PR for inspiring businesses

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Working in PR and copywriting brings me into contact with an amazing array of organisations. Some of these are large, established firms and others are small businesses, or start up. There are charities and community initiatives, all needing some help, whether that’s a boost, some advice about social media, or an ongoing PR service.

The last two months have been particularly interesting in terms of the businesses I have been talking to.

  • In Exeter I met Iain Smith, the owner of independent wine shop, Smith’s Wines in Magdalen Road, and ended up writing a feature for Exeter Life.
  • Down in Beer I was introduced to Swimboat for a feature for Devon Life – a little yellow boat that has been designed to accompany open water swimmers. I learned that there are thousands of intrepid swimmers who love to brave the waves for the sheer thrill of open water swimming.
  • I’ve been working with a lovely German nutritionist, Carola Becker, who, after learning to manage her own arthritis naturally, started up ‘Life is Good’ to help others to improve energy, lose weight and generally have a better life through better nutrition and exercise. I’m hoping some of this will rub off on me!
  • A call from Exeter Philharmonic Choir – I wasn’t previously aware Exeter had one – has brought me into contact with the world of composition and classical music, and I look forward to helping them gain more coverage for their concerts in Exeter Cathedral.
  • I also had a long chat with an inspirational lady in North Devon who turned to making chocolates from goats’ milk after her husband was made redundant (Caprine Capers). Having two children myself who were raised on goats rather than cows’ milk, I have a real interest in what she’s doing – hope there’s some taste tests involved….

I’ve blogged about telemarketing, parsnips and buying chocolate by post, I’ve written press releases about electrical testing software and I’ve helped out a friend of a friend who is Asian and needs to find a match donor.

It’s been an extraordinary few months, but such a privilege to learn about so many amazing things that are going on in Devon. I’m wondering what the next few months will bring!

Blog on!

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This was supposed to be a March blog, but it’s taken a while to get round to it. So welcome to my first blog of April.

At a recent digital update seminar organised by CIPR, one speaker spoke of the nBlog 2eed to publish a blog at least every two weeks, and preferably more. You could hear a sharp intake of breath across the room. Who has the time?

Most of us understand the point of blogging. It’s a way of sharing your knowledge.

1. Blogs are good for Google. Each blog counts as a page, giving you credibility (as long as the content is fresh).
2. A well-written blog helps your customers to believe in your expertise.
3. Other professionals like to share the latest blogs – it shows that they have their finger on the pulse.
4. You can link to your blog on Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and your business Facebook page – it all helps your profile.

The downTypistside, of course, is that you have to schedule in some time to write a blog, using your own ideas and views, and your own inimitable style.

Like everyone else, I often stare at the blank screen waiting for the thunderbolt of inspiration. Should nothing come to mind, I find it a good excuse to make a cup of tea. If the tea doesn’t help, here are a few helpful hints:

1. Think about what you do best and stick to what you know.
2. Search for topics in your area of expertise and read what other people have been writing about. What would you think about their topic – something different to what they’re saying?
3. Don’t plagiarise, it’s extremely unprofessional. If someone has had great original thoughts that you agree with, share them and acknowledge the writer.
4. 4. Have a sense of humour. Most of your readers will appreciate your blog more if you don’t take it all too seriously.

Finally, keep your blog short.Shortstory

Mrs-Do-As-You-Would-Be-Done-By

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I’m going to be honest here. I’ve never been much good at the ruthless side of business. The cut-throat behaviour, the fierce competitiveness, the power dressing. Okay, I wore shoulder pads in the 80s but I looked more like an air-hostess than someone who should be in Alan Sugar’s boardroom.

I have often worked with the ‘dog-eat-dog’, ambitious folk of this world, and I am full of admiration and sometimes envy. They have flash cars, wear the right labels and dine at the top table.

The Water BabiesUnfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, as a child I read Charles Kingsley’s ‘The Water Babies’ and the character of Mrs-Do-As-You-Would-Be-Done-By has stuck with me into adulthood. Well, maybe not the character but the inference of the name. Treat people as you would like to be treated, and expect to receive the same treatment back.

It strikes me that working in the creative world of PR, copywriting and social media is not just about making a living, although that helps, of course. It’s about building relationships, going the extra mile for clients, lending a hand where you can and enjoying what you do. Oh, and laughing quite a bit because hard work has never suffered from a giggle or two.

And as we move into a new year and as my business grows, I’m not going to change. You see, Mrs-Do-As-You-Would-Be-Done-By was ‘nice, soft, fat’ and cuddly. Her sister, Mrs Be-Done-By-As-You-Did was ‘gnarly and horny and scaly and prickly’. There’s no contest, in my book. There wasn’t in Charles Kingsley’s, either!

Have a great New Year!

Skydives, Terriers and Ice Cream

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So the tandem skydiving world record attempt at Dunkeswell happened on June 21, when the great British weather held its own with blue skies and just the right sort of fluffy cloud.

Having been commissioned to write a feature about skydiving and the event for Devon Life, it was on the cards that I would be jumping myself. In the end that didn’t happen but I did get the chance of a truly exciting flight up to 15,000 feet with one group of jumpers. Sitting next to the pilot, Aussie Tom as we cruised around above the clouds, I turned to watch the intrepid folk leap from the plane into the blue. A little part of me breathed a sigh of relief that I could stay sitting next to Tom while they plummeted out of view! On landing I hung around to watch them all travel back to the ground safely. In small 3 total, 281 jumped, beating the record by 30.

Many were raising money for charity. I interviewed some of these, and there were some amazing stories. I spoke to the mum of a young man who was killed in a road accident at the age of 24. Five brave people were jumping to raise funds for the charity she’d set up, called PAULY. Having a son myself, I had tears in my eyes. I can’t imagine anything worse than losing a child who has his whole life before him. (For more info on the charity click here)

Terrier racingVery different was another feature that Devon Life asked me to cover. Terrier racing takes place in the East Devon village of Yarcombe every year, in August. I don’t live that far from Yarcombe yet I’d never heard of it. I drove over and had a chat with a lovely farming couple, John and Barbara Salter. John was involved right at the conception of the race day in the 1970s, and forty years on is the only surviving member of the original team.

This is a great community event (I love community events!) attracting thousands of visitors from other villages and holidaymakers who come along every year. There are six races with a mixture of dogs, a 10p tote, and lots of fun to be had. This yeIce creamar race day is on Saturday August 2. I’m hoping to go along with the family, and on the way I am dead set on stopping for an ice-cream from the Otter Valley Dairy who make such delicious-sounding concoctions as Ginger and Butternut Squash and Devon Rice Pudding with Raspberry Jam. All made from milk and cream from their own Pedigree herd. Yum!

Feature Creature

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One of the areas of my work that I enjoy most is when I have the opportunity to write a feature article.

I wrote many hundreds of feature articles for heating and plumbing magazines when I worked for Nu-Heat Underfloor & Renewables in Honiton. If that sounds a dry subject area, well actually no, it really wasn’t. The challenge was always to give life to underfloor heating pipe, heat pumps, solar panels and antifreeze, and I do love a challenge!

Now, however, I can have a bit more fun with what I write about. It’s usually up to me to come up with an idea and then work out the best way of seeing it through. This caught me on the hop when Devon Life commissioned an article on gliding for January’s ‘Try Something New’ spot. From a first person perspective….

I’m known for my dislike of flying although I have flown around the world, to China, Singapore, America and many places in between. However, I generally take Diazepam to keep me from opening the door and jumping out!

So gliding was the last thing my friends thought I’d ever do. And I knew I couldn’t fall back on sedatives as I wanted to remember every detail so I could write about it from a clear perspective. In the end I approached the flight rather like a ride at Disneyland, which I do happen to enjoy, and it turned out to be a great experience. Soaring silently above Broadhembury and waving at my friend’s herd of cows was something new indeed.

I’ve just submitted my next feature to the magazine which this time required my feet to stay firmly on the ground as I wrote about Dartmoor’s myths and legends. A very different commission, with lots of really interesting research to do.

That’s what really floats my boat, I guess. Finding out about another subject, getting my head around more ideas, culture, language – and making it all interesting to read about.

The challenge of the press release is to keep it succinct, web copy usually needs to convey information, a tweet is tiny! The challenge of the feature is to be something that the reader really wants to read to the end. I hope I succeed!