Mandy Brain

For all the growing brands and businesses out there, this is an invaluable guide by Nibble about the different types of marketing (owned, earned and bought) and what makes PR so powerful. Written in jargon-free language that everyone can actually understand!

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Good morning today spent with one of our clients at 44 Communications Ltd talking through the results of recent research into one of their core channels. In the past (read: pre-covid) we used to run semi-regular Focus Groups to find out what employees were interested in for the channel. Whilst they were valuable, they took a lot of time to organise and pulled hard-pressed workers off the job for an extended period of time. Not easy to do when there are deadlines and priorities competing for attention. So, this time we worked with the client on a programme of 'Speed focus groups' - fast conversations with employees asking a set of questions and quickly exploring themes. No more than a few minutes of time but some great insights and ideas raised. Added to survey results, these give some flavour and life to the numbers, helping us work with the client to frame an action plan. It's not the first time we've done these. It can be hard getting opinions from front line workers whose priority is service delivery on tight schedules and with limited resources. So, it's important we take time to design measurement approaches that fit their world rather than demand they fit into ours. Just goes to show, research and insight can be done even when operating circumstances may make it seem difficult. It's always worth asking the question "what do you think about...". #internalcommunications #research #engagement #measurement #channels

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‘You can’t really measure the impact of PR’. I hear that said so often that sometimes even those of us working in the sector can be at risk of internalising that belief. Which is why it’s so uplifting when a client takes the time to write in on a Friday afternoon to say ‘the result of the press coverage [that Rostrum generated] is a 25% increase in website traffic and a 50% increase in form completions’. That’s a measurable return on investment from your PR programme.

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Great to see a big poster at Weston-super-Mare this morning for a London orchestra. For the next version, how about a QR code enabling the user to literally "share the wonder" through a channel-exclusive ticket offer for them and a friend? This simple change, supported by some box office work, would develop a static advert into an audience engagement and growth tool, and offer some v handy data off the back end. #artsmarketing

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A fascinating read about a key moment in the history of advertising self-regulation, thanks to Sue Eustace and the team at History of Advertising Trust.

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💡 TOP TIP THURSDAY 💡 No.2: It's not a sales pitch. Pitches to journalists should be crafted with the intent to inform and engage, rather than sell. Journalists want stories that provide value to their readers, offer fresh perspectives and/or deliver important information. When a pitch comes across as a sales pitch, it can actually diminish the credibility of the story so make sure it focuses on relevance, timeliness and authenticity. The media relies on us/PRs/brands to be a source of credible and newsworthy information, so provide just that. When pitches are disguised as sales efforts, it can erode trust and damage relationships. A well-crafted pitch must highlight the story's news value, providing context, data and/or expert insights that can enrich the journalist’s work. Prioritise the journalist’s needs over a direct sales agenda. Good luck 🍀

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#video content - it's just one of the things we do and this is a perfect example of the type of simple, relevant, informative content we produce every day at #premiercx

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At what point does silence turn to ghosting? 👻 I’ve seen many posts in recent weeks and months that despair at the current pitching process for agencies and consultants (most notably this post (https://lnkd.in/eb3aKZMQ) from Caroline Eardley which went somewhat viral on LinkedIn). It’s time consuming, it’s expensive, it takes away from servicing existing clients - and there’s no guarantee you’ll even get a reply half the time, let alone win the business. We’re all professionals and take great pride in our work. Anyone pitching for a new client will be invested in the success of that company and naturally give it their all. But at what point do you admit defeat and move on? How much chasing, and at what interval, is appropriate? And after how long do you accept that silence on the part of the company should now actually be seen as ghosting? I’m sure it’s not a one-size-fits-all, but I’m curious to hear if any other consultants or agencies have put in place clear boundaries around this? #pitchprocess #agencyclientrelationship

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There is both a democratic and business benefit for advertisers to support news brands in the lead up to a general election. When accuracy and fact-checked information is an absolute necessity, such as with a general election, news brands really come into their own, and it’s really important that advertisers support that. This is a cornerstone of democracy, and it costs money to provide it - can you imagine a world where deepfakes and influencers tell us how we should vote!? 👀 Not only is there a democratic need for advertisers to support trusted news brands, but there is also a huge business benefit as well in the shape of more attention. For example, The Spectator sees a 30% increase in audience numbers as we approach a general election, and the dwell time on an article pertaining to the election is also increased. In short, more people spend more time on our content, and I am sure other premium news brands see a similar trend. On top of that increase in audience and dwell time, there is a higher share of voice because the UK government, one of the biggest advertisers, stop activity in the run up to the election. I think that’s what they call a win-win? #ukelection #news #advertising

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A report I need everyone in PR, Marketing & Communications to read is One Step Forward, Two Steps Black. This report was recently released by UK Black Comms Network (BCN), founded by Kamiqua Lake, to increase the number and seniority of Black professionals in the UK PR and communications industry, which straddles over to influencer marketing and the work we do at SevenSix Agency. The report reveals that over 68% of Black and Mixed-Black professionals have considered leaving the PR industry. Black talent don't plan to stay in the industry and this needs to change. Download the report using the link below to find out more on the stats revealed. https://lnkd.in/e7YkmGYa

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With yesterday being the last day of the daily print edition of the Evening Standard as it moves to a new weekly circulation, today’s (Fri 20 Sept) B2B Comms Breakdown live topic that Stacey Meadwell and I are discussing seems very, very timely.  We’re looking at the changing landscape for B2B content marketers with the lines between earned and paid channels becoming increasingly blurred. How effectively are you using paid, earned, owned and shared channels to get your company’s voice and brand in front of a bigger or more targeted audience? Are there more opportunities that you could be exploring as the mix is changing? The questions we’ll be covering are: • Have magazines had their day (earned media)? • What other avenues are open for getting more traction for your content (shared & paid media)? • Are you using your own channels effectively (owned media) See you at 1230. RSVP via the link in comments. #Marketing #BuiltEnvironment #Architects #Property

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I'm just 24 pages in to Antonia Wade’s book Transforming the B2B Buyer Journey and I have to say it's an absolute must-read for anyone who wants to understand how PR and marketing can truly drive business growth. 🎯 All I can say is I won't be passing this book on. Every page is entirely covered in my scribbles! Why does this book stand out? 🤔 Her book showcases clear thinking, practical examples and is eloquent writing 🖋️ Every page offers new insights with a practical roadmap to transform marketing into a strategic growth engine. The emphasis on how earned media and marketing create a multiplier effect is especially relevant for building standout B2B brands. And It perfectly mirrors our Pathway approach to comms strategy. For CMOs and sales leaders in tech this is one book you really DO need to read. Has anyone else picked this up? I’d love to hear your thoughts 📚👇 #PublicRelations #Marketing #Business

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Do you look at the data that comes out of all of your different platforms and wonder what it all means? How can you demonstrate the positive impact that your marketing efforts are having on the bottom line? If you want to be able to unpick the story that your data is telling you then why not join me at #B2BMarketingExpo where I will be talking all things measurement. #B2BMarketing #Measurement #ROI

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Having read this…   BBC News - More people turning away from news (https://lnkd.in/eHsxdvqV) …it's clear that people are choosing to avoid the news and from feeling overwhelmed or fatigued with the news cycle.   If the news broadcasters choose not to change the emphasis of the content they'd like us to consume, we can choose for ourselves.   Along with choosing to avoid the negative, why not choose to actively seek out the positive. I find it energising and creatively inspiring to hear about good people and groundbreaking projects. Wondering where to start?   Choose…   Positive journalism Positive.news Goodgoodgood.co   Positive individuals David Heiatt - The Chicken Shed Chronicles is my favourite weekly newsletter https://lnkd.in/eQiMursA Per Hakansson - Love the simple mantra of fewer better things https://lnkd.in/eSEe8Jjc Positive organisations Nesta - An innovation agency for social good https://www.nesta.org.uk/ Poscasts The Hidden 20% - Inspirational people who think differently https://lnkd.in/emQeQ5sf At work Make a point of celebrating good news, innovation, breakthroughs, hurdling hurdles and achieving good things. https://lnkd.in/gPKGmJJz   Curating a more positive news feed has had a direct impact on my mood and my approach to life and work. Why not track your mood and give it a go (https://moodapp.io/). It's not always easy but it is a choice.   Enjoy your day   #positivenews #choosegood

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Will the next government bring increased regulation for the UK advertising industry? The UK general election falls on the last day of MAD//FEST LONDON, so by the time Grace Carter gets on stage to start the party in E1, many of the votes for the political parties will have already been cast. One change that the new government could oversee is increased external regulation and governance of the advertising industry - would that be a good thing or a bad thing for you? Let's take AI for example. Katherine Viner, editor of the Guardian, recently called for AI regulation. She said, "Without quality journalism to train and ground large language models, these technologies would struggle to make sense of the world around them." Without quality, trusted data to train the AI models on, it is easy to see how we could get into a vicious circle of AI choking on its own exhaust fumes: 1 - Incorrect content published 2 - AI reads that incorrect content 3 - AI therefore writes incorrect content Crap in, crap out, as they say in the trade! ;-) I would also add that digital advertising relies on quality content that consumers spend time with, so that the advertising has a chance of having an impact. For example: The difference in dwell time on an MFA site, which uses GenAI to create the content and click-bait to get somebody there, to a page with 10 ads, is a world away from the experience of a subscriber to a premium publisher site, who logs on to consume the content they pay for and only sees a single ad next to that valued content. 💬 - What do you think - more government regulation or not? #ai #regulation #advertising

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Has your PR agency submitted its data to the PRWeek UK Pay Gaps Project? The deadline is Monday 19th August so, if not yet, there's still time. I think that this initiative, championed by the fine folk at People Like Us, is a crucial step towards making our industry more accountable and fair. Why should we care? The existence of pay gaps is a sad reality. If we truly believe in fairness and equality, supporting efforts to eliminate these disparities is non-negotiable. Splendid Communications has been submitting data since the report began. While our stats are good and improving, they’re not perfect - yet. What matters most is that our team recognises and values our transparency and commitment to progress. Here’s what they’ve said: “We believe that diverse teams do the best work. The pay gaps project keeps this in the spotlight, and I hope makes sure it’s a priority across the industry" “I feel proud to be part of a company that is checking itself and inspired by the goal of a more balanced and successful workforce” “It shows we are being transparent and looking to improve as an agency wherever needed” “Being from an ethnic minority myself, it is really comforting, particularly knowing how common these differences are across the industry” “It proves to me the company is always reflecting on whether it’s doing enough” “By submitting the data every year, it is being honest and taking responsibility, which reassures me that this is a priority" “I think it’s great that Splendid is open and willing to be involved in this project, it shows good intentions and a commitment to act on them”. So this year let’s aim for record participation, with 100% surely the goal. If your agency hasn’t submitted its data yet, now’s the time to check in. Compiling the information is quick, and the payoff in staff engagement and moving us closer to equality is invaluable. Let’s do this - together.

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We’re finally able to share this exciting news - huge thank you to everyone who has supported us so far - from big organisations, to founders who gave up time to have a coffee with us over the last few years. Marketing Engine helps marketers prove what they do works. Not just the Google search ads at the last click, but the daily actions which drive success at each touchpoint from PR to brand to media buying. If you’ve ever struggled to tell the story of your marketing results despite having all the data and spending hours on the planning, this platform is for you. We’ve been there, and we’re looking for more people out there who feel like this to help us shape the roadmap for Marketing Engine. If you’re interested in testing the platform and being part of the campaign to put the trust back into marketing, DM me or Kieron Goldsborough 🤓 #martech #startup #marketing #teesvalley Business Tees Valley Tees Valley Combined Authority Innovation SuperNetwork Ignite Accelerator The Thinking Digital Conference Innovate UK Thank you Insider Media for the coverage.

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Every year Full Fat Agency | Certified BCorp submits its data to the PRWeek UK and People Like Us Pay Gap Report Project, which are then published along with every other agency that submits data. Why do we it? 🖼 Our data along with others helps paint a bigger picture of the Ethnicity & Gender pay gap in the PR industry and where change is needed 💰 It demonstrates our commitment to fair pay to our employees 🔎 It ensures we analyse our pay gaps every year 👀 It holds us accountable Participation in the industry is noticeably lacking but it is improving and this year could be the biggest report to date. There's still time for agencies to submit data via a very simple online form before the deadline next Monday 27th August. #PayEquity #PayGapReport

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