Deals site to be launched by Ticketmaster

Groupon, Living Social, Travel Zoo – these sites are currently taking the UK by storm and now Ticketmaster want a slice of the action too with the launch of ‘Tmdeals’.

We’re a nation of bargain-hunters, as this latest trend highlights, but is this new deals site enough to metaphorically push us over the edge. We love a great offer as much as the next person but it may be possible for us to develop ‘deal fatigue’!

With the current economic climate in the state that it is we all need to save pennies where we can but these ‘deals’ can quite often lead people actually spending a lot more than they would if they hadn’t been made an offer. This is because, when the email lands in your inbox with tempting but unnecessary items for sale it’s easy to get swept up in it all and book something that you normally wouldn’t, just because it’s cheap.

Ticketmaster may be successful in their new deals venture if they target it right and stay focused on a specific type of offer – entertainment. Only time will tell.

Are you a ‘deals’ fan or have you become bored of ‘bargains’?

Social media habits of UK politicians

We're not the only ones to have been swept up in social media madness and become glued to our networking profiles; UK politicians are also big social media fans according to new research highlighting the social media habits of politicians.

According to the study created through examining information collated on `Yatterbox', British politicians appear to have become quite obsessed with our favourite platform - Twitter. This indication comes from the fact that 91% of all social media postings made by UK politicians are on Twitter with the majority of politicians signing-up to the site two years ago.

Other notable findings of this study include: Postings on Facebook and Flickr make up less than 4% of all networking, as well as the most popular topics of tweets being media, health and society.

It's not surprising that politicians have invested so much time communicating with their public via Twitter, it's such a quick and easy way for your voice to be heard whilst receiving instant feedback.

Do you follow any Politicians on Twitter?

Amazon takes the lead in customer service

What sets one company apart from another within the same field? Service. Yes, that's right, customer service has the ability to make or break a business. The reality is, people want to feel welcomed, valued and rewarded for their custom so when we receive either really excellent or extremely awful service it is shouted about.

The UK Service Chart compiles consumers opinions on customer service and gets them to rate the service they've received from some of the biggest brands. A good placing in this chart shows that the company is taking the right approach to customer service and could attract more people to using their services.

Amazon must be jumping for joy that, for the second year in a row, they have been placed top in the UK service chart. Quick delivery and a wide range of products were the public's reasons for rating the online retailer so highly. Other big brands making the top ten include: Virgin Atlantic, Marks & Spencer Simply Food and Hilton Hotels.

What do you think makes great customer service?

Facebook hailed as top social media marketing priority

Social media has quickly become a huge part of every day life, not only on  a personal level but on a business one too. It's a marketer's dream, a free platform to engage directly with existing and potential customers so it is not surprising that social media is widely used within marketing and public relations.

Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn - there's so many to choose from and a good social media strategy will incorporate all of them but it is inevitable that one platform will become the main priority. According to a recent survey, Facebook is the top priority for businesses using social media marketing techniques.

We think that it's wise to take some time out and think about what you want to get from using social media to boost your profile and set out a plan which can be put out accross all networking sites. Different platforms have different users with different priorities and it is important that you use a variety of platforms to get your business' voice heard by as many people possible.

Which social media platform do you rate the most?

Retailers failing to personalise email marketing

Email marketing can be a great way to engage with customers and drive traffic to your website, but it is especially useful in the retail sector. Letting people know of the latest sales, special offers and new items undoubtedly draw in the spenders but stores could see even better results if they personalised their communications. 

We all know what it's like to be bombarded with sales messages from our favourite shops, hotels and restaurants - sometimes the email catches your eye and converts into a purchase or booking but others are simply deleted or marked as read. If you do open the email then it's because you've seen something which you're interested in.

According to a recent study, only a fifth of retailers personalise messages that are intended for their customers' inboxes. This is astounding, what makes brands think that we're going to engage with their content if they have not even taken into consideration our location, gender and age. 

What would make a woman open a message about the latest menswear collection? Why would a couple from Chester be interested in visiting a restaurant opening in Glasgow? Who would book a stay at a hotel in the city they live? Companies need to put more thought into their email marketing.

How do you personalise your marketing communications?

Consumers misled on mobile internet

Mobile phones have become a lot more than just a lifeline for many people. Here at Freer PR we love that we can; manage social media, reply to emails and speak to key contacts all from one small handy device.

A good data package is essential if, like us, you utilise the power of the web on the go. There is so much choice when it comes to picking a new phone or contract that the biggest point of difference becomes the winning factor. This point of difference has gone from how many minutes and messages you're entitled to, to how much data you're allowed to exchange.

With this in mind, we completely understand why the Advertising Standards Agency have chosen to ban three T-mobile adverts highlighting a "Truly Unlimited" package. Unlimited data without any exceptions is an attractive offer when choosing a phone so to find out there is a catch when your bill comes through would be quite disappointing. Consumers shouldn't, under any circumstances, be misled.

Do you use mobile phones for marketing purposes? How essential is mobile internet to your business?

Do consumers 'like' you?

Social media can be a brand's best friend if used effectively. Platforms like Twitter, YouTube and Facebook are great for engaging with your customers, getting instant feedback and giving your business a voice. But you can't share content with users if they don't 'like' you.

Unfortunately, in the world of Facebook, there are so many pages devoted to businesses, brands and individual products that you can not rely on your reputation alone to gain 'fans'; people want to feel like you value their time and attention.

Studies have shown that nearly half of UK Facebook users 'like' a company or brand at least once a month but would 'like' more business offerings if they were given incentives such as competitions, exclusive news, free product samples and discount vouchers.

How big is your following on Facebook? Would you offer rewards in exchange for 'likes'?

Drinks Brand Give Away Olympic Tickets

At Freer PR we love a good give-away; from beauty products with our favourite glossy magazines to follower rewards on our most loved blogs. We also know how much value giveaways and competitions can add to a marketing campaign. Coca-Cola have upped the stakes and are giving away something that money can no longer buy; Olympic Tickets.

Yes, that's right, the popular drinks brand are giving their customers an opportunity to win VIP tickets to next year's Olympics as part of an on-pack promotion. Not only are customers in with the chance to win tickets to see the games other perks of being a VIP are accommodation in a luxury hotel with full hospitality and travel allowance.

Just how did the lucky people at Coca-Cola get their hands on the sold out tickets to giveaway? They are sponsoring the London 2012 Games and by giving away such an in-demand prize their sales figures are likely to go through the roof; a very smart move.

Have you tried product giveaways and competitions to promote your brand? Tell us how successful it was.

Burberry unveil collection on Twitter

We've been waiting for the day when brands would combine two things we love, fashion and social media, to allow us to be one step ahead of even the most serious fashionistas. So imagine our delight when we discovered that Burberry would be displaying their latest collection on Twitter before it even hit the catwalk at London Fashion Week.

In a fashion industry first, Burberry snapped beautiful models backstage wearing their exquisite garments and uploaded them to Twitter for the whole world to see. It was a bold move but one which undoubtedly paid off with the pictures having been viewed thousands of times and creating a hive of publicity for the luxury label.

But the best thing about this move? Fashion lovers and potential customers who weren't able to make it to London Fashion Week were made to feel just as valued as those attending and as we all know customer satisfaction is the most important thing in business, even more so in the huge world of Fashion. 

For Burberry, the 60% of their marketing budget they spend on digital media and advertising is obviously paying off. Has your business developed a digital and social media marketing strategy yet?

Websites that don't 'share' lose free publicity

As the saying goes, “All publicity is good publicity”, so free publicity is even better right? Not if a new report is anything to go by. Research carried out by Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) platform, BrightEdge, has shown that over 45% of websites and blogs do not have 'share' buttons which allow visitors to quickly pass on content to their social networks.

At Freer PR we were bitten by the social media bug a long time ago and like many people, it has become a big part of our lives. We love connecting with others and often help our 'friends' out by sharing their messages. The power of social media is phenomenal and just by adding a 'share' button to your sites you can increase the chances of gaining wider exposure; in-fact it's proven that websites with 'share' facility gain seven times as many mentions on Twitter.

Most basic website and blog templates now come with an in-built 'share' button but if you haven't got one and would like people to be able to pass on your messages then they can be added easily. There are tools such as AddThis that can be installed in a matter of minutes and link to all the social media networks from one simple button.

What are you waiting for? Start sharing today!

Fashion Festival begins in Chester

We love fashion here at Freer PR, in fact, one of our lovely clients has been short-listed for a prestigious Drapers award. So when we heard that Chester would be hosting a two-week long fashion festival, starting this weekend, we were understandably overjoyed.


What better excuse to spend time in our beautiful city than a spot of style building and trend-spotting to ensure we are fully in the know about the latest 'must-haves'. With a variety of events including catwalk shows, makeovers and the 'Face of Cheshire' competition there is sure to be something to suit every taste and budget.

We love seeing Chester city centre packed to rafters with people enjoying all that it has to offer and there is no doubt the Fashion Festival will create a bubble of tourism for the stylish city.

Will you be making a trip to the Fashion Festival? We're wishing you a wonderful weekend whatever you have in-store.

BBC 'most popular' news site: you decide

Yesterday it was reported that the BBC is yet again the 'most popular' news site but here at Freer PR we're not ones to simply accept statistics as fact without looking into things ourselves so we thought who better to ask than you.

We know that the phrase 'most popular' when it comes to this sort of thing can be misleading as what it actually means is 'most viewed' and you don't have to like a site to view it. This is why we took the matter to Twitter and asked our lovely followers where they get their news.

From the responses we received it is clear that individuals engage with a variety of sites depending on the kind of news they are looking for. Matching up with the statistics, BBC news appears to be the 'most popular' when it comes to traditional 'straight-news'. For more light-hearted subjects and gossip Yahoo, MailOnline and Aol seem to be the destination of choice.

The general consensus though, was that all the important news and information about a variety of subjects can be found via Twitter. For many, including our Account Exec, news is found through the sharing of links on Twitter and is read on whichever site the link directs to.

Do you agree with our findings? Where do you get your news?

Fantastic opportunity to work for one of our clients...

Opportunity for Online Marketing Exec 

The role requires creative thinking and an ability to challenge the current norm in an industry that is about to change significantly. You will work closely with the Group Director of Marketing and will be instrumental in delivering a strategic online marketing plan for growth.

Experience and Education

• Educated to degree level or equivalent marketing qualification
• Minimum 2 years proven experience in an online marketing role – candidates who have worked in a wider marketing role but have a specialism in online marketing will be considered.
• Experience of PPC (specifically Google Adwords), whether managed through an agency or in-house, and email marketing essential
• Sound copy writing skills, as well as a creative and analytical mind
• Excellent organisation skills and flexibility, with experience of managing multiple work streams
• Excellent English communication skills (written - including copywriting and verbal)
• A keen interest in all social media platforms and in future online innovations.
• Experience B2B sector is desirable and B2C essential.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.

Salary – circa £18 - 20k
25 Days Holiday plus Bank Holiday entitlement


Interested candidates should forward their CV to Debbie Edwards at Murlain House, Union Street, Chester, CH1 1QP or email debbie.edwards@law.uk.com

Innes Reid appoint Freer PR

Innes Reid, have appointed Cheshire based agency Freer PR to manage their PR and media communications.

Independent financial advisers, Innes Reid, who advise on a wide range of financial planning issues including Investment Planning, Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, Protection and Taxation, chose Freer PR after seeing the results and coverage they had gained for other professional services clients.

Speaking of the new relationship, Mark Reidford, Managing Director of Innes Reid said, “Freer PR came highly recommended to us. On meeting, I was impressed with the results they had gained for their other clients. I found their proactive and accountable approach to PR very refreshing, and I’m looking forward to establishing a long term valued relationship with them. ”

Nicki Spindler, Director of Freer PR said “We’re delighted to have been appointed as Innes Reids retained PR Agency.  Innes Reid has a strong reputation within the industry for their honest and professional service. They have grown by responding to their clients needs and we’re very much looking forward to reinforcing their reputation as a trusted and independent voice on financial planning issues.”

Saint Belle Lingerie - Feature, Chester Chronicle July 2011

Twitter helps Lily find a job

Published date: 25 May 2011 | 

Published by: staff reporter  ( www.chesterfirst.co.uk/news )

Lily Tucker. 

A CHESTER student is counting her lucky stars after she got a career boost through social networking site Twitter.

Lily Tucker, who recently graduated from the University of Chester, attracted the attention of Cheshire-based firm Freer PR after using the hashtag “#OperationHireLily”.

Within minutes of her first tweet she had received many retweets and several leads, one of which detailed a possible vacancy at Freer PR.

Lily comes to the company with a year’s PR experience gained through work placements and a part-time role at marketing communications firm James Rae Communications.

The appointment was made at a very busy and promising time for Freer PR after new account wins prompted an expansion.

Freer PR’s managing director, Nicola Spindler, said: “At Freer PR we pride ourselves on the strong relationships we build with our clients. The business has grown purely through referral, by achieving great results for our clients.

“Recent account wins meant that in order to continue to offer the best possible service the team would need to grow. I am positive that our combined skills and working relationship will lead to even bigger and better coverage for our clients.”

Lily said: “I started #OperationHireLily purely to see how far my Twitter connections would take me, I never expected to get such a great response or find a company that I was so in tune with.”

Client Testimonial...'The return on our investment in PR is clear'

"Hillyer McKeown have worked with Nicki now for over six months and the coverage that we have gained during that time has been outstanding. Within the service sector there will always be a hesitation in engaging with a PR agency as you can sometimes struggle to feel the value of your investment - working with Freer PR has given us no such worries. 

Nicki has worked tirelessly to build a close relationship with every member of staff within Hillyer McKeown and this proactive approach has paid dividends. As someone who has used PR agencies before I can honestly say that this is something I have never encountered before - Nicki and her team continuously look for PR stories that will raise our profile, they identify opportunities in areas we maybe wouldn't consider and then they deliver it in a way that feels completely pain free. 

PR is no longer a headache, or something that I know I should be doing but can't quite get to it! Nicki has become an integral part of my marketing department and works instinctively across all of the areas of our business - it has been so successful that she now works across the whole group of businesses and her input is invaluable. 

Freer PR has now become our preferred supplier of both on and offline PR support - we continue to gain local and national coverage for the work we are doing and both our clients and competitors have taken notice! The return on our investment in PR  is clear - enquiries through our website have increased, journalists now ask in advance for our opinion and some of our key partners are passing through recommendations that we might not have received before. 

Basically, working with Nicki Freer has added to our bottom line and I look forward to developing a strategy with her to build on the successes we have already had." 

Debbie Edwards, Head of Business Development, Hillyer McKeown LLP. 

Client Testimonial : Saint Belle working with Freer PR

'We met with quite a few different PR companies, but as soon as we met met Nicki from Freer PR we knew we wanted her to represent Saint Belle. Nicki totally understood our brand, image and the direction we wanted to take it. Nicki is now part of our brand and offers so much more than just PR to our business; she offers support, guidance, motivation and inspiration. We are really looking forward to a long and successful relationship between Freer PR and Saint Belle'. 

Adam Williams, Saint Belle  Lingerie. www.saintbelle.com 

'Client News: Almost Half of employers forced to teach teenagers basic literacy and numeracy skills’

Press release: Tutors4GCSE, May 2011 

It’s a frightening finding, but this week the CBI (Confederation of British Industry) announced that following a research study they found some 44% of businesses are offering literacy and numeracy tuition amid concerns their young staff are unable to carry out everyday tasks.

The low-levels of basic skill in these subjects have impacted on the worker’s ability to compose ‘coherent memos’ or ‘calculate price discounts in their heads’.

Over two thirds of the employers that were surveyed said that school and college leavers lacked vital ‘employability’ skills, whilst over 55% said they struggled to manage their time or routine.

The findings come as the Government prepares to launch a radical overhaul of skills training for 14 to 19 year olds.

Commenting on the findings, Director of Learning, Sharon Hughes of regional tutoring company Tutors4GCSE said ’I’m not surprised by the outcome of this research study. In my opinion the problem is not funding or access to learning, but rather a lack of engaging content and delivery’.

‘Our Secondary schools lack specialist Maths and English teachers, however the foundations of these topics are delivered in the primary school sector, often by teachers who have no more than a Grade C at GCSE themselves. It is not reasonable to expect them to have a depth of knowledge sufficient to enthuse and engage young learners, at this early stage.’

Sharon continued ‘Too much emphasis is on learners ’remembering’ rules rather than engaging with these subjects in a meaningful way. There should be more focus on understanding and the application of knowledge which would make all school leavers more employable’.

Tutors4GCSE provide specialist Maths and English tuition for those in school years 5+ with dedicated school leaver/adult classes available during the daytime and evenings. 


www.tutors4gcse.co.uk 

Client sets out on big 'A-Venture' to launch new business

Lynne Edwards, of Mold, has spent the last 18 months planning and researching her niche business and recently launched with the support of several leading names within the expedition industry.

Lynnes business, A-Venture marketing, specialises in acting as a conduit between corporate sponsors and high profile expedition leaders for some of the worlds most amazing explorations and expeditions.

"I first came up with the idea when I could see the influence Steve Backshall was having on my youngest daughters lifestyle. She was inspired by him and I could see this positive action counteracting the Nature Deficit Disorder that exists with the younger generation. My aim was to highlight the plight of the explorers and then in turn use this to inspire children and to promote and an outdoor lifestyle, so we as a generation can raise healthy, happy children who have a love of the natural world "said Lynne.

" As a busy working Mummy it’s been an adventure just getting the business off the ground! I was studying for my degree in business management whilst working in financial services so at times it felt like an uphill struggle especially juggling a young family, however I now class myself as very fortunate that I can work doing something I love, combining my skill for marketing and negotiation with my passion for adventure".

Lynne has already affiliated herself with some great figures in the industry. "I’ve engaged with some large names in the Expedition/Exploration world such as Ed Stafford (the first person ever to walk the length of the River Amazon from source to Sea) and Jeremy Curl -the youngest Westerner to ever walk the whole of the Sahara desert to Timbuktu unaided and on foot. Working with such credible names makes it a very attractive sponsorship proposition for large corporate names."

Carys Edwards, for Venture Wales, has supported Lynne in launching her business and added “It has been a pleasure to support Lynne on the Welsh Assembly Government’s New Business Growth Programme. With ongoing support in Marketing, Business & Financial Planning, Lynne has made incredible progress in developing her business proposition. She has identified a niche in the adventure and travel sectors and with her drive, enthusiasm and personal believe has won a number of big name supporters. We wish her every success.”

Lynne added "I'm so excited about the future for my business We're working on some great expeditions now such as Jeremy Curls record breaking crossing of the Danakil Desert and James Bowthorpes Race Across America."          

Lynne has also recently entered the Barclays one small step competition - support her by viewing her entry online     https://www.takeonesmallstep.co.uk/Entry/Detail/2086/4     

Saint Belle Choose Freer PR

We're delighted to have been appointed PR consultants to Chesters newest boutique 'Saint Belle'. For those of you have yet to find this den of 'all things beautiful', Saint Belle is a lingerie boutique, with a difference. 


Situated on the rows in Chester, Saint Belle is a store of beauty. 


Headed up by designer Annabel Mount-Kirk the store offers leading lingerie collections and swimwear brands with names such as Stella McCartney, Mimi Holliday, Elle Macpherson and SeaFolly as well as the stores own label collection under the brand 'Saint Belle'. 


It's exciting times for Saint Belle. Their first collection has caught the attention of the fashion industry, and we were able to secure their first trade press in the largest industry buying publication 'LingerieBuyer' just hours after their first press release went out. 


"We're really excited to be working with Saint Belle"commented Nicki Spindler, Freer PR. "The Saint Belle Campaign will incorporate raising their profile in Chester as well as working to position the brand across national media. We've really enjoyed the brainstorming sessions to date and we're looking forward to implementing a planned and well executed campaign". 

#Operation Hire Lily: Twitter campaign lands Lily Tucker an Account Executive role at Freer PR

We are delighted to introduce our latest recruit, Lily Tucker, who has joined Freer PR as an account executive.


Lily has recently finished a degree in journalism at University of Chester and comes to the company with a year’s PR experience gained through work placements and a part time role at marketing communications firm, James Rae Communications.


She is a self confessed social media addict and attracted the attention of Freer PR after launching a Twitter job search using the hashtag #OperationHireLily.


Within minutes of her first tweet she had received many retweets and several leads, one of which detailed a possible vacancy at Freer PR.


Lily said: “I started #Operation Hire Lily purely to see how far my Twitter connections would take me, I never expected to get such a great response or find a company that I was so in tune with. The icing on the cake was landing a position with Freer PR.”


Lily’s appointment was made at a very busy and promising time for the company after new account wins prompted an expansion.
Freer PR’s, Nicki Spindler said: “At Freer PR we pride ourselves on the strong relationships we build with our clients and dedication we put in to achieve great results. Recent account wins meant that in order to continue to offer the best possible service the team would need to grow. I am positive that our combined skills and working relationship will lead to even bigger and better coverage for our clients.”


Freer PR are a boutique public relations consultancy based on the Wirral, near to Chester and Liverpool. To find out more visit www.FreerPR.com or call and speak to the team on 07540 723 832.

The Top 10 PR Mistakes To Avoid

The purpose of PR is to positively portray your business, brand or product. Don't confuse PR with advertising.  You pay for advertising space and the publications carry your message. For PR to work for you need to engage with your target publications and persuade the media to take an interest in your business. You need to capture their attention with interesting news stories - afterall they decide which stories make the cut and which don't. Here's my top 10 of PR mistakes to avoid... The BIG sell.... Yes, please be positive about your Company, brand and message,  but if you're too pushy, or your message is all sell sell sell the media will smell a rat. This is news after all, so stick to the facts! The 'no news' press release.....you may be interested in your small business stories, but truth of the matter is, the press won't be. If you waste their time sending them small snippet no news releases they'll soon take you off their radar. Lead Times... Yes you have something wonderful to say and your news story is as tasty as they come, but remember depending on your target audience some publications work up to 3 months ahead - so consider your lead times and check your message will still be relevant when it goes to print   Buzzwords... Like most things there's always a buzzword or key phrase of the moment - don't be dragged into fluffing out press release content with industry jargon. Editors don't have time to read everything that hits their desk - so keep to the point and use language the reader will engage with - not be confused by Same old... Keep your press release angles creative - don't stick to the same old format. You need your press release to reach out and grab some attention Simply press send... Just because you've hit send and sent your press release - the work isn't finished. In fact its only just begun. The relationships you build with your media list can be the difference between having your news story featured and it never seeing the light of day. Put in a follow up call to the journalist or editor you've sent the release to. This will allow you to start building a relationship with them - and it will benefit your PR activity in the long run. Finger on the pulse.. Reading local newspapers, understanding the style of national newspapers and being familiar with your target magazines will help you keep your news stories relevant. If you've something that ties in with a current trend or topic it will all help! This will help you avoid poorly timed press releases. Immediate Coverage... This isnt always the case. If you're a small business or a new product or perhaps you've never engaged with the media before, you may need to work harder at gaining the trust of the editors and journalist before they carry your story. Remember the difference between advertising and credible PR? If the Editors know you'll be sending them regular credible news stories they'll start to feature them. Don't be surprised if your first few releases don't make print... with positive media calls and regular press releases you'll get there. Work with a professional...You're best placed at managing your  business and a PR professional is best placed to manage your PR. PR isnt something you pick up and put down. It isnt as simple as hitting send, it about being creative with idea's, writing accurate and interesting news stories, having good media contacts and working on building strong relationships on behalf of your company or brand. Having a planned strategy will help you reach your objectives. The guaranteed coverage promise.. Whether you do your own PR, appoint a freelance consultant or appoint the biggest agency - PR is never guaranteed. The proof is in the pudding or in this case - the coverage...so to find the right PR person for you, ask for recommendations from other business owners and when you're meeting with any PR person ask them to demonstrate the coverage they've secured for other clients. It's a good way of finding out what you can expect in return for your investment.