PR Not BS

My guest today is my bestie, who I've known for around 15 years, Lis McDermott.

Lis is a novelist, poet and writing mentor. As you’ll hear we have quite a lot in common!

Lis has recently mentored me to write my second book and she talks about why she finds that weird, as I’m a writer, but also how it works.

She talks about what she has learnt about PR and marketing from me and how that has impacted on her as an author as well as how important it is as a small business to be able to build relationships with the companies and suppliers that you regularly work with.

Lis also shares how her business has evolved in both what she does but also in how we work together. As a photographer, she regularly worked with me and now as an author she does some writing for me.  

She talks about some of the bad LinkedIn images that people used to use – things have gotten better, but it’s important to have updated professional images to show the authentic you.

Lis talks about how she moved from photography into writing, and talks about the snobbery around being self-published, compared to being with an established publishing company. She also shares why she writes and how despite not being a millionaire, it is something she continues to do and still loves.

To contact Lis:
Website: https://www.lismcdermottauthor.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lismcdermott/
Substack: https://lismcdermottauthor.substack.com/

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe

My guest today is Dane Whitehurst, Creative Director of Burgopak, who designs and produces packaging for different brands and products worldwide. The business is all about translating brand values into the ‘wow’ factor.

Over the years the company has produced around 400 million of their patented systems!

Dane talks about why packaging is important and should be one of the priorities to get in place when you have a new product. Afterall, you spend time developing a product, so why would you not present it in the very best way to your consumers? The packaging is the first thing that a consumer will see, so their experience needs to leave a good impression.

He talks about the things that have to be considered when creating packaging apart from it needing to be aesthetically interesting; it has to be commercially viable, responsible and sustainable. The company has spent a lot of time on research and development to create their systems. They can then adapt these to match the specific client’s needs.

He shares some of the companies that they’ve worked with over the years, which includes many banks and healthcare companies including; Ancestry, Revolut, Thriver, Motorola, O2, Vodafone.

Dane also talks about how packaging has become part of PR – especially with the social media trend for unboxing.

Looking at Burgopak packaging and hearing Dane talk about it, you can see that packaging is more than just boxes!

To contact Dane:
Website: https://burgopak.com/
Email: [email protected]

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe

Today we have a very special episode as I sit down and talk to Lauren Roberts who is my stepdaughter and has been working with me in the business for just over a year. We’re sharing the behind the scenes of what it’s like to have a new aspect into our relationship.

Lauren joined me as a media consultant and has learnt everything from scratch as what she did previously was quite different before she went on maternity leave. She always wanted to work in the world of media but after deciding to take a gap year she fell into the world of work starting off at a payday loan company before moving into credit control at an oil company which was much closer to home.

When Lauren fell pregnant with her first child, she knew that it was time to have a conversation about joining me within Scott Media. I get Lauren to share with me what she’s learned about me in the last year which is mainly about the different hats I wear as business owner, wife, mum, friend and more and how easy it’s become to be able to switch between those hats when needed.

Lauren shares with us all about her entrepreneurial side growing up and how she had a small business where she was able to print our Scott Media body warmers and cold cups!

We discuss the differences in working with the media and Lauren’s previous role of chasing down invoices and late payments for a large company and how she’s really enjoying meeting and writing about the amazing businesspeople that we get to work with and how networking and building relationships plays a huge part in running a small business.

If you want to find out more about Lauren you can connect with her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-roberts-b29a34172/

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe 

My guest today is a fellow PR and marketing guru – Gemma Finch, the founder of Burford Creative.

Although we work in the same field, we are not competitors, because of the different areas we live in, the variety of clients we work with, and the fields we tend to interact with. Therefore, we talk about collaboration, and even recognise while talking that there are some areas where we can already collaborate.

After sharing how she got into PR and marketing, Gemma talks about how she founded Burford Creative, and how it is now progressing.

We both agree that building relationships with client’s long term, taking time to understand their audience, is more important than telling them that we can deliver unrealistic expectations in a short time. It’s about being honest with clients and delivering them the best valuable PR/marketing possible.

Gemma’s world, working with clients in the Cotswolds is very different to mine – it’s a far more rural area, which brings with it different challenges.

We have an interesting conversation about the perceptions of our ‘reach’ on social media as being for free; the whole ‘unboxing’ trend, and how that may be changing.  Gemma believes that if you want big traffic you need to pay influencers for their time and the work they do, because for many it’s their job. She talks about how this might work in the future, and also shares how she works with clients to look at the market and fill gaps, and then how they found an influencer to be a platform for the products. Gemma shares how they then support that client to enhance the buying experience for their customers.

We certainly agree we’re in a changing landscape when it comes to journalism, PR and marketing.

If you’d like to contact Gemma:
Website: https://www.burfordcreative.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-finch/

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe 

Todays’ guest is Janet Shreeve of Shreeve Care Services. Janet and I have been working together for nearly two years, and it’s been an amazing time.

Janet is passionate about her job, and as you’ll hear and although at retirement age, she has no intention of retiring! She strongly believes age has nothing to do with anything, and it’s all about your perspective on life and how you approach it.

Janet shares her journey of working in care and how it led her to create her own business at the age of 66. Her biggest passion is about being able to advise people about care and what’s available because people just don’t know what they’re entitled to or what their rights are. Along with an ex colleague Janet has also set up a living care service – again, something that people misunderstand or are unaware of and she explains very clearly what it means, and what it doesn’t mean. It’s not actually 24 hour care but it is care tailored to each specific client and it’s about enabling them to stay in their own home.

She also talks about how social care is the Cinderella of our services – it’s not the NHS and it’s not something everyone talks about.

Janet explains the huge dilemma facing many care homes, after the National Insurance increase, and the poor state that it’s in at the moment. And she explains how if social care received the support it should, it would help the NHS to clear beds.

We talk about how PR has impacted on her business, and the importance Janet places on it and how it has already helped her business in many ways.

Janet also talks about some very exciting retreats taking place later this year about health and wellness– and both are taking place in Italy.

To contact Janet:
Website: Https://Shreevecareservices.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetshreeve/

To find out more about the retreats, you can email her on: [email protected]

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe

Today’s guest is Hayley Knight, who like me works in PR and journalism.  

She has been in PR for more than 10 years in a range of different jobs, from working at an in-house agency, then as a freelancer, and now running her own agency.

Her journey to become a journalist is definitely interesting, as you’ll hear!

She specializes in working with social impact/change and purpose led businesses, helping them by developing big change driven campaigns for their businesses.

Much of her work involves doing research, running surveys, and helping develop campaigns. Her own big passion is wildlife conservation.

We have a conversation about managing conversations about purpose impact and getting paid for the work she does. Haley is finding that now, there appears to be a trend for investors who are looking for sustainable, socially driven businesses to invest in, but also, they work with clients who have very flexible budgets. 

When recording Haley was working from Turkey, having spent some time travelling, and she shares her plans for the future, which will still involve more travel. She and her partner are enjoying the perks of being able to travel and still work – usually somewhere warm!

We talk about my favourite subject of PR not BS, and Haley shares a perfect anecdote that is an example of complete BS.

Haley admits to being the worst PR in the world, when it comes to her own. She hates having to promote herself. However, Be Yellow was on the Small Business 100 list for 2024, which she was very excited about, and would recommend any small business to apply for it.

To contact Haley:
Website: https://www.beyellow.life/

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe

The title of today’s podcast may sound like a joke, but you will soon find that there are very important things that affect all of us connected to the business that my guest works in. Even so, you may notice the odd loo pun…

Becky Wall, along with her husband Charles is the co-owner and founder of a luxury mobile toilet company, A Plush Flush and also the co-owner and managing director of the Loo of the Year Awards.

She talks about growing up in a farming background, then working as an events organiser who became very unhappy with the condition of many of the toilets that she hired.  She decided there was a niche and need for luxury mobile toilets and set up the company.

They have built up a fantastic number of loyal clients, and the company was nominated for Loo of the Year awards in 2009. After winning this, they mentioned the award on their website and immediately saw the benefits of PR, as they gained some big clients.  In 2021 they had the chance to purchase the Loo of the Year Awards which Becky did and they haven’t looked back –now in its 37th year.

You’ll be fascinated to hear about the grading system for the awards and learn what it is that sets a Bronze award loo apart from a Diamond award loo. Like food awards, the people entered for the awards don’t know when they’ll get an unannounced visit.

We talk about why it’s so important to have loos that people want to visit for health reasons – which is often overlooked, or not considered as seriously as it should be.

On the company website, there is even a very useful map showing where the best toilets are in the UK. And you can even plan a route.

To contact Becky:
Awards website: https://www.loo.co.uk/
A Plush Flush website: https://www.aplushflush.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063480856655
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplushflush/
Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-plush-flush/
Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-wall-bem-a69b7a7b/

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe

As a PR specialist and expert, the main aim of my professional life is to help people and their business or organisation to become more visible.

In this episode I’m looking ahead to predict the things that the media will be interested in and help you to understand how you can get your voice heard by talking about those themes.

As always, my over-riding message is that strong human interest stories are incredibly important and are still going to be important. Especially when it comes to authenticity.

I talk about the anniversaries that are appearing in 2025, other big events, such as the Women’s Rugby World Cup, and looking at how if it is a passion of yours, or linked to where you live, or linked to your business you can talk about these events and celebrate them too.

Looking ahead to 2025, there are some main trends emerging:

• With the continuing development of AI, I have words of caution around its use, which also underlines the importance of using your own voice.
• Paywalls and subscription options will become more prevalent which also has implications for PR.
• C-suite and CEO thought leadership and activism is on the rise, and if that’s you, it’s about speaking up and sharing opinions.
• Linked to the continued use of social media, employee advocacy is something that will come to the fore.

Listen for more tips and trends!

You can still book your place on my No BS Media Summit. To find more information and costs, follow the link to buy your tickets: https://scottmedia.uk/product/the-no-bs-media-summit/

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe

Today I’m welcoming back my amazing client and friend, Chris Hunt Skelley MBE and owner of 2 Olympic medals. Chris, for anyone who doesn’t know him, is a Judo champion who won a gold medal in Tokyo, and a bronze medal in Paris. 

This year has been a particularly traumatic one for Chris, who has had a lot of struggles with his mental health, leading up to taking part in his third Paralympics. I know you’ll be equally as shocked as I was when you hear why.  

On more than one occasion this year, he was questioned about his condition. Even though the competition organisers had already received information about Chris’ ocular albinism, they asked for more, which brought back memories of his teenage years when he was admitted to a psychiatric ward because the doctors thought he was making things up in his own head! This sent Chris in a downward spiral with his mental health.

Chris also talks about how much support he gets from his lovely wife Louise Hunt Skelley, his coaches, family and friends too. He also talks about the highly emotional interview that Louise did with him in Paris after he’d just won his bronze medal.

We talk about the important job his sponsors do, and how they help athletes to access the training they need.

Having recently been diagnosed with Coeliac disease, Chris explains how this can mean that when travelling outside of the UK, he has to pack food to take with him, to keep him healthy. And, when they have a weight restriction, this doesn’t help! 

If Chris’ attitude to life doesn’t impress you, nothing will!

To contact Chris:

Website: https://chrishuntskelley.co.uk/media/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christopher.skelley/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christopher.skelley.3
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-hunt-skelley-mbe-ply-73014212b/
X: https://x.com/ChristopherSke2

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe

Today’s guest is a good friend of mine, plus I’m also a client of hers; she helped me to get my book published, and she is, Asha Clearwater from Turquoise Tiger Press.

Asha is a content coach, book mentor and publisher who helps people to write books, create books and also create content. We have a great deal in common, in our love of books and writing, our love of telling stories and we even trained at the same journalism college!

We talk about why, as two professional writers telling stories for a living, I felt the need to work with Asha to get my book published. We look at it from both our points of view – Asha when imposter syndrome kicked in, as she felt she would be 'judged' by a fellow writer (she wasn't)! 

She shares with me how she approaches the telling of stories when working with writers. How she helps them to find the exciting introduction within a whole load of information to create a narrative that turns into an interesting and entertaining book to read.

Asha speaks about how she was motivated to set up her own publishing company, having come across issues with her wife’s publisher. Self-publishing can be a minefield for many potential authors wanting to get their stories out in the world. It is so easy to fall down a rabbit hole and end up with a publisher who is there for their end and is not supporting the author. She wanted to and has created a publishing business where people keep control of their own publishing rights.  She explains her process, and also her fees.

We also have a conversation about a very special friend of ours, Paralympian athlete Louise Hunt Skelley. Asha discusses how she ghost wrote Louise’s book; how they worked together to build up her story, highlighting the contrast between Louise’s public success and the everyday challenges she faces due to her disability.

To contact Asha:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashaclearwater/

If you would like to contact me, you can visit my www.Scottmedia.uk or join my free Facebook group here https://www.facebook.com/groups/prtribe