Blog Posts - Vuelio

Political Headlines – Ministers to disrupt Johnson by resigning

July 22, 2019/0 Comments/in Political Headlines, Government, Public Affairs Political Services, Political Database Blog Posts /by Thomas Stevenson

Today’s political headlines includes senior ministers plans to disrupt Johnson by resigning, Corbyn support amongst Labour members falls and the government considers a carbon charge on air tickets.

Ministers to disrupt Johnson by resigning
The Guardian claims that Boris Johnson’s entry into Downing Street is to be disrupted by ‘carefully timed resignations’ by senior ministers. Philip Hammond and David Gauke have confirmed that they will be stepping down on Wednesday, with others, such as Rory Stewart, potentially following. Hammond told The Andrew Marr show at the weekend that ‘I’m sure I’m not going to be sacked, because I’m going to resign before we get to that point’.

Johnson calls on UK to rediscover ‘sense of mission’
Writing in The Daily Telegraph Boris Johnson says that the UK can leave the EU with a deal by 31 October be rediscovering its ‘sense of mission’, saying that if man could get to the moon fifty years ago ‘we certainly have the technology’ to tackle the Irish border issue, claiming that checks could be conducted away from the border.

Corbyn support amongst Labour members falls
A poll by YouGov for The Times finds that Jeremy Corbyn’s popularity with Labour members has fallen by 24 points since March last year, with 43% of members now saying that is doing a bad job. Over half are dissatisfied with how he has handled Brexit, while one in four want him to quit immediately. The Guardian reports that Corbyn has launched an educational webpage to help tackle antisemitism in the party.

Over 770,000 denied state support since Government promised action on social care
The Daily Mail claims that over 770,000 elderly people have been denied state support since the Government promised to reform the social care system in March 2017, with 66,684 people dying while waiting for care over the period according to NHS Digital figures, analysed by Age UK, which called for ‘certainty and stability’.

Defence minister says navy is too small after Iran seizes tanker
The Times says that defence minister Tobias Ellwood has admitted that the Royal Navy is ‘too small’ to fulfil a global role, following the seizure by the Iranians of the British tanker Stena Impero in the Gulf despite warnings from HMS Montrose. He said that continuing to play ‘an influential role’ internationally would ‘require further funding’.

Duncan Smith holds out for senior Cabinet role as Johnson considers demoting Hunt
According to The Sun, Iain Duncan Smith has told friends he wouldn’t accept a role as party chairman under Boris Johnson as he wants a more senior role. The paper also says that Johnson’s allies believe he will sack Jeremy Hunt as Foreign Secretary if he wins the leadership by a large number, having become infuriated by Hunt’s personal attacks, and will give him a more junior role such as Business Secretary.

Government considers carbon charge on air tickets
The Times claims that the Government is considering adding a carbon charge to the price of air tickets automatically, on an ‘opt-out’ basis, with the possibility of extending this to trains, buses and ferries. This would increase the cost of a London to New York flight by just under £30, and to Madrid by about £5.

MPs call for time limit on prosecution of soldiers
The Guardian carries details of a House of Commons Defence Committee report which recommends the introduction of a 10-year ‘qualified statute of limitations’ to protect military veterans and soldiers from prosecution, and suggest that the Human Rights Act could be amended to provide further protection.

Stay up to date with Vuelio Political Services.

Dos and don’ts of networking

July 22, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, PR Club Comms, PR Blog Posts /by Rebecca Potts

For some people, the idea of attending an industry event fills them with dread. It’s the fear of what to say and who you might meet, or, most terrifying of all, what if no-one talks to you. Networking at events doesn’t need to be a chore, instead it should be seen as the enjoyable part of your job that helps you get ahead (plus these events often come with free food and drink!).

Vuelio hosts, sponsors and attends a large number of industry events throughout the year and along the way we’ve picked up top dos and don’ts of how to network. Whether you’re at an industry awards kitted out in black tie, casual post-work networking drinks or a three-day conference, these tips should give you the confidence to blossom into a networking pro.

Research. Try to find out who else is going to be at the event so you can plan who you want to speak to. This will be easier for some types of events and with any awards ceremony the shortlist is your key to finding out who will be there on the night.
- Top tip: find out the event hashtag and follow it on Twitter, it’s a great way to see who’s engaged and talking about the event and gives you the chance to have pre-event interaction
Be open. Keep a couple of open-ended questions up your sleeve; remember, if this is your first interaction keep it light and friendly but most of all make sure you listen to their answer.
- Top tip: read the signs when it’s ready to bring the conversation to a close, are they looking elsewhere or checking their phone? Smile, say you enjoyed talking to them and that you’ll catch up with them soon.
Follow up. Not only is it good manners but it also makes sure you stay at the front of their mind. Whether you connect on LinkedIn or send a short email, thank them for their time and suggest getting in touch again soon.
- Top tip: make it personal if you can, refer back to the event you met at or a topic of conversation you discussed. This shows that you listened and puts you in the best light.

Don’t

Speak to colleagues. Chances are you’ve gone to the event with a colleague and while the temptation may be to stick to the people you know this doesn’t help you meet new people or expand your network.
- Top tip: look for other people on their own, it’s easier to have a conversation one-to-one than break into a group.
Be late. Allow yourself plenty of time to get to the venue, being late to events reflects badly on you and the company you represent. It also means you may miss vital networking opportunities.
- Top tip: check the route before you leave for any potential travel issues.
Be unapproachable. Your instinct may be to go to your phone and check emails in an uncomfortable networking situation but this sends the message that you don’t want to engage with others. Grab a drink and keep the phone away!
- Top tip: Stood on an exhibition stand? The temptation will be to fold your arms but this is a big no, keep your arms behind your back and you’re body language will go from unapproachable to open in seconds.

Expert Industry Advice

Andrea Sexton, director of Andrea Sexton PR had these three failsafe tips: ’Be in it for the long term! Networking works best when you build long term relationships then you can refer with confidence and with professionalism. Follow up straight away. I block out time in my diary after each networking event in order to have the opportunity to follow up with people properly. Stick with it and take it seriously – it will be worth it.’

Holly Pither, MD and founder of Tribe PR shared this networking don’t: ’I once saw a guy pull out his iPad at an industry event and start showing his sales creds to a poor chap. I can’t tell you how awkward it was. In sales, the aim isn’t about what you have to offer, it’s about listening to the other person and understanding what they need, and this is exactly what you must do when networking. So, leave the sales pitch to the follow up meetings and instead use this time to really genuinely understand the person you are talking to and connect with them.’

Debby Penton, managing director at technology PR consultancy Wildfire shared her top networking advice gleaned from over 20 years’ experience: ‘The key to good networking is reciprocity. Don’t go for the hard sell and look only for opportunities for yourself. Ask questions and listen. Find out what people’s challenges are and think who you can connect them with in your network. Then follow up, make those connections and keep in touch. Do this persistently and in time contacts will start to repay the favour.’

Happy networking!

All external comment was sourced from our network and via the ResponseSource Journalist Enquiry Service.

‘PR and communication is more important than it’s ever been’

July 19, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR Media Database, PR Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

Businesses are not reacting fast enough to the changing demands of society, according to Professor Andrew Burke, Dean of Trinity College Business School.

In the latest interview for the CIPR’s #PRPays series, Professor Burke urged businesses to proactively shape the values of their consumers to create a more positive environment for all stakeholders. He stressed that PR professionals have a vital role to play in communicating those values to stakeholders.

Professor Burke, who is also Chair of Business Studies at Trinity College, revealed a step change in the skills and characteristics demanded of leaders by modern businesses. He said: ‘In the past, businesses looked for the brightest students by IQ and build up their analytical.

‘Now they want a broad-based individual with emotional intelligence, they want someone with values and a conscience’.

He also emphasised how authenticity is vital to any communications, and business should be embodying the messages they’re delivering.

The interview is the fourth instalment of the CIPR’s #PRPays series, which aims to demonstrate the value of PR to the business commmunity.

Travel Spotlight: Andrew and Emily, Along Dusty Roads

July 18, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Press and Bloggers, Media Database, PR Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Along Dusty Roads was created by Andrew and Emily back in 2014. Now a top 10 travel blog, Along Dusty Roads covers slow travel; living, breathing and falling in love with every destination they visit. We caught up with the travel couple to find out about their lives as bloggers, use of social, the best places in the world and how they work with brands and PRs.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
With great difficulty.

We wear many hats in this job, literally and metaphorically. There’s a bunch of creative stuff (writing, photography, design), lots of admin, lots of logistics and planning, lots of website and tech things, areas that are akin to marketing and advertising, and then all the day-to-day jobs that come with running our own digital business.

It’s the travelling that’s the easy part, but most people perhaps don’t realise everything else we have to do to keep Along Dusty Roads ticking over.

However, the golden thread running through absolutely everything we do, and motivating everything we do, is trying to help people to travel more, and travel better.

That can take many forms, but primarily it’s about writing personal guides and tales based only on our own experiences and adventures so that others can read reliable, realistic, and relatable writing to inspire or plan their next trip. And taking pretty pictures along the way while trying to raise awareness of a travel style that’s more responsible, considerate and curious!

How do different social channels work with your blog?
We try to maintain a consistent voice across them, but it’s difficult as each social media channel lends itself to a different type of content and a different type of attention. Simply cross-posting the same things or pushing out old blog posts each day isn’t what our social media is there for – instead it’s somewhere to show our personality a little more, build a community outside the more static medium of the blog and share different stories of our travels or a destination.

There’s no doubt that Instagram takes up more of our time and attention than we’d like, but it’s also the social media that most clients care most about. We were slow starters to Stories, but absolutely love it as a creative space and way to interact better with our followers. We struggle with Twitter as a forum for travel, but recently have found our audience actually really enjoy images, which we previously thought weren’t a good fit for the medium. Facebook is comfortable and we have a lot of people there who have been with us since the beginning, but sometimes being a bit more personal or longform on that platform doesn’t feel right.

Do you think travel blogging will be your job forever?
We certainly hope so.

The dream is to grow Along Dusty Roads while always keeping it true to our core principles and travel philosophy. There are various projects, improvements and innovations we’d like to do based around the blog, but the trouble is finding the time to develop these.

Where’s the best place for street food in the world?
Based on our own experience of the world (there are so many places we haven’t visited), we’d go for Mexico.

Which country has the friendliest locals?
Every country has friendly locals who go out of their way to make you feel welcome, but every country also has people who may not. Thankfully, we’ve experienced more of the former rather than the latter on our own travels.

What’s your favourite mode of transport?
Due to our travels across Latin America, we’ve probably spent about two months in the last five years solely travelling on buses (which usually had a Fast and Furious movie on, or anything else from The Rock’s back catalogue).

When it isn’t packed or ridiculously expensive though, there’s a gentle romanticism to train travel – and as a traveller it is the sort of environment where conversations different to the ordinary with a new person are possible. It’s also less stressful and more sustainable than many other modes of transport.

Do you accept press releases?
We write everything on Along Dusty Roads, and we only write about places that we have personally visited and experienced. We think that’s something core to what distinguishes a travel blog from any other travel-oriented website out there – and readers value that. This means that we don’t accept or publish press releases.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
We’re very selective on collaborations.

That travellers trust us, and respect our opinions, which means the absolute world to us, and we take that responsibility incredibly seriously. We would never jeopardise it or take it for granted. This means that any collaboration has to be a great fit for our audience and our travel style, and something or somewhere that we can genuinely and wholeheartedly support or recommend.

Thankfully, this focus on suitability and quality means that the campaigns and collaborations we do work on are pretty great. For example, we’re Wanderers for G Adventures, a small-group adventure company that does great things to lead the conversation on responsible and sustainable travel.

What advice would you give to PRs/brands reaching out to you?
The main advice is to start conversations about working together as early as possible. We have to plan out our travels months in advance, and having things sorted earlier rather than last-minute helps massively.

Also, taking the time to look into who we are and what we do at Along Dusty Roads before getting in touch makes a world of difference. Generic queries waste everyone’s time, but we love discussing how we can work together when it’s clear that somebody has taken the time to actually think about whether we’re a good fit for them (and vice versa) and contacts us with a clear idea about what they want to do together.

We only really work on bespoke campaigns now, so the final thing would be to trust our experience as travellers and bloggers so that we can create a campaign together that doesn’t simply visit the same places mentioned in every single other article about a destination, and understanding that free time on an itinerary is a good thing, not a bad thing, when it comes to travel writing.

What other blogs do you read?
We like to get our travel inspiration and travel journalism from a really diverse set of traditional and modern media, rather than only reading blogs, but we are big fans of The Common Wanderer, This Battered Suitcase, Jungles in Paris, Budget Traveller and Flora the Explorer (to name just a few).

Celebrating research and insight at the Think Tank Awards 2019

July 18, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR PR Blog Posts /by Rebecca Potts

We were proud to be the headline sponsor at Prospect’s Think Tank Awards 2019 which took place within the House of Commons last night and celebrates the role think tanks play globally in providing research and insight into complex political issues.

Hosted in The Churchill Room, the awards began with a welcome from Baroness Neville-Jones, the room sponsor, who thanked all attending for their hard work over the past year. Our CEO, Joanna Arnold then spoke on the important role think tanks play in helping make sense of constant political change, from Brexit to climate change.

After an introduction from Tom Clarke, editor of Prospect magazine and host, it was onto the main event. Winners from across the world including the Peterson Institute for International Economics, last year’s winners of the One to Watch; Instituto Igarapé, Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Bruegel; the European Council on Foreign Relations and the Centre for Business and Policy Studies.

From the UK, winners included the IPPR taking the award for Science, Health, Environment and Energy; the Institute for Fiscal Studies who were award winners for Economics and Financial Affairs; The UK in a Changing Europe in the Foreign Affairs category; and the Centre for Social Justice in UK Social Policy.

The Think Tank who won the most awards on the night was the International Institute for Sustainable Development. They took away awards including the top prize for World Science, Health, Environment and Energy and Foreign Affairs as well as being the ‘Think Tank to Watch’.

The final prize was the most important, ‘Think Tank of the Year’, and went to the Institute for Government. While they had been shortlisted for four awards and narrowly missed out, they were recognised for the excellence of their output through the year.

Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to Prospect for organising the event which gives think tanks the recognition they deserve for their work to improve global politics and policy making. We are delighted to be able to support.

Travel blogger spotlight: Kach and Jonathan, Two Monkeys Travel

July 17, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Press and Bloggers, Media Database, PR Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

Two Monkeys Travel has been one of the leading travel blogs since its launch in 2014. Written by Kach and Jonathan Howe, the blog contains extensive travel advice for countries across the world. We caught up with the pair to find out how their blog has evolved to mirror their lifestyle changes, the best places in the world and the greatest PR collaboration they’ve ever worked on.

How do you describe what you do to other people?
It all depends on how much we feel like explaining! ‘Travel blogging’ always invites a list of questions about how it’s possible to make money doing it. We don’t mind that at all but sometimes we’re just giving our brains a break from work talk for a few hours. On the other hand, it’s usually simpler to say, ‘online marketing and social media management!’

How do different social channels work with your blog?
Facebook and Instagram work the best for us, with Twitter and Pinterest close behind. Facebook and Instagram have the highest engagement for us, most likely because they allow the best balance of photos and descriptive text to explain where we have been and what we have been doing. We have always had the best connection with our readers through our personal stories and experiences.

Do you think travel blogging will be your job forever?
It’s hard to say exactly what it will become in the future, but we know that it has to be able to evolve with us as our lifestyle changes. We tend to change our lifestyle around on a regular basis anyway, having been expats, backpackers, English teachers, live-aboard sailors and now back to being expats in Europe. We do seem to be edging further towards ‘settling down’ year-by-year, so we’ll just have to see what happens there!

Where’s the best place for street food in the world?
We’d have to say Vietnam, although we’re clearly biased having lived there! We love the fact that no matter which street you walk down, there is always something interesting to eat and it rarely costs more than several pounds!

Which country has the friendliest locals?
It’s just not possible to pick one, because every place we go we meet amazing people and they seem to be happier and friendlier than the last!

What’s your favourite mode of transport?
We have two favourites, sailing and motorbike. We just sold our own sailboat after living aboard for two years so we are now on the lookout for a new motorbike. Since we’re now based in Montenegro, we’re in the perfect place to explore Europe at a slower pace and then maybe some more adventurous bike trips to countries in Central Asia.

Do you accept press releases?
We don’t have a fixed rule as such. If something is relevant, useful and interesting for our readers, then we’ll consider sharing it with them.

What are the best collaborations you’ve worked on?
There have been so many great ones but of course, our favourite project is still our expedition cruise to Antarctica with Hurtigruten! In general, though, we love working with brands and PRs who match our own travel style and of course the type of travel our readers are looking for. This tends to be a blend of luxury and adventure travel, with the luxury being in the accommodation and the adventure being in the activities. We still love to be outside hiking, horseback riding, cycling and motorbiking, but we also love to collapse into a fancy hotel at the end of the day!

What advice would you give to PRs/brands reaching out to you?
After an initial email, we love to talk directly on the phone or even in person if it’s possible. We find that it really helps to get to know each other and what everyone needs and expectations are on all sides. Once we have that kind of relationship then everything else falls into place very easily.

We also really like working with the same brands more than once, because once we’ve built a rapport with a company on one successful campaign, there is always so much more we can do together, and this demonstrates a greater level of brand trust to our readers.

What other blogs do you read?
It’s a shame to admit that we really don’t have time to follow any other blogs out there on a regular basis! Of course, if we need to know something then we search online like everyone else and we most likely end up finding what we need in a blog of some kind.

Political Headlines – Johnson latest and the cost of dementia

July 17, 2019/0 Comments/in Political Headlines, Government, Public Affairs Political Services, Political Database Blog Posts /by Thomas Stevenson

Today’s political headlines includes Johnson plans early general election and it’s reported he cost the taxpayer £1bn when London Mayor and the Mail calls on the Government to act on the cost of dementia.

Johnson plans early general election
The Times claims that senior allies of Boris Johnson have claimed that he wants to hold an early general election ‘while Jeremy Corbyn is still around’. His team is concerned that the small Conservative majority will not be enough to pass legislation and are preparing either for a general election after a vote of no confidence or a snap election after delivering Brexit.

Johnson leaves taxpayers with £1bn bill after ignoring expert advice as Mayor
According to The Guardian, taxpayers face a bill of almost £1bn, which is still growing, as a result of Boris Johnson’s time as Mayor of London. It accuses him of ignoring expert advice over a series of projects, including his new Routemaster buses, the purchase of secondhand water cannon and plans for an airport in the Thames estuary. Former Conservative mayoral candidate Steve Norris said Johnson was ‘great on rhetoric but lousy on delivery’.

Mail calls on Government to act on the cost of dementia
The Daily Mail is calling on the Government to take action ‘to end the disgraceful neglect of families living with the burden of dementia’, following the revelation that families have spent £15bn in the last two years helping relatives with that illness. It is calling for a cross-party group to tackle the issue, an NHS ‘dementia fund’ and a Cabinet minister with sole responsibility for developing a plan.

101-year-old writes to Prime Minister over free TV licence cut
The Daily Mirror leads with a letter to the Prime Minister written by a 101-year-old pensioner, Elsie Hancock, opposing the decision to reduce pensioners’ entitlement to free TV licences. She describes TV as a ‘lifeline’ for a ‘lot’ of elderly people who are ‘already struggling financially’, and asks ‘what’ll they take next, our bus passes’.

Government to review waste charges over fly-tipping fees
The Daily Telegraph reports that the Government has launched a review of the fees charged by local authorities to residents disposing of waste at rubbish tips. Keep Britain Tidy has warned that fees could lead to an increase in fly-tipping, while the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has described them as a ‘backdoor’ tax and is considering banning them.

Gove promises to back legal limits on particulates
The Times says that Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove has pledged to support a ‘legally binding commitment on particulate matter’, so that nowhere in the country has levels exceeding those set by the World Health Organisation. A bill containing this pledge is being prepared, but Gove has admitted that the final decision on this will be down to the new Prime Minister.

Hancock to ban sale of energy drinks to children
The Sun says that Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has written to Cabinet colleagues, telling them he has decided to ban selling energy drinks to children under 16. According to the paper this risks bringing him into conflict with Boris Johnson, whose leadership campaign he supports, as Johnson has promised to review all sin taxes and regulations. His letter warns that the Treasury may also oppose the plan.

Johnson considers plan to suspend Parliament prior to Brexit deadline
Sky News reports that Boris Johnson is considering scheduling a Queen’s Speech in early November, which would mean proroguing Parliament for up to two weeks in advance, effectively preventing MPs from being able to block a no-deal Brexit in the immediate run-up to the 31 October Brexit deadline. His campaign claims a decision has yet to be made.

Stay up to date with Vuelio Political Services.

What’s next for YouTube and influencer culture?

July 17, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, journalism, PR, Media and Entertainment, Blogger Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

VidCon, the annual video conference to celebrate YouTube and its stars, hit its tenth anniversary last week. Much has changed since the early days of the event – the big personalities of a decade ago have moved on to other careers, making way for younger YouTubers – but a major difference this year was the attitude attendees and panel members showed towards the platform they’d gathered to discuss.

A new sombreness was reported during panels focusing on the reality of life with YouTube, its negative impacts on the news cycle, its audience, and its vloggers. But is it time to abandon the platform for the other mediums and the creators competing for market share, user numbers, and influence?

YouTube, Facebook, Twitch and TikTok are subjects freelance journalist and author Chris Stokel-Walker [pictured] has been steeped in since the age of 17. Now 30, Chris is an expert on digital video media having written about it for outlets including BBC News, Wired UK and The Economist, and now reporting on the online video space as editor of FFWD. His book YouTubers: How YouTube shook up TV and created a new generation of stars tracks the rise of the platform, its celebrities and the controversies that have sprung up in recent years.

‘I saw the shifts in society caused by the rise of YouTube – its pervasiveness attracted me – and it wasn’t being covered in a literate enough way,’ Chris said of his work on the subject. For a platform that’s intrinsic to so many facets of the media – brands, bloggers, vloggers, influencers, multimedia journalists, marketing and PR firms – the lack of reporting on YouTube and its workings in mainstream media is curious.

That this is an area particularly important to PRs and the clients they work with makes Chris’s book vital reading for those in the industry who need a crash course in its benefits. A study from Nielsen and Carat Global, cited in the book, found that in comparison to traditional celebrity endorsements, YouTuber collaborations led to four times as many viewers becoming familiar with a brand.

If you’re a PR who works regularly with YouTube influencers, impressive stats on their effectiveness for campaigns won’t be a surprise to you. What might be is the way influencers view working with PR companies and brands. Chapters of the book highlight the hesitancy some YouTubers (stars featured in the book include Jake Paul, Grace Helbig and Dodie Clark) can have signing up with PR firms after projects have gone bad.

How can PRs avoid giving a useful collaborator a bad experience? For Chris, the right kind of support is key: ‘Marketers and PR people tend to treat influencers as if they’re traditional celebrities, when they’re not. Their stock in trade is their authenticity, and any bad decision an influencer makes to support or endorse a product will be picked up on very quickly. It’s important that PR people fully appreciate who they’re representing, their personality and what is a good or bad endorsement for them. Influencers need smart guidance.’

While the rise of influencer culture has had some high-profile stumbles – opinions on Zoella and Alfie Deyes’ efficacy as brand spokespeople may vary these days, and Jaclyn Hill might struggle to secure future lipstick collabs – Chris believes it has a good future. He said: ‘I still think the positives of influencers outweigh the negatives, in large part because of the way in which influencers present themselves. There’s a difference between a mainstream traditional celebrity and a digital celebrity. Parasocial relationships – that feeling of closeness and authenticity – mean that smaller influencers can take the time to interact with their entire fanbase in a way that people will millions of followers just can’t.’

And YouTube’s dominance in the digital video sphere? ‘When I started writing the book, it looked like Facebook could stand a chance at taking over video supremacy, but now we’re seeing that TikTok, which has more than 1.2 billion users already, and Twitch (which has the financial backing of Amazon) could threaten YouTube.’

Whichever platform reigns supreme, online video creators will continue to be a good opportunity for PRs to work with, and for journalists to write about. For Chris, it’s brought democratisation along with the fresh opportunities – ‘I see the rise of YouTube and influencers as a net positive: we are seeing the flattening of the media industry and benefitting from everything that provides. Of course, there are some big issues in the minority that need to be tackled with that, but there’s lots of good from having more people accessing the industry. You can get jaded towards some content creators, but ultimately YouTube is such a massive space that you can find anything you want.’

More about YouTube and its creators can be found in Chris’s book ‘YouTubers: How YouTube shook up TV and created a new generation of stars’ as well as his just-launched Medium outlet FFWD. Chris tweets @Stokel.

Find top influencers, vloggers, and bloggers on the Vuelio Media Database.

Using PR for B2B Link Building

July 16, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, SEO PR, Comms Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

PR is essential for building brand awareness, but it’s also an excellent tool for building backlinks. In this guest post, Sarah Ross, PR Account Manager at Anicca Digital, shares some tips on using PR for B2B link building.

By integrating PR and SEO strategies, you can increase quality backlinks to a website through great content and online coverage.

Recent research from Backlinko discovered that 93% of B2B content receives zero external links and only 3% receives links from multiple websites. In the sample of 912 million blog posts, only 6% had at least one external link.

So how do you ensure your content is part of the 3%? The following tips will help you develop a B2B campaign with linkable assets.

How does link building differ between B2B and B2C?

Quality links are one of the most important Google ranking factors. It favours authoritative websites that are updated with new content regularly, which is why news websites have a high domain authority – the search engine ranking score that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages.

It makes these websites an excellent target for link building.

B2C campaigns are often product focused – gift guides, home and garden shopping features, beauty ‘tried and tested’ articles – giving journalists a reason to include a backlink to your website.

However, building links to B2B websites can be more challenging and as some links are easier to earn than others, success depends on your approach.

Generating ideas

Great PR ideas don’t always translate into great links – you need to create a reason for coverage to include a backlink to your website
Look at topics that journalists in your industry have covered previously and think about what is absent. Can you offer any unique insights or original data?
Target media outlets that are relevant to your topic and likely to drive traffic to your website
Review competitor campaigns for inspiration

Creating content

Keeping in mind that you need to create quality content, the following ideas can be developed into linkable assets:

Surveys are useful for creating unique data on a topic and can be completed using a survey specialist or using your own email database. Host the full results on your website so journalists can link to the original source of the material.

Research can be used to produce a whitepaper sharing industry data or insight. Again, the full piece of content can be hosted on your website, while key findings or opinion pieces can be used for PR activity.

Events like seminars, conferences and networking meet-ups can encourage links by asking attendees to reserve their place via your website.

Infographics offer a more visual take on industry insights and can be published on other websites easily, earning you a backlink as the original source of the material.

Guides from industry thought leaders can provide useful advice for step-by-step features or ‘top tips’ articles.

Earning links

Once you’ve created your content, choose key snippets to create an angle for your press release. Being selective with the data will help to encourage backlinks to the full source of the information.

Be aware that you won’t get a link from every piece of coverage, but these tactics can help to boost the number of links you’re achieving for B2B brands and make your content part of the 3%.

Political Headlines – Tory candidates criticise Trump tweets and Johnson criticised for Islam comments

July 16, 2019/0 Comments/in Political Headlines, Government, Public Affairs Political Services, Political Database Blog Posts /by Thomas Stevenson

Today’s political headlines includes Tory Candidates criticising Trump tweets but won’t say they’re racist, Johnson criticised for Islam comments, Rudd calls for more women in the Cabinet and Corbyn under pressure over antisemitism.

Tory candidates criticise Trump tweets but won’t say they’re racist
The Times reports that Boris Johnson said that Donald Trump’s tweets about American congresswomen from minority backgrounds were ‘totally unacceptable’, while Jeremy Hunt said he would be ‘utterly appalled’ if such language was used against his half-Chinese children. However, neither of them would say that the tweets were racist. The paper adds that Johnson has refused to cut net migration, claiming that people had voted to ‘control’ it, not cut it, while Hunt claimed that the ‘spirit’ of the referendum would be ‘betrayed’ if it wasn’t cut.

Johnson criticised for Islam comments
The Guardian reports that Boris Johnson has been criticised over a claim in 2007 essay that the Muslim world was ‘literally centuries behind the west’ because of Islam, leading to ‘Muslim grievance’ being a factor in almost all conflicts. The Muslim Council of Britain said ‘many of us would be interested to find out whether Mr Johnson still believes that Islam inherently inhibits the path to progress’.

Rudd calls for more women in the Cabinet
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd says the new Prime Minister should appoint more women to the Cabinet, describing this as ‘one of the great feminist challenges of our time’. She argues that ‘if you don’t have women in politics, then women’s working lives are not taken seriously enough’.

Corbyn under pressure over antisemitism
The Guardian says that Jeremy Corbyn is under more pressure over antisemitism in Labour after over 200 current and past staff said he should resign if he couldn’t tackle the problem which, they claim, he has ‘moral responsibility’ for. A group of four peers have also written to Corbyn, offering to review the claims made on Panorama by former staff and to advise on setting up an independent complaints process.

Barclay tells Barnier Brexit deal is dead
The Times reports that Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay met with the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier last week, telling him five times that the withdrawal agreement was ‘dead’, and leaving him ‘astonished and dismayed’. It says that the EU is now preparing for ‘brutal’ talks with the next Prime Minister, with an EU diplomat suggesting that ‘if this is what is coming then we will be heading for no deal very quickly’.

Domestic Abuse Bill to be introduced
The Daily Telegraph reports that the Domestic Abuse Bill will today be introduced into Parliament. One of the measures it will introduce is lie detector tests for domestic abusers to see if they are breaking their licences, as part of a three-year pilot. Other aspects include ‘exclusion zones’ around abused partners and the first legal definition of domestic abuse.

Gove to back comprehensive deposit return scheme
According to the Daily Mail, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Michael Gove will today approve a comprehensive deposit return scheme for plastic bottles and cans, in what it claims is a ‘major rebuff to large retailers’. Gove will say that a comprehensive scheme will give a ‘clearer financial and social signal to recycle’ than a small-scale one.

May criticised for failure to condemn police threat over leaked cables
The Daily Telegraph says that Theresa May has been criticised after her official spokesman refused to condemn the Metropolitan Police for threatening to prosecute papers who publish more leaked diplomatic cables, saying only that ‘a free press is one of the foundations on which our democracy rests’.

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Men’s Fashion Spotlight: David Evans, Grey Fox

July 15, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR News, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Media Database, PR, Press and Bloggers Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

David Evans is the man behind Grey Fox, the top 10 men’s fashion blog, which was created as a space for men over 40. With posts about luxury British items, handmade accessories and the finest tailoring, Grey Fox is well-known for covering the finer side of fashion. We caught up with David to find out more about older men and the fashion industry, waste in fashion and building relationships with PRs.

How do you describe what you do?
I blog about men’s style and lifestyle. My target audience is the man over forty, but on Instagram my largest group of followers is in the 25 to 35 age group! Some people would call me an influencer, but I feel slightly uncomfortable with that description as it’s often hard for us to know how much influence we actually have until we receive helpful feedback from brands and followers.

How do different social channels work with your blog?
I sometimes wonder if I would even have a blog of I’d started what I’m doing in the last two or three years. Most of my effort goes into Instagram, but I love writing so the blog continues. I use Twitter and Facebook to a very limited extent simply to support my efforts on the blog and Instagram.

What’s the biggest issue in men’s fashion at the moment?
For me, it’s the industry’s blind spot when it comes to older men. Nearly half of consumer spending is by those over fifty, yet menswear marketing is all about young men. Adverts rarely contain older men – the men who might be able to afford luxury clothing. There are increasing numbers of older men on social media and I’m hoping that this will bring about change. London Fashion Week Men’s has almost entirely turned its focus to the young market and classic tailoring and menswear brands have abandoned ship in the last few years. While youth and creativity is essential, it’s a bad call to ignore those who have the money to spend.

How significant is waste and sustainability in the fashion world?
It’s well known that the fashion industry is a huge polluter and waste, caused by brands encouraging consumers to buy piles of cheap clothing, is an almost intractable problem. This issue will not go away while brands, whose sole aim is to be profitable, are under few legal obligations to do something about these environmental and ethical problems.

Who is the best fashion designer we haven’t heard of yet?
Araminta Campbell who designs tweeds in Edinburgh.

What’s your favourite item of clothing?
A thirty-year-old English-made shirt that I wore at the birth of my daughter and then recently when my first grand daughter was born.

What are the best campaigns/collaborations you’ve worked on?
I’ve had so many, from working with Specsavers to a campaign with English sparkling wine brand, Nyetimber. In the menswear world, things are not so easy due to the obsession with youth; but I have a great relationship with New & Lingwood and many small accessories brands.

How important are press events for you, compared with releases or being sent product?
Events are essential as they are a chance to build relationships. I tend to ignore releases unless they’re from brands willing to work with me in a constructive way (which does not mean that I want payment!) – but I’m not there just to regurgitate press releases. Being sent product is fine but I rarely accept product in payment for anything (who needs yet more shirts, ties etc?)

What advice would you give PRs looking to work with you?
Let’s build a relationship. As I say above, neither I nor my audience are interested in repeating press releases. I want to try products for myself and pass on authentic reports on these to my followers. As brands tend to use very young models to show their clothes, I want to wear those clothes myself to show my older audience that those products aren’t just made for twenty-year-olds!

What other blogs do you read?
I’m afraid I just don’t have time. I follow many on Instagram – too many to list – and these vary for young to old in age and cover everything from men’s style to lifestyle including cars, holidays, watches, food and drink.

8 sustainability policies for #PlasticFreeJuly

July 15, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, PR Club PR, Comms Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

This is a guest post from Katie Chodosh, content consultant at TopLine Comms.

Sustainability is an ongoing business issue, but #PlasticFreeJuly gives us all a good excuse to think about it a little more. And PR agencies and departments are in a particularly good position to lead the charge: it’s our job to make companies look good (and responsible) and giveaways tend to come under our remit too. That’s why we wanted to get a better understanding of how people view sustainability when they’re choosing a job and what we can do as an agency to be a little greener.

First, TopLine Film surveyed 1,000 office workers on workplace sustainability. Nearly a quarter (24%) said they would refuse a job at an organisation with a poor sustainability record, and three quarters (73%) would like to see their workplace improve its sustainability record.

Then, we surveyed the TopLine Comms team to get an idea of their position on sustainability, and to see what ideas they had for us. The majority (94%) are committed to protecting the environment and agree that we should have a sustainability policy in place.

Here are some of our tips for becoming a more sustainable PR agency, which you can easily implement for #PlasticFreeJuly and beyond.

1. Ban single use plastics
Banning single use plastics is probably the quickest and easiest policy to implement. TopLine is officially a plastic-free zone. We’ve given all staff reusable cups and plan to get some reusable straws in, too. If other businesses can’t afford to do this, then team members could be encouraged to bring a reusable cup from home.

2. Think twice about your giveaways
Consumers’ interests in PR stunts are being outweighed by their commitment to sustainability. Times are changing, and the old PR and marketing stunts need to evolve. Most people are much more conscious about unnecessary plastic and waste, so bear this in mind before giving away any unnecessary plastic items.

3. Ask ‘is it sustainable?’ before launching a campaign
Before launching a PR campaign, make sure you’ve double checked that every element is as sustainable as possible. It’s easy to get carried away – for example, you might want to have balloons at your event or serve drinks at your stand in plastic cups. But these are the exact types of activities that create a lot of unnecessary waste. Add the question ‘is it sustainable’ to any checklists or brainstorms that you have before launching campaigns and you should catch them in time.

4. Implement a switch-off policy and stick to it
We’ve also introduced a policy for everyone to turn off their computers and other devices at the end of every day. We know it’s easy to forget, but it makes a big difference for energy consumption, so we’ve put up visible reminders and have vowed to hold everyone accountable.

5. Make time for volunteering
Another policy we’ve implemented at TopLine is to volunteer time to environmental and sustainable activities. We’re looking at eco-friendly initiatives like picking up litter or helping plant trees locally and will take time out of the working day to do it.

6. Reduce, reuse, recycle
All agencies should have a robust recycling system in place. It really couldn’t be easier to get separate bins and as long as they’re signposted clearly, all staff should be capable of putting the right item in the right bin.

7. Print less
Printing less in the office should be easy enough, but you should also consider printing less materials for trade shows. Press packs are increasingly outdated and flyers are often put straight in the bin. If you have to print, at least make sure the paper you’re using is recycled, recyclable and printed on both sides.

8. Ask your suppliers about their sustainability policies
If you work with a lot of suppliers, it’s important to remember that you’re just one part of the chain – so it’s worth asking other suppliers what their position is on sustainability. This will highlight your company’s commitment and challenges them to start thinking about greener practices. They might even give you some ideas for your own sustainability policy.

We’ve really enjoyed the process of creating a more sustainable work environment and we’d like to challenge other PR teams to do the same. Start by talking to your team about what they’re passionate about and they’ll be more inclined to stick to them. Creating effective sustainability policies relies on your staff to stick to them, so make sure you get them involved in the process.

Political Headlines – Johnson’s trade deal priorities and the journalist demanding an apology

July 15, 2019/0 Comments/in Political Headlines, Government, Public Affairs Political Services, Political Database Blog Posts /by Thomas Stevenson

Today’s political headlines includes the journalist demands an apology from Boris, Johnson’s USA trade deal priority, Gauke’s plans to remove requirement for prisoners to declare convictions and Gove’s consultation on banning trophy hunters.

Journalist whose address Johnson gave to fraudster for attack demands apology
The Guardian says that Stuart Collier, the journalist whose address Boris Johnson was recorded agreeing to give to the fraudster Darius Guppy so that he could be assaulted in revenge for his investigation of Guppy’s activities, has demanded an apology. He said that it was ‘disgraceful’ that Johnson was on course to become Prime Minister, adding that while Johnson has dismissed the incident as a joke, it had ‘worried’ him.

Johnson makes trade deal with USA first priority
The Times claims that Boris Johnson would make resetting the UK’s relationship with the USA one of his first priorities by travelling to the country to help negotiate a new trade deal. He wants to reach a ‘limited agreement’ prior to the 31 October Brexit deadline, with an ally claiming that ‘if we get a trade deal with America we will be very quickly in the market for other deals. It encourages others to realise that we mean business’.

Gauke plans to remove requirement for prisoners to declare convictions
The Daily Telegraph reports that Justice Secretary David Gauke has proposed the abolition of the rule forcing criminals gaoled for over four years to disclose their sentence for the rest of their lives which, writing in the paper, he says is ‘indispensable’ in rehabilitating offenders. However, victims’ groups have criticised the move, with Kevin Hogg of the National Victims’ Association claiming that the plan was an ‘insult to society’.

Gove to launch consultation on banning trophy hunters from importing souvenirs
The Daily Mirror has launched a campaign against trophy hunting, calling on the Government to introduce a ban on importing animals shot for pleasure and an end to ‘canned hunting’ in which wild animals are kept in a small reserve to be killed. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Michael Gove tells the Daily Mail that he is to launch a call for evidence on banning hunters from importing souvenirs and on canned hunting.

Schools to be given guidance on teaching about ‘fake news’
The Sun says that Education Secretary Damian Hinds and Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock will use a summit on social media and online harms today to announce new guidance for teachers to help educate their pupils on how to spot fake news, as well as tackling social media companies over the spread of misleading information about vaccines.

Tories set up hotline after members fail to receive leadership ballots
The Daily Telegraph reports that the Conservatives have set up a hotline for members, following concerns that some haven’t received their leadership election ballots. According to the Campaign for Conservative Party Democracy, there have been problems with debit cards expiring and standing orders not having been increased, while reports at the weekend suggested a number of members had not been included on the party’s new central database.

Rudd removed from anti-no-deal Tory group
According to The Sun, Amber Rudd has been removed from Philip Hammond’s group of fifty Conservative MPs who want to block a no-deal Brexit. She told The Andrew Marr Show that she no longer preferred a second referendum to a no-deal Brexit, with one source telling the paper ‘How much can you trust her now she’s trying to play to both sides?’

Government to consult on extending sick pay to lowest-paid workers
The Daily Mirror reports the Government will today open a consultation on extending sick pay to 2m low-paid workers. Statutory sick pay is currently only available to those earning over £118 a week. The consultation will also cover a ‘sick pay rebate’ for small firms who help people back into work and strengthen legal guidance on helping people back to work.

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Political Headlines – Johnson backs Veterans Pledge while Hunt promises to expand navy

July 12, 2019/0 Comments/in Political Headlines, Government, Public Affairs Political Services, Political Database Blog Posts /by Thomas Stevenson

Today’s political headlines includes Johnson backing the Veterans Pledge, Hunt Promises to expand navy, 30 whistleblowers to give evidence on Labour antisemitism and May’s last interview.

Johnson backs ‘Veterans Pledge’
The Sun reports that Boris Johnson has backed its ‘Veterans Pledge’, promising to pass a new law to end ‘unfair trials’ of soldiers who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. The pledge also means that he has backed creating an independent veterans department and enshrining the military covenant into law.

Hunt promises to expand navy
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Jeremy Hunt claims the Royal Navy has been ‘run down too much’, and should be ‘expanded’ to tackle ‘deeply troubling’ events in the Middle East. He promises to increase the number of warships and carrier-based jets as ‘boosting our hard power is the surest way to keep Britain respected overseas’.

30 whistleblowers to give evidence on Labour antisemitism
The Guardian says that over 30 whistleblowers, including current staff, are to submit evidence to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) about antisemitism in the Labour Party. Some members of Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) are worried that it isn’t doing enough to prepare for the EHRC investigation. Deputy leader Tom Watson has written to general secretary Jennie Formby calling for the party’s submission to the EHRC to be released to the shadow cabinet and the NEC.

May gives last interview
Theresa May has given her last interview at 10 Downing Street to the Daily Mail. Referring to her resignation speech, she tells the paper that ‘If a male Prime Minister’s voice had broken up, it would have been said “what great patriotism, they really love their country”. But if a female Prime Minister does it, it is “why is she crying?”.’ She admits that she hadn’t expected Brexiteers to vote against her deal but defends her achievements on modern slavery, plastic waste and mental health.

Prisoners to be given incentives for good behaviour
The Times reports on a new Ministry of Justice policy, which will mean that prison governors can reward prisoners with the ability to lock their own cells, giving them more privacy. Under the new arrangements, prisoners who behave well will also be allowed to cook their own food, shower when they choose, receive higher pay and get cash bonuses.

New inquiry calls for action to stop MPs bulling and harassing staff
The Guardian reports that MPs will vote next week on extending allegations of bullying and harassment by MPs to include historic allegations. This follows yesterday’s publication on an inquiry by Gemma White QC which recommended new employment measures to protect staff better, including details of staff being shouted at, groped, and things thrown at them.

Less than half of Tory members have voted in leadership election
According to The Times, less than half of Conservative members have yet returned their leadership ballots, despite there being just over a week left to do so, despite Boris Johnson’s campaign having claimed that two-thirds of members had voted. Jeremy Hunt’s campaign is pleased with the low turnout so far, Hunt having told members to wait until after today’s interviews of the candidates by Andrew Neil before voting.

Brexiteers demand seats in Johnson’s Cabinet
The Sun claims Brexiteers are demanding seats in Boris Johnson’s Cabinet, amid concerns he will make minor changes and might not stick to his pledge to leave on 31 October. Steve Baker wants to be Brexit Secretary, while a Eurosceptic expressed concern to the paper about Sajid Javid as Chancellor and Liz Truss as Business Secretary as they voted to remain.

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An introduction to AI in PR

July 11, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, PR News PR, Comms Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

The CIPR’s #AIinPR Panel has published An introduction to AI in PR as the first in a series of skills guides.

The guide, written by Jean Valin, covers the threats and opportunities for public relations and includes as a glossary of common terms that are used around artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Valin also highlights incredible statistics to show how recent years have seen an explosion of data:

More data has been created in the past two years than in the entire previous history of the human race
Data is growing faster than ever before and by the year 2020, about 1.7 megabytes of new information will be created every second for every human being on the planet

The seven-page guide is the first resource from the CIPR’s new #AIinPR Primer series – a collection of guides designed to equip practitioners with a fundamental understanding of the implications of AI for PR.

Stephen Waddington, CIPR Artificial Intelligence Panel Chair, said: ‘It’s too early to identify best practice for AI communication. Practitioners need to step up and take personal responsibility for their own learning and development. The skills guides from the #AIinPR panel are a good start. My thanks to the panel members for their work.’

The Panel will publish further skills guides this month on AI and data ethics and AI and data ethics – consequences for PR, both by Ben Verinder. Skills guides on internal communications, media and workflow will be published later this year.

Political Headlines – Labour’s antisemitism concerns and May under pressure not to appoint a new ambassador

July 11, 2019/0 Comments/in Political Headlines, Government, Public Affairs Political Services, Political Database Blog Posts /by Thomas Stevenson

Today’s political headlines includes Labour’s concern over new antisemitisn documentary, May under pressure, Rudd announces review of benefits for terminally-ill patients and Brexit party switches will return to Tories if Brexit is delivered.

Labour figures express concern about allegations in new antisemitism documentary
The BBC reports that senior Labour Party figures have expressed concern about the claims made in its documentary on antisemitism in the Labour Party yesterday, with deputy leader Tom Watson saying he was ‘shocked’ and ‘appalled’, although the party itself claimed that the programme was inaccurate. Former party officials made a series of claims about the attitude of the leader’s office towards antisemitism complaints, including interference by general secretary Jennie Formby and laughter from Jeremy Corbyn’s aide, Seumas Milne.

May under pressure not to appoint new ambassador
The Times says that allies of Boris Johnson have warned Theresa May not to appoint the new ambassador to the USA following the resignation of Sir Kim Darroch, saying that the decision should be left to the new Prime Minister. Friends of Darroch told the paper that his resignation was partially prompted by Johnson’s refusal to confirm that he would keep him in place. The Sun has been told by Johnson that he ‘can’t believe’ that he is being blamed for the resignation, and that he is ‘a great supporter of Kim’s’.

Rudd announces review of benefits for terminally-ill patients
The Times says Amber Rudd has announced an ‘honest and in-depth’ review of the system for fast-tracking benefits to terminally ill patients, following criticism from charities and MPs of the current limit which restricts it to those with six months or less to live. Recalling the death of her ex-husband, AA Gill, from cancer in 2016, Rudd has promised not to leave patients facing ‘unnecessary hardship’.

Brexit party switchers will return to Tories if Brexit is delivered by end of October
According to The Daily Telegraph, a poll of Conservative members shows that most switchers to the Brexit Party would return if Boris Johnson delivered Brexit by 31 October. It also found that just 56% of members will vote for the party if it isn’t delivered by the deadline. The Sun says that a senior Tory has called Sir John Major ‘bonkers’ after he threatened to sue Johnson if he prorogued Parliament.

Von der Layen indicates she won’t reopen Brexit talks
The Guardian reports that Ursula von der Layen, the European Commission’s presidential nominee, has indicated that she won’t reopen Brexit talks, telling a Liberal Democrat MEP that ‘it is your responsibility and your noble task to sort this out’. She added that ‘the backstop in the Brexit deal is precious, important and has to be defended’.

Mordaunt announces new laws to protect sexual harassment victims
The Daily Telegraph says that Women and Equalities Minister Penny Mordaunt has announced new laws to protect sexual harassment victims, with interns and volunteers to be given the same protections as staff, a ‘proactive duty’ on employers to prevent sexual harassment and a potential extension to the time limit for claims to be made.

Report funds culture of bullying and harassment in Lords
The Guardian carries details of a report into bullying in the House of Lords released yesterday. It found that there was a culture of harassment and bullying, with one in five staff having experienced these. Staff did not report incidents for fear of reprisals. The report recommends installing CCTV in ‘hotspots’, training for peers, and a new staff member to oversee allegations. A similar report on the House of Commons will be published today.

Johnson intervened to try to save girlfriend’s job
In an exclusive, the Daily Mirror claims that Boris Johnson personally intervened in an attempt to save the job of Carrie Symonds, his girlfriend, after Conservative officials decided that she wasn’t performing well enough. However, a source told the paper that party staff thought his intervention was ‘a bit half-hearted’.

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The No. 1 Men’s Fashion Blog: MenswearStyle

July 10, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, Blogger, Blogger Spotlight Press and Bloggers, Media Database, PR Blog Posts /by Holly Hodges

MenswearStyle has once again been named the number one blog in the top 10 Men’s Fashion Blogs. The creation of editor Craig Landale, MenswearStyle is multi-award-winning, including two Vuelio Blog Awards and Best UK Blog. We spoke to Craig about the biggest issues in men’s fashion, his love of New Balance, how he works with PRs and the blogs he loves to read.

How do you describe what you do?
The simplest way to describe what I do is probably what I tell my parents; I write blog posts about menswear and men’s grooming, but in reality it’s much more than that.

How do different social channels work with your blog?
Pinterest and Twitter drive the most traffic to my blog posts, whereas Instagram is more of a branding medium that shows our fans a little more going on behind the scenes day-to-day. Facebook is quite useless unless you’re willing to spend money.

What’s the biggest issue in men’s fashion at the moment?
Men have come a long way in educating themselves on men’s fashion rules, dress codes and trends. However, I still see guys in suits going into the city on the London Underground wearing horrendous shoes such as loafers, which should have been thrown in the bin a few years ago.

How significant is waste and sustainability in the fashion world?
It’s so important right now and it has been a real eye opener. Britain alone is expected to send 235m items of clothing to landfill this year, the majority of which could have been re-worn, reused or recycled. I blame the large companies making throwaway fashion more than the people though. This is where true rapid change can happen.

Who is the best fashion designer we haven’t heard of yet?
Have you heard of Oliver Spencer? I’m sure some of you will have but he’s British and he’s pivoting his brand towards the sustainable route this year. He started out selling second hand clothes on London’s Portobello Road. Today he sells his own brand of clothing made up of high quality relaxed and modern style basics and classics.

What’s your favourite item of clothing?
I love my New Balance sneakers. I’ll wear them with almost everything, even a suit.

What are the best campaigns/collaborations you’ve worked on?
A recent standout collaboration I’ve worked on is with a new Northampton-made goodyear welt shoe company called Artisan Revolution. I showcased their four styles of shoes in a photoshoot and video shoot located around King’s Cross.

How important are press events for you, compared with releases or being sent product?
I find press trips have a big impact on the way I feel about a brand. I often come back from a few days away with a brand as a true advocate with a full understanding of a brand’s ambition.

What advice would you give PRs looking to work with you?
Just get in touch via email and we can discuss some ideas. I do like it when a project is already set with clear tasks and I’m invited to take part but I can also be flexible too.

What other blogs do you read?
I ready Glossy, Lean Luxe, Courier Magazine and Business of Fashion.

Political Headlines – Johnson puts Darroch’s future in doubt and MPs voting on same-sex and abortion laws for Northern Ireland

July 10, 2019/0 Comments/in Political Headlines, Government, Public Affairs Political Services, Political Database Blog Posts /by Thomas Stevenson

Today’s political headlines includes Johnson putting Darroch’s future in doubt, MPs voting to extend same-sex marriage and abortion to Northern Ireland, Corbyn says Labour would back remain and Symonds reportedly asked to leave her Tory role over poor performance.

Johnson puts ambassador’s future in doubt
The Times says that Boris Johnson failed to say whether he would retain Sir Kim Darroch as ambassador to the USA if he was Prime Minister during last night’s ITV leadership debate. Jeremy Hunt has said that Donald Trump was ‘disrespectful and wrong’, following Trump’s description of Darroch as ‘wacky’ and a ‘pompous fool’, and that he would keep the ambassador in place until the end of the year, when he is due to retire.

MPs vote to extend same-sex marriage and abortion to Northern Ireland
The Guardian reports that MPs voted to extend same-sex marriage and abortion to Northern Ireland as a result of amendments tabled by backbench Labour MPs, on which the Government gave MPs a free vote. The changes will come into effect unless the devolved administration is restored within the next three months. An amendment tabled by Dominic Grieve, requiring fortnightly reports to the Commons on restoring the assembly also passed. This is part of an attempt to prevent Parliament from being prorogued.

Corbyn says Labour would back remain in referendum on Tory Brexit
The Guardian says Jeremy Corbyn has announced Labour’s ‘settled’ Brexit policy, making it clear in an e-mail to members that the party would support remaining in the EU in any referendum on a Brexit deal agreed by a Conservative Prime Minister or on a no-deal Brexit. However, he did not clarify what Labour’s stance on Brexit would be in a general election.

Symonds reportedly asked to leave Tory role over poor performance
The Daily Mail claims that Carrie Symonds, Boris Johnson’s girlfriend, was asked to leave her role as Director of Communications for the Conservatives owing to poor performance. According to a source she was accused of misusing her expenses and of failing to turn up to work, as well as leaking damaging stories to the media.

Ex-Change UK MPs form new group
The Times reveals that some of the MPs who quit Change UK are forming another grouping, The Independents, which will be a ‘workers’ collective’, not a political party, based around six core values but with free votes on some issues. Those involved are Luciana Berger, Heidi Allen, Gavin Shuker and Angela Smith, together with John Woodcock, who left Labour over sexual harassment allegations. They are in talks with other independent MPs.

Lidington warns no-deal Brexit could lead to break-up of UK
The Financial Times says David Lidington warned a meeting of the Cabinet that there was a ‘real risk’ of the UK breaking up as a result of a no-deal Brexit. He said the Scottish independence movement was a ‘significant and urgent political challenge’, there could be no complacency about Wales and there was a risk of a border poll in Northern Ireland.

MPs’ staff warned bullying and harassment report will be distressing
The Sun says that the House of Commons has warned MP’s researchers that a report into bullying and harassment in Parliament, due to be published tomorrow, will contain ‘distressing and uncomfortable’ revelations. Counselling workshops have been arranged to help staff cope with the findings of the report.

Three peers quit Labour over antisemitism
The Daily Telegraph reports that three peers quit the Labour Party yesterday, citing its handling of antisemitism. Lord Triesman, once the party’s general secretary, said that it was ‘very plainly antisemitic’, and he was joined in resigning the whip by Lord Darzi and Lord Turnberg, with a party official admitting at least one more peer is expected to leave.

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A Quite Great PR Spotlight with Pete Bassett

July 10, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, PR, PR Spotlight PR, Comms Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

Pete Bassett set up music-focused agency Quite Great in 1996 to provide a more understanding and upfront PR service. Support for the unique challenges his clients face in a music and media landscape increasingly driven by ‘likes’ is something Pete continues to champion, most lately with the launch of Quite Great’s Mental Health Awareness Services.

Working with artists including Meatloaf, Van Morrison, and Chris Rea – and experience from heading-up PR for agencies including Geffen, Polydor, and MCA – has brought Pete into contact with a huge range of recording artists and their issues as well as the difficulties of day-to-day PR.

Pete shared pictures of the some of the big stars he’s worked with and told us about the importance of longevity in the music industry and the damaging effects of a world obsessed with likes.

What were your original aims when you launched Quite Great – what did you want to do that other music PR agencies didn’t?
Twenty-three years ago – just prior to setting up Quite Great – I was working for a big corporate PR agency having worked for major labels. Suddenly I was in a totally alien culture, trying to balance spinning plates and pretty much dreading getting into work. With a young family, mortgage etc, it was clear that there was a cliff heading straight towards me and as one of my best journalist friends had explained: ‘The cavalry are not coming over the hill’.

I realised once I had made a few calls to old industry friends that there was a demand for my own style of agency and hence the road ahead was clear. I wished to set up a ‘friendly’ and ‘understanding’ agency – yes, all a bit woolly, I know – based on my history of impactful, creative thinking, but one that aimed at supporting the staff around me with a structure that meant they enjoyed coming into work and were passionate about our services.

Support for staff, and mental health awareness, is a growing concern in the PR industry as well as in the music industry. Can you tell us about Quite Great’s Mental Health Awareness Services and the change you’re hoping to spearhead?
Every day with our hugely busy music industry service, we are in contact with artists of all levels, those starting out and those who have already achieved success. Following in-depth discussions, we ask them to outline all issues that link directly to media subjects – we call these our ‘pebbles’, as in pebbles on a beach – so the more we have the more media we should be able to attain, which then allows the PR team a straight line insight into all aspects of the artist and the media that should be interested. In the past five years we have noticed, irrespective of what part of the world the musicians come from, that there has been a distinct increase in matters that relate in some way to mental health issues.

I guess this is quite obvious, but the creative process for a songwriter is always directly linked to life experiences and their emotions; these are the things outside of pure talent that make an act resonate with the public. The difference is that over 40% of our artists were making reference to depression, stage fright and anxiety. So we set up an ad hoc service linking in with therapists independent of Quite Great with whom an artist can interact and hopefully help reduce the issues that cause them concerns.

Social media is a potential source of stress for your clients, yet it’s a vital way for them to cut through and achieve success in today’s media landscape. How can it be used as a tool without it becoming a strain for clients and the companies working with them?
We feel that the mental health issues of acts are directly linked to their desire to be ‘liked’. Social networking platforms like Instagram that are promising to do away with the ‘like’ will be key to reducing the pressure on an artist. The huge industry in fake likes, fake followers and even Spotify playlists – and the service industries that frequent this darker side of PR – need to be exposed. It should be clear to an act that there are, on occasion, unseen payments and it is not necessarily a positive judgement on an artist’s music. Clearly, the more famous an artist becomes in ‘real’ media terms, the more playlists will wish to feature them anyway.

The balancing process is to focus on ‘real’ media interaction – whether that be features, interviews, airplay – and then let the public judge if it translates to social networking uplift. Only artist development and long-term planning will really turn into growing a fan base.

As vinyl/cassette/CD have given way to downloads and streaming, so have the traditional ways of promoting a performer shifted – a recent example being Lil Nas X getting mainstream attention via TikTok memes. How can a PR team work to keep him in the public eye, while protecting him from the fickleness of viral fame?
I don’t mean to cop out here but I would never dream of giving any advice to another legitimate PR agency – they are clearly on top of what they are doing and if everything is real then there will be longevity, which is what the artist really craves. If TikTok memes can then focus the ‘fan base’ on the talent that Lil Nas X clearly has, then real original music that the public can embrace will mean longevity is guaranteed. It’s the same way the ephemeral impact enjoyed by the now-legendary Alex Mann at Glastonbury 2019 has to be translated by any opportunist record label in discovering real talent and writing skills that the public can enjoy over time.

How important is location for PR in a connected world – are big fancy city offices still important? Can a UK-based firm be truly international in reach?
Well, for the past 23 years we have operated as both a national and international agency while working within Cambridge. Given the simple transportation links across the country, plus state-of-the-art technology within our working environment, we have always placed a great deal of emphasis on work/life balance. This encouraged us five years ago to move to a purpose built eco-centric wooden barn with solar energy and green appeal at the forefront of our work space. We even aim to reduce our carbon footprint by encouraging our clients to interact fully via Skype, WhatsApp, and GoToMeeting instead of car journeys. The majority are happy to do that without question.

What do you see as the main challenges for PR companies in the upcoming years? And what challenges do you see for your clients?
PR comes in all shapes and sizes, with so many companies offering – especially to musicians – a world of success being just ‘a touch of the button away’. More and more what clients of all types – whether music or startup entrepreneurs – desire is clarity, realism, passion and integrity. The increase in a belief that fame or success can be easily attained within weeks is perhaps the greatest challenge, explaining that real success comes over time and by working with a team who understand the spirit and emotion of the client.

The real challenge is to ‘dare to be different’ – to give those searching on the internet a real vision of why your agency is different, highlighting the imagery and the beliefs that you stand for. They can then can judge if they wish to contact you. There is a trend online of everyone looking the same, there can be a hesitancy to stand out. We have always seen ourselves as an agency that offers the variety of a high street department store, with many services on different floors, which means we have broad experience. While it makes working life exciting for our staff, it’s sometimes a little confusing for those looking into our world – one minute we are being approached by a charity, the next by a tech company, and the next by a world music star.

Can you share what you’ve learned during your time in the industry and any advice you’d give to others?
Sadly, outside of the need to keep focused and always put the client first, my life lesson in terms of running an agency stems from around two years ago when we had to handle the emotional trauma of staff who stole contact details, set up a business and left one of their ‘directors’ in place almost like a spy movie ‘sleeper cell’ for a few months and waiting until the time was right to join them in their new venture… It impacted on recruiting new staff, as we had to get a real feel for ‘trust’ again. It has made us much stronger. Inadvertently, I have become an expert on data theft and the legal process, so if anyone wants advice, let us know…

In terms of advice, it is important from a client perspective when looking at who to work with – do scratch the surface, look at who you are really dealing with. And most of all, watch out for five-star reviews on Google, Facebook, etc. Yes, I am a little cynical.

And finally, as someone who’s spent a lot of time around musicians, what’s your favourite song lyric of all time?
More a song title than a lyric – it would have to be ‘Dream On’ by Aerosmith.

Find Pete and Quite Great on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and connect with top music influencers and journalists on the Vuelio Media Database.

5 tips for replying to journalist requests

July 9, 2019/0 Comments/in PR Pulse, journalism, PR PR, Press and Bloggers, JES Blog Posts /by Phoebe-Jane Boyd

Replying to journalists in the right way can be the difference between front page news and being passed over for a competitor. The ResponseSource Journalist Enquiry Service, which is part of Vuelio, connects journalists in need of support or expertise and the right PRs who are looking to secure coverage.

With over 35,000 enquiries sent through the ResponseSource Journalist Enquiry Service every year, we’ve picked up a few tips along the way to help you get great results from responding to journalists every single time:

1. Read the request
Take the time to understand what is being asked and craft your response accordingly. Remember, as well as a great coverage opportunity, this is also a chance to build relationships with new contacts and unlock future success.

2. Be relevant and specific
Stick to answering with material specific to what was asked for and avoid going off-topic – the more relevant your response, the better chance you have of getting coverage as a result. Completely off-topic replies are likely to get ignored, so it’s best not to spend your time on these.

3. Leave out the jargon
Don’t respond with buzzwords or acronyms and avoid technical jargon unless you can explain it succinctly. Lead with the most relevant information first, then add details or supporting points.

4. Be prepared
Make sure you’ve got any extra information on hand and that any spokespeople you’ve offered for expert comment are available.

5. Get in quick
For the best results, get your well-crafted response sent in plenty of time to beat the deadline – this not only gives you a good chance of a result but also helps the journalist out by not leaving it until the last second. Every enquiry sent through ResponseSource comes with a deadline, which is when the unique reply-to email address also expires.

Are you using the PR industry’s best kept secret? Take a free trial of the ResponseSource Journalist Enquiry Service.

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