It is well-known that the disciplines of PR and journalism are not always the best of bed fellows. PR is involves promoting clients and maintaining a positive spin and journalism is expected to take a more balanced approach which could run counter to PR messages!

Relationships between the two are sometimes fraught with whinging and bickering which nowadays gets played out on social media sites. There is even a new website www.pr-411.com which has just been set up for the specific purpose of airing and sharing these differences. Yet this site also has a cooperative focus and is clearly seeking to identify how the two groups can work more effectively together which is good news for all of us.

The simple fact is that paid journalist posts are in decline with jobs being cut as a result of the combination of the economic downturn and the increased preference for online media where the financial model currently does not work well for paid journalism.  Only last month the Bristol Evening Post cut 20 journalists from the payroll which was over a 3^rd of the team whilst the Yorkshire Post has recently taken the extraordinary step of removing the role of editor.

The dwindling number of journalists and reporters is one of the major drivers behind their increasing dependence on PR professionals for stories. Surely this opens up a great opportunity for PR professionals to promote our clients and to sell-in, create angles, write stories etc. which get published word-for-word.

However, PR professionals still need good journalists and should endeavour to support the industry where they can. As well-researched, critical and interesting journalism still has a role to play to stop editorial reading like advertorial.

If we want our clients to be seen as thought leaders in their market surely we still need good journalism to take a balanced approach?

  As the leading non-profit making organisation in Tyre Safety – Tyresafe has attracted the attention of not only all the major tyre manufacturers and national retailers along with the emergency services, road rescue services and leasing and insurance companies.

These businesses gathered together at Ardencote Manor in Warwickshire earlier this month to hear about the latest consumer campaign, using a family of dummies aptly named the McIntyres, to drive forward the tyre safety message ahead of labelling legislation coming into force later this year.

Given that it is more common for businesses to be frustrated by the cost and bureaucracy associated with new regulations their interest and enthusiasm seemed unusually refreshing. Yes, the cause is being well-championed by the passion and energy of Tyresafe’s Chairman, Stuart Jackson and yes the reduction in injuries and deaths on the road has to be applauded and yes the event had the benefit of fully explaining the regulatory requirements.

But what else would cause major competitors to draw together to support and promote further regulation of their industry?

A much needed business boost?

The tyre market has been heavily impacted by the recession and cash-strapped consumers who are not replacing bare tyres or replacing them with part-worn tyres, despite the risks. The new regulations will bring pressure to bear on these consumers, driving them to invest in safe tyres to avoid financial penalties as well as health risks.

A real win-win; regulations which are good for business and save lives too!

A great opportunity or a logistical nightmare?

Trying to build market share in developed economies and mature markets is rightly at the forefront of business sales and marketing strategy and yet making major gains of market share in a mature market is not always realistic. With this in mind businesses are always looking for new markets and the eyes of the Supply Chain Industry have certainly alighted upon the potentially vast opportunities presented by emerging markets.

So how easy is it for major logistics companies to tap into the opportunity presented by markets such as India, Brazil, Mexico, China, Peru and many African States?

Initial experience has definitely shown leading Supply Chain brands that they are going to require a new approach to tackle the problems of poor infrastructure, varying border costs and differing and rapidly changing regulatory environments, if they want to reach these fragmented markets and establish a foothold without being crippled by the risk of spiralling costs, timings and erratic service delivery.

Big businesses have realised they need to be more agile, flexible and as adaptable as a small business in these markets and make sure they locate and develop local talent to turn a potentially logistical nightmare into the great opportunity so many of us believe it is.

All indications are that Supply Chains who can adapt to the new game rules will be on the front foot in with a chance of winning a significant prize in future business.

Should we be keeping Conferences and Events on the Sales and Marketing Agenda?

In the last few years the understandable cuts in sales and marketing budgets has meant that many businesses have cut back on their event attendance as they fear they will struggle to justify the ROI  and be accused of spending on wasteful company ‘jollies’.

Businesses are plugging the gap by using technological advances to connect with each other through web based discussion forums, webinars and video conferencing. Yet, whilst cheaper, should these be additions to business interaction rather than replacing the opportunities to network face-to-face? Is investment in attending the right events value for money?

Good businesses are built on quality people and to avoid hiding your light under a bushel it is worth getting out of the office, allowing some time to stand back from day-to-day business and immerse yourself in your industry. These are opportunities to really get to know what is going on and understand the thoughts, feelings and drivers of your customers and competitors.

This is where attendance at Conferences, Exhibitions and Events is so powerful. Make sure you focus on the right events for your business objectives and your team know why and what they are trying to achieve, then they can make best use of the opportunity and it is likely to bring the ROI that justifies the spend.

It’s still good to talk!

The EV and low CO₂ 2012, on Wednesday 19 April at Silverstone, was definitely well worth attending.

Despite the wild and blustery weather conditions there was a constant stream of different makes and models heading out onto the race circuit with attendees showing their determination to get to grips with the technology through hands-on experience. The range included funky models such as the Renault Twizy through to the practical and capacious Toyota Prius.

In the rather dryer and warmer halls the exhibitor’s stands were proving popular and the seminars were packed out. In the session looking at the business case for EVs, Robin Haycock, Head of Transport at the Climate Group, declared that with a future where the supply of energy will be constrained the time to move to EVs is now. However, he emphasised that EVs are only part of a solution for fleets as vehicles become less multi-purpose there will be a need for fleet management to really understand their transport requirements and to fit the right vehicle to the specific task or ‘drive cycle’.

And EVs need more buy in from the fleet operators to boost and support the developments as fleet is responsible for 50% of new car sales per annum. In turn, fleet managers had turned out in force showing that they recognise the need for alternate fuel options to ensure their fleet is fit for purpose now and into the future.

And to hear more about the latest in commercial vehicle advances we’ll be heading out to the Commercial Vehicle Show 2012 at Birmingham NEC 24 – 26 April.

Despite being zero carbon rated, are the green credentials of Electric Vehicles (EVs) fundamentally compromised in the UK? As a country where the majority of electricity is currently generated by fossil fuels, are we giving a vehicle powered by electricity plenty of carbon on its footprint?

It’s an interesting question – but the facts actually show that EV’s are definitely greener – by some distance – due to their energy efficiency. With most of the energy they use, an incredible 80% powers the wheels, compared to a traditionally fuelled model that is more likely to use only 20%-30% of its energy with the rest being lost as heat. So, on average, the modern EV is generating a third less carbon even with the upstream carbon footprint!

Motor manufacturers still need the UK government to put some weight behind creating the charging infrastructure for EV’s, and to make significant progress on their plans to increase the renewable energy contribution to the national grid – these things most certainly appear to be halting the growth of the EV industry.

The popularity of “going electric” is on the rise however, capturing the interest of Fleet Managers, as well as private owners, all looking for more sustainable and cost effective methods of transport. In response, major motor manufacturers are investing heavily in EV technology with plans to launch a further 30 EV models across the industry in the next 18 months.

We’re enjoying watching the EV industry develop, and will be heading to the EV and LOW CO2 FLEET SHOW at Silverstone on 18^th April – we look forward to getting a bit more insight into the future of EV’s – watch this space to find out more!

With Easter weekend upon us there is a lot in the press and the world of social media about Easter Eggs and their renowned eye-catching boxes. Obviously packaging of gifts like these is vitally important – but is there still too much waste from excessive packaging? Or, in some cases, is there too little packaging resulting in product wastage due to damage?

There are undoubtedly risks of insufficient or inappropriate packaging. The recipient of the egg feels less loved and special perhaps? It certainly looks small without the box, a little plain and less indulgent with a few dents. In fact the right thing to do environmentally could be sending out the wrong message – unless it is done well – and to achieve that you have to understand the recipient’s wants and needs.

This is an everyday business dilemma. How do businesses consistently deliver brand message and products to customers in an environmentally responsible way, without either compromising the quality of the product or message received? It is definitely a tough call that translates into many aspects of B2B communication.

It’s not just about the delivery of products in appropriate packaging (and the packaging industry has certainly made leaps and bounds in innovative design), but the delivery of messages and information to the client in the right media and with the right quality.

Whether as a business you are using printed adverts, good quality brochures, e-newsletters or social media you must remember to match your message with the best approach; balancing environmental concerns with the need to make your customer feel understood, valued and possibly a little bit spoilt.

Happy Easter from Clear Communications!

There is a real buzz around the global drive to get a universal approach to BIM (Building Information Modelling) a vision which is a real eclectic mix of aspiration, revolution and simple common sense.

The initiative known as Open BIM is being driven by the not-for-profit international alliance buildingSMART® supported by some of the key software vendors. The aim is to create a transparent approach to data and workflow enabling information to move through the process of construction, from the brief at the start of the project, to the on-going facility management when construction is complete.

Whilst it makes complete sense the industry is still some way from having a consistent approach to common data structures and software interfaces and, for many, this is now seen as a real hindrance to collaborative design, construction and the on-going operation of buildings.

Social and business AEC networks across the world are all talking about Open Bim with many concerns being raised about how, and even whether the vision can be achieved.

Despite the reservations governments across the globe are strongly backing Open BIM as it gives them access to the best and most competitive resources and promotes sustainable building practice. So, it is likely, that what appears a visionary concept today may become accepted practice in the not to distant future and businesses that embrace the initiative will reap the rewards with Open BIM creating a truly global market.

It is certainly the chancellors claim that his 2012 budget proposals will ‘unashamedly back business’ and through their growth boost the economy.

The good budget news for business includes the reduction of corporation tax to 24% from this April and down to 22% by 2014, a cut in the 50p rate of executive income tax to 45p, plus a simplification of the tax system for small businesses. The budget certainly leans towards supporting business improvements through investment in the UKs technical infrastructure and with tax credits from 2013 to businesses investing in research and development.

Yet business analysts suggest the budget has not gone far enough and is particularly disappointing for logistics still faced with the 3p rise on fuel due in August. Companies have pointed to the failure to curb the rising cumulative costs of energy and the lack of rewards for being greener which, along with the taxation system, they believe hinders the competitiveness of UK businesses in the world market.

Nevertheless, in order to balance the books it is the businesses themselves who now have to deal with the budget hand they have been dealt. They have to drive forward efficiencies and market themselves whether the budget helps or hinders; businesses will continue to succeed as ever by their own determination to survive, nurture and grow.

As a specialist B2B PR and Marketing Agency we are working day-to-day with the business opportunities and challenges presented to our clients by the rise in social media. In all its many guises and via a myriad of devices most of us are regularly and instantaneously sharing our thoughts and feelings not only with our family, friends and colleagues but with everyone across the globe.

The ability to share our experiences in real-time and to stimulate debate around how we feel about the world we live in, the products we use and the services we experience is creating a real buzz that businesses and brands cannot ignore. And yet the jury is still out on how useful and cost effective the various modes of social media are for successful customer engagement either for B2C or B2B relationships.

Communication technology specialist Rapide, one of our clients, has stepped into the breach. They have developed a multi-channel software solution, known as ‘Rant & Rave’, that allows businesses to capture and analyse customer feedback in real-time in a format that suits consumers. The exact same consumers who are now more ‘feedback literate’ as a result of social media but are expecting action not just debate. The ‘Rant & Rave’ software analyses and presents customer sentiment to the brand in a timely way and with over half the UK FTSE now working with Rapide it is clear that businesses know they must have a more effective response to the voice of the customer than currently provided via ‘traditional’ social media outlets.

So what does this mean for B2B relationships which have historically lagged behind B2C in their use of social media … they potentially face similar issues with social media turning up the volume on the business customer voice and creating raised expectations for a more proactive and rapid business response.

It certainly creates some big business challenges alongside lots of exciting opportunities as the tools and possibilities evolve rapidly now more than ever it makes good business sense to use a specialist B2B PR and marketing agency like Clear Communications to stay ahead of the game.