Artisan Marketing Communications

The blog is dead long live the blog

2008-01-07T08:34:00.000-08:00

After 347 posts and the best part of 2 years blogging I am moving over to Word Press.

The new blog can be found at www.artisanmc.co.uk and I will be blogging there shortly.

Thanks to everyone that read this blog and especially anyone that left a comment, created a link or anything else who gave their support.

Tis the season to send a press release

2007-12-19T04:56:00.000-08:00

I am not sure I fully agree with Buzzwords saying it is a time to forget about PR during the festive season while you recharge the batteries.

I certainly think you should take breaks. However, as the volume of releases decreases some journalists struggle to find the volume and quality of story they need, papers need to be filled all year round.

This summer one accountancy magazine put the word out that if you sent a release on anything approaching an accountancy subject they would publish as they were so short of stories going into the August bank holiday. They asked twice.

So yes have a break but take advantage of an opportunity.

Crain's Manchester is in business

2007-12-18T10:26:00.000-08:00

Crain's Manchester has made an impressive debut.

It offers varied business content in an easy on the eye format. The tabloid size make it perfect for a read while commuting in or indeed out.

There is a website with all the offline version's copy as far as I could tell. You cannot leave comments and there are few links out. Missing an opportunity if not resolved perhaps to conect to the business community. How Do resolved that issue for the better.

The editing team seems strong and one story on where Web 2.0 enterprises meet was well researched, there were a couple of venues I did not know anything about. They had done their research.

Criticisms? Nothing of real note although a feature on online marketing issues would be welcomed.

With the loss of a few Manchester and North West business magazines over the last year Crain's seems the anecdote to the loss of editorial opportunities for B2B PRs, which always are harder to come by than B2C PRs.

The Manchester Evening News has responded by adding a new business journalist, which is making the sector more competitive and of course helpful to B2B PRs.

If the magazine adds more pages as it gains advertising and builds on this start we could have something that will become part of the business scene, something we will forget the time when we did not have it.

BBC Radio 1: how to look stupid and arrogant

2007-12-18T05:54:00.000-08:00

The BBC in its minute wisdom has decided to ban certain parts of The Pogues Fairytale of New York because they contain the words "slut" and "faggot."

This is a certain recipe to make people listen more closely to the "offensive" words and to increase sales.

But the point is that the words are used in the context of a fight or argument between two drunks hoping that their luck will turn around. They are hardly going to lift dialogue from Lady Windermere's Fan are they?

As Lenny Bruce used to point out a word is a word and is only offensive if there is intent.

BBC Radio 1 has said that "they had made their decision" and would not be going back. I think they will. They are creating a PR backlash.

Over 95% of the 7,000 votes on the BBC website have said they are wrong. Tom Robinson, a high profile gay rights campaigner is a bit surprised by the censorship and certainly does not think much of it.

Still BBC Radio knows best, at least Radio 2 does, they are still playing the song and have not censored anything.

It only takes a few rotten PRs to spoil the barrel

2007-12-17T14:42:00.000-08:00

It is not a new story. Unfortunately it is a common one. You go to pitch and you discover the prospect has been burnt by an unscrupulous agency before.

Even the best ideas and pitches can fall on this fact. Budgets that have been exhausted with little result and any imagination or adventure or even the fact of establishing trust cannot be planted.

This must rebound on some PR agencies that are less than scrupulous. Yes, sometimes clients make it hard for the agency to work. Yet, there are simply too many cases of unsatisfied customers owing to little effort being applied on the part of the offending agency.

I can say that this can rebound greatly if the hurt party is well connected, and not all agencies realise how well connected someone can be.

PR and marketing are professions that still struggle to establish their credentials. Less than a professional effort undermines everyone.

I think you get good and bad in every profession, so it might be that I have nothing to really complain about. Even lawyers can be straight forward. I think?

The campaign to stop stock photogrpahy

2007-12-17T13:02:00.001-08:00

It is the festive season; a time to give, and unfortunately receive that calendar or brochure with unblemished models.

Are companies afraid of images of their own staff, the staff their clients who are receiving the promotional stuff are going to meet?

It all looks so plastic.

I would rather see the people I know than think that a marketing manager has used so little imagination as to go to an online stock library.

Have a bit of fun this festive season, hire a professional photographer and take some more engaging images.

If you still cannot be bothered have the McDonald's view of office life here.

Weblog is 10 years old - at least in the dictionary

2007-12-17T12:58:00.000-08:00

The word weblog is 10 years old today although the spell checker on Blogger doesn't recognise the word!

For all the amazing facts about how many blogs are being created every day please have a look at the BBC article.

How little we take in and how little we really have to say

2007-12-14T03:24:00.000-08:00

I was at a networking meeting recently and as a festive treat the members had to impersonate other members.

This was meant as a fun exercise but one thing struck me how little information and understanding we all really pick up. You can know somebody and their organisation for weeks, months and even years and not really have an in-depth understanding. The person I had to take off I must admit that I knew not as much as I really should have about his enterprise despite a 10 minute presentation on what he did, which I did listen to.

This strikes me that of course we miss opportunities because having to take in so much information we often pigeon hole people or fill in the gaps in our knowledge with what think they do or offer.

It also occurred to me, as it has done before, that in an article or even press release how much is taken in by the reader. Probably not that much. It seems that there are two or three essential messages and the rest is often filler.

For example, if I represent a lawyer that is a specialist in employment law the ideal result is if the perception of the reader is that this practice handles the cases that are of concern to them or colleagues and associates and that they are likable, trustworthy and are the best in their field or pretty much up there and jockeying for that title. The fine details and everything else can be sold later.

Steve McLaren wins prestiguous award

2007-12-11T10:50:00.000-08:00

Steve McClaren, has picked up the Plain English Campaign's Foot in Mouth award in its annual ceremony.

Steve came up with this about Wayne Rooney: "He is inexperienced, but he's experienced in terms of what he has been through."

I feel this is unfair on Steve considering Virgin Trains response to Web User magazine about problems booking online:

"Moving forwards, we as Virgin Trains are looking to take ownership of the flow in question to apply our pricing structure, thus resulting in this journey search appearing in the new category-matrix format. The pricing of this particular flow is an issue going back to 1996 and it is not something that we can change until 2008 at the earliest. I hope this makes the situation clear."

Previous winners include Naomi Campbell: "I love England, especially the food. There's nothing I like more than a lovely bowl of pasta." Isn't this just stupidity rather than bad English?

Rhodri Morgan in 2005 was well deserving: ""The only thing which isn't up for grabs is no change and I think it's fair to say, it's all to play for, except for no change."

More examples at the Plain English website.

Ricky Hatton does not need media training

2007-12-08T10:42:00.000-08:00

Ricky Hatton has been brilliant in front of the media for quite a while.

However, this has to be my favourite in the run up to the big fight as he talked about his opponent's trainer comments about him:

Roger Mayweather's speech had made the "winter shorter."

"I can't believe the odds aren't longer. I'm a little fat, beer drinking Englishman who's fought no-one and been over-protected and fought a load of has-beens."

"And yet the betting has been so close. Personally, I think you've got nothing to worry about Floyd. I think you will be alright."

Come on Hitman.

Private investigators and John Darwin

2007-12-07T06:43:00.000-08:00

I have just starting working with a private investigator and immediately the case of John Darwin, the canoeist with the missing memory came up.

Brilliant opportunity as my client investigates missing persons for lawyers and insurance companies and helps verify is someone is dead beyond reasonable doubt.

He undertakes much more besides: checking witness statements for criminal cases and tracking commercial debts amongst many services.

I have talked to one national about my client's thoughts and supplied comments.

I am looking for journalists who will be looking at this case, as you know it can be hard getting the attention of a national at times, so I am using this blog as well.

A brief pitch:

My client has had 10 years of investigating such cases as missing persons in the UK and worldwide for lawyers and insurance companies. He also tracks people for a variety of reasons such as they have an inheritance and no one knows where they are, a distant relative perhaps.

His theory in the John Darwin case is that he is probably working with his wife on what looks like a scam to get the life insurance. It paid out a month or two ago. They fell out, she has the money and as he is legally dead he cannot challenge that! So, he shopped his wife to the police.

If this sounds like it might be of interest for editorial please call me on 07957611834

It's a steal: PR and theft

2007-12-03T03:23:00.000-08:00

Not one, but two big food and drink thefts happened in the last few days: Guinness had 40,000 pints stolen (although more than half was Carlsberg and Budweiser, which should be recycled into urine or is it the other way round?)

Anyway, the other major theft to hit the newspapers was the theft of 17.6 tonnes of ham and bacon, worth $88,000 Australian.

Owner Anthony Zammit stated: ""We're working 24 hours a day, seven days a week and put on extra staff," he said. "We won't let anyone down."

A reward of $4,200 Australian was offered.

Of course this is a big loss, but they are making the best of it. Surely, if they come through and fulfill their orders it will enhance their reputation as well as the profile being raised - it might bring in orders to offset the loses.

Over at Guinness:

Grainne Mackin spokesman of Diageo Ireland, owners of Guinness stated: "What could they want with all that beer?"

Well, make £50,000 and possibly celebrate with a pint?

I think this is a tailor made PR opportunity, Anthony Zammit realises that, not sure about Guinness. Think of all the opportunities to capitalise for PR and advertising for Guinness!

Guinness lost £46,000, a smidgen when compared to their annual advertising budget. Why not be a little self-deprecating -Guinness the choice of every profession or they could not stand waiting for their Guinness so they just went to the brewery and went for it.

You get the idea, but something with a bit more polish. This is a brilliant opportunity of they go for it.

Manchester Evening News to run more business pages

2007-11-30T04:31:00.000-08:00

How Do, a valuable source of media knowledge, has reported that the Manchester Evening News will be running more pages in response to Crain's launching a weekly business magazine.

This is a positive development for all B2B PRs that do not have the bigger stage that B2C PRs enjoy.

With the new journalist joining the MEN business desk, who has an environmental background, will offer a another dimension to the stories they will be most amenable to, although the MEN has a small Green section each Tuesday.

Manchester online treasure

2007-11-29T08:23:00.000-08:00

Every now again you come across a site or you might have heard of one without ever really exploring it

When you take a closer look you find something quite unique.

I was fortunate in the last week or so to talk to Aidan O'Rourke and Brian (sorry do not have your surname; not an impressive start) from Salford Online.

I have bumped into Aidan before but not really explored his site. When he showed me his website recently you cannot be anything but impressed: founded 10 years ago; over 4 years in the present format; and if my memory serves me well I believe there are 5,000 pages. Many of the photos (primarily) and copy have a Manchester theme but there are pages devoted to locations ranging from Dubai to Berlin, which, in the case of the latter, I looked at length. A really useful resource as a photo library for travel PRs - the images are impressive - or just to enjoy the images.

Salford Online is a newer venture but one that promises a lot. Lots of interesting copy and for PRs with Salford based clients or with news of interest to that area one that presents an opportunity.

My only criticism, and an easy one I hope to fix, is that when a section loads up it appears as though it is blank until you scroll down and see the wealth of stories.

I know they are very open to ideas and refining the site so this one is one to watch.

Newspaper online and offline reader numbers

2007-11-26T11:24:00.000-08:00

Stephen Newton, Manchester PR specialist, has found an interesting article that shows the broadsheets dominating news readership online, while the tabloids are way in front in print.

A subject that demands some analysing to find out why that is. Perhaps as Stephen says it is evidence of the digital divide; I suspect that plays a part but it might be just one element of quite a complex question.

Oxford Union gifts far right a PR opportunity

2007-11-26T09:15:00.000-08:00

That venerable and no down right stupid institution the Oxford Union has given far right racists and Holocaust deniers David Irving and Nick Griffin a stage.

Tonight sees them debate the right to free speech.

The invitation has been met with protests including that of MP Julian Lewis who has resigned his membership of the Union: "I think there are people confusing this with an issue of free speech. It's not an issue of free speech to offer someone a privileged platform from a prestige organisation.

Trevor Phillips, chair of the Commission of Equalities and Human Rights hit the mark with: "This is not a question of freedom of speech, this is a juvenile provocation."

The debate, which is tonight, sees the two seasoned far right public speakers facing a couple of DPhil students and possibly a Liberal Democrat MP. They will show them hey. They shall not pass (with some regrettable irony).

How do you solve an unsolvablePR crisis?

2007-11-22T11:53:00.000-08:00

Well, judging by the two PR disasters that are dominating the new - losing 25 million records by the government and selecting an England manager that did not achieve the minimum requirement of qualifying for the European championship - you do what any leader of any high profile organisation does: blame someone else and accept no responsibility.

The government has blamed a junior civil servant and not cuts for not having better procedures for handling sensitive material. Moreover, staff at the Tyne and Wear office involved have been warned not to talk to the press with a strict warning.

Brian Barwick CEO at the FA has decided that he and the board should not go for selecting the wrong or at least an unsuccessful manager - let's not recount the Phil Scolari very public recruitment farce - whose fault was that Brian?.

Brian Clough once said that if the board make a mistake about a manger they should go. Sound advice.

In a blame culture solve your PR woes by making yourself blameless with your messaging and you can forget about the real problem.

Manchester's most famous 11 PR agencies

2007-11-22T04:21:00.001-08:00

After some PR lobbying (well not too much) from Nathan Smith of Smith and Smith PR I have added their agency to the list of candidates for Manchester's most famous agency.

Smith and Smith have grown from 2 people when I first met them 18 months ago to 7 and still recruiting. Quite impressive and have amongst their clients Dragon's Den James Caan and The Football Association's League's Hall of Fame.

Without wanting to replace anyone, my lists now go up to 11.

BEX exhibition improves on last year

2007-11-22T03:09:00.000-08:00

I was at the Business North West BEX exhibition yesterday and it has improved since last year. It seems a bit more energetic and upbeat compared to last year. A reason given was that it moved to the big GMEX facility in 2006 and lost a number of regular exhibitors in the process with the higher rents on the stands and was consequently a little quieter.

I made one particular contact that made it worthwhile as is often the case of analysing whether something is worthwhile.

It is on today so if you have a spare hour it is worth going along.

Lessons from Gordon Ramsey

2007-11-20T14:38:00.000-08:00

I am a bit of a fan I admit. Yet, I think there is real substance compared to some of the other reality business programs on television although he is not quite in this category - in fact you can learn more from him than the business reality trash that is dished out.

What do we learn from The Apprentice? Back biting, playing off contestants and politics are the only things worth knowing in business? Dragon's Den - a bit like the early stages of the X Factor when you have the rather strange contestants being mocked by the panel mixed with some with genuine talent.

Gordon Ramsey almost without exception gives the same lessons every week, which I believe can be transferred and are key:

Make it simple
Be organised
Communicate with staff and give them responsibility
Have passion
Give the client want they want - talk to them and find out what they want
Use marketing - not adverse to use a few gimics: the campaign for real gravy for instance; but it worked
hard work

Curry dog and viral PR

2007-11-20T11:02:00.000-08:00

Last week I placed my friend's Pauline dog and his desire for curry in The South Manchester Reporter.

From there it was picked up in the Manchester Evening News. Now he has been featured in The Guardian, The Metro and The Scotsman as far as I know.

On a more serious note, there is no reason not to apply the same methods to B2C and B2B campaigns. There are certain media channels that almost act like a hub and point of reference for journalists.

A few years ago I did a story about broadband over the electrical network. I placed it in The Register, a leading online magazine read by techies across the globe. The story was picked up in Holland, Russia, USA, South Africa as well as other UK sites. About 10 sites in total used the story. Impressive coverage.

Manchester's most famous PR agency

2007-11-19T13:10:00.000-08:00

When I was looking for jobs you could hazard a guess many times who the company was if the recruitment company gave you the clues.

A big defence company in Lancashire would not be hard to guess if a recruitment company offered your a PR position: BAE Systems

I came across a PR exec job of Totaljobs that has me guessing.

It opens, "Manchester’s most famous PR agency is looking for an Account Executive to work on some of its prestigious public relations clients."

Who is it?

If I had to narrow it to 10 I would choose the following (of course we could argue about famous in what circles and what locations etc):

Brazen
Communique
SKV
Citypress
Mason Williams
Connectpoint
Staniforth
Golley Slater (although they are nationwide)
Weber Shandwick (North)
Tangerine

It is a competitive list for that title. So who are they talking about?

Why blog - for new clients? Maybe not

2007-11-19T09:02:00.001-08:00

I was talking to Mike Ryan of Idaho and I asked why his website does not change.

The answer was because they only want clients that really want to work with them and who find them through referral. It is not a marketing tool to catch clients.

It goes against the grain of a lot of online marketing thinking, but it makes sense, for some businesses.

Sometimes you will be picked up through a search, as a PR agency, and will be asked to pitch. I have had some good opportunities through such cases. Yet, when you get into pitch you could be one of several PR agencies that is seen. Are you really distinguishable from anyone else? There is one differentiator that stands out - not everyone PR agency blogs. Other than that it is a little like a lottery.

When you have established a relationship with a business that wants to be a client or they have a trusted associates that has referred you then you are on a much better footing.

With Idaho they have an enviable reputation and so this outlook is understandable. Why pitch? The time and effort if you might be an also ran invited to make up numbers is draining.

As Mike said at last year's BEX, "Your clients are your sales people."

PR v advertising

2007-11-18T23:43:00.000-08:00

I was in Waterstones on Saturday and came across the advertising section. I have to say I was impressed. The quality of ideas is tremendous.

Nothing new there. However, advertising is sometimes seen as the arch rival of PR for budgets.

It is nothing new for me to hear that a company has spent thousands on advertising with no result and they might as well have given it away.

It is easy in a pitch to acquiesce and concede the point and that PR is wonderful and highly cost effective.

The point for me is that if advertising is creative and well targeted it can work well. It can really grab a reader's attention. There is no need to see advertising as a rival. Indeed, the impact of some of the advertising campaigns I leafed through could teach the PR profession a thing or two.

Make it easy to comment

2007-11-18T04:03:00.000-08:00

I have been on a couple of sites recently where I have to log in on my Google account to comment.

I wanted to quickly put a comment, but I could not remember my password for my account. My fault. Yet, would it not be easier to enable readers to comment, with verification code, and then moderate if not unsuitable? I have only had an advert masquerading as a comment twice in over 300 entries and I do not recall one slanderous or offensive comment to date.

Facebook election battleground

2007-11-16T06:37:00.000-08:00

My old sixth form pal and MP for Withington John Leech has been challenged by a Labour Party contender on Facebook.

Apparently Labour Party candidate Lucy Powell has 248 friends since joining 3 months ago and John has only 2 since joining a week ago. What a coup! Yes, Facebook is a useful tool, but claiming that somehow your rival is behind the times because you registered on it 3 months ago is a bit rich - and pathetic.

It reminds of Graucho Marx and his character - because he had come off the boat a few months earlier than the other immigrants he thinks he is somehow a bit of genius.

It all just seems like a cheap shot and it notes the use of Facebook, but obscures its value.

To blog or to not blog - that is the question, and Craig McGinty will answer it

2007-11-15T12:04:00.000-08:00

Craig McGinty will be talking about his experiences in blogging on Thurs 22nd November 1pm at Manchester Digital at 117-119 Portland Street.

A very reasonable £10 fee will get you in.

Curry dog and other stories

2007-11-15T11:12:00.000-08:00

What makes a story?

Well today I have had Anne Holloway from the Cenacle Treatment Centre talking about reflexology on radio and having pictures taken for a forthcoming feature on baby yoga for the same client in the Stockport Express, Simpson Burgess Nash dominating a page in The Manchester Evening News about careers in tax and PushON in .NET magazine talking about viral video marketing.

But a story about a dog, his love of curry and his vet's ban in the South Manchester Reporter is top for me.

It is just something different, interesting and entertaining or engaging.

Enough showing off.

Mike Fahy to join Crain's

2007-11-15T02:21:00.000-08:00

NW Entrepreneur stalwart Mike Fahy is to join to new business publication on the block Crain's, the weekly Manchester business magazine.

Crain's will launch in mid-December with fortnightly editions in January and it will eventually become weekly by February.

With the loss of a number of NW business publications over the last 18 months there is a need PR wise for new titles.

What makes a good story? Young traffic warden hits 58 year old 4 foot 11 motorist for instance

2007-11-09T03:23:00.000-08:00

Estate agent King's Residential worker Terry built like a "gerbil" according to the blog report and only 4 11" and 58 years old has alleged he was hit by a traffic warden after being verbally abused. The traffic warden was in his mid-20s and 6 foot.

What is more, Terry says that he had not violated the parking laws and had parked legally in a dropping off bay for 4 or 5 minutes and had an allowance of 15 minutes.

The traffic warden is disputing the allegations although his story has holes.

Please link into the King's Residential story, click through above to find out more.

Stockport Express editor gives a few insights on journalists and PR

2007-11-08T05:15:00.000-08:00

Peter Devine the editor of the Stockport Express gave an interesting business breakfast talk this morning.

Four key insights he gave on the papers were:

Do not incessantly phone up a journalist asking about whether they have received and are going to use a piece. If it is interesting enough they probably will use it; pestering a journalist can just aggravate them. PRs should know this.
Newspapers do not have axes to grind contrary to what a lot of people think, so do not take not getting in a paper personally - they are just too busy to harbour grudges.
One unfortunate development is that titles are under so much pressure to make a substantial profits and so in some cases advertising departments are making decisions on editorial at some publications because there are not the editorial staff to cope with the workload.
Online media will not swamp offline media and there will be a place for the newspaper in print.

Thanks to Peter and the Chamber for the talk.

Crain's Manchester Business preview

2007-11-07T04:28:00.000-08:00

The staff at eagerly awaited Crain's Business Magazine have been out and about and I was lucky enough to bump into them in the last week.

There is enthusiasm, desire and if Crain's proves as big a success in Manchester as in the US it will be a very welcome edition to the North West business magazine press, especially after losing some good titles since the start of 2006.

For a preview of Crain's Manchester Business click here and take the opportunity to look at Craig McGinty's blog, which has collected some entries related to Crain's Business Manchester launch.

From these sources Crain's Manchester Business looks promising.

Happy birthday to me

2007-11-06T12:44:00.000-08:00

I almost forgot. Really. Not a big one for birthdays. But the wonderful Craig McGinty wished me all the best, so I am going to exploit the situation.

Anyone who knows me can buy me a pint or something better. Everyone who I have not had the pleasure of meeting please can you give me a comment on one of the stories on my front page.

Crisis PR and Amaze, once the North West's biggest Internet agency

2007-11-06T03:19:00.000-08:00

Arguably the North West's largest, or until recently largest Internet agency Amaze has been taken over by Hasgrove Group.

Allegedly Amaze had a £2 million hole in its accounts according to one comment left on a How Do report. Unfortunately 70 staff have lost their jobs. Melhuish the managing director has resigned and to be fair he would appreciate the tough actions of Hasgrove (although I am sure they did not want to let people go) as he was not averse to regularly chopping staff often on a whim; I am sure the new owners are being expedient rather than malicious or temperamental.

As the story breaks journalist interest will increase. The aim of the PR should be to
reassure the clients, market and Internet professionals, they might want to recruit one day and no-one joins a rocking ship.

There is plenty of work to do. However, if handled well it could be highly beneficial rather than just a firefighting exercise. If the PR agency has local business media contacts it would be very handy as it looks as though they have a southern team. The PR agency has to show imagination, clear communications and not shy away from difficult questions and prepare for questions in advance. Not be reactive, be proactive and tell the media first. We shall see what happens. If the PR is worth their fees we should see a stronger agency, if not confidence will take much longer to build. At a difficult time, time is not on their side but it must be made to work for them. There is no sign as yet of work on the site explaining the position, not a good sign.

Macca's smacker with a married cracker

2007-11-06T02:33:00.001-08:00

The Sun once again surpasses its formidable reputation for headlines with its account of Paul McCartney being spotted with a mystery new lady.

It is hard to choose between that and Maccy Mouse - Mickey Mouse might be a better choice for England.

Reader's poll - which is best?

Manchester PR agencies: Wharton says it how he sees it

2007-11-05T03:18:00.000-08:00

Simon Wharton (pictured) of online search marketing agency PushON is not one to shy away from offering strident, and often perceptive, statements on online marketing.

In this issue of NW Business Insider Simon makes no exception with his view on the common lack of understanding of the Internet amongst many PR and marketing agencies:

"Traditional PR and marketing needs a kick up the backside - a lot of it is hugely dated. PR and marketing agencies don't understand the Internet."

"A lot of Manchester PR agencies are absolute rubbish - saying you're a full-service agency is just words."

Sharon Nash of Simpson Burgess Nash and Mike Ryan of Idaho, who I pitched to get featured, are less controversial in their comments but no less interesting can be seen in the November issue.

Journalist blacklists PRs

2007-11-01T03:04:00.000-07:00

Chris Anderson, editor of Wired and author of the Long Tail, has decided to blackball journalists that he believes have spammed him.

Chris is irritated by PRs that send releases and pitches without finding out whether his magazine is really interested in such pieces and without finding out if he is the best contact.

He has listed hundreds of PRs from a month's worth of "spamming." Weber Shandwick even have the unenviable distinction of 3 staff being blacklisted.

The piece has generated some interest with I think about hundred comments. PRs take note.

Thanks to Craig McGinty for alerting me to this one and pointing out that I forgot the important link on original publication.

Not another one: where is YE Magazine?

2007-10-31T02:15:00.000-07:00

In the last 18 months Business Connections, Talking Business North Manchester and NW Enquirer have stopped publishing and left the NW Business scene a little poorer.

Has the same happened to YE Magazine? The website is down and you cannot get through on the phone.

I suspect yes.

It is another sad day although new publications are and will take their place, to some extent.

Reuben Singh, PR and fraud

2007-10-30T03:45:00.000-07:00

Today's Manchester Evening News is dominated by Reuben Singh - at one time the world's youngest millionaire and a fraud.

Reuben had no business acumen and by all accounts he was a con man. His Miss Attitude chain was sold for £5.

One way he did this was to sue the media to add weight to the illusion of being a business hero. Photo opportunities with Tony Blair and countless interviews.

He even used the mass of positive coverage in the press to convince the Royal Bank of Scotland to give him a rather substantial loan in the region of a million pounds.

One thing Reuben has learnt is that the media can be like fire: a fantastic range of benefits if you use it well, but cross them and you get burnt. In the Manchester Evening News there are nearly 3 pages devoted to unraveling Reuben's business history.

Wythenshawe - can it really be saved by a bit of branding?

2007-10-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

How Do recently published an article on the attempts, probably in vain, by Manchester City Council to re-brand Wythenshawe and in so doing attract investment.

Wythenshawe has suffered over the years, which the Council has a little blame in. But the Council has tried to mend the wrongs by investing £130 million in the town centre, not the unfortunate reference to £130 on their tender document.

What was really interesting is the 2 comments left by persons in essence unknown, well I do not know them.

One said, how can I put it politely? You cannot polish muck. The other said if you get the brand right it will attract people to live and work in the place.

I agree with the first comment while acknowledging the need to tell the city and North West that real investment has gone into the area and things might be getting better. Sitting on the fence, no, I think they have valid points. However, this rubbish about getting the brand right strikes me as ridiculous.

Surely, hire a brilliant branding agency and you can do the same with Iraq. Well you can but it will not work. A brand is as strong as the product or service. Making people aware of changes is PR, not branding.

I just do not like this euphemistic use of the word brand. At least they did not comment that Wythenshawe was dynamic and full of bubbly people, then I would have found out who they were and named and shamed them.

The image is of Wythenshawe Hall before the area needed a re-brand.

Manchester's own goal: traffic congestion and traffic wardens

2007-10-28T04:01:00.001-07:00

A six thirty evening meeting, set-off one hour before and still late by 20 minutes!

Driving onto town against the rush hour you would think that it would be reasonably quick - a little naive.

However, a fine for parking in a bay and buying a ticket is too much. A very alleged minor infringement on my parking is enough for a £30 fine.

This is blatant theft. Should not traffic wardens be there to stop unthinking motorists blocking traffic and access with their parking?

Manchester City Council is using legal robbery to generate revenue. Apparently 80% of appeals are successful. What does that say?

On another level why using the city centre? If you are on the M60 you are easy to get to in the main.

The Council has little respect amongst many in the business community, its traffic policies do not help. And not amount of PR is going to help them if they steal and do not get things right.

PR is dead! Long live PR!

2007-10-23T03:08:00.000-07:00

Tom Cheesewright, managing director of IO Communications, Manchester's premier technology marketing agency, gives his views on how PR is changing and how we need to take note.

PR is half as valuable as it was twenty years ago. Why?

Twenty years ago, PR used to be something that differentiated companies. Actively managing news coverage and creating positive stories was something done by only a few, forward-looking organisations outside the FTSE 100. Today, PR is commoditised. If you have engaged a PR agency, most of your competitors have one too (or soon will).

Secondly, there are more news and information sources out there than ever before. No longer does everyone rely on their daily newspaper or even the 9 o'clock news for their information supply. Now they refer to tens of TV channels, hundreds of magazines, and thousands of websites and blogs. With so many authorities out there, each one has slightly less impact.

Thirdly, journalists are now less influential than they were. Research from Influencer50 suggests that in the early 90s, journalists accounted for 80pc of the external influencers on a buying decision (based on a survey of businesses buying technology). Today that figure is less than 40pc.

Combine these three factors and you would have to conclude that the value of PR has fallen sharply. Except, of course, it hasn't.

The sharp ones amongst you will have noticed that I am not talking about PR, but simply media relations. PR can and should be so much more than that. The tools we use for reaching out to the media and analysts can be turned to other targets, enabling us to engage with other influencers - the peers, competitors, consultants, bloggers, regulators and more who now reach more directly in to our lives and our businesses.

PR people need to raise their game and recognise the value of some of their skills in the changing business environment. Creating compelling content, for example, that can be re-used and re-merchandised not just to influencers but in creative campaigns across the marketing mix.

Networking and interpersonal skills too are a hallmark of good PR people. When a company buys in professional help from a freelancer or agency, it should be like bringing in extra business development staff who can connect them with interesting potential partners or customers.

PR practitioners need to be aware of the impact of technology and market forces on their business, and adjust accordingly to make best use of the skills and resources they have available.

PR isn't really dead, it is just changing. But any practitioner that can't keep up, may well be facing extinction.

BBC Manchester Radio feature for health treatment centre

2007-10-18T02:34:00.000-07:00

Cenacle Treatment Centre will feature on BBC Manchester Radio on Friday between 9-10 in the morning.

Jeanette Blackwell (pictured), the founder and owner, will be giving an insight into alternative therapies and how she developed her interest in the subject to the point that it became a vocation as well as a business.

It is a light hearted program that will feature two or three guests talking to presenter Heather Stott. Firstly a review of the papers before going on to discuss the guest's experiences.

Thanks to Tom for giving me the introduction. You will have an entry on this site to say thanks.

I have been working with the Cenacle Treatment Centre since the start of the year and they have just signed a new contract so this gets things off to a brilliant start.

Two tickets for comedy night up for grabs

2007-10-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

I have 2 tickets to Opus in the Printworks for the comedy night on Friday. If you would like to go please drop me a line or leave your contact details in the comments box and they are yours.

Fax better than e-mail for your news story!

2007-10-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

I thought I would give Jim Symcox, marketer, an opportunity on my world famous blog. Over to you Jim:

First though let me introduce myself...

My name is Jim Symcox I’m a marketing evangelist, business growth coach and the features editor for the Northwest business newspaper "Good Company." So I understand and use PR myself.

Anyway, so what's the secret? I can almost see you drooling to find out.

Originally I read about it in a course I purchased from an old PR guru (Paul Hartunian). As I bought the course many years ago I'd assumed the Internet had replaced this method of getting publicity.

In actual fact the method itself is very simple.

Paul Krupin, a well known American PR guru, has done the research that shows 80% of US editors prefer to get a one page fax news release to an email.

So the secret is to fax your news release to the appropriate news editors.
Think about the reasons why fax is more popular amongst a large percentage of editors than email:

It's actually quicker to scan through a piece of paper than an email
You can hand-write in points to look into further directly on the paper
You can hand over a fax to another reporter to follow-up
It doesn't add to the clutter in your in-box

Now look at the benefits if you use your fax to send editors news:

You stand out because fewer faxes are received
You can’t be classified as SPAM and removed before you get to an in-box
Your release is seen the way you formatted it, rather than how their computer displays it

However, the proof is in the pudding, try it out for yourself and see your results.

I’ve only one caveat – make the release interesting!

A glimpse of the future

2007-10-09T04:28:00.000-07:00

Simon Wharton of PushON has kindly given an overview of the Manchester Digital event: Search - what next?

Presentations by Google, Microsoft, University of Manchester and Hitwise among others gave an insight into the rapid changes taking place.

Amongst the things that impressed is image recognition service from Microsoft. If you have a photo of somewhere you cannot identify, then the software can recognise key features by comparing with similar images and it gives you the location and background information.

Simon gives an overview of the talks, although he struggles to get all points down (not a criticism) as the areas covered really demanded more than a day and not an afternoon. Still, let's hope more more of this type of event comes to Manchester.

Measuring PR - a realistic look?

2007-10-07T05:41:00.001-07:00

PR is constantly having to justify itself and consequently is under pressure to deliver or rather prove a return. That is how it should be, to some extent, but it can be a difficult ask and the pressure is there to keep clients and to keep marketing money in the PR pot.

I came across one ridiculous claim by an associate of a PR agency that because a client was mentioned in a national that the entire page counted or that is how it seemingly worked. The estimate was the value of the page was over £150,000. However, the venue, which paid the PR money, was only to my perception mentioned in a line; the rest were images but nothing that gave the location away, being too close up. The celebrities used got £150,000 worth of value, if anyone. Did the client buy the PR patter?

Rick from Brazen PR estimates the value of editorial at 3:1 (for newspapers) or 4:1 (for magazines) if I remember rightly. This seems more reasonable.

Of course there is no definitive answer. However, I have been thinking that the value is what the client sees and what advertising value he would swap the PR for could be an accurate measure (although not without flaws).

Let me explain. I achieve coverage worth £10,000 (in a national) if paid for from an advertising budget. The editorial value is calculated at say £50,000.

Would the client accept £50,000 worth of advertising instead of my editorial achieved, after all editorial is more valuable?

How about £40,000 of advertising? Less? £25,000? Yes.

Then, surely the editorial in reality is worth that much as that is how much the client would pay for or swap it for.

Of course this is not perfect, but inflation of perceived value is not either.

Judi Goodwin - writing courses

2007-10-07T05:09:00.000-07:00

Judi Goodwin brings her journalistic experience to two writing courses: Writing for the press (October 25th) and Writing PR features and advertorials (November 27th).

I can say from my own experience of one of Judi's courses that whatever your standard you will profit from attending. Judi's teaching style is also quite different: pushing students along quite strictly, but with much empathy.

Both courses will be held at Brazen PR, Great Ancoats Street, Manchester

For more information contact Judi on 01625 439 000 or info@abodepix.co.uk

Networking business achieves good profile PR

2007-10-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

I have been advised to show a little of what I do on my blog and up till now I have shied away from that.

I think this is a start though.

I do some PR for Mark Greenwood from Networking4Business. Today he featured in the Metro, the free daily that is distributed on commuter routes. Read by 1 million, we managed to get near enough two thirds of a page.

Of course Mark's business is located in the North West and Yorkshire so coverage in London is not going to help Mark. On the other side, Manchester, Leeds where Mark has a base and Sheffield and Liverpool where he is aiming to establish new meetings will make that valuable profile building.

Rather have a McJob than a Dominos one - PR disaster looms and it looks deserved

2007-09-27T15:28:00.001-07:00

Dominos, that friendly global corporate giant that ensures that you never go hungry, when incapacitated to make yourself something after a drink, has got it itself on the edge of a PR disaster and it looks as though they will fall in a deep PR hole.

Domino has been accused by Eastern European workers of exploitative practice. Newsnight allowed both sides their chance to air views and I was much more impressed by the employees arguments. There were also UK employees with grievances including one that was deducted £100 for theft, well £400 went missing and as no-one could be identified as the culprit all four staff at one franchise were docked wages.

Alleged illegal deductions (including pay checks with minus figures!), forced evictions from workers' accommodation, massed sacking when employees stuck up for better rights, ageist policies favouring employing 16 year olds as they are not entitled to the minimum wage and so on certainly do nothing for Domino's image.

Does it have the potential to gather more publicity?

The union Unite are taking up the case and there will be a chance for employees in court.

Dominos will get through this as long as they stop any malpractice (if it has gone on) and even if it continues. But if we want an alternative to McDonalds (as another globalisation brand villain) they are putting themselves in the frame.

Communicating through posters

2007-09-27T11:39:00.001-07:00

I am a little bit of a poster collector so The Imperial War Museum's poster exhibition, which is running from the 4th October, caught my eye.

Following the evolution of the poster from World War One to the present day, the exhibition follows how the themes developed and what was effective and built upon.

Even though the Internet seems to be displacing so much, there is room for the more primitive forms of communication in modern campaigns. If the Dunlop billboard near Birmingham is allowable in this category then it is one of the most effective pieces of communications I have seen.

Monopoly shows how to grab the headlines

2007-09-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

Monopoly, the board game that is celebrating 75 years, has come up with an excellent PR initiative.

It has collated a poll, replied to by nearly a million respondents, on which UK cities and towns should occupy the board and where.

The prestiguous Mayfair and Park Lane goes to Saint Albans and Exeter.

Manchester got Whitehall, one of the cheaper locations. Some comfort for Mancunians is that rivals Leeds and Liverpool occupy the cheapest places, including Old Kent Road. I am not snearing at my Scouse friends.

It has caused a stir with some; leader of Manchester Council Pat Kearney has complained with some passion. Who cares? Not so many about his views, but the PR campaign has certainly caused some debate and generated great coverage across the country at what must be a reasonable outlay. The campaign must of generated millions of pounds worth of coverage.

Simple? Straight forward? Yes, but it is working and very well.

Ahmadinejad's PR gaff

2007-09-25T04:38:00.000-07:00

Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, managed to make a vain PR trip to New York even worse and all of his own making.

He had initially been refused a photo opportunity at Ground Zero - probably a good thing for the US and Iran as he went on to question who actually carried out 9/11.

His assertions that the Holocaust was a "myth", Israel should be wiped off the map and his attempt to get a nuclear option are well known.

When questioned about Iran's execution of homosexuals at a presentation at Columbia University his reply was meet with incredulity:

"In Iran we don't have homosexuals like in your country." The Soviets use to same the same thing.

If the Iranian president was hoping to allay US fears or more probably win over US public opinion it back fired.

Simple tools to increase the flow of traffic to your website - a presentation

2007-09-24T00:09:00.000-07:00

Simon Wharton of PushON might be yellow but his forthcoming talk on online search marketing will be anything but jaundiced.

Simon will be presenting on October the 3rd at the Think Lab Salford University; full details available here.

Richard Hudson of Vanilla Storm and Alan McGlone of Eyecatcher Productions will also feature on establishing a web presence and using video to enhance Internet sites.

Places are free and limited to 30 places so if interested book now.

The end of the hyphen? and other stories

2007-09-23T14:07:00.000-07:00

The Oxford English Dictionary has reported that 16,000 hyphenated words have been dispensed with in the current edition. Losses include:

Fig-leaf
Hobby-horse
Ice-cream
Pin-money
Pot-belly
Test-tube

All will be two words. While the following have been amalgamated:

Bumblebee
Chickpea
Crybaby
Leapfrog
Logjam

There are going to be some irritating instances will Spell-check or should it be Spell Check or Spellcheck?
My Spell Check says the last one is incorrect, but the first two are correct!

Don't despair for those that are interested in environmental and other issues there are plenty of new hyphen unambiguous words:

Carbon footprint
Chelsea tractor
WAGs
Nanny state

You don't have to be a great communicator to be president

2007-09-21T06:14:00.000-07:00

I thought the entry from my George Bush calendar might amuse:

"So on behalf of a well-oiled unit of people who came together to serve something greater than themselves, congratulations."

Remarks to the University of Nebraska women's volleyball team, the 2001 national champions

Washington D.C. May 31, 2001

PR Week - what clients really think

2007-09-21T03:49:00.000-07:00

PR Week commissioned a piece to see what clients think of PR agencies and the answers were not too reassuring to say the least:

More than a quarter claimed their agencies failed to deliver set objectives
Nearly 70% did not provide transparent budgeting
Nearly a quarter claimed they were not getting value for money
Industry knowledge was also a criticism although this can be learnt

Directors signing up new clients, disappearing and returning when the contract is up for renewal is one more gripe that was high on the list of clients' complaints.

While there is two sides to any story, it makes worrying reading. Not every relationship will work and you have to factor in the clients' input or not in working with the agency.

On a more positive note, essentials in making PR work for clients are catering to individual needs and ways of working, trust and accountability.

PR agencies meet clients expectations on four out of the eight factors stated:

Communicate satisfactorily
Provide the right level of resource
Deliver at consistently high quality levels
Take a proactive role in identifying needs

One important piece of advice was to have those difficult conversations at the start of a contract about expectations and ways or getting the most from a PR spend.

Facebook vs My Space according to Tom

2007-09-20T15:13:00.001-07:00

Tom Cheesewright of Eggheads featured today on BBC Manchester Radio explaining the basics of Facebook and MySpace.

There are people out there who have no idea about social networking including the presenter. Still I cannot program a time setting on a DVD player nor did I work out the phone systems of places I have worked.

Tom believes that Facebook is superseding My Space as I recall it. The rest blurred in a busy day, but he was self assured and got some good exposure.

By the way he has just got married, which he might have mentioned but thinks he got away with it.

And another thing.......

I like Tom's suggestion of "proactive" as another meaningless word that has infiltrated the business world. Another one that comes to mind is "leverage," but this is American in use except for a marketing director in Surrey.

The currency of language

2007-09-19T06:03:00.000-07:00

Language is like a currency, you over use a word it loses its potency and dilutes its meeting.

Words and phrases that strike me as being particularly subject to devaluation in terms of meaning and thus of less and less use or little use in many everyday situations are as follows:

Go getting - meaningless recruiting / business jargon
Dynamic - what does it mean when it refers to a person?
Fascist - when used as a term of abuse it hides its real meaning, which is irresponsible of the Rick (Young Ones) amongst us
Bubbly - is this a way for recruiters to say someone who will be a dogsbody and still be happy; anyone who is bubbly is usually annoying
Ethical - would you go to someone calling themselves "honest John" to buy a car; it is proven by your actions not words

I am sure there are many others and welcome suggestions.

Best wishes to Jeremy on his incredible escape

2007-09-11T06:09:00.000-07:00

Just to wish Jeremy of Juicy Print all the best on his recovery from a frightening episode on the M6.

So much for taxi drivers.

It is not as uncommon as you might think.

Tax in virtual worlds

2007-09-09T01:52:00.000-07:00

Mark Simpson (pictured in Second Life), a tax planning director at Simpson Burgess Nash, has published an interesting piece on how taxes apply to businesses in virtual worlds, such as Second Life.

It might seem comic but there have been US Dollar millionaires and the US Congress is about to publish a report on how to and to what extent taxes should be applied.

It is a little complex: how do you tax capital gains tax on property if it increases in value and only exists on a server? Moreover, Second Life reserves the right not to compensate you if you lose a property because of a technical problem.

There are plenty of other issues: inheritance tax, income tax, domicile, capital allowance.

A bit of fun you might think; the Second Life economy currently generates an annual turnover of $500 million and is growing at 10-15% monthly. Simpson Burgess Nash has established a presence - marketers as well as accountants.

Lessons in social networking

2007-09-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

My local adult education college is now offering courses in social media networking or more precisely how to customise your My Space page.

While it has seen a demand and you could say its marketing is proactive, has it missed the boat already?

As one client in IT put it (more or less) to me when I expressed my surprise at the course being offered, next to traditional lines in cooking and ceramics: "Shouldn't it focus on Facebook, My Space is already on its way out."

To phone or not to phone - that is the question

2007-09-04T05:26:00.000-07:00

From time to time PR blogs complain about journalists who complain about PRs phoning them to see if they received the e-mail that did not bounce back.

It makes good blog copy - comments abound after such entries.

It also brings up the question of following up. Generally if a journalist has received your e-mail they have made a decision on whether your release or offer is worth pursuing and they get back to you or use without correspondence.

So far, so good.

However, I have been following up today on 2 articles I have propositioned last week for a client.

The response initially was not so good although the proposition I believed was. It could be that many journalists are still on holiday and combined with deadlines looming I did not get the overwhelming flood of interest I expected. It could be my e-mail could have been better written.

I followed up and have had some expressions of interest, including a one page feature agreed and one highly likely. If I get one more then it will be a very good use of my time.

What strikes me is that some journalists do not read their e-mails or do not have time to read their in boxes thoroughly.

There is a delicate balance. However, sometimes it does seem wider than that; there is a difference between attracting attention to something that can be of some value that might have been missed and simply haranguing and pressuring a journalist.

What is the most important ingredient to success in PR - the client perhaps?

2007-09-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

I am not sure if the title's assertion is obvious or not or if anyone agrees.

The most likely answer would be who you pick as your PR including DIY PRs.

However, I have come round to the fact that the clients' enthusiasm, interest in their communications, how they rate PR in terms of priority, relationship with PR agency and what they have to say are at least half the equation, if not more. You would expect the PR to be enthusiastic and reasonably knowledgeable as given, wouldn't you?

On the other side of the coin people are busy and PR is often an extra thing to occupy their time.

So how to square things? It is as much about the agency picking the client as it is about the client picking the agency.

Agencies chosen in the clients' image

2007-09-03T10:59:00.000-07:00

One of the perennial problems of many a good agency and a boon to the bigger players is having a client that counts supplier size, kudos and higher fee as a key consideration in selecting their agency.

Of course, if you are a small agency it would probably not be feasible that a blue chip such as Tescos or British Gas is going to hire you. It is not impossible, especially if you have some very specialised and sought after skill, but unlikely.

However, for many clients size should not be everything. I wrote, with an advertising client called The Agency, a piece that reflected this sentiment for a notable marketing magazine. (For the record their MD has done well in establishing relationships with some impressive names). The article expressed that enthusiasm, skill and client understanding are not the sole preserve of a few larger players.

I once had a conversation that demonstrates how some clients and potential clients can misunderstand the options available. John, for this illustration, had hired a big agency for all their marketing. I called up 6 months later to see how they were getting on and they were not PR wise although the agency's other services had been fine.

John had initially said that a bigger agency was able to get more coverage because it had more sway and influence, just like a media buyer! This obviously would make all small to medium agencies redundant and there are many smaller agencies about.

Anyway, he said they had spent a lot but the fees must be worth it for a big agency.

I happened, at a Christmas quiz, to sit with a member of the agency he hired. When I mentioned John and his company the reply was, "Small account, the girl behind me works on it."

I think that says almost everything.

Summer time and everything is easy

2007-08-29T09:12:00.000-07:00

I still have the feeling that even though we left school some time ago the school clock is still running in regard to businesses.

July, August and December are often ruled out as times to look for a decision to be made or a contract signed as is Easter.

Of course people have families and take holidays. So is this the time to go with the flow or make hay? Well in terms of PR December is a brilliant time to send that big release as the flow of information to journalists lessens. As of getting out and about, making contacts signing contracts I am not so sure. And then when you ask businesses some concur with the seasonal flow of activity, others not, and others say that it cannot be predicted how a month will turn out.

I, for one, am looking forward to September when everyone looks to forge ahead.

How things change

2007-08-26T06:55:00.000-07:00

I came across a news piece about the sudden demise of Banks Love, a marketing agency with PR, sales promotion and digital divisions.

At its height the Dublin based agency (with Manchester offices) had 30 staff and big ambitions to expand. Only last year it had a turnover of 7 million Euros annually. Clients included Diageo.

Just a loss of a pitch for Carlsberg and a high level departure seems to have got the ball rolling to being wound up. To be fair who outside the agency knows the reasons fully? What is clear is how precarious agency life is for owners and staff alike.

I was talking to a friend who is a freelance PR and she was commenting on how effectively you feed the fire, that is find work, to little and revenues cannot support the agency, too much and the agency cannot support the clients. A fine balancing act indeed.

PRs beware: blogger lives here

2007-08-25T08:17:00.000-07:00

Journalists might be frustrated with being thrown releases, regardless of its possible interest, in the PRs' hope that some publication might use it - "mud against a wall" works even if you annoy many others in the process.

Bloggers are more likely to become more infuriated
as demonstrated by Tom Coates. A furious entry makes one point effectively do not see me as another pliable, unthinking, anonymous outlet for whatever message that any PR wants to promote.

For many bloggers their blog is more personal than a journalists' relationship to their paper or magazine although I am sure many journalists share the blogger's sentiment. However, what it does demonstrate is that if a PR wants their release featured on a blog they should invest time in learning about what content the blog features and building a relationship with a blogger - good manners and commonsense.

If the blogger is not interested in any releases - fine. But at least the approach would have been professional.

Marketing salary survey - digital media wages soar

2007-08-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

Marketing title The Drum has conducted a thorough survey of marketing salaries outside London.

Using data supplied by 20 or so recruitment agencies they give figures on PR, design, marketing and digital salaries from account executive to managing director.

My overall impression is that in-house and agency seem to correlate. I had been under the impression agency staff often go in-house because of salary rises, perhaps from an agency to a blue chip they do. Other than that there were a few regional variations and the point that money is not everything.

The real interest for me is the digital media salaries. Apparently in London salaries are kept in check as there is an abundance of staff with the developer, designer or SEO skills. In the hinterland this is quite the reverse.

North West salaries are as follows:

Developer £24,900
Senior developer £31,100
Designer £24,400
Senior designer £31,200
Account executive £20,500
Account manager £25,400
Account director £38,200
Business development director £40,800
Online marketing manager £34,200
SEO manager £29,600

They do not seem much greater than there offline counterparts, which is surprising. A PR account manager earns £24,900 while a advertising account manager takes £24,000 in the North West.

I do not have last year's salary or any other benchmark but it would not surprise me if these figures have made a notable rise over the year as new media skills become increasingly hard to find in combination with increased demand. They should be up substantially next year if trends continue.

Are captions essential for images?

2007-08-23T13:57:00.000-07:00

Not in this case. Never mind lads concentrate on the relegation battle and not each other and you might have a chance next season at Eastlands.

Should I stay or should I go

2007-08-10T06:58:00.000-07:00

David Brain, president & CEO Edelman Europe, has an interesting piece on his blog about exploring career paths abroad.

David believes that many PRs are too career minded or at least they follow a predictable path to a well paid director position by staying long enough somewhere and counting the days.

He proposes that developing personally by working abroad is an option that many should explore and which will add value to anyones career. You will be a much more marketable proposition.

I am not sure as one comment points out that this is always appreciated and is sometimes seen negatively.

I think you have to do what you will enjoy, be it at home or abroad. Whether you will get a higher wage or better career is something else.

Manchester Confidential vs Manchester Evening News

2007-08-06T04:18:00.000-07:00

Stephen Newton, Manchester PR, has written an interesting piece on the rise and rise of Manchester Confidential.

Stephen puts forward that although Manchester Confidential does not have the reach of the Manchester Evening News, it is more forthright in championing the city's issues and it taps into a richer seam of readers.

I think the Manchetser Evening News wins on a number of counts and I am not sure, even if proved, that this assertion can compete with the following:

It primarily uses editorial and not advertorial
It has paper based and online versions
It has a stronger depth of editorial
It has a wider range of editorial
It works with PRs and consequently has a supply of fresh editorial; Manchester Confidential has editorial from mid-July up on the current pages for some sections.

I am a little surprised though by the Manchester Confidential website, which offers some interesting insights, but not enough. In fact I generally do not read their e-mail and simply go for the competitions.

Alternative views? Does anyone supply editorial and not advertorial to Manchester Confidential?

Over to you

2007-07-30T14:14:00.000-07:00

I thought rather than me talking about my thoughts (for what they are worth; I have manged to make references to The Stones and Led Zep and now Buffalo Springfield in the last week or two) I would spend August looking at what everyone else is saying.

If you have controversial, interesting or curious entries on your blog about PR, marketing, communications and technology during August - please leave a comment here and I will try to cover them.

To over service or not to over service - that is the question

2007-07-30T01:34:00.000-07:00

The answer to the question is as diverse as the number of people that answer it.

I know of some PR freelancers and agencies that give you the time allotted and not a second more. At 5pm or when the time has been accounted for it is pens down. If you want anymore pay for it. They might be competitive on rates, but they are strict and professional on the service they deliver in return.

On the other hand I know of a creative agency that purposely over services. This has enabled them to retain clients and must act as a defence against clients being poached or looking elsewhere.

The question is, "Do clients realise and appreciate the change from agency to agency and freelancer to freelancer?"

When a supplier over services by some length and then follows by delivering what was agreed or asks for a higher payment to cover the additional hours, do clients see this as a way to extract more fees?

And over servicing or not?

There is no definitive answer, except that if you deliver results and value it becomes less of an issue. It is though the basis of a feature with survey for PR Week.

North South business divide

2007-07-29T06:58:00.000-07:00

The Manchester Blog comments on the north south divide according to business coach Robert Craven.

The key points of difference he feels are:

Northerners are more friendly, more chatty and more blunt, or straight forward
Southerners are less accessible, they’re “lean back” people rather than “lean forward”
Londoners are very much busier, everyone is time poor and has shorter attention spans

I am not really sure about this. I am a professional northerner with the best of them, but you can get some right difficult ones up here. I mean Joey Barton and Edwina Curry are northerners (Scousers to be precise, known for being friendly, funny and down to earth) and I am sure there must be a few friendlier people in the south than them.

Having worked in the south there are differences in culture and outlook. In business, well there is more money around and that makes a difference. In terms of people, generalisations are always dangerous. When you think you have a fool proof formula, an exception comes along to challenge it.

Fictional brands

2007-07-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

Can fictional brands make it in the real world?

The Guardian tries to answer that question in it's weekend Guide although it is all a little tongue in cheek.

Among the brands considered is Duff Beer, which has already been copied until it was pulled owing to infringement on copyright.

You have the feeling some of the Simpson brands and Willa Wonka, providing the Oompa Loompas are kept happy, could make it.

In fact there are 11 Kwik E Marts across North America as part of the Simpson Movie promotion that sell Simpson own brands, I haven't time to write this when there are Squishees to be drunk.

When the levee breaks

2007-07-27T00:59:00.000-07:00

A volatile day on the stock market.

Things are looking good for the PR and indeed marketing industry in the North West and I am sure across the country.

If you have a look at How Do for instance it never seems to be short of major account wins.

In the 90s I was working in IT and the golden days were predicted by some to be never ending. One managing director of an Internet agency predicted in a trade magazine that it would be, to paraphrase, "stupid" to even ask if the Internet industry could encounter a downturn. That was about a month before the dotcom crash.

PR in Manchester is highly competitive and new agencies and new expansion plans seem to gather pace.

But what if we have another downturn?

PR and marketing budgets will be slashed and the predictable marketing strategy of if we can demonstrate a return then we will keep it. Hence, direct marketing and call centres become a little more popular. It is not what good marketing and PR is about: relationships and not "mud against the wall and something will stick" approach.

Interest rates are up , borrowing is high, the US has had a property crash - is tomorrow another sunny day?

If we do have a downturn in 2008 or 2009, who will survive? Will it be good for the industry to have a correction?

I do not have the answers but my experience of the dotcom crash tells me never take for granted a comfortable set of economic statistics.

A dragon replies

2007-07-26T07:18:00.000-07:00

I posted an entry yesterday about how you can drop from view very, very quickly when you turn off your publicity.

I mentioned Doug Richard, a former dragon on Dragons' Den to illustrate the point.

The entry moved Rachel Elnaugh, a former BBC dragon to post a comment explaining that Doug was still very much involved in the business community and generates his profile through other opportunities, which seem to be more focussed.

The point for me is that blogs can open up channels of communication between parties that a few years ago would not have happened. The same point is illustrated by the communication with US correspondent Toby Harden (30th January) who entered into communication with me after I quoted a story about him in The Guardian that proved misleading.

Blogging has and is changing the communication playing field: more democratic and interactive than could have been imagined a few years ago.

Why you must keep on generating profile

2007-07-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

Do you remember Doug Richard?

No? Yes? Cannot place him?

Doug was one of the original dragons on Dragon's Den.

I came across his name this morning, a mention in the paper - the first in a long time.

When Doug was a regular on Dragon's Den his picture if not name would have been familiar. Now, he has faded from view and from interest. To slightly paraphrase the Rolling Stones said, "Who reads yesterday's papers? Nobody in the world."

PR has to be a continual process, just like networking and blogging. Companies that engage a PR then let it go are wasting the initial efforts.

It is still amazing how quickly you fall out of sight and how hard it is to regain that capital.

Manchester blog awards

2007-07-24T04:49:00.001-07:00

This year cash prizes for the best of Manchester blogging.

What is more you can nominate yourself, which might be useful for a few of us.

Full details on the Manchizzle blog.

Take note 7th September for all entires and the chance to be a star at the awards in October.

Marketers cannot do everything

2007-07-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

Just because you are a marketer does not mean you can do everything in what is a wide field to say the least. Yet, some companies believe just that.

I have seen adverts for "marketers" that expect them to be proficient in Photoshop and by implication they must be graphic designers as well.

I have also come across the same circumstances for marketers that are expected to be PR proficient as well.

It is possible to be multi-tasking? Some general marketers can have a special talent for PR or branding or another aspect of their profession. However, in a field such as marketing there are so many facets to understand and master that surely a general marketer cannot handle them all to a standard they or their company can be pleased without outside help.

For instance, Internet marketing in itself is a very specialised discipline and one that is essential to any marketing effort. For me there is only one answer: hire an Internet agency if you want to really achieve anything.

Why am I bringing this up now?

I have come across a recent example that reminded me of a pitch I went on that demonstrates this point.

I was talking to a professional services company of some size and the marketer was interested in using my services: only 3 pieces or so of scrappy coverage in 5 months.

When the marketing officer approached the managing partner the retort was along the lines, "You do the PR, we pay you, why are you suggesting spending more money? "

A complete lack of understanding from management.

Another example was many years ago when I was briefed on a marketing position. They had originally given the position in-house to the graphic designer. He had walked into a management meeting one day when he had to present his marketing plan and admitted he was clueless and he wanted to give up the marketing and so the position was on the market.

I could give you other examples.

The point is that a profession as essential as marketing is not understood by many directors.

Is that newsworthy? Maybe not. But it still comes up again and again.

By the way the image is a stock photo and is no way designed to be taken as a real case study nor, as far is known, does the subject of the image have any views on congestion charges.

A little plug for the 24:7 Theatre Festival

2007-07-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

The 24:7 Theatre Festival is running from the 23rd to 29th July at The Midland Hotel and Pure in The Printworks.

David Slack helps organise the event that provides real opportunities for those looking to forge a career in the dramatic arts.

Full listings can be found on the 24:7 website. With a range of plays and a very fair entry price it should be well-supported.

Moments of advertising inspiration

2007-07-22T04:27:00.000-07:00

With so many products vying for our attention advertising creatives have got their work cut out.

The images shown here show that original ideas can still stand out in a highly competitive market.

Thanks to Vince Holt of 11 out of 10 for sending the images.

Too many PRs spoil the broth?

2007-07-18T15:23:00.000-07:00

Unlike some professional services, PR and indeed marketing are not regulated. We do not need to pass exams or have membership of a professional body to be PRs or marketers.

The Chartered Institute of Marketing had a wish that all marketers would need the CIM Diploma. I have only been asked, as far as I can remember, about whether I had it once. It never hurt me passing the exam. It was worth it for the knowledge, but career wise it was a "nice" extra for an employer, nothing more.

PR is increasingly popular amongst graduates and journalists switching professions.

I was talking to an accountant recently and he told me the exams he did were hard and no more than about 55% passed. And that is 55% of very bright people that take it - with degrees and professional experience. The idea is to keep the industry exclusive and well-paid irrespective of how many people are capable of being accountants, whether that is right or wrong.

I am not claiming me and a select few have the right to do what we do and no one else has. I do not have a PR qualification and I would only want to study a PR course that had real value and not for the benefit of saying I have it. All mine are marketing focussed qualifications. And anyway it would probably be unworkable, as the CIM found out, to put in place barriers to entry into marketing and this would apply to PR for the IPR.

I have not conducted a study nor do I have hard evidence, but as more PR graduates are produced and journalists look favourably on switching surely it will become an issue, even though PRs switch careers as well.

There must be a threshold to how many marketers and PRs the world needs. I do not know the breaking point on our marketing/PR eco system but it must be there somewhere.

Of course the other argument, especially if a recession bites, is only the fittest will survive.

Sabi Rock - a man with a marketing idea

2007-07-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

I was listening to xfm this morning and the presenter was reading out the latest sightings of Sabi Rock.

First Quay Street and then Trinity Way in Salford. I do not know if this is a regular occurrence, but if you can get yourself talked about on radio by simply walking round with a sign you are on to something.

I mentioned this to Jon Raduch of the Graphics Dept and he told me the man had been in his design agency.

What's he like and is his music any good?

Jon compared him to Jack Johnson, not a good start. It is actually hard to tell from the website because the music sounds as though it has been recorded at home.

He explained Sabi Rock has a website. He has a selection of tunes but only b-sides on it. You cannot buy from him online! What a waste of effort: a marketing tactic that costs nothing except time and has raised his profile more than any other unsigned musician or band in the city and you cannot exploit all that exercise.

Why huff and puff with coming up with new ideas when you can do it with your feet?

Simon I have an idea....

(For a selection of images of Sabi Rock go to Flickr). I have tried to find copyright on this image. I am not sure if there is one or if anyone cares, but if there is please let me know and will accredit or take down).

No to stock photography

2007-07-16T14:21:00.000-07:00

The issue of stock photography was recently touched upon during the Greater Manchester Transport congestion "incident."

It created a little bit of a storm as it purported to be showing locals but actually showed US models although it is not entirely clear.

It might be wrong, but is this such a shock? During my lunch break I saw at least 2 adverts that could have used stock models and "illustrative" cases and I have not heard, as these are long running commercials, any protests.

One was "I was working in the storeroom (in heels) and tripped and so had a right to claim the compensation" that she naturally"deserved.""

This is a serious problem as the more people claim, whether right or wrong, the more premiums go up.

The difference could be we expect some adverts to be all front. But we expect Greater Manchester Transport to have higher standards, or it is a chink in their argument and it was exploited by opposition to the charge.

What is not in doubt for me is that companies that use stock images for their communications lose out.

The number of sites that do not show the directors and staff but deliriously people shaking hands or glowing with unabated glee at their computer screens communicates that the Internet site or mailer is not really reflective of the company. This in turn brings in questions about the copy.

This is not a fair comment in some ways as many companies communicate honestly. However, with all the competition to be heard and to be kept being heard transparency and tangible references are key.

Note to previous entries. Creative Concern the design agency at the centre of the congestion row has stated that SKV was not responsible for the "case studies."

Where does spin begin and lying end?

2007-07-16T04:06:00.000-07:00

Gordon Ramsey! Who would have thought it?

Yes, even straight talking Gordon has been caught telling fibs.

In his latest F Word it shows him being manly, practical and a general Ray Mears catching fish.

But it wasn't true. Yes, he fished. No, he caught nothing.

Luckily a local fisherman had some back-up sea bass - a valuable bit of thinking. The programme showed him wading in from the shore with his catch for a barbecue.

When the story broke Channel 4 apologised for misrepresentation.

Who really cares except a tabloid? Surely there is some room for journalistic license?

When Brazen PR were found out to have used staff and friends to pose a boyfriend and girlfriend there was a minor outcry. The story being that she liked chocolate so much that he filled up a bathtub with it. Except that the couple images were not the couple the story was based on.

There was a storm in a little teacup. It was a publicity stunt about chocolate.

Yes, some people were aggravated by Brazen being "economical with the actualite." Some said it was par for the course. Why get upset? Personally I thought it was a waste of good chocolate - eat the stuff.

Last week it was the case of SKV and the fabled typical Mancs, who were as it transpired 4 US models, replete great dental work and an expression that looked as though they had an hour of being tickled and had thoroughly enjoyed it prior to being photographed.

The case studies were made-up and this was apparently not clear to residents.

This was something different - a serious issue - congestion charging - and its affect on travel for personal and business use. It rightly caused some anger. Not least because of the clumsy way the reaction was handled when people thought they had been patronisingly hoodwinked.

(It now appears that SKV were not responsible for the offending leaflets although they took some of the flack, but it was the creative agency Creative Concern).

There has to be a line PRs must not cross. Of course there is a legal line as a restraint. A PR cannot claim a drug will cure a certain ailment if they know it does not.

For the good of journalistic PR relations and the image of the industry PRs must be careful how they present information.

Self-regulation rarely works, especially as there is no obligation to join the Institute of Public Relations to practise. These incidents will go on , the advice must be play straight on stories involving key issues otherwise there could be consequences.

US Internet radio needs your help

2007-07-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

As a user of Pandora I have been receiving news that high increases in royalties to record companies threatens the Internet radio market.

Pandora is an innovative free website that allows you to customise your listening and select tracks to sample. It works by listeners downloading tracks they enjoy although there is no obligation to do so. I have bought albums based on being first attracted to them on Pandora.

Unfortunately any help can only be supplied by US readers but here is the plea:

Hi, it's Tim one more time...

Disaster looms! Yesterday a federal court denied a plea to delay the massive increase in rates webcasters must pay the record labels. This means that, absent immediate Congressional action, the new ruinous royalty rates will be going into effect on Monday threatening the future of all internet radio.

This is a very dire situation and I'm writing to ask one more time for your support. The effort you've made over the past four months has been extraordinary and has forced the rapid introduction of the bill, but the committee process has been sluggish and we need to once again remind the representatives of the urgency of this issue. This is perhaps the most important phone call you can make for us.

Please call your Congressional representatives in the Senate and ask them to force immediate action on the Internet Radio Equality Act and bring the bill to a vote. It is critical that their phones begin ringing off the hook starting early in the morning. If it's busy, please try again later.

Congressperson Scott Garrett: (202)225-4465

Senator Frank R. Lautenberg: (202) 224-3224

Senator Robert Menendez: (202) 224-4744

I'm sorry that we have to keep asking you for this - but it's our only recourse. We are no match for the legal and legislative strength of the RIAA and we need your help.

Thank you again.

Gratefully,

-Tim Westergren
(Pandora founder)

British army in man eating badger PR crisis

2007-07-13T03:47:00.000-07:00

Rumours in Basra have emerged that the British Army has released man eating badgers to terrorise the locals.

Despite string assurances by the army some locals are not convinced.

It has emerged that the creatures are honey badgers and have been forced south by floods in the marshes.

They are harmless unless cornered and are indigenous to the region. They are not in the pay of the British although they started to appear near the army base.

This PR crisis should blow over as long as Greater Manchester Transport do not get involved.

GMPTA Gate - the response to the PR cover-up

2007-07-11T09:11:00.000-07:00

How exciting can PR get when you can reference those days of Tricky Dicky, Woodward and Bernstein and it involves GMPTA?

Well I want to look at the reaction. I would like to state I have nothing personally or professionally against GMPTA, SKV or anyone else mentioned here although I am sure that I would not like the Busy Bee Bus.

Let's start with GMPTA. What was their crisis PR strategy regarding not playing fair on their communications?

The latest news story on their website is "Buzz around Bury on a Busy Bee Bus! Strong messaging there with the exclamation mark, so do as they say if in Bury! As for the impending crisis nothing, that is just playing it cool.

Roger Jones chairman of the GMPTA, said it had been put together "very quickly" to make sure everyone had a chance to learn the facts about a congestion charge.

"With more time, maybe it would have been better to interview proper families, but I don't mind if they are actors and actresses (pictured) as long as the information is correct. (So why not say they are not real people, but it gives an idea of a typical resident and how it applies to them)?

"I was one of the first to say a leaflet should go out to every house in Greater Manchester and I am really proud of what we have done." Apologise and show some humility.

If he was a weatherman I suspect he would be in trunks and an ice cream reporting from the local sewage works saying the weather was fine when it was pouring and expect everyone to come out and build sand castles.

Blogger David Ottewell of the MEN thinks it has done nobody any favours and will not alter the congestion charge debate. David gives SKV the benefit of the doubt and is quite generous in saying that SKV had to balance the egos and agendas of councillors, GMPTA and others as mitigating circumstances. Don't really buy into the last bit although I imagine it is a pain for the account manager.

He does rightly recognise that the blogger that revealed the American models posing as locals needs credit: Thomas McEldowney, a part-time photographer.

Manchester Evening News was factual in its reporting and not emotive.

The comments often are and show a wide range of opinion. However, cynicism about PR was reinforced. As Gavbad (I take it that this is not his real name) says: "PR companies and their methods DON'T make for a healthy and democratic public sphere. "

One thing is that people are not taken in by glossy leaflets and are more sophisticated than some politicians and marketers imagine. Commentator PW: " The pictures in the leaflet did make me want to bring back my breakfast."

Channel M did a spoof and as many ask, "how hard can it be to find a real person in Rochdale called Terry?" Well quite hard, it took 2 hours.

In conclusion, PR did not come out well and it reflects on all of us, which is not fair.

SKV will get over this even though they will have a little flack and I suspect they will not do this again.

GMPTA looks foolish, people will trust them less and we will still probably get the congestion charge. Whatever the rights of the charge it will be harder to communicate this from now on and so they will try to steam roller it in anyway. Opposition to the charge will get stronger and can use the "we cannot trust you" card at any time.

It all makes for a huge PR challenge; they are fortunate to have a PR agency in place.

SKV in a spin over misleading campaign

2007-07-10T23:12:00.000-07:00

Manchester PR agency SKV has been "outed" by the Manchester Evening News and the Guardian Media Group over its misleading campaign in favour of congestion charges in Manchester.

SKV has used 4 "case studies" of Manchester residents supporting the charge. However, all 4 viewpoints are manufactured and the images are those of US models.

The £500,000 pro congestion charges campaign, organised jointly with Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and sister Authority body, has used a number of methods to get over the benefits of a charge and swing public opinion its way.

A tall order for any agency, if news of this debacle becomes more widespread then the campaign for congestion charges will backfire completely.

SKV's website begins: "Reputation is hard to win. You can’t build a business or organisation without it. It is an asset to any business or organisation and must be protected and nurtured."

Watch out for a lot of reaction on the How Do website over the course of the next couple of days.

Manchester blog meet-up

2007-07-10T14:08:00.000-07:00

I missed Monday's meet as I had caught a little bit of a cold. Grapes, or the monetary value there of, welcome.

So I have been trawling through the reviews of those that attended to find out what was discussed.

The meeting comprised a wide range of bloggers including a PR Stephen Newton to a BBC broadcast journalist Robin Hamman to a professional blogger to an online search marketing agency PushON that persuaded me to blog to a Russian intellectual. (Links usually go to the attendees take on the evening).

The event was also covered by the BBC Manchester Blog owing to the presence of Robin Hamman and Richard Fair.

Below Rising Star of PushON Jamie Clouting is shameless in promoting his employer.

80 years of press photography

2007-07-09T11:24:00.000-07:00

The National Portrait Gallery is holding a presentation of 80 years of press photography entitled Daily Encounters.

The exhibition, due to run to the 21st October, aims to show a little of the impact of photography on popular culture as well as revealing how the industry works and how it has affected popular tastes.

A panel review on BB2 I came across criticised how the display fails to guide you round thematically and how the pictures do not vary in size, adding contrast and impact.

However, I think the strength of images (including this one of Hitchcock on the left) are worth anyone's time who has any feeling for the visual arts.

Curiously, the exhibition finishes in the 80s. How the impact of citizen journalism is affecting newspapers, media in general and the role of the professional photographer is another issue and one that would be worth examining to this art displayed under the photography banner.

Many thanks to the National Portrait Gallery for allowing me to use the image, which is copyright of Getty Images.

Why I am giving up television - well almost

2007-07-08T10:09:00.001-07:00

I have a TV appetite that Homer Simpson would at times admire. However, I think I am going to give up or at least cut down to a minimum.

Some time ago I wrote about whether the media in the UK is watering down content under increasing pressure for readers and ratings.

I mentioned that the Daily Mirror used to be a very fine, before my time, publication. One in which individuals of some academic and political calibre commented in. Whether you support them or not, politicians such as Tony Benn can be engaging and the paper was at times "fighting the good fight" helped expose the atrocities in Cambodia. (I note it was decidedly dodgy during the rise of fascism).

The Mirror, under Piers Morgan, has lost its way and is just another gossip and scandal sheet, which is a little angry occasionally, shouts a bit and thinks that hits the mark. Classics over the Piers tenure include:

Spice Girls making the lead story because they had been sponsored by Pepsi (slow news day hey?)
Achtung Surrender predicting the capitulation of the Germany team in the Euros semis against England - mmmm
And the who cares journalism prize for photographing Earl Spencer's wife coming out of a rehab clinic- it also broke the Editor's code of conduct-double whammy
Printing pictures, which the Mirror acknowledged were hoaxes of British soldiers abusing Iraqis, which led to Piers trying to hang on before he was sacked

Where is Piers Morgan now? A high profile celebrity playing up a hack image.

Do not get me wrong the journalists I work with are hard working, conscientious and straight forward to work with. I cannot recall a major disagreement or even a minor one. Some of them are under considerable and increasing pressure to produce and you have to admire that.

The low came though when Davina McCall got on Question Time.

Now I have seen Lorraine Kelly on a current affairs program and she is sharp. She might talk about what's in and not for summer on breakfast TV, but when she has free reign she is quite a force, very well informed and has a suffer no fools approach.

Davina McCall offered no surprises. Vacuous and her ability to back up one particular argument by stating that she did not know the evidence her opponent was referring to and so it was effectively void was incredible. When has ignorance of a subject been a starting point for arguing your case?

I think if Davina was confined to Channel 4 only I could cope. But she has been let out to bring her level of "I am loud, therefore I am" or "I am loud, therefore I am right"and it is too much.

Think about what she hosts.

Big Brother was a social experiment once upon a time ago, now it is a passport to fame. When Big Brother gets watered down you know that you have to switch media: I love you papers (except the Mirror), I love you magazines, I love you radio, I love you Internet.

There are some good things on TV, but I cannot take the chance of some TV exec thinking she is cool and inflicting her on me again without a clear warning before that "this program might contain images and sound bites of a moronic nature."

Are graduates ready for agency life?

2007-07-07T13:20:00.000-07:00

The Drum magazine posed that question in their latest Vox Pop feature and I found myself agreeing with the majority of what was said although the opinions diverged.

Three opinions gave a resounding "No!"

At first I was firmly in the students are greener than a David Bellamy compost heap camp.

However Adam Fothergill of creative agency Love stated (I leave out some adjectives as I got feed up (unlike the graduate traits he notes)):

"Enthusiastic, ambitious, naive, talented, skillful, hungover, interested, interesting, passionate, innovative, pioneering, capable, trained, involved, fascinated, bright, motivated, motivating, exciting, excited, eager, animated, clever, determined, raw, youthful. Willing to get up early, make tea, coffee, or other hot drinks, and laugh at some w**ker's jokes just to keep them happy. Perfectly prepared for agency life."

Well.

I was under the impression today's graduates are more career orientated than my generation; more clued up because of the competition and have taken aboard the need for experience.

I suppose it is all a question of the individual. At 22 all I wanted was to travel the world and have a gilded existence. Still do, but more realistic now.

I must admit I would go for the skills and experience, but there is a lot to be said for enthusiasm.

Blogging on decline: not sure about that

2007-07-05T11:16:00.000-07:00

Paul Mason, Newsnight's business and industry correspondent recently told Journalism.co.uk:
"Personally, I think blogging is so over now."

Mason believes times are moving on and that official blogs "have taken the fun out of it."

Of course the fad for blogging seemed to be at a peak last year and the number of people thinking they have something to say and then deciding they have not or more likely they cannot be bothered has seen interest wane - anecdotal evidence as my source. (Of course this must mean I have something to say, can be bothered or have nothing else to do).

I think there might have been a correction in the blogosphere. The media interest got other things to talk about. But blogging is not as tired as the cliche that the £death of blogging has been greatly exaggerated" to paraphrase the Mark Twain witticism.

I have come across 3 new blogs in the last week that their owners are very enthusiastic to build up:

Rob Nugent - Rob helps run Anthony K vehicle Leasing. I have known Rob for a while and he never mentioned blogging until I got an e-mail asking me to take a look at his new blog. I think he sees potential.

Simpson Burgess Nash - famous accountants. SBN is completely new to blogging and they have taken to it with aplomb. Mark Simpson, who does a lot to support the arts in Manchester, is proving he can write almost as well as account.

Manchester Parking - a new to be unveiled blog I have heard whispers about talking about all things Manchester. Been done yes you might say that but how well?

With the first 2, which are business blogs, they stand out in their profession simply because their competitors generally do not blog. If they do it well they push through their advantage.

How can a communications channel become worn and jaded if it still offers that potential?

Who should write your blog?

2007-07-02T13:02:00.000-07:00

There seemed to be a minor debate about this a little time ago and the answer was the owner.

Of course it is tempting for a busy company exec to hire a PR agency or freelance journalist to write it and if the fee is right to accept it.

I haven't been approached myself. I thought the point was to establish relationships and how can you do that if someone else is writing it?

This last week the issue has come up again. One contact told me he agreed that an e-mail newsletter was not going to meet his aims and that a blog might be a better option. He then told me he was going to hire someone to write it. I explained that he was missing the point. He agreed. I am not sure he understood.

I read with interest a BBC article today that the practise of paying a pretender to write a blog was a little more rife than I thought. But it is causing problems. How do you know your online conversation is with the person you think it is? You cannot be so sure, especially if you are conversing with a high profile blogger or social networker.

If people are unsure of the real identity of the blogger or social networker it will suffer as a channel of communication.

The BBC article claimed that one high profile entrepreneur is paying £1,000 a month to his writer. Every PR has his price and for that dosh I might keep an open mind on the subject.

Until then I am being ethical and sticking to my guns.

Smoking ban: what a PR opportunity

2007-06-29T16:01:00.000-07:00

There are many that view the smoking ban as new puritanism.

There are some that agree with that view and have decided to make some capital out of it.

One of those people is Dave West. He has claimed that his erotic club is merely an extension of his home as he lives above "the shop." By that logic it is not a public place and his punters are free to smoke.

Who has he asked to help him with the legal fight? None other than the wife of the man who is responsible for the legislation, Cherie Blair.

Of course Cherie charges, she ain't cheap.

It is an inspired choice as she has apparently charged him £3,500 for a bit of consultation.

The value of the PR for Dave's lap dancing club?

A lot, more than £3,500. Dave has featured in the Daily Telegraph and the Independent amongst others and it is nowhere near court yet.

It doesn't matter if he looses because he wins although I cannot fault him.

For a £200 fine I might have an illegal rolly but only if I can get an environmental health office there to make sure I get caught. From there I refuse to pay in the name of civil liberties and loads of publicity: fighting the power.

I can see my PR campaign now, but only because the smoke has cleared because of the ban.

Using social networking sites for business

2007-06-29T01:09:00.000-07:00

The other day I was asked what I thought and know of Facebook, the thinking man's MySpace.

All I really know besides that it is a social networking site is that Prince William might or might not be a member.

The question came from someone looking to use Facebook, the posh My Space, to make business contacts.

I had my doubts.

Last night I was recommend Xing, a business social networking site. I really could not get past the registration to find out more about it.

I have been a member of Soflow and I lost interest in that within in a week or so.

There are others such as Linkedin, which I came across when I was trying to find an ex-colleague although I found his contact details of his new company elsewhere very quickly.
I am sure there are others business social networking sites.

I just find it hard to see, when there is blogging and networking, why a company would put much resource time wise into using a social networking site.

Am I missing out?

Bullet causes US man’s headache

2007-06-27T15:38:00.000-07:00

Was that featured in Viz ? No .

How about The Sun? Possibly.

The BBC website. Yes.

It is the story of a man with a headache so bad he went to hospital to get treatment. The medical staff discovered the offending projectile, removed it and the police arrested his wife for attempted murder. The man was unaware that his wife had shot him. His wife, for the time being before a reasonably priced divorce lawyer is hired, claimed it was an accident.

That was in the most popular stories section.

One story of a man caught having sex with a goat and being forced by his village to marry the goat and provide a dowry to it’s owner also made the top stories, which is the 5 most viewed pieces on the site.

It not only was there, in the most viewed stories, for a few days, it reappeared after it lost its coveted place.

What does it prove?

Well, even the BBC with a reasonably intelligent audience wants the bizarre, unusual, entertaining.

PRs naturally must follow suit although perhaps not to this extent. Clients must also be educated that the media is not a prissy, conservative animal; they too need to go out on a limb to capture and retain attention. That can be a challenge.

By the way the BBC reported that the goat had passed away a few months ago. It has not been reported if the man has remarried but if he has married anything other than a human female I will let you know.