top 11 apps for pr pros

In a short space of time the mobile phone and the apps that go with it have become essential items for communications people. Here's 11 essential apps that one PR professional who works wth many public sector clients relies on when she is out and about in the South West.

by Mandy Pearse

Despite wifi and 3G being variable across the South West the ability to use my iphone out and about has become essential to delivering my day to day work.

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a pr lesson from a missed meeting with death

Some moments are truly life changing. For one PR professional it was when he had cause to thank the NHS for his own life. He is passionate about PR in the service. He also believes that good PR is made by good people trying to make things happen better.

By Alan Taman

I died 9 years ago. It changes your view on things.

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how to use social media for a sport club

There are lessons all around us as communications people. Here's one from cricket where social media is used not just to arrange practice amongst friends but to keep players past and present in touch through a cricket team's exploits.

by Mat Danks 

This is the story of how the most quintessentially English and old fashioned of pastimes took on a new lease of life with a tiny bit of digital communications magic dust.

About four years ago, myself and Comms2point0 lynchpin Dan Slee were founding members of what he dubbed ‘Jiminy Cricket Nets’ each Thursday at a small gymnasium in the deepest darkest Black Country.

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coping strategies from a facepalm survivor

Well, that certainly touched a nerve. The post the Four Stages of Comms Facepalm sparked an explosion of comments from people who have had cause to put their hand to their head and go: 'DOH!' at a request from someone. Often senior.

by Kath Hughes

OK so we have all been there, that excruciating moment when you open the ‘poster’ that a well meaning  person has spent a long time creating.  It can’t possibly go out – its crammed with too many complicated words, multiple clip art speech bubbles, and a number of out of proportion logos.   But it needs to go out NOW and you are the one preventing it.

So, what next?  Try this three step guide to cope with moments like this and let me know if it works for you.

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good digital things from scotland

In a guest editor post we're taking a look at some good public sector digital communications from Scotland. You'll be surprised what you'll find if you look.

by Leah Lockhart 

There are amazing things going on in Scotland’s public sector when it comes to digital communication and engagement but you might not know it.

We’re not as well organized collectively as our peers down south and we don’t really like to shout about the good work we do.

But I’d like to see that change and I want to raise awareness of some really cool stuff happening in Scotland. Here is a mere smattering of innovative, creative and useful work from Scottish public sector people with moxie. 

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four stages of comms facepalm...

The Urban Dictionary describes 'facepalm' as the correct response of putting your palm to your head in response to a particularly stupid question or comment... are we alone in thinking that comms people get to do a lot of this? 

by Dan Slee

We've all been there working in comms, marketing, web and PR... the ridiculous request that gets made of you that is dafter than a box of frogs.

A request or a comment so ludicrous, so inane and so lacking in common sense that it takes all your considerable being to stop yourself from tipping over the desk and shouting loudly: "But that's just... STOOPID!"

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get by with a little help from your friends

Are you getting the most from networking? No, then read on...

by GUEST EDITOR Emma Rodgers

So, here’s the thing. When I first started working in pr & communications, I got to hating everything about ‘networking’*.

It felt false, contrived and quite often disingenuous. Probably this was because I worked in quite a cut throat yet ‘pr fluff’ environment.  It was private sector in the late nineties and early noughties. Even the phrase sent shivers down my spine.

I also felt it was all about ‘who you knew and not what you knew’ – something that didn’t sit well with me and which was opposed to my work ethic, even then in my early 20s.

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final tickets for intranet now

In London in September there's a grasroots event for people who think trhat intranets are a key part of the comms landscape. If you are internal comms or want to learn more then jump on the last ticket release.

By Wedge

Intranet Now is about real intranets in the present time. The hybrid format is experimental, part conference and part unconference.

In just a few short months, we’ve gone from concept to sell-out. Of course, nobody can judge our success until the day, but considering the heavyweight sponsors and speakers, it feels like Intranet Now is bound to be a major feature in the events calendar for years to come.

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youtube as a comms channel

You're all maximising your use of YouTube, right? If not, this post is a must read...

by Matt Bond

In which I argue that for too long You Tube has been thought of as the ‘bolt on’ communications channel, that place where you chuck your films without a care and perhaps link via your ‘more popular’ Facebook and Twitter accounts.

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discussing tractors to be human on social media

Social media can be highly organised by campaigns people... but let's not forget that this is also about making the most of things that crop up unexpectedly. 

by Rob Simmonds

Social media isn’t just about carefully planned campaigns, with scheduled posts and key messages. It’s also about seizing opportunities as and when they arise, without worrying about getting corporate sign-off or managerial clearance.

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tweeting in portuguese

Here's a couple of ideas one London council tried out to get people talking about them... tweeting in Portuguese and then letting one person take over the council account.

by Karen Jeal 

Here at Lambeth Council we recently tried a couple of new ideas to try and get more people in our community talking with us on Twitter. Here’s how they both went.

Our communities in Lambeth are diverse. So what better way to get to the heart of those different communities than to really speak their language and engage with them in a way they will understand.

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when the games begin

You know the feeling, you're stacked with work and another big comms project lands. Imagine if that project was the Commonwealth Games...

by Stephen Penman

Glasgow - whose citizens are not traditionally unaccustomed to the consequences of self-indulgent excess - has a monumental hangover.

As I write, the atmosphere in the city, four days after the end of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, is somehow slower, heavier, almost slow-motion. But at least this time it's because of the end of one of the most celebratory, joyous and magical periods in the city's history, a period which will live long in the memory.

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how the referendum is affecting one scottish comms person

It's dominating debate in Scotland and could have a siesmic effect on the rest of Britain. Here one public sector comms officer writes about their frustrations about not having a voice because they are politically restricted.

by Anonymous Communications Officer 

So far the impending referendum hasn’t affected my work – it’s my personal channels of communication I’m finding tricky to navigate.

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get the picture?

When we asked a pal to suggest a tune of the day for us, we didn't expect him to write a post too. But he did, all about his musical journey. Well not all of our posts have to be about comms, right?

by Tom Phillips 

I can’t sing. I can’t really play a note. However, my life is ruled by music.

I’ve been accumulating my collection since I was about 14 (1968 if you’re interested), and the amalgamation that rules a complete room at home is the epitome of “eclectic”.

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83 gems you'll need on the UK media landscape from ofcom

It’s a goldmine for anyone vaguely interested in how technology is changing the media landscape but the latest Ofcom communications market report has been published. Published in August 2014 it gives a snapshot of where we are, where we’re headed and what comms people need to know.

by Dan Slee

Four times a year UK media industry watchdog Ofcom publishes a report on the media landscape.

Packed full of insight it is that rare thing of a free report that will help you if you work even just a little bit in digital communications.

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