Tag Archives: Online

PR or Advertising: So What’s The Difference?

Posted on by

What's the difference between PR and advertising?Jane Ellison-Bates of Manifest Marketing outlines the difference between PR and advertising – and why that matters

We all make assumptions that certain aspects of our businesses are as clear to others as they are to us.   Whatever trade you are in it’s probably the same; there are some areas of knowledge which are so fundamental that you may assume other people, especially your customers, know what you know. But maybe they don’t.

I have been amazed on a few occasions when business owners have confessed to me that they don’t really understand the difference between advertising and PR.  After more years than I care to reveal in the business, to me it was obvious, but I have come to realise that it’s always worth highlighting with a new client the differences between the two.

My favourite way to explain it is the ‘earned versus owned’ principle.

When you decide to book and pay a publication for space or airtime you therefore ‘own’ it.  Quite simply, this is advertising.  Its principal advantage is that because you are paying for it, within reason you can say what you like.  You get to choose how it looks, where it appears and when it appears.  You are completely in control.  If anything goes wrong or contravenes the T&Cs of your booking then you have the right to complain and seek some form of recompense.  You are essentially blowing your own trumpet, and if you do it well you will convince some, if not all, of the people who see, hear or watch your advert that they should buy your product or service.

PR is a whole different ball game.  This time you need to ‘earn’ your space or fifteen minutes of fame.  You can’t pay a TV station to be featured on the news, or a magazine to run a feature; you have to be offering something that an editor wants to share with the audience.  It’s much, much harder and as such commands a greater value.  This time someone else thinks you’re interesting and is prepared to publicise it over and above other contenders. As a result, as a basic rule of thumb in the marketing industry, PR coverage is valued at three times its advertising equivalent, so, for example, a full page valued at £1000 in the advertising media pack is worth £3000 as editorial.  And you don’t actually pay them for it.  Weird but true.

Editorial coverage for your product, service or story wins you kudos in your field and sets you apart. The downside might be that your story isn’t deemed interesting and doesn’t appear, or that it gets edited in a way you don’t like; possibly even erroneously.  It happens.  Unless it’s actually libellous you are likely to have no comeback.  Alternatively, you may not like the position of the piece; but don’t even think about complaining if you want to have any hope of getting future coverage from them.

And that’s where a PR company comes in handy. Let them get to know your business and they will winkle out the interesting stories, present them well to minimise editing and ‘earn’ you that coverage that you covet.

Jamaica and Cuba touted as the top selling Caribbean destinations for 2014

Posted on by

Sales up 50% year on year

Want an idea for your next holiday? Following a recent report from the Post Office which positions Jamaica as the cheapest Caribbean island to visit for travellers on a budget, online travel agent loveholidays.com has conducted its own research into top selling Caribbean holiday destinations:

  • Research shows the majority of Jamaica holidays booked are all-inclusive holidays so the price of a holiday is not significantly affected by falling costs of food and drink in resort
  • Jamaica bookings are up by 50% on 2012.
  • An average seven night holiday to Jamaica in winter 2013/14 costs from only £893pp
  • Jamaica is the fastest growing Caribbean destination for loveholidays.com, growing at 50% year on year. However Cuba is still the most popular Caribbean destination accounting for 70% of bookings to the region.

COO of loveholidays.com Jonny Marsh concluded: “Jamaica was once considered unsafe by many but our customers are seeing it as increasingly desirable.

After seeing a 50% increase this year and with the added incentive of our low deposits from just £49pp, we expect our sales of Jamaica holidays to continue to grow, in particular, our all inclusive holidays for 2014. This growth represents Jamaica’s exceptional value compared to some other Caribbean resorts, so the spike in bookings is due to a combination of great value prices and an improving image. At present we offer luxury all-inclusive holidays to Jamaica from as little as £893pp. This compares to other Caribbean destinations where a seven night all inclusive break can reach as much as £1299.

The Post Office report is interesting but as many of our clients book an all-inclusive break many remain unaffected by falling prices of food and drink.

Cuba holidays also represent fantastic value for money but until recently they have remained off the mainstream tourist radar. It’s only a matter of time before flights resume from Miami so now is the time to go if customers want to experience a true taste of Cuba. With the price of a 5 star all inclusive package, coming in at £529pp, Cuba is another Caribbean island representing terrific value.”

82% Of Couples Admit To Selling Wedding Gifts Online

Posted on by
  • 42% of guests admit that they find buying a wedding gift ‘stressful’
  • More than one in ten wedding guests (12%) said they were often embarrassed by their gift choice
  • One in five fully expect their gifts to be left unused, returned or sold
  • One in ten will decline a wedding invitation altogether because of worries over the gift
Bride, bridal make up, tips for wedding day, wedding, marriage, wedding day, tips, beauty, make up, tips

Photo credit: TrueMalyugin

New research reveals that 82% of newlyweds admit to selling wedding gifts on internet sites like Ebay.

Despite the use of wedding lists and the amount of thought guests put into selecting the perfect present, it seems that most newlyweds still end up with impractical presents that they just don’t want or need.

Couples taking part in the research revealed some very strange gifts indeed, with one receiving a tarantula and another couple who were presented with a gift-wrapped banana.

It also seems that many guests give presents expecting them to be sold on. More than one in ten wedding guests (12%) said they were often embarrassed by their gifts and one in five fully expect their gifts to be left unused, returned or sold.

The research indicates that more practical gifts or even group gifts are the solution, for example contributions to the honeymoon or money for house improvements would be welcomed.

42% of guests admit that they find buying a wedding gift ‘stressful’.

Worries over what gift to purchase have resulted in one in ten Brits declining a wedding invitation altogether, believing that a bad gift decision could cause an argument between friends. 6% even believe it could end a friendship.

The research was done by One4all, a gift card from the Post Office,

Too Hot To Work Legally: Beat The Heat.

Posted on by

The sun is shining and it’s the 1st time the thermometer has hit the 30s in yonks. Cooped up in your office, it’s vital for your health to drink lots of water and keep cool – but we all know this, right?

With offices failing to adhere to health and safety regulations, fans have been removed leaving staff overheated in a fan-free stuffy workplace…and we just don’t agree!

The heat wave is meant to continue on and off throughout August and with the hottest day of the UK (so far) reaching a whopping 33.5 degrees, offices should be kept at a reasonable temperature (16 degrees) with ventilation and fans being provided during these periods of hot weather. So to keep you cool, Prezzybox are offering our customers a USB LED Fan for just £6.95. No safety regulations or electrical testing required for the office, just plug in and keep cool in these increasingly warm temperatures. Don’t wait for them to sell out; get your hands on them while they’re still in stock!

fan staytherightempature

My QVC With Lisa Snowdon

Posted on by

This year QVC is celebrating its 20th Anniversary. 2013 marks the 20th birthday of QVC UK and to mark 20 Years of making shopping fun, British model and presenter, Lisa Snowdon, has curated a special selection of her top picks from QVC, ranging from jewellery and homes to beauty – shop the products at QVC

Lisa Snowden

Anniversary celebrations will continue throughout the year with a variety of brand experts from the likes of fashion journalist Eve Pollard, beauty editor Nadine Baggot and many more in the next few months picking their own assortment of favourite products.

 

Clarisonic Plus Face & Body Complete Sonic Cleansing System

image002

Item number – 400407

QVC Price – £197.00

 “I’m a skincare addict with my dermatologist on speed dial!  Nothing cleans your face better than Clarisonic”

 

Bose SoundDock II Digital Music System and Bose IE2 Headphones

Item number – 502821

QVC Price – £290.00

image0013 I love music and as a breakfast radio DJ I start my morning every day with two hours of tunes.  Having  this at home means I can end my day with music too.  And it charges my iPhone – perfect!”

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick

Item Number – 222526

QVC Price – £30.50

image004

“I love a natural sunkissed look as if you’ve just stepped off the beach.  This is great to give you that holiday glow all year round”

 

bareMinerals Deluxe 16g Foundation

Item number- 203593

QVC Price – £32.50

 

image005

“I like the natural ingredients and the in built SPF of this foundation. You can even your skin tone with a light dusting or layer it up to get fuller coverage, whatever you need that day!”

 

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish

Item number – 214876

QVC Price – £51.00

image006

“Cult classic, it gently deep cleans, I can’t be without it”

 

Nails Inc 4 Piece Happy Nude Year Collection

Item number – 203106

QVC Price – £23.50

 image007

 

“Nude shades are never out of vogue, these cool colours will suit everyone and go with anything you wear”

H2O X5 Multi-Floor Steam Mop & H/held Steamer with Accessories

Item number – 832294

QVC Price – £69.00

image008

 

“I like things to be clean and steam mops can clean almost everything!”

 

Benefit Waterproof Liner & Mascara Duo

Item number – 202807

QVC Price – £29.00

 

benefit make up

 

“Big, long lashes give you an instant boost and make everyone look good, the thick black kohl liner adds depth and sexiness”

Sarah Chapman Overnight Facial

Item number – 226630

QVC Price – £39.60

 lisa snowden beauty secrets

“When I’ve had a few too many late nights and early starts, this overnight facial gives my skin a great boost”

 

Elemis Tan Accelerator 400ml

Item number – 219847

QVC Price – £44.00

 elemis

“I love to be a bronzed goddess but always make sure I’m safe in the sun by wearing a high SPF.  This helps me prepare my skin to make the most of those all-too-rare sunshine rays”

 

Lisa Snowdon Diamond Charm Ring Sterling Silver

Item number – 608771

QVC Price – £68.00

 lisa snowden jewellery

Lisa Snowdon Diamond Cross Ring Sterling Silver

Item number – 608763

QVC Price – £92.00

 QVC ring

Do you shop at QVC? What is your favourite product?

U.S. Business Travelers Miss Their Connection

Posted on by

Research of 1,000 U.S. business travelers from InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) reveals staying in touch with home is top priority

· Lack of Internet access biggest stress for travelers

· Communicating with family the top way to de-stress when away from home

There really is no place like home, unless it is a hotel that offers free Internet connection according to new research from IHG which has found that being able to connect online with family and friends is now the top priority for U.S. business travelers.

The research polled 1,000 business travelers nationwide and was commissioned to mark this month’s launch of IHG’s renamed loyalty program, IHG® Rewards Club. It reveals that not being able to contact home due to lack of Internet connection is now the biggest travel headache for people away on business, cited by 48% of travelers in the U.S. as their biggest stress factor, ahead of noisy location (41%) and difficult transportation links (38%).

IHG set out to better to understand hotel guests’ priorities while traveling and is now the first and only hotel group to offer free Internet access globally to all its loyalty program members. This new benefit started with Elite members at the beginning of July and will roll out to all members starting in 2014, whether they are staying the night at one of IHG’s nine brand hotels, or coming in for a coffee or impromptu meeting.

Other top-line findings in the U.S. underline the importance of Internet access:

· 62% of those surveyed said that Internet was the most important additional facility in their hotel room above a TV (20%); mini-fridge (5%), landline phone (4%), bath tub (3%) and mini bar (1%).

· Logging onto the Internet in their room when they first arrive topped the list of things that help travelers feel most at home, while staying at a hotel (25%), above unpacking (20%), taking a shower (10%) or turning on the TV (6%)

More than half (55%) of travelers say that they would prefer to communicate with people back home over the Internet rather than using the phone.

· Almost half of business travelers (47%) surveyed cited connecting with family at home as the best way to de-stress at the end of a working day.

· 83% said that free Internet would make them happier whilst travelling away for business.

· And, more than two thirds of respondents, (69%), would be very unhappy traveling if they had no way of connecting with loved ones back home.

Relationship expert and Dating Doctor, David Coleman explains:

“Long distance relationships are difficult to successfully maintain. When we are separated from people we love or care for, we begin to physically miss their presence – their warmth, smile, touch, or facial expressions. Just hearing a voice on the phone is no longer sufficient for the modern business traveler, we need the comfort of being able to connect and see our loved ones. We need to be able to send an e-mail to our significant other to say we are thinking of them; be able to share a laugh with our children before they run off to school, and be able to stay connected to our friends back home. Being able to seamlessly and regularly connect with our loved ones is crucial, now more than ever, in maintaining strong remote relationships.”

Are Vouchers Now Cool?

Posted on by

Sienna-Miller05_glamour_1ju_592x888Saving money is important in today’s climate. While the recession grumbles on with only slight growth people are having to look around to find ways to have the same standard of living. It seems we are working harder for less and less. Understandably, our attitude to money is changing. When we work so hard for so little, or have no job at all, we all become more frugal with our cash, and who can blame us for being fussy about spending our hard earned money?

Back in the day vouchers used to be incredibly uncool. Cutting clippings out of newspapers to save 30 pence was not worth the embarrassment at that time. But times change and now vouchers are cool. The embarrassments is no longer there because thrift is in.

This is in part due to the recession. Interest rates are low, jobs are hard to come by or keep, wages are not rising but the cost of living is. Our finances are stretched like never before. This is why not only have vouchers become popular, but voucher websites have also become part of our culture. We can save money on clothes and make up, food and drink, but we can also save money on going out. You don’t have to be rich to live rich; you just have to be savvy.

There are a lot of options for finding vouchers. There are still many in traditional media like magazines and newspapers. However, Coupon websites such as voucherbox.co.uk are where it is at. They help people save money and still live despite the squeeze. It seems folly now to buy anything without one or even go out. I don’t know anyone who goes to Pizza Express without checking the internet for buy one get one free vouchers.  We never need to buy full price ever again.

What is your opinion? Do you use vouchers or coupons? Comment below.

 

 

Survival of the fittest: Dirk Nowitzki’s Adaptability

Posted on by

5793624664_55cd9e4c11_o

When Dirk Nowitzki was first drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks as the ninth pick in the 1998 draft, he sported a 7-foot lanky frame with quite a reach and a long wingspan to prevent perimeter defenders from swatting the ball. He was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where he was labelled as soft and delicate. You see, the German cager was not an immediate powerhouse. With his thin physique, he relied on spot up jumpers and chances from beyond the arc. Nobody expected the future star to provide an impact early on. And surely, during his career, Nowitzki shot a few air balls and had plenty of rookie mistakes, but that did not stop the Maverick forward to improve and expand his style of play.

Sharp shooting days
With the height that he possessed, the Wurzburg-born Maverick was a nightmare for his shorter defenders. Although quicker than most players in his position, the young Nowitzki was easily manhandled and out-powered in the low post. His slashing skills were still undeveloped. He cannot be trusted as the main go-to guy to handle the ball in the post or while driving to the rim. With a thin frame, the ball is easily swiped off by tinier and quicker defenders. Instead of being discouraged, the 7 footer developed his signature one-legged fade away, which up to this day is almost impossible to defend. It’s a good thing that he was teamed up with Steve Nash in his early years.

Sharp shooting plus rim slashing
As Dirk aged and developed by the entire cast of the Mavericks, the German expanded his style of play to make defenders second-guess his offensive tactics. In fact, the German PF notched his first NBA Championship in 2011 and earned his MVP Finals title too. He combined aggressiveness in the post while combining a finesse in a finger roll finish to his arsenal. It’s a good thing that he had Shawn Marion and Tyson Chandler to lighten the defensive and rebounding load. Unluckily, the Mavericks failed to go for a back-to-back and even failed to enter the 2013 playoffs. They could go early with their summer workouts or Marion, who is known as a poker lover, may want to host a friendly game of cards. Luckily, Nowitzki can participate anytime with the availability of online sites like PartyPoker Deutsch. It’s also a good way to improve rapport and focus. Just like basketball, there are basic skills in poker that are needed in order for the player to survive and even win the table. Focus, for one, allows a player to concentrate on his cards and the community cards as well even with the distractions of other players such as facial expressions and blatant bluffing methods. Also, poker players need to be snappy with their decisions, making a split-second move without compromising his play. Finally, playing poker is a good way to create a healthy camaraderie between you and other players even if there are real stakes involved. However, chemistry is always the key—and poker might just be the formula—come another 82 games next season.