PR | Speed Communications Blog

March 11th, 2010 by Flora Turner

Anyone you recognise…?

When discussing our jobs with non-PR folk it can feel like we are constantly justifying our ‘very busy, very important’ role as a ‘real’ job by attempting to explain in 100 words or less what it is we actually do all day. Even worse, is the assumption that we’re all vacuous champagne-swilling lushes. (- It’s amazing that Ab Fab continues to perpetuate the myth of the PR professional 6 years after the series ended!)

Times have certainly changed since Lynne Franks swapped fashion for Feng Shui, and consumer PR is now a much varied and forward thinking place, full of dynamic individuals. However, it did come to my attention on my short-lived travels as a freelancer, that as an industry we do generally seem to fall into certain PR tribes:

Work hard, play hard – Works like a dog which earns them the right to party. Hard. Hard to the point where it all becomes a bit scary for those with them during said partying and those beside them at work the next day

Most likely to…have a heart attack

PR not ER – Constantly on the verge of tears and believes that without their manic micro managing and hysteria the whole company would go to the dogs

Most likely to…type through the tears because there’s no time to go to the loo for a proper cry (or a pee)

Posturing pervert – Can’t handle working in an industry surrounded by nubile young flesh and believes they have earned the right to ‘give it a go’ with the team assistant after a boozy lunch

Most likely to…be really inappropriate and summoned by HR

The bitter intellectual – Got a big fat academic chip on their shoulder because they are ‘too good’ for PR but have managed to work in the same agency for the last 10 years with minimum career progression

Most likely to…belittle the graduate trainee because they are secretly jealous of their youth and

Nice but dim – Exactly as the name suggests. It’s amazing they ever managed to get a job, let alone keep it but these twits seem to be recession proof. Probably because Daddy owns the company

Most likely to…look vacant while being given a simple task before asking for it to be put on an email so they can ‘get their head round it’

Lazy and deluded – The most infuriating group as you find yourself channelling a grumpy old person and saying things like ‘they wouldn’t know a day’s work if it slapped them round the face’

Most likely to…‘push back’ on work they are given because they are ‘totally maxed’ then leave the office at 5.30 on the dot

Nice as pie – So-o super nice and helpful. Never shouts, even if people deserve it, and can be a bit put upon

Most likely to…have a ‘falling down’ moment at the next inter-agency meeting and put a pic of their privates in the middle of a presentation to the company heads

Posted in Consumer
Tags: Ab Fab, Lynne Franks, PR, Public relations
No Comments »

February 4th, 2010 by John Brown

Social Media Week – a hot air breakfast

As you will have undoubtedly heard Speed hosted a breakfast for Social Media Week today. The title was simple, ‘No more hot air’ and lets face it, the social media world has a bull**** control problem. It is full of PRs, online communicators, conversationists (WTF are they?) and self proclaimed gurus harping on about how social media will simply outdo all other forms of communication.

Yet the four case studies that were presented at the breakfast today all involved a blend of social media with more traditional forms of communication, like interacting with people in the real world.

The one that caught my eye the most was Nicola Savage’s work with The Cloud, the wireless broadband provider. Nicky and the team created a Facebook fan page and social media chatter to target Apple fans and industry commentators eagerly awaiting the launch of the iPhone, hopefully securing some coverage for The Cloud on the back of it all. Sure enough the branded fan page became populated and discussions were happening in the right places online.

However, it was the final personal touch that ensured the fantastic coverage for The Cloud. The PROs took to the streets and met some of the fans on the Facebook page – who by this time were all queuing outside mobile phone stores. They dished out branded hoodies and beanies to the patient consumers, brought teas and coffees, made friends, chatted to them all and headed home to await the results.

Anyone who was interviewed outside these stores had The Cloud branding literally all over them. Also, those that may have forgotten all about The Cloud Facebook page after receiving their shiny new iPhone, were reminded of the friendly folk that gave them tea and biccies and many were prompted to include at least a mention of The Cloud in their iPhone reviews.

Sure, the social media side of things gave a good foundation to the whole campaign. But it was the integration of more traditional forms of communication and PR tactics that binded the whole thing together and brought results.

Social media has opened up new communication channels. But all this nonsense about it being the stand alone platform on which all communication should take place is just trendy flatulence and nothing more.

Posted in Technology
Tags: Apple, Facebook, Handhelds, integrated comms, iPhone, Mass media, Mobile phone, PR, Smartphone, social media
2 Comments »

February 1st, 2010 by Richard Morgan

Daily News 01/02

The Times – Bill Gates pledges $10bn for a ‘decade of vaccine’

Bill Gates, the Microsoft founder and philanthropist, is to make the largest ever single charitable donation with a pledge of $10 billion (£6 billion) for vaccine work over the next decade.

IT PRO – UK’s big firms to use more free software in 2010
Big companies are increasingly looking at free alternatives to costly software suites in a bid to keep costs down, a new survey has shown.

The Register – Steve Jobs dubs Google’s ‘don’t be evil’ motto ‘bulls**t’

Steve Jobs has dubbed Google’s “don’t be evil” mantra “bullshit.” Or at least “a load of crap.”

Computerworld UK – Google winds down support for IE6

The warnings over Internet Explorer 6 are beginning to have some effect; Google has said it will end support for IE6.

The Guardian – After the iPad, what unicorns are there for Apple to unleash?

We’ve had the iPhone, and now we’ve got the iPad. But that won’t stop the fans inventing fresh products or services that theyr’e sure Apple has hidden in the cupboard

Computer Weekly – Fujitsu claims ownership of iPad brand

Fujitsu has laid claim to the iPad brand within hours of Apple unveiling its latest gadget under that name. The Japanese technology company’s iPad is a mobile device for verifying the price of retail goods, checking inventory data and confirming sales. The Fujitsu iPad has a colour touch-screen, an Intel processor, wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and supports VoIP telephone calls. The company is consulting lawyers about what to do next.

Posted in Technology
Tags: Apple, Bill Gates, Fujitsu iPad, google, Internet Explorer, iPhone, Microsoft, PR, Steve Jobs, Technology
1 Comment »

January 28th, 2010 by Abbie Waller

Could targeted advertising save the media?

The Guardian’s editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger delivered his Cudlipp lecture this week in which he argued that putting editorial content behind paywalls would not deliver the golden bullet solution the media longs for. In fact, he argued that by setting up the firewalls, newspapers could risk losing up to 90% of their audience – an audience it seems he already has his eye on.

A bit of digging around on the internet and I came across an interesting article by NMA’s editor-in-chief Mike Nutley that got me thinking about how The Guardian could actually survive without a paywall. Could their saviour come in the form of sophisticated online advertising? Nutley has spent much time speaking with online publishers who argue that with even a slight increase in response rates, the value of online advertising would increase considerably and provide the revenue needed to keep newspapers afloat.

In theory it all sounds like a good idea. However, as Nutley rightly points out, consumer reaction to targeted advertising has in the past been somewhat sceptical to say the least. As a result, now more than ever, is the time for the targeting industry to step up and prove their critics wrong? If they can get the public on their side, maybe, just maybe, they could be the ones to save the online publishing industry.

Posted in BizComms
Tags: behavioural targeting, new media age, Online publishing, PR, targeted advertising, The Guardian
2 Comments »

January 28th, 2010 by John Brown

Speed on the iPad

Quick fire comments from around our office. A mixed bag to say the least!:

Stephen Waddington (@wadds): Undoubtedly a delightful product. But what’s the market?

Steve Earl (@mynameisearl): I hate the way that the warm-up hype from Apple made me feel it assumed the media would stop everything and write about nothing but iPad on launch day. But I admire the arrogance.

Nicola Savage (@nicky_savage): Haven’t bothered – will look when the real version comes out in a few months time.

Nick Bishop (@nbishop): Looks like a small coffee table, without legs of course. Only if you squint.

Ruth Jones (@ruthjones): It looks cool, but seems rather pointless. What would you use it for?

Rebecca Gregory (@rebecca_g): Surely, just the natural next step for Apple and the iPhone… It’s not exactly unexpected. Is it?!

Nicole Hudspith (@nicolehudspith): What’s the point? Waste of space!

Neil Carter (@coq_au_ginge): As always, Apple create things that put huge smile on your face. But from a “work” view, it’s not a replacement for peoples laptops. To sum up, it’s a thing of beauty, I want one, but I won’t be getting one… yet.

Sophie Hodgson (@Sophie_Hodgson): So basically I now need an iPhone, an iPad and a Mac Book to ensure all my browsing and communication needs are covered? How’s about bollocks.

Matthew Watson (@mpwatson): iFad. But I still want one.

Katie Swan (@klswan): I know I want one but I don’t know what i’d use it for. The iPhone is more portable and a laptop has multi-tasking.

John Brown (@brownbare): I think this will greatly enhance my sex appeal as I sip a mochachino in a Soho Starbucks – on my shopping list.

Richard Morgan (@richardspeed): It’s a big iPod Touch, I want one!

Posted in Technology
Tags: Apple, ipad, PR, Steve Jobs
1 Comment »

January 28th, 2010 by Nicky Savage

Inspired ideas

Inspired Gaming Group (IGG) is one of our longest standing clients – we have worked with the executive team there from its early start-up days to today when it is perceived to be one of the most innovative companies in the industry.

Every year, we support IGG at IGE, The International Gaming Expo. The team is always busy chairing briefings with the key target media and on hand to support on the stand and beyond. This year we wanted to do something a bit different.

IGG is showing its virtual racing products this year - incredibly life like horse races now to be available in independent bookies. Anyone who has been to IGE will know the audience is predominantly male and most stands have some poor girls dressed in bikinis freezing their poker chips off.

We knew we needed girls but we wanted something a bit more in line with Inspired Gaming Group’s image. So. We commissioned a fashion designer to create bespoke jockey tops made of silks with pussy bow collars and puffed sleeves. We hired six beautiful girls and had them dressed as classy, but sexy jockeys and had them distribute betting slips for half hourly races with prizes including champagne and iPod Touches.

The results so far have been fantastic – hundreds of visitors to the stand, real brand recognition for Inspired Gaming Group throughout the venue and memorable photos already admired by the Speed boys back at HQ!

Posted in BizComms
Tags: event PR, gaming, gaming PR, PR
1 Comment »

January 25th, 2010 by John Brown

The power of lunch

I like eating lunch. I also like my work. So over the past few weeks I have had the immense pleasure of combining both in the form of a face-to-face briefing programme for a new client.

Now, when it comes to brand spanking new businesses, raising their profile amongst key journalists and bloggers is basically their bread and butter. When looking at ways which I can do this, I am faced with a barrage of new media tactics. Viral videos, Facebook Ads, iPhone apps, Twitter campaigns – the list is endless.

These are all excellent ways of generating interest, so long as they are done well. Yet, call me old fashioned (I can guarantee you I have been called worse), nothing quite beats getting a client sat in front of a journalist and get them chatting. Face-to-face briefings add depth, character and personality to a new company and the people behind it, much more than any introductory press release, handy iPhone app or innovative PR stunt ever will.

With start-ups, the founders tend to be very passionate about their business. That passion can really come across in a face-to-face meeting and actually rub off on some of the most unanimated hacks in the media world, who suddenly find themselves asking more questions and formulating a story there and then – great news for the PRO, great news for the client and usually a smile from the journalist.

Of course, clients need to be briefed well to ease any nerves and you have to get your target media spot on but getting the right people meeting each other, discussing issues, sharing knowledge and drinking red wine is still one of the most powerful weapons in a PROs arsenal.

Posted in Technology
Tags: briefing, Facebook, iPhone, PR
3 Comments »

November 19th, 2009 by Louise Mackintosh

Brand profiling for Commuters. A PR pitch just waiting to happen.

Commuters – do you realise that if you all put 10p into a pot you could easily raise enough money to run a PR campaign to raise your profile. You certainly need it. Rarely has there been a collective/group more misunderstood and maligned. ‘Bad rep’ would be an understatement…

In actual fact, I think you’ll find, it would not be that hard a PR task to crack. Commuters are not that bad. We are actually surprisingly nice, given just how many of us there are and how much crap we have to put up with travelling on public transport. For example:

On the whole, we do wait for passengers leaving the carriage to exit before we get on (and it’s worth noting that no one who travels between the hours of 10am and 4pm seems to understand the logic of this)

People will move down the carriage or lift to make space for others… if asked politely

Yes, there is a lack of personal space and some forward shuffling, but generally when the gates have been shut for a while and there is a backlog of people, we get through without issue or a need a resort to violence

And people DO get up for the elderly and pregnant women! I have seen it on repeated occasion so it is true. I myself – a pregnant woman of four months – have not had to stand once since it became obvious that I was ‘with child’. Not once. Ok, I make damn sure that everyone can seem me and wear the most bump-promoting clothes I can, but still… they are giving me their seats and should be praised for it

So club together, Mr & Mrs Commuter, and give us a budget we can get our teeth into. And we’ll quickly turn that terrible public reputation around!

Um, now I think about it, and before I sign off, I would like to have a quick rant on a connected subject… the perpetual myth that ‘Londoners are rude’. Well as a Londoner, who knows lots of other Londoners, I can tell you that this is not universally true. People can be rude. There are lots of people in London. So some people in London are rude. But does that not mean that ‘Londoners are rude’. In fact, in the most part this myth is perpetuated by non-Londoners moving into town with the pre-conceived notion that ‘Londoners are rude’, so they often feel its acceptable to forget all the manners that their parents so lovingly instilled in them.

Londoners, themselves, have no reason to be rude. No more reason than anyone else has to be to their fellow townsmen, at any rate.

So enough of this Londoner-bashing please.

And btw, Londoners, you know where you find us if you want us to run a campaign on your behalf too. Consider my 10p pledged.

Posted in Consumer
Tags: brand reputation, commuters, londoners, PR, TFL
2 Comments »

Anyone you recognise…?

Daily News 01/02

Could targeted advertising save the media?

Speed on the iPad

Inspired ideas

The power of lunch

Brand profiling for Commuters. A PR pitch just waiting to happen.

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