Thursday 3 May 2012

Chester Arts Festival appoint Freer PR

 The Chester Arts Festival have appointed local PR Agency, Freer PR to help raise the profile of their forthcoming summer art event.

The first Chester Arts festival will take place in Chester and run 15-17th June at Chester’s Abode Hotel. Showcasing world renowned artists, the festival hopes to raise the profile of Art in the City and will show works from Artists including: Professor of Art, Pete Turnbull, whose work has been exhibited in London and New York; award winning photographer Eva-Erdi-Krausz whose work has been exhibited in the Tate Liverpool; World famous Sculptor, Nick Elphick, who was commissioned to the sculpt the Queens Head in 2011; local artist and member of the Wirral Society of Arts David Shiers; Kerry Darlington a recent finalist in the Best up and coming published artist award; Chloe Holt a member of the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art and a special exhibition of the work of renowned (late) cartoonist Ronald Searle.
 
Festival Director, Laura O’Hare commented: “We’re pleased to have appointed Nicki Spindler and the team at Freer PR. As a leading local agency they came highly recommended to us and we’ve so far been delighted with their injection of ideas, planning and strategy which will all help to raise the profile of Chester’s newest festival.  Personally, I wanted to create an accessible arts festival that showcased some of the most talented artists in the Area. The festival will be a celebration of art across all persuasions – and we hope the event will become a permanent fixture in the City’s event calendar.”

Speaking about their appointment, Nicki Spindler commented: “It’s great to be involved with the Chester Arts Festival. The 3 day event will be a great visitor attraction offering something for everyone. The festival will also provide a great opportunity for the City’s budding junior artists who’ll have the opportunity to win a chance to exhibit their artwork at the festival. We’re really pleased to be on board with the festival and we’re looking forward to contributing to what looks set to be a great event for the City.”

Monday 30 April 2012

Daisy Chain links Freer PR to North West Charity


We’re delighted to announce that Freer PR will be working with Liverpool based charity, Daisy UK.

Daisy UK is a charity set up by Dave Kelly, a local man who sadly lost his vision 18 years ago. Dave Kelly, who runs the charity, decided to set up a community support organisation that helps disabled people reach their true potential in life. The charity offers their support services including sports development, education and employment opportunities in a bid to break down the barriers within society.

Nicki Spindler, Director at Freer PR said: “We've wanted to work with a Charity for some time, but it was important for us that we found a charity where we felt we could make a real contribution. DaisyUK have helped so many people across the North West and to know that in helping them raise their profile further they'll be able to help many more people means we'll be achieving our objective in helping a local Charity realise it's true potential.

DaisyUK have a wealth of experience combined with a fantastic sense of humour and we're really excited to be working with such a dedicated and passionate team."


Friday 27 April 2012

How important is local publicity to your business?


When we first talk to Companies about PR, we're often asked the same question: `Can you get us national publicity?' - It's a fair question- always met with the same answer `Will national publicity help you achieve your key business objectives?'

In the fast paced world of Online PR your message can be pushed far and wide very quickly. This can be a good thing - if your brand/company is ready for it. However, we always start with a few simple questions:

Who are your existing customers? and Who are your target customers?

Often we find that for many businesses their existing customers are located within the immediate local region, and as for the customers they want to target? - Well of course they want to attract more of the same.

Often focusing on local publicity can be overlooked or dismissed in preference of national press, sector specific publications or online PR. Don't get us wrong we work with all of these channels on a daily basis so we do understand the value and place they have in many PR strategies - but we've also helped many businesses to grow simply be starting with a local publicity campaign: reaffirming their position and raising their profile in their local marketplace.

A recent stat showed that 49%* of marketers believe localised marketing is essential to business growth (*Source BIA/Kelsey)

We've built strong working relationships with the local and regional media. We know what makes a great story and how to drive PR campaigns that gain you regular and consistent coverage.

Our advice: If you haven't used PR before or if you haven't yet got your local area all sewn up in terms of market-share then speak with us. We'll develop an innovative and creative PR campaign that will help you raise your profile and drive business growth.

For more advice about local PR strategies contact Amy on Amy@Freerpr.com

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Hillyer Mckeown Urges Local Businesses to Attend Networking Event


Our client, a leading Ellesmere Port law firm, are urging local businesses to take part in a business networking event this Friday.

Designed to support the business community, the event will help investigate potential opportunities for growth and innovation and offer the opportunity to meet new contacts.
It will also allow guests to share best practice and discuss ways to move businesses forward in the current economic climate.

Hillyer Mckeown has launched the campaign in a bid to bring together businesses and help develop growth.



Ellesmere Port Development Board chairman, Robert Mee, said: “Ellesmere Port is starting to reap the benefits from recent developments in education, retail and employment, which has increased positivity about the town’s future.

“This event will provide local businesses with a great opportunity to network with other local companies, create new contacts and build on existing ones.

“It will also provide a way for businesses to keep up-to-date with progress in their area and find about new developments.”


Richard Burnett, client development manager for Hillyer McKeown, said: “We chose Ellesmere Port as the location for our first event in order to show our support to the Ellesmere Port Development Board in regenerating the Ellesmere Port area.

“The area is transforming and our vision is to bring together the local business community in order to encourage key collaborations and strategic partnerships that will help local businesses to grow.”

The networking event will take place from 1.30pm on Friday, April 27, at The Saffron Restaurant, Whitby Road, Ellesmere Port.

For further details on the event contact Amy at Amy@FreerPR.com

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Is Your Business 'App'y?

At Freer PR we’re always looking for ways to build and promote your business reputation both B2B and B2C. We search for opportunities to maximise exposure, and today we ask the question; Can App’s help raise your business profile?

An App (or Application) is another word for a computer program. But what does an App do? Consider your computer. Chances are, when you purchased it, the machine came preloaded with programs and perhaps some additional applications. It’s a good bet that you have more than those original programs on your computer now. Perhaps you bought other software programs that you wanted or needed and installed them to help you get the most out of your computer.

Now imagine your mobile, an App is a program you can add to your phone. It’s as simple as that.

So can an App really benefit your business profile? Figures show that more and more of us our finding out the importance of the internet and it turn, we don’t want to be without it. Welcome the smart phone (or the internet-in-the-palm-of-your-hand-phone) allowing you to do more, see more and read more, daily!

For businesses across the globe, Apps are being developed as a platform to communicate with consumers in a more direct way, and there’s good reason! Apps have the ability to transform your business to an audience that you may not have approached before. Here are our top reasons for how Apps can benefit your business profile:
  • An App, linked with social media sites will give consumers the need to know information direct to the palm of their hand.
  • Apps are developed for convenience for the users. Of course, if you have a great app, the word will spread.
  • Apps can bring traffic to your store whether than be online or in bricks and mortar.
  • Apps are able to sync with other online websites including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. So it’s great when offering a discount or special service, or promoting an event.
  • The mobile internet market is growing much faster than fixed internet.
  • It will differentiate you from your competition.
  • You create deeper engagement.
  • You can offer you’re branding on your customers phones.
  • You drive more loyalty.
  • For businesses, having an App for your company will create an innovative, professional and engaging appeal to your brand. In turn, your business will be subjected to a newer audience, and consumer’s figures will increase.
If your company is currently developing an App, it’s important your public relations around this process are strategically planned.

For further information on how to promote your App contact Amy@freerpr.com.
 

Thursday 19 April 2012

Interactive Marketing at Coachella


As the world’s media forms around the Coachella festival this year, sponsors are looking for innovative ways to promote their brands to the fashionista festival goers. The festival that is held on two weekends in April has already wowed crowds with the hologram performance from rapping legend Tu-Pac. 

Sponsors including Heineken, Hyundai and H&M are taking advantage of the crowds and their social media traffic to experiment with new types of brand advertising. Compared to the standard concert sponsorships of the recent years  now marketers are able to offer experiences to their consumers and encourage interactivity with their brand. 



Heineken, one of nine companies sponsoring the event, has attracted a buzz for its Cold Storage Room, wherein Coachella attendees can store up to two cases of the Dutch beer in a cooler accessible only with the owner’s scanned thumbprint. Since the festival goers can’t bring outside drinks into the venue, Heineken provides a service and becomes the beer of choice for thousands camping and partying at the event. 


At a drive-in theatre on the campgrounds, carmaker Hyundai is screening its music documentary “Re:Generation,” in which DJs and other young artists collaborate with older musicians. Hyundai Veloster presents the film. Hyundai is reaching out to an audience of content creators.  Interactive experiences with fans might be more memorable, but of course, If the experience is poorly executed fans will be able to express their negativity on social media sites across the globe. 

UK festival goers have been warned that if these ‘trial experiences’ gain the buzz the sponsors require both online and offline, their next festival experience may be a difference experience altogether.

What do you think about interactive marketing?  

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Totally British Branding, Ma'am!


As we draw closer to the years most patriotic event: The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, our UK brands are jumping on the band wagon and promoting their products with totally British branding.

They overload our shopping trolleys every week, these British brands including Heinz, Pimms, Hovis and McVities are embracing the patriotism towards this celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubliee.

McVities are promoting the 'Proud to be British' positioning, whilst Heinz are launching limited edition vintage packaging. The Hovis food company aims to spend £3.5m on TV, press and PR campaigns aimed at promoting the premium British Farmer Loaf from May to September. Dedicated Marmite have even changed their name to Ma'amite in homage to the Queen's reign. 

Consumers have been asked the question today, will the red, white and blue, 'British' packaging be jumping off the shelves and into your shopping trolley? We've source the previews of these British brands to find out, from you, the British public, what you'll be purchasing this summer? 







Tuesday 17 April 2012

New to online networking? No-one will ever know!

Perhaps you're a "newbie" to the world of online networking. You've probably joined LinkedIn and Twitter, and everyone is telling you to "network, network, network," but you aren't quite sure how to get started.

Maybe you've avoided the social network phases as you don't think you have anything valuable to say. Perhaps you've been actively networking online for several months, but you're having a hard time making personal connections with other social site members. Maybe your struggling to find the right opportunities for your business, and your networking skills are falling on deaf ears.

Well, with fear of being the bearer of bad news, the truth is that there isn't a quick way to build an online network. You can post messages every single day, but unless you reach out and make personal connections, you won't get very far?

There are five key tips for networking online, and here are some quick fire tips to help you get started.

Set networking objectives and milestones.
One of the first things you’ll want to be clear about are your goals for networking online. Are looking for business development? Just want to increase your networking activity? Looking for information? Your objectives should determine which online networking approaches you take and how much time you spend on this.

Assess your skills, talents, experience, and work style to convey your personal brand and unique selling points.
What is the message or “brand” that you want to promote? Understanding your brand will ensure that your online identity is accurate and consistent across all sites.

Develop a profile for online networks and other online media.
Although sites differ somewhat from each other, the basic components of a profile are the same--a qualifications summary statement, summary of work experience, educational credentials, professional affiliations, and sometimes personal interests and hobbies. Sell yourself, your business, your product or your idea.

Watch the conversation before jumping in.
Most online networking sites and forums have their own policies, procedures, and rules of engagement. When you first join a site, take some time to watch the interaction before offering opinions, uploading content, and engaging others. Once you understand the flow of dialogue, you'll be better able to contribute to the community in a positive way. Remember you can only make one first impression.

Focus on relationship-building.
Online or offline, networking is about building relationships. You should never be networking with people only because you think they can give you a job or will become clients. The focus should always be on building relationships. New jobs and new clients are often multiple networking levels away from that initial encounter. The more networking you do and the more connections you make, the closer you come to that new job or next client. You will have found many opportunities to assist others with their networking goals along the way.
Networking is always a two-way street.

If you would like further information on how social networking can work for your brand contact Amy on amy@freerpr.com for a step-to-step guide on how social networking can help your business.

Monday 16 April 2012

How to network effectively (10 helpful questions to get you started!)


So we all know the power networking can have, but what isn’t so commonly known is how to effectively do it! Yes networking is simple, but it’s far from easy. What do you say when you first meet someone at a networking event? …and what about the dreaded ‘lull’ in conversation. 
Ok, so before we run you through our top ten of effective networking questions to ask, our first tip (and probably the most crucial point) is to decide if the person you’ve just introduced yourself is really in the mood to talk to you. If it feels like hard work, and you get the feeling the person doesn’t really want to talk to you, move on to someone else. It’s no big deal. 


Our second big tip is to ask questions. It’s the easiest way to keep the conversation flowing – plus if you ask the right open ended questions the other person will do lots of talking and you’ll get to learn lots about them. 


So here’s a great top 10 of networking questions – these questions will help you avoid the dreaded conversation ‘lull’ and they’ll get you beyond “Where are you from?” …


1. How did you get involved in…?
People like to tell their story. Give them an opportunity to do so while you listen attentively and they’ll love you.


2. What advice would you give me if I wanted to be successful in your line of work?
This is a great follow up question to #1. 


3. What do you love/enjoy most about what you do?
This question keeps happy feelings in the air.
And just in case you’re wondering whether or not it’s a good idea to ask what a person likes the least about what he or she does, the answer is no, unless you’re in the same line of work! 


4. What separates you from the competition?
This question gives a person permission to tout his unique abilities. Be sure to ask this question in a polite and inquisitive tone of voice so that it doesn’t sound like you’re challenging the person.


5. What one thing would you do if you knew that you could not fail?
A truly thought provoking and inspiring question to ask. (You should ask yourself this question.) It helps and encourages a person to dream and when she revisits the dream there’s a chance that you’ll come to mind often. That’s powerful.


6. What was the strangest or funniest incident you’ve experienced in your business?
People love to share war stories, but seldom get a chance to finish them because others interrupt with their own stories. When you ask this question resist the temptation to interject your own horror tale. Remember – “let the other person do a great deal of the talking.”


7. What significant changes have you seen take place in your profession/area of expertise through the years?
Great question for cross-generational networking because it allows a person to reminisce about the good old days. The following variations are good for upper classmen and graduate students.


8. What do you see as the coming trends in your profession/area of expertise?
This is a great follow up question to #7. This shows a person that his opinions matter to you.


9. If someone were to describe you in one sentence what would they say?
Another very thought provoking question. Normally it is best used later in the conversation. Remember: You’re not interviewing someone; you’re networking!


10. What do like to do in your spare time? 
This question will take someone to a happy place and help you to know her outside of professional or academic life.


Remember there is no need to memorise all 10 of these questions! Start with the 3 or 4 you like the most. Master them and then give the others a test run!


Keep in mind that no question in the world will help you be a better networker if you are not truly interested in the other person.


So, be interested, ask questions, and let the other person do the talking – you never know where it will lead. 


Happy Networking! 

Thursday 12 April 2012

Mothercare to close more UK stores


Reports today are developing into the closure of some 60 plus Mothercare stores throughout the UK. The iconic British mother and baby store has been trading since 1971 and sadly due to a management restructure in November of last year the store has struggled to cope after reports shown a drop in sales by 6.2% in 2011/12.
Mothercare stock many of the top mother and baby brands from across the globe, including Mama’s and Papa’s, Baby K and Silvercross. The niche company has struggled in recent years with the introduction of online retailers selling stock at a considerably lower cost. It’s a sign of the times; consumers are becoming ‘savvy shoppers’, looking for the best deal and avoiding well known stockists, opting instead, for a cheaper alternative stockist of the same product.

Of course, it’s not all bad news for Mothercare. The company have seen some phenomenal growth in their overseas market, so plans to open more international stores are on the agenda for the future.

Our client, Mama Beach has seen a fantastic growth in their clothing over the past year. The brand which started as high end luxury swimwear from pregnant women expanded into children’s swimwear and has now adapted the range to women’s loungewear. The brand, that stocked their range in Mothercare some years ago, made a conscious decision to move their brand to an online e-commerce site late last year. The growth has meant the brand has had to adapt and the new e-commerce site is due to launch this summer.

A spokesperson for the brand said “It’s always sad to hear that a British store is making cuts, especially for the staff that will lose their jobs, that is always tough to hear. However consumers are putting more effort into their shopping. They research their products and no longer panic buy. They look for the best deal and want quality for their money. The Mama Beach range is made from some of the best Italian fabric and is internationally made. I believe it’s the quality of our product that has allowed us to grow considerably.”

Mama Beach are constantly striving to perfect their brand and their products and conduct a lot of market research on social media sites. The international sites allow the brand to understand their global market, ask questions and answer concerns. Mama Beach have found having an open approach to their audience has allowed for return business again and again.

To find out more details on Mama Beach and to be added to their database for news on the brand contact Amy@Freerpr.com.

Wednesday 11 April 2012

The Power of the Re-Tweet


If you have a personal or business Twitter account, you will no doubt have seen many ‘RTs’ that run through you news feed. These are Re-Tweets, which in short means someone has read a Tweet that the feel has value to be shared and therefore will Re-Tweet the original Tweet in order to spread the message.

Many businesses see Twitter as a one dimensional social networking tool, but Twitter has many layers that need to be understood to receive a maximum return on investment.

The effectiveness of a RT is extremely powerful and can address a wider audience and of course, drive traffic to a site if a link is included.

So to understand the effectiveness of a RT, you must firstly understand how far a Tweet can go. It’s a very simple concept. If, for example, I, Amy Brown of Freer PR tweet to all my contacts, I have on average 200 followers. Then Freer PR’s Director Nicki Spindler Re-Tweets my comment on her business Twitter account @Freer_PR which on average has 1000 followers, and then on to her personal account which again has on average 100+ followers. My short Tweet has the possibility of being read by an audience of 1,300.

Think of the true impact when your post is Re-Tweeted by 10 or 20 others. This could possibly expose your content to tens of thousands of Twitter users. Powerful stuff and lots of exposure which drives traffic to your site. But please, before you get overly excited, understand that only a small percentage of the people that the Tweet is exposed to will actually click through to your site. But if your message is clear enough, that may be enough to attract new followers.

So, when Tweeting, you must make sure that the message you want to send out is clear and positive. Also, understand the importance of making your message global. By making the Tweet globally recognised, the possibility of the Re-Tweet is limitless.



Do you track Re-Tweets to see what the impact is or is this something you have not given much attention to? Re-Tweeting is a fantastic and cost effective way to get your business message out to a wider audience. So when posting a simple Tweet today, remember the possibilities of where that Tweet may end up!

For further information on getting the best from your Twitter account contact Amy@freerpr.com.

Tuesday 10 April 2012

Social media, Log on, Switch on!


In this, the first of a four part blog posting series, we will be taking a look at the importance of having an online presence and how social media can work for your business. We will be finding out what your competition is doing online, and asking the all important question, is your business missing out?
There are many aspects of having an online presence that will benefit your business:
Here at Freer PR we believe that if your company is not online, it may as well not exist. The fact of the matter is, when a business is introduced to someone, their first action is to ‘Google them’. If you have Twitter accounts,RSS feeds, LinkedIn profiles, Facebook pages, Apps and of course an up-to-date-website, you business is instantly of interest to that person. Having an online presence makes your business interesting. For example, a Google search can tell people about your business, who works for you, your business objectives, your business goals, your current news, your product offering and, of course, the services you provide. This gives an audience member a greater understanding about your business.


A Neilson Study recently announced that we spend 68 hours per month online including on social media sites and blogging. That’s 2 hours and 6 minutes every day! If you’re not online, these figures should be motivational enough to realise that having an online presence today is a key aspect of your company.


“The reality is social media is playing more of a part in how people find services than ever before. If you’re not participating in social media networks, you are jeopardising the success of your practice.” says Sara Sims, Director of Business Development for TherapySites.


• Current news: Constantly up-to-date, discussing worldwide or regional news that is of interest to your business, or your audience. Instantly updated, you can comment on the news that is happening, now!


• Interactivity: Social media is not a one way tool. You are able to talk to your client base, ask them questions, answer concerns they have towards your business or thank them for their praise. You are able to offer a dedicated service to them that can only be gained from social media. Social media increases customer engagement and builds brand ambassadors.


• Wider Reach: Your potential online audience is global. There are no limits here, if your product or service can be sold globally, then social media can be a great way to break new worldwide audiences. Link your profile with your e-commerce site and you’re flying.


Being online means your company has no limits; you are able to reach far and wide and build engaging relationships with your target customers.


If you need help promoting your business message online through Social Media or Online PR contact amy@freerpr.com

Thursday 5 April 2012

Top Ten Reasons for Sending a Press Release

Many companies struggle to understand the importance of sending out strategically planned news campaigns to the press. There are two main reasons businesses don’t get the coverage they want or deserve.

The first reason is lack of stories, you may be thinking, "Why should I send a press release to the media - they aren't going to care about what I'm doing with my business." Well, you're wrong! Editors and reporters earn their living by finding interesting stories - they see you as a resource, rather than an inconvenience.


The second reason is too many stories. Many companies seem to bombard journalists with their press stories, believing that the more they send out, the more coverage they will receive. Right? Wrong.



If you fall in to this category then here are some top tips for sending out a NEWSWORTHY press release.
 

Firstly, your business needs a structured plan for your newsworthy stories. You won’t get fantastic coverage in your first month, you need to build relationships with your local newspaper, and this takes time. You must sew the seed, sending occasional stories and speaking to the same contact will allow them to remember your name. Make sure the journalist covers the types of stories you company feature in. Don’t send your beauty business stories to the financial reporter! Do research; ask for advice if you are struggling.

When sending out a press release, think about your audience, does your audience WANT to hear about this story? Do they NEED to hear about this story? Would the story be better with pictures?


So you think you have a topic of interest that both your journalist and audience will love. Well, let’s see if it falls in to our TOP TEN REASONS TO SEND A PRESS RELEASE!



1. An announcement of a product or service. Is your company offering something new? Something different? Then surely your audience will want to know about this.


   2. Are you holding a public event? Maybe you want the journalist to attend? You’ll surely want to publicise the event. If this an annual event you may have pictures from a previous year, send them along with your story.


3. Client wins & success stories. Are you hitting a record breaking year? Have you wont a fantastic new client? Is there a joining force of businesses that will benefit your industry or region?


4. Expansion. Especially in these tough economic times, if your company is expanding, then this is a positive news story.



5. National topic or holiday. Keep your finger on the pulse when it comes to trending stories in the national press, if something happens which you feel your business can comment on then call the press. Are you offering a service in conjunction with a national holiday, your audience will want to know.

6. Awards. Has your business won an award? Has an employee won an award? Maybe you’re holding an award ceremony, or have been nominated. These stories are extremely newsworthy.


7. If your business is conducting a new study, then this would be a story for your industry magazines.



8. Community stories are great for regional press. If you are volunteering at a local charity, or have donated a gift of kind or a monetary donation then let the papers know. This will also benefit the charity.

9. Business Anniversary. If your business has been running for 20 years, then this is a great success story, your audience will want to know your exciting news, so do tell the papers.



10. Finally, if you have any celebrity endorsement, a visit for a Government minister or your product has been used on TV, then these are all great regional news stories.
    

A strategic and planned approach always drives effective and measurable results. If you'd like to talk to us about how we can keep your business profile in the media then contact Amy@freerpr.com

Wednesday 4 April 2012

An Introduction to PR


Many people are often confused by the term ‘PR’ (Public Relations) and what it really means. Some businesses disregard spending time and effort in their Public Relations. However, Public Relations is a vital tool for any business, no matter how big or small. In short, PR is the message a business wants to send to its audience. By sending a linear and honest message to its customer base, a business will gain a sound reputation in the public eye.
Customers, suppliers, employees, stakeholders and journalists can have a powerful impact. They all have an opinion about the organisations they come into contact with – whether good or bad, right or wrong. These perceptions will drive their decisions about whether they want to work with, shop with and support these organisations.



The PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) recently issued an updated definition of what PR is on their Twitter account. Conveniently fitting in a handy 140 character Twitter-friendly message: 

“Public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organisations and their public's.”

A Business reputation is everything, it can help make or break a company, with the Internet your reputation (good or bad) can now spread like wild fire if you’re not on top of it.
Having to worry about running your business in today’s climate, never mind keeping an eye on what people are saying about you online, can be challenging and very time consuming.
No matter what your budget your PR must be effective. It’s for that reason companies hire a PR agency to take care of all their marketing needs. This allows the company to concentrate on what they do best, and know their every PR and Marketing need is taken care of by industry professionals.

To find out how PR can work for your business contact Amy at Amy@freerpr.com.

Tuesday 3 April 2012

Excessive Advertising: When is enough too much?

This week The Guardian issued a report regarding the independent panel set up by the Government to tackle the effects of last year’ riots. The report, by the Riots Communities and Victims panel concludes that the riots were fueled by a range of factors including a lack of opportunities for young people, poor parenting, a failure of the justice system to rehabilitate offender's materialism and suspicion of the police.

The report points out that half of the recorded offences in the riots were for looting, often high-value products, including TV’s, trainers, designer clothes, mobile phones and computers. The report has issued a plea to the Advertising Standards Authority to work to increase children’s resilience to advertising and to be protected from ‘Excessive Advertising’. So, we ask the question, when is enough, too much?

You must firstly understand that here at Freer PR we love advertising. We enjoy receiving a brief from clients, and then developing the creative process involved with finding a great advertising hook, then running with it up to final completion. We, of course, love the final return of investment our clients receive from a successful advertising campaign.
   
We are not disputing that advertising is a great way to build a reputation with your customer base, however, we purely ask, can there be too much advertising? The answer, of course, is yes!

We all know the major contenders for Forbes largest advertising campaign. But is it really necessary? If a worldwide hamburger chain spent a little less on their advertising, would people stop going? Would people suddenly forget about them after all these years? Of course not.

Would we struggle to find running shoes? Or give up running altogether? Because a certain trainer brand spent less money on advertising? Of course not. But yes, we are being slightly melodramatic here.

With so many advertisers spending so much money to advertise and market their message across so many mediums and platforms to so many people, will we one day get to that point? Will we all one day collectively say ‘enough is enough?’

I surely hope not for as I mentioned previously we love advertising and I think it plays a very important role in the consumer ecosystem. Advertising informs. Advertising educates. Advertising entertains. And of course, advertising sells.

Monday 2 April 2012

Freer PR hires PR executive as part of first phase of expansion



Freer PR has hired Amy Brown as PR executive to the firm. The role marks the first phase in expansion for the company. 

Amy brings with her a wealth of experience, working in the industry for the past seven years. Earlier in her career Amy worked with such clients as The Primary Care Trust, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust, and The Feathers Hotel Group.

Nicki Spindler of Freer PR, said: “We are extremely excited that Amy has joined the Freer PR team. Her experience in the industry will allow us to continue offering excellent levels of service to our clients. Amy brings with her wealth of experience working within the PR industry and has created some fantastic campaigns for an impressive array of clients. We’re delighted to have her on board, and feel she will be a true asset to Freer PR."

Amy Brown said: “I’m delighted to have joined the team at Freer PR. They have a fantastic reputation in the industry and a great client base. I’m looking forward to injecting my ideas and creativity to further enhance the service offering."

Amy will start work with Freer PR on April 2nd. On behalf of the company, we would like to welcome Amy to the team. 

For PR queries, Amy can be contacted on 07714037704. 

Wednesday 18 January 2012

Time Recruitment appoints Freer PR to raise profile


Specialist recruitment firm, Time Recruitment, have appointed Freer PR to deliver their PR and Communications campaign across regional and national media.  

Freer PR will deliver a strategic campaign that will raise the profile of the firm, as well as driving awareness of the “credible reputation” that Time Recruitment have built across their specialist Construction, Healthcare, Industrial and Commercial divisions.

Nicola Spindler, Director of Freer PR said: “ Over the last 10 years Time Recruitment have built a strong and positive reputation as a specialist recruitment firm. The recruitment industry is a competitive market place where quality and delivery distinguish you from your competitors. Time Recruitments vision and passion for the work they do has seen their business transform into the leading provider they are today. We’re delighted to be working with Stephen and Paul and look forward to contributing towards their next phase of growth.”

Stephen Lyons, Director of Time Recruitment commented: “In this our 10th Year of business we recognised that in order to continue achieving year on year growth it was important that we continued to re-invest in our brand. We chose to work with Freer PR because of their understanding of our industry and their approach to helping us  achieve our business objectives. It’s refreshing to hear a PR Agency talk about accountability and return on investment – and we’re confident we’ve chosen the right partners to help raise our profile.”