Long live the press release

If you Google ‘death of press release’ you will find a number of articles over the last few years questioning the role that the humble press release plays in PR.  Certainly in the age of Twitter and social media the notion of a 300 – 500 word press release almost seems dated, yet I’d argue they ha...

Will the end of Google Authorship affect PR?

In August, Google announced the end of Google Authorship. If you are unsure of what Google Authorship really was – it was a tool that allowed users to mark up web pages so that the authorship can be attributed to a particular individual. It was launched in 2011 with the intention of granting aut...

Beware of the technology journalist?

Political party conference season can really spook a company spokesperson, even the most experienced will recoil in horror at the thought of a grilling from Nick Robinson.   Conference season may be over but the impact remains on anyone that has to face the press.  But with Halloween approaching may...

Advice for advancing your career in PR – one year on

In my first few months working at Spark Communications, I wrote a blog offering my initial advice to those starting their career in PR. Over a year on, I wanted to share what I’ve learnt.

1) Don’t be scared to ask

When I first joined the company, I was reticent to ask questions because I didn...

The death of the Yes Man: 4 times ‘no’ is the best answer in PR

In PR it can be really hard to say no to clients since, from your first Saturday job, the phrase ‘the customer is always right’ is drilled into you. However, as consultants we need to have the confidence to say no sometimes if we feel this would be the right course of action. For example, if a clien...