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Five Things You Shouldn’t Have Missed – 5 January 2018

January 5, 2018/0 Comments/in Five Things, PR Pulse, PR, Media, Influencers PR, Press and Bloggers, Media Analysis Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

Happy New Year! This is the first Five Things of 2018, covering all the biggest stories you shouldn’t have missed from PR, media and comms. This week including Logan Paul, Elf Behaving Badly, Philip Morris quitting smoking, PRWeek and BME PR Pros’ new initiative and the evacuation of the ITV News at 10 [VIDEO].

1. Logan Paul

Top American YouTuber, Logan Paul, caused outrage this week when he released a video showing a dead body at a suicide hotspot in Japan. Not only were the images of the deceased considered inappropriate (especially considering the young age of much of his audience), but concern was also raised that Logan and his friends were seen to be making jokes about the situation.

After fellow YouTubers, celebrities and the general public denounced his behaviour, Logan removed the video and replaced it with an apology. This video’s claim he was ‘attempting to raise awareness’ of suicide and mental health has been called a poor excuse, causing further problems for the star. Logan Paul hasn’t posted a video since the apology two days ago, but his subscriber numbers have remained steady at over 15 million.

2. Lewd Elf boosts sales

Poundland’s now infamous ‘Elf Behaving Badly’ campaign – including an image that led Twinings to complain – boosted sales by driving ‘significant numbers of shoppers’ into stores in the week before Christmas. As reported in PRWeek, more than 200,000 ‘bad elves’ were sold, alongside over one million elf accessories – contributing to £59m sales, up 20 per cent on the same period in 2016.

The ASA is investigating the campaign after receiving around 80 complaints about the Twitter posts, claiming the ads are offensive, too sexualised or unsuitable as they could be seen by children. Poundland released a statement saying the complaints: ‘contrasted with thousands of people who said they loved our naughty elf pictures – not least because it reminded them that Britain is famous for the saucy postcard and panto’.

3. Philip Morris wants to give up cigarettes

One of the world’s largest cigarette companies has made a New Year’s Resolution to ‘give up cigarettes’. Philip Morris launched an advertising campaign with the claim, ‘Our ambition is to stop selling cigarettes in the UK’. The full advert, visible here in The Drum, explains the company is launching a campaign website to help smokers quit or adopt alternative options (like vaping); supporting local authority cessation services where smoking rates are highest; seeking government approval to insert information into packs on quitting or switching; and expanding its range of alternative products in the UK.

The campaign is focused on the UK, though the global Philip Morris brand also believes in a ‘smoke-free future’.

4. PRWeek’s BME mentoring scheme

PR Week UK and BME PR Pros have launched a new mentorship scheme to support the advancement of individuals from minority backgrounds. BME professionals in comms and public affairs can apply to be a mentee, where they will be mentored by one of 15 top industry experts. Elizabeth Bananuka, founder of BME PR Pros, said: ‘The BME PR Pros/PRWeek Mentoring Scheme is about BME leaders and rising stars joining forces to promote diversity and support the careers of talented BME professionals keen to progress to the next stage of their careers – be it from account manager to account director, agency to in-house, MD to agency owner.’

Applications to become a mentee close at 5pm on Friday, 16 February. More information is available here.

ITV News at Ten evacuated (sound the alarm)

ITV News at Ten was cut short this week when a fire alarm evacuation caused the programme to end early. While the alarm could be heard for some time before the programme was taken off air, the presenter, Tom Bradby, seemed unsure of the best course of action. See the full clip below:

Blogger Spotlight: Daniel Green, CineVue

January 4, 2018/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

CineVue is an independent film blog founded by Daniel Green. Recently ranked in the Top 10 UK Film Blogs, CineVue is maintained by editor-at-large Ben Nicholson and a team of writers. We caught up with Daniel to talk about world and arthouse cinema, the team’s favourite film of 2017 and working collaboratively with PR professionals.

How would you describe your blog?
We are a team of passionate, UK-based cinéastes dedicated to bringing our readers the best possible quality of film criticism, from reviews of the latest theatrical and DVD/Blu-ray releases to special features and international film festival coverage.

What makes your blog successful?
I think it would be our devotion to world cinema and arthouse filmmaking over the latest offering from the Disney/DC/Marvel stables. Our festival coverage is very comprehensive.

How many films do you see in an average week?
Typically, 5-10 new releases a week – more if we also have writers covering festivals abroad.

What’s your favourite film of all time?
A very tricky question, although our favourite film of the last 12 months – as voted by our writers – was Sean Baker’s The Florida Project.

Least favourite film of all time?
Anything that purely exists as Oscar bait – Forrest Gump, perhaps? Or The Blind Side. Both awful.

Want to work with influencers? Try the Vuelio Media Database and get access to 11,000 UK Bloggers in film, TV, lifestyle & more.

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Film that’s yet to be released that you’re most excited about seeing?
We have just done a rundown of our 20 most anticipated films of 2018. New films from Pablo Larrain (The True American) and Nuri Bilge Ceylan (The Wild Pear Tree) will always entice.

What will win the Best Picture Oscar 2018?
The pessimist in me says Dunkirk but you never know. A bold(er) choice by the Academy would be for Get Out or the excellent Mudbound.

How do you like to work with PRs?
We maintain good working relationships with all the necessary PRs in order to maintain wide coverage of new releases. Just don’t badger them!

Can you tell us about your favourite brand collaboration or screening experience?
Anything from The Badlands Collective; they put on a double bill of David Fincher’s The Game and Jonathan Glazer’s Birth (both on 35mm) that was unbelievably good.

What do you call yourselves? Bloggers/influencers/content creators?
We’re writers, nice and simple.

What other blogs do you read?
I would highly recommend the likes of Sight & Sound and Film Comment – both originated and continue in print form. But for a pure film blog my tip would be Notebook, courtesy of the folk behind the platform MUBI.

CineVue and its writers are listed on the Vuelio Influencer Database, the leading blogger database available to the PR and communications industries.

7 PR New Year’s Resolutions

January 2, 2018/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, PR News, PR Club Media Database, Media Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, PR, Canvas, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

Morning too dark? Feeling bloated? Groggy head? Welcome to 2018! Today is the first day back in the office for a lot of the country so now is the perfect time to make your professional New Year’s resolutions. And because it’s your first day back, we’ve done all the hard work for you.

7 New Year’s Resolutions for the public relations professional:

1. Make new friends…
2018 is a brand new year and you’ve got the chance to make new friends and find new ways of reaching your audience. If you’re stuck in a cycle of the same old influencers for your outreach, now is the time to reach newbies – there’s always more relevant influencers than you think. And if you’re struggling to find those people, you obviously aren’t using the Vuelio Influencer Database.

2. …and stay in touch with old friends
Making new friends doesn’t mean you have to forgot your old friends. Good relationships need nurturing, give your influencers a little bit of TLC in 2018 – wish those journalists, broadcasters and bloggers ‘Happy New Year’ and make it clear you’re available when they need you.

3. Adopt a healthy balanced diet
Instagram is great! It’s a great way to reach millennials and spread brand awareness. But is it great for links and tangible ROI? That’s fine, it’s what we use Twitter for! But is your entire target market on Twitter? That’s why we use magazines, most of your audience read them – but your client asked you to do something new and innovative… so an experiential event is in order!

Don’t use one channel to reach your audience, take advantage of all the routes that now exist in a healthy, balanced way.

4. Lose the flab
You’re a professional storyteller, not a salesperson. You don’t need to communicate your product or service by describing it as the most amazing, incredible idea since sliced bread! Be innovative and use your creativity – that’s why you went into PR in the first place.

5. Be more organised
Not sure who is talking to which stakeholder? How’s that line of enquiry going? Did someone get back to that member of the public? No one likes to be caught out and a little organisation can go a long way. Vuelio Stakeholder Management can track what’s happening with all stakeholder interactions in your organisation so you know what’s been said, when.

6. Stop being boring
Another PowerPoint? Is that really the best way to tell your company, colleagues and the board how awesome you are? Investors don’t want to sit through endless slides of static clippings, and let’s be honest – neither do you! 2018 is the year that visually attractive, interactive displays are used to share content and media coverage – check out this Canvas from the Vuelio Blog Awards to see what we mean, then find out how to make your own Canvas here.

7. Don’t be lazy
It can’t be said enough in these Resolutions. You’re here because you’re creative – so be creative! The year of 2017 is over, leave the concepts and ideas that made it great behind you, and focus on 2018. It may take some time to find the next big thing, but the UK PR industry is incredible – so that next idea could come from anyone, including you.

Five Things You Shouldn’t Have Missed – 29 December 2017

January 1, 2018/0 Comments/in Five Things, PR Pulse, journalism, PR, Media PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

Happy Merry Betwixtmas (maybe)! Some things still happen in the week of television and food, so here’s our round up of Five Things You probably Missed from the world of media, comms and PR.

Instagram’s stats

A bit later than the other tech giants, Instagram has released its top 10s of the year from most popular hashtag (#love) to most-liked post (Beyonce’s pregnancy announcement). One part of the 2017 release was most-popular stories, something that’s usually not visible to the outside world. This created an interesting top 10, where having the biggest following didn’t necessarily equate to having the most popular stories – which begs the question: what is true influence?

Ofcom complaints of the year

Ofcom has released the most complained about moments on TV from 2017, with Good Morning Britain topping the list for giving an interview with Dr Michael Davidson, a man who believes homosexuality is ‘an aberration’. Piers Morgan was delighted to be ‘No. 1’ on the complaint list and even retweeted Nigel Farage’s comment that he was ‘doing something right’. The full list of complained-about moments is largely made up by ITV, with BBC One and Sky News taking one each:

Good Morning Britain, ITV, September 5 – 1,142 complaints about interview with Dr Michael Davidson
Press Preview, Sky News, June 20 – 1,063 complaints about comments made by journalist Melanie Phillips
Britain’s Got Talent, ITV, June 1 – 665 complaints over Amanda Holden’s dress
Coronation Street, ITV, October 27 – 541 complaints over violent scenes involving Pat Phelan
Comic Relief 2017, BBC One, March 24 – 339 complaints about swearing and sexual innuendo involving Vic Reeves and Russell Brand
Emmerdale, ITV, March 6 – 275 complaints over prison scenes featuring violence and homophobic abuse towards Aaron Dingle
I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! ITV, December 7 – 243 complaints about alleged bullying towards Iain Lee
This Morning, ITV, November 13 – 181 complaints about interviewee’s comments on transgender issues
Good Morning Britain, ITV, June 20 – 176 complaints about interview with English Defence League co-founder Tommy Robinson
Benidorm, ITV, May 3 – 137 complaints about comments made about a character with a cleft lip

Christmas Viewing Figures

Another list, this time the viewing figures for Christmas day, which were won by the Queen’s speech on both BBC and ITV. In second place, but leading the field of programmes on just one channel, was Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas special. The BBC dominated the top 10 list, though the top 10 average was down from 2016.

Prince Harry takes over Today

In what will surely be a cracking scene in Netflix’s The Crown season 28, Prince Harry was this week a guest editor of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. The fifth in line to the throne interviewed Obama and Prince Charles as well as talking about mental health and the armed forces. A highlight was his quickfire questions for Obama who seemed equally amused and unimpressed.

A look back at 2017

Everyone is doing it, so we’re joining in. Have a favourite moment from 2017? Whatever it is, here’s one you DEFINITELY shouldn’t have missed:

Seen something we’ve missed? Let us know on Twitter.

Five Things You Shouldn’t Have Missed – 22 December 2017

December 22, 2017/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, Five Things, PR, Media PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

Our weekly round-up of the biggest stories from media, PR and comms including Twitter’s ban, lists of the year and a very funny video.

Twitter suspends Britain First

Twitter updated its policies around hate speech, which led to the almost-immediate removal of the extremist Britain First account along with its leader and deputy. Twitter is planning on being more aggressive in its enforcement of the policies but a number of accounts remain, perhaps due to their ‘newsworthiness’.

Twitter, Facebook and Google were also called in front of the Home Affairs Committee this week, for an investigation into online abuse and its links to violence. They were accused of not taking it seriously enough.

Top 10 rankings

Vuelio is proud of the blog rankings we create and maintain, identifying the very best of blogging by each sector. But which of our rankings are the most popular? Thankfully, you needn’t ask that question any more.

Most popular posts from 2017

Wondering what our most popular posts were from 2017? Wonder no more – from the Vuelio Blog Awards to football related interviews, 2017 was the year of variety. Sadly, no Five Things post made the list.

We met Hand Luggage Only

Award winning bloggers? Tick.
Amazing travel photography? Tick.
Two of the nicest bloggers in the world? You bet!

Yaya and Lloyd write Hand Luggage Only and were kind enough to tell us about the world of blogging and PR relationships. And check out their quickfire questions in the video below:

Christmas is only three days away

If you haven’t started shopping, it’s already too late.

Blogger Spotlight: Kate Williams, Crafts on Sea

December 21, 2017/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Kate Williams writes Crafts on Sea, which was recently ranked as one of the Top 10 UK Craft Blogs. Covering achievable crafts for kids and adults, Crafts on Sea demonstrates makes and shares fun family activities. We spoke to Kate about trends in crafts, not being paid in craft supplies and working on excellent campaigns.

How would you describe your blog?
Achievable crafts for kids and adults. There’s stuff to keep the kids busy but also things for the grown ups too – I’ve got a lot of colouring pages! I like to hope there’s something that would interest or inspire everyone on there; my own kids love things like Star Wars, Marvel and Paw Patrol so that inspires the kind of making that we do as well as season interests like Christmas or Halloween.

Why did you start your blog?
Well my husband was starting a blog and I didn’t want to be left out! He ended up not doing one but over the years mine has grown. I’ve always written but I don’t have the patience to sit and write 10,000 words! A blog post is the right kind of length for me.

What’s your favourite craft?
Well it’s a really simple one but I love these paper plate emojis. They’re just a proper stress-free craft that kids of all ages can do. More importantly, though, I know my kids loved this one as they both took their versions into school and nursery the next day for Show and Tell – that’s when you really know something has gone well!

What do you think the place of physical crafts is in a ‘digital’ world?
I think more people will look on Pinterest for kids crafts than will buy a book telling them how to make things – absolutely. I know I’ll look on YouTube to find out how to crochet because I need to see how it’s actually done and as a parent I can’t always get out to a class. Physical books and classes still have a role (I’ve written a book of crafts too) but the internet is a huge part of people’s lives now.

Want to work with influencers? Try the Vuelio Media Database and get access to 11,000 UK Bloggers in crafts, family, lifestyle & more.

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How much do trends in crafts affect your blog?
Well it’s December and I’m thinking about my Valentine’s Day crafts so quite a lot! I try to plan quite far in advance for season crafts and there’s also been big trends that crafts are affected by. Colouring has been really big, rock painting was a trend that’s still ongoing and even DIY fidget spinners were really popular this year. I try to listen to what my kids and their friends are talking about and plan around that too.

What will the 2018 trend be?
I think nature crafts are becoming more of a thing, especially as ‘forest schooling’ becomes more influential. Who knows for the rest of it though, some trends just seem to come out of nowhere – who would have thought that bottle flipping would be a big thing?!

How do you like to work with PRs?
I like them to be honest, tell me what they want to achieve and then I can see if it’s something I can help with. I’ve worked on a really great campaign recently for Marks & Spencer (through iCrossing) that was just so well thought out and had such a detailed brief. It was great as I knew exactly what they wanted so I could make sure I had it all planned properly. The campaign has done really well in terms of pageviews for me too, so it’s been a total pleasure to work on all round. I do want to be able to properly promote the clients I work with!

What one thing should PRs know about you?
Not just myself but most bloggers are incredibly professional and come from a professional background, I laugh with my friends about how my job is making stuff out of paper plates (much more fun than my old office job) but my background is in marketing, research and fundraising. 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. Failing that, 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!

What’s your favourite craft company?
My friend Gude runs The Paperdashery and she has the most amazing washi tapes as well as a fantastic subscription box service.

What other blogs do you read?
For kids crafts Red Ted Art, Arty Crafty Kids, Rainy Day Mum and Play and Learn Every Day are brilliant. Lulastic and The Hippyshake is my grown up read for activism and lifestyle stuff.

Kate Williams and her blog Crafts on Sea are both listed on the Vuelio Influencer Database, the UK’s leading influencer database available to the PR and communications industries.

Twitter suspends Britain First

December 19, 2017/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, social media marketing, PR, Blogger, Twitter PR, Press and Bloggers, Media Analysis Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

Twitter revised its hate speech rules, which then led to the suspension of the official Britain First account and the accounts of its leaders: Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen.

The new rules have been brought in to ‘reduce hateful conduct’ and ‘abusive behavior’. Twitter has broken down its new policies into two sections:

New rules on violence and physical harm:

‘Accounts that affiliate with organizations that use or promote violence against civilians to further their causes. Groups included in this policy will be those that identify as such or engage in activity — both on and off the platform — that promotes violence. This policy does not apply to military or government entities and we will consider exceptions for groups that are currently engaging in (or have engaged in) peaceful resolution.

‘Content that glorifies violence or the perpetrators of a violent act. This includes celebrating any violent act in a manner that may inspire others to replicate it or any violence where people were targeted because of their membership in a protected group. We will require offending Tweets to be removed and repeated violations will result in permanent suspension.’

Expanding the rules to include related content:

‘Any account that abuses or threatens others through their profile information, including their username, display name, or profile bio. If an account’s profile information includes a violent threat or multiple slurs, epithets, racist or sexist tropes, incites fear, or reduces someone to less than human, it will be permanently suspended. We plan to develop internal tools to help us identify violating accounts to supplement user reports.

‘Hateful imagery will now be considered sensitive media under our media policy. We consider hateful imagery to be logos, symbols, or images whose purpose is to promote hostility and malice against others based on their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity/national origin. If this type of content appears in header or profile images, we will now accept profile-level reports and require account owners to remove any violating media.’

Twitter aims to be ‘more aggressive’ in its enforcement of these new policies as it attempts to battle the perceived hate flooding the platform. It acknowledges that it ‘may make some mistakes’, and is working to create a ‘robust appeals process’.

That the platform has moved forward to remove extremist Britain First accounts before creating this appeals process is testament to the problem Twitter is facing. That said, new accounts for Britain First and Jayda Fransen are now on the platform, the latter having joined yesterday. It’s unclear if these are genuine or how they’ll be treated by Twitter’s policies.

Other accounts that could be argued to breach policies remain active – from Katie Hopkins, whose tweets this morning suggest she fears being suspended (no links, feel free to check out her tweets), to President Donald Trump, who has previously retweeted controversial Jayda Fransen videos.

Twitter founder and CEO Jack Dorsey has previously said Donald Trump’s tweets are important as they allow him to be held accountable. They’re also ‘newsworthy’ and so allowed to remain as part of the discussion.

The problem with these new policies is drawing certain lines of acceptability for users, which only seem to apply to some. It’s not clear if Twitter genuinely believes Trump’s policy-breaching behaviour is actually important news or if they’re protecting their business by staying relevant. It could be argued that the more influential and higher status the individual, the more damaging their hate and violence-filled speech is.

Expect this story to build momentum as further accounts are suspended and, perhaps more significantly, others are allowed to remain.

Five Things You Shouldn’t Have Missed – 15 December 2017

December 15, 2017/0 Comments/in Five Things, PR Pulse, journalism, PR, Media PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

Our weekly round-up of the biggest stories from media, PR and comms including the mother of all acquisitions, UCL’s white campus and the words, and terms, of 2017.

1. Disney to buy 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets
Disney has announced that it is to acquire 20^th Century Fox and other entertainment and sports assets from the Murdoch empire. The $52.4 billion all-stock deal will include the broadcaster Sky if Fox is successful in its takeover. Disney chairman-CEO Bob Iger has extended his contract for another two years, to 2021, in order to oversee the ‘integration of assets’. It is also reported that Disney expects to realise $2 billion in cost savings from overlapping business functions.

The huge merger has raised questions over competition in the market, the future of the Murdoch empire and, perhaps most significantly, how long it will be for X-Men to feature in the Avengers movies.

2. Max Clifford
Disgraced publicist Max Clifford died this week in prison. A man who was famous for creating false stories and representing kiss-and-tell ‘celebrities’, Clifford’s career came to an abrupt end in 2014 when he was convicted of a string of abuses against women and girls. The PR industry has been keen to further distance itself from the man who has been described as someone who ‘did a disservice to the honest public relations industry but had no lasting influence on it’.

3. UCL’s white campus
In tweet blunder of the week (no, regular Five Things readers, it’s not The Donald), University College London tweeted: ‘Dreaming of a white campus?’. While they were, of course, referencing the snow in London, on Twitter offence is like wildfire; quickly out of control. It led to the UCL apology, where they admitted to choosing their words ‘very poorly’. Unfortunately, this caused more outraged from those that believe Twitter ‘snowflakes’ (yes, very funny etc) shouldn’t be so easily offended.

4. Google in 2017
The most Googled terms of 2017 have been revealed by the search engine, with Meghan Markle dominating the UK’s searching habits this year. The full list includes a mixture of news and technological events, reflecting the year that was. Google also released most searched questions, for example ‘How to buy Bitcoin’, as well as global data where the French election was dominant but Trump didn’t make the cut.

5. Youthquake
The Oxford English Dictionary has announced its word of the year, which for 2017 is ‘Youthquake’. The word refers to the rallying of young people by Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party during the 2017 General Election, and saw a 400% increase in usage from 2016. That said, if a word is used once in 2016, it only needs to be used five times in 2017 to achieve a 400% rise. Other words which made the list include ‘antifa’ (groups united by militant opposition to fascism) and ‘broflake’ (a man upset by progressive attitudes which conflict with his more conservative views). The word of the year traditionally ‘defines’ the year and has previously included ‘chav’ in 2004, ‘credit crunch’ in 2008 and ‘vape’ in 2014.

Most Googled terms of the year 2017

December 14, 2017/0 Comments/in social media marketing, PR, Marketing PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

Google has released the most Googled terms of the year and Meghan Markle has topped the list in the UK.

Google’s annual analysis sums up the year in news. The full top 10 is:

Meghan Markle
iPhone 8
Hurricane Irma
Fidget spinner
Manchester bombing
Grenfell Tower
13 Reasons Why
Tara Palmer Tomkinson
Shannon Matthews
(suitably ranked) iPhone X

The search engine has also revealed common questions asked in 2017, including ‘How to buy Bitcoin’ and ‘What is a hung parliament’.

The information is a treasure trove for PR pros who are either checking for their successes (FYI Wimbledon was the most searched sporting event, and Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You was the most searched song), or seeing what’s trended to help predict what’s next.

Access to boxing matches is clearly high on people’s priorities as two fights – ‘How to watch Mayweather vs McGregor?’ and ‘How to watch Joshua vs Klitschko?’ – made the top 5 most searched ‘How To…?’ questions.

Globally, the information is broader but still includes news events and people – but surprisingly Donald Trump manages neither list.

And for a UK audience, what’s perhaps most surprising in light of Brexit is our place in the world (of Google); the UK election was the third most searched election, after the French and German elections respectively.

If you want to tweet something from this article, I’d recommend 2017’s most searched meme, which for 2017 was ‘Cash Me Ousside / Howbow Dah’*.

*me neither – even after our head of political content explained it.

Are you ready for London Fashion Week?

December 13, 2017/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Fashion Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

The next London Fashion Week takes place on 16-20 February 2018, which means the planning starts now. We spoke to Victoria Magrath, author of the Vuelio Blog Awards’ Best Fashion Blog 2017 Inthefrow.com, about preparation and planning for spring/summer LFW 2018.

Victoria, who is one of the faces of Ted Baker this season, is already planning potential projects with a number of her favourite brands for LFW. It may seem early to start planning, but with the Christmas period just weeks away and New York Fashion Week starting on 8 February, there isn’t much time left.

London and Paris are both special to Victoria who feels like London sadly isn’t appreciated enough on a global stage: ‘So many international bloggers don’t come over to London, which is such a shame; there are loads of great designers here!’

For Paris Fashion Week, Victoria is looking forward to spending time with her L’Oreal Beauty squad again and believes that the earlier teams start planning fashion week projects, the better. ‘It would be great to get super organised a few months ahead of time, as fashion week is so busy and fast paced but many fashion and beauty teams plans a lot nearer to the date which I understand.’

Collaborations are one of Victoria’s favourite aspects of her blogging career, and she is excited to work with her favourite brands on long-term campaigns in 2018. ‘The effects of real, genuine partnerships are much more rewarding.’

Victoria admits though that she is ‘never satisfied’ and always sets new goals to achieve. Even after being the top ranked fashion blog, winning at the Vuelio Blog Awards and being a face of Ted Baker for Christmas 2017 – Victoria is excited for what 2018 will hold.

Victoria and Inthefrow are both listed on the Vuelio Influencer Database, along with thousands of other bloggers, vloggers and media contacts.

Five Things You Shouldn’t Have Missed – 8 December 2017

December 8, 2017/0 Comments/in Five Things, PR Pulse, social media marketing, journalism, PR PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

THIS IS THE DESCRIPTION OF FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE MISSED FOR 8 DECEMBER.

1. 100PT SPLASH HEADING HERE

Cambridge News accidentally published editorial instructions on its front cover this week, rather than an actual story. In what must be the ultimate proofing AND printing error, its headline read ‘100PT SPLASH HEADING HERE’, followed by ‘THIS IS A STRAP OVER TWO DECKS WITH A CROSS REFERENCE TO A PAGE HERE’. The paper’s editor-in-chief, David Bartlett, has apologised and said it’s unclear how it happened, but also blamed ‘a technical problem’. It is very unusual for such a mistake to be missed in editorial proofing, final checks and checks at the printers, which makes the mistake all the more remarkable.

2. Time Person of the Year 2017

Time has named ‘The Silence Breakers’ as this year’s ‘Person’ of the Year. This group of people includes actress Ashely Judd, activist (and founder of the Me Too movement) Tarana Burke, and singer Taylor Swift. It heralds those that have spoken up about sexual harassment and assault, noting that this group of people has made it clear that such predatory behaviour can happen at any level of society and make victims of anyone. The light they’ve shone onto the issues has made it easier for others to come forward to talk about their own circumstances and experiences.

Twitter enjoyed the fact President Trump, who a couple of weeks back claimed he had been asked to be Time Person of the Year (in a tweet that quickly became a meme), was included by association – some of his accusers were part of The Silence Breakers.

To be fair, Donald Trump did, in a way, make it into Time’s #PersonOfTheYear issue after all… As one of the accused.

Congrats to The Silence Breakers #MeToo

— Brian Krassenstein? (@krassenstein) December 6, 2017

3. Most tweeted tweets

Twitter has released the most popular tweets on the platform for 2017, measured by retweets. While Carter needing his nuggs took the top spot (and is the most retweeted tweet of all time), it is Barack Obama who has attracted the headlines for having three tweets on the list, while President Trump managed none. Ouch. Though once again, The Donald got onto the list by association – he was called a bum by LeBron James:

U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain’t going! So therefore ain’t no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!

— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 23, 2017

4. Top YouTubers

Another social media ranking of 2017, Forbes announced the highest-earning YouTube stars of the year. Taking top spot is DanTDM, who last year didn’t even feature. Making a reported £12.3m this year, Dan Middleton makes gaming videos that have been watched billions of times. The full list also includes controversial star PewDiePie – who still holds the record for most subscribers – and six-year old Ryan, who opens and reviews toys. Ryan made £8.2m this year, and again: he’s six.

The total wealth of the top 10 is up 80% from 2016 as influencers cement themselves in marketers’ budgets. Only four of last year’s top 10 are on the list, highlighting the constant state of flux vlogging finds itself in, and the hard (and constant) works that’s needed to remain at the top.

There’s no place for UK giants Zoella or Alfie Deyes, who both post less frequently but do have a solid reputation for ‘influence’. Lifestyle in general is underrepresented in favour of gamers and ‘comedians’, suggesting the future areas that are likely to be biggest.

Though perhaps not TGFbro – the jackass-style channel which made headlines this week after one of them cemented his head inside a microwave. Watch the full excrutiating video here:

5. The best restaurant in London

The Shed At Dulwich – you’ve heard of it, right? London’s hottest restaurant, so exclusive that it seems almost impossible that anyone manages to eat there?

In what’s quite possibly the biggest PR stunt of the year, a Vice journalist – Oobah Butler – created a fake restaurant, fake food and encouraged his friends and family to leave fake reviews. Having previously taken freelance work writing fraudulent reviews for restaurants (for $13 a time), Oobah thought he could game the whole system and make success based on nothing. And he was right.

After months of rising through the rankings, The Shed At Dulwich eventually climbed to the top spot as number one restaurant in London – despite not existing. Throughout his time in the TripAdvisor rankings (his restaurant has now been removed), Oobah received dozens of booking requests, as well as unsolicited job applications from kitchen staff and free samples from suppliers.

Commenting on the story, TripAdvisor said:

‘Generally, the only people who create fake restaurant listings are journalists in misguided attempts to test us. As there is no incentive for anyone in the real world to create a fake restaurant it is not a problem we experience with our regular community – therefore this ‘test’ is not a real world example.’

Oobah thinks this explanation is ‘fair enough’, but serious questions should be raised about online review culture in the wake of The Shed At Dulwich.

Sneaky number 6. Brexit Deal

The UK has reached a breakthrough deal on the terms of its exit from the EU. It has been agreed that there will be no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, that EU citizens have the right to remain in the UK and that there will be a divorce bill. Theresa May and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker met in Brussels this morning to sign off a progress report that will allow discussions to move onto the second phase.

Blogger Spotlight: Nicole Williams, Nicole’s Journey

December 3, 2017/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Merryn Williams

Nicole Williams writes the blog Nicole’s Journey. Recently ranked in the Top 10 UK Mental Health Blogs, Nicole’s Journey covers mental health issues and wellbeing. We spoke to Nicole about how much writing helped her, the lack of mental health services in the UK and working with PRs who are interested in her blog.

How would you describe your blog?
I would describe my blog as how I see the world around me, through health, wellbeing, mindfulness, gratitude, the good days and the not so good days, each post documenting something I have learnt, something I am learning or something I wish I could have read when I needed it. My blog is my thoughts turned into words, sharing moments of my life, text and photographs I hope not only to make a difference to myself but to somebody else who might be where I am or once was.

Why did you start your blog?
When I was first diagnosed with anorexia, my sister suggested blogging as a way to document my journey and all I was going through, more so for myself than anybody else. I started with writing the positive days, trying desperately to see the light in what felt like only dark. Sure, this positivity helped but at the time there were more bad days than good, so I began to share these too.

I never could have imagined how writing would help me. When going through such a horrible time of my life, writing allowed me to let the thoughts I had out. From this, my friends and family began to understand more and could support me better. I also began to meet people; others who were going, or had been, through their own mental illnesses. This support was invaluable.

Overtime, my journey with blogging continued, sharing the ups and downs of my mental health and engaging with others too. After a little break in writing, I returned with Nicole’s Journey, being able to look at this part of my life, how much I have learnt and in ways I never could have imagined, fills me with gratitude.

What’s the biggest issue facing mental health in the UK today?
I honestly do not know where to begin, I am no expert but I guess the lack of mental health services. People who need support for their mental health cannot always afford to wait. Speaking from personal experience, having a mental illness on the bad days is made one hundred times worse when you are turned away from what should be care and support. It took me every inch of strength I had to ask for help, yet I was put on a five-month waiting list, and, in comparison to others, I was lucky. I cannot express how difficult this wait was for both myself and my family. Nobody should ever have to experience this, yet people do, every single day.

How do you think mental health awareness has changed in recent years?
There has been an increase of mental health awareness through everyday conversations, generating better understanding and knowledge. When I was a child, mental health was never spoken about and when it started to be it was only ever in a negative light. Of course, there is a long way to go but I think people having an initial awareness is such a positive change and one that can save somebody’s life.

What advice would you give someone who was struggling with their mental health?
Of course, this depends on the person and what they are experiencing, mental health is very individual and it is difficult to summarize one answer. I guess I would say to talk about it, to seek help and support, and to never give up hope.

How do you engage with your readers and community?
I adore engaging with my readers, from comments to private messages, I find the most engagement I have is done through Instagram messaging.

How do you like to work with PRs?
I enjoy engaging with PRs who are interested in my blog, who have taken the time to look a little and who share similar beliefs to me, and those who are respectful and considerate of my personal experiences. I like to have a clear idea of what it is they are hoping to achieve from working with me and what kind of things they would be interested in creating.

What one thing should brands or PRs know about you?
I will never share anything that I think could harm a person’s mental health. That sounds obvious, right? But you would be surprised how many times people expect me to share unhealthy factors of my mental health experiences.

What other blogs do you read?
I read a whole range of blogs, of the top of my head and recent browsing history: Time To Change’s Personal Stories, We’re All Mad Here, Girl, Interrupted, Bumble and Be, Mental Health Stories, Rich Biscuit, No Space For Milk – this list could go on!

Nicole Williams and Nicole’s Journey are both listed with detailed biographies on the Vuelio Influencer Database – the UK’s leading influencer database available to the PR and communications industries.

Five Things You Shouldn’t Have Missed – 1 December 2017

December 1, 2017/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, Five Things, journalism, PR, Media PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

These week’s Five Things includes the biggest night of the blogging year, Trump’s tweets and Hopkins leaving the MailOnline.

1. The Vuelio Blog Awards

Sure, they were last Friday but they were so epic that they deserve top spot mention in this week’s Five Things. We awarded 14 bloggers with 15 awards – including Best UK Blog 2017 to Craig Landale from Menswear Style. The event is being hailed as a huge success, with guests amazed by the fire dancers, wowed by the aerial silk gymnasts and thrilled to meet their influencer friends and heroes. Check out the official photo gallery from the night, courtesy of our friends at Splento.

2. Trump’s tweets

Arguably deserving its own regular spot in Five Things, Donald Trump’s tweets were in the news again this week. After Trump retweeted three anti-Muslim videos posted by the deputy leader of far-right party Britain First, Theresa May publicly criticised him (along with other leading MPs and figures in the UK). This led to the sometimes-sensitive President to tweet the following:

.@Theresa_May, don’t focus on me, focus on the destructive Radical Islamic Terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom. We are doing just fine!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 30, 2017

The media had a field day, suggesting the ‘special relationship’ is now in danger of being lost at a time when the UK is about the leave the EU and needs all the external friends it can get. There are also mixed reports, following Trump’s actions this week, as to whether his State Visit will still go ahead.

3. Katie Hopkins leaves the MailOnline

Katie Hopkins left her role of columnist at the MailOnline this week. According to a statement from the MailOnline, the right-wing commentator’s contract had not been renewed by ‘mutual consent’. The columnist is a professional controversist, famous for provoking outrage and causing offence – sometimes over accuracy and facts. After the announcement that her contract had not been renewed, she tweeted an apology the MailOnline published to Jacqueline Teale, who was wrongly targeted by Hopkins in a column. The MailOnline paid ‘substantial damages and legal costs’ to Teale as part of the apology.

4. Buzzfeed cuts

Buzzfeed has announced cuts to its global workforce including editorial and business roles at Buzzfeed UK. Jonah Peretti, CEO, outlined the aims of the company and why the cuts were necessary in a memo to all staff. The site is struggling to improve profits, reflecting the fact that all digital publishers are currently facing an uphill struggle against the powerhouses of Google and Facebook, both of which still take the majority of digital ad spend.

5. Royal Wedding

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are to wed in Spring 2018.

Something we’ve missed? let us know on Twitter @Vuelio.

Blogger Spotlight: Mike Douglas, Mike’s Open Journal

November 30, 2017/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Merryn Williams

Mike Douglas writes the Top 10 Mental Health Blog Mike’s Open Journal. The blog focuses on mental health, while covering a range of lifestyle topics such as health, fitness, relationships, sex and local events. We spoke to Mike about the stigma around mental health issues, the importance of sharing and working collaboratively with PRs.

Why did you start your blog?
I started to write about my experiences, thoughts and feelings because I needed an outlet. I was in a particularly bad place with my mental health. I could not see a way out of the darkness or how I could continue. Writing, and subsequently blogging, provided me with an opportunity to express my thoughts and feelings, which is something I have always struggled with. As a dyslexic male that may not be a surprise.

Over time I became more confident in talking and sharing my struggles. Sharing for the first time on Facebook was a massive step for me. Since then, I have continued to write about my mental health including how it has and does affect other aspects of my life.

What’s the biggest issue facing mental health in the UK today?
Stigma. Mental health illnesses are bad enough. But for many of us, we are highly affected by something that can be prevented. Stigma will continue to exist until there is better understanding of mental health, mental health illnesses, the support that is available and the language we use in our communities.

How do you think mental health awareness has changed in recent years?
Awareness has improved thanks to national campaigns from people like Mind, Rethink Mental Illness and Heads Together. This has been implemented by use of ‘well known’ spokespeople and Champions (such as Time to Change Champions).

What advice would you give someone who was struggling with their mental health?
Talk to someone. You don’t have to say everything, you don’t have to tell everyone, just find one or two people you are able to talk to.

It could be a friend, family member, a co-worker, a fellow student, or it could be support online available through places like Mind or Samaritans.

Samaritans are not just for emergencies!

How do you engage with your readers and community?
I have created links within my local community to increase my awareness of local events and opportunities. Make Facebook’s local events page your friend.

I love talking to other people about their experience with mental health, just sitting down and talking about our day, habits and our health is a beautiful thing to be able to do. I am fortunate enough to have had over 20 guests on my podcast to talk about their experiences and thoughts regarding mental health.

This can help to make more people aware of my blog and my guest.

Additionally, I have enjoyed attending a range of meet ups and event, meeting new bloggers (and even friends!). This is a great way to really engage with the ‘community’ and actually meet people you talk to online.

How do you like to work with PRs?
Having an open dialogue is great. Sometimes there will be paid opportunities, sometimes they’re not paid. I think that’s fine. By being aware of what opportunities there are you can make informed choices on what you would like to be involved in and what fits with your blog/readers.

If you want tips for working with PR check out Rhiannon Olivia, she has some great content for bloggers new to PR and collaborations.

What one thing should brands or PRs know about you?
I write honestly about my experience/thoughts, because of this there will likely be mention of mental health (specifically mine) within a post.

I enjoy finding out about new products, services and/or experiences. I like sharing.

What other blogs do you read?
I read other mental health blogs, usually because of my interest or relationship with the blogger. My favourite at the moment is Sophie Edwards. There are also a couple of cool people like Rhiannon Olivia, who write about blogging and provide tips and insight that are really helpful.

I enjoy writing (self-promo, haha) and reading about fitness, wrestling, sex and relationships too. Currently I am loving Hannah & Fitness, the occasional post from Emma Luxton and the lovely photos posted by Jordan.

Mike Douglas and his blog are both listed on the Vuelio Influencer Database, which is the UK’s leading influencer database available to the PR and communications industries.

Buzzfeed announces staff cuts

November 30, 2017/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, journalism, Media Media Database, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

In a memo to staff, Buzzfeed CEO Jonah Peretti has announced cuts to staff as part of a reorganisation of the business. Around 100 jobs will go at the firm, including losses from the UK office.

Peretti’s memo highlighted changes in the UK: ‘we are realigning the organisation to focus on content for global audiences and our core U.K. News beats – investigations, politics, media, and social justice – and intend to make reductions across Buzz, Commercial, News, and Admin as a result.’

It is not yet known how many jobs will be cut from the UK workforce, though around 6% of the global staffing pool will go.

A further announcement revealed President Greg Coleman is returning to his former role as senior advisor after three years. He will not be directly replaced but the company is looking for a chief operating officer to ‘help lead in the many areas and opportunities we have for growth’.

Peretti also said the company continues to grow revenue, though Guido Fawkes has previously revealed the UK business lost £3.5m in 2016 and claims it is that, coupled with average salaries allegedly at £60,000, which is starting to take its toll on the business.

Buzzfeed’s planned public offering for 2018 was put on hold and, as the Wall Street Journal reported, it will miss its target revenue growth this year by 15-20%. Buzzfeed’s cuts follow ESPN’s announcement that 150 jobs would be cut as the business struggles.

While Buzzfeed is seen as a digital master in publishing circles, and its investigative journalism and listicles are making their mark on the UK’s media landscape, it is clear the perfect model for a large-scale digital outlet is yet to be found.

Buzzfeed is investing millions in video in the US, in an attempt to attract traditional TV advertisers, though with YouTube and the likes of Netflix and Amazon also presenting ‘new’ competition, this market is already crowded.

In a world where Google and Facebook continue to attract the lion’s share of digital ad spend, publishers will continue to feel the pinch and Buzzfeed is unlikely to be the last that is forced to make cuts.

The Vuelio Media Database will be updated to ensure the current staffing roster at Buzzfeed is accurate.

Vuelio Blog Awards Photo Gallery is live

November 29, 2017/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blog Awards PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

The photos from the Vuelio Blog Awards 2017 are now available online in our dedicated gallery.

Check out all the pics from the red carpet, dinner and Awards

The Vuelio Blog Awards 2017 recognised 14 of the best bloggers in the UK across a range of categories from best newcomer (Best Before End Date) to Parenting (Toby & Roo). Check out the full list of winners here.

The photos were taken by our incredible friends at Splento and match the feedback from this year’s event, which has been through the roof. One of the highlights for many was the ‘exceptional’ entertainment:

Congratulations to our overall winner from the night, Craig Landale of Menswear Style, who picked up the award for Best Men’s Lifestyle Blog as well as the Best UK Blog. All while being the sharpest dress guy in the room!

If there are any pictures you think are missing or would like a raw version of, please contact Jake O’Neill.

The Best 14 Bloggers in the UK

November 27, 2017/0 Comments/in PR, Blogger, Blog Awards, PR Club PR, Press and Bloggers, Media Database Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

The winners of the 2017 Vuelio Blog Awards were revealed at the Bloomsbury Big Top on Friday, 24 November.

Hundreds came together in the fabulous Bloomsbury Big Top to enjoy top entertainment, fire dancers, aerial silk artists, fine dining, the hilarious Ellie Taylor, and the company of the best bloggers in the UK right now! In their third year, the Vuelio Blog Awards continued to show why the UK blogging industry is the world’s best.

With Twitter trends made by guests using over 3GB of data a minute; hundreds of posts; thousands of likes, retweets and hearts; and millions of impressions – the Vuelio Blog Awards proved themselves, once again, as the must attend event of the year.

Congratulations to all of winners from the night:

Best Arts & Entertainment – sponsored by Splento
That Grape Juice

Best PR, Media and Communications Blog – sponsored by Access Intelligence
MK

Best Political Blog – sponsored by PLMR
Guido Fawkes

Best Fitness & Healthy Living Blog
Lunges and Lycra

Best Men’s Lifestyle Blog – sponsored by Jameson
Menswear Style

Best Women’s Lifestyle Blog
Lily Pebbles

Best Food & Drink Blog – sponsored by InterContinental London Park Lane
My Fussy Eater

Best Wedding Blog – sponsored by Sandals Resorts
Rock My Wedding

Best DIY & Interior Design Blog
Swoon Worthy

Best Beauty Blog – sponsored by PZ Cussons Beauty
A Model Recommends

Best Travel and Leisure Blog – Sponsored by Celebrity Cruises
Hand Luggage Only

Best Fashion Blog
Inthefrow

Best Parenting Blog – Sponsored by STAEDTLER
Toby & Roo

Best Newcomer Blog
Best Before End Date

And the overall prize, awarded to one category winner from the night who wowed the judges with his original content, professional blogging and unique proposition:

Best UK Blog 2017
Menswear Style

Congratulations to all of our winners, and look out for the official photos from the night which are being compiled as you read!

Here’s to 2018!

As always, the winners of the Vuelio Blog Awards are all listed on the Vuelio Influencer Database.

Your Guide to the Vuelio Blog Awards 2017

November 22, 2017/0 Comments/in PR, Blogger, Blog Awards PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

The Vuelio Blog Awards are this Friday! Are you ready?

Here’s our handy guide to make sure you have everything you need to have the best night of your life*.

1. Confirm EVERYTHING

The blogger ballot has been announced with successful bloggers already confirmed in their hundreds. Have you confirmed your place? Have you confirmed your dietary requirements? If not, get in touch with Jake O’Neill who will be able to help (in between his screaming with excitement about how soon the Awards are).

2. Double check the time and location (and date!)

No one wants to turn up to the venue a week late). The event starts at 19.00, on 24 November, with a sparkling drinks reception – aim to be there when the doors open to maximise drinking time the excellent time you’ll have. And it’s at the Bloomsbury Big Top – you can see where that is right here. You get there by entering Coram’s Fields park, on Guilford Street opposite Guilford Place.

3. Find your fancy outfit

The dress code is black-tie and fancy – this is your chance to dress up to the nines and feel fabulous all night long**. What’s most important is that you’re comfortable and happy – we already know you’ll look great.

4. Get ready to make A LOT of friends

The UK blogging community is awesome and the bloggers are lovely but there are too few opportunities for bloggers to meet up in real life. The Vuelio Blog Awards is your chance to meet the face behind the name and mingle with the greats. Did we mention HUNDREDS of bloggers have confirmed their place to attend? Plus excellent sponsors to present the awards (it’s going to be huge!).

5. Bring some cash

Every guest will join us for a glass of something nice in the reception and then sit down for a three-course sumptuous meal including wine. That’s all yours and all included. But we know some of you have exotic tastes, so a fully stocked bar will be available for those that want a ‘sip’ of something extra.

ALSO

We don’t want anyone struggling to get home at the end of the night – while Bloomsbury is lovely, it’s a cold place to be stranded in the early hours of late November. Whether it’s a taxi, uber, tube, bus, Segway, pogo stick or hovercraft, make sure you have the means to get home and have planned your exit (with appropriate mic drop).

6. Use the hashtag

Tweeters at the ready – the hashtag is #VuelioBlogAwards and it’s the best way to get involved before, during and after the night.

7. Get in touch

If you need anything or have any questions about the night, get in touch. We’re a friendly bunch at Vuelio and want to do whatever we can to ensure you have a fantastic time!

Before you go, check out the video from last year and get ready for 2017 – which will be even bigger, better and blogging brilliant!

See you soon!

*Obviously this depends on the other nights you’ve had

** We cannot guarantee fabulousness after you’ve left the venue, or when you wake up the next day!!

NB: This post was updated on 22 November to reflect how close the event now is!

Blogger Spotlight: Grace Hall, Eats Amazing

November 20, 2017/0 Comments/in PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Grace Hall is the author of Eats Amazing, a food blog focused on making healthy food fun for kids. With a special knack for getting kids to eat their greens (along with other fruit and veg), Eats Amazing was recently ranked in the Top 10 Food Blogs. We spoke to Grace about creative lunch boxes, mum being the best cook and working creatively with brands like Disney.

How would you describe your blog?
Eats Amazing is all about making food fun for children. Whether it be fun food craft tutorials or easy recipes that children can cook themselves, I create ideas for getting kids and parents engaged with and excited about making and eating healthy foods (with a few treats thrown in too!).

Why did you start your blog?
I originally started Eats Amazing when my oldest son started school as a place to share and record the creative bento style lunches that I was packing for him each day. I was excited about this new way of packing lunches and wanted to share my experiences. Over the years the blog has evolved a lot and although I do still share plenty of advice and inspiration for packing lunches, it’s now the place to go for easy fun food tutorials, totally doable food art and family friendly recipes.

What are the latest trends in food and cooking we should know about?
I don’t tend to keep up very well with what’s trendy to be honest, if it looks fun, I’m usually willing to give it a try, but I’ve never been one to follow the crowd. Having said that, it’s been all about the rainbows and unicorns on the fun food scene this year and I’ve enjoyed creating some really fun recipes inspired by those themes, so I look forward to seeing what 2018 holds!

What will the next big thing be?
I’ve noticed a lot of alternative foods appearing in the news this year, like edible insects, seaweed pasta and lab-grown meat substitutes. People are looking for more sustainable food sources and I think it’s going to force us all to be a bit more adventurous and step outside the box when it comes to our food.

What and where was the best meal you’ve ever had?
Though I love eating out, nothing beats a meal cooked by my mum! I grew up in a busy household as one of seven children but she still managed to create amazing home-cooked meals that we sat down and ate together every day of the week. Our family Christmas dinner has got to be the highlight, it gets better every year!

What’s your favourite ingredient to cook with?
It only takes a quick look at my blog to spot my favourite ingredient – edible candy eyes! Not the most serious of ingredients, but a couple of googly eyes can make anything fun!

How do you like to work with PRs?
My favourite campaigns are those when I have a lot of creative control so that the branded content fits in perfectly with my usual style. Several of the most popular posts on the Eats Amazing blog were created for brand campaigns – provide me with the inspiration and I’ll run with it!

What one thing should PRs know about you?
I am quite selective in who I choose to work with, only promoting companies that I feel I can truly recommend to my readers. I’m also a bit of a perfectionist so when I do collaborate with brands I make every effort to create the very best content possible for each campaign.

Do you have an example of a great campaign or collaboration you’ve worked on?
One of my favourite campaigns this year was a collaboration with DisneyLife – I created five different family picnics, each themed around a different Disney film, then worked with the PR team to film video tutorials for them all. It was an intense campaign with a lot of hard work all round but I loved every minute of it!

What other blogs do you read?
I love the community to be found around blogging and like to dip into lot of parenting, craft and of course food blogs. My favourite blogs are My Fussy Eater, A Mummy Too, Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen and Le Coin De Mel. They all create fantastic family friendly recipes and showcase them with gorgeous photography in their own individual styles.

Grace Hall and Eats Amazing are both listings on the Vuelio Influencer Database, which is the UK’s leading influencer database available to the PR and communications industries.

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