Pressat and PA Media Extend 14-Year Partnership to Strengthen News Distribution

Pressat and PA Media have extended their 14-year partnership, giving businesses enhanced access to trusted UK media distribution channels and greater press release reach.

Businesses looking to maximise the impact of their media coverage have received some positive news, as Manchester-based press release distribution platform Pressat has announced the extension of its long-standing partnership with PA Media Group.

The renewed agreement builds on a successful relationship that has spanned 14 years and will continue to give Pressat customers enhanced access to one of the most trusted and influential news distribution networks in the UK and Ireland.

For organisations seeking to raise their profile, secure media coverage, or share important announcements, the partnership provides expanded distribution opportunities through the PA Media Newswire and Press Release Hub. 

This allows businesses, charities, public sector organisations and brands to place their stories in front of journalists, editors and media outlets across the country.

Founded in Manchester in 2010, Pressat has grown into one of the UK's leading press release distribution services. The platform supports organisations of all sizes, offering a cost-effective way to share news with the media while providing international reach across more than 170 countries and support for over 40 languages.

The continued collaboration with PA Media represents a significant advantage for Pressat customers. PA Media, formerly known as the Press Association, has been delivering trusted news and information since 1868 and remains a vital source of content for national, regional and local media outlets.

When she spoke with That's Business, Alison Lancaster, CEO of Pressat Newswire, highlighted the importance of the relationship, describing the original partnership as a major milestone for the company. She noted that the collaboration has enabled customers both in the UK and internationally to distribute their news effectively to key media outlets through one of the country's most respected news organisations.

PA Media is equally enthusiastic about the future of the partnership. Alan Marshall, Managing Director of PR and Marketing Services at PA Media, told us the organisation is delighted to continue working with Pressat and to provide clients with the combined benefits of newswire distribution and online content hubs for both written and visual content.

The announcement reflects the continuing importance of quality news distribution in an increasingly crowded media landscape. While creating a compelling story remains essential, ensuring that story reaches the right journalists and publications is just as important.

For businesses investing in public relations and brand visibility, the renewed Pressat and PA Media partnership offers another valuable route to reaching audiences, generating coverage and building credibility through trusted media channels.

http://www.pamediagroup.com

https://pressat.co.uk

Unlocking Success: Marketing on a Shoestring Budget

In today's competitive business environment, marketing is essential for any company's success. 

But not every business has the luxury of a sizable marketing budget. The good news is effective marketing doesn't always require a hefty financial investment. 

With creativity, determination, and a few strategic tactics, you can make a significant impact on a shoestring budget. In this blog post, we'll explore some cost-effective marketing strategies to help your business thrive, even with limited resources.

Define Your Audience:

Before diving into marketing activities, you must have a clear understanding of your target audience. Who are your ideal customers? What are their preferences and pain points? By narrowing your focus and tailoring your message to a specific audience, you can maximize the impact of your marketing efforts without wasting resources on a broad, unfocused approach.

Leverage Social Media:

Social media platforms are powerful tools for marketing on a budget. They offer free or low-cost options to reach a wide audience. Create engaging, shareable content that resonates with your target demographic. Be consistent with your posting schedule and interact with your followers to build a loyal community.

Content Marketing:

Content is king, and it's a budget-friendly way to establish your brand's authority and attract organic traffic. Start a blog on your website, produce informative videos, or create infographics that address your audience's needs and interests. Quality content can drive organic traffic and improve your website's search engine ranking.

Email Marketing:

Building an email list is a low-cost, high-impact strategy. Collect emails through your website or social media and send targeted, valuable content to your subscribers. Email marketing allows you to nurture leads, keep your audience engaged, and promote your products or services effectively.

Collaborate and Network:

Partnerships and collaborations can extend your reach without breaking the bank. Consider teaming up with complementary businesses for cross-promotions or co-hosting events. Attend local networking events or join online forums and groups to connect with potential customers and partners.

DIY Design and Graphics:

Professional design services can be expensive, but there are many user-friendly tools and templates available that allow you to create eye-catching visuals for your marketing materials. Invest time in learning these tools or consider hiring a freelancer for one-time design needs.

Utilize User-Generated Content:

Encourage your customers to create content related to your products or services. Share user-generated content on your social media platforms and website. This not only saves on content creation but also builds trust and authenticity around your brand.

Public Relations and Free Media Coverage:

Reach out to local newspapers, bloggers, and magazines with a compelling story about your business. Many media outlets are interested in covering local businesses, especially those with a unique angle or a community impact. This can provide valuable exposure at no cost.

Measure and Optimise:

Keep a close eye on the performance of your marketing efforts. Use free or low-cost analytics tools to track website traffic, social media engagement, and email campaign success. Adjust your strategies based on the data to ensure you're getting the most out of your limited budget.

Marketing on a shoestring budget is not only possible but can also yield impressive results. By focusing on targeted strategies, leveraging free or low-cost resources, and maintaining a creative and customer-centric approach, your business can thrive without breaking the bank. Remember that the key to success is persistence, adaptability, and a commitment to delivering value to your audience. With time and effort, your budget-friendly marketing efforts can help your business grow and flourish.

And as far as free media coverage is concerned, That's Business and our associate blogs are more than happy to provide young enterprises with free publicity.

Almost half of PR agencies confident of winning new public sector clients in 2012 despite continued cuts

Industry optimism is rising with 48% of PR agencies confident of winning new public sector clients in the next 12 months despite continued cuts, according to new research by DWPub.

Media communications company DWPub surveyed 52 PR agencies in November to find out what impact public sector cuts are having on the PR industry.

A similar survey was carried out a year ago and revealed that in contrast, 100% of PR agencies questioned were not confident of winning new clients. This followed the Comprehensive Spending Review which saw Chancellor George Osborne announce heavy public sector spending cuts.

2011’s research found that although 83% said their public sector clients had cut budgets in the last year, 39% were confident of being able to hold on to the accounts.

However, while 48% of PR agencies surveyed had public sector clients, almost two thirds (62%) of these said they had lost some in the last 12 months.

The number of PR agencies saying public sector clients made up 40% or more of their business has more than halved over the last 12 months – 17% this year compared to 40% in 2010.

“{{Despite continued cuts our results show that PR agencies are upbeat in contrast to the same time last year when not one agency felt they would win new public sector clients}},” said Daryl Willcox, chairman and founder of DWPub. “Although numbers are leaner, PR agencies have indicated there are still accounts to be won. However, the impact of lost business over the last 12 months has meant some agencies have had to adapt, refocusing on new sectors or accelerating adoption of new skills such as social media.”

DWPub has recently released a new whitepaper called Social media in the public sector. It aims to help organisations facing increasingly tight budgets learn how best to use social media channels to reach their audience. The whitepaper can be downloaded here.

The government’s Autumn Statement 2011, declaring further cuts, was announced on 29 November.

FACTFILE:

DWPub (www.dwpub.com) helps PR professionals, organisations and the media connect, collaborate and tell stories more effectively every day. Launched in 1997, the company connects journalists and public relations professionals to create opportunities for timely, relevant press coverage. The DWPub Media Suite includes the FeaturesExec Media Database, ResponseSource Enquiry Service, SourceWire News Distribution and the JournalistDirectory Freelance Database. Over 2,500 companies use DWPub’s media relations services, including around 120 of the top 150 PR Companies. DWPub - making media communications easy.

PR Prom promises to be the PR industry’s event of next year!

On January 19th, from 7.00pm till late, 500 of the UK’s brightest and best PR professionals will come out in force to support their own at the PR Prom, (www.prprom.org)  The PR Prom is a fundraising event in support of Bright One (www.brightone.org.uk), the volunteer-run communications agency for the third sector that provides PR assistance to charities across the country.

The event will be held at Shoreditch Town Hall, which provides a beautiful backdrop for an evening of entertainment. For a ticket of just £50, guests will enjoy food, drinks, the opportunity to take classic prom-style photos, live performances, dancing, a silent auction and other surprises.

Music includes a special performance by She Makes War and The Olympians, with songs from the forthcoming album Little Battles alongside creatively twisted classics, as well as a DJ set from Hypernaked’s Matt Brawn

In the run-up to the event, you’ll be able to vote for your Prom King and Queen by tweeting a nomination in this style; ‘I nominate (name) for #prpromking at the @prprom’ or ‘I nominate (name) for #prpromqueen at the @prprom’.

Plus, we’ll be giving out a third award in the style of ‘Most Likely to…’, for which you can design your own category and rally support from colleagues. Simple tweet, ‘I nominate (name) for Most Likely to xxx #prprom’

Stephen Waddington, MD of Speed, has lent his support to the event, “Bright One makes a huge difference to the reputation of charities through the work of its volunteers. PR Prom is a chance for everyone in the PR industry to contribute to Bright One’s work -and have a great night out. Have you booked your ticket yet?”

Ben Matthews, founder of Bright One, said, “The PR Prom promises to be a fantastic event and will provide some much needed support to the valuable work that Bright One does. We want to see the industry come out to support their own and have fun while doing good.”

Amanda Rose, founder of Twestival and advisor to Bright One, added, “For our inaugural Bright One fundraising event we wanted to put together something special and quirky that everyone in the UK PR industry would look forward to each year. Many of the events out there are limited to those PR companies winning awards or at a price that only a few staff can attend - we hope to see lots of new faces out for PR Prom."

The campaign to promote the event features well-known faces from the PR and communications industry, who Bright One thanks for their support; Kerry Bridge (Dell), Jon Silk (Waggener Edstrom), Kate Matlock (Ketchum Pleon), Reda Haq (Cohn and Wolfe), Jordan Stone (We Are Social) and Nik Thakkar (Exposure).

More information on the event is at www.prprom.org, with tickets on sale now at www.prprom.eventbrite.com.

(EDITOR: That's Business and the other That's... on line publications wish our friends in the PR industry a grand evening out. You work hard, so deserve this event!)

Brands Need to Prepare For the Upcoming Boom in Commerce Through Facebook, says Punch Communications

With social networking giant Facebook announcing a number of changes to its open graph platform at the recent f8 conference, brands should be ready for a change in the way e-commerce will be implemented on the site, says integrated PR, SEO and social media agency Punch Communications.

Due to this development and the ability to now not only ‘Like’ something on Facebook you will soon be able to ‘Want’, ‘Love’ or ‘Recommend’ things. This development has caught the eye of e-commerce heavyweight eBay and its developer arm X.commerce, as they announce an upcoming partnership that will make Facebook the market place of the future.

A recent study into social commerce by the e-tailing group found that 59% of users rated customer reviews as the most important impacting factor on their buying behaviour. Social shopping aims to capitalise on this by creating visibility and feedback for products and services from the people you trust the most, your friends and family.

Brands using Facebook to promote their products will soon be more in control of the message they push to potential buyers and fans. Using the open graph platform, developing more descriptive and appropriate interactions such as a ‘Want’ button will become easy to implement and promote. This type of functionality coupled with the real time news feed of friend activity provided by the Facebook Ticker will propel the social shopping experience.

Pete Goold, Managing Director at tech PR agency, Punch Communications said, “Facebook provides an important platform for brands and companies to reach and interact with their fans and customers. Social commerce will appeal to an audience who are already familiar with the functions and features of the platform to recommend and create visibility for promoting products and services to their friends and connections.

“Social recommendation carries much weight when acting as a basis for a purchase decision and with the new developments in the f-commerce area users will be instantly notified of their friends purchases; this will encourage them to look at the product and it may influence decision to buy”

Social commerce will become a fully integrated service within social media and e-commerce platforms now that the tools are available to developers. With predictions that more business will be carried out through Facebook than Amazon, brands would be wise to begin developing their strategies and apps now to get a head start and take full advantage of the opportunities that social commerce will afford them.

If you are currently talking to PR and SEO agencies then contact Punch Communications to find out how an integrated campaign would benefit your business. For more information regarding Punch's services, please visit www.punchcomms.com, or call 01858 411 600.

(EDITOR: I have worked with Punch to help promote some of their clients for some trade magazines. A nicer, more professional set of people you could not hope to meet. I can recommend them thoroughly. If you need a PR firm, then Punch should be on your list.)

Do not give up on marketing and PR

Just because times might be a little tougher than we would like is not a reason or an excuse to stop marketing or promoting your business.

It's  always the first to go when a recession looms. The marketing budget is slashed, the PR spend is cut to ribbons. And everyone just waits for the next customer to waltz through the doors, pockets bulging with orders.

Here's some news for you. That will not happen. Because if you do not tell potential customers that you are still in business, if you do not get a Public Relations firm to help you blow your own trumpet, nobody else will!

Here is a story related to me by a friend who is an advertising manager for a small local publication: She had two clients, both in the same line of business. At the start of the recession one of the clients (Client A) listened to the siren call that he must stop spending money on advertising and marketing. And this is what he did.

The other client (Client B) continued to advertise, always managing to get just enough money together for an advert. Even if it might not always be the usual size, his advert was always there in the publication.

Client A met one of his customers in the street. He asked his customer if he required his services. His customer said: "Oh! Sorry! I gave my business to Client B. When I noticed you weren't advertising in the paper any more and I saw that he was still advertising, I assumed you'd gone out of business, so I went to him, instead."

There's an old adage in marketing. It says: "The man who beats the biggest drum makes the most noise and draws the most attention to his business."

So, what will you do? Put your drum away and hope that, almost by magic, people might find their way to your business? Or will you beat the drum and draw attention and customers to your business?

For ideas on how to promote your business you can visit www.responsesource.com  and it will not cost as much as you might think.

Digital content specialist helps PR professionals make the most of video press releases

PR professionals are increasingly aiming to reach beyond their traditional audience in the media, interacting directly with consumers and businesses through social networks. The traditional press release can’t always provide the detailed information - or entertainment - that consumers demand and many PRs are turning to video press releases to help.

Designer and entrepreneur Phil Pauley, founder of digital content specialist Pauley Media, has produced a video and 10-point checklist to help PR professionals understand the options video offers their campaigns.

Many options are available to PR professionals producing a video press release. Budget, deadline, and the desired quality of the final film will inform your choices along the way. Areas that should be considered when making those choices include:

1) Camera equipment - there is a huge range of options here including standard definition video cameras or high definition DSLRs

2) What type of video would you like to produce? Short and simple with a single shot, or using a range of shots and a narrative? What is the ideal duration for your film?

3) Sound recording - Quality sound is essential. Are you going to use the camera's on-board microphone, or record sound separately?

4) What background would you like to use? A live background with depth and activity or a clean backdrop with a company logo? Perhaps a “green screen” and its flexibility is more suitable?

5) How are you going to light your shoot? Is there sufficient natural light at your chosen location or do you need to hire a lighting rig?

6) Should you storyboard? If using a range of material or shots, this can help to plan your shoot and save you time. It will allow you in identify when and where you could incorporate additional visualisation to help delivery your story in a more dynamic way.

7) Narration - Who will present the press release and what qualities would you like them to have? Will you read it yourself or ask another member of staff, your client or another professional?

8) Will you make use of a voice-over or soundtrack? Both are brilliant tools for adding texture, delivering information, and adding fluidity.

9) Will you use graphics? Animation can illustrate points, additional video clips add value, whilst company logos and contact details can be used for marketing and highlighting your call to action.

10) Finally, post-production - this can include keying, colour grading, titles, and after effects - a great deal of thought should go into how to take advantage of all that it can offer.

Considering all of the above areas and options, and making decisions regarding each one, will, in the end, make the production of your video press release run as smoothly as possible. You’ll be better placed to decide what you can do in-house and where you should outsource services, products and people to help you make a success of your video press release and reach your new audiences most effectively.

FACTFILE:
Pauley Media is a versatile and creative independent family company specialising in Concept Design, 3D Interpretation, Cultural Communication, e-Learning and Corporate Presentations through 3D Modelling and Immersive Audience Engagement. Find out about previous successful video and design projects for its range of international clients at http://www.pauley-interactive.co.uk/success-stories.php

Sweet appointment for Punch Communications

Jealous, a new manufacturer of high end sweet-gifts made from natural ingredients and suitable for people with dietary or ethical considerations and requirements, has appointed Punch Communications to handle its PR, SEO and social media.

For the initial launch activity over July and August, Punch has been handling Jealous’ consumer and business media and blogger relations, social media, social search and SEO activity.

Following the launch, Punch is being retained as Jealous’ SEO agency and will be providing consultancy services to the brand with its ongoing PR and social media activity. (EDITOR: A wise choice!)

Commenting on the appointment, joint managing directors Tahzeen Basunia and Imran Ali Merza, points out: “Punch’s enthusiasm for the Jealous product combined with its technical understanding, creative flair and impressive track record made the agency the most compelling proposition for us. We have been impressed with the team and really see them as an extension of our operation.”

Georgina Dunkley, who is the account director at Punch charged with the job of who overseeing the Jealous account, added: “Through this initial burst of activity we have seen some fantastic results including a continuously high level of engagement on the social media channels and some standout pieces of secured press and blogger coverage. The sweets have been extremely well-received by both consumers and the media.”

The sweets, which boast no artificial colours or flavours, are also suitable for vegetarians and contain no alcohol or gelatine. Presented in 400g gift boxes, the selection which is now available in Selfridges’ flagship Oxford Street store, includes Sinfully Sour, Gummy Heaven and Paradise Lost, all of which retail at £13.99.

In addition, the Enchanted Eden selection, which is produced using purely organic products, completes the initial range and is priced at £14.99. In addition to purchasing from Selfridges, the sweets can be bought directly online at www.thejealouslife.com.

Punch is one of the UK’s leading social media agencies working with big brand clients including Sony Ericcson. In addition it works on a number of integrated briefs in both the UK and oversees. For more information about Punch Communications visit www.punchcomms.com, or you can follow Punch on Twitter @punchcomms or like them on www.facebook.com/punchcommunications.

FeaturesExec Media Database enhanced with help of the PR community

Daryl Willcox Publishing, the company that connects PR professionals and journalists, has enhanced the FeaturesExec Media Database to create a simpler and more personalised website allowing users to target contacts faster.

Following consultation with the PR community, FeaturesExec has been significantly improved with a new look and functionality.

In addition to clearer navigation across the site, time-saving functions have been introduced:

• Sector Search: Build quick press lists with an improved sector search.

• Breadcrumbs: Search results are remembered; navigate away from results and back again in an instant.

• Recently Viewed: Dashboard links to recently viewed data.

• Most Viewed: Quick links to most popular personal searches.

"FeaturesExec is constantly evolving based on feedback from our users - the new site has been designed to make things easier and help people get more done," said Daryl Willcox, Chairman of Daryl Willcox Publishing. "The aim is to make it simple, personal and effective. We are always looking at ways of improving our services and continue to update them directed by suggestions from the PR community."

www.featuresexec.com helps media professionals work more efficiently when communicating with journalists. It gives PRs access to over 10,000 media outlets, 40,000 editorial contacts and 100,000 forward features.

The introduction of user-based log-ins earlier this year adds to the personalised experience of FeaturesExec. PR professionals can now assign an 'owner' to information stored, which allows teams to see who is responsible for which press list, forward feature profile or campaign. Owners are automatically assigned to any notes, lists and profiles added. Owners can be reassigned as required and full ownership history is recorded, helping users to track ongoing campaigns more efficiently.

FACTFILE:

Daryl Willcox Publishing (www.dwpub.com) provides information services for people in journalism, public relations and marketing. Launched in 1997, the company connects media professionals to create opportunities for timely, relevant press coverage. Products include the Response Source Journalist Enquiries System, SourceWire and Response Source press release wires, the Freelance Journalist Directory and the FeaturesExec Media Database. Over 2,500 companies use Daryl Willcox Publishing's media relations services, including around 120 of the top 150 PR companies. The services are used by tens of thousands of journalists.

(EDITOR: Just when you think they could not improve on perfection, Daryl and the team do this and go one better! If you are a journalist or PR professional who doesn't use a Daryl Willcox Publishing service, do yourself a favour. Sign up today.)

How to write and submit press releases that will get published as stories

The second in its series of free PR case-studies titled “The Biggest PR Mistakes of All Time” has been published by The PR Training Centre and can be downloaded free of charge at www.theprtrainingcentre.com/pr-mistakes.html.

Publication of this new PR Mistakes study has been timed to coincide with a Creative Writing for Public Relations Workshop to be held on Monday 27th of June in Covent Garden, London.

‘The press release is the basic tool of communication for PR people,’ says co-founder and principal presenter at The PR Training Centre Jacqui Green. ‘But ask any journalist what they think of the releases that cross their desktop every day and most will roll their eyes in despair.

“Now Richard Milton, an experienced professional journalist has provided some clear tips for PR people on how to write a press release – and Milton’s advice is not just the usually recycled banal tips – in fact I think even some seasoned PR pro’s may be surprised. The new case study can be downloaded from our website at www.theprtrainingcentre.com/releases.htm”

The Biggest PR Mistakes series will cover some of the most memorable PR disasters of recent years including Coke and Dasani Water, the McDonalds libel case, Bennetton’s designer advertisements, Perrier’s purity problems and Polaroid’s failure to come to terms with digital photography.

Says Jacqui Green, “Publication of ‘Five Common Mistakes in press release writing’ has been timed to coincide with our Creative Writing for Public Relations Workshop, which will next be presented in our Covent Garden centre on Monday 27th of June when we will be reviewing best practice not just for writing press releases but for every form of marketing and PR communication from writing website copy to brochures and case studies through to producing compelling editorial features and pay-per-click ads.”

Author of the Biggest PR Mistakes series, Richard Milton is a co-founder of The PR Training Centre and is the author of six books including 'Bad Company', which was chosen by The Sunday Times as its Business Book of the Week, and the management handbook 'Do Your Own PR'.

Over the past seven years, PR experts at The PR Training Centre have trained delegates from companies that include; Carlton TV, Morgan Stanley, Associated Newspapers, British Red Cross, EMAP, Institute of Directors, Merril Lynch, BBC World Service, AstraZeneca, Wilkinsons, British Holidays, Southwest Trains, Campaign for Real Ale, Konica-Minolta, Arena Leisure, World Television, Oyezstraker, BOSE, Lichtenstein Lottery, Which? and Virgin Money.

PR agencies that 'don't do digital' will be in trouble, warn experts

Following a recent survey by the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA), which showed that 28% of PR agencies don't have a formal digital strategy in place, Punch Communications, advises these agencies to sort this out, or risk being left behind.

Also, out of the 124 agency managing directors and chief executives that undertook the survey, 6% deemed the question of a digital strategy irrelevant. (EDITOR: Why?) Not only is this a worrying statistic for these public relations companies’ futures, it suggests their clients aren't receiving a service that reflects the changing face of media relations and online communications.

A PR agency that hasn't adopted a digital approach or, perhaps more importantly, isn't offering services associated with the web/Internet to clients, may rapidly find themselves out of touch with growing digital trends and approaches and it would be a big task for such firms to catch up with the times.

An agency that keeps its finger on the pulse has a greater chance of keeping abreast of the constant online transformations within social media, mobile web and search engines. This also means clients of these agencies can enjoy greater consultancy and benefits, resulting in longer lasting working relationships.

Punch Communications has understood the importance of having a digital strategy for many years. It has adapted gradually over time to bring clients a unique and integrated print and digital PR, social media and search engine optimisation offering.

The success of Punch’s three sided service can be observed in the expansion of the Midlands-based company, which has grown three fold during the past two years. This is a clear indication that businesses are searching for a PR agency that fully understands the digital world and how the various channels work together in one strategy.

Keredy Stott, senior account manager with Punch Communications said: “The digital world moves at a rapid pace and is arguably where the future of PR lies. PR companies that do not embrace online communications, whether with bloggers or via social networks, could find themselves lacking clients over the coming years as the industry continues to shift.

“The individuals that work for these PR agencies will also suffer in the long term and may find themselves under trained. The PRCA’s survey found that the average proportion of training budget spent on digital fluency training was just 30 per cent, which does not reflect the true need in the field.”

For more information about Punch Communications and the integrated services it offers, please visit www.punchcomms.com or call 01858 411 600.

(EDITOR: I have worked with Punch over the years with several of their clients for print-based publications and Punch is a key player in digital and non-digital PR.)