Welcome to the 2022 summer hacks series Part Two! These are really short 'food for thought', bite-sized episodes, so you can dive in when you have a moment.

I decided to focus on planning tips over the summer. Why? Because when people think about comms planning, they often focus on what they are going to say. You have a great product or service and you want to tell people about it. Focusing on the message seems the logical first step, but before you start typing, let alone promoting your offer, there are some vital actions you need to take.

The summer hacks is an overview of the 7 steps to effective comms planning. I use this process with all my clients, whether it's a brand new product or we're marketing a built environment project.

Part two is about implementation, review, and evaluation. This is the first episode of Part Two all about getting your message out there - this is often where people start!

Let's dive in.

Links mentioned in this episode

My FREE Seven Steps Webinar - https://mailchi.mp/henbe.co.uk/free-webinar-7-steps-190722

Liked Listening today? What to do next:

Get my FREE roadmap to get more strategic with communication activity in your business.

Listen to more episodes, take some training, or download a resource: Find out more here.

Hire my expertise

Whether that's support with a one-off comms project or an entire strategy for your business, drop me a line if you want to explore this further. You can also work with me 1:1 as a trainer and mentor – [email protected]

Work with me closely

If you'd like to work with me to develop and implement your communication strategy through 1:1 work, podcasts, workbooks, sharing ideas, and lots of accountability and up-skilling, then email me at [email protected] to register your interest for you or your entire team.

Leave me a voicemail on my Speakpipe page I would love to hear your feedback on this episode and thoughts on any topics I could include in future ones too.

Welcome to the 2022 summer hacks series! These are really short 'food for thought' bite-sized episodes so you can dive in when you have a moment.

I decided to focus on planning tips over the summer. Why? Because when people think about comms planning, they often focus on what they are going to say. You have a great product or service and you want to tell people about it. Focusing on the message seems the logical first step.

But before you start typing, let alone promoting your offer, there are some vital actions you need to take. I'm going to give you an overview of the 7 steps to effective comms planning over the summer hack series. I use this process with all my clients, no matter whether it's a new product or we're marketing a built environment project.

This third in the series is all about messages - what will you say and how?

Let's dive in!

Links mentioned in this episode

My FREE Seven Steps Webinar - https://mailchi.mp/henbe.co.uk/free-webinar-7-steps-190722

Liked Listening today? What to do next:

Get my FREE roadmap to get more strategic with communication activity in your business.

Listen to more episodes, take some training, or download a resource: Find out more here.

Hire my expertise

Whether that's support with a one-off comms project or an entire strategy for your business, drop me a line if you want to explore this further. You can also work with me 1:1 as a trainer and mentor – [email protected]

Work with me closely

If you'd like to work with me to develop and implement your communication strategy through 1:1 work, podcasts, workbooks, sharing ideas, and lots of accountability and up-skilling, then email me at [email protected] to register your interest for you or your entire team.

Leave me a voicemail on my Speakpipe page I would love to hear your feedback on this episode and thoughts on any topics I could include in future ones too.

Welcome to the 2022 summer hacks series! These are really short 'food for thought' bite-sized episodes so you can dive in when you have a moment.

I decided to focus on planning tips over the summer. Why? Because when people think about comms planning, they often focus on what they are going to say. You have a great product or service and you want to tell people about it. Focusing on the message seems the logical first step.

But before you start typing, let alone promoting your offer, there are some vital actions you need to take. I'm going to give you an overview of the 7 steps to effective comms planning over the summer hack series. I use this process with all my clients, no matter whether it's a new product or we're marketing a built environment project.

This second episode in part one of the series is all about researching your audience

Let's dive in!

Links mentioned in this episode

My FREE Seven Steps Webinar - https://mailchi.mp/henbe.co.uk/free-webinar-7-steps-190722

How to find your customers and help them buy: https://bit.ly/FindCustomersHelpThemBuy

Liked Listening today? What to do next:

Get my FREE roadmap to get more strategic with communication activity in your business.

Listen to more episodes, take some training, or download a resource: Find out more here.

Hire my expertise

Whether that's support with a one-off comms project or an entire strategy for your business, drop me a line if you want to explore this further. You can also work with me 1:1 as a trainer and mentor - [email protected]

Work with me closely

If you'd like to work with me to develop and implement your communication strategy through 1:1 work, podcasts, workbooks, sharing ideas, and lots of accountability and up-skilling, then email me at [email protected] to register your interest for you or your entire team.

Leave me a voicemail on my Speakpipe page I would love to hear your feedback on this episode and thoughts on any topics I could include in future ones too.

Welcome to the 2022 summer hacks series! These are really short 'food for thought', bite-sized episodes, so you can dive in when you have a moment.

I decided to focus on planning tips over the summer. Why? Because when people think about comms planning, they often focus on what they are going to say. You have a great product or service and you want to tell people about it. Focusing on the message seems the logical first step. But before you start typing, let alone promoting your offer, there are some vital actions you need to take.

I'm going to give you an overview of the 7 steps to effective comms planning over this summer hack series. I use this process with all my clients, whether it's a brand new product or we're marketing a built environment project.

First up is purpose and goals.

Let's dive in!

Links mentioned in this episode

My FREE Seven Steps Webinar - https://mailchi.mp/henbe.co.uk/free-webinar-7-steps-190722

Liked Listening today? What to do next:

Get my FREE roadmap to get more strategic with communication activity in your business.

Listen to more episodes, take some training, or download a resource: Find out more here.

Hire my expertise

Whether that's support with a one-off comms project or an entire strategy for your business, drop me a line if you want to explore this further. You can also work with me 1:1 as a trainer and mentor - [email protected]

Work with me closely

If you'd like to work with me to develop and implement your communication strategy through 1:1 work, podcasts, workbooks, sharing ideas, and lots of accountability and up-skilling, then email me at [email protected] to register your interest for you or your entire team.

Leave me a voicemail on my Speakpipe page I would love to hear your feedback on this episode and thoughts on any topics I could include in future ones too.

As social media has evolved, so have our expectations of what it can offer us. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and other platforms were once used mostly to keep up with friends and share news with the world. However, social media is used today to build brands, grow businesses, and even find jobs. But is all this time spent on social media worth it?

Maybe your employees are glued to their phones and computers, watching cat videos and scrolling through social media feeds instead of working, or your customers are complaining about how long it takes to get an answer from your company. Or you are posting across all platforms without much luck and slowly losing motivation?

Quite rightly, you might be starting to question whether social media is worth the time you've invested.

In this podcast, I'll explore this topic, and whether it's a waste of time or an important part of your B2B strategy. I'll also share some tips on how to best use social media to increase your company's reach and generate leads.

Let's dive in!

Links in this episode:

It's a B2B Comms Thing Listen to the whole thing

Interview with Helen Reynolds

Listen to why you need networks

Liked Listening today? What to do next:

Get my FREE roadmap to get more strategic with communication activity in your business.

Listen to more episodes, take some training, or download a resource: Find out more here.

Hire my expertise

Whether that's support with a one-off comms project or an entire strategy for your business, drop me a line if you want to explore this further. You can also work with me 1:1 as a trainer and mentor – [email protected]

Work with me closely

If you'd like to work with me to develop and implement your communication strategy through 1:1 work, podcasts, workbooks, sharing ideas, and lots of accountability and up-skilling, then email me at [email protected] to register your interest for you or your entire team.

Leave me a voicemail on my Speakpipe page I would love to hear your feedback on this episode and thoughts on any topics I could include in future ones too.

Networking and expanding your networks is a great way to bring in new business if you're in B2B. Whether you're a freelancer or working for another business, introducing your company and connecting with like-minded people can bring in opportunities.

I am always surprised at the number of events people go to where they spend most of the time with people they know. There are several reasons why this is a bad idea if you want to extend your network.

Plus, I am always amazed at how much better I feel from making an effort to meet new people, over the prospect of not having to! This is always a dilemma if you're not an extrovert. It's surprising the number of opportunities that arise just by talking to people about your business or the business you are in.

The important thing is to have a bit of a plan. So today I am talking about how to increase your networks to bring in new business and also increase awareness of your brand, product or service.

Let's dive in!

Links mentioned in today's episode

Build Your Own Brand Fans - my simple guide to building strategic relationships for business: https://mailchi.mp/henbe.co.uk/iwktvyr6cb

Liked Listening today? What to do next:

Get my FREE roadmap to get more strategic with communication activity in your business.

Listen to more episodes, take some training, or download a resource: Find out more here.

Hire my expertise

Whether that's support with a one-off comms project or an entire strategy for your business, drop me a line if you want to explore this further. You can also work with me 1:1 as a trainer and mentor – [email protected]

Work with me closely

If you'd like to work with me to develop and implement your communication strategy through 1:1 work, podcasts, workbooks, sharing ideas, and lots of accountability and up-skilling, then email me at [email protected] to register your interest for you or your entire team.

Leave me a voicemail on my Speakpipe page I would love to hear your feedback on this episode and thoughts on any topics I could include in future ones too.

One of the top three things people ask me is how you measure the effectiveness of your communication activity. My answer is that, without knowing what your current marketing and communications activities are, and how they are performing, it's impossible to know where to focus your energy and resources. Lots of people trip up on this first step.

Many growing businesses struggle to generate enough revenue to keep their doors open. Even the most successful businesses often operate on a thin financial margin, making it difficult to invest in or make a case for the marketing, advertising, and customer service that can drive more business and increase sales. Just as you wouldn't drive without checking your rearview mirror, you shouldn't launch a marketing campaign without knowing where you are along the road.

So, in today's podcast, I'm going to share a simple tool that will enable you to track your comms and measure how it performs, thus improving your outcomes.

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today? What to do next:

Get my FREE roadmap to get more strategic with communication activity in your business.

Listen to more episodes, take some training, or download a resource: Find out more here.

Hire my expertise

Whether that's support with a one-off comms project or an entire strategy for your business, drop me a line if you want to explore this further. You can also work with me 1:1 as a trainer and mentor - [email protected]

Work with me closely

If you'd like to work with me to develop and implement your communication strategy through 1:1 work, podcasts, workbooks, sharing ideas, and lots of accountability and up-skilling, then email me at [email protected] to register your interest for you or your entire team.

Leave me a voicemail on my Speakpipe page I would love to hear your feedback on this episode and thoughts on any topics I could include in future ones too.

Today, I share a case study on how a startup used a white paper to build trust in a new product.

This is a new format I am trying; sharing case studies. These will sometimes be from me, like today, and sometimes be from guests as well, hopefully. I'd love to know what you think?

Today's case study is all about when you are new to the market and you need to convince people to buy from you, even though you don't have a track record. You might be a new company, or you might have developed a new product, either way, your potential customers are going to have a lot of questions and you need to gain their trust.

I'm going to share how I co-developed a PR campaign using a white paper to help a housing sector startup attract customers.

Let's dive in!

Links mentioned in todays' show:

Intelligent Conversation

The White Paper featured in today's episode (which has been turned into a 'guide').

Liked Listening today? What to do next:

Get my FREE roadmap for more strategic with communication activity in your business.

Listen to more episodes, take some training, or download a resource: Find out more here.

Hire my expertise, whether that's support with a one-off comms project or an entire strategy for your business, drop me a line if you want to explore this further. You can also work with me 1:1 as a trainer and mentor at [email protected]

Work with me closely

If you'd like to work with me to develop and implement your communication strategy through 1:1 work with me, podcasts, workbooks, sharing ideas, and lots of accountability and up-skilling? Then email me at [email protected] to register your interest for you or your entire team.

Leave me a voicemail on my Speakpipe page I would love to hear your feedback on this episode and thoughts on any topics I could include in future ones too.

Using owned content, such as blogging, is a powerful tool for generating awareness about your business. It's also an effective way to build a brand, generate traffic, and position yourself as an industry expert.

In addition, as you think about how you want to build your brand, you should also consider how you want to build your audience, and whilst there are a number of different ways to reach potential customers, one of the best ways is to provide them with content they can't get anywhere else. This helps to build the 'know, like, trust factor.

But I think owned content is underused and undervalued by B2B businesses.

So today's episode explores why owned content is a must for your PR plans and an introduction to something called the PESO model for using content.

Let's dive in.

Links mentioned in this episode:

https://spinsucks.com/communication/peso-model-breakdown/

Liked Listening today? What to do next:

Get my FREE roadmap to get more strategic with communication activity in your business

Listen to more episodes, take some training, or download a resource: Find out more here.

Hire my expertise

Whether that's support with a one-off comms project or an entire strategy for your business drop me a line if you want to explore this further. You can also work with me 1:1 as a trainer and mentor.

Work with me closely

If you'd like to work with me to develop and implement your communication strategy through 1:1 work with me, podcasts, workbooks, sharing ideas, and lots of accountability and up-skilling, then email me at [email protected] to register your interest for you or your entire team.

Leave me a voicemail on my Speakpipe page I would love to hear your feedback on this episode and thoughts on any topics I could include in future ones too.

I was surprised and saddened to see prioritisation skills and analytical skills low on the list of what challenges lie ahead for PR pros in 2022 in the CIPRs state of the nation report out this week. Is this because we've nailed it? or is it a lack of education on what the profession can do and is capable of, and people not seeing the link between core skills and specific industry skills?

One of the concerns flagged in the recent state of the PR nation report by the CIPR was the reputation of PR in the future - and well I think reputation and lack of recognised business skills are intrinsically linked. If we cannot prove that we have brains that can craft messages based on research and evidence and not just gut feel, surely that puts our knowledge and ability higher on the agenda?

If we are overworked due to not being able to prioritise (all the way up the management chain) then how will the reputation of the function ever improve?

There is also a surprising lack of skills being cited as a reason for slow recruitment. I wonder if the skills sought are those not being matched—too many writers and not enough project management and analytical skills, perhaps.

The CIPR is the only chartered body for PR Practitioners globally and has been conducting a report on trends and insights for over a decade. We haven't seen many shifts, but key things highlighted in the 2022 report published this week include; an increasing lack of diversity, poor working conditions and mental health, and a lot of movement in jobs, as well as the lack of skills available for those recruiting into roles.

So this episode focuses on skills and my opinions on what's important.

Let's dive in.

Links mentioned in his episode:

CIPR State of the Nation Report

The Productivity Planner

Liked Listening today? What to do next:

Get my FREE roadmap to get more strategic with communication activity in your business

Listen to more episodes, take some training, or download a resource: Find out more here.

Hire my expertise, whether that's support with a one-off comms project or an entire strategy for your business drop me a line if you want to explore this further. You can also work with me 1:1 as a trainer and mentor [email protected]

Work with me closely

If you'd like to work with me to develop and implement your communication strategy through 1:1 work with me, podcasts, workbooks, sharing ideas, and lots of accountability and up-skilling? Then email me at [email protected] to register your interest for you or your entire team.

Leave me a voicemail on my Speakpipe page I would love to hear your feedback on this episode and thoughts on any topics I could include in future ones too.