My guest today, Nicola Snell, does just that, with her business Press Loft.

Nicola’s ethos is to make PR simple and to help get her clients products in front of journalists. She shares with me, just how Press Loft works for businesses that are product based.

Nicola Snell has cleverly combined the idea of product PR and businesses being reactive to journalists, by providing a huge range of images of products readily available for when those journalists need them which saves journalists time a lot of time.

As I am always telling people, having an image library is important, and key to how Nicola’s business works. Companies need a variety of images of their product, in a range of styles; cut out shots on plain backgrounds, lifestyle, or in situ. The more variety, the more appeal for journalists looking for images to write about and use in articles.

Once your images are on Press Loft, and they have been used for an article, don’t put your feet up, expecting sales to come to you. You need to talk about how your product has been featured, but importantly, it must be in a way that is legal. Nicola and I talk about the issues and murkiness around this area of copyright, presently in the UK.

Press Loft has a 60-day trial, after which you can choose a package that suits your budget. 

If you are a product-based business or work with one, check out Press Loft – another tool to add to your PR kit helping to make you or your client more visible, or even hit the national level where they have not been before.

PressLoft.com

Linkedin/Pressloft

Instagram: @Pressloft

Blog: Pressloft.com

Fiona, as a PR specialist and expert has one aim in her professional life - to help people and their businesses become more visible.

She looks into the future, and offers her ten tips about the things that she predicts the media will be positive about and engaged with - and she shares how you can get your voice heard around those themes.

Her three most important tips are;

To always try to find a positive take on whatever you are talking about – even if you have had a terrible disaster – talk about how you overcame that problem, and who helped.

Make sure you fully understand the concept of greenwashing, so that you are fully embracing it, and not falling short, by just paying lip service to the idea of being more ‘green’. Hint one of the tips is around sustainability.

Always be authentic, have integrity, be grateful and honest in everything you do – particularly in your business, even when sharing difficult messages.

And Fiona’s over-riding timeless tip is: 

Remember that stories about people and lived experience will always be more popular than other stuff. The best stories come from people not product or services. 

Would you love my expert PR eyes on your business? Do you need expert PR help?

If you want rocket fuel for your business by mastering your stories and being consistently visible; then book your PR Power Hour with Fiona here: PR Power Hour with Fiona Scott

PR isn’t expecting floods of clients at your door after sending out one press release, entrepreneur and investor Kyle Raffo tells Fiona in her latest podcast. 

Kyle Raffo, who runs one of the UK’s leading printing and merchandising company Embello and has invested in several other businesses, is not even 30 years old. In this episode he shares with Fiona his early entrepreneurial drive and where it comes from. 

He talks about the importance of being truly authentic to yourself and your brand, and not selling your reputation for money. 

He shares some deeply thoughtful moments about how ‘outward success’ and the trappings of wealth are not always a route to true happiness. 

Kyle also spells out that good PR isn’t about lead generation and direct sales. He believes PR is key to brand awareness and raising a personal profile and should be seen and embraced in that light. Sales is a discipline to be honed alongside good PR. 

One of his tips to other young entrepreneurs, is to use social media wisely as you are writing your personal profile as you go – whether you are an entrepreneur or an employee. He says it’s wise to remember to represent a brand professionally when on social media – because it’s out there, forever.

https://www.embello.co.uk/

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Would you love my expert PR eyes on your business? Do you need expert PR help?

If you want rocket fuel for your business by mastering your stories and being consistently visible; then book your PR Power Hour with Fiona here here: PR Power Hour with Fiona Scott

Danielle Homes co-founded Black Nova Designs in Wiltshire and believes her company's rapid growth is down to tireless and persistent PR and marketing efforts. 

Black Nova designs specialises in I.T. solutions for home and business and also provides web design and web hosting services. Danielle and her husband Kyle launch the business in 2015 and seven years later, they employ 10 staff and are going from strength to strength. 

Danielle is a strong believer in making your company visible using a variety of PR tactics to get through to people. She has mainly exploited networking and social media opportunities.  As she says, "you can never post too often about what you do" because there is always someone watching. Even if they don't make themselves immediately known to you now, they might do in the future. 

Danielle tells Fiona that to grow your business you need to step out of your comfort zone to master your own mind because then you can master your own business but you cannot do that without help from top coaches.

Listen to more from Danielle on this episode and find out more about her company here https://www.blacknovadesigns.co.uk/ or from any social media platform. Just look for Black Nova Design. 

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Would you love my expert PR eyes on your business? Do you need expert PR help?

If you want rocket fuel for your business by mastering your stories and being consistently visible; then book your PR Power Hour with Fiona here here: PR Power Hour with Fiona Scott

ITV journalist Rob Murphy is the latest guest on Fiona's brilliant podcast line-up. What he has to say will open your eyes to what journalists crave in seeking a good story to cover.

Rob is a seasoned television journalist covering mainly crime and investigations but he's also a successful podcaster and author. His book 'To Hunt A Killer' was co-authored with detective Julie Mackay and was published earlier this year. It's available in the usual places. 

He  deals daily  with PR and comms professionals  and tells Fiona how surprising it is that so many irrelevant releases are sent to him. But, as he says on the podcast, the communications he receives from Fiona are always bang on the money!

Listen in for Rob's fascinating accounts of the stories and personalities he has dealt with and for some really useful tips on how to prep your clients for TV interviews.



Would you love my expert PR eyes on your business? Do you need expert PR help?

If you want rocket fuel for your business by mastering your stories and being consistently visible; then book your PR Power Hour with Fiona here here: PR Power Hour with Fiona Scott

On this episode, Fiona meets the founder of the Women's Business Club, Angela de Souza.  Angela's latest project is called Coffee and Coworking which creates spaces for businesswomen to gain support and empowerment so no woman has to build a business alone.

Angela successfully set up the Women's Business Club after her first business failed because she loves to build communities. She sees herself as an introvert who hates networking but who loves to come to together with other women to help everyone grow in confidence.

As she tells Fiona, outsourcing her PR has been effective for her business growth and has taught her about the ongoing need to deploy traditional as well as new PR methods to ensure a business receives coverage far and wide.

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Would you love my expert PR eyes on your business? Do you need expert PR help?

If you want rocket fuel for your business by mastering your stories and being consistently visible; then book your PR Power Hour with Fiona here here: PR Power Hour with Fiona Scott

This week's guest on Fiona Scott's podcast is sometimes referred to as "The Pink Powerhouse" (think spiky pink hair) or "The Super Soul Coach" - Taz Thornton.

Taz is a former journalist and high-flying marketing professional whose difficult back story was first the breaking of her but then the making of her. As she explains to Fiona, she overcame her own significant struggles to become someone who now empowers others to do something of value with their lives. She works with anyone who wants to build their own powerful personal brand.

Good PR for Taz is never going to be about a quick win. Listen as she and Fiona discuss on the podcast how effective PR is about putting in the work and preparing for the long haul until your efforts pay off.

You'll find Taz just about everywhere on social media or through her website and you can email her at [email protected]  
 
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Would you love my expert PR eyes on your business? Do you need expert PR help?

If you want rocket fuel for your business by mastering your stories and being consistently visible; then book your PR Power Hour with Fiona here here: PR Power Hour with Fiona Scott

On this episode, Fiona gets some honest answers from business journalist Hannah Baker on how to pique her interest in your story and get the best PR coverage possible.

Hannah works for major regional newspaper publisher Reach PLC as the Southwest Editor of Business Live and as Business Editor for the Bristol Post, Gloucester Echo and for Somerset Live. Her patch covers a huge region from Gloucestershire down to Cornwall. 

Hannah tells Fiona how her inbox receives literally hundreds of emails a day which are almost impossible to process. So, gently following up - especially if you've got a great story with a strong human angle and a connection to her region - is the best way to get through to her. 

Fiona's guest emphasises that timely stories which senior business executives will find engaging are what she needs.  She loves meeting potential story providers  - after all, every journalist needs their list of contacts! 

Contact Hannah here [email protected] or via twitter @hannahjbaker 

Would you love my expert PR eyes on your business? Do you need expert PR help?

If you want rocket fuel for your business by mastering your stories and being consistently visible; then book your PR Power Hour with Fiona here here: PR Power Hour with Fiona Scott

Fiona first got to know Julianne some years ago after she had appeared on the BBC tv series Dragons’ Den seeking funding for her allergen free products. Julianne suffers from anaphylaxis - potentially life-threatening reactions brought on by exposure to allergy-inducing products.

As Fiona's guest on this episode of PR not BS, Julianne explains her story,  why she became the owner of Creative Nature, and why it is so important to prepare your PR for AFTER you've appeared on important TV and radio shows.

Julianne explains she was reluctant to accept at the very start that winding her own personal story into her PR would make a difference. As Fiona's client, she was soon helped to see things very differently.

FInd out more on this engaging episode about Fiona and Julianne's collaboration and how Julianne has used PR in multiple different ways to successfully promote her products.

Read about Julianne and her company here: https://www.creativenaturesuperfoods.co.uk

Listen up because Fiona is  launching a fun giveaway! 

Anyone who subscribes, writes a review & then screenshots and shares on their social media tagging in Fiona Scott or Scott Media  will be entered into a prize draw for some vouchers! A winner will be chosen every other month! 

Would you love my expert PR eyes on your business? Do you need expert PR help?

If you want rocket fuel for your business by mastering your stories and being consistently visible; then book your PR Power Hour with Fiona here here: PR Power Hour with Fiona Scott

On PR not BS this week Fiona's guest is author Lis McDermott. 

Lis' career has taken several twists and turns and through them all, she has learnt to value the importance of PR.

Lis began her working life as a teacher and music education administrator, later became a photographer and during the pandemic she rediscovered her love and talent for writing and reinvented herself as a writer.

Fiona and Lis discuss the PR steps Lis took to launch her career as an author and how she lifted her profile with her ideal audience. 

Lis just happens to be one of Fiona's closest friends and was the first person Fiona called on for help with writing her new book.

Find out more here - https://lismcdermottauthor.co.uk/#

Listen up because Fiona is  launching a fun giveaway! 

Anyone who subscribes, writes a review & then screenshots and shares on their social media tagging in Fiona Scott or Scott Media  will be entered into a prize draw for some vouchers! A winner will be chosen every other month! 

Would you love my expert PR eyes on your business? Do you need expert PR help?

If you want rocket fuel for your business by mastering your stories and being consistently visible; then book your PR Power Hour with Fiona here here: PR Power Hour with Fiona Scott