Driving with the windows open and the air conditioning on

We hardly ever get decent weather in the UK, so when the sun does decide to put in an appearance and it’s really warm, then I just love rolling down the windows and feeling the wind in my hair.

Trashy magazines

I could say it’s market research! I could say I need to keep up with the competition. But really, it’s nice to leave the real world behind for a moment, check out the latest gossip and ogle at those gorgeous clothes!

Staying in a really expensive hotel

There are times when a hotel is just a crash pad away from home. There are other times when it’s a reward for a job well done and it’s my chance to be waited on and pampered. We all need pampering now and again.

Cake for breakfast

Sometimes two Shredded Wheat simply doesn’t cut it. Why break your fast on something that your hamster would enjoy. Eat later. Call it Elevenses!

Going to the spa alone

I spend a lot of time talking (yes, really!) and sometimes it just wears me out. I like to take some “me” time, relax, take a swim and get pampered.  Did I mention I like being pampered?

Playing my favourite songs over and over again

It may drive my husband and colleagues crazy, but there are times when that ONE song just sums up the moment, and you have to just play it over and over again.  Who says 10 times is too many?

Pen fetish

I heard that fountain pens are becoming more popular again. That’s a good thing.  We spend too long typing on computers (like now!) and less time enjoying the sensation of ink against paper.  Yes, I like pens;  so don’t try and steal mine!

Singing opera as loudly as I can when I’m vacuuming

It’s the only way to make vacuuming enjoyable. You mean to say you don’t do it as well? Shame on you!

Foot massages

Have you tried standing around all day in these shoes?  If you did, you’d need a good foot massage to make it all better. Ahhhhhh!

Long naps

The perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon. That’s assuming my toddler will allow me!

OK, I’ve told you mine. What are your guilty pleasures?

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. If you would like to discuss how Aneela and her team can help your business, please make contact. Aneela Rose is a PR, Marketing and Social Media Consultant supported by her in-house Roses and a highly experienced team of Associate Roses. Our website is http://www.aneelarosepr.co.uk

But there are things you should never say to your boss.  Here’s just a few that I’d like to share with you.

What would you do without me?

There’s always someone who can do your job. Never forget that. OK, maybe you’re fantastic at something, but what about those other things that you’re not so great at?  Don’t give your boss the opportunity to speculate what it would be like without you. They may actually give you the answer!

What’s the big deal?

If the boss is making a big deal of something, accept it.  They’re the boss for a reason. It’s their neck on the line. They’re taking the responsibility, not you. Yes, all that is true, but it’s deeper than that.  If it’s a big deal for your boss it’s because it’s part of their key values.  It’s part of their DNA. Maybe they’ve had an experience in which it was a HUGE deal!  Maybe it made all the difference.  So, if it is a big deal, accept it.  Learn from it.

That’s not my problem

If it’s a problem, it needs to get resolved.  You are there to fix problems aren’t you?  That’s what you said on your CV!  It’s pointless arguing who’s problem it is, when it all hits the fan.  Besides, if it wasn’t your problem, but you still fixed it, what’s the boss going to think of you afterwards?

I’m not paid enough for this

Most people would like to earn more money, that’s for sure.  But it’s not all about money, it’s about doing what’s best right now, for the business.  Money may be tight, and workload may be high, but hard work will be rewarded.  Have a conversation about pay at review time.

Silence

Most people perceive silence as acceptance.  Bosses are no different.  If you’ve got something to say then you should say it.  Just think about the way in which you say it.  Don’t talk about problems without offering solutions.  Even if it’s a solution the boss doesn’t like, at least they’ll know you’ve tried to do something constructive.  Never leave an urgent issue for later. If it’s three months since “that thing” that drove you crazy, the boss has probably forgotten about it. You were silent at the time, remember?  That was acceptance.   Pick your moment. Be respectful. Be constructive. Don’t be silent.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. If you would like to discuss how Aneela and her team can help your business, please make contact. Aneela Rose is a PR, Marketing and Social Media Consultant supported by her in-house Roses and a highly experienced team of Associate Roses. Our website is http://www.aneelarosepr.co.uk

 1. Your competition is getting media coverage and you are not:

Whaddya mean you’re not taking full advantage of this accepted state of credibility?! Free publicity can create much more awareness and many more sales than any form of paid advertising or promotion. And if it’s good enough for your competitors, then…

Seriously, publicity can be such a valuable tool, you’d be nuts not to do something about it. Start thinking of news angles that are a bit more creative than your competition. Now!

2. Your company is merging with another company:

At the time of writing, US cable tycoon John Malone’s Liberty Global has agreed to buy the UK’s Virgin Media in a deal worth a mere £15bn. That’s a big deal. In many ways. And the free publicity that Virgin Media will gain will be substantial. Perhaps even more so than when Virgin Media was created from the merger of NTL and Telewest, and Richard Branson’s Virgin Mobile.

The moral of this little story, dear reader, is, mergers, acquisitions or new alliances are big business — and make big headlines. So tell the media about them. (Though not Virgin Media; they’ve got enough press coverage already.)

3. You want to position your company or yourself as an expert and share your expertise with others:

When a breaking news story or big event is making headlines, you can be certain that news organisations are desperately seeking new quotable information and insights…from people who can add their own particular ‘expertise’.

Becoming known as a reliable, quotable expert can lead to positive exposure in the media that may prove to be very lucrative for your business.

4. You are a leader in your field, but other important audiences are unaware of your position:

On the subject of positioning yourself as an authority figure, what if you are missing out by not reaching all core audiences? For instance, a safety expert could write about keeping children safe in school, aimed at teachers who read education journals. They could also participate in online forums related to their area of expertise. Think outside the box when it comes to your target market.

5. You are not involved with your local community and want to be:

Working with your local community services groups or local charities can be an exceptional way to win a ton of publicity for your company.

Usually, though, businesses use ‘passive’ techniques such as donating a product to be auctioned off or be used as a competition prize. While this will earn you a fairly decent amount of exposure, it’s not really going to bring in many, if any, new customers.

However, a seasoned PR firm should be able to offer techniques that help you tap into the power of community services, and get maximum mileage from your publicity campaign.

6. You have been misrepresented in the media and would like to set the record straight:

They say that there’s no such thing as bad publicity. But there can be. Especially in the world of social media, where reputations can be ruined quicker than Julian Assange can say ‘freedom of speech’. So if you have been misquoted or misrepresented in the press, then you’d better do something about it — and quickly.

Telling your side of the story to the newspapers, putting the record straight on Facebook, and other damage-reducing tactics can put an end to any ill-fated publicity.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. If you would like to discuss how Aneela and her team can help your business, please make contact. Aneela Rose is a PR, Marketing and Social Media Consultant supported by her in-house Roses and a highly experienced team of Associate Roses. Our website is http://www.aneelarosepr.co.uk

Oh dear. It’s happened again. Even though I promised myself it wouldn’t happen…can’t happen…never again. But it has. It’s not that I’m in denial — it’s more of a fugue state, really.

Clients. We all love ’em here at Aneela Rose PR. (Honestly.) But, just like a surprise Brussels sprout can end up on your plate, once in a while up pops the one bad apple of a client that causes more trouble than they’re worth. They waste your time and make you feel…well, truly awful. Even when you’re doing a great job for them.

I’m not sure whether we should be awarded a Victoria cross for valour, or sectioned

Not every client is the right client. No siree. So, without further ado, here are some useful pointers to help you decide whether or not to let a client go. Politely, of course.

1. Do you enjoy working with them? Most clients will, of course, be a joy to work with. And in turn I’ll bend over backwards to accommodate their needs. But if you start to dread the ‘hourly update call’ and feel a headache coming on every time a certain client name is mentioned, then it’s time to part ways.

2. Are they cheapskates? We are all experiencing the pinch of the money belt at present, but that’s no excuse to be a penny-pinching Groupon-addicted cheapskate. Only monkeys expect to be paid in  peanuts. Add to this the client who takes their sweet time settling invoices (and how come they can mysteriously go astray?), and I think it’s completely appropriate to give them the heave-ho. Of course, you may have to slap yourself quite hard for taking them on as a client in the first place. But continuing to work with someone who doesn’t see the value in what you’re doing and, at the same time, wants everything for the lowest price possible, will just be frustrating and have you in a straitjacket before you can say “bankrupt”.

3. Are they ‘unreachable’? There’s nothing worse than not being able to contact a client when faced with the blood-curdling screams of a deadline. (OK, I might be over-dramatising things here. Still, deadlines can be pretty hairy, testing even the most Zen-like among us.) Worse is the client who, despite insisting on being told about every single insignificant project update, is harder to contact than a plumber on a bank holiday. Believe me, your time and energy are better spent elsewhere.

4. Do they procrastinate? Oh, dear, where to start? Here we have a client who gives you the go-ahead on a commission, but haven’t sent you the documentation you need from them. They have promised to send it over by noon yesterday ago “at the latest”. But it’s now tomorrow and still no files. You’ve chased them, of course. But still nothing, nada, fade to black… And so the cycle goes — on and on and on.

5. Are they rude? I’ve save the worst till last. There is never, ever a need to be rude in business (unless you are Sir Alan Sugar). I would expect to be fired if I were rude to a client. So it’s only fair that I should fire a client who is rude to me. In fact, I’m almost embarrassed to say I’d take some perverse pleasure in doing so.

Of course, there’s an upside to all this: Great clients will rarely refer you to ‘bad’ clients. By separating the wheat from the chaff, you’ll be building a favourable network for future referrals.

Today, journalists and editors are busier than ever. So don’t blow your chances of grabbing their attention — and ultimately gaining valuable publicity for your company — with a sloppy news release. Make sure you avoid these 10 deadly sins:

1.Cumbersome headline — “Marriott, Comcast, Giant, Hyatt, Food Lion, Macy’s, Chipotle, Hershey’s and Other Businesses Sponsor Dinner for Leading Gay Activist Group That Promotes Same-Sex Marriage, Attacks Catholic and Mormon Churches.” Wowza! Apart from being slightly confusing (even after a caffeine-induced second read), this genuine headline has to take the gold medal for cumbersome headlines. Aim for a concise, clear and compelling headline that encourages an editor to actually read your story — and make sense of it.

2.Written in the first person — Releases that scream, “Me! Me! Me!” have only themselves to blame; they’ll end up in the ‘reject pile‘, cast aside, never to be laid eyes on again… And serves them right, too. In other words, use “he/she/they”. Not “you/we/us”.

3.No news — Sending a press release with no news value is akin to taking a large cannon, aiming it at your foot and shouting “fire!” A journalist doesn’t care how well presented your release is, or how fantastic your product is; if there’s nothing newsworthy, it will get binned. Journalists and editors are looking for ways they can use your release. So give them something news ’worthy’: something useful and/or different that will make them want to publish it.

4.Too many exclamation marks! — Everyone, it seems, has a case of the ‘exclamation-mark frenzy’ these days. But there isn’t a place for them in the serious world of hard, real news. Apart from causing spam filters to intercept your release before it reaches its destination, too many exclamation marks challenge the credibility of your story. In fact, when it comes to using exclamation marks in releases, there are three final words of advice that I can give you: Just say no.

5.Crammed full of jargon — Jargon is the enemy of good writing. So why use it in your press release? Instead, translate all jargon into clear language that anyone can understand: Simple, plain English.

6.Grammar and spelling mistakes — Okay, there are times when we all hit ‘send’ without properly checking over the content for grammatical and typographical mistakes. But, trust me, you do not want to be so cavalier with your press release. Hire a professional proofreader. Or simply print out your release and get at least two people to read through it. But definitely do not send off your release full of big, glaring typing no-nos.

7.Lack of photos or quotes to back up news — Really good images and quotations are like carrots: Dangle them in front of an editor and they’ll be on the phone wanting an interview before you hit that ‘send’ button.

8.Sending to the wrong media — Many great news releases get tossed simply because they have nothing to do with the publication to which they are sent. In other words, don’t send a health story to a blogger who writes about politics.

9.Bad timing — Timing can make or break a good story. Obviously, sending out your new ‘Valentine’s Village’ release in the middle of September is going to be a waste of time. But sometimes it’s a simple case of sending out your release when another, bigger or better story is breaking. There’s not much you can do about the latter, other than making sure you send out an irresistibly newsworthy release at the best possible time.

10.No follow-up — There’s no point wasting all your hard work by sending out your release and then sitting back, hoping for the best. You have to actively follow up. That doesn’t mean simply calling up to see if the media got your release (a BIG pet-hate among journalists). But suggesting a particular angle to your story that would best fit their publication, or giving new information or source that strengthens your release, could earn some brownie points.