'The Banker' Has a Twitter? Hu?!

SPOTTED:

Channel 4's Deal or No Deal 'The Banker' has a Twitter page!

I just saw this and thought it was hilarious - What a clever way to develop their online presence!

I’m not sure how long Deal or No Deal's famous 'The Banker' - the secret 'mean' voice on the end of the phone that decides how much a contestant can win has been on Twitter, but he certainly is now!

I think it’s really good that they have given him even more of a personality. The secrecy behind his character on the show makes it more interesting (even thought Noel Edmonds makes it all SO cheesy! Minus Edmond and I would like it more!!!)

It says on the Channel 4 website that 'clearly not content with causing upset and misery to Deal or No Deal contestants on the Dream Factory phone each weekday, The Banker has joined Twitter to taunt and haunt them. Not only that, he's venting his spleen on all manner of other things for the great British public's contemplation. So far, we have found out that he wears a silk bath gown, dislikes Noel Edmonds' shirts and watches a LOT of television. Lord only knows what else he will reveal? Certainly not his identity - that's for sure!'

Genius.

(despite the fact I’m not a fan of the show!)

CIPR Award Winner 2010 - Are You Going Bald?!

If so DON'T PANIC 15 million people in the UK are in the same boat as you, suffering from hair loss! Even Jude Law!

 

This week I have been looking at the 'Helping Hand with Hair Loss' campaign that was put together by a Home Counties South PR agency (Pegasus PR) for their client (Lifes2good/Viviscal) and have been trying to figure out why I think it won GOLD for its campaign. What made it ‘best practice’ in the Consumer Relations category? 

Lifes2good (the client) is a Natural Healthcare Company; Viviscal is just one of their brands. Viviscal is a natural supplement that helps hair loss sufferers. I think the immediate challenges they faced when coming up with ideas to increase awareness and product credibility was the fact hair loss is viewed quite negatively by journalists, who grab every opportunity to slander sufferers in particular celebs! A survey Viviscal carried out in 2009 showed 90% of men found women with hair loss or thinning unattractive and 50% of women felt the same! This is a perception Pegasus PR had to challenge.

People suffering from hair loss do not want to shout about it and I don’t blame them, It’s a very personal issue. This is where I think Pegasus where clever with their use of tactics. They secured an exclusive interview with Sue Holderness a well loved TV actress who played Marlene in Only Fools and Horses.

I think this was clever as it added an element of surprise because she is renowned for her ‘big’ permed hair. The second tactic they used I feel helped them achieve ‘best practice’ was consulting ITV’s Dr Chris Steele from This Morning! They produced an expert support and advice video with him and a FAQ for online consumers with any queries.

The campaign was heavily online focused which I think suited the product because that is where most hair loss sufferers seek advice, from the privacy of their own home. What do you think, was it too heavily focused online? Were there other PR Tools Pegasus could have used?

The campaign was only TWO months long yet they achieved:

• 75 items of coverage

• 40 million Opportunities to See

• 5 interviews with Sue covered (e.g. Daily Mail, Sky One and Women Weekly)

• 47,000 views of educational video

• 16 websites streamed the advice video

• 6 Blogs recommended the video

• 2 new High street listings (when the client set the objective of achieving one)

• ONLINE SALES OF VIVISCAL WENT UP 154%

But ultimately I think it comes down to - could they have achieved more with a longer timescale?

What else could they have done, maybe like Movemember, but the opposite? Or even Wig Week!? 

Another idea I thought of was a partner with Menopause the Musical (as hair loss is a symptom women can suffer from when going through ‘the change’) PLUS Cheryl Baker, who is a sufferer from hair loss played the starring role in it! This is where I think they missed a trick. They had an interview with her but missed the musical showing in June (one of the two months the campaign ran for!) 

Would a partnership with Menopause the music have worked - an event could have been held, with free samples of the product for the cast and bloggers who recommended the video,  adding a positive angle that is news worthy? Or am I again just reaching for the PR tools I have learnt to use? Maybe I’m wrong, but I think this idea could have only helped the campaign?

Could it be the short amount of time Pegasus PR had to execute the PR campaign that might have affected its success? Is it a sustainable campaign in the long-term? If not could it be made more sustainable? 

Since 2008 every May has been Hairloss Awareness Month; could they have made more of this seeing as Viviscal is the sponsor (and creator!)?

I think Pegasus PR were more than worthy Gold award winners for Consumer Relations category, what do you think?

This is a Fantastic Map!

Look at how countries around the world are quantified by social networks?

 

Alexa & Google Trends extracted from last month's website traffic was analysed by Cosenza who found that Facebook is the favourite social network in 115 countries out of the total 132 analyzed! Look at all that blue!

They found that other social networks ‘trailing’ Facebook included Twitter which is second in the UK, Australia and Canada. Interestingly, LinkedIn is gaining a noticeable presence though, not only in the UK but also Australia and Canada.

Coca Cola Advert - It Must Be Christmas!

Its that time of year again and I know it is, because of this infamous advert!

Coca Cola are so successful! I now associate Christmas nearly here as soon as I see their 'holidays are coming advert on television! How do they do it? Their advert is so magical, I love it! Coca Cola calls itself ' the world's soft drink' for a very good reason, that reason I believe is definitely helped by its 

Public Relations campaigns!

Something I have to say is the fact that until studying public relations I would never have considered whether as an organisation they live up to their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) now I have, but I can't say it has put me off buying the product or stopped me enjoying their holiday ads! Coca-Cola's largest bottling plants in India, in Plachimada, Kerala, has been shut down since March 2004 because government and independent agencies have confirmed that the bottling plant has polluted the water and soil in the area. How did they keep this so under wraps? Why does this not affect their reputation like it would another smaller Corporation? 

Coca Cola where found out! They did not respect the rights of farmers and groundwater conditions leaving the community in a very valuable situation.

How has Coca Cola retained their reputation and leading sales figures over their rivals Pepsi? 

How have they come out the other end of their unethical sourcing in Indian unscathed?

This has sparked activist debates around the world! – Have you heard about it?

If not, why do you think this is?

Surely the Cornish Floods Highlight the Need For Effective Communication?!

Another flood disaster hits Cornwall, could they have been more prepared?!!

The flood waters in Cornwall have finally subsided and the people of Cornwall are starting to mop up the devastation it left behind. What made this flood into a disaster was the fact it happened so fast and at such speed, everyone was caught off-guard! Despite the forecast: 

You would think though, that after the other flood disasters that have hit the area like Boscactle (2004) some sort of contingency plans would have been put into place!

I am told on a daily basis by my lecturers that planning for a disaster is much more effective than just clearing up after and in this case it has definitely proven to be! The cleanup is estimated to cost millions for the region! I read in PR Week with regards to the floods that crises are the opposite of 'business as usual' and people need to be prepared for the unusual and unexpected, this is so true and Cornwall's local government now need to do this!

Do you think that through communication the local government can show leadership and, through the media, show it is in charge and dealing with the situation in a proactive manner. Increasing popularity of social networking media means this type of incident receives a great deal of exposure very quickly, so those in charge need to show they are on top of the situation!

How can we as PR professionals plan for a crisis effectively?! Is it easy to prepare for a disaster 

no one really expects?

Abortion - Right or Wrong?

Should Abortion be illegalised?
I was told today that 512 women in the UK have abortions everyday! I couldn’t believe it! Never in a million years did I think it was THAT many!
Some people think that abortion is always wrong. Some think that abortion is right when the mother's life is at risk. Others think that there is a range of circumstances in which abortion is morally acceptable.

I personally believe that is such a difficult subject to hold one opinion or view on. Different circumstances affect any decision I believe that I could possibly make, and I cannot say honestly I know what I would do unless in the situation. I don’t know what I would do if I fell pregnant now, probably keep it as I feel as though I’m in a position in which I would be able to keep it. My parents would support me; I have a loving partner and a roof over my head. I’m hard working and so is my boyfriend, but if you had asked me 2 or 3 years ago I have no idea at all what I would do!

Something else to think about is up to how many weeks do you think a baby should be aborted to? It currently stands at 24weeks and at that length of time, the baby could survive, just look at this picture of a premature baby that could have been aborted:

Different people in different circumstances have to make very tricky decisions based on different personal experiences and reasons. Surely we should respect that?

The ongoing debate as to whether abortion is right or wrong is never going to reach a definative answer, everyone will always have altering views due to their own life experiences. Who are we to say categorically whether it is right or wrong? I know for a fact that some people will say they think its right for one person and not for another; surely it is down to the mother.

Having said that, what I think is that people’s attitudes to abortion especially in the UK NEED to change! No way should abortion be made illegal in my opinion! Given you had been raped – wouldn’t you like to have the opportunity to abort it without being prosecuted!?!

Is abortion ethical, what do you think?

Should food avaliable to buy be ethically sourced?

I believe that ethical sourcing is the intentional purchase of products and services that the customer considers to be made ethically. This may mean with minimal harm to or exploitation of humans, animals and/or the natural environment.

As a consumer would you pay more for a certain product simply because it has been ethically sourced?

Does it matter where your food comes from?

UK law requires that all life stock be stunned prior to slaughter so as not to inflict pain or suffering on animals. If you knew your meat was Halal meat and had been slaughtered by a cut to the throat where the blood is left to drain out, instead of being stunned to numb the pain first does it matter to you?

Would you pay more for meat that had been slaughtered in a way that is seen as a more humane method by British law?

If you're wondering what Hala meat actually is, then this bit is for you!
Halal meat is prepared in accordance with Sharia law and requires the cutting of an animals throat, without stunning the animal first during which process Islamic verses are recited.

Would it change your opinion to know that in January this method of Halal meat was discussed at the World Secure Food Chain Conference in Hong Kong, where research showed that non-stunned animal's killed by the Halal methods actually produced healthier meat that had a longer shelf life.
Does knowing this fact make it more ethical? As the meat gained by this particular slaughter method will not only last longer so hopefully not get wasted, but it will also go further! feeding more people in the process!

On a final note, whats to say the method used in accordance to British law doesn't in fact cause the animal discomfort! Its been stunned through the brain?! Maybe a quick cut to the throat is more ethical, what do you think?