathlonBella Angelova, Head of Brand & PR, Decathlon
Bella is currently in charge of the Brand and PR activities at Decathlon UK. She has over seven years of marketing experience across the sport, fashion and lifestyle industries. She is working with influencers on daily basis and is the creator of the first Bloggers community within the Decathlon brand. The main objective of this community is to raise awareness around how important sport is and to spread Decathlon’s main mission of making sports accessible to the many.

Bella is also the Yoga and Pilates market leader for Decathlon UK. Her next goal is to start her own blog focusing on the benefits of sport and healthy lifestyle.

BBC World Service

Anna Doble, Digital Editor, BBC World Service English
Anna Doble is Digital Editor at BBC World Service English, steering the team’s web, video, podcast and social presence, while developing digital strategy with partner stations around the world.

She was formerly Digital Editor at Radio 1 Newsbeat, the UK’s biggest radio news service for under-25s. Before that, Anna was Head of Online at Channel 4 News.

Vuelio

Holly Hodges, Senior Media Researcher, Vuelio
Holly Hodges is a senior media researcher at Vuelio. Specialising in bloggers and traditional media, Holly manages the influencer database and has been directly involved with the shortlisting process for this year’s Vuelio Blog Awards. Also responsible for Vuelio’s Top 10 rankings, Holly’s knowledge of the UK blogosphere is second to none.

Hotwire

Kate Hunter, Head of B2B, UK, Hotwire Global
Overseeing Hotwire’s B2B practices, Kate has over 15 years of B2B tech PR experience. She is passionate about integrated comms campaigns that deliver measurable business outcomes for clients. She has been with Hotwire for nearly 12 years.

Craig Landale

Craig Landale, editor-in-chief, MenswearStyle
Craig Landale recently topped the Men’s Lifestyle and Men’s Fashion rankings and last year won two awards at the Vuelio Blog Awards – Best Men’s Lifestyle Blog and Best UK Blog. In addition to Craig Landale’s passion and love for menswear, he is an experienced online marketing consultant, member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and qualified in Post Compulsory Education and Training. Craig has successfully collaborated with a range of brands such as Mulberry, Harrods, Jaguar and Lacoste.

 

For more information about the Vuelio Blog Awards, including how you can get involved, please contact Jake O’Neill.

Vuelio Blog Awards

Vuelio Blog Awards Finalists: Daddy, Mummy, Pet and PR

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We are delighted to reveal the final finalists for the Vuelio Blog Awards 2018. Covering two parenting categories (back by popular demand), the brand new pet category (by popular demand) and the fiercely contested PR & Comms category, which this year is sponsored by the CIPR. 

The Vuelio Blog Awards are the industry’s independently judged accolades, the ‘Oscars’ of the blogging world. Taking place on 30 November, this year’s event promises to amaze – with the finest dining, death-defying acts(!) for your entertainment, and the greatest awards ceremony on the planet (probably).

Tickets for the Blog Awards are still available online – click here to get yours today.

Without further ado, we present the finalists for Daddy, Mummy, Pet and PR & Comms at the Vuelio Blog Awards 2018:

Daddy

  • Dad Blog UK
  • Daddacool
  • DIY Daddy
  • Slouching Towards Thatcham
  • The DADventurer
  • The Yorkshire Dad

Mummy

  • Boo Roo and Tigger Too
  • Mum in the Madhouse
  • Rainy Day Mum
  • Slummy Single Mummy
  • Toby & Roo
  • What the Redhead said

Pet

  • Adventures Of Monty Dogge
  • Bionic Basil
  • Eva and Amelia’s World
  • Katzenworld
  • Marcel Le Corgi
  • Steph & The Spaniels

PR & Comms

  • MK
  • NevilleHobson.com
  • Power & Influence
  • PRExamples.com
  • SarahHallConsulting
  • Stephen Waddington

The full list of finalists across every category is available here.

If you have any questions about the Vuelio Blog Awards, including how you can get involved, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. 

Blog Awards announcement

More finalists revealed for the Vuelio Blog Awards

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Finalists for the next five Vuelio Blog Awards categories: Beauty, Food & Drink, Interior Design, Political and Wedding have been revealed.

The Vuelio Blog Awards are the industry’s most respected awards – independently judged and coveted by bloggers throughout the UK. Taking place on 30 November, this year’s event promises to be the biggest and best yet – with the finest dining, death-defying acts for your entertainment, and the greatest awards ceremony on the planet.

Tickets for the Blog Awards are still available online – click here to get yours today.

And now, what you’ve been waiting for, the finalists for the next five categories for the Vuelio Blog Awards 2018:

Beauty

  • A Model Recommends
  • British Beauty Blogger
  • Caroline Hirons
  • Hayley Hall
  • Pixiwoo.com
  • Really Ree

Food & Drink

  • Eats Amazing
  • Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
  • Hungry Healthy Happy
  • My Fussy Eater
  • Recipes From A Pantry
  • The Curry Guy

Interior Design

  • Abigail Ahern Blog
  • Dear Designer’s Blog
  • Love Chic Living
  • Mad About The House
  • Swoon Worthy
  • The Design Sheppard

Political

  • Bella Caledonia
  • ConservativeHome
  • Guido Fawkes
  • LabourList
  • Slugger O’Toole
  • Wings Over Scotland

Wedding

  • Bespoke Bride
  • Boho Weddings
  • Love My Dress
  • Rock My Wedding
  • Rock N Roll Bride
  • Whimsical Wonderland Weddings

Check out the finalists for the first five categories: Men’s Fashion, Women’s Fashion, Health & Fitness, London Lifestyle and Travel & Leisure here. Keep your eyes peeled for the final category announcement tomorrow!

If you have any questions about the Vuelio Blog Awards, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. 

Webinar

Pay to Play: fake followers, fraud and the ethics of influencer marketing

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Is your influencer marketing a hit? Or are fake followers plaguing your results?

Ethics in influencer marketing has never been so visible or discussed; just today the issue raised its head again, with Love Island’s Olivia Buckland the latest Instagrammer to have a post banned by the ASA for not clearly labelling it as an advert.

But disclosure is just one problem facing bloggers, vloggers and grammers, and the PRs and brands collaborating with them. There’s also fake followers, paid-for and earned media, and influencer fraud to navigate – and that’s before you create a killer campaign and measure its success.

That’s why our next webinar, with special guest Scott Guthrie, is going to guide you through the choppy waters of modern influencer marketing, so you know how to find the right content creators to work with to produce real results.

Pay to Play – Fake Followers, Fraud and the Ethics of Influencer Marketing
Date: Wednesday 24 October 2018
Time: 11:00 – 11:30 BST

Scott is the former Ketchum digital director – influencer relations, and now works with brands, agencies and platforms to generate meaningful results from influencer marketing. Scott is also a Top 10 UK PR Blogger, writing about influencer marketing analysis, insight and best practice guides at sabguthrie.info.

Sign up to this webinar to learn:

  • Top tips for spotting and avoiding fake influencers
  • What you need to measure to prove your campaign’s success
  • How to engage your audience to make your influencer marketing a success
Tandleman's Beer Blog

Thoughts on beer with Tandleman’s Beer Blog

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Peter Alexander was recently named one of the top 10 beer bloggers with Tandleman’s Beer Blog. Created back in 2007, Tandleman’s Beer Blog covers Peter’s love of the beer industry and pubs, especially those in the North West. A local CAMRA chairman and activist, as well as an experienced beer writer, Peter has a wealth of knowledge and experience that he shares with a loyal and engaged readership.

We caught up with Peter who told us about his favourite beer, the future of pubs and how he works best with PRs and brands.

How has your blog changed from when you first started?
Less frequent and now based on observations about the trade and pubs rather than ‘What I drank where’.

What’s your favourite ale?
Ah. Too many to say really, but if something is on the bar which is around 4%, pale, clean tasting, properly cask-conditioned and with a good dose of hops, I’ll be happy. I am fond of a really good bitter stout too.

What’s the best brewery?
I’m very fond of my local brewery JW Lees. Good solid beers and lovely people.

Where’s your favourite pub?
My local, the Tandle Hill Tavern in Middleton. It’s where I meet my friends. I know everyone, and they know me.

Are pubs in danger of dying out?
No. But they are changing and not always for the better. While there may well be fewer and they may be different, plenty will remain. Pubs have always changed with the times though, so perhaps no need to worry.

If you were running a dream pub, what would you have on draft?
Brewsmith Pale, Holden’s Bitter, Porterhouse Wrasslers 4X stout, Pilsner Urquell and (my guilty secret) Hoegaarden. And one ever changing beer depending on demand and time of year.

What one thing should PRs know before contacting you?
Like most people I need a little advance warning. No point in contacting me the day before you ask me to do something or go somewhere.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
I’ve brewed stouts with Allgates and Rammy Craft Brewery. Both were bloody good beers which deserved a bigger audience.

Do you think bloggers need their own association?
No. Blogging has thankfully become diverse and the reasons for doing it vary so much. We have the internet to bind us together.

What other blogs do you read?
Most. Favourites though are The Pub Curmudgeon, Shut up about Barclay Perkins, Retired Martin and anything written by Matt Curtis.

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Venue

5 influencer marketing tips from Vuelio Blog Awards finalists

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Last week, we announced the finalists for the first five categories of the Vuelio Blog Awards 2018. Covering Men’s and Women’s Fashion, Health & Fitness, London Lifestyle and Travel & Leisure, the categories represent bloggers at the top of their game and the forefront of the industry.

Ahead of the outstanding finalists being announced later this week (exciting!), we present top influencer marketing tips from finalists across each of the first five categories:

1. Be professional and forthcoming – Victoria Magrath, Inthefrow (Women’s Fashion finalist)
Victoria says: ‘There’s nothing that stands out more to me than someone who is professional and forthcoming with how they can see us working together and what the both of us can gain from partnering’.

Read Victoria’s interview here.

2. Allow bloggers to collaborate – Carl Thompson (Men’s Fashion finalist)
Carl says: ‘I like to be involved with every level of the campaign and have a vast amount of experience in what works and what doesn’t. I execute my deliverables to the highest possible quality, hiring the best videographers and photographers, often at my own expense.’

Read Carl’s interview here.

3. Be original – Elle Linton, Keep it SimpElle (Health & Fitness finalist)
Elle says: ‘I know it’s hard to come up with great ideas but original themes, something a little outside the box of what we’re all expecting, makes it interesting for content creators and then our audience.’

Read Elle’s interview here.

4. Develop a long-term relationship – Angie Silver, Silverspoon London (London Lifestyle finalist)
Angie says: ‘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.’

Read Angie’s interview here.

5. Be openminded – Lloyd and Yaya, Hand Luggage Only (Travel & Leisure finalist)
Yaya and Lloyd say: ‘I guess that we are pretty open minded and always flexible in how we work with people. No two destinations or brands are exactly the same, no two people are and so it would be unrealistic to expect two projects to be.’

Read Yaya and Lloyd’s interview here.

 

If you’re ready to take your influencer marketing to the next level, get in touch and see how Vuelio can help. 

Jeska Hearne outside

Interior design with Jeska Hearne of Lobster and Swan

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Jeska Hearne is the creator of Lobster and Swan, a brand-new entry to our ranking of  Top 10 Interior Design Blogs. With dark moody colours mixed with a  rustic style, Jeska brings the colours from outside, inside. We caught up with Jeska to talk about how the seasons affect her content, her favourite collaborations and the one thing PRs should know about her.

How has your blog changed over time?
Apart from the layout and my style evolving, not much. It’s still all about life, interior and home styling with the things I love and find inspiring thrown in too.

How would you describe your style?
Rustic, rescued, romantic and bohemian.

What makes a great interior design blog?
For me, the images need to be beautiful and engaging first, but I love all aspects of interiors!

What’s the split between your own creations/designs and featuring others’?
It’s a good mix of both depending on how much time I have to post. I love sharing new interiors books and small or inspiring businesses. When we manage to finish renovating the older rooms here, or new areas we’ve created, I always want to share them – but it is a juggling act to make time to shoot and style them in between running our online store, The Future Kept, and other freelance work we do.

Lobster and swan bathroomWhat’s your favourite room in the house and why?
At the moment, I am totally in love with our bathroom, it is all dark and moody with botanicals and a feeling of calm – on clear nights I can take a bath with the windows open and see the stars.

How do the seasons affect your content?
Very much, we are totally in tune with the seasons here, I love to garden and I love the tones that each season brings, so the palette of my images on Instagram gently follows a seasonal feeling.

What’s your favourite household object/item?
 This changes all the time – I love our rustic handmade shelves and our bed is definitely a happy place – so cosy and comfy – but I also love all the different artworks we have collected over the years too.

What one thing should PRs/brands know about you?
I am most interested in beautiful, functional products, made sustainably and ethically, or produced in the UK.

What are the best campaigns/collaborations you’ve recently worked on?
For fast room mood changes I love to re-fresh the paint colour of a room – Farrow & Ball and Cassandra Ellis have been great – I love working with them and their colours. Styling a bench three different ways with Sofa.com was fun, I also worked with Leesa when they launched too and theirs really is the best mattress we’ve ever slept on, we love it!

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
Probably, but that sounds stressful!

What other blogs do you read?
My top five in no particular order are: SF Girl by Bay, Apartment Apothecary, Littlegreenshed, Curate and Display and These Four Walls.

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Matthew Pike by a wall

Men’s Lifestyle Spotlight: Matthew Pike of Buckets & Spades

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Matthew Pike is the man behind Buckets & Spades, a brand-new entry into our Top 10 Men’s Lifestyle ranking. Matthew spoke to us about how varied his blog is, his must-have grooming product and the best campaigns he’s worked on recently.

How many different areas does your blog cover and do you have a primary focus?
Men’s style and lifestyle, design, travel, interiors are the main subjects, but design holds things all together.

What are the main differences between men’s and women’s lifestyle blogs?
Hard one to answer as each blogger has their own nuances and styles.

Who is your favourite designer?
Currently I’m really enjoying Drake’s, Saturday’s NYC and Beams.

What’s your favourite grooming product or service?
Currently that would have to be my Harry’s razor and post-shave balm by Aesop.

What’s the best night out near you?
Ha, there isn’t one. So, it’s a night in for us!

What’s your favourite travel destination?
Recently, New York or Berlin. All time favourite goes to Tokyo.

What one thing should PRs know about you?
Use a research and tailored approach. It’s all about building relationships.

What are the best campaigns you’ve collaborated on recently?
I’ve been very fortunate recently. To name a couple of the campaign I’ve worked on in the past 6 months; Burberry fragrance, Ace&Tate home try-on service, Majestic Athletic x Major League Baseball worldwide campaign, Eastpak x Raf Simons launch, Horizn Studios on-going content creation, Pinterest San Fran project.

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
The whole thing is so loose and open to interpretation, so yes I do think a governing body would be helpful. Especially when it comes to producing content with and in partnership with brands.

What other blogs do you read?
At the moment; Jordan Bunker, Basic Apparel, Cate St Hill and Hannah in the House.

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three pints of beer

Talking beer with The Pub Curmudgeon

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Choosing to remain anonymous The Pub Curmudgeon shares their thoughts on all things beer and pubs. Recently ranked in the Top 10 Beer Blogs, The Pub Curmudgeon chatted about about whether pubs are dying out, the best brewery and whether bloggers should have their own association.

How has your blog changed from when you first started?
The biggest change is that a lot of the one-liners and links to articles have moved to Twitter, so it now tends to concentrate on longer, more considered pieces.

What’s your favourite ale?
Impossible really to name just one, but if forced to I’d pick Batham’s Best Bitter, a wonderfully complex, subtle and deceptively drinkable beer.

What’s the best brewery?
 One from the select band of independent family brewers that have survived the past forty-odd years and are still flying the flag for traditional British beers, such as Hook Norton and Harveys.

he Black Horse at Clapton-in-GordanoWhere’s your favourite pub?
The Black Horse at Clapton-in-Gordano in Somerset, which claims to date back to the 14th century and retains an unspoilt interior of great character. It continues to be a proper local pub and not just an eating house.

Are pubs in danger of dying out?
Not really, but various social and legislative changes over recent decades have made their appeal much narrower than it used to be.

If you were running a dream pub, what would you have on draft?
My dream pub would be aimed at a wide cross-section of people, not just beer enthusiasts. I’d start with Draught Bass and whatever “ordinary” bitter the locals were most keen on.

What one thing should PRs know before contacting you?
 The dishwasher. And the dyson. Anything that makes my life easier.

What one thing should PRs/brands know about you?
I have a good face for radio.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
I’ve not really gone in much for collaborations, but one memorable one was last Autumn when Martin Taylor, Richard Coldwell and I had a day out in Leicester and each blogged about it from our different perspectives.

Do you think bloggers need their own association?
No. Bloggers cover a huge range of standpoints and it can’t really be said that they have a collective interest.

What other blogs do you read?
I follow a wide range of blogs, but three I would pick out are Retiredmartin, Tandleman and Velvet Glove, Iron Fist.

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Carole King from Dear Designer's Blog

Interior design spotlight: Carole King, Dear Designer’s Blog

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Carole King is behind Dear Designer’s Blog, which was recently ranked in the Top 10 Interior Design Blogs. From mastering the mood board to finding your own personal style, Carole helps readers bring their home to life. We spoke to Carole about her own personal style, her favourite room and the one thing PRs should know about her.

How has your blog changed over time?
When I first started blogging 9 years ago I was posting 7 days a week. I was still holding down a job at that time and the pressure was relentless. Consequently, the posts were short and covered all sorts of design aesthetics. These days I have a much more relaxed schedule, my posts are more in depth and I only post about things I absolutely love. I also include a lot more of my own photography now.

How would you describe your style?
Sometimes it takes someone else to sum up your style succinctly and this is what was said about me recently. “Her design philosophy mixes down-to-earth staples with high drama details to create interiors that are lush, luxurious, and liveable. Striking a balance between light and dark.” I love that.

What makes a great interior design blog?
Consistent posting. A genuine love of the subject and fantastic images!

What’s the split between your own creations/designs and featuring others’?
I probably feature others about 75% of the time. I wish I could renovate a room a week, but budget and time doesn’t allow that. Clients don’t always want their homes featured so that’s another restriction. I do try to put my own spin on posts though, by creating mood boards that are my own interpretation.

Dear Designer blog bedroomWhat’s your favourite room in the house and why?
In my own home my favourite room is the bedroom. It’s large, light and has a dedicated dressing area.

How do the seasons affect your content?
Obviously I write things that my readers want to read. So, if it’s cold outside I like to offer suggestions for warming up the home. But those posts are occasional. I don’t dwell too much on seasons because we can’t change our decor that often.

What’s your favourite household object/item?
 The dishwasher. And the dyson. Anything that makes my life easier.

What one thing should PRs/brands know about you?
I genuinely do only work with companies that I love.

What are the best campaigns/collaborations you’ve recently worked on?
I enjoy all the collaborations I work on. See above answer! I’m starting to get invites for travel stories too now, which is my other great love.

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
That would be great. And very helpful to others just starting out in the industry.

What other blogs do you read?
Loads! Too many to mention. But I’m obsessed with Scandinavian interiors so whenever I need a fix I head to My Scandinavian Home.

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Kate Williams Crafts on Sea

Chatting crafts with Crafts on Sea

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Kate Williams is the face behind craft blog, Crafts on Sea, which was recently ranked in our Top 10 UK Craft Blogs. Crafts on Sea has hundreds of ideas for all seasons, from Halloween masks to Christmas gifts. We spoke to Kate about what makes the craft blogger community so great, her favourite campaigns to work on and why you shouldn’t pay her in paint!

How has your blog changed from when you first started?
It’s both more professional and more focused. When I started it was very much that I wanted to do some crafts myself, and use the blog as a way of encouraging myself to do more, but over the years it’s turned into a business as I started looking to what my readers wanted, rather than just myself.

In the early days I had photos in a national newspaper that I took on my dodgy old phone, whereas now doing a craft involves getting my rather large lighting kit and DSLR out!

What’s the craft blogger community like? 
Lovely. Almost every gain I’ve made with my blog has been due to someone else helping me out; explaining Facebook tips, helping with my photography or whatever. I tend to chat with the kid bloggers too – there’s a big international group who all chat and it’s fantastic to be a part of that.

Do you think crafts are more important in the digital age?
Well both my kids have a kindle that they love so I’d say yes – there’s lots of things like Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle crafts on my site which are a direct result of me trying to think of crafts my son would actually get excited about and want to do, so he wants to turn the TV off.

Having said that, my daughter loves Mister Maker and is always inspired by him so there’s definitely room for both. As a blogger I spend loads of time online, so acting like anything screen based is bad in front of my kids won’t really wash with them.

Do you have to be artistic to be good at crafts?
I don’t think I’m that artistic, I’m terrible at drawing and wasn’t even given the option of taking GCSE art (although as a dyslexic I was given the option of drawing my dissertation!) A bit of creativity and not being scared to make mistakes works well enough I think.

What’s the easiest craft you’ve made?
A paper plate hulk mask? Well actually my son made that one though, which made it even easier for me.

What’s the hardest?
Honestly there’s nothing difficult on my site that I can think of, my main issue is cleaning the paint off things!

What are the best PR/brand campaigns you’ve worked on?
I’ve loved working with The Big Shot on a couple of campaigns for children’s books. I’ve done crafts for Julia Donaldson, Emily Gravett and Sue Hendra’s books who I adore so it’s been a really fun challenge.

What shouldn’t PRs do?
Offer to pay you in kids paint.

Do you think bloggers need their own industry association?
To be honest bloggers talk to each other. There will always be people who are willing to do a sponsored post for £20 and if someone needs £20 then that’s totally their choice so I don’t think there needs to be set fees or anything. But if you fail to pay someone or treat them badly then it does get found out and talked about. In fairness I totally expect that the same thing happens amongst PR’s if they have issues with a blogger

What other blogs do you read?
Loads! I love Lulastic and the Hippy Shake and obsessively follow Glennon Doyle who used to write Momastery on Instagram and Facebook because she is all sorts of awesome.

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