You can’t forget the past by pretending to be something else tomorrow

We've all witnessed Miley Cyrus very publicly trying to break free from her whiter than white Hannah Montana Disney character image, and her latest antics have sparked yet more controversy. Not only did the 20-year-old pose provocatively for Terry Richardson, she has also hit back at Sinead O’Connor’s open letter, in which she pleads with Miley not to let the music moguls ‘make a prostitute’ of her.

Sinead’s comments were in response to an interview the young pop singer did with Rolling Stone magazine, where she revealed that the video for her latest single, Wrecking Ball, was inspired by Sinead’s legendary video, Nothing Compares 2 U. Ouch.

However, Sinead makes an important point in her (slightly ranting) letter, calling on Miley to ditch the fabricated persona that she has adopted in an obvious and see-through attempt to be recognised as a “bona fide” pop star – simply stating let the talent you have speak for itself.

Trying to engineer something that you’re not, whether it’s a person, brand, product or business is no smart move. It will undoubtedly lead to controversy and break any trust you may once have had.

A business’s reputation is earned through its actions and behaviours; it’s shaped by where it began, where it is today and where it wants to be in the future. It’s our role as PRs to ensure our clients’ talents receive the recognition they deserve, but only authenticity will secure the longevity and growth of their business.

Alexandra Underwood

Account executive 

Be careful what you tweet for...

Twitter is all about sharing news and opinions.  Therefore, it’s understandable that many of us turn to the real-time online network to vent our frustrations when services, products or providers let us down.

Even I’ve done it – as a sporadic tweeter – when left stranded in my car with poltergeist windscreen wipers that were determined to either burn a hole in the glass or drain my car battery.  It didn’t get me anywhere though; the tweet went unnoticed, or ignored, by my ironically termed ‘roadside rescue’ service. And so I was left, un-rescued, to juggle with the car handbook, fuse box and torch to end the squeaky misery.

For post grad law student Mark Leiser his complaint on Twitter this week certainly prompted a reaction.  Waiting for a delayed easyJet flight and feeling sorry for an armed forces passenger, Mr Leiser turned to Twitter: “Flight delayed 90min. Soldier going to miss last connection & @easyjet refusing to help pay for him to get to Portsmouth. Get right into em!”

The 113 character tweet resulted in airport staff approaching Mr Leiser, as he waited to board the plane, and telling him he couldn’t fly.  The staff claimed it was because of that tweet – did they deem it as disruptive behaviour or was the ‘get right into em’ threatening?  Eventually, Mr Leiser was allowed to board, but only after pointing out his right to free speech and referring to his status as a law student.

easyJet’s response to the incident certainly begs questions, particularly around staff protocol on social media.  Companies and their staff need to brace themselves for criticism and be on hand to respond quickly and appropriately.   

But here is a lesson also for Mr Leiser and other tweeters out there – be careful what you tweet for, the written word can all too often be misinterpreted.

Sam Kandiyali

Director

A recipe for client-agency success

Speedos, Twerking and Jimmy Carr. It struck me this week that client-agency-media relationships can be formed in the most unlikely places.

It’s an obvious statement, but being able to foster strong relationships with clients and media contacts is often the key to PR success. 

This has resonated with me particularly over the last seven days, having been involved in two very different events for our client ADEY Professional Heating Solutions. Having worked with the magnetic filtration pioneers for three years, Target has built up a really strong client/agency relationship.

I am, however, relatively new to the account and was asked to be part of their six-strong team taking part in Cheltenham Triathlon last weekend. Having never done a triathlon before, I was nervous but accepted the challenge! 

Although it was tough, I thoroughly enjoyed the day and it was great to be part of Team ADEY. While swimming, cycling and running falls outside the usual remit of our retainer, there was a huge sense of achievement once we’d all crossed the line and a real team camaraderie.

Fast forward a few days and I found myself invited to the Energy Efficiency & Renewables Awards of which ADEY was a sponsor. We were guests of Installer Magazine which is a key trade title for us. 

Dolled up in our best frocks, we had a really fun evening which mostly involved discussion about Twerking and trying to second guess what songs the DJ was going to play (with a little bit of live stand up from Jimmy Carr thrown in for good measure). 

Not a features list in sight, it was a great opportunity to get to know some key media contacts in a more relaxed setting over a glass of wine.  

Against a backdrop of ROIs, KPIs and making sure we provide a high level of service for clients, I think we can sometimes forget that behind the grandeur of job titles lies a person just like you and me. The ability to get along together in a personal as well as professional capacity can pay dividends. 

Lycra and laughter is a great leveler.

Bethan Simkins

Account Director

The Feedback Loop

 Do you give good feedback? Let me re-phrase that.

Is the feedback you give saying as many good things about you, as it is about the subject of your review?

We’re all accustomed to dishing out feedback, whether we’re reviewing a fabulous or disastrous holiday venue, providing a glowing testimonial for a colleague/mate/ex-boss/would-be-client on LinkedIn, or explaining to an unsuccessful candidate why they didn’t make the cut.

Particularly in situations where feedback is published for the world to see, it’s very clear that our expressed view is going to influence the reputation of the person or organisation we’re rating. This is powerful, and brands must have the courage of their conviction to ask questions of their publics, listen and act where necessary on the feedback they get.

Wise businesses understand the value of asking their customers what matters to them; who wouldn’t want to know the ‘secrets’ of winning our customers’ favour? It’s so easy for us to make assumptions on the reasons customers buy from us, but when was the last time you took the time to ask? That’s as true for us as PR consultants as it is for the clients we advise.

Reflected influence

There’s a balance of power when it comes to who gains from the feedback process, in which we tend to attribute all the ‘influence’ (power) to the person or organisation that’s giving the feedback.

Common sense, surely, that when we submit ourselves to the whim of our reviewers – will they love us or tell the world that we’ve failed utterly to meet their expectations – the reviewer has the power to make or break our reputation.

It struck me this week, however, that in a business-to-business scenario at least, the feedback process reflects on the reviewer too.

Here’s an example that will be familiar to many PR agencies, and probably to other sectors besides. We’re invited to submit credentials at the start of a tender review process. They outline a process that leaves some room for interpretation (I’m being nice, it was unclear). We ask for clarification, they reply but don’t answer the question. We submit credentials. They tell us, in a very polite email, that we’re not shortlisted. We ask for feedback. Radio silence.

This prospective client had the chance to impress the pants off us even if we were not destined to work together. We could have fallen a bit in love with them, become regular customers, told our friends and family how this was the one that got away which we’ll always regret…

Instead I find myself thinking they’re a bit amateur, a bit second division, probably would have been a hellish client.

That’s the thing about reputation and influence; it’s not all contained within a PR plan, it’s embedded in the way we conduct ourselves ‘on and off camera’.

So, my parting thought. Next time you’re asked for feedback, pause a moment and just consider ‘the feedback loop’: every action (or inaction) has a not-necessarily-equal-or-accurate reaction.

Sarah Bryars

Chief Executive

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at www.freedigitalphotos.net

The silly season that keeps on giving

It’s August. The MPs had scarpered off to their holiday homes and the school gates were securely padlocked, leaving press rooms up and down the country able to indulge in the season of silly stories.

Many comms professionals have been debating whether silly season is still in existence – a credible argument considering the drivel that makes the print and digital pages on a daily basis, not just during the summer holidays. Incidentally, I've found myself sifting through some right corkers, laughing heartily before becoming pretty damn cross that maybe all of this is undermining the meaning of news and hindering the practice of quality public relations.

Despite myself, I feel compelled to present you with some of the frolicsome news stories that made the cut:

Is this the biggest chip in Gloucestershire?

Any real potato-lover will be able to recall a time when an extraordinarily large crisp, chip or wedge appeared in their packet or on their plate. However, one Gloucestershire resident was in such awe of an enormous chip she had been served, that she actually took a picture and sent it to the Gloucestershire Echo. And yes, The Echo did indeed feature the cooked vegetable. The lady in question also told the paper she will be researching into whether or not it has broken any records. We wish her all the best with her future chippy endeavours.

Cloud atlas: Britain flies high

When Amy Adams took a picture of a cloud formation, which remarkably resembled the map of Britain, it was no real surprise that it made its way into her local paper, the Coventry Observer. However, it was a complete shock to not only snap-happy Miss Adams, but also Matt Bates, the paper’s editor, when it appeared on the front page of the Guardian’s Weekend Edition!

Are big cat tracker’s socks the oldest in Gloucestershire?

Another belter from our home county. Frank Tunbridge, a big cat tracker from Gloucestershire, who spends most of his time following up leads on big cat sightings in the area, is sadly mourning the loss of his trusty socks. The socks, which had triumphantly served a comfortable 25 years service, have finally seen better days; a good innings we say.

However, we are pleased to inform you that Mr Tunbridge will continue his quest to find big cats in Gloucestershire despite the absence of his socks...and big cats.

Alexandra Underwood

Account Executive

Other recommended reads:

Man caught shooting marijuana-laced arrow into jail was ‘hunting for squirrel

Swiller!

Suspected smoke over Colsterworth turns out to be a cloud

Sharapova plans name change to Sugarpova for US Open

Is UK plc really on the road to recovery?

It may have been a long time coming but the latest economic indicators certainly suggest that there are genuine green shoots and the start of a recovery. 

We have seen GDP grow in the first two quarters of 2013, reduced unemployment, rising house prices, increased new car sales and even a sense of optimism replacing the gloom and doom of national commentators!

People seem to be generally happier this year buoyed by the sunny summer, royal baby and the continued British sporting success following on from the Olympics in 2012. Victories for Justin Rose, The Lions, Andy Murray, Chris Frome and England’s cricketers thrashing the Australians have certainly added to the feel good factor; even England’s much maligned footballers got in on the act beating Scotland, but tougher challenges lie ahead for them!

So how is the perceived economic recovery affecting small businesses, who are the life blood of the UK economy? Well as a small business owner myself, I can say that there certainly appear to be more opportunities presenting themselves, although the market place remains very competitive.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve had a number of conversations with professional advisors from banks, lawyers and accountants and there is a general consensus that a lot of the companies they look after are now hoping to move their businesses forward, and away from the survival mode they’ve been in for the last few years.  

However, expansion and growth gives fresh challenges to businesses, as history tells us that more businesses start going bust as we leave a recession because it’s easy to overtrade and run out of cash. This emphasises the need to have good solid operational and financial controls and procedures in place, making sure that any growth is controlled and any cash requirements flagged up well in advance.

So what do the next few years hold in store for UK plc? The announcement from the Bank of England that interest rates are going to be kept at a low rate for the foreseeable future gives a great sense of security for business. Hopefully this, allied to the improved economic figures, will give businesses more confidence to start spending money on projects they have put on hold, which will then filter through to the SME market and help boost the economy further.

It has certainly been a long hard road to recovery but I remain optimistic that the current signs show a recovery is underway. A nice steady upwards growth curve over the next few years for UK plc will do nicely, thank you very much! 

Colin Spencer

Chairman

Image courtesy of thanunkorn

/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

“It always seems impossible until it’s done” – Nelson Mandela

As thousands of students found out their A-Level results this week, I can’t help but reminisce over my results day. It seems like only yesterday that floods of tears were streaming down my face as I read my results, which meant my mother thought that I had failed. How wrong she was!

Compared to 2012, the number of students scoring an A or A* has fallen by 0.3% but there was a rise in the number of students taking what are considered to be more academic subjects. This doesn't surprise me as much as the news that the number of people going to University is rising, despite the £9,000 tuition fees.

Its five years since my results day and I’d like to think I have a better understanding of my career path, than I did back then. During my school years, I hadn't the faintest idea what I wanted to do but fortunately through work experience and University I have come to discover my strengths. If I could give advice to 18 year old me, I would probably say:

‘Don’t worry about not knowing what you want to be in the future. You are most definitely not alone. Take everything in your stride, enjoy yourself, join University societies and with time, you’ll discover a bubbly, creative, confident side of you that you never knew about.’

If these past five years have taught me anything, it’s that life isn’t black and white. Yes, thousands of students go to University but there are other options too. Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to learn on-the-job. In Germany, students who don’t plan on going to University are offered a two to three year work placement – something similar to what is slowly being introduced in the UK.

This week I’ve been very fortunate to have been working at Target PR, helping me gain an insight to the world of PR. From day one I knew this was a sector I’d enjoy. From drafting press releases to editing a newsletter for the UK’s most trusted opticians, this work experience has certainly broadened my understanding of PR. I am extremely grateful to the team for welcoming me in and showing me the ropes.

To all those A-Level students worried about what awaits them, I cannot emphasise enough the importance of networking and researching. Talk to people, look on the web or visit your local Jobcentre and slowly but surely you’ll come to know what you want to do after studying.

A huge thank you to the Target PR team for this fantastic opportunity!

Lourizza Ball

Intern