We’ve had a fantastic week at Quest PR  where we’ve celebrated our 10^th Year anniversary in business as a  multi award-winning agency which  delivers ‘joined up’ PR and social media campaigns, media training,videos and video blogs.

We were joined by special guest Andrew Jones MP who made a toast and cut our cake made by Mama Doreen’s Cupcake Company  featuring coverage for clients including Fracino and Contis Group.

We’re extremely proud that some of our clients including Richard Bosworth from What If? Forums have been with us on our exciting and challenging  journey to date and thanks to Richard and valued fellow clients and business partners from organisations including AfPP, Jones Myers LLP, Emerging Real Estate, Campus PR and Clive Owen & Co LLP added to the champagne sparkle!

A very special toast to the Quest PR team for making the event very special for everyone. Cheers guys!

The opportunities to position you and your business as an industry expert in today’s dynamic digital world have never been greater.

The traditional media channels of print, trade, radio and TV and broadcast media channel  - now complemented by proven social media platforms such as blogs , video , Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn – enable us to be authorities in order to boost our profile, showcase our expertise – and act as a magnet for new business.

The vibrant online castle accommodation provider Celtic Castles headed by ‘The Castle Man’ Roger Masterson is a great example. Celtic Castles has dramatically accelerated its profile and sales since positioning Roger as the expert ‘Castle Man’ with a wealth of knowledge on the castles’ rich histories and facilities. He explains more to Quest’s Sharon Cain.

Within hours of the story of Liverpool’s boardroom battle story capturing the media limelight, media training specialist Quest PR had lined up FrontRow Legal client Richard Cramer for a hat trick of interviews.

A 20 minute slot on BBC Radio Leeds was followed closely by a live BBC TV with a six minute live interview on the Talksport breakfast show with Alan Brazil.

Facing the media live can be both daunting and electrifying – especially if you are unaware of techniques which can help you to take – and stay in control. Here’s some TV tips to get you started:

In the studio

• Do some breathing exercises half an hour beforehand
• Dress appropriately – plain colours (no fussy patterns, avoid jewellery)
• Arrive early to get used to the surroundings
• Meet the interviewer if possible
• Ask about the line of questioning
• Ask to see the ‘link’ or ‘cue’. Is it accurate?
• If you meet opponents before the show, don’t tell them what you’re going to say
• If you’re offered make-up, take it
• Remote studios – establish telephone or sound contact, listen hard, look straight at the camera, assume you’re on camera at all times, don’t leave until you’re told it’s ok

During the interview

• Sit comfortably
• Be friendly
• Be courteous, even if the interviewer is rude
• Be serious. Smiling can be misunderstood
• Don’t fidget
• Relax – you might even enjoy it!

For more information on our media training courses contact @sharoncain on Twitter, find her on LinkedIn or email Sharon@quest-pr.com

As a poacher turned gamekeeper who specialises in conducting media training sessions across the UK, it was surreal to see myself back on the telly in an ITV Wales programme which reviewed major news stories.

As highlighted in my previous posts, I was interviewed about covering what appeared to be a fairly innocuous story about a man reviving local cinema. The man in question later turned out to be a serial killer – and I was sent out to report on one of his gruesome murders!

I am now critically assessing my performance and referring to my own tips on how to conduct a television interview. As mentioned in a recent Tweet, more Quest clients are now seeking training in how to present a video blog. With posting videos key to attracting google’s attention, are you up to speed with filming and editing to catapult your business up the search engine rankings?

Above all, remember that content is King (and Queen!) so, whether written or spoken, produce great content if you want to reach your target audiences and open new doors to drive sales.

In today’s fast-moving media environment, the opportunities to build your profile on the airwaves as an authority in your sector with organisations spanning BBC Radio Leeds, Radio 5 Live or independent local radio news – are more prolific than ever.

As a former BBC radio reporter and news editor, I used to interview thousands of people on wide raning subjects and then select the most appropriate ‘soundbite’ to play on the news bulletins. The value to the interview is very powerful as they can appear on 2 to 3 consecutive news bulletins.

In my current capacity as a media trainer, my company is commissioned by public and private sector organisations UK wide (Bradford Chamber and North Yorkshire Police Authority). I always ensure my candidates can conduct both live and pre-recorded radio interviews confidently and competently. Follow the tips below and tell us about your radio debut!

Where and when?

• Make sure you’re on when someone’s listening. Best times are 7.00am-9.00am, then 1.00pm-2.00pm and 4.30pm-6.00pm
• Offer to come to the studio and do it live, even if it means getting up early
• Recording on portable recorders is next best, especially at an interesting location
• Only agree to a telephone interview as a last resort
• If the reporter’s coming to you, choose somewhere quiet, unless the ambient noise adds interest
• Use background noise creatively (remember, the pictures are better on radio!)

How should I perform?

• Be friendly, lively and enthusiastic, but don’t put on an act. Convey your own personality and your message in your voice. Smile
• Be intimate. You’re talking to ONE listener. Choose someone you know and picture them
• Avoid abstractions. Use vivid, human examples to ‘paint pictures’ in the listener’s mind
• Remember the soundbite. Think up a particularly quotable three or four sentences and include them
• If you must use notes, make them bullet points and DON’T read from them – audiences can tell
• Don’t thump the table, crinkle papers or clink jewellery

Remote studios

• Assume the microphone is live until told otherwise
• Listen hard
• Answer when it’s your turn
• Butt in when necessary, with confidence or not at all

Phone-ins

• Be civil to callers, even rude ones
• Write down callers’ names so you can refer to them
• Flatter them; “That’s a fair point, but the real issue here is”
• Take notes if you wish

With just one week to go to my ITV Wales interview  recalling my memories as an on-screen reporter covering the story of serial murderer Peter Moore, who killed four men in as many months, I wanted to refresh myself on the do’s and don’ts  of appearing on TV. Many of our clients have done storming interviews and looked confident and competent, as a result of the following advice:          

In the studio

• Dress appropriately – plain colours, no fussy patterns, avoid jewellery.
• Arrive early to get used to the surroundings.
• Meet the interviewer beforehand, if possible.
• Ask about the line of questioning. What’s the first question?
• Ask to see the ‘link’ or ‘cue’. Is it accurate?
• If you meet opponents before the show, don’t tell them what you’re going to say.
• If you’re offered make-up, take it.
• Remote studios – establish telephone or sound contact, listen hard, look straight at the camera, assume you’re on camera at all times, don’t leave until you’re told it’s ok.

On location

• On the phone beforehand, ask what practical things the crew needs for the shoot. Car parking? Help in carrying equipment? Access to a lift? Loan of a trolley? Mains electricity? How big a room do they need?  How many people will be coming? Do they need passes to enter your premises?
• Ask how long it will take.
• Talk to the reporter as soon as he/she arrives. Do you both see the story the same way? Does he/she require background information?
• Have your own ideas – the more unusual or creative the better – on where you’d like to be filmed.
• What’s behind you? You can easily look silly or unprofessional if you are filmed against an unsuitable background.

During the interview

• Sit comfortably.
• Be friendly.
• Be courteous, even if the interviewer is rude.
• Be serious. Smiling can be misunderstood.
• Don’t fidget.
• Relax – you might even enjoy it!

As we all appear 10lbs heavier on screen than we are in real life, can any of you guys give me some tips on how to look at svelte as possible, in light of the fact that the camera is unforgiving?

Things are hotting up following my last post on my forthcoming interview about a story I covered on serial killer Peter Moore when working for ITV Wales.

Having ‘crossed the divide’ from poacher to gamekeeper after 13 years as an on-screen TV reporter and radio news producer for organisations including Sky News, BBC Radio London where I worked with up and coming stars including the new Terry Wogan and have interviewed stars and politicians including Richard Attenborough, Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins, and John Major  - it will be a surreal experience being on the other side of the microphone.

Having conducted media training sessions for private and public sector organisations since launching Quest, I now need to ensure that I practice what I preach to MDs, CEOs, and senior officials across Police Authorities, Chambers of Commerce and Local Authorities.

A priority will be to review our top tips for TV interviews and how to dress for the part. I will be on location in Denbigh and will then be linking up with a former journalist who also covered the horrendous and gruesome roll out of the Peter Moore story.       

But first and foremost, the key thing I need to remember with TV is that appearance is everything and that:

55% of overall impression is based on the way you look

38% down to your delivery

7% is what you say

So this weekend’s quest is to get a hair cut and go shopping – tough I know, but hopefully I’ll struggle through it!

One of my sartorial ambitions is to own a Burberry trench coat. As I sat watching last night’s regional news on the announcement that the high-end fashion retailer is cutting 290 jobs at three of its Yorkshire factories, my ambition was somewhat tarnished.

The piece – devoid of comment from Burberry – was a sad indictment of the company’s employment communications as it emerged that some staff had only found out about the redundancies by tuning into the radio. Employees milled around outside looking sad and dejected – emotions eagerly lapped up by the throng of news journalists and TV and radio reporters who had dashed to the scene.

As businesses around the country shed jobs with the deepening recession, the blow needn’t be the PR bloodbath that Burberry allowed it to be if you develop a media plan as part of your redundancy preparations.

1) No comment should be avoided whenever possible. Prepare a written statement for staff, suppliers, partners and the media – ensuring your key messages are the same so that there can be no confusion

2) Decide on a media spokesperson. Be brutally honest as to who it the best person – it may not always be the chief executive. Choose a warm, caring and compassionate person to deliver the statement with integrity and honesty – journalists will pounce if they sniff fear, complacency or anxiety so prepare the spokesperson well with to top-class media training by former national journalists.

3) Release a statement to the press at the same time as the announcement to staff, suppliers and partners to avoid disgruntled employees ‘leaking’ the news and putting you on the back foot. Journalists are more likely to take a less negative stance if they believe you’re being honest and open with them.

4) Depending upon the scale of job cuts, set in place an ongoing communications plan with your target media that will continue to attract the attention of potential clients with positive news – companies prefer to do business with success stories.

5) Keep journalists on your side. In difficult economic situations many companies will be restructuring and shedding staff – by maintaining positive relationships with journalists across regional broadcast and print media will help to ensure your announcement doesn’t cause further harm to your business.

2009 will be a tough year for most companies and the news agenda will undoubtedly be filled with stories of administration and job losses – which is why it is vital that you communicate your announcement in a responsible way to avoid unnecessary trauma for you, your staff and your business.

The news that that our regional ITV news coverage could be further eroded due to a shortage of advertising prompts fears of quality of output being compromised - particularly as it was not that long ago that a television news team in our region underwent the trauma of re-applying for their own positions and cutting jobs. As a former regional TV journalist with organisations including the BBC TV news in Manchester and  HTV, the announcement that ITV is shrinking news output from 17 separate programmes to just nine begs the question of how viewers will react to having stories imposed on them with little ‘local’ interest if geographical boundaries are further stretched. 

With union warnings of 250 journalists and technical staff being axed, discerning producers will, more than ever, welcome story outlines from savvy PRs who understand this visual medium and who can present stories which will ‘stand up’ and come to life through great pictures and strong interviewees who are well versed in the art of producing ‘soundbites’. Companies wishing to maximise opportunities are also advised to undertake expert media training to ensure they handle their media interviews confidently and competently.                   

So maximise the wealth of regional TV opportunities by thinking pictures and soundbites – and visualise how fabulous it will be when your organisation’s story makes the flagship news programme!    

One reason we love Google Analytics is that you can quickly identify who is seeking out what services on your website and blog. My recent Max Mosley post attracted visitors intrigued to learn more about orgies (one even examining several pages – now that’s total dedication to a cause!)

The recent crisis communications post continues to draw visitors’ attention through search engines. One in particular asked the question ‘Can you say ‘no comment’ in a crisis?’ – which prompted me to compile this post.

As our tips on crisis communications highlighted saying ‘no comment’ in a crisis is the worst possible solution. Although the reader didn’t stay on the blog long, they hopefully picked up on our tips.

This person would undoubtedly benefit from media training facilitated by seasoned practitioners and former journalists which enables interviewees to handle the toughest of interviews.

Another intriguing search term was ‘good public relations for drugs’ – I’ll leave you to ruminate on how you would deliver that PR campaign!