Dane Cobain

Literature Blogger Spotlight: Dane Cobain, SocialBookshelves.com

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If your social life has taken a downturn recently, make a new friend in Dane Cobain, the blogger behind SocialBookshelves.com. When you can’t peruse the shelves at your local library or book shop of choice, or all the options available on your Kindle are making your head spin, Dane’s reviews and recommendations can help you pick the right paperback/hardback/digital tome to get stuck into.

How did you originally get started with writing about literature?
I’ve always been a big book lover. I remember at secondary school, our English teacher told us that we had to write a book review for every book that we read. For most other kids, that had the effect of putting them off reading because they didn’t want to have to write a review. For me, I ended up writing about a half dozen reviews each week in an attempt to keep up.

Fast forward to 2013, I was working in social media marketing at a PR agency and about to start a new job at a creative agency. Seeing as I worked in social media marketing, I felt as though I needed to have a blog site to act as a kind of portfolio, and books made the perfect subject to write about. I resolved to review every book that I read moving forwards and to try to catch up on my old archive… and now here we are, seven years later.

What’s your favourite thing to post about and why?
SocialBookshelves.com is pretty much a specialist review blog, mainly because I read so many books that just staying on top of the reviews is difficult enough. That said, some of the most fun that I’ve had while running the site has been when I’ve been invited to attend and report on events. For example, I was taken to York Literature Festival to write about that, and I also got the opportunity to go and visit Latvia to learn about Latvian literature.

How have you had to change your approach to blogging during the COVID-19 crisis?
I haven’t had to. In fact, there’s been very little that has changed really, except that my social life has dropped off. But I worked from home already and nothing has particularly changed in terms of blogging.

What are your favourite books of all time, and why?
I always say that my favourite book of all time is Northern Lights by Philip Pullman because that’s the book that made me fall in love with reading. My favourite book of last year was Stoner by John Williams because it was just a masterclass in writing, and my favourite of the books I’d read the year before was The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, because it was excellent.

Is there a book you just couldn’t get into?
Yeah, loads of them. The one that springs to mind first is Persuasion by Jane Austen, which I read as a ‘bedtime book’ and which I’m due to re-read this month via audio book. I’m pretty sure at this point Jane Austen just isn’t for me, but she’s influential enough that I want to give her another chance.

Which books would you suggest people read during lockdown?
It depends! If you want some books that are eerily close to what we’re living, I’d go for The Stand by Stephen King and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, both of which I’ve read myself during lockdown and both of which deal with what happens to the world after a super-flu breaks out. Of course, if you want something a little lighter and which doesn’t remind you of what’s going on out there, I’d have to recommend my own books – in particular Driven and The Tower Hill Terror from the Leipfold series of cosy detective novels with a contemporary twist.

If you could interview any author (living or dead), who would it be, and what would you ask them?
I’d probably interview Stephen King and ask if he’d adopt me. It seems as though everything he or his family touches turns to gold, and who wouldn’t want to learn from him?

How do you collaborate with brands and which kind of brands do you really like working with?
I take pitches from anyone, but I receive so many collaboration offers that I’m only able to get back to those I’m interested in. I think as above, my favourite brands to work with are those who are putting on events and who invite me along, but I’ll work with anyone if they have something tangible to offer to me and my audience.

For PRs looking to work with you and your blog/website, how would you prefer they approach you and with what kind of content?
The best way to reach out to me is via email, and the best thing to do is to not just send me a press release about a book and ask if I want to read it. You need to find a way to capture my attention!

What other blogs do you check out regularly (whether literature-related or not)?
I actually don’t read that many blogs, mainly because most of my friends aren’t bloggers. I watch a lot of YouTube channels though and read a lot of reviews on Goodreads, etc.

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CPRI help

Comms volunteers matched to charities and NHS Trusts in need by the Community PR Initiative

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The Community PR Initiative (CPRI) has matched 60 charities and NHS teams with 100 volunteer comms professionals in an effort to help with communication during the current crisis.

Launched in early April, the initiative has so far arranged voluntarily help for organisations including Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Young Classical Artist Trust, Toynbee Hall, Survivors Fund, 52 Lives and Petals Charity. Volunteers from the communications industry include freelancers facing a lack of opportunities and those who have been furloughed.

‘Great effort has been put into the match making process, ensuring the sustainability and enthusiasm of the process,’ said CPRI co-founder Aceil Haddad. ‘In many cases, we have teamed up volunteers with charities and community groups that they have a personal or relatable link with, from area to experience. In addition to providing pro-bono support, it has been delightful to support our fellow PR peers, many of whom are concerned about what the future may bring.’

‘This initiative has potential to help share best practice, while allowing people to develop their skills and knowledge,’ said The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s director of communications and engagement Justine McGuiness. ‘NHS communications teams have been working flat out for several months now – operating seven days a week, while doing our usual day to day work.

‘What would be great is to have people from every part of the communications industry to help their peers in the NHS by volunteering. Whatever your background, if you think you can help, please get in touch.’

Keen to continue the work, the CPRI welcomes additional applications from NHS and charity teams struggling with financial limitations and staff furloughs as well as professionals willing to volunteer their time to help, including those outside of the UK.

Find out more about volunteering with the Community PR Initiative on the LinkedIn group, Facebook page and on Twitter @theCPRI.

PRCA Confidence Tracker

Second international Business Confidence Tracker from the PRCA shows increasing positivity

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Results from the PRCA’s second international Business Confidence Tracker shows a growth in positivity among senior agency and in-house leaders around the world when it comes to the future of their businesses.

Respondents to the second survey were asked ‘How confident do you feel about the future of your organisation right now?’ With separate datasets for PRCA members in Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, Southeast Asia and the UK, net positivity numbers were higher across every region since April.

PRCA Business Confidence Tracker

‘The global PR community is increasingly optimistic about the future,’ said PRCA director general Francis Ingham of the latest results. ‘The initial shock seems to have worn off, and agency and in-house leaders in every region of the world are growing in confidence that they can configure new delivery models and prosper in new circumstances. As lockdown slowly unwinds country by country, our industry faces the new normality with resilience and positivity.’

More information on the results from the PRCA Confidence Tracker can be found on the website.

After the storm: Planning for preparedness post COVID-19

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COVID-19 is presenting acute challenges for organisations on every level – from operations and revenues to people and reputations.

We are aware of the heightened pressure facing communications teams to take a more proactive stance that will enhance their chances of a strong recovery when the wider economic picture improves.

Our webinar, After the storm: Planning for preparedness post COVID-19 hears from Chris Paxton, Chief Strategy Officer at Hotwire, Annabel Dunstan, founder and CEO of Question & Retain and Kate Fielding, director of Fielding Communications to help you engage with your stakeholders for best practice planning, as we all navigate these uncertain times.

Helen Croydon

Pitching to the right places with The Media Insider Podcast’s Helen Croydon

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Helen Croydon, founder of Thought Leadership PR, three-time author and former journalist and broadcaster of 15 years can now add podcast host to her list of accolades. The Media Insider Podcast was launched by Helen and the team at Thought Leadership PR to give an insight of how different newsrooms work, what their planning processes are and how best to pitch to different media outlets.

‘There is a perennial misunderstanding of how the media works by PRs and the general public. Making the transition from journalism to PR, I realised how much I take my experience for granted.’

Helen shares what she has learnt from commissioning editors, journalists and producers, as well as her own knowledge, on how PRs can make meaningful and successful connections.

What were your reasons for wanting to start the podcast?
First the altruistic reason – I wanted to bring an understanding of the media to PRs who pitch to the press and people who want to promote their business or their profile in the media. There is a perennial misunderstanding of how the media works by PRs and the general public. Making the transition from journalism to PR, I realised how much I take my experience for granted. I ran some courses for PRs on pitching to the media and gave talks to entrepreneurs about how to get their business in the media. It quickly became clear how little of PR training covers how a newsroom works.

Now the selfish reason: Even after a 15-year career as an author and journalist, I still find the planning process at many publications or programmes an enigma. I’ve worked across all forms of media, but I have no idea when long-lead printed magazines plan their stories, how commissioning timetables have changed for digital-only publications or how trade publications work.

My podcast is as much a learning tool for myself in my role as founder of Thought Leadership PR, as it is for my listener base of PRs, entrepreneurs and freelance journalists.

What are some of the most interesting things you have learnt during the podcast so far?
That the commissioning process at different publications is more varied than I thought. Even in the time since I stepped away from journalism (three years), things have changed considerably. I come from the not-so-distant-media past where print and digital teams worked separately, when news journalists and features journalists were different. So, I’ve always thought that you need to pitch a news story to a news desk, and a features story to a features commissioning editor.

One thing I took away from a recent interview with Sophie Gallagher, the lifestyle editor of The Independent, is that her writers are ‘all-rounders’. They may do an interview, but they may also do a news story or write a review of top tech products. Digital has meant that the ‘slots’ and pages of the old print format are not as rigid as they used to be.

How can PRs better understand how journalists work?
PRs know all about KPIs and proudly refer to articles as ‘earned media’ and suggest ‘subject matter experts’ as spokespeople, but actually these aren’t terms the media even use. PR and comms professionals are taught to pitch to the media by more experienced comms and PR professionals. But none of them get the perspective from journalists.

How big an affect has digital media had in the way journalists and PRs interact (sourcing/pitching stories)?
It’s made it more difficult for PRs to build a picture of the media landscape. The digital media has become a blurred web of online magazines, blogs, advice sites, podcasts, and even branded journalism platforms or influencer YouTube channels. It is impossible to keep track of the main platforms; how reputable they are or whether they follow any patterns. Pre-digital age, PRs knew that The Daily Mail had a lifestyle section on a Thursday called Femail or that BBC Business uses topical commentators (etc., etc.). The list was long, but at least it was exhaustive. Now there is a plethora of low-tier blog-come-magazine websites, the sorts of places that publish clickbait, and it is these titles that welcome contributor-authored articles and are more receptive to PRs pitching editorially questionable content. They are part op-ed, part promotion.

Even some traditional top-tier publications have contributor programmes where non-journalists write things, and daily newspapers have ever more sponsored content. Whether this is good or bad is a separate debate, but what this means is that for PRs and the general public it’s more unclear what is media-worthy.

Having worked for newspapers, magazines and broadcast, which would you say is the most challenging to pitch to and why?
Newspapers, because they move so quick and your pitch has to be pegged to something in the news. You have to pitch before the morning planning meeting. In the print days this used to be the 11am conference, but what I’ve learned from my podcast guests is that in the digital era, news editors meet at 8am to discuss what stories they’ll follow up that day. As a PR, if you’re pitching a comment piece on behalf of a client that’s related to a story in the news today, you’ll have to pitch it before 8am.

Counter-intuitively, pitching to the broadcast media is easiest because they’re the most receptive. Usually they’ll have a planning desk – a team dedicated to booking guests and planning stories a day ahead, so they are not as affected by the deadlines of that day’s programme.

What would you say are the most common ‘pitching hates’ acknowledged by journalists and how can PRs avoid these?
Not studying the publication. Not watching programme. Not knowing the audience.

From your own experience, can you give an example of a really good pitch/a PR doing their research before getting in touch with you?
When I was freelance, I used to write for Metro’s ‘Trends’ section, which came out on a Thursday. Trends covered dating, fitness and wellness. Typical formats of the stories I wrote as a freelancer would be either me trying out a new fitness class or novelty dating event or an opinionated funny op-ed on a new trend.

The good pitches recognized the format, not the topic. So they may say: “Would you be interested in trying out X for one of your first-person pieces, a little like the one you covered last week on X.”
The bad ones look at the topic and not the format. So they might write: “Since you write about fitness, would you be interested in featuring X yoga pants for your page.” But that part of the paper didn’t do ‘reviews’. They should have studied the paper and pitched to a totally different team, who look after a totally different page, which runs on a totally different day.

Listen to The Media Insider Podcast here, follow Helen on Twitter @helen_croydon and find out more about Thought Leadership PR on the website.

3 comms resources to track when working remotely

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Working from home is creating issues for comms teams, but there are three simple tips that can help your team work more effectively, wherever they are.

Confusion is caused by multiple versions of shared spreadsheets and long email chains. Not only are these hard to keep track of, they can also be a data security risk, and it is easy to lose contacts and opportunities.

You need to be able to manage your team’s workload effectively, so you can focus on the strategic work that drives your communications.

Three things that every comms team should keep track of:

1. Lines to take
Keep your communications consistent by approving lines to take on a topic/issue and making these accessible to the whole team, remote working or otherwise.

2. Interactions with journalists
When did you last speak with them? What about? Are they interested and engaged? Track interactions with journalists and other stakeholders to manage relationships effectively. Doing this in a centralised place makes it easy for the team to avoid doubling up or calling someone who doesn’t want to hear from you.

3. Inbound media and stakeholder enquiries
Knowing what enquiries are coming in to your comms teams can help with managing the workload as well as spotting if there are any trends in what is being asked to enable you to respond more efficiently.

Vuelio provides a customisable CRM for hundreds of remote PR and communications teams, which allows them to share pitch notes and lines to take, and securely tracks all their interactions in one place.

This ensures business continuity, consistency and visibility for effective collaboration.

Find out more about Vuelio Stakeholder Management.

WIPR Sarah Samee, Laurian Hubbard, Bibi Hilton and Rachel Moss

Women in PR and PRWeek mentoring scheme goes digital in response to COVID-19

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The Women in PR and PRWeek Mentoring Programme, now in its seventh year, opened for applications on Monday 11 May as a completely digital scheme.

With 25 mentee spaces (five earmarked for Women in PR Cymru applicants and the rest for those across the UK) and 12 additional mentors (including five male leaders) from the PR and communications industry, the programme will work to actively, and accessibly, support women with their leadership aspirations.

The Mentoring Programme will last for 12 months starting from August 2020 and will comprise of three full mentoring sessions via video link or phone plus additional discretionary support where needed. Criteria for this year’s entry includes clear career objectives, demonstrable industry engagement and leadership potential. The deadline for applications is 12 June 2020, and the questionnaire can be found on the Women in PR website.

‘The need for career guidance, support and advice has never been more important than it is today, which is why we have increased the size and scope of our flagship mentoring programme, so we can help even more ambitious women,’ said Women in PR Vice President Sarah Samee, who was a 2015 mentee and is now a mentor for 2020.

‘The current adversity and changes to the way we live and work has presented us with the opportunity to innovate the programme. The new digital format not only safeguards the wellbeing of participants, but also increases accessibility and removes any perceived regional barriers. In this respect, we hope to welcome a larger and even more diverse group of mentees than ever before.’

Find more about the scheme on the Women in PR website here.

Clare Wall

10 Things I Miss About the Office

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This is a guest post from Clare Wall, co-founder and director of Firework PR.

When we set up Firework PR, we wanted to break the traditional agency model and focus on building a consultancy that offered highly experienced, senior-level teams, wherever they were in the country. As such, our consultants have always had the option of working from home or the office.

This approach has served us and our clients well over the years, however, though we are set up to work remotely, we always choose to spend at least a couple of days a week together in the office in Cheshire.

So, when lockdown kicked in, we were well positioned to instantly adapt to working from home. However, what soon became apparent was that, actually, we all miss the office! Don’t get me wrong, there are many positives to home working – unlimited supply of biscuits and snacks, spending the day in your comfies, no sitting in traffic jams and of course, morning sessions with Joe Wicks. However, there are plenty of things we really miss about being in the office…

1) Separating work and home life
As a business owner, this is a challenge even when there isn’t a lockdown. But when your dining table becomes your desk, it can become difficult to switch off.

2) Having real humans to bounce ideas off
This is especially important in our industry, where some of the best ideas have stemmed from an unplanned brainstorm over tea and cake.

While we have digital ways of communicating, such as Zoom and MS Teams, sharing views on work face-to-face brings more value than we realise. Being able to spontaneously chat through a client email or a journalist request as it lands in your inbox is so helpful, and not something we’re likely to do if it means arranging a team video call.

3) Seeing familiar, friendly faces
We all love our families, however, there’s a lot to be said for time spent with friends and colleagues. Getting a fresh perspective on life, both personal and professional, can be incredibly therapeutic.

4) Tea rounds
We all know how wonderful it sounds to hear ‘would anyone like a brew?’. When you’re working from home, it’s often down to you alone to serve up the tea or coffee, which can sometimes take the shine off it altogether.

5) Mindless chatter
In between the important reputational work we do for clients, it’s always nice to have a bit of a chat and gossip, from what everyone is currently watching on Netflix to dissecting the lives of celebrities.

6) Coffee!
The barista kind just cannot be beaten.

7) Food talk
From what we had for dinner last night to the latest diet fad; sharing ideas and recommendations on food and drink is one of our favourite office conversations.

8) Ranting!
There is nothing quite like a good old rant, especially amongst colleagues. It lets us blow off steam before we head home.

9) The office energy
We all bring something unique to the office table and being able to share in that energy brings a level of positivity and optimism to work, and to life.

10) Eclectic playlists
We all have different tastes in music – at the minute, I’m the resident DJ each day of the week but I miss colleagues taking the reins and introducing me to other artists and songs I might otherwise have missed or to inspire a bit of a nostalgia.

What do you miss about the office? Let us know on Twitter @Vuelio.

Firework PR is an independent PR agency in Knutsford, Cheshire. It specialises in B2B PR, tech PR and intelligent communications. Follow them on Twitter @fireworkpr.

Zanna Van Dijk

Fitness Blogger Spotlight: Zanna Van Dijk

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Entrepreneur, business owner, personal trainer, and ‘blogger with a purpose’ Zanna Van Dijk is here to help positive change through personal and worldwide wellbeing. Sustainability, travel and lifestyle are some of Zanna’s usual blogging topics but right now, keeping her readers fit and well is the focus.

Whether you’re itching to get back out to the track to restart your training or you’re yet to start a regular fitness routine, read on for Zanna’s tips for keeping fit from your living room as well as what powers her motivation.

What keeps you enthusiastic about the fitness blogging sphere?
The feeling that I am helping people move their bodies in a positive way. I receive such lovely feedback about my fitness content and it warms my heart seeing people do my workouts every single day. It gives me a boost of motivation to continue!

What’s your favourite thing to post about and why?
I love to post a mix of content – of course, workouts and healthy meal inspiration, but also topics such as conscious living, sustainable swaps and responsible travel. I find covering diverse topics which interest me allows me to stay excited about what I am producing.

How have you had to change your approach and content now that people are self-isolating?
Of course, travel and London living is off the cards. I have shifted my focus to home workout content, as that is what my audience is crying out for right now and I am happy to provide it.

What exercises would you recommend people with a high-level of fitness swap in to their routine if they can’t get out to run/swim/cycle?
Try a HIIT workout – I have a tonne of high intensity workouts on my YouTube channel, which you can follow along with at home! If you have lots of energy, these are a great way to release it!

What routines are worth trying for those with a low level of fitness who want to start to improve it from home?
I would say to try the short IGTV real time workouts I share on my Instagram. These are all beginner friendly and are a maximum of 15 minutes, so you can do one or group a few together.

What household items are great for incorporating into a workout?
Fill a backpack with books and pop it on for squats, lunges and step ups! It is a great way to add extra load to your leg workouts.

With Mr Motivator making a comeback recently, who are some of your workout heroes from the past?
Mr Motivator himself! I met him a couple of times through my BBC podcast and interviewed him live in Manchester – what a legend he is. He is packed with positive energy!

How do you collaborate with brands, and which kind of brands do you really like working with?
I work with brands through my agent and always aim to establish long term partnerships that are well aligned with my ethos. I love to work with brands that have the same values as me – positive movement, plant-based eating, conscious living and responsible travel.

For PRs looking to work with you and your blog/website, how would you prefer they approach you and with what kind of content?
I would prefer them to approach me via email and to loop in my agent.

What other blogs are you checking out regularly during lockdown?
Right now, I am loving The Anna Edit. Her content is consistently high quality and reflects her fun personality.

Laura Bamford

The importance of building an authentic brand in the pandemic

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This is a guest post from Laura Bamford, PR Manager at Motive PR.

It’s always important for brands to be perceived as authentic, but even more so now than ever. We’re living in unprecedented times, and all eyes are on organisations to see how they react and respond to the global pandemic.

Consumer spending habits have changed and will continue to evolve until we begin to return to some semblance of normal, whatever that will look like. But one thing that has remained constant is customers’ expectations to deal with brands that have integrity.

Offering quality and good value products and services just isn’t enough, as customers expect legitimacy from companies big and small. So, if you haven’t already, now’s the time to take a long, hard look at your brand’s values and virtues, and make sure that all you do is aligned with them.

Years ago, businesses seemed to be willing to do almost anything it took to make a sale. Since then, many people – and millennials in particular – have developed a deep distrust of traditional advertising and assumed brand loyalty just doesn’t cut the mustard. Now, it’s transparent and genuine messages that resonate more powerfully with people, particularly in times of crisis.

1. Be ‘human’
Building an authentic but effective brand strategy that works in and responds to a global pandemic isn’t as difficult as it sounds. Ultimately, it comes down to demonstrating your company’s ‘human’ side and being consistent. You need to do this through all communication channels, whether it be customer service emails, content and outreach activity, or social media posts. Sending mixed messages will only lead to mistrust as it’s harder to tell which version of your brand is the real one.

2. Back it up
You also need to be able to back up your claims with honest actions. There’s no use in talking the talk if you can’t walk the walk. Deliver on your promises and communicate the process, but sensitively. Amid the current landscape, there’s another layer of considerations to bear in mind as companies shouldn’t be seen to be benefiting or leveraging from the crisis in any way.

3. Be honest
As the old saying goes, honesty is always the best policy. Being honest and truthful in everything you do shows your customers that their respect is of paramount importance to you, but don’t be afraid to admit if/when you miss the mark.

4. Be patient
Building an authentic brand is a marathon, not a sprint, and something you and your employees should be working at every day. But while the world has been thrown into chaos and uncertainty lies at every corner, there’s never been a better time to start or really focus on the process.

Marc-Andre Runcie-Unger

Pet Blogger Spotlight: Marc-Andre Runcie-Unger, Katzenworld

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Digging through all the new developments in the pet world for all you cool cats and kittens are Marc-Andre and Iain Runcie-Unger of popular pet blog Katzenworld. If your moggy has been moping while you’re locked down together, read on for tips to keep them content and back to making biscuits, and what it is about the pet blogging community that keeps Marc-Andre feeling all things feline.

What keeps you enthusiastic about the pet blogging sphere?
All the changes and new developments that come about in the pet world are simply amazing. And if it wasn’t for us pet bloggers reporting on them and analysing them for the larger public, who else would be able to dig through them all?

What’s your favourite thing to post about and why?
Trends in new connected technology for pets, due to the improvements they offer for both humans and pet companions alike.

How have you had to change your approach and content now that people are self-isolating with their pets?
There are a lot more tips and advice posts around how to deal with the things you need to do as a pet guardian during lockdown. What if your pet is poorly and you’d normally rush to the vet immediately? When should you go, and how else can you get advice?

What would be your top pieces of advice for keeping pets entertained/not freaked out by how much more time they get to spend with their humans right now?
Make sure they have a safe location in your house. A cosy hiding space or pet bed, for example, that allows them to retreat and spend time on their own!

What is the weirdest thing your pets have done?
One of our cats snuck over to the neighbour to steal food from their lunch.

What’s your take on exotic pets, and how can people be dissuaded from buying animals that aren’t suited to living so closely with people?
While people are often attracted by unusual exotic pets, I would always advise doing your research first! Many exotic pets or even exotic breeds of cats are not suited to living like your regular moggy.

Which animal charities should people be supporting?
International Cat Care, as they provide a wealth of advice to cat owners, vets and fellow charities while also actively supporting global welfare efforts in the cat world.

How do you collaborate with brands, and which kind of brands do you really like working with?
It really depends on each brand but I always try to make it a fun two-way communication. I like working with brands that see you as a long-term partner and not just the blog of this week’s collaboration.

For PRs looking to work with you and your blog/website, how would you prefer they approach you and with what kind of content?
Via email first as we are all often busy during the day with our daytime jobs. Make sure all content is cat focused! While other pets can of course take part we really do not like mass emails that focus on other animals with hardly any reference to cats.

What other blogs are you checking out regularly during lockdown?
Bionic Basil and Louiscatorze.com (also known as ‘the sun king’).

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How to pitch to health journalists

How to pitch to health journalists

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Statistics on the spread of coronavirus, updates on advances in treatment, instructions on lockdown mental wellbeing and self-isolation safety – health journalists across the media are under increasing pressure to report accurate data and keep their readers informed on staying safe. Now more than ever, PRs can play a part in making this work easier.

The following mix of outlet-specific advice, general dos and don’ts, and lockdown-related changes to ways of working come from health and wellbeing journalists across national press, consumer magazines, online titles and trade – read on for how you can help them get useful information out to the public during the current crisis.

1. Be a help to health journalists who are working through these hard times

‘Contact me by email, setting out clearly whether the story is being offered exclusively or on an “all round” embargoed basis.

‘Please remember that we are in the middle of a pandemic and that any health stories not relating to coronavirus have to be of very high news value to have any chance at all of being covered.

‘Due to childcare duties, I’m working very irregular hours, often late at night, so notification of potentially stories, ideally 24 hours in advance of intended publication, is very helpful.

‘I’m grateful for all suggestions, especially London exclusives, so please keep making them – don’t be disheartened by a refusal (or failure to respond). Your next story idea may be a winner.’

Ross Lydall, health editor and City Hall editor at the London Evening Standard

2. Be mindful of how a journalist’s routine may have changed during lockdown

‘It’s business as usual for me, but if there’s samples, they can go to home addresses.’

Lucy Gornall, editor of Feel Good You, health & fitness editor of TI Media’s Life & Style Portfolio including Women’s Weeklies and Woman & Home

3. Get the right content to the right journalist in the right format

‘Now more than ever, health content needs to come from a credible, evidence-based source (it is not the time to send CBD or turmeric press releases, or sales-led content).

‘For Healthcare Newsdesk, which targets healthcare professionals, we still ask for contact via email. However, for our other news sites, to reduce the exceptionally high volume of email we are receiving, we are asking PRs and individual content creators to submit content via our news submission system. You can find the submission links for all our news sites in one place.

‘If PRs are able to also upload a landscape image to accompany the piece, that really helps us publish more quickly.’

Lisa Baker, editor across Wellbeing News, Healthcare Newsdesk and more

4. No reply on the first try? Trust that the journalist will write about it if it’s relevant

‘Look at my website before sending something – it’s a health website, particularly healthy lifestyle. It’s not medical, so I don’t want loads of stuff about vaccines and medication and I don’t promote products for the sake of it. If it’s something relevant (say a new Vitamin C product) and I’ve tried it, I will most likely write about it.

‘Email is best and if you don’t get a reply twice, forget it.’

Frances Ive, editor at HealthySoul.co.uk

5. Don’t be a gatekeeper when introducing contacts and spokespeople

‘I’d prefer to hear direct from the business owner, even if the PR links to a short video from them. I also prefer a more conversational and less formal approach.

‘If I get sent a generic “Hi, this is info on XXX”, I delete within three seconds of opening. And please don’t send attached images, especially if large files!

‘I get upward of 30 pitches each day from PRs wanting free editorial space in our magazine. The approach is bland, and the same as I’d imagine has been used for decades – it no longer works.

‘I fully understand the PR necessity – but PRs need to think of a new way of working with publishers and the business owners in closer proximity and not try to be the gatekeepers.’

Susan Hay, CEO and founder of Thrive Magazine and Media

6. Monthly consumer titles won’t want fast news – ensure what you’re pitching fits with the outlet’s deadlines

‘When I looked after health, I hated getting news-related emails. I still get a glut of lockdown/virus-related info, but Prima is a monthly mag so we’re looking forward to July/August now.’

Karen Swayne, features editor at Prima

7. Health bloggers require a different approach to journalists

‘I don’t find it particularly helpful when press releases are written as if they’re company newsletters. For instance, the press release contains first person pronouns. A press release should be written from a third-party point of view.

‘I also prefer a press release to be sent as it is; I don’t need to read long and boring introductions. An excellent press release is one that is direct to the point, with hi-res image, and has been proofread.’

Dennis Relojo-Howell, founder of Psychreg

Help busy health journalists keep their readers informed with relevant studies, spokespeople and information via the Vuelio Media Database.

Remote management

Leading different types of people while working remotely

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This is a guest post from Richard Middleton, leadership consultant at Middleton Consultancy Ltd and senior consultant with Engaging Business.

As a leader you may be feeling pressure right now to balance maintaining performance, creating a flexible and supportive environment, and managing your own energy levels. In addition to the fact that this may be the first time your team has had to work apart for an extended period.

Easy? Probably not. Especially if your world now includes the added challenges of relentlessly checking for the next available Click & Collect slot, answering your children’s questions arising from your home schooling sessions or working out how to use an endless range of video conferencing apps with family and friends.

Through my company and work with Engaging Business, I coach leaders of all levels across the private and non-profit sectors and am privileged to get an insight into their challenges and successful strategies in tackling them. There are three key areas I see consistently delivering results that should help you now and in the future.

1) Build your self-awareness
Higher levels of emotional intelligence are fundamental to being a better leader. Understanding both you and your teams’ personality preferences will help you to tailor how to work with them most effectively. Take a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment – available free through Engaging Works. It’s based on the work of Swiss Psychiatrist Carl Jung and is a great way to get started. Initially consider whether you’re more ‘extroverted’ (energised by talking things through, working in groups, getting stuck into activity) or ‘introverted’ (energised by thinking things through, working more on your own, reflecting for longer prior to taking action). Don’t confuse these words with social confidence as the meaning here is different.

People often lead as they like to be led – especially if they’re experiencing stress. Right now, if you’re an extrovert, that may mean you’d like longer or more frequent video calls, a lot of discussion and speed to pin down actions. What will this be like for an introvert? Likely, not great. Send information in advance, use the chat function alongside video to allow more reflective people to post, take more quick breaks or just stop the conversation for a minute. If you’re more introverted, you might not have considered how extroverts may miss the banter and chat of the workplace. Recreate some of this with an online team lunch, encourage working ‘alongside’ each other on a video call or post-work drinks if that works for your team. Ask your team what they need.

2) Seek input and agree clear outcomes
It can be very easy to slip into micro-managing when you can’t ‘see’ your team getting stuck into their workload. Working near them may have given you a better sense of where they were at which can leave you feeling in the dark now. Uncomfortable as it may feel, it’s the outcome you need to focus on rather than how it’s achieved.

Use open questions to understand your team member’s views and tap into their experience, agree key milestones to check in and give them time to describe the result they’re picturing as well as sharing your view. What will this work actually look like when it’s done? Keep discussing until you can both describe the same outcome in detail. Give them the space to work out how to achieve it, remind them you’re available to help and resist the urge to keep checking in outside agreed updates.

3) Invest in reflective practice
Don’t underestimate the power of taking time to review how things are going. Reflection doesn’t have to usurp hours out of your already stretched diary – even taking ten minutes daily while you’re having a coffee can lead to useful observations.

Ask yourself what’s working well and what could be better? What could this mean for when things change again with some form of return to the workplace? Encourage your team to do the same. Don’t assume the team will or should work in the same way – capture their views on a survey such as the Working from Home Survey from Engaging Business if this is available in your organisation.

Overall, learn from this period of time. While it may be challenging, it’s also a fantastic opportunity to expand your skills as a leader.

Gemma Seager

Fitness Blogger Spotlight with Gemma Seager, Lipstick, Lettuce & Lycra

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‘Explosive moves don’t necessarily need a lot of space, just a sturdy floor!’ – here to help with keeping fitness levels up (or raising them higher than ‘nothing’ – your mileage may vary), is fitness blogger Gemma Seager of Lipstick, Lettuce & Lycra.

While Gemma’s blog launched in very different times back in 2008, looking after yourself never goes out of fashion and is more important than ever here in 2020. Read on for insight on self-care, making use of your sofa for workouts, and keeping on top of your mental and physical health when the going gets tough.

What keeps you enthusiastic about the fitness blogging sphere?
The fitness blogging sphere is so varied and I find it fascinating how many different angles people can take on one topic. But what really keeps me enthusiastic is feedback. When I get a message from someone saying I’ve helped or inspired them to do something they’d never considered before, or made them realise that you don’t have to be a stereotypical ‘fitness’ person to be more active, that really makes me happy.

What’s your favourite thing to post about and why?
This sounds awful but my favourite thing to post about is me! I like to post from my own experience, so I write about products I love, workouts I’ve tried, and things that have helped me along the way. I can’t write about something I haven’t experienced and I think that the thing blogs offer that magazines and other outlets can’t is that personal connection with the author.

How have you had to change your approach and content now that people are self-isolating?
I haven’t really. Because I always write about my own experience and I’m having the same lived experience as many of my readers I’m just writing about how I’m dealing with the situation. Obviously, some of my planned content has changed. There are races I was signed up to that aren’t going ahead so I won’t be reviewing those now! Largely, I’m focusing on the idea of self-care and that exercise should be there to support your physical and mental health, not as some kind of punishment.

Gemma Seager 2

What exercises would you recommend people with a high-level of fitness swap in to their routine if they can’t get out to run/swim/cycle?
At home HIIT workouts are everywhere at the moment, so if someone already has a high level of fitness, they are a great thing to take on if you want to do a high-intensity workout. Explosive moves don’t necessarily need a lot of space, just a sturdy floor! I would caution that even if you have a high level of physical fitness it’s important to take care of your mental health, too. A lot of people who spent a lot of time at the gym are finding that their motivation to workout at home is low or non-existent. It’s important not to beat yourself up about it, and maybe schedule just short workout breaks into your day.

What routines are worth trying for those with a low level of fitness who want to start to improve it from home?
Bodyweight strength workouts are ideal for those that want to get started. If you’re starting from the beginning, then you really don’t need to be adding weights early on. I have a few 15-minute bodyweight sessions on my blog, but there are tons of others out there. Look for progressions and regressions, such as starting push ups on your knees before moving to full push ups and focus on keeping your core solid with any exercise.

What household items are great for incorporating into a workout?
If you want to add weight then using tins of beans and water bottles as light weights really works. Personally, I think a sofa or chair is one of the best household workout accessories! You can do tricep dips, elevated pushups or use them as a support for single leg squats. You can also use a pair of tights as an impromptu resistance band for some exercises!

Gemma Seager 3

With Mr Motivator making a comeback recently, who are some of your workout heroes from the past?
When I was little, my Mum had a Lizzie Webb aerobics video. She was the TV-AM workout guru in the 80s. I was also a huge fan of the Callan Pickney Callanetics workout in the early 90s; I think it’s where my obsession with core stability has come from.

How do you collaborate with brands, and which kind of brands do you really like working with?
I’m always open to suggestions for different ways to work with brands. I love working with smaller innovative brands, but I also love the opportunity when bigger brands have a budget to really support some creative content.

I prefer to create content that shows how brands can add to your life and support your wellbeing and activity, rather than just straight product reviews. I worked with our local council to promote a borrow a bike scheme, and that was really fun because I could show how I learned to get more confident on the bike and how it changed my everyday life. I’ve also worked on some great campaigns with footwear and vitamin brands to create content about staying active and supporting your health that included the brand’s aims as part of a wider health and activity message.

For PRs looking to work with you and your blog/website, how would you prefer they approach you and with what kind of content?
I’m always open to emails, I find them easier to keep up with and track than contact on social media. I don’t use Twitter much, so I’m likely to miss anything there, but an Instagram message is fine, too! I’m always open to products to review, and I often post a monthly round-up of things I’ve tried and loved, which has better reach than a single product post. I love it when brands are really clear about their message, budget and what sort of content they are looking for when they approach me so that there’s no confusion!

What other blogs are you checking out regularly during lockdown?
I’m spending a lot of time on Instagram during lockdown as I find it’s a lot more positive than Facebook and I’m trying to stay upbeat! I read a lot of the blogs on the Fitness Blogger Top 10, especially The Tales of Annie Bean and Fat Girls’ Guide to Running. I also like to read Cakes Vs Scales and Girls Gone Strong.

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PRCA

Loans, furloughing, pay cuts and redundancies – the latest data from the PRCA

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‘We need to be honest with ourselves – the industry will end 2020 smaller than it began it,’ is how PRCA director general Francis Ingham sums up results from the industry body’s Pulse survey examining how PR is adapting financially to the current crisis. While the data makes for sobering reading, there are strong signs of readiness for the period of recovery that will follow these times of furlough, pay cuts and redundancies.

The survey of 62 industry professionals found that:

– 15% of respondents have applied for business interruption loans, with a further 10% planning to do so
– 60% have furloughed staff
– 50% have implemented pay cuts for staff, and a further 10% expect to do so
– Almost two-thirds of staff pay cuts have been in the 10-25% bracket
– 60% have been financially impacted
– 50% expect to have to make redundancies

‘Given these numbers, the low take-up of business interruption loans shows that there is something wrong with the current system. If the loan model cannot be made to work, then the Government should give serious and urgent consideration to a grants model instead,’ says Ingham of the findings.

‘At a time when business leaders are making painful decisions for their colleagues, it is good to see that they are sharing the financial burden personally.

‘The inherent strength and flexibility of PR means that we should nevertheless be confident about the future, and confident about the strength of the recovery that lies ahead.’

Full data from the PRCA survey with The Pulse Business can be found here. Find resources for working during the COVID-19 crisis by downloading Navigating uncertainty – the Vuelio toolkit for communicators.

Steph and the Spaniels

Pet Blogger Spotlight: Stephanie Walton, Steph and the Spaniels

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Meet Steph, Sev and Lily – the posting partnership blogging about pets, style and adventure at Steph and the Spaniels, one of our top 10 UK pet blogs.

Steph has had to change her focus while staying indoors with the spaniels – read on for how they’re coping with the lack of dog-friendly travel and adventures, and how you can keep your own pets calm and comfy at home.

What keeps you enthusiastic about the pet blogging sphere?
Sev and Lily are no doubt the reason why I love sharing our life and adventures, showcasing our little life together. I’ve blogged for such a long long time now, I couldn’t really imagine not doing it – it’s my online diary and I love looking back at our adventures.

What’s your favourite thing to post about and why?
I love travel and adventure posts, because that’s such a passion, being able to travel with your pets (though, obviously, not during the current lockdown). Never leaving the dogs behind is something we want to share with our readers.

Spaniel and camp fire

How have you had to change your approach and content now that people are self-isolating with their pets?
Lots of Instagram accounts can have a persona that doesn’t seem like real life, with stunning imagery and locations and although I love creating those things, at this time it’s important to show homely inside shots and reach out knowing we’re all in this together. As well as that, we’ve started TikTok – I’m very, very new to it but loving the pet content on there so far!

What would be your top pieces of advice for keeping pets entertained/not freaked out by how much more time they get to spend with their humans right now?
This is really important and something to think about. Both of my dogs suffer from slight separation anxiety, so although it’s nice we can be together, after this it may be harder to leave them.

If you’re working from home, it’s a great idea to have them in separate rooms when possible and let them get used to this.

I also love interactive toys and lots of chews and games. Devil Door Direct is our number one go-to store for lots of fun activities and treats to help with boredom.

Spaniel in lockdown

Which animal charities should people be supporting?
I don’t think there’s a right and wrong to this answer – just support any that mean something to you and you’re close to. For us, we love Dogs Trust as my family dog was rescued from one of their centres, and we’ve worked with them on the blog. I think making sure you have enough information about the charity and wanting to help is great!

How do you collaborate with brands, and which kind of brands do you really like working with?
I do all sorts of collaborations with brands, from photo shoots and reviews to product placements, but I love being creative and working on a full campaign that I can really get into. Showcasing my work, my photography and my blogging in the best way, without too many limits.

I work a lot with travel brands, but also a variety of dog businesses and human brands so we can bring me and the dogs together in a collaboration that works for them too. I’m really open to what we can do and work on. If it’s fun and creative, I love it!

For PRs looking to work with you and your blog/website, how would you prefer they approach you and with what kind of content?
My email is always the best way – there are links to this on Instagram and my blog, and I’m always checking and replying. As above, I love being able to be creative – giving me an idea and concept to roll with gets me more excited than just placing a product in a photo (for example!)

What other blogs are you checking out regularly during lockdown?
I love Honey, I Dressed the Pug, so much. I’ve noticed blogs are getting more and more popular and I see links popping up through the dog-friendly Instagram community more. I always like to swipe up or follow their links to have a little look at the posts through the day.

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Parenting while WFH

How do you balance parenting with WFH? Part 2

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We’ve been speaking to PR parents who are balancing home life with work from home life. In this second part, you can pick up advice and reassurance from peers managing focus, sharing and ‘remote babysitting’. This is part two – read part one here.

7) Changing up your workspace

‘I’m juggling responsibilities to my clients with looking after Joe, my 17-month-old son. My partner Robbie is on furlough and is doing a great job keeping our son entertained but it hasn’t stopped him being disruptive. Joe’s run naked into my ‘home office’ (a squeezed corner of the sitting room) during Zoom calls with clients, has climbed onto my desk shutting down my MacBook, and is generally causing havoc every single day. When Joe naps late morning it’s great and I can be productive for up to two hours. But I have resorted to sitting in the car to do quiet work when things have gotten too much…’

Grainne Byrne, account director at Represent Comms

 

8) Giving more consideration to the split of parental responsibilities

‘I thought working from home would make it easy for me and my partner to balance parenting roles and responsibilities and give me more opportunity to be there for the special moments I always missed when I was at work. But in fact, it has illuminated a startling disparity between workloads and pressures.

‘While I try and do as much as possible, and share in our baby’s formative months and experiences, balancing my job and home ‘work’ is proving difficult. It’s swings and roundabouts though; at least I’m not commuting for three hours a day and that’s time I can now spend with my daughter – and I’m always home for her bedtime routine!’

Dan Plume, head of content at Branch Road

‘My wife and I decided to equally split caring for our son and working. In the mornings, I get up with my son, prepare breakfast and get ready for the day. Often, we go for walks or do grocery shopping. Once he naps after lunch, I start my working day. It’s working well for us.

‘As I work as part of an international team, the time difference partly makes up for the first hours of the day where I’m unable to work. I have communicated my working hours to both our clients and my colleagues and everyone fully understands the situation.’

Jan Christoph Bohnerth, strategic director at Life Size

 

9) Being upfront with your team (and yourself) about what you can accomplish

‘I’ll be honest, I went into full on panic mode as soon as I heard we were in lockdown. Luckily, after a few phone calls to my always-supportive MD and CEO, I had a bit of a breakthrough. They managed to reassure me that they understood if my work output wasn’t up to scratch during the lockdown period, and that I’d be able to rely on members of the wider PR team should I need any additional help in picking up some of my everyday tasks. Despite the stresses that have accompanied the past month, we’ve been really lucky.’

Lauren Wilden (@growingoutandup), head of PR at 10 Yetis Digital

 

10) Remote babysitting

‘With a separate office in the house and pre-school age children, I’m lucky I’m not perching a laptop on the kitchen table or trying to educate kids too – it’s much, much harder for those who are.

‘While it’s unusual having my husband and both kids permanently here too, the ability to work shifts and share care means we’re managing well. Screen time rules have gone out of the window, but we’re thankful for the baby’s decent naps and my parents and in-laws ‘babysitting’ via Zoom for an hour a day with the eldest.’

Claire Foss, owner of Waterfall PR

 

11) Staying focused on what really matters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘After a couple of days of feeling overwhelmed and bad at this parenting lark, we’ve decided to pick and choose what we focus on, both for the kids’ sakes and for ours, so that they can keep learning but also enjoy the fresh air and sunshine we so fortuitously have right now.

‘Do we feel guilty that they are not learning? Do we feel failures that they are more interested in teen-orientated American “comedy” shows and their tablet computers? Do we get exasperated at the latest meltdown for all our neighbours to hear when they’re in the garden? Yes, to all the above. But as my wife said, we’re keeping them safe, and right now, that’s all that really matters.’

David Alexander, managing director at Calacus

‘The hardest part has been shifting my mindset; understanding that some days I’ll need to be Mum more than PR lead, and others the opposite. And that’s okay. So many of us are in the same boat. And if you’re communicating openly with your teams and your clients, setting expectations, and continuing to do a great job, that’s what matters.’

Rebecca Mulgrave, head of PR at Branch Road

‘Balancing being a parent and WFH does come with its challenges, but I think looking at the experience as a positive is the key to it not becoming overwhelming.

‘I break probably once an hour, even for just five minutes, to play with my son – it can be the ultimate tool for reducing any stress or frustrations because when you do go back to sitting at your laptop, you’re doing it with a smile on your face! It’s really hard at times, but this is time at home watching our kids grow up – enjoy it.’

Mark McMeekin, digital PR consultant at AGY47

 

12) Go easy on yourself

‘I think that one thing is not to think that you have to be a home-schooling guru as that will only add pressure to what is already a testing time. Our school is now using Google Classroom and we have a full day of on and offline work for the children to do – what I would say is to remember that you can be seen and heard by those on a school call so get dressed!

‘It’s important that you do not go on social media and get caught up in the whole home-schooling competition. Yes, someone might be creating amazing art and teaching their kids Japanese as an extra, but don’t believe the hype! The main thing is that you are all happy and healthy and as long as they are doing their best, reading each day, not living on their screens and getting some fresh air and exercise, then that is great!’

Natalie Trice, PR consultant, coach, and trainer

Want more resources for working during the COVID-19 outbreak? Download Navigating uncertainty – the Vuelio toolkit for communicators.

Parenting while WFH

How do you balance parenting with WFH? Part 1

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Are you struggling to keep up with work while keeping children fed, watered and entertained during lockdown? You’re not alone. A recent Marketing Week and Econsultancy survey of 1,990 of our cousins in marketing across the globe has found that almost half of those with children (46.6%) feel they are working less efficiently than normal.

While 86.7% of those without children can work in a quiet space for at least five hours a day, just 59.1% of those with children under 16 are able to, with 60.4% saying their home situation has interrupted work-related calls.

Concerns about job security are also higher in those with children at home, as well as feelings of ‘deep stress’, but it’s not all bad – parents working from home also had higher levels of focus and being productive.

If the balance of parenting while working from home is something you’re struggling with, take some advice (or simple reassurance) from peers also struggling, and succeeding, through sometimes stressful home working situations…

This is part one, read part two here. 

1) Breaks, baths and Joe Wicks

‘We’re attempting to stick to as strict a routine as possible, starting the day, like everyone else, with Joe Wicks (although what happens if he gets coronavirus? We’re all counting on you, Joe) followed by reading, writing, some jumping on the trampoline and eating a lot of oat cakes and M&Ms. All while attempting to Slack and email, which is surprisingly easy to do, actually. This morning I “listened” to an entire book being read by my son while arranging an interview with a client. MULTI-TASKING.’

Lee Simpson, content and client account manager at Fourth Day

‘This is an alien situation for everyone – don’t expect miracles. Compartmentalise your day. Dedicate an hour to clearing through emails and mapping out a to-do list – ideally done before the kids are up, if possible. Secondly, prioritise communication – establish a daily plan and inform your team; my husband and I split the day in two and take it in turns with childcare, so my team know when I am able to respond to emails or be on client Zoom calls.

And take some time out. Once the kids are in bed, don’t jump back onto your laptop. Take an hour to have a bath, eat a decent dinner, go for a jog or read a book – whatever helps you switch off. Burning the candle at both ends won’t benefit us, our kids or our jobs.’

Chloe MacDonagh, senior account manager at Sellers PR

Leor Franks

‘The key for us with two kids (nine and six) has been a set routine. When everyone in the house knows what they have to be doing and when, competing priorities are easier to manage. The kids value having time off from parents and we value having time to focus fully on work. A simple shared Outlook calendar seems to be doing the trick!’

Leor Franks, chief marketing officer at Augusta Ventures

‘I’m a single mum to my 15-year-old daughter, who was recently been diagnosed with learning differences. I feel completely inadequate to teach, however together we are learning via BBC Bitesize and other online tools and I’m certainly developing my skill in patience.

I have set working hours each day – 8am until 2.30pm (during this time, my darling teenager catches up on her beauty sleep). After a well-deserved cup of tea, I sit down with her and we crack on with schoolwork for a couple of hours. By 5pm, I’m ready for bed!

We’re a team of two who have managed to compromise and find a routine that works for us both. Prior to lockdown I hardly saw my daughter, so I am thoroughly enjoying spending more time with her.’

Jo Lowe, PR director at Spring PR

2) Breaks for everyone, in fact

‘Breaking the day up into chunks helps, you’re never going to sit down and do three straight hours of work, but you can do an hour, then have a break to do something with you child or get them a snack (which they seem to need all day long!) – that helps.

Sit them at the table with you when you’re working and give them colouring, painting or Play-Doh – set them a little challenge, too.’

Sarah Twyman, client services director at Smoking Gun

‘As a single mum of a lively two-year-old, running a PR agency in lockdown has been an eye opener. It took time to find our feet, but now we are further into lockdown, we have a little routine in place with things that seem to work for us both. I aim to limit screen time (although this doesn’t always work!) and replace it with indoor exercise or arts and crafts. We also were introduced the Caribu app for video calls with family and friends while the children can read interactive books or draw pictures on the phone with each other.

I make sure I allow time for a good lunch and down time is key. When Zuri takes her nap, I jump on my Peloton bike – it’s a must for my wellbeing and mental health. And if all else fails, an ice lolly and Paw Patrol is a great way to get through a Zoom meeting with clients!’

Lucy Dartford, managing director of We are Lucy

3) Using what’s online

‘We’re really lucky that a lot of the baby classes my daughter has been used to attending are now available online – TinyTalk baby signing is her particular favourite – so we are able to keep some sort of normality for her too.’

Annie Brafield, account director at Cartwright Communications

‘I won’t lie, it’s hard work. I have a 10-year-old son, who only has a desire to play on his PlayStation and watch Netflix, so we had to set rules early on (we were self-isolating before the schools closed, too). We try and start everyday around 9am with #PEwithJoe, like a lot of the country, and we found a great app early on called IXL to help on the English and Maths he should be learning in year five. Who knew how much English had changed?? I’m head of PR, and write content daily, but sometimes I just don’t have a clue with some of these terms – concrete and abstract nouns, anyone?’

Claire Beaumont, head of PR at Igniyte

‘The Moshi: Sleep and Mindfulness app has been particularly useful over the last few weeks. Goldie’s Five-Minute Brain Break has become my go-to when I need the children to simply calm down. The ‘brain break’ works as a five-minute wind-down technique – a great way to install moments of calm throughout the day for little ones, as well as allowing parents like myself to take a step back and refocus before the chaos inevitably starts again!’

Natalie Linder, PR & digital content manager at Luminous PR

 

4) Using ‘local’ resources

‘I had a little meltdown at the prospect of working from home as a single parent with a very demanding nine-year-old, 15-year-old and autistic 19-year-old. However, my 19-year-old sat down and constructed lesson plans for my nine-year-old and took over the childcare! He’s teaching her about Egyptians as we speak, and I’m at my desk!’

Martina Mercer, freelance PR and editor of Sunday Woman

5) Investing in the right tech

‘I run my agency remotely, so working from home isn’t new to me, but having our littles ones out of nursery and with no in-laws available right now, it is a very different household. The main problems I’m running into are the noise and time it takes to get back to work once I pop out of the third bedroom for a break. To help with these, I’m using my headphones a lot more, which helps stop me getting sucked into tantrums or the boredom elsewhere in the house…’

Darren Kingman, founder of Root Digital

Find more advice (and confessions) from other PRs balancing family with working from home in Part two here.

The Pet Paw Post Blog Featured

Pet Blogger Spotlight: Rachel Spencer, The Paw Post Pet Blog

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Meet Rachel Spencer – the human (and self-confessed ‘Crazy Dog Lady’) behind The Paw Post Pet Blog. As well as trying out new gadgets with her canine co-blogger Patch, Rachel is busy blogging about the good work of charities improving the lives of animals like Street Paws, StreetVet and Canine Hope.

Helping domestic animals to live their best lives is what Rachel really enjoys about blogging – if you’re currently cohabiting with a pet who’s confused about how much more time you’re spending indoors, read on for how to keep their tails wagging.

What keeps you enthusiastic about the pet blogging sphere?
I think it would be seeing the massive joy that our animals bring to our lives. I don’t do a lot on Instagram but I love going on there as my feed is wall-to-wall dogs and the occasional cat or tortoise!

It’s such a nice way to switch off. What I love about blogging is you can go a lot deeper on a subject, whether you’re talking about dog yoga or someone doing something AMAZING to help animals like Janey Lowes, who is a vet working out in Sri Lanka. I’ve been blogging for three years and have been a journalist for 20 and I still get so excited when I have an amazing animal story.

What’s your favourite thing to post about and why?
I love sharing real life stories and people doing incredible things – like Janey, Jade and Sam at StreetVet and the rescues I’ve worked with like Dogs4Rescue in Manchester and Beds for Bullies in Norfolk. I love to create content that inspires and brings out emotion, and I won’t lie, I do get emotional quite a lot when I speak to people. I was in tears during a visit to Dogs4Rescue to talk to its founder, Emma.

Travel pieces are something I really enjoy, too. Our dogs are a huge part of our lives and I love going to new places with Patch to explore. I always look for dog friendly travel pieces myself – it’s great to see the posts rank well on search engines and to get messages from people saying they enjoyed them.

Rachel Spencer

How have you had to change your approach and content now that people are self-isolating with their pets?
I have tried to make it as relevant as possible, which is what I try to do as a general rule anyway. When I had Daisy, I did a lot of posts about senior dogs and the issues owners face. When she passed away, I covered bereavement. When we adopted Patch, aged two, I covered how to train a young dog.

With lockdown, owners are at a loss as to how to support their pets. The first week, I did a massive round-up of resources that are out there, covering everything from diet and nutrition to puppy training and grooming. My blog is for the readers – as I do each post, I try to think about what they need. This week for example, I’m writing about how to keep your dog cool in lockdown as the weather is set to warm up.

I’ve been sharing lots of content from dog behaviourists, groomers and other experts on social media, as well as what Patch is up to.

What would be your top pieces of advice for keeping pets entertained/not freaked out by how much more time they get to spend with their humans right now?
Don’t overwhelm them. I spoke to a trainer the other day who was talking about how our dogs will be feeling at the moment and she explained it would be unsettling. So, while it’s lovely to be at home (I’m at home with Patch anyway, as I work from home) they need space. Yes, enjoy activities with your dog and work on their training and tricks, but make sure they get down time and the sleep they need.

The trainer I spoke to explained separation anxiety and how those who usually go out and work all day should consider going and sitting in their car for some time each day so the dog gets used to being on their own – in fact, I need to do a post on this!

The Pet Paw Post Blog

What are some of the weirdest things you’ve dealt with as a pet owner?
Oh, it has to be the dog Reiki where Daisy did a poo on the woman’s floor. We also did a Pawsonal shopping experience at Pet London where Daisy was basically like a doggy version of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman (the bit when she goes shopping).

How can people be dissuaded from buying animals/exotic pets that aren’t suited to living so closely with people?
I think whatever pet you have, please, please, please do your research first and make sure you have the time and right lifestyle to support them. Charities are over-run with animals who were taken in on a whim and being a pet parent is a huge decision and not to be taken lightly.

Which animal charities should people be supporting?
Now that’s a tricky question – there are so many fantastic charities out there and they all need our help at the moment. What I would say is to choose one that is close to you, that you have an affinity with – for example, you may have adopted your pet from there. Perhaps think of the smaller ones that are struggling, also.

How do you collaborate with brands, and which kind of brands do you really like working with?
I work with brands who are in line with the feel of my blog and my values. For example, I did a sponsored post with Petplan at Christmas, and that’s because I use Petplan to insure my dog.

I don’t do lots of collaborations with brands, to be honest. I tend to write about products that I like and it’s often people I have just spotted online and on social media. With Reg&Bob, for example, Sarah the founder approached me, and it was just after I lost Daisy. I loved her products, so I had an influencer friend – Layla The White Boxer Dog – review them for me. I’ve since gone on to buy products and she has kindly gifted us products, too.

Another is The Cosy Canine Company, I love Lottie’s walking bags and have bought two myself and a fair few as gifts, and she has given discount codes to readers, which is lovely.

If a brand would like to work with me, I am open to this. Particularly dog-friendly travel destinations, although we can’t go very far at the moment.

I also write for other websites too, like Dog Friendly Retreats, and I offer consultancy services to pet businesses who need support with content and media coverage. If anyone is interested in working together, just drop me a message.

For PRs looking to work with you and your blog/website, how would you prefer they approach you and with what kind of content?
The best way is via email, and the main thing I’d like to get across is that I create all the content on my blog.

I don’t have guest posts or content written by anyone other than myself, and I will write it from a journalist perspective. It’s about what I can give to the reader rather than it being a promotional post for the brand.

This feels more authentic to me, but I understand not everyone wants to work this way. In pitches, I’d like them to think about what they can offer to my readers. When PRs do this I’m much more likely to say yes!

What other blogs are you checking out regularly during lockdown?
I love The Dogvine. Patch is in LOVE with Belinha. We met up last year and he was just mesmerised. I have never seen anything like it! So I love checking out her posts and wishing I didn’t live so far away.

Another is Dotty4Paws. Kate is a friend of mine and she has a new Jack Russell puppy called Gertie she got just before lockdown. She’s been doing puppy diaries, which are so cute and really helpful for puppy owners. Gertie is like Patch, but with brown patches instead of black and I feel like her stalker!

Mark at Adventures of Monty Dogge really makes me laugh every time I see his Facebook posts. On Instagram, I love LeCorgi and the work he does with his human Aurelie and Doug the Pug Therapy Dog.

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Lockdown Lobbying: Public affairs in a time of social isolation

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Public affairs relies on building and nurturing relationships. When face to face contact with MPs and stakeholder events can’t happen, what should be done to maintain policy engagement?

Vuelio brings together leading industry voices to discuss how to maximise this time and have an impact in this fast-changing environment.

Joining our webinar, Lockdown Lobbying: Public affairs in a time of social isolation will be Robin Gordon-Farleigh, a former Downing Street communications strategist and adviser to two former Prime Ministers, Nicole Wilkins, publisher of Foresight News and Rob Dale, PRCA Consultant of the Year 2019.