Digital Download with Paul Sutton: Recent Episodes
Paul Sutton, Digital Marketing Consultant
In 2006 I quit my secure, salaried job in a PR agency to set up a business selling luxury pet accessories. Three years later and I was just a few short weeks away from losing my house and being declared bankrupt. The pressure and stress I went through during the several years before and after that time were incredible. And yet I’m not sure I’d really change it if I could. Had I not started that business I would not have learned all about digital marketing, social media, SEO and PPC advertising. I wouldn’t be doing what I am now, have worked with the huge brands I have, or have won awards for my work.
Today’s Digital Download is a rebroadcast of a recent episode of the Socially Unacceptable podcast, which I was asked to guest upon. As well as delving into the detail of what I learned during those failed years, we also talk about freelancing as a career choice, and about the benefits of podcasting for businesses.
The average person spends the equivalent of one entire month per year looking at their phone. They check it an average of 58 times per day. Overall screen time is at an all time high of 12 hours per day. And the impact on both our mental and physical health, as well as that of our kids, is stark. From a professional perspective, productivity suffers and burnout rates are high. And from a personal perspective, anxiety and mental health issues have never been as great.
Techtimeout is a digital wellbeing initiative focused on helping us to reduce screen time and achieve a more balanced relationship with technology. On today’s Digital Download we take a look at the issues behind excessive screen time, the impacts it has and what we can do about it.
In the face of changes in the way Google works, how artificial intelligence is making inroads into copywriting and data analysis, the decline of conventional media and developments at X (formerly Twitter), the communications industry is coming under increasing pressure to adapt. Technology has a big role to play in public relations over the next few years, and the key for the industry is to understand this and to evolve with it.
On today’s Digital Download we take a look at where the communications industry is now and what technology is impacting it, and at how this is likely to change over the next year.
You can find the full transcript of this episode here: The Impact of Technology on PR Transcript
The introduction of Google Analytics 4 this summer was not exactly a surprise. Google had given several years’ warning that Universal Analytics would stop collecting data and that users should begin the transition to GA4 sooner rather than later. But being forced to use it is a whole other ball game, and has had digital marketers and communications professionals in fits of frustration and anger ever since! The user interface, lack of reporting and complexity has not gone down well.
On today’s Digital Download we’re delving into the world of GA4 and trying to explain what to do and how to do it in plain, simple language that anyone can get to grips with.
You can find the full transcript of this episode here: Google Analytics 4 Transcript
Social media is now 15 years old and communications consultants are grappling with a series of fundamental issues related to a brand or organisation’s use of social networks. While platforms implement updates on an almost daily basis, the bigger picture around whether a company should use specific networks has never been more sharply in focus. The answers to many of the questions arising from this are often extremely nuanced and far from straightforward, but understanding the macro picture helps to answer some of the micro questions.
On today’s Digital Download we’re looking at what’s happening in the world of social media and how this is likely to impact businesses over the next year.
You can find the full transcript of this episode here: Future of Social Media Transcript
Barely a day now goes by without a new climate milestone being broken or another extreme weather event wreaking havoc somewhere in the world. But while the causes of climate change are widely acknowledged, the solutions are complex. While we as individuals can take action by driving electric cars or not eating meat, the impact of such actions is extremely minimal. And with the Government now easing back on its action to tackle climate change, does the emphasis now fall on businesses to take up the slack?
On today’s Digital Download we’re looking at sustainable business and its role in preserving the future of the planet.
You can find the full transcript of this episode here: Sustainable Business Transcript
Artificial intelligence is ushering in a new era of effective intelligent and convenient communication. At least, that's what ChatGPT would have you believe. But while the market for AI tools has exploded over the last few months, many of those working within the communications industry are left either confused or overwhelmed. And when you add the prospect of AI being left unchecked to develop at incredible speed and the fact that an increasing number of tech specialists have voiced their concerns, it's all a bit of a worrying time. So today on Digital Download we're delving into AI: the potential impact on our jobs, the tools, the ethics, and where on earth we should start in order to future proof our careers! You can find the full transcript of this episode here: Impact of AI Transcript
After a much longer than anticipated hiatus, the Digital Download podcast is back. And we're diving back into the digital communications world with a series of shows intended to catch you up on the latest developments. This season features topics including the profound impact of AI on the marketing communications industry, the latest in the ever evolving social media landscape, analytics and GA4, and the challenges of sustainable business in the communications industry. We have some wonderful guests coming up, so make sure you join us as we explore some fresh and to-the-point views on the core digital topics that matter right now. What to do Next
Subscribe to receive new episodes automatically, and if you enjoy today’s show, please email it to a friend or share it on your favourite social media channels. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
As the UK sweltered through record high temperatures this week, climate misinformation went into overdrive. Recent reports show high levels of greenwashing and non-existent impact assessments of organisational climate initiatives and, quite simply, this has to change. This week Paul is joined by Laura Sutherland from the PRCA's Climate Misinformation Strategy Group to discuss the responsibility that the entire communications industry has when it comes to tackling the crisis. What to do Next
Subscribe to receive new episodes automatically, and if you enjoy today’s show, please email it to a friend or share it on your favourite social media channels. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
With social justice, the cost of living crisis, war in Ukraine, COVID, the environment and the US Senate dominating the news agenda, there's an awful for consumers to take in. So when it comes to the brands they love, what do they really want to see? Action or escapism? This week Paul is joined by Marketing Manager Jack Richards to discuss Talkwalker and Hootsuite's latest Brand Love report, which determines the 50 most loved brands in the world. What to do Next
Subscribe to receive new episodes automatically, and if you enjoy today’s show, please email it to a friend or share it on your favourite social media channels. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Should brands get involved in the metaverse, or just ignore it? What even is the metaverse?! This week Paul is joined by blockchain developer Holly Atkinson and experienced digital strategist James Whatley to address all the publicity around the metaverse with the aim of demystifying it for marketing communications professionals. What to do Next
Subscribe to receive new episodes automatically, and if you enjoy today’s show, please email it to a friend or share it on your favourite social media channels. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Have you noticed the volume of people trying, and failing terribly, to be their authentic selves on LinkedIn recently? This week Paul is joined by PR consultant and business owner Antonia Taylor to discuss why the benefits of being yourself are greater than ever, why being genuine does not involve copying others' posting styles, and how we go about giving ourselves permission to be truly genuine. What to do Next
Subscribe to receive new episodes automatically, and if you enjoy today’s show, please email it to a friend or share it on your favourite social media channels. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
What brands say and how they say it has come increasingly into focus in the last couple of years. So why do so many companies suck so badly when it comes to having a distinct personality of their own? This week Paul is joined by brand voice strategist Bethany Joy to discuss why tone of voice is important, what it can achieve, and how to define a brand voice that isn't just copying Innocent Drinks! What to do Next
Subscribe to receive new episodes automatically, and if you enjoy today’s show, please email it to a friend or share it on your favourite social media channels. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Facebook ads used to be brilliant for reaching highly segmented niche audiences and for creating a positive ROI. But not anymore. Interest targeting doesn't work like it used to and conversion costs have escalated. This week Paul is joined by CEO of Threepipe Reply Farhad Koodoruth to discuss just how broken Facebook ads are and whether this is the beginning of the end for social media advertising (spoiler alert: it is). What to do Next
Subscribe to receive new episodes automatically, and if you enjoy today’s show, please email it to a friend or share it on your favourite social media channels. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Do your Facebook Page posts regularly get next to no engagement? Do the same posts on other networks perform considerably better? Do you sometimes question whether your audience is even seeing your posts? If you answered 'yes' to any of these, you should consider deleting your Facebook Page altogether. This week Paul is joined by CEO of Lumino Digital Jenny Karn to discuss whether the performance of Facebook is now so poor that there's little point in most brands even having a Page. What to do Next
Subscribe to receive new episodes automatically, and if you enjoy today’s show, please email it to a friend or share it on your favourite social media channels. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Influencers have changed the nature of celebrity and the power dynamic of the media for good. Individuals now have the ability to impact the narrative around stories, and brands have to fully understand how to ensure they work in harmony with the press. This week Paul is joined by celebrity PR specialist Max Dundas to chat about A Listers, influencers, brand partnerships and THAT Will Smith Oscars moment. What to do Next
Subscribe to receive new episodes automatically, and if you enjoy today’s show, please email it to a friend or share it on your favourite social media channels. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Wikipedia is an anomaly for marketing professionals; a fiercely moderated bastion to neutrality on the internet that public relations and marketing professionals have failed to crack. And yet, especially for large companies and high profile individuals, it can be extremely important when it comes to corporate reputation. So what can be done to either secure a beneficial presence on Wikipedia or to help defend and control online reputation? In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, I talk to Josh Greene from the Mather Group, a specialist in Wikipedia and online reputation management, about the benefits of a Wikipedia presence and how to go about managing it. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
NFTs have become ubiquitous over the last six months, with everyone from Snoop Dogg to Gary Vaynerchuck extolling their virtues. As 'the next big thing', marketers have more than a passing interest. And yet most are struggling to get their heads around the implications of NFTs, cryptocurrency, web3 and the metaverse. From a marketing communications perspective, opinions vary from those who believe NFTs are the start of a societal shift to those who believe it's all over-hyped rubbish. And with so many different views and predictions and even explanations out there, cutting through the noise is an extremely tough task. On today's Digital Download, I discuss and debate NFTs and the future of the internet with senior communications consultants Stephen Waddington and Scott Guthrie as we seek to find answers to some of our questions, from basic definitions and explanations to potential impacts. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
Back in the summer of 2020 as the world got to grips with COVID-19, PR leader Gini Dietrich made a bold prediction on this podcast that the public relations industry would not survive the pandemic as a standalone discipline. 18 months on and we're revising her assertion to look at how the pandemic has played out for the communications industry and whether Gini's position has changed. As well as talking to Gini again, we're also getting the views of one of the UK's most influential PR figures, consultant and former CIPR President Stephen Waddington. They have very similar opinions in some areas, but rather divergent ones in others, which makes for an interesting contrast when we discuss what the future holds in store for the industry. In the first Digital Download show of 2022, we discuss how PR has adapted over the last two years, whether the boost communications received during the pandemic was just a blip, what the changes have been, and whether the industry will be absorbed into marketing once and for all in the near future. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
2021 has been a struggle for many in the communications industry, with the ongoing pandemic coupled with evolving working processes and increasing demand on new knowledge and skills. Coasting is no longer an option for a successful career in marketing and public relations. In the final episode of the Digital Download podcast of the year, we look ahead to 2022 and discuss how to futureproof your career as the industry continues to evolve. The special guest in this show is Rachel Miller, internal communications consultant, founder of All Things IC and host of the Candid Comms podcast. Please Check Out Our Sponsor This episode of the podcast is supported by Podchaser Pro, making podcast discovery and analysis a breeze. Podchaser Pro builds on Podchaser's best-in-class data set to provide access to reach, contacts, demographics and more, and bring radical efficiency to the process of discovering, qualifying, and contacting podcasts. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
The public relations industry has rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic far quicker and stronger than many predicted it would. It is arguably in better shape now than it was two years ago. But the impact of the pandemic on the business world means that challenges have been created that the industry must address during 2022. The special guest in this episode of the Digital Download podcast is Koray Camgoz, Director of Communications at the PRCA. As a result of research conducted by the PRCA, together with anecdotal evidence from its members, Koray discusses three key challenges that all communications practitioners must face head on as we head into the new year. Please Check Out Our Sponsor This episode of the podcast is supported by Podchaser Pro, making podcast discovery and analysis a breeze. Podchaser Pro builds on Podchaser's best-in-class data set to provide access to reach, contacts, demographics and more, and bring radical efficiency to the process of discovering, qualifying, and contacting podcasts. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
COP26 has thrust climate change and sustainability into the boardrooms of every single marginally responsible company around the world. While Governments have a critical role to play, the spotlight is increasingly on business to step up to the plate. The job of the communications sector is going to come under increasing scrutiny over the next 12 months, with organisations regularly fighting accusations of greenwashing for under-researched environmental claims. And with strong ESG principles generating greater returns for investors, the pressure really is starting to ramp up. The special guest in this episode of the Digital Download podcast is Pete Martin, director of content marketing agency, Always Be Content. We discuss COP26 and the demands on and responsibilities of business leaders as a result, and look at how communicators can tackle the sustainability issue and avoid being accused of greenwashing. Please Check Out Our Sponsor This episode of the podcast is supported by Podchaser Pro, making podcast discovery and analysis a breeze. Podchaser Pro builds on Podchaser's best-in-class data set to provide access to reach, contacts, demographics and more, and bring radical efficiency to the process of discovering, qualifying, and contacting podcasts. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
Personal branding is a big thing in 2021, with much written on the significant business value of having a strong online presence and reputation. But among all the hype, no-one ever talks about the drawbacks of becoming 'known'. In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I talk to Jeri Williams, who runs Smooth Accounting. Since establishing a profile on LinkedIn in 2018, Jeri has grown a huge following of 48,000 people. But while that has brought with it many opportunities and lots of leads and business, it has also attracted the less savoury elements of the network. From rudeness and passive aggressiveness to sexual innuendo and outright trolling, Jeri finds herself deleting comments and blocking users on a daily basis. In this show we discuss the downsides of personal branding, and whether dealing with trolls and abuse is just something you have to accept if you have a strong online presence. Please Check Out Our Sponsor This episode of the podcast is supported by Podchaser Pro, making podcast discovery and analysis a breeze. Podchaser Pro builds on Podchaser's best-in-class data set to provide access to reach, contacts, demographics and more, and bring radical efficiency to the process of discovering, qualifying, and contacting podcasts. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
The Wall Street Journal's coverage of whistleblower Francis Haughen's leaked documents from inside Facebook make for fascinating and at times very disturbing reading. Among the core findings are the way the Facebook algorithm promotes division, how Facebook has a 'white list' of elite users who can do and say what they like, and how Instagram exacerbates body image issues among teenage girls. But most damning is that Facebook knows all of this and has done little to nothing to address it. At a time when not only users but governments want answers, the timing of Facebook's big corporate rebrand to Meta is tone deaf. And the whole concept of a Facebook-run 'metaverse' is disturbing. For a start, do people actually want this? In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, I explore what the metaverse is and how a virtual reality world might impact us, and I look at the Wall Street Journal findings in a little more detail and try to ascertain what the implications of those are. Please Check Out Our Sponsor This episode of the podcast is supported by Podchaser Pro, making podcast discovery and analysis a breeze. Podchaser Pro builds on Podchaser's best-in-class data set to provide access to reach, contacts, demographics and more, and bring radical efficiency to the process of discovering, qualifying, and contacting podcasts. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
Share of search has been used in the advertising industry for years as a way to prove a causal link between advertising and business results. It follows the line of thought that one of the first things a person does if they become aware of something that interests them is to search for it on Google. So if you can track how many people search for your brand or product over time, you can start to correlate this heavily with core business outcomes. While at first glance Share of Search may seem to have more in common with search engine optimisation (SEO) than communications and public relations, where or if your brand appears in search is irrelevant in this instance, as it is the intent of the user that matters. So understanding how your activity triggers internet searches is incredibly valuable. In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, I talk to Stella Bayles from Coverage Book and Answer the Public about where the Share of Search metric came from, how to calculate it, how to track search intent and what this proves from a communications perspective. Please Check Out Our Sponsor This episode of the podcast is supported by Podchaser Pro, making podcast discovery and analysis a breeze. Podchaser Pro builds on Podchaser's best-in-class data set to provide access to reach, contacts, demographics and more, and bring radical efficiency to the process of discovering, qualifying, and contacting podcasts. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
Measurement has been a monkey on the public relations industry's back for as long as anyone can remember. But sometimes it helps to look at where the industry is now compared to where it was a few years ago and to determine whether progress is being made. In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, that's precisely what we're doing. Richard Benson is co-founder of Nectarize, an evaluation platform that was devised to reflect core KPIs and measure cross-media activities and activations to determine business impact. Over the last six years, many thousands of reports have been put together using the tool, enabling Nectarize to produce a report on what PR professionals were measuring then, what they are measuring now, what progress has been made, and what best practice now looks like. Please Check Out Our Sponsor This episode of the podcast is supported by Podchaser Pro, making podcast discovery and analysis a breeze. Podchaser Pro builds on Podchaser's best-in-class data set to provide access to reach, contacts, demographics and more, and bring radical efficiency to the process of discovering, qualifying, and contacting podcasts. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
Do we need an app? It's something that's now heard very often in marketing circles, as if building, maintaining and marketing an app is the easiest thing in the world. But the technical complexity of 'an app', not to mention the competition for app space on our mobiles, cannot be underestimated. In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, we talk about what it actually takes to build an app and have it approved by Apple and Google, what it takes to maintain that app in an ever-changing technical world, the technical and design factors that have to be considered, and how to go about marketing an app and getting it used. The special guest in this show is Mark Stringer, co-founder of carbon negative navigation and carpool app SKOOT and founder of PR agency Pretty Green. Please Check Out Our Sponsor This episode of the podcast is supported by Podchaser Pro, making podcast discovery and analysis a breeze. Podchaser Pro builds on Podchaser's best-in-class data set to provide access to reach, contacts, demographics and more, and bring radical efficiency to the process of discovering, qualifying, and contacting podcasts. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
The last two years are starting to take their toll on us. Stories of struggling with the relentlessness of social and economic unrest are common, and motivation can be harder to come by than a full tank of petrol at the moment. On World Mental Health Day, we take a look at how those in marketing communications are particularly vulnerable.
We're all hyper-connected. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, TikTok and dozens of other apps compete for our attention on a daily basis. Those working in the communications industry are, arguably, more exposed than most given the nature of our jobs. So what affect is this having on us?
This is a special episode of the Digital Download Podcast originally recorded for Mental Health Awareness Week in 2019. I chat to Leanne Ehren and Alistair Beech, two communications professionals who have not only openly talked about their mental health issues, but who have campaigned to improve mental wellbeing in the workplace. We discuss the challenges of working in communications and ways that individuals and companies can address the issues. Please Check Out Our Sponsor This episode of the podcast is supported by Podchaser Pro, making podcast discovery and analysis a breeze. Podchaser Pro builds on Podchaser's best-in-class data set to provide access to reach, contacts, demographics and more, and bring radical efficiency to the process of discovering, qualifying, and contacting podcasts. What to do Next Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
The online abuse targeted at Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after England's Euro 2020 final defeat was sickening. And yet it was entirely predictable, and is the latest in a long line of serious trolling incidents involving public figures. The social networks seem either unwilling or unable to step in until after the fact, but this is simply not good enough anymore. In today's episode of the Digital Download podcast, we look at the issue of trolling through the lens of post-Euros racist abuse, we discuss the balance between social network, societal and governmental responsibility, and we debate the pros and cons of various potential solutions social networks could implement. The special gust in this show is Julian Obubo, partner at brand communications agency Manifest, and campaigner for diversity and inclusion across the PR industry. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
In the last few years the lack of diversity in the public relations industry and the over-indexing of private school-educated practitioners has come under increasing scrutiny. However, not much has changed. A new charitable PR school project called Socially Mobile aims to tackle this. Focused on delivering management training to those from lower socio-economic backgrounds as well as under-represented and under-served groups, the course aims to increase the earning potential of practitioners. In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, Socially Mobile founder Sarah Waddington CBE talks about what the course entails, how it came about and what her ambitions for the project are. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
In the last year leaders have had to make difficult decisions, push through very uncomfortable situations and be resilient when things got really tough. More than 50 such people launched new PR agencies at a time when the world was in turmoil, while others had to pivot their businesses as the bottom fell out of the industries they traditionally served. All of these leaders demonstrated extreme courage. In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, leadership coach Ken Jacobs discusses why bravery is so important in modern leadership, why effective decision making relies upon it, what the elements of courageous leadership are, and how you can develop it in yourself and in others. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
Podcasting continues to go from strength to strength, with over 180% more monthly downloads in 2020 than in 2019 according to Chartable. With demand at an all-time high, creators are launching more shows than ever before, and many businesses are wanting in on the action. But the demands of running a successful podcast are not insignificant, and around one in three shows launched only ever publish one or two episodes before giving up. The process of planning, recording, producing, editing, publishing and marketing shows can be time-consuming, and the rewards are often intangible and difficult to measure. So is it really worth all the effort? Co-founder of The Social Element and of Polpeo Tamara Littleton launched her first show with co-host Wendy Christie in April this year. In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, we discuss exactly what goes into producing a business podcast, what the challenges are, what the benefits are and, after her first season, whether Tamara thinks it's actually worth launching a show for your business. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
In the last 9 months, fashion retailer Boohoo has been investigated for modern slavery, been accused of making people work with no social distancing during lockdown, and been found to price the same garments at significantly different prices across its different retail brands. These are just the latest in a number of historic failures to address its supply chain. And yet in the last year its revenue has increased by a massive 41%. The organisation consistently tries to communicate its good intentions, with the latest announcement being that executive bonuses may be linked to ESG principles. But a trail of broken promises mean that such statements appear to be nothing more than greenwashing, with Boohoo's reputation suffering as a result. But if shareholders are happy, does it matter whether or not consumers trust it or whether it has any ethical principles? In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, special guests Kate Hartley, co-founder of crisis simulation company Polpeo, and John Brown, founder of brand activisim agency Don't Cry Wolf, discuss the role of ethics, trust and reputation in today's business, and whether Boohoo's success is a result of a societal failure to hold organisations to account. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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During the last year communications agencies and marketing departments everywhere have adapted to remote working and a virtual business model. But while for most it has been a bootstrapping exercise, for others it's been second nature. As a result, debate and speculation about the future of the office has been intense. One of the options that has been gaining increasing support is the concept of a hybrid office model, where staff work remotely two or three days a week on a permanent basis and only attend for focused team working. It has big potential upsides in terms of flexibility and cost savings, but also potential downfalls. In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, co-founder of The PR Network Nicky Regazzoni talks about her experiences of running a virtual PR agency for 15 years. She shares what she's learned and discusses how the communications industry might move forward towards an at-least partly virtual future. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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During the pandemic the thorny topic of public relations measurement and evaluation has taken a back seat to things like, well, survival! But now that the business world is creating new ways of working and new methods of marketing, it's back on the radar. Effective measurement goes a long way beyond evaluating campaigns or proving the industry's worth. It also impacts job fulfilment and even resourcing and recruitment. So is the industry finally understanding that great ideas come from insight and putting the issue to bed once and for all? In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, co-founder of Shook Gemma Moroney talks about her work with the likes of AMEC and the PRCA to provide effective and flexible measurement frameworks, and about the disparities that exist in different sections of the communications industry. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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Clubhouse is being heralded as the latest breakthrough app in the social media world. Despite still being in beta, invite-only and not yet available on Android, the app reached 10 million weekly active users by the end of February. Critics, however, are yet to be convinced. Concerns over data privacy and security, lack of native recording functionality, poor discoverability, dubious quality content and lack of moderation are all cited as reasons why Clubhouse won't stand the test of time, or why competitors such as Twitter and Facebook will simply mop up 'social audio'. This episode of the Digital Download podcast explores Clubhouse from both sides and asks whether the app has a future and what role social audio as a concept will play, regardless of platform. Today's guests are Digital Consultant Gabrielle Laine-Peters and Senior Clubhouse Manager at Battenhall, Nicole Mezzasalma. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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Over the last year, the amount of time we have all spent on screens has grown significantly. It's been less of a choice and more of a necessity. The average adult now spends around four hours per day on mobile devices or TVs, and two thirds of parents with school age children are more concerned about screen time now than they were before the pandemic. But in a world where the way we live our lives has been completely redefined, is it even valid to spend time worrying about how long we spend looking at screens? This episode of the Digital Download podcast explores whether we should be worried about screen time, if so how much, and what we can and should do about it. Today's guest is tech journalist and author of 'Screen Time: How to Make Peace with Your Devices and Find Your Techquilibrium' Becca Caddy. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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In the last year 10% of marketers were made redundant due to the impact of COVID-19 and another 13% were put on furlough. The latest data from the Office of National Statistics showed a record 395,000 redundancies in the UK between September and November 2020, and as many as 45% of us are made redundant at some time in our working lives. Dealing with redundancy is extremely complex from a psychological perspective, and can lead to anger, bitterness and resentment. But it can also be an opportunity to take a new direction and to change things that are wrong as the casualty is unencumbered by having to make the decision. This episode of the Digital Download podcast explores how to deal with redundancy in the marketing communications sector, and how to survive and thrive if it happens to you. Today's guest is Eleanor Tweddell, former head of communications at Vodafone, RAC and Virgin Atlantic and the author of the book 'Why Losing Your Job Could Be The Best Thing That Ever Happened To You'. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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Content marketing started to take off as an independent discipline in the mid 2000s as social media provided a new way for information and websites to be shared quickly and easily at low cost and at scale. A lot has changed since then, and perhaps even more so in the last year than at any time in the last 15 years. This episode of the Digital Download podcast explores how content marketing has evolved in recent years and looks at what that means for marketers and individuals. It discusses how tactics and strategies have had to change, and also at how we're adapting as people in terms of working processes and technology. Today's guest is Vikki Chowney, Global Head of Content and Publishing for Hill+Knowlton Strategies in New York. A former new media journalist, Vikki leads a global team of content experts around the world, focusing on who the agency creates content with, what format that takes and where it lives. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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The internet and digital communications technology has become fundamental to our way of life in the last year. A fast and reliable broadband connection has been vital in feeding ourselves, entertaining ourselves, educating our children and continuing to work during the pandemic. We're not going back to the way we were, so how will the internet develop in the future? Today's guests have worked in and around the internet for two decades. Euan Semple started the BBC's DigiLab in the mid 1990s, and now works with organisations and people to help them understand the impact of technology, while Neville Hobson recently left a position with The Internet Society and believes that the internet should be available for everyone. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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In the final show of the year, five senior figures in the marketing communications industry discuss what 2021 may hold in store for brands, agencies and individuals. We discuss technological adoption, behavioural change, brand purpose, diversity, innovation, agency start ups, social media and a whole lot more. This episode of the Digital Download podcast is the second of two special shows to close off the year, featuring James Whatley, Strategy Partner at Digitas UK, professional business advisor Stephen Waddington, Gini Dietrich, CEO of Arment Dietrich, Katy Howell, CEO of Immediate Future and Rax Lakhani, digital PR & social media consultant. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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The COVID-19 pandemic, social unrest on either side of the Atlantic, Brexit, a vitriolic US Presidential election and mass redundancies are what 2020 will be remembered for. And while the human cost has been massive, with 50 million cases of coronavirus and over one million deaths to date, the impact on the marketing communications industry and those working within it has also been significant. Though we have all lived through the same events, we've experienced them in very different ways. Some of us have experienced trauma, some of us have changed our lives or our careers, and some of us have been relatively unscathed. But we've all faced the same challenges to our mental wellbeing and we've all had to adapt on the fly to changing business demands. This episode of the Digital Download podcast is the first of two special shows to close off the year. In candid conversations with five senior figures in the marketing communications industry, I've gained an insight into their experiences of the last ten month and how they're planning for 2021. My special guests on this show are James Whatley, Strategy Partner at Digitas UK, professional business advisor Stephen Waddington, Gini Dietrich, CEO of Arment Dietrich, Katy Howell, CEO of Immediate Future and Rax Lakhani, digital PR & social media consultant. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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Until now, podcast discovery, research and outreach has been an arduous task. Trying to find relevant podcasts in a specific topical niche has largely been a manual job, while publicly available listener statistics and analytics have been non-existent. However, a new service for marketers and communications professionals promises to make the entire process easier, quicker and more transparent. This episode of the Digital Download podcast looks at Podchaser, the IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes or Wikipedia of podcasts. As well as a public database that solves the discovery/research issue, the brand new Pro service provides full analytics of every podcast, including listener statistics and demographics, to enable a comparison and analysis that has, to this date, not been available. My special guest on this show is Cole Raven, co-founder of Podchaser. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or Podchaser, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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At this time of year thought leaders start predicting what will happen in marketing communications over the next 12 months. But most of those predictions are based upon opinion rather than data. That criticism cannot be levelled at the likes of Global Web Index, which tracks trends in digital consumer behaviour across 46 countries worldwide. This episode of the Digital Download podcast looks at some of the latest data available on the digital consumer. It explores ecommerce and usage of marketplaces such as Amazon, differences between age groups, the resurgence of Generation X online, the impact of increasing online competition on brand loyalty, and whether any of these behaviours are likely to stick. My special guest on this show is Chase Buckle, Trends Manager at online market research company Global Web Index. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Transvision Vamp was one of the most popular alternative bands in the UK, with a number one album and five top 20 singles. No stranger to controversy, lead singer Wendy James was renowned for her rebellious and straight-talking attitude as well as her sexually-charged performances. Thirty years on and Wendy has now recorded six solo albums, the most recent of which, Queen High Straight, was released during lockdown. I caught up with her to talk about how digital has impacted recording and releasing music, and about what social media would have done for Transvision Vamp, given her provocative nature, had it been around at the time. In this special episode of the Digital Download podcast, I chat to Wendy about how, as an independent artist, social media is now an important promotional vehicle for her, about maintaining relationships with her fans, and about releasing a record during lockdown. We also cover some of her more controversial moments and her musical inspiration, and veer off into politics and sexual equality. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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Brilliant user generated content is seen by some marketers as the holy grail. UGC can create greater engagement, build trust and affinity, and provide endorsement for other marketing activities. Above all, 60% of consumers think that user generated content is the most influential form of content in purchasing decisions. However, generating brilliant UGC is not an easy task, and many brands come unstuck when it comes to what to ask and from whom. There is a perception that UGC is often poor quality and a terrible time suck. This episode of the Digital Download podcast explores the benefits and power of UGC, and specifically user generated video, why it is so influential, and how to go about creating a strategy built around crowdsourced content. My special guest on this show is the founder of video crowdsourcing platform Seenit, Emily Forbes. Emily worked in feature film and documentary film making prior to launching Seenit in 2014. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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The Chartered Institute of Public Relations was founded in 1948 and currently has around 10,000 members. In common with most organisations, the CIPR has had to adapt rapidly to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is being looked to for guidance by the rest of the industry. The last three Digital Download shows have explored what the future holds for the communications industry from the perspectives of agency leaders on both sides of the Atlantic, and highlight that big changes are occurring. This episode looks at these changes from the perspective of the UK's major trade body, how CIPR members have evolved and the confidence issues inherent in public relations practitioners, and at how PR can impact strategy at different levels of an organisation. My special guest on this show is Jenni Field, President of the CIPR and founder of Redefining Communications. Jenni took over as CIPR President in January and has the unenviable job of guiding the organisation through one of the toughest years in its history. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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In part two of a duo of shows focused on the communications professionals who are shaking up the industry, we discuss conventional agency models and their limitations, selling results not time, the importance of transparency, ditching the pitch process, and taking responsibility for change rather than waiting for someone else to do it. The special guests in this fast-moving and impactful episode of the Digital Download podcast are founder of Don't Cry Wolf, John Brown, co-founder of Rise at Seven, Carrie Rose, and co-founder of Hard Numbers, Darryl Sparey. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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On the last episode of the podcast, we discussed how the public relations industry is under serious threat from the pandemic. In this show we outline a template for the future that will ensure that communications agencies not only survive, but thrive. There is a new breed of communications professional that is challenging the status quo and doing things differently to what has come before. It's a hybrid of PR, marketing, creative and SEO that has strategic communications at its heart, and following their lead is, in my view, the way forward for the industry. This episode of the Digital Download podcast investigates what makes these communicators unique, and how they are approaching their businesses. The special guests in this show are founder of Don't Cry Wolf, John Brown, co-founder of Rise at Seven, Carrie Rose, and co-founder of Hard Numbers, Darryl Sparey. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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Public relations is at a crossroads. Years of failing to adequately address the measurement issue, ignoring associated disciplines like SEO and a steadfast refusal to understand the viewpoint that PR is a tactical function rather than a strategic discipline have created a position where the industry is now in serious danger of being absorbed into marketing once and for all. An annual study in America shows that progressively less public relations professionals report into the C-Suite, while the latest CIPR State of the Profession report highlights a chasm between what PR people think they should do and what they actually do. In a recent blog post, public relations author, write, speaker, podcaster and change-maker Gini Dietrich asserted that the industry will fail to exist as a standalone discipline within three to five years. In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, I question Gini about her line of thinking, how and why she reacted to the threat of COVID-19 way before others, what the implications of the trends she has identified are, and whether she's finally given up on PR. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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The last 4 months have played havoc with us as individuals, both physically and mentally. In the marketing industry we're having to create or adopt new business models, tactics that used to work no longer do, and in some cases we've lost our jobs. In the face of this, staying positive can be difficult. In the current environment, resilience and adaptability are valuable character traits whether you're a business owner, an employee, a freelancer or whether you've been made redundant. So how do we nurture this mindset when there's so much uncertainty around? This episode of the Digital Download podcast looks at how marketers can adopt a growth mindset, and at how positivity can lead to surprising but very rewarding successes. My special guest on this show is Isabella Venour, a marketing, mindset and NLP coach. Isabella worked for nine years in the public relations industry before switching careers, and is now focused on helping others develop during a very difficult time. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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It is estimated that 70% of people experience feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt and of being a fraud at some time in their career. And in marketing, where it's easy to compare yourself with others' creativity and knowledge, incidence of imposter syndrome may well be a lot higher. I'm no different, and frequently look around at my peers in awe and think 'I don't deserve to be among these people'. At the current time, with revenues falling and redundancies on the rise, self-belief could be an important asset for agency owners wanting to embrace new business models, in-house marketers needing to adapt to new consumer behaviours, and for those looking for new positions. This episode of the Digital Download podcast looks at imposter syndrome in marketing. It addresses the role of fear and the pressure we put on ourselves when comparing ourselves and our work to others; why being self-aware and kind to yourself is so important; and why focusing on leaving a legacy can help beat imposter syndrome. My special guest on this show is Tiffany DaSilva, digital marketer and founder of Flowjo.co. Tiffany speaks regularly at marketing events about her own experiences of imposter syndrome and how to overcome it. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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During 2019 the global ecommerce industry grew by 18% to almost $3.5 trillion. In 2020, with a worldwide rolling lockdown in place, online sales have rocketed further. Amazon's groceries business has boomed, and in March it announced that it would hire an additional 100,000 staff to cope with demand. At the same time, consumers have become increasingly accustomed to online ordering and click-and-collect services. This raises big questions over the future of bricks and mortar stores, many of which were already under serious pressure. It is difficult not to see this behaviour sticking within a significant proportion of the population when lockdown eventually ends. This episode of the Digital Download podcast looks at the future of ecommerce and online marketplaces, and at what brands can do to adapt to a future where online selling is becoming the predominant form of shopping for everything from food to furniture. My special guest on this show is Matt Anderson, MD of marketplace agency Marketplace AMP. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, articles started to appear that predicted the end of influencer marketing and the death of 'influence'. They were prompted by reports of content creators using their positions for privilege during COVID-19 and the fact that influencer jobs had dried up. This episode of the Digital Download podcast looks at the issue from both the influencer marketing side and the content creator side. It investigates what effect the current crisis has had on the industry, what changes we can expect to see in approach and content, the economic impact on influencers, and whether there is any future for the industry once the crisis has passed. My special guests on this show are content creator, author and presenter Emily Leary (AKA A Mummy Too) and Scott Guthrie, influencer marketing consultant and expert. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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Just a few short months ago, social networks were coming under intense fire for, among other things, data privacy, toxicity and their negative impact on mental health. The reputations of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter were at an all-time low. But recently, things have changed. Since the middle of March user behaviour has become more positive, and the likes of Facebook and Twitter have become more supportive places to hang out and connect with friends. So could COVID-19 actually provide somewhat of a reboot for social media? A lot could depend on how the social networks are seen to be helping the world over the next few months. It's a golden opportunity to rebuild those ailing reputations. This episode of the Digital Download podcast looks at the evolution of social media both during and after the COVID-19 crisis. It investigates how the networks are handling misinformation, addresses the thorny issue of data privacy, looks at the current wave of innovation, and discusses where social media technology may go in the next couple of years and what brands should look out for in 2021. My special guest on this show is Matt Navarra, well-known social media industry commentator and strategist. Matt was previously Director of Social at TheNextWeb after managing the government's social media channels. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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After the dotcom crash of 2000, 9/11 in 2001 and the global financial crash of 2008, COVID-19 is the fourth major economic crisis in the working lives of many senior communications practitioners. But arguably unlike any of the crises that have come before it, the current situation has put the marketing communications industry on the verge of radical and lasting changes. The levels of anxiety, everyone working remotely, the prevalence of video calls and the very human distraction of worrying about friends and family while trying to be professional are all new to the industry. But there are also positives, with people coming together more and being more compassionate and understanding. Change is being forced upon the industry. This episode of the Digital Download podcast looks at how the communications industry has evolved in the last twenty years, the current challenges that it faces, and the long-term future of the agencies and people working within it after the current crises ends. My special guest on this show is Maja Pawinska Sims, EMEA Editor at PRovoke Media. Maja has two decades experience working within and writing about the PR industry, and has an unrivalled view across it from her current role. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
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As marketing communications agencies and in-house teams struggle to get to grips with the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, business continuity has leapt to the fore. 77% of PR firms around the world are expecting a loss of earnings as a result of the crisis, while national newspaper sales fell by 20% in the last two weeks of March. The questions leaders and brands face today are around both short-term survival and long-term strategic planning, and how to reconcile the two. This episode of the Digital Download podcast investigates the management challenges of remote working, the leadership challenges around the future of work, and the brand challenges of putting people before profit. It delves into the immediate task of how best to manage staff and what is currently expected of leadership, and also into the likely lasting effects of those outcomes on brand perception and success, and on leadership itself. My special guests on this show are counselling and occupational psychologist Rob Stewart, and Rod Cartwright, deputy of the PRCA's international Covid-19 task force and a strategic communications consultant. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
Covid-19 has knocked the marketing communications industry for six. Projects and campaigns have been cancelled left, right and centre, leaving many in-house teams on pause and many agencies and freelancers with plummeting revenue. Although it's only a matter of three weeks since the economy collapsed, such has been the impact of the coronavirus that it now seems difficult to remember normal business life before it. But there was a time less than two months ago where the marketing world was just that; normal. Today's episode of the Digital Download podcast was recorded in the middle of February, before the World Health Organisation called Covid-19 a pandemic and long before we really took it seriously in the UK or the USA. It's about being in business for five years, and about the lessons learned from that. It's optimistic in tone, and it seems very at odds with the world now. Maybe that's a good thing, maybe it's a bad thing. But it certainly makes an interesting listen in the context of today. My special guest on this show is Rich Leigh, founder of Radiocactive PR and the author of 'Myths of PR'. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
Use of private messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messenger and Telegram have boomed in the last few years. As long ago as 2016 they were more popular than social networks, and with the recent announcement by WhatsApp that it now has 2 billion users, it's very clear that they're here for the long-term. Businesses, and particularly marketers, have struggled to get to grips with messaging apps. Their very nature means that users view such apps as private spaces where they can chat to friends without the interruption of brands, while tracking activity and sharing behaviour is extremely difficult, if not impossible. And then there's the fact that using WhatsApp for business is actually against the service's own terms and conditions. This episode of the Digital Download podcast looks at the issues inherent in professional messaging and at where such services may go in future to enable the secure, trackable, private environment that organisations need in order to use them effectively. My special guest on this show is Ashley Friedlein, CEO and founder of professional messaging service Guild, and the founder of Econsultancy. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
On 15th February UK TV presenter Caroline Flack took her own life, after years of being hounded by the tabloid media. Between September 2019 and her death, The Sun, The Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror published 120 articles about her, ranging from salacious gossip about her mental health, her relationships and her career, to vicious accusations. Intense coverage of her life had dominated the celebrity columns and the front pages since Caroline was accused of assaulting her boyfriend in December 2019, making for a toxic environment that amounted to little more than victimisation and bullying by the media. As news broke of Caroline's death, fingers were pointed firmly at the press, and especially The Sun. But the fact remains that the newspapers only print what people want to read. This episode of the Digital Download podcast asks three fundamental questions. Does the media have a duty of care to the people it writes about? Are those who read the stories equally as responsible for their impact? And, where does the balance lie? The special guests in this show are PR and Management Consultant and FuturePRoof founder Sarah Waddington, PR Consultant and PRFest founder Laura Sutherland, and Mark Mackintosh, Marketing Engagement Officer at Oxford Brookes University. What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
2019 has been a tough year for many in the communications industry. Uncertainty around the economic outlook has placed additional stresses on business leaders, and there are worrying signs for 2020 that mirror what was seen before the 2008 financial crisis.
This episode of the Digital Download Podcast is part two of the conversation recorded with Spin Sucks author and head of PR agency Arment Dietrich, Gini Dietrich. Part one was published as S5 E10 on 4th December 2019. In one of the most candid, honest and down-to-earth shows I've recorded, Gini and I talk about our personal experiences of burnout, and we look ahead to a 'back-to-basics' approach to marketing in 2020. Here's what is discussed in this episode:
How the stresses of running a business in 2019 have taken a personal toll When and how burnout occurs How important it is to take regular breaks from work A proven process for content marketing in 2020 The importance of effective calls to action Whether marketers have become blinded by technology How our approach to new technology and applications has evolved Whether there has been an increase in spam emails in the last few months What the future of Facebook might be in 2020 How technology may impact elections in the UK and the USA How companies will react if there is a global recession in the near future
What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
2019 has been a tough year for many in the communications industry. Uncertainty around the economic outlook has placed additional stresses on business leaders, and there are worrying signs for 2020 that mirror what was seen before the 2008 financial crisis.
This episode of the Digital Download Podcast is one of the most candid, honest and down-to-earth shows I've recorded since the podcast started two years ago. Gini Dietrich, Spin Sucks author and head of PR agency Arment Dietrich, returns to take a look back over the last 12 months and a look forward to 2020 in a special two-part episode. In Part One, we swap stories about how the pressures of the last year have taken a toll on us for different reasons, why focus is now critical in marketing communications and whether over-optimism by industry leaders is harmful.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
Whether 2019 has been a tough year for many in the communications industry Whether there are still cultural pressures on women in business How the sales and communications mindsets are very different The importance of long-term content production Why you cannot and should not try to do everything Whether an economic downturn is on the horizon What you can do to prepare for recession Whether industry leaders are being over-optimistic about the future Whether industry bodies should be preparing us better for 2020
What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
Digital transformation is a phrase that is misunderstood by many, and yet the thinking behind it is critical to the success of organisations large and small. With the pace of change getting ever faster and a new decade nearly upon us, planning for change is something that everyone should be thinking about.
In this episode of the Digital Download Podcast I talk to Andrew Grill, a futurist and keynote speaker who specialises in the impact of technological change on business. We discuss how digital continues to disrupt all areas of an organisation, how important it is to take personal responsibility for your own understanding, how digital transformation has changed over the last few years, and what to expect to see in 2020.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
What the four types of digital transformation are Why digital transformation is important How effective transformation is led by disruptors Why culture is critical to change Why personal involvement in transformation is vital What role the board plays How important curiosity is in digital technology Why security is so important Whether people are now more open to change than a few years ago How 'working out loud' develops a culture of change What role generations play in transformational shifts Whether technological adoption is obvious or stealthy How AI and voice technology are slowly transforming how we work Whether the economy could hinder the adoption of digital technology How to develop your own transformation plan in 2020
What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
Conventional marketing tactics no longer work like they used to. Consumers don't want to be controlled or sold to. Social media engagement is down across the board. And two thirds of your marketing is happening without you.
In this episode of the Digital Download Podcast I talk to Mark Schaefer, author of Marketing Rebellion. In a wide-ranging conversation that covers many threads of current digital communications thinking, we talk about topics as diverse as fake news, the future of Facebook, the law, mental health and marketers' abuse of technology.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
Why misinformation travels even when it's proven to be fake Whether deep fake technology is a threat to the internet Why fact checking political ads is not straightforward How the law is trailing technology all across the internet How hate has become currency Why Facebook is still dominant despite all of its issues Whether we're taking back control of what we're exposed to online Why customer loyalty is dying How marketing has become over-automated How personalisation has become impersonal How abuse of technology by marketers has become mainstream Why marketing has to move towards recognising that the customer is the marketer
What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
Facebook states its mission as connecting people the world over. But while social networks are capable of overcoming the technological barriers to achieving this, there are still mountains to climb when it comes to cultural and societal challenges.
In this episode of the Digital Download Podcast I talk to Michael Marquardt, a global business advisor who has spent 25 years living and working throughout Europe, Asia and America. Michael serves on several boards for organisations around the world, advising not just on business practice but also on the cultural differences between different countries. We discuss the world from a digital standpoint, looking at how different cultures view the internet and social media, and what the future of social networks around the world might be.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
How the internet has developed in different regions of the world How different cultures think about social media Why a global view of social media can be a huge business advantage How sharing of personal information online has been influenced by global history Why local knowledge is so advantageous What the challenges of fragmented social media around the world are How WeChat differs from western social networks and reflects local society Why social networks are culture-led not technology-led How data privacy issues have not touched some Asian countries yet Why technological innovation in Asia can be attributed to lack of privacy concerns Whether there is such a thing as global social media What the future of social networks around the world might be
What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
There are now 100 million homeless and displaced people in the world, and the issue is becoming a major problems for most countries and cities around the world. The World's Big Sleep Out is a charitable initiative that aims to change that by encouraging 50,000 people to sleep outside in 50 cities around the world to raise $50 million for homeless charities.
In this episode of the Digital Download Podcast I talk to Josh Littlejohn MBE, the founder of The World's Big Sleep Out. Josh contacted me during the summer to help devise a social media strategy for the campaign, and in this show we discuss just how prevalent the issue of homelessness has become, what the campaign involves and aims to achieve, and what role social media plays in tackling such a huge global issue.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
What happens when you're awarded an MBE! Where Josh's ideas for tackling homelessness originated How funds from sleep outs help homeless people off the streets What fundraising and issue-based campaigns can and can't achieve How the issue of homelessness and displacement has grown in the last few years How important strategic political intervention is in tackling the issue What The World's Big Sleep Out is and how donations will be used Why the likes of Will Smith and Helen Mirren have become involved in the campaign How critical corporate involvement is to the success of the event Why social media is a primary driver of both participation and fundraising Whether social media plays an important role in charity and not-for-profit communications Whether trolling applies to charitable campaigns What you can do to help the homelessness issue
What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
Over the last ten years it's become increasingly clear that data is the new gold. While the likes of Google and Facebook make money from selling data, new technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrency have sprung up built upon the foundations of data. Getting to grips with it all is a challenging task.
In this episode of the Digital Download Podcast I talk to Ste Davies, a digital strategist with a huge interest in all things data. Ste has recently looked deeply into data privacy, digital minimalism and cryptocurrency, and we discuss how all of these elements are coming together to have a huge impact on the way the world operates.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
What is digital minimalism? Where the digital minimalist movement has come from How we accumulate digital baggage Whether a wave of digital disconnection is coming Why we should be concerned about the personal information we share online How to go about auditing your online data Why your data is of financial value to you Which tech platform is the worst for data privacy How Facebook and Google track us across the web How to evaluate the hardware and software you use Why password managers and two factor authentication are so important Why Facebook is trying to move into cryptocurrency What cryptocurrency is What different cryptocurrencies there are How different cryptocurrencies work Why you should be interested in Bitcoin Why cryptocurrency could be the biggest disruption to technology ever
What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
The public relations industry has a love/hate relationship with the public relations industry. Its own biggest supporter and yet its own biggest critic, the cyclical nature of many of the debates drives some of those who've worked within it for many years to distraction.
One of those people is Rax Lakhani, a communications consultant with nearly two decades' experience working with big name brands. In this episode of the Digital Download Podcast, Rax voices some of his growing frustrations with the industry he loves, from meaningless awards schemes to outdated agency models to poor training and development opportunities for those entering the industry.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
Whether the passion has gone from PR Whether the industry is suffering from lack of effective leadership Whether awards schemes celebrate mediocrity and mean little How awards schemes are biased towards large agencies and not necessarily the best work How agency models have failed to evolve with client demands Why new industries are stealing PR's lunch Why PR doesn't understand the value of consumer demand and Google searches Whether young people are leaving the industry due to lack of interest and evolution Why Google is the start point of everything when it comes to product and service discovery Why the PR/SEO link should be gold for the industry, but isn't Why there is such confusion around digital terminology Why agency structures discourage digital skills and junior staff How public relations is misaligned with out behaviour
What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
Content marketing has become associated with inbound marketing and sales funnels, with communicators in danger of being swamped by advertisers when it comes to the use of creative content. But there is an alternative school of thought which says that public relations is the ideal home for content marketing.
In this episode of the Digital Download Podcast, I talk to communications strategist Trevor Young about the strategic use of content marketing for PR and communications purposes, and how it can deepen the connection your brand has with customers and grown your influence.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
How content marketing for PR differs from inbound marketing Whether the communications industry misunderstands content marketing How different disciplines look at content marketing in different ways How content can help build reputation, trust and influence How PR and inbound marketing measure the same activity differently Whether sales funnels are still relevant Why other people's opinions matter more than corporate content How content marketing for PR can help a brand to differentiate itself What the four types of content for public relations are How you can make company news interesting Whether companies are nervous about publishing combative content Where the future of the public relations industry lies Why ongoing content marketing is the base level for great creative campaigns
What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
Fake news and propaganda have existed for decades, if not centuries. But with social media algorithms reinforcing confirmation bias and with the advent of deep fake technology, misinformation has reached unprecedented levels. As a result, trust has plummeted and corporate crises are becoming ever-more common.
In this episode of the Digital Download Podcast, I talk to Kate Hartley from crisis simulation platform Polpeo. Kate has recently written a book called Communicate in a Crisis that takes a detailed look at why people behave the way they do on social media, how misinformation spreads as a result and how companies can best handle this.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
How crisis management has evolved in the last few years Why the speed of information online is scaring companies so much How we’re now far more likely to learn of things that outrage us Why people wear outrage as a badge of honour How the media reinforces the spread of misinformation How trust is likely to continue to erode Why being transparent and the trusted voice of authority is so vital now The reasons people spread misinformation How misinformation is leading to increased polarisation Why Facebook does not listen to use through our mobile phones Why you must have ‘fake news’ in your crisis plan How to deal with misinformation in the midst of a social media crisis Whether people will start to disengage with social media in future
What to do Next
Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.
Thanks for listening!
The world is seemingly in crisis, with social and political upheaval having dominated the news agenda for several years. Much of the blame for this is laid at the feet of the social media giants, notably Facebook and Twitter, for creating platforms that fragment society and encourage extremism.
In the opening episode of Season Five of the Digital Download Podcast, I talk to digital technologist and former manager of the BBC's DigiLab Euan Semple about the current social media environment and what the future looks like. We discuss how much of the responsibility to improve things lies with the social networks, and how much of that lies squarely at the feet of us, the people who use it.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
The development of online conversation over the last ten years How the internet is a mirror of humanity Whether social media exacerbates the worst in people Whether regulation would have any impact on social media behaviour Why the distinction between on and offline life is irrelevant How technology has evolved too fast for humanity to adapt to the responsibilities it necessitates Why we have to be responsible not only for what we pay attention to online, but also what we respond to How the internet is full of people telling others what to think or believe or do Whether social media does more harm than good How much responsibility communicators, marketers and organisation have Why the mechanisms of marketing and social algorithms are deeply flawed
What to do Next Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
In 2019 we're all hyper-connected. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp and dozens of other apps compete for our attention on a daily basis. Those working in the communications industry are, arguably, more exposed than most given the nature of our jobs. So what affect is this having on us?
In this special episode of the Digital Download Podcast for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, I chat to Leanne Ehren and Alistair Beech, two communications professionals who have not only openly talked about their mental health issues, but who have campaigned to improve mental wellbeing in the workplace. We discuss the challenges of working in communications and ways that individuals and companies can address the issues.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
How prevalent stress, anxiety and depression are in communications What the unique challenges of comms are that can lead to mental ill health Why being hyper-connected is part of the job Whether the difference lies between personal and professional social media use in the workplace What the role is of information overload What role fake news and misinformation plays in mental health The role of disconnecting The pressure of being always-on How we can protect our mental wellbeing at work Why being enabled to talk is so important Hoe employers can support the mental wellbeing of their staff The benefits of social media and digital connectivity
Useful Links from Today's Show
One Third Of Industry Have Had Mental Health Issues, PRCA Census Finds from The Holmes Report The Mental Health Epidemic Facing the PR Profession from All Things IC CIPR State of the Profession 2019 from the CIPR
What to do Next Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
PR and SEO have been converging for many years. While each has large areas that are distinct to that discipline, there is a huge crossover in goals and skills. And yet many communications professionals still struggle with the concept of authority link building and with the language and challenges that SEO presents.
In this episode of the Digital Download Podcast, Head of Content at digital agency Aira Shannon McGuirk, discusses her switch from traditional PR to SEO. She talks about getting up to speed with the differences in approach that SEO employs, the similarities between the two disciplines, and about why and how PR professionals are in a prime position to take on link building work.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
What advantages does digital PR hold over traditional PR What PR skills contribute to successful SEO How PR and link building SEO blend together Whether there is a big learning curve when moving from PR to SEO Why consistent learning and flexibility are so important in digital PR Where the balance lies between domain authority and site relevance Whether nofollow links have any impact on search rankings The value of editorial contacts in SEO Why link building SEO campaigns fail Why failed campaigns can teach us the most How to frame facts into a story that resonates and gains links Whether digital press packs have any place in SEO
Useful Links from Today's Show
Link Explorer from Moz The Campaign Comeback Whiteboard Friday from Moz & Shannon McGuirk 5 Steps for Bouncing Back When Your Campaign Fails from Brighton SEO & Shannon McGuirk
What to do Next Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Smart speakers are the fastest adopted consumer technology in history. Faster even than smartphones. The current use case is around routine activities like voice calling, playing music and accessing news headlines, but digital voice assistants are widely expected to take on more and more complex tasks as the technology advances rapidly.
In this episode of the Digital Download Podcast, co-founder of voice first consultancy Vixen Labs, James Poulter, talks about how voice technology is already impacting marketing communications and the ways that communicators need to adapt the way they do things with audio in mind.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
The popularity of smart speakers Adoption rates of voice technology What people use voice assistants for How people use voice prompts on the move The rise of audio marketing How voice is connecting to and enabling the Internet of Things How conversational AI is advancing the use of voice assistants How voice assistants are changing the way communicators need to write content The challenges to brands of voice technology The differences in the way that Google, Amazon and Apple contextualise voice commands How communicators should approach voice on different platforms Getting stories onto voice-enabled news bulletins How voice navigation is still developing according to user behaviour Why you must consider audio when producing news stories
Useful Links from Today's Show
Global Smart Speaker Users 2019 from eMarketer Smart speaker ownership doubles in six months from YouGov Voice2 the voice first community
What to do Next Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
UK high street retailer Lush's announcement that it is to close its branded social media accounts was met with reasoned agreement from some industry professionals and by relentless incredulity from others. It is a decision that has proved highly controversial in marketing communications circles.
In this episode of the Digital Download Podcast, social media consultant Helen Reynolds and I debate whether Lush's shuttering of its branded social media channels is sensible given the rise of dark social media channels and the poor visibility afforded to brands on social networks now, or something that will do nothing but alienate it from insight and customers in the long run. Above all, do customers actually care?
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
The importance of resonant content in beating social media algorithms Whether algorithms are killing brand visibility Whether social media is now pay-to-play What makes valuable content and what is simply advertising The importance of social listening from a business perspective Whether not being on social media kills conversation about a brand Whether a backlash to social purpose campaigns is inevitable Whether customers actually care whether you're on social media or not Whether dark social media is overtaking public social networks If it is increasingly difficult to engage people in social media Whether people are less interested in hearing from brands
Useful Links from Today's Show
"We're switching up social" from Lush on Twitter The Lush Spycops Campaign: Breaking Through the Backlash from Brandwatch
What to do Next Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
ASMR, or Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response to give it its full name, has been gaining lots of attention from marketers over the last few months. But what are opportunities? Are ASMR artists influential? And what actually is it?
In this episode of the Digital Download Podcast I talk to ASMR artists Creative Calm and Scottish Murmurs, who between them have 400,000 YouTube subscribers. We discuss how ASMR is perceived, what sorts of people watch the videos, what the opportunities are for marketers and whether ASMR is really here to stay.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
What ASMR is and what it feels like What ASMR is used for Why ASMR should not be confused with sexual content Why watch time and view-through rates are so high with ASMR How interest in ASMR has boomed in the last 18 months Why brands in the UK are slow to catch on to ASMR influence Whether the visual element is important in ASMR content Who the ASMR community is comprised of What type of brands are working with ASMR artists How ASMR artists prefer to be approached by brands What the influencer potential is of ASMR artists
Useful Links from Today's Show
What's the Deal with ASMR (podcast) from Stuff You Should Know Brain Tingles: First Study of its Kind Reveals Physiological Benefits of ASMR from Sheffield University Michelob ASMR Superbowl advert National Rail ASMR video
What to do Next Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Both podcasting and blogging have been around for nearly thirty years. But whereas the former has undergone a huge resurgence due to developments in mobile technology and 4G, the latter is in decline as readers switch to more immersive forms of content. Both still hold significant benefits for marketing communications, but which is better?
In this episode of the Digital Download Podcast I debate the issue with Darryl Sparey, Business Development Director at Hotwire UK. Darryl believes that blogging is less demanding, had greater SEO benefits and is more measurable. I believe that podcasting is a more engaging form of media and attracts a higher quality audience and, consequently, is of higher business value.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
Whether it is easier to build a profile with a blog or a podcast What the levels of competition are in blogging and podcasting Whether it is difficult to measure the impact of a podcast Whether a blog gains greater reach than a podcast Whether a podcast has a higher quality audience than a blog Whether it is easier to get people to contribute to a blog or a podcast Whether blogging generates greater reciprocity than podcasting Whether people find it harder to record than to write How important confidence is in blogging and in podcasting Whether people are scared of the technical aspects of podcasting Whether blogging is of more benefits to SEO than podcasting
Useful Links from Today's Show
A Reminder About Links in Large-Scale Article Campaigns from Google
What to do Next Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
A year ago I wrote a rather controversial blog post titled 'The Four Horsemen of the PR-Pocalypse' that outlined four key threats to the communications industry. I asserted that the prevalence of fake news, an influencer bubble, declining content visibility in both social and traditional media, and the evolution of artificial intelligence are coming together to form a perfect storm around public relations.
In this episode of the Digital Download Podcast I revisit that blog post to look at how those four trends have progressed, whether my original post had any substance and whether it's more challenging working in communications and PR than it was 12 months ago.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
Has fake news got worse or better in the last twelve months How trust has evolved towards factors we control ourselves Whether fake news is continuing to impact society From where the social purpose trend has evolved Whether there is a bubble around influencers The confusion between influencer marketing and influencer advertising Whether a correction in influencer marketing is coming How content visibility across social media channels has declined The latest news media circulations The increasing importance of paid content amplification How the conversation around artificial intelligence has evolved Whether AI is all just hype How voice recognition is evolving rapidly to impact communications Whether communications has become more challenging in the last year Why trust has become critical in communications
Useful Links from Today's Show
The Four Horsemen of the PR-Pocalypse from Paul Sutton 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer The Lowdown on B2B Influencer Marketing (podcast) Yes...Another Fyre Festival Article...But Wait... from Scott Guthrie Are We Witnessing the Beginning of the End for Facebook (podcast) There Will Be No Newspapers by 2020 from Paul Sutton Is Artificial Intelligence All Just Hype (podcast)
What to do Next Subscribe to the podcast to receive new episodes automatically to your mobile or email. And if you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message. And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a moment to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
As users turn away from public social networks to using private groups and dark social media, reaching those people with branded messages is becoming more and more difficult. In accordance with this, employee advocacy is on the rise, with an increasing number of companies focusing on their own staff to spread their messages far and wide.
In this episode of the Digital Download Podcast I talk to Keith Lewis, Social Media Manager at Zurich Insurance UK, about the organisation's journey over the last few years towards a fully-fledged employee advocacy programme. We discuss the challenges of the approach and some of the key considerations, such as how to identify and encourage advocates, how to guide them, and what processes and software tools work best.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
Why PR no longer controls the message How you can relinquish control without destroying the message Why advocacy may address the move to dark social How reach through employees is significantly higher than through corporate channels How an advocacy audience differs from a corporate audience How empowering employees reaps significant rewards How to identify potential employee advocates How software supports the development of advocacy Why success in advocacy breeds success How to identify and distribute shareable content The role content curation plays in effective employee advocacy How taking part in an advocacy programme need not affect your day job Why an effective internal network can be as important as external social media channels
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Useful Links from Today's Show
LinkedIn Elevate Workplace by Facebook Yammer
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Artificial intelligence has been variously painted as the next big thing, the technology that will all-but-kill communications and the development that will increase efficiency and productivity exponentially. But where does the truth lie? Is AI all just hype? Do we really need to bother with it yet when no-one else is?
Katie King is a digital transformation and management consultant, and was recently appointed to the UK Government All-Party Parliamentary Group task force for the enterprise adoption of AI. Her new book, Using Artificial Intelligence in Marketing, seeks to clear up some of the confusion around AI with case studies of companies using it both successfully and not-so-successfully. In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, Katie and I address some of the more challenging questions when it comes to AI and the communications industry.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
What Katie King's book, Using Artificial Intelligence in Marketing, is all about How the conversation around artificial intelligence has evolved in the last 12 months How AI tools can add value to an organisation Whether or not communicators are applying AI in their job roles yet What AI encompasses How different companies are using and benefiting from AI Whether or not we're ready to give our data to AI tools voluntarily Whether there is a cultural acceptance issue in Europe around AI and robots compared to Asia What the use cases are for AI in marketing, PR and communications What some of the tools we can start using now are Whether we really need to bother with AI just yet Whether automation will further erode trust, resulting in less human connection How machine learning is already bleeding into the mainstream world Where we should track to stay up to date with AI
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Useful Links from Today's Show
Using Artificial Intelligence in Marketing [book] from Katie King and Kogan Page Nearly Half Of All ‘AI Startups’ Are Cashing In On Hype from Forbes Gartner Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies 2018 from Gartner Google Duplex demo from The Verge
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Facebook has taken a battering in the last few months from the media, from marketers and from legislators. And yet on the face of it, users don't seem to care that much. Or do they?
In the opening episode of Season Four of the Digital Download podcast, MD of Third City PR Chris Blackwood and I debate one of the big issues of the digital marketing industry at the current time. Can Facebook survive an increasing torrent of criticism and falling user engagement? Is it already too late when it comes to marketers' use of the platform?
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
Whether Facebook can survive & thrive in the face of mounting criticism Whether democracy is at risk due to the network's lack of attention to election result manipulation Has Facebook run its course with everyone but the old? Is Facebook still an effective marketing platform? Do Facebook ads still work as effectively as they used to? Are Facebook targeting options now less effective? How much has engagement declined on Facebook for brands? Does Facebook now have any role as a community platform? To what degree has Facebook's usage declined? Are Facebook's usage stats misleading? How does data from WhatsApp and Instagram affect ad targeting? Whether people trust Facebook anymore Do marketers have an ethical dilemma over whether they should be using Facebook? Is Facebook untouchable due to its size?
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Useful Links from Today's Show
Facebook Labelled 'Digital Gangsters' by Report on Fake News from The Guardian Former Content Moderators are Suing Facebook over PTSD and Trauma from Futurism The Fallout for Facebook over Data Row from the Victoria Derbyshire Show (video) 5 Ways Facebook Shared Your Data from The New York Times Zuckerberg to Meet UK Minister after Damning ‘Digital Gangsters’ Report from The Verge 2019 Social Media Industry Benchmark Report from Rival IQ Facebook’s Promised Clear History Privacy Tool to Launch Later this Year from The Verge Revealed: Facebook’s Global Lobbying Against Data Privacy Laws from The Guardian ‘Facebook Coin’ Reportedly Coming in First Half of 2019 from U.Today
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
In the final episode of the Digital Download Podcast of the year, I welcome back Arment Dietrich CEO and Spin Sucks head honcho Gini Dietrich to review the last 12 months and look ahead to the next year. We analyse some of the predictions we made back in January on S1E1 of the podcast, and we try to project where we believe the digital communications industry is headed over the next 12 months.
We cover areas including influencers, voice recognition, Facebook marketing, artificial intelligence, social purpose and, quite simply, being human.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
Why being human & vulnerable is so important after the last two years of fake news How adoption of AI & automation isn't moving fast enough in the public relations industry Why 2019 will not be the year of artificial intelligence in PR due to huge resistance to change How there is a big movement towards chatbots in the USA but not so much in the UK Why voice search will have such a major impact in the comms world in 2019 How podcasting helps to extend your community Why Instagram will take over as the number one social network within 18 months How & why LinkedIn is making a resurgence Why we, as individuals, have a responsibility to protect the news media How having a social purpose can attract the right type of customers Why the evolving influencer market is all about building relationships Whether the USA could be on the way to state TV & a re-elected Trump
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts I Android Podcast Apps I Email I RSS What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
The public relations industry is one of the most insecure professions around. They might be universally despised, but traffic wardens believe in themselves more than PR people.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I address some of the conversations driving the industry over the last month and take the opportunity to voice some frustrations that have been building recently. It's a very honest and forthright show containing some potentially divisive views. The intention is to help you think about your own role and where you would like to see the industry go in future.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
Whether many PR agencies supply little more than an administrative function Whether there is a large disparity between the approaches of the large agencies and everyone else Whether PR is losing the influencer marketing battle Whether PR is tackling fake news in any meaningful way Whether PR is booming or whether it's in trouble Whether all the introspection is harming public relations Why we have to tackle a lack of recognition by doing great work Whether the PR industry has a moral obligation to defend and protect the news media
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Useful Links from Today's Show
Walking a Path Never Taken by Ella Minty Public Relations in 2019 by Stephen Waddington PR Must Act to Defend the News Media by Nigel Sarbutts
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Every year the PRCA Digital PR report throws up some unexpected findings from the world of digital communications, and this year is no different. Among the headlines are that although PR teams are controlling more social and digital media activity, they're less confident in measuring it!
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I talk to Danny Whatmough, Chair of the PRCA Digital Group and MD for Integrated Media at Weber Shandwick, about some of the findings and what the implications are for the public relations industry in 2019. We also talk about his new book, Digital PR, which is one of the PRCA Practice Guides.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
The headline results of the PRCA Digital PR & Communications Report 2018 Whether in-house teams are now controlling more day-to-day social media activity Why PR people are losing confidence in measuring digital activity Whether measurement still exists as an afterthought Why digital crisis management is moving in-house Whether companies now have a more balanced view of social media negativity Whether social media customer service still exists as part of the comms role How different elements of digital media are splitting into different specialist groups Why budgets for influencer marketing are in decline Why proper relationships with influencers are finally coming to the fore What the book 'Digital PR' is about & who it is aimed at
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Useful Links from Today's Show
PRCA Digital PR & Communications Report 2018 Digital PR book on Amazon
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Diversity is a hot topic in the public relations and communications industry. But while issues such as the gender pay gap and mental health receive a lot of attention, other issues such as racial equality, sexual orientation and disability do not. In addition, the industry does not appear to be making much, if any progress.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I talk to Sara Hawthorn, hard of hearing owner of InFusion Comms and diversity campaigner, about how the industry can better tackle the issue. We discuss whether there is a hierarchy when it comes to different issues under the diversity banner and whether diversity itself has simply become a tick box exercise for many agencies and companies. Sara also presents some ideas on moving the conversation forward towards action.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
How young people have a different level of awareness of communications campaigns How mental health & gender equality are the popular faces of diversity How disability can lead to social anxiety Whether podcasts exclude those with hearing loss How technology can help to overcome some disabilities Why it is important that teams are diverse in order to help overcome diversity issues Whether diversity has become a 'tick box' exercise Why diversity may be solvable through organisational culture Why solving gender equality will not automatically help solve other diversity issues Why accessibility statements for events are really important Whether there is a hierarchy of diversity issues Why we all need to start challenging our own confirmation biases
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Useful Links from Today's Show
The Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 List 2018 CIPR State of the Profession Report 2018 PRCA Divsersity and Inclusion Guidelines Disability PR Network on Twitter
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
The convergence of public relations, social media and SEO is nearly complete, and one area where the lines are now completely blurred is that of authority link building. And yet PR professionals still question their ability to build links that impact search rankings and are confused by how to go about it.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I talk to Andy Barr, owner of 10 Yetis, to address some of the key questions that public relations and communications people commonly ask about SEO and authority link building. We address the fundamental aspects of link building and discuss how PR can still take advantage of what is a very lucrative area of business.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
Why follow links are (still) the holy grail for SEO Whether implied links currently have any impact on search rankings Why PR is better for authority link building than SEO What the differences between SEO and PR are when it comes to link building What the technical value of SEO people is How PR & SEO can best work together to achieve great results Why SEO can get away with charging significantly more for link building than PR How Google knows whether you've bought links What Google does when it spots dodgy link profiles What Interflora & BMW did to get removed from Google rankings (allegedly!) Whether links from social media impact search rankings What ranking factors are most important What is a good, low-cost SEO toolkit for PR people
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What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Advances in digital communications technology over the last few years have made the ability to work from anywhere at any time a reality. Whether it's automated processes or a greater ability to share information quickly and effectively, the world of PR work is changing rapidly before our eyes.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I talk to Rich Leigh, founder of Radioactive PR, about his decision to switch his agency to a four day work week without cutting pay. We discuss what prompted the initial idea, how clients and staff reacted after an initial trial, what enabled him to make the change a permanent one, and whether others should or will follow suit.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
How the idea for a four day work week came about How you can balance conscientiousness, hard work, reward & fun How processes & technology are changing within the PR industry How digital technology facilitates better working processes & ways of working Why doing something different to make people feel valued attracts talent Why the profit margin of a business is not the be all and end all Why PR agencies no longer need big London offices How clients respond to innovative initiatives like a four day work week What is the impact on work/life balance
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What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
It's no secret that the media has changed beyond all recognition in the last ten years, with print circulations down by 50% and digital news sites struggling to turn a profit. As a result, the symbiotic relationship between journalists and public relations professionals has become even more strained.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I talk to veteran tech and business journalist Guy Clapperton about how digital has changed journalism and about how journalists now operate. We also talk about how PR consultants can best work with journalists in an age where maintaining a relationship is increasingly difficult.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
Why paid journalism could be unsustainable due to digital How journalists can help battle fake news Why some amateur journalists can now be as good as professionals How the internet has significantly increased the competition among journalists Why the influence of the news media has changed How the collaborative nature of multimedia has altered in favour of marketers Why technical skills are now so important to PR professionals Why content will also trump technical perfection Why incremental changes are driving new behaviours, skills and thinking How PR professionals can best stay in touch with journalists in 2018/19 How GDPR has adversely affected the journalist/PR relationship
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What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
There are good PR stunts and there are bad PR stunts. The good ones create a massive groundswell of publicity and awareness that can help to propel a brand's fame and reputation to a new level. The bad ones float something large down the Thames...
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I chat to co-founder of Young in Spirit Camilla Brown about Collagin, the collagen-infused gin that she and business partner Liz Beswick dreamed up as a PR stunt but that is now on sale in John Lewis and Ocado. She talks about where the idea came from, how the huge success of the PR stunt convinced her and Liz to do it 'for real', and about their journey up to and since an appearance on Dragon's Den.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
Where the idea for Collagin came from How to get a side project off the ground while holding down a full-time job Why being fired from your job is not the end of the world How women are still discriminated against & how that can be used as inspiration Why branding inspiration can come from anywhere Why getting a product right is more important than branding for long-term success Behind the scenes of filming Dragon's Den How the 'dragons' are not really dragons at all
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Useful Links from Today's Show
Gin Distilled With Collagen Secures £50k Investment on BBC Dragon's Den from The Drinks Business Collagin Success Story Revealed by Owners from The Metro Nervous Woman Nearly Sick Three Times Before Entering The Den from The Sun Collagin website
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
There is no escaping the march of technology and the impact it is having on our professional lives. And yet some more senior PR and communications professionals are running scared when the simple fact is that we all have to embrace change to remain relevant.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I chat to author and founder of Zude PR, David Sawyer, about the journey he's gone through in the last five years from digital dullard to writing a book about future proofing your career using digital technology. He speaks candidly about the challenges he faced when he saw the world moving on and what he did about it. And about his obsessive use of index cards!
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
Why becoming digitally enabled is vital for your career Why you need to address your digital fear head on How to future proof your career using digital How the decline of the media has increased rapidly in the last ten years Why many senior PR people are happy to 'get by' on what they know Whether traditional media is losing influence when it comes to generating sales Why you don't need to be tech-savvy to maximise the use of software Why digital technology gives you an unfair advantage Why reading relevant material every day is a great habit to establish Why your own social networks are your very best source of news and knowledge What the process of self-publishing a book involves
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Useful Links from Today's Show
RESET: How to Restart Your Life and Get F.U. Money by David Sawyer (Amazon link) There Will Be No Newspapers by 2020 from Paul Sutton
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Last week Brewdog came under fire for a story that turned out not only to be untrue, but that came from a hard-to-identify source. It is the perfect example of the challenges facing brands in a post-Trump, post-Brexit world where misinformation holds as much if not more weight than the truth.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I discuss the phenomenon of fake news with Alex Myers, CEO of Brewdog's PR agency, Manifest. He candidly opens up about the circumstances surrounding the story, and we go on to talk about the impact of fake news on the media, on individuals and on communications campaigns.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
How Brewdog became embroiled in a 'fake news' story The value of great journalist relationships Why reacting fast rather than perfectly is so important How social media propagates fake news Why dealing in absolutes not ambiguity is vital in a crisis situation Why you should take responsibility even if something is not your fault What the term 'fake news' actually means How fake news is being used across digital media How journalism is being impacted by social media stories What the impact of fake news is upon communications campaigns Why there is now a strong argument to go to traditional media before social media
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Useful Links from Today's Show
Brewdog Condemns Utterly False Press Release Offering Free Beer to Trump Supporters from PR Week The Four Horsemen of the PR-pocalypse from Paul Sutton
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
When Nike published its latest advertisement featuring racial injustice campaigner Colin Kaepernick, it sparked a torrent of abuse for the brand from those who disagree with Kaepernick's stance. It also prompted an outpouring of admiration from supportive consumers and marketers alike. To say it is controversial is an understatement.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I discuss Nike's approach with Stephen Houraghan, who runs Australian branding agency Iconic Fox. We talk about how Nike uses brand archetypes modelling to understand its consumers, and about how archetypes can be used to differentiate brands from competitors. We also dig into what brand archetypes are and discuss authenticity, brand personality and why taking a stand on topical issues is so powerful.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
The value of relevant, professional influencer outreach The power of brand authenticity What brand archetypes are & how they translate into marketing Why associating a brand with human characteristics is so powerful What the 12 archetypes are & what a brand archetype encompasses Why Harley Davidson is one of the most refined brand archetypes How the Nike advertisement is so aligned with its archetype Why Nike clearly understands its audience, their believes & how the brand environment has changed Why taking a stance is something that the millennial audience respects & wants from brands Whether brand purpose is a marketing fad or the future of branding How to use brand archetypes to define social media tone of voice or entire brand personalities Why a misaligned brand purpose can threaten brand reputation
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Useful Links from Today's Show
The Ultimate Guide to Brand Archetypes from Iconic Fox Jungian Archetypes from Wikipedia The Hero and The Outlaw by Margaret Mark & Carol Pearson [book] How Harley Davidson Revs Its Brand from Strategy+Business Nike's Online Sales Jumped 31% After Kaepernick Campaign from Marketwatch
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
In the opening episode of Season Three of the Digital Download podcast, we take a look at some of the emerging technologies that digital communications professionals need to start paying attention to. Using Gartner's Hype Cycle as a reference point, communications technology expert Neville Hobson and I discuss what's predicted to hit the mainstream within the next two to three years. Through the lens of public relations and marketing communications, we analyse the impact that these might have and what we should be doing now to prepare ourselves for what's around the corner.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
What's changed in the world of podcasting since 2005 What is the Gartner Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies Why it's important to pay attention to the Hype Cycle What are the technologies that will 'blur the line between human and machine' What 'augmented intelligence' is and how it will benefit us as communicators Why artificial intelligence could be invaluable to the communications profession What the communicator's role in technological development is What impact emerging technologies such as virtual assistants will soon have on our day-to-day working lives When machines will equal and surpass human intelligence Why audio marketing is an important trend Why technology-enabled fake news is a serious threat to communicators Why curiosity is so vital How you can track emerging technologies while doing your day job
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Useful Links from Today's Show
2018 Gartner Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies BMW Launches Personal Voice Assistant for its Cars from TechCrunch The New Sony AIBO A.I. Dog Is Your New Best Friend Fake Obama created using AI video tool from BBC News
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
In the final episode of Season Two of the Digital Download podcast, we take a look at some of the major themes to have emerged from the show during the last three months. MD of Carrot Communications and co-founder of Polpeo Kate Hartley and I discuss how, despite the podcast being primarily about how digital technology is impacting the communications industry, the outstanding message to come through is one of humanity. We talk about what this means in terms of technologies including social media and artificial intelligence and speculate as to how the marketing communications industry may develop with this in mind.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
How the value of true community is being reinforced by technological developments Why humanity shines through as the connecting block of all technologies Why being honest, transparent and vulnerable are so important in marketing today What the balance is between robots and being vulnerable Why the posturing and bullshit inherent in marketing must die out How it will be individuals who drive the industry forward Why taking personal responsibility for your career is a must Why developing an entrepreneurial mindset is important Why we have no choice but to take artificial intelligence seriously
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What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Hard rock band Halestorm won a Grammy Award in 2013 and is about to release its fourth album in nine years on Atlantic Records. Lead singer Lzzy Hale is one of the most popular and likeable frontwomen (or men) on social media, where she is pretty much ever-present on Twitter and Instagram. But does popularity pay?
I caught up with Lzzy and guitarist Joe Hottinger (who, incidentally, are two of the nicest people you could wish to meet) on a recent media trip to London to promote their new record. In this special episode of the Digital Download podcast, I chat to them about the band's very personal use of social media, the bond they have with fans, how their fans inspire their music, and ultimately how social media helps them to sell records and concert tickets. We also talk about dealing with trolls and even death threats, and about how to keep pushing yourself to achieve bigger and better things. There's a lot that marketers can learn about relationship building in this episode from the way Halestorm goes about things.
Here's what is discussed in this episode:
Why the band believes having a personal presence on social media is more authentic How a supportive community has developed around Lzzy independent of her input How social media has helped the band sell themselves as artists and benefited them How fans have come to feel a common bond with band members as human beings Why engaging with people on social media creates a personal connection with the band The evidence that being personally active on social media helps to sell records and concert tickets How Lzzy gains creative inspiration from conversations she has with fans online How band members balance the responsibility of being public role models with being authentic Why the band doesn't view Likes as currency but uses social media as a mouthpiece How Lzzy deals with trolls and death threats How Lzzy tries to encourage positivity through social media How Halestorm's music has developed over the last few years Why the band believes there is always something to fight for despite its success to date How being pulled out of their comfort zone on the last record was the best thing to happen to them
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What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
The word 'community' is often misused by communications professionals, many of whom fail to grasp the fundamental nature of community and how to leverage it. But when deployed strategically, with a clear purpose and focus on the members not the administrator, online communities can provide huge business value.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I talk to Gemma Went, a digital strategist who has built a successful mentoring business by building a vibrant online community. We discuss what role communities can play in the marketing process, how much time and effort it takes to build and maintain a valuable online community, how being true to yourself and vulnerable builds intimacy, and ultimately how to monetise a community.
Here's what we discussed in this episode:
What the reasons are for building an online community Why it's good to be real and vulnerable inside of your community Why self-doubt is a natural part of building a community Why choosing the right platform for your community is so important The value of Facebook Groups How to grow a Facebook Group Why 1000 is the magic number for communities How being present and being yourself drives intimacy and sales What role Facebook Pages now play in marketing communications How advertising supports Facebook communities How to identify and activate superfans Why you only need a few superfans to be successful How to use funnels and lead magnets in combination with online communities Why community building is a long term activity not a quick fix How to use your community to grow your community!
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What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
There's a lot of corporate rubbish spoken in and around the PR industry. From over-elaborate brand statements and communications jargon to pseudo-propitious CSR initiatives. Companies and brands hide behind walls of carefully constructed marketing initiatives that present a polished veneer instead of what really goes on inside those organisations. But what if we remove that veneer?
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I talk to John Brown, founder of Don't Cry Wolf, about honesty. We talk about how transparency and authenticity are fast becoming something that clients and customers not only want but demand, and about the difficulty many brands have when faced with this change. Vulnerability is not a weakness unless you treat it as one.
Here's what we discussed in this episode:
Why being honest and true to yourself feels good Why the perfect brand veneer is inauthentic Why brands need to stop putting pressure on people to be their 'perfect selves' Why vulnerability is a model for future success Why being committed generates greater ratings Why being accountable is important and how it manifests itself Why being vulnerable is not a weakness How you can transform a guarded organisation into an honest and transparent one Why organisations will be judged on their approach to honesty in just a few years time Why people want to see raw, human emotion from brands Why upsetting people sometimes isn't necessarily a bad thing Why healthy conflict can be beneficial
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What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
B2B influencer marketing is a discipline that, far from being in its infancy, has not reached the maturity of the consumer sector. While the latter is plagued with Instagram and YouTube 'stars' who flog their supposed influence to the highest bidder, the B2B sector is relatively untouched. Many communications professionals are unsure of how to best utilise B2B influencers and of what the differences in approach are to the consumer sector.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I talk to Scott Guthrie, an independent communications professional who has made his name in the influencer marketing space. We discuss how B2B influencer marketing differs from B2C, what makes someone influential in the B2B space, how to find and approach B2B influencers, what motivates them and why having affinity with them is so important.
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
What are the key differences between B2B and B2C influencer marketing How the marketing approach differs Why closed social channels are so important for the B2B sector Why knowledge and being meaningful are so important to B2B influencer marketing What to look out for when evaluating B2B influence Why influencers' personal motivations are so important What incentivises B2B influencers Why the B2B outreach approach tends to be more vague Why B2B influencer marketing is all about long-term partnerships not quick sales How companies can utilise influencers' knowledge for their own benefit Why the B2B influencer marketing approach is all about the influencer, not the brand What software tools can help to identify B2B influencers How employees can be the greatest source of influencer information Why authenticity, knowledge and detailed subject matter expertise are fundamental to B2B influencer marketing
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What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
This episode of the Digital Download podcast was recorded live at Digital Download Live 2018. The event presented a challenging set of developments for the communications industry that necessitate ensuring you are up-to-speed with technological change, namely fake news, a potential crash in influencer marketing, the decline of content visibility and the threat of artificial intelligence. In today's show, some of those attending Digital Download Live 2018 discuss what they heard at the event and what they feel we should do about it.
Here's what's discussed in this episode:
how important the human element of communications is why we have to start investing in software tools now how our job roles are changing what software is already out there to help us how people historically adapt to technological revolutions how we can't tell the difference between machine and human writing what can communications teams do now to adapt to technological change how and why fake news is affecting perceptions of the PR and communications industry how data privacy is muddying the water still further for brands
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What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Instagram is arguably the most creative of all of the social media channels, and yet so many brands, companies and marketers struggle with how to utilise it. While many corporate accounts are dull and predictable, there are individuals using Instagram to build their personal brands in highly creative ways, and it is from these examples that inspiration can be taken.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I talk to Bronte Huskinson about her phenomenal rise from 3000 to 42,000 Instagram followers in just nine months. Bronte's approach to the platform is one of the most creative I have ever seen, and in today's show she lets us into the secrets of where she finds her own inspiration and how to grow a large and loyal following based purely on creativity and without resorting to silly tricks like follow-for-follow and Instapods.
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
Why it is important to have a concept and creative theme for your profile Why having a strategic goal is so important Why it is important to mix up content types What apps are good for cinemagraphs, stop motion and videos Where to find inspiration for creative ideas Why should be guided but not afraid of negative responses and comments How to get featured by Instagram and the power of this How long you need to spend on images in order to create consistent quality Whether you should shoot in batches or one-offs Whether you need a camera or can get by with your mobile phone Why the first hour after you post is so important Why regramming has great value for those brands doing it How to work with Instagrammers on sponsored posts Why brands need to trust Instagrammers' own creativity
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What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Public relations has had issues with measuring return on investment for, arguably, the entirety of its life. Competitive disciplines such as digital marketing, advertising and SEO have mopped up business for little other reason than PR has struggled to prove its worth. A new methodology, however, promises to guide PR professionals towards a process that demonstrates its value once and for all.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I talk to Iliyana Stareva, Global Partner Program Manager at HubSpot, whose book 'Inbound PR' presents a methodology for public relations that moves the conversation firmly away from being one about reputation management to being one about the bottom line. Inbound PR looks to firmly establish PR as a management discipline, something that CIPR President Sarah Hall pushed heavily on S1 E2 of this very podcast.
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
What is inbound marketing What inbound marketing does really well The role of content in inbound marketing How public relations can impact the inbound marketing process in a positive manner How inbound PR differs from inbound marketing What to adapt an inbound PR methodology Why PR entrepreneurs are driving the adoption of attention to revenue in public relations Why business results and reporting are so important to agencies in 2018 What the right things to measure are Whether reputation management is an excuse for not measuring business impact How you go about adopting an inbound PR model What's involved in jumping from a traditional PR model to the inbound model
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Useful Links from Today's Show
Inbound PR from amazon.co.uk 2018 PRCA Census Ilyana Stareva blog The 4R model of evaluation from paulsutton.co
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
The CIPR's Artificial Intelligence (AI) panel has published new research revealing the impact of AI on public relations and communications practice. It highlights where AI is already impacting skills, predicts the impact on the profession in the next five years and makes interesting and, depending on your perspective, challenging reading for anyone working in communications.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, I talk to past President of the CIPR Stephen Waddington, who is leading the #AIinPR panel, to unpack the new report. We look at the impact that technology is already having on PR and communications, discuss how this will increasingly affect skills and job roles over the next three to five years, and we talk about what communications practitioners need to do in order to protect themselves and take advantage of new opportunities.
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
What the purpose of the CIPR's #AIinPR panel is What the findings of the panel's first report are What is true artificial intelligence and what is simply automation Which PR skills don't contain an element of AI, and which are under threat Which job roles are most at threat from artificial intelligence What are the AI opportunities for communicators Why PR has to evolve to being a management function rather than a tactical discipline Why communicators have to invest in software tools What the adoption and impact of AI is likely to be in the next five years Why voice marketing is such an important technological trend for PR Why it is vital to seek out information, training and professional learning
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Useful Links from Today's Show
Research Project Reveals Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Public Relations from the CIPR #AIinPR hashtag on Twitter PR as a Management Discipline podcast How Voice Recognition is Impacting PR & Comms podcast The Cluetrain Manifesto Artificial Intelligence in PR latest from Wadds.co.uk
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Podcasting has undergone a massive resurgence in popularity over the last couple of years, and the boom shows no signs whatsoever of slowing down. In fact, with Google entering the fray listening could as much as double in the next two to three years. Communications professionals, however, seem to be reluctant to embrace podcasts as a medium perhaps due to unfamiliarity with the technology and processes.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, I talk to MD of Brighter Comms and self-confessed podcast geek Sara Robinson in a bid to demystify the content form of the moment. We chat about why the opportunity for PR is ripe and how, if they act quickly, brands can leverage podcasting to maximise their messaging.
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
How popular podcasting has become and why it's booming How voice recognition technology and Google are further driving podcast adoption When and where people listen to podcasts Why people listen to podcasts What sort of people listen to podcasts What the opportunity is for brands Why research and audience insight are key What makes good content for a podcast Why PR and communications has such a great opportunity due to storytelling Why the barriers to entry for podcasting are low
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Useful Links from Today's Show
2018 Podcast Statistics and Facts from Podcast Insights Seven Reasons Your Brand Needs a Podcast from Spin Sucks Inside the New Google Podcasts Strategy That Could Double Audiences from Pacific Content RAJAR Midas Audio Survey Digital Download Live podcasting workshop
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Personal branding is a term that few people like, but that many people understand the huge value of. We all have a personal brand, whether or not we like it or whether we understand what it is.
In the first episode in Season Two of the Digital Download podcast, I talk to blogger, podcaster, speaker and author Mark Schaefer about his new book 'Known' and ask the question: is it really possible for anyone to become known? And if so, how?
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
Why you can start to build a personal brand no matter where you are in your life Why no-one cares what you've achieved to date Why you have a personal brand whether you like it or not What the four key ingredients are to becoming known Why and how to define what you want to be known for Why you don't need to (and shouldn't) be everywhere Why it's important to select the right type of content to suit your personality How long it takes to evaluate content and to become known Why 'the hustle' is not a sustainable approach to business How to build an actionable audience What role luck has in becoming known
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Useful Links from Today's Show
Known: The Handbook for Building and Unleashing Your Personal Brand in the Digital Age by Mark Schaefer
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
In early March I wrote a blog post entitled 'The Four Horsemen of the PR-pocalypse'. It outlined four key threats to the public relations industry, each of which represents a threat but in combination could quite possibly wipe out large swathes of agencies, freelancers and in-house communications practitioners. It created quite a stir within the industry.
This is the final show in Season One of the Digital Download podcast, and to round off the Season, founder of virtual PR agency Aby Hawker grills me about whether I really believe there is a 'perfect storm' gathering over the communications industry, and about how we as an industry can combat and defeat the elements creating this.
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
What the key findings of the 2018 State of the Profession report are What the major challenges facing the PR industry are Why there is a huge gap between the perception and reality of the threat of artificial intelligence Why fake news, the decline of influencers, content visibility and automation are a huge threat to the communications industry Why collaboration is key in keeping up with industry changes Why 'meaningful communications' is vital to the future of the industry Why the blend of workshops, Q&As and presentations make Digital Download Live different to other events What the key themes and sessions at Digital Download Live are Who this year's special guests are Why the myth of podcasting will be exploded at Digital Download Live How to get tickets for this year's event What the value of joining a membership scheme is
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Useful Links from Today's Show
2018 CIPR State of the Profession report What Does the Future Hold for the PR Industry? with Sarah Hall The Four Horsemen of the PR-pocalypse on PaulSutton.co The 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer Digital Download Live 2018 Cutting Through the Digital Communications Bulls**t with Danny Brown Digital Download Membership
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
You know how sometimes you read the latest thoughts of a social media guru and get swept away by the wisdom they impart? You know how sometimes you can read two contradictory articles and be convinced by both of them? There's a lot of rubbish out there in the world of digital communications.
In this straight-talking episode of the Digital Download podcast I chat to Danny Brown, a marketer with 20 years' experience and formerly rated as one of the world's most important marketing bloggers. I say formerly because a few years back he gave up blogging about marketing partly because he was sick of reading the same stuff from the same people and didn't want to be part of the problem. Danny's someone who's not shy of giving an opinion, and in this show Danny and I talk about some of the rubbish we read about digital communications and how to cut through it.
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
Why the volume of content in digital media is not the problem, it's the value of that content that's the issue Why you're failing with content marketing Why content shock is just an excuse for poor messaging or poor delivery Why traditional marketing holds up against digital marketing Why truly integrated omnichannel marketing is by far the best option to increase purchase intent Why the 'go digital' mantra is bullsht Why the 'impressions' metric is bullsht Why conventional measures of 'influence' are bulls**t How to set metrics that actually mean something to a business How to set true measures of influence Why you should take control of your own internet privacy and stop whining about it
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What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
We've all got mobile phones with 8 or even 16 megapixel cameras on them. And we all know that imagery is vital when it comes to social media marketing. Which means we have the ability to fill our Instagram profiles without having to go anywhere near a costly professional photographer. Doesn't it?
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I talk to Andy Sutton, a commercial photographer with 15 years' experience of product and lifestyle photography about how social media photography has evolved and about how when clients inevitably come back to him after trying (and failing with) their own photography, he is able to produce imagery that flies on social media to enhance campaigns and help drive sales and ROI.
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
How photography has evolved as a result of social media What the latest methods in social media photography are How lifestyle photography has wiped out product photography in digital media What the elements of great social media imagery are What the role of photography in social media marketing is How to produce a great photo with an iPhone What the differences are between shooting for a billboard and shooting for Instagram Whether you can produce professional photos without employing a professional What you can do to improve the quality of your social media imagery How to keep the cost of professional photography down
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What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has caused much confusion within the communications industry around the responsibilities of different parties and who needs to do what in order to comply. Very few seem to have any clarity and, rather like the movie franchise, it's all a bit fifty shades of grey.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, I talk to founder of KC Communications Katrina Cliffe about the core areas of GDPR that PR and communications professionals need to understand and where they can get advice when they need it, and we dig into some of the detail of legacy data, 'legitimate interest' and data security. I also ask Katrina questions put to me by members of the Digital Download Membership community.
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
What the three core areas of GDPR legislation cover from a marketing perspective What counts as 'data' Where the best online resource is to get personal advice on GDPR The difference between B2B and B2C communications in the eyes of the Information Commissioner's Office What you can and can't do with legacy data What counts as legitimate interest and engaged subscribers How to get people to resubscribe without asking them to How long you can hold data Why you should create a GDPR compliance document What your obligations are when it comes to Cloud data storage How you can easily secure your data
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Useful Links from Today's Show
Guide to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the ICO website GDPR for Public Relations on wadds.co.uk Google Cloud and GDPR on Google.com
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Internal communications is an area of public relations that often gets missed when digital technology is discussed, largely because the likes of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are all external-facing. But innovation in IC is arguably greater than outward-facing communications channels, with the likes of Office 365, Facebook Workplace, Yammer and Slack providing internal communicators with a plethora of platforms to choose from.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, I talk to Rachel Miller, founder of All Things IC, about how digital technology is impacting internal communications strategy, the opportunities digital tools provide and the challenges they present.
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
How internal communications has evolved in the last five years How shadow comms has risen to fill the gaps where organisations have failed to adopt digital What the impact of GDPR is on internal communications How digital can bridge the gap between external perceptions and the reality of internal culture Why giving employees a voice is so valuable to an organisation Why Office 365 is having such a big impact on effective internal communications Why a great intranet is central to a great internal communications strategy What the role of content is in internal digital communications
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Useful Links from Today's Show
The Big Yak 2018 unconference The Gatehouse State of the Sector census How Bristol Water is Preparing for GDPR from AllThingsIC How the Post Office Encourages Leadership Comms from AllThingsIC #lifeatloreal hashtag on Twitter
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Contemporary PR and communications professionals face a challenging but exciting time. The explosion of digital technology, questions over ethical practice, the data revolution and the evolution of both internal and external facing digital platforms has prompted as many questions as it has provided answers.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, I seek to answer some of those questions with Deirdre Breakenridge, author of the unique new book 'Answers for Modern Communicators'. Described as "a reference guide for modern PR practitioners", the book is intended to provide communications professionals with solutions to their most pressing issues.
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
Why technology has led to ethics having become so important in modern communications Why being adaptable is now an essential skill for today's PR professionals How data can create value for PR and how we should use it How technology can enable increased collaboration if you allow it to Why you need to understand SEO, website behaviour and data analytics How important personal branding is to today and what the benefits are to employers How important it is to 'give back' to the profession that employs you
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Useful Links from Today's Show
Buy Deirdre Breakenridge's books on Amazon PR Expanded Women Worldwide podcast on iTunes #PRStudChat on Twitter
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Website design is normally overlooked by communications professionals as 'the thing that the geeks do'. But if we want our campaigns to fly in an increasingly digital and mobile world, we have to understand some of the basics of website development and web browsers.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, I talk to veteran website developer Richard Shea about how website design has changed over the last few years and what communications professionals now need to be aware of in order to optimise campaigns.
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
Whether web design should take a mobile first or holistic focus How much website design is led by Google How voice recognition technology is impacting web design What the trends in website design are How good self-build website platforms like Squarespace are Whether and how anyone can now build a good website Why Wordpress is the king of website content management What the most important elements of website design are in 2018
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Useful Links from Today's Show
Mobile Web Usage Overtakes Desktop for First Time from The Telegraph The Best Website Builders of 2018 from PC Magazine WordPress "Quietly" Powers 27% of the Web from Tech Republic New Players Look to Dominate E-commerce from Venturebeat
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Barely a week goes by without one company or another attracting the ire of the mob on Twitter and Facebook. Brand trolling seems to have become an acceptable way to behave, causing no end of problems for the unwary and ill-prepared.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, I talk to Tamara Littleton, CEO of both The Social Element and crisis simulation platform Polpeo, about the rise of brand trolling and how companies can best deal with and prepare for a social media crisis.
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
Who the four adversaries you will encounter in a social media crisis are What categorises and motivates trolls and mobs What doxing and swatting are Why tone of voice, empathy and sincerity are so important in a crisis situation When and how to apologise How to tame the angry mob How to deal with issues concerning activists and influencers How to prepare for a social media crisis
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Useful Links from Today's Show
Friend or Foe? Navigating Online Adversaries from TEDx Doxing, trolling and ‘grossly offensive’ communications now illegal in the UK Swatting Over Call of Duty Game Results in Deadly Police Shooting from The Verge United Airlines Shows How to Make a PR Crisis a Total Disaster from CNN So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson Polpeo social media simulator
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
2018 has been labelled by some as 'the year of the smart home'. Driven by the adoption of Google Home and Amazon Echo, voice recognition promises to transform not only the way we interact with the internet of things but also the way we use the internet itself.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, I talk to co-founders of marketing communications agency Threepipe, Jim Hawker and Tony Thomas, about how the communications industry has to adapt to this technology and about how brands themselves can embrace how people discover them.
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
Why voice search is gaining such attention How Google and Amazon are dominating the race for voice, and what Apple intends to do about it What the differences are between the Google and Amazon APIs How brands are getting into the home with commercial messages What the differences are between text search and voice search How voice search impacts the PR industry and how content discovery has to adapt What the opportunities are for brands in voice search
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Useful Links from Today's Show
6 Big Predictions For The Smart Home In 2018 on Forbes Amazon Sold ‘Millions’ of Alexa Devices Over the Holiday Weekend on Techcrunch Amazon Echo Set to Hit 40% of UK homes by Next Year on WARC Google’s speech recognition is now almost as accurate as humans on 9to5Google Get Daily LEGO Facts On Alexa With LEGO 365 on Bricksfanz Optimizing For Voice Search Is More Important Than Ever on Forbes
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
When the White Moose Cafe published a scathing review of vlogger Elle Darby's request for a free five night stay in return for a positive YouTube review, the ensuing storm captured the attention of the world's media. There are strong arguments to be made on both sides about what does and does not make someone 'influential'.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, one of the UK's leading parental influencers Emily Leary and I dissect what went wrong in this very public spat, and we discuss the nature of influence and what makes a great brand/influencer relationship.
Here's what you'll learn in this episode:
How to pitch in a meaningful way Why researching any pitch is so important What separates good influencers from poor ones How to engage influencers in the most effective manner What you're paying for when you hire a blogger or vlogger How to spot influencers with fake followers and fake engagement What makes a great brand/influencer relationship
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Useful Links from Today's Show
Luxury Dublin Hotel Bans All Social Media Influencers on The Independent I Was Exposed (SO Embarrassing) from Elle Darby on YouTube The White Moose Cafe on Facebook The stars of YouTube are right. Why should we have to pay for the things we want? on The Telegraph
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
Public relations had a turbulent year in 2017. With a perceived lack of self-confidence and new technologies such as artificial intelligence, messaging bots and voice recognition looming on the horizon, the industry faces a potentially defining 12 months ahead.
In this episode of the Digital Download podcast, I talk to 2018 CIPR President and author of #FuturePRoof Sarah Hall about the way the public relations industry is developing and some of the big opportunities and threats if faces in the near future.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:
What the CIPR's role is in its 70th anniversary Whether the PR industry has a confidence issue Why PR needs to be more bullish in order to become a management discipline Why PR is sleep walking into the serious threat of AI and what we can do about it How the roles of PR people are changing due to automation How and why CPD and training needs to develop to be more agile What the big opportunities are for PR and comms in the near future
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Useful Links from Today's Show
The #FuturePRoof project A Christmas Wish for the PR Industry on PaulSutton.co Your 2018 CIPR Plan: Seeking Your Views on Sarah Hall Consulting PR Must Assert Itself as a Management Discipline on PR Week
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!
To stay ahead of the game in digital media, you have to be informed about what technological and best practice trends are developing. You can only prepare for what you know.
In the first ever episode of the Digital Download podcast, I talk to leading PR blogger and author of Spin Sucks and Marketing in the Round Gini Dietrich about what communications professionals need to get to grips with over the next 12 months.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:
Why you have to start paying attention to artificial intelligence NOW How AI will affect your job role in the next 12 months How to explain the use of messaging robots to your boss or clients How to incorporate messaging into your communications strategy Why voice recognition is shaking up the world of content marketing How Google Home and Alexa will force you to change the way you create content Why there is a monopoly developing in social media and what you need to know about it
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Useful Links from Today's Show
Albert: artificial intelligence marketing Facebook Messenger hits 100,000 bots on Venturebeat How Voice Search Will Change The Future Of SEO on Forbes CIPR welcomes AMEC initiative and pledges AVE ban This Is the Data Snapchat Doesn’t Want You to See on The Daily Beast The Spin Sucks 30-Day Communications Challenge
What to do Next I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.
And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download. Thanks for listening!