How your company lost out to competitors over Christmas and New Year

Over Christmas and the New Year some companies shut down completely. Arguably some behave like it's a shutdown weeks before Christmas!

There are at least two 'silly seasons' every year in journalism and PR: Summer & Christmas.

While colleagues are winding down or contemplating the company Christmas party for which you're paying, the best thing to do for the health of your business is to do at least one thing which contributes to media activity over Christmas and the New Year.

PR Consultant Rob Burberry says: "Journalists are crying out for stories over this period and many companies waste the chance of great publicity. Knowing how to make a newsworthy story out of your company's activity is the next trick."

When poor internal communications impact on reputation management

Not every decision in every company needs to go through the department handling your external relations. But when your organisation has such a high profile, it's critical that the impact on your brand's reputation is considered when decision-making is taking place across numerous departments.

Sadly this seemed absent in Conservative Party Headquarters in London over the last few days.

It seems like a political decision to delete almost a decade's worth of speeches which perhaps was handed straight to the IT team, without the courtesy of informing those working in the PR Department.

Consequently beady eyed journalists spotted what was going on and before David Cameron was sipping his morning coffee, accusations of lack of transparency were being thrown his way.

PR Consultant, Rob Burberry says: "If your company has a national profile, it's critical that all departments know what others are working on. Poor internal communication can inadvertently land your entire brand in hot water."

Why every legal practice in Surrey should have a good PR firm behind them

As the new issue of the Surrey Advertiser goes on sale today, solicitors in Surrey who missed last week’s issue will have missed why having a good PR firm behind your legal practice is a valuable asset.

Every quarter or so, the Surrey Advertiser publishes ‘Business News Extra’ the online version of this quarter’s issue you can read here.

On page four is an article in which many Surrey solicitors would like to be featured. But it doesn’t take such activity to trigger a media story.

Director of Relax Media, Rob Burberry says: “Think about upcoming cases from which your clients would be willing to be featured, whether named or anonymous. You could be missing out on a crucial opportunity to promote your legal practice in Surrey and beyond.”

Did the storm impact not just your working day but your PR strategy?

So you’ve taken weeks, possibly months, to launch your campaign or product through the media and something unexpected happens and scuppers your plans.

Many businesses would have experienced this yesterday as a devasting storm swept across Kent, Sussex, Surrey and London.

Understandably news of the storm dominated coverage, in Surrey for example, Eagle Radio and BBCRadio Surrey both trying to assist residents as only local radio can in such times.

But what if yesterday was meant to be the day your message went to the press? Are you prepared for a more difficult challenge to get your company on-air?

Tip from owner, Rob Burberry: Ideally your media strategy would also include the flexibility to react to such circumstances as yesterday ensuring that your press release isn’t binned by the journalists as they concentrate on the dominating story.

Surrey Police demonstrate why it's important to review a social media strategy

Everyone commits a faux pas from time to time with social media, but the boys and girls in blue from Surrey Police found themselves with egg on their face over the last few days.

It follows a story, reported here by BBC Surrey, when one of their social media gurus updated a tweet in a rather controversial manner which perhaps the Chief Constable would have preferred didn't get circulated!

According to the BBC, it wasn't a social media 'guru' but in fact an "officer" from Guildford who sent the tweet. Consider your own company or organisation for a moment - who is updating your social media presence? Do they have the right experience? Or is it merely something added on to their main role?

Your company's online reputation is too precious to have sabotaged by careless tweeting. Make sure you have a social media strategy so you can avoid any unnecessary pitfalls as well as appropriately skilled staff in place.

Surrey MP needs some reputation management

You wouldn't expect South West Surrey MP and Cabinet Minister Jeremy Hunt to demonstrate perfectly the need for a consistent PR message, but what we can say - the man's done it!

We're all celebrating TeamGB's first medal win, but while we do Jeremy Hunt is launching an investigation as to why so many seats in the London 2012 Olympics are left empty.

Well that maybe his message to the media, but his partner in crime Lord Coe is insisting the seats are "stuffed to the gunwales" - we suggest he gets his eyesight checked.

In any political or business department, staff should be working together to ensure a coherent and consistent message is released to the media.

When 'high achievers' such as Jeremy Hunt and Sebastian Coe can't speak in unison, it demonstrates perfectly the treacherous ground awaiting any politician or business when dealing with public relations.

Creating a social media 'buzz' in Surrey

The arrival of London 2012 in Surrey over the last 24 hours cannot be ignored and it's clear how the local media have contributed to creating a 'buzz' over this event.

It would be foolish to think that every resident in Surrey turned out to watch the road cycling event as it passed through Ripley and Dorking, but you'd be forgiven for thinking that life in Surrey stopped for a while.

Local radio stations Radio Jackie, Eagle Radio, and local newspapers the Surrey Advertiser and the Dorking Advertiser halted their usual leisurely weekends to churn out much hyped coverage.

Of course, it doesn't need London 2012 to arrive in Surrey to create a hype around your product or business. This can be done easily in any non-Olympic year, throughout the year if you have the right team.

If you're looking for that team and you're reading this, then you've found that team. Unlike sponsoring London 2012, it costs nothing to ask us a few questions which could benefit your business!