Tag: Communications

Why Having a Crisis Plan Makes All the Difference

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Open Communications

An image of a magnifying glass hovering over the word crisis in a dictionary.

At Open Communications, we know that crises don’t wait for the right moment. They show up uninvited – whether it’s a PR blip, social media backlash or an operational hiccup that catches you off guard.

The truth is, how you respond in those first few hours can set the tone for everything that follows. Having a plan doesn’t just save time, it gives your business the best chance of coming through calmy, clearly and with your reputation intact.

If you’ve ever wondered what a crisis plan actually involves, why your business needs one and how to make it actually useful, here’s our no-nonsense response.

What is a crisis plan?

Think of it as your safety net. A crisis plan is more than a document gathering dust on a shelf – it’s a practical guide designed to help your team act quickly, consistently and confidently when things don’t go quite to plan.

It gives structure to what can otherwise feel like chaos. Instead of second-guessing who to call or what to say, your team already knows the process, the messaging and the next steps.

A good crisis plan usually covers:

Who needs to be informed and how.
What your key messages should be.
How to manage communications across social media, press and internal teams.
Steps to minimise reputational, operational or financial damage.

At its heart, a crisis plan is about keeping your business steady, your people supported and your reputation protected when the pressure is on.

Why does it matter?

Crises happen.

And when they do, the stakes are high. You can’t always control the situation, but you can control your message and how you respond.

The difference between businesses that recover well and those that don’t often comes down to speed and clarity. Those who are prepared can get the right message out quickly, reassure stakeholders and avoid making the situation worse. Those who aren’t prepared often end up scrambling, sending mixed messages or staying silent for too long.

A crisis plan doesn’t make problems disappear, but it gives you confidence to respond decisively, clarity on who says what and when, and protection for your business and your people.

Essentially, it’s your roadmap to keep everyone moving in the same direction, even when the situation is unpredictable.

What goes into a good crisis plan?

Creating a good crisis plan isn’t just about writing down a few bullet points. It’s about thinking ahead and planning for every scenario you can possibly imagine.

Key elements include:

Clear roles and responsibilities – who speaks to the media, who manages social channels and who handles internal communications.
Prepared messaging – statements that reflect your brand voice and values.
Communication channels – from press releases to social updates and internal emails.
Escalation procedures – know what requires senior input and what can be handled immediately.
Training and rehearsals – because a plan is only as good as your team’s ability to use it.

Why we help clients with crisis planning

Because we’ve seen the difference it makes.

A team with a plan doesn’t panic. They don’t stumble over words, and they don’t let small problems spiral into big ones. Instead, they stay calm, keep control and protect the business they’ve worked hard to build.

We also appreciate that not every business has the time or experience to build a plan from scratch. That’s where we step in – creating tailored plans and embedding processes that feel natural for your team, so that when the time comes, you know exactly what to do.

Why not just do it yourself?

You could, of course, pull together a contact list and a few instructions. But a truly effective plan is more than just ticking boxes.

It means anticipating scenarios you might not think of, understanding how the media reacts, aligning messaging with your brand and making sure your team knows what is expected of them under pressure. Without that experience, it is easy to overlook risks, create conflicting messages, or put out responses that don’t land well.

Thay’s why working with specialists gives you peace of mind. You know your plan is practical, tested and ready to work when it’s needed most.

Our approach at Open Comms

We keep things simple, practical and actionable. No jargon, no overcomplicated processes. Just clear guidance that helps you and your team feel prepared and not panicked.

We’ll work with you to create a plan tailored to your business, run through scenarios and make sure everyone understands their role. That way, if the unexpected does happen, you can handle it with confidence.

At Open Comms, we don’t do panic. We do preparation, strategy and straightforward guidance that ensures your business can handle a crisis with confidence.

Empowered Marketing Webinar: Resilience in the Boardroom With Sonya Braddock

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Open Communications

An image of a laptop with the webinar taking place on it.

Written by Laura Wood.

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the first Empowered Marketing webinar titled “Resilience in the Boardroom: Thriving Under Pressure” led by mental fitness coach and MindFit project founder, Sonya Braddock.

It was an inspiring session, full of practical advice on how to manage stress and build resilience – both in professional and personal situations.

Here, I will take a look at what I took away from the session.

What is resilience, really?

Sonya kicked things off by exploring the fundamentals of resilience.

She asked attendees for their thoughts and explained that while she uses the term “boardroom”, resilience applies far beyond corporate life – from job interviews and first days at work to personal life challenges like dates or day-to-day situations.

A key insight was how our brains often overreact to emotions, anxieties or stresses. This reaction comes from the brain’s alarm system, named the ‘amygdala’. When triggered by feelings of fear, nervousness or worry, our amygdala can hijack our response.

The good news? We can train it to respond calmly and pragmatically rather reacting emotionally.

Spotting stress patterns

A key part of the session was around recognising stress patterns.

Sonya highlighted three common behaviours we all feel or experience throughout our lifetime:

Overthinking – worrying about a situation before it happens.
Minimising – convincing yourself you’re not good enough.
Perfectionism – the need to make sure everything is flawless.

Understanding these patterns is the first step to managing them. Once you notice them, you can start to take action.

Tools to reset your brain

Following this, Sonya shared practical exercises to train your brain, starting with box breathing.

The process is simple:

Inhale for four counts
Hold for four counts
Exhale for four counts
Hold for four counts
And repeat…

Even a minute of this technique can help “reset” your remind.

However, when time is short, she suggested some micro-resets: moving your body, shaking off tension, or just taking a mindful pause. A mindful pause is all about observing your thoughts without judgement, recognising them as ideas and not facts, watching them just float by in your mind.

Reframing and the power of awareness

Reframing was another focus of the session.

By noticing a stress pattern and consciously choosing how to respond, we can turn potentially negative situations into positive, manageable experiences. Awareness, Sonya explained, isn’t a weakness – it’s a choice.

Following this, she explained that confidence and resilience work hand in hand. Confidence helps us move forward, where resilience allows us to bounce back when challenges arise. One way to aid this transition is by building a “brag bank”, where you jot down achievements, no matter how big or small, to reinforce self-belief and remind ourselves of our capabilities.

Practical strategies: before, during and after

Another powerful tool that Sonya highlighted was how to prepare for and recover from stressful “boardroom” moments:

Before: Use power postures, mantras and visualisations to prime yourself.
During: Take slow, intentional breaths and jot down short encouraging phrases like “you can do this.”
After: Engage in release rituals such as walks or stretching, reflect on successes and areas for improvement, and note down gratitude’s.

The session ended with a guided visualisation that she involved the whole group with: she asked all attendees to close their eyes and imagine themselves standing tall on the edge of a cliff while a storm approaches. From there, she asked us to visualise ourselves remaining steadfast as the storm passed, and watch how we walk away feeling more resilient, confident and strong.

A truly powerful yet calming tool.

Key quotes that stuck

Sonya’s passion shone through by her use of quotes, which she may not have realised would have an impact on someone, but they are the main things I scribbled down as affirmations to myself.

Here is a selection of the ones I noted:

“The power is in noticing and doing something about it.”
“Choose how you want to show up.”
“Put trust in your capability.”
“Boundaries aren’t weakness, they’re leadership.”
“Confidence is built on action.”
“Remember, the storm doesn’t define you. The way you bounce back afterwards does.”

Key takeaways

Here are main takeaways I took from the session:

You can train your amygdala to respond calmly under stress.
Stress patterns appear as overthinking, minimising or perfectionism.
Use resets – like breathing exercises or mindful pauses – to regain control.
A ‘brag bank’ reinforces confidence and resilience.
Emotions are information, reflecting on them creates space to respond wisely.

Attending the webinar was a powerful reminder that resilience is a skill we can develop with intention, practice and awareness. Small, consistent actions and conscious reflection can help us thrive under pressure, no matter the “boardroom” we’re facing.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM TODDLERS

Posted on August 7, 2021 by Lindsey Davies

The concept of what we can learn from toddlers isn’t new, in fact it is well documented. Just one example would be the book written by the founder of Ella’s Kitchen, Paul Lindley: Little Wins, the huge power of thinking like a toddler.

Despite the plethora of information and advice that is out there, I don’t think many of us put these theories into practice. As an adoptive mum to a very active toddler, I was not surprised to hear that my son had been painting with cars at nursery last week.

The children had decided they didn’t want to use paintbrushes. Instead, they found the patterns from the wheels of the toy cars were far more exciting. This got me thinking about the way our son plays.

Thankfully, his nursery embraces his creativity and imagination. He isn’t told what he should do with the toys or what the intention of the manufacturer was. His teachers simply let him adopt and adapt the items he plays with to suit his game.

So, taking a step back, I started to think more about what we can learn from toddlers.

Saying hello and goodbye

When we go shopping our son will wave from the trolley at everyone we pass and say ‘hello’. He smiles and more often than not people stop what they are doing, look less serious and say ‘hello’ in return.

As well as teaching him that manners cost you nothing, he has learnt that saying hello makes people smile and engage with you. He has also realised that if he says, ‘goodbye everyone, see you later’ and waves as we leave, people laugh. Another positive response that makes him, and them, feel good.

In business, I feel we forget the basics of how to engage positively with people.

We are stressed and have lists of actions to complete. There are not enough hours in the day, and we can’t always plan for whatever challenge we need to address next. The problem however isn’t any of these things. It’s that we pass on our negativity to others through the way we communicate.

We forget that the tone of an email could make or break someone’s day. The language we use on the phone matters. And the way that we ask someone to do a task will impact on the outcome. What some people seem to forget is that being rude doesn’t empower you.

From now on, I am going to remember the value of saying hello and goodbye.

Being honest

Children are honest. Brutally so sometimes. Although this can create some embarrassing and uncomfortable situations on occasion, toddlers have a point.

When we are honest, we all know what we are working with. There are no secrets or hidden facts. Nothing is going to crop up that will change the path or outcome of our work. Conversely, when people are dishonest, it makes life difficult.

I think if we are all more honest, life will be simpler. Don’t hide costs, sell an idea that is unattainable or say you can do something you cannot. People will always respect you more for being honest.

Getting things wrong and saying sorry

Toddlers get things wrong, a lot. They are learning how to navigate this crazy world and the challenges that crop up along the way. More importantly, in the case of our son, he now knows when to say sorry.

Unlike adults, toddlers will say sorry without hesitation. They aren’t embarrassed by admitting they have made a mistake and they know that to say sorry is the right thing to do.

As adults, we’ve realised that there is an awkwardness to admitting we’ve messed up. The truth is that this doesn’t detract from the fact that saying sorry is still the right thing do.

In business, it may be that saying sorry becomes an admission of guilt. What we need to decide is whether we want to create a culture of covering our own backsides or learning from mistakes and embracing the honesty and strength of someone that says sorry.

Seeing the best in everything

Everything is exciting when you are two or three. The simplest of things. Bubbles are a classic example. Our son will run outside and shout ‘wow, wow, wow!’ when we blow bubbles in the garden.

Easily pleased, perhaps. Able to see the best in everything, absolutely.

What toddlers will do is add imagination to the dullest of tasks. They make everything into a game through their ability to think beyond the obvious. We all know that to keep a child happy for minutes you give them a toy. If you want to keep them entertained for hours, let them play with a cardboard box.

I think adults can learn a lot from this. We need to stop obsessing about the toy and start to think how we make our work as exciting as a cardboard box. We need to get back to effortlessly adding the imagination, creativity and storytelling to tasks.

It seems to me that when something is fun, we have been conditioned to forget that it can still be work. There is nothing wrong with loving your job or making a task simpler through adding some imagination or play.

Perhaps if we tried to do this more, we would all be happier, and I suspect our relationships and results would be stronger.

Making friends

As children we make friends with people that resonate with us. Often there are similarities and shared interests. Toddlers may like the same games or songs. They may just enjoy the company of one another. Relationships are uncomplicated.

As adults, we make assumptions. The process of making friends is muddied by experience and expectations.

While it’s important to choose our friends wisely, maybe we should be more open to getting to know people that are less of an obvious fit. Embracing our differences, rather than letting them define us, could give us all greater opportunities to learn.

Within any business network, there are so many people. Every single one has something unique to share. When we think like that, the power of our connections become very real. Making friends in business is just as important as in our personal lives. What’s more, the two can be interchangeable.

Now that we are all allowed back out, I’m going to make more effort to meet with people that wouldn’t typically have been those I would gravitate to.

Taking the time to laugh

Finally, this should be simple, but for adults we seem to forget how to laugh. Again, using our son as an example, he has recently learnt to ‘fake laugh’. He sounds like Woody the Woodpecker and has realised that when he does this people around him will giggle too.

Every single day our son will laugh out loud. He will giggle, fake laugh, belly laugh and chuckle.

When we are at work and in pressured environments, it can be almost impossible to take the time to laugh. The thought makes us cringe. After all, we have too much to do to be taking time to be silly or to do something that doesn’t deliver a return.

Again, if we think slightly differently about this, I think having a laugh is invaluable. When we are happier, we deliver better results. We attract the right people. Everything feels more positive. It may not be the easiest thing to implement, but I’m going to try to laugh more.

It makes me feel good and I think that is worth working towards.

I hope that you enjoyed this blog and that you may even have found something to take away. For more insight from the team at Open Comms, simply visit: Blog · Open Comms · PR agency in Wakefield, West Yorkshire

THE VALUE OF PR AMID OUR ‘NEW NORMAL’

Posted on June 29, 2020 by Open Communications

As the country is cautiously moving out of lockdown, the familiar sounds and sights of life before Covid-19 are beginning to return. But as the economy starts to reopen and recover, we must all be vigilant and willing to accept how our ‘new normal’ will reshape society.

The biggest changes will arguably be felt within the business community as many people are now transitioning back to the workplace, albeit a modified version. I suspect, however, that our ‘new normal’ won’t just see alterations in where we work but also in the way we work as well.

Working differently

Fortunately, the Open Comms team quickly adapted a remote working policy in the early stages of the Coronavirus outbreak. In a lot of ways, it has been business as usual.

But managing public relations for a diverse client mix amid a global pandemic doesn’t come without its challenges!

With that being said, I believe that PR will be among the industries that will experience the most adjustments as we move towards our ‘new normal’. Communicating in the relevant and right way must now be put at the top of the agenda.

We are all navigating through a tense time and the margin for error has never been as small. Businesses must adapt and evolve, as must society.

Positive messaging

The Covid-19 crisis has brought the economy to its knees. Unemployment rates are continuing to rise, and the looming threat of a nationwide recession shows no signs of easing. We cannot escape the negativity that has stifled our lives, but once we are out the other side, the lessons we have learned must be remembered as we move forward.

As a PR professional, my experience through this crisis has reaffirmed just how powerful and engaging positive messaging can be. As our client base operates in a range of different sectors, we implemented a bespoke communications plan to navigate each client through the challenges and obstacles they were faced with.

Whether it was implemented through social media, press releases, blog posts or feature-led pieces, we understood that the most efficient way to support each client’s own objectives was through strategic messaging and tone. Our role was to ensure their key stakeholders, employees, customers and partners were frequently updated and were never left with notions of doubt or concern.

Proactive PR

Marketing and PR strategies had to be completely changed when Covid-19 hit our shores. In a very short space of time, a lot had disrupted the marketplace. As the magnitude of the situation become clearer, we all had to react. But the rate of change often proved too difficult for businesses to respond to accordingly.

Upon recognising this, we at Open Comms realised that the most effective PR and marketing campaigns we could provide for our clients had to be proactive. We put our clients in control. Rather than waiting for a story, we set out to create one, which not only helped showcase the services our clients offer but how they can best be utilised during this current climate.

Whether this be regarding specialist funding support, critical communications services or digital and technological innovations, we identified topical trends, tailored specific copy and targeted appropriate media contacts. Again, through this bespoke and strategic approach we were able to maximise the output of content we created.

As we begin to learn what our ‘new normal’ is within the PR industry, the Open Comms team will ensure that taking a proactive approach remains a core element of our services.

As we have throughout this pandemic, we will continue to make certain our clients and the services we offer remain uncompromised during this transitional period. PR has never been such a valuable asset for businesses to use, and the benefits can be transformational.

If you would like to know more about Open Comms and the services we offer, why not give us a call on 01924 862477 or contact us here.

USING LINKEDIN TO BENEFIT BUSINESS

Posted on June 22, 2020 by Lindsey Davies

I have been a fan of LinkedIn for some time now and use it to benefit our business. I like that it is for business and that this target audience has remained consistent. There is no ambiguity or trying to be all things to all people, it is a platform to communicate with professionals.

It’s fair to say that the functionality hasn’t always been the best. Some of the updates have been infuriating at best and damn right irritating at worst. However, it has remained a space to share, discuss and debate.

As a business owner, I find LinkedIn is a community of people that I can trust. Given that you have to accept a request to connect, I can take ownership of those I want to converse with. As each person has a profile with a biog, I can have further confidence they are the right contacts for me.

Using LinkedIn to benefit business

I was once in a meeting with a client and suggested they update their LinkedIn profile. They were a little hesitant at first, but after explaining that they could connect with people they wanted to reach more easily, they agreed.

After a few updates, an appropriate picture and some keywords we were done. It took around half an hour. Before the end of the meeting, the client had six new contacts and a meeting in the diary.

LinkedIn isn’t difficult to use. It takes time and that is where most people lose interest. They don’t see the value in spending hours scrolling through content or uploading posts.

The truth is, you don’t have to.

Set aside half an hour each day to review the content your contacts have shared and when it’s appropriate to do so, share your own updates. It may be a link to an article you found interesting or some good news about your business.

Keeping it simple

As with most social platforms, keeping it simple will give others the time to read and digest your updates. It’s then up to them whether they then share, like or scroll on from that post.

Adding imagery will always attract more interest, so a good picture is certainly worthwhile.

We often come across companies that don’t feel they have the right content to share on LinkedIn. In this instance, I always suggest looking at the personalities in the business. There are often characters that have a story to share in an organisation, but too often they remain behind closed doors.

LinkedIn is a perfect platform to provide an insight into those that keep the operation going; whether it be the cleaner, driver, machine operator, finance director or MD. Everyone has something to offer.

Shared interests

One of the easiest ways to find people with shared interests is to look in groups. These are sub-communities that have been set up. You can scroll through and find those that are most relevant.

In my case, it is often those specific to PR or to communications. I am also involved with the Yorkshire Mafia too. A group that was set up by a client some years ago and now has more than 23,000 members.

With groups you know that the people you are engaging with, and the topics they are likely to discuss, will be of interest. If they aren’t, simply leave the group and find another that you feel is better equipped with content that you can read and share.

Creating credible copy

One of the functions of LinkedIn is the ability to share articles from a personal account. As a writer, I find this really valuable. For me, this is an opportunity to share my knowledge and experience. It gives people the confidence to know that I have delivered results for my clients and I know what I’m talking about.

The beauty of articles is also that you can see how many people have engaged with that piece of content. This then allows you to extend your audience reach. If someone shares an article or tags another contact into it, then it will be seen by their contacts too.

I once wrote an article about being a business in Wakefield. It took me around half an hour to write and reached hundreds of people. It also gave my connections an insight into the reasons we chose the city as the location for our company and by association, any local companies were reminded we were there.

Attracting talent

Company pages on LinkedIn are a great way to attract talent. This is one of the reasons that recruiters spend so much money with the platform. It is a great way to identify those that are at the top of their game.

Professionals that use LinkedIn well are also those that will attract attention from companies. As a business, we use LinkedIn to identify potential candidates for roles that we have. It makes sense. Irrelevant of how long you have been in the industry, keeping your online CV up to date is essential.

When I worked for other agencies, I was approached on numerous occasions thanks to my LinkedIn profile. Now it’s more about extending my community online, but the same theory applies. Keeping my experience and content up to date means people know more about me before sending an invite to connect.

Don’t be dismissive

Creating a LinkedIn profile is just the start. Keeping it up to date is what matters most. Don’t create an account for it to become dormant. It will do you more harm than good.

Set aside some time that is dedicated to your communications. It’s easier said than done I know, but it is important. Friday afternoons are often an opportunity for people to review their online profile and to share an update.

However, or whenever you choose to review and update the important point is that you do it. No excuses and no assumption that it doesn’t really matter. Communications are business critical. This is a chance to showcase your skills and experience to the world. That isn’t something to be dismissive about.

Relevance

Remember, LinkedIn is for business. There are the odd occasions that this line is blurred, however best practice is to keep personal off this platform.

To make updates more manageable, have LinkedIn at the back of your mind. As well as sharing links to news updates, think differently about the stories you hear in the office. If it is relevant and appropriate, then spend five minutes putting together a short post to share with a picture.

You will be surprised at the engagement you get from office-based posts. These are often the updates that receive most likes or shares. The reason being that they provide an insight behind closed doors and they add personality.

People are intrigued by business. They probably know what products you sell, and they could go to the website for further info’, but who is involved is a different matter. Some of our clients do this very well and have huge success from sharing short stories from staff.

Test and measure

As I said at the start of this post, I am a huge advocate of LinkedIn. I always recommend to my clients that they update their profile and that they use company pages where it is appropriate and will add value.

If you are hesitant, then test and measure. The benefits of social channels are that they are cost effective. There is no cash investment required to set up a basic LinkedIn page – professional or company.

As such, it is worth setting up a profile and seeing who you can connect with. I think you might be pleasantly surprised.

RECOGNISING THE IMPORTANCE OF FACE TO FACE COMMUNICATION

Posted on June 8, 2020 by Emma Lupton

One lesson I’ve learnt from lockdown is the importance of face to face communication. Not only has this been something I’ve missed from my personal life, it’s something I’ve missed from a professional perspective too.

With ever increasing opportunities for virtual engagement it’s easy to see how we could move away from face to face meetings for good. As we move towards our new normal, it’s got me thinking if there really is a need to travel long distances for meetings and spend every day in the office.

While many have suggested the traditional office formalities are near extinct, I’ve begun to appreciate the need for personal interactions and believe they are invaluable in the PR world.

Colleague relationships

In the first few weeks of lockdown, I found myself missing the office banter and the endless rounds of tea delivered to my desk. Now, I find myself longing for a team meeting where we can get together in person and discuss our actions without a sound delay or speaking over others.

In PR our working relationships are important and there is nothing like getting together to brainstorm ideas for a campaign. We work best when we can bounce off each other and share our creativity. It also means we can suggest the wildest stunts and feed our imaginations.

We can see the excitement in our colleagues faces and make our intentions are clear. People have to be in a room together to really get the best ideas flowing. This is something that simply can’t be recreated on Microsoft Teams. It’s getting us through lockdown, but I miss the sense of community the weekly office meeting brings.

Client Relationships

At Open Comms we have continued to maintain regular contact with our clients and have been very much business as usual throughout the pandemic, but meeting with our clients face to face has been missed.

We believe taking the time to get to know our clients means we understand their values and allows us to develop stronger business relationships and deliver the desired results. It isn’t always about work; it is about chatting and learning more about the personalities behind the brands we work for.

Seeing someone in person allows you to get to know them quicker and better. It is a way to find out about shared interests and to become more than just a third-party supplier. We always say that we are an extension of our clients’ teams and that is very true. It remains the case in the virtual world, but it isn’t the same.

Emotion

When communicating virtually, the ability to read body language and facial expressions are lost and any emotion is removed. Without these cues we raise the risk of misinterpreting the tone of an email or call.

While other businesses may thrive from a move to virtual communication, I think the value of face to face communication in the PR sector will last for many more years to come.

And as we finally start to see the lockdown restrictions eased, I absolutely can’t wait to reconnect with family, friends, colleagues and clients alike.

If you would like to know more about Open Comms and the services we offer, why not give us a call on 01924 862477 or contact us here.

CREATING CAMPAIGNS THAT DELIVER RESULTS

Posted on June 4, 2020 by Open Communications

When it comes to creating campaigns that deliver results, there is no shortcut.

An effective PR campaign demands a substantial amount of preparation, hard work and complete commitment to achieve objectives. All of which are simply the basics.

It’s only when these basics are met, that a brand can reap the benefits of a truly successful campaign. However, getting to this stage is not easy. Here are the essentials steps you must take:

Review the brief

Before diving into the planning stages, it is vital to first extensively review the campaign brief you have been given.

Ask yourself; is it doable? Is the time limit a restraint? Can you work with the budget provided? Does it have clear objectives?

If you find yourself answering any of these questions with a no, it’s time to be honest and open with the client. Having an upfront conversation about these issues will allow you to agree on realistic solutions that are in fact achievable.

Don’t rush planning

An easy mistake to make is rushing the planning stages. DON’T.

PR in its entirety is about attention to detail and that goes for campaigns too. Giving yourself and your team enough time to plan and carry out any research is vital to the success of a campaign.

In your planning stage you must consider the following; what’s the purpose of the campaign? Who are the audience? How will you reach them? What strategy will work best? Which PR tactics will you be using?

Remember to also plan for the worst-case scenarios. A well-equipped PR team is always prepared for a crisis, regardless of how unlikely it may be. Like they say, better to be safe than sorry.

Begin implementation cautiously

The same way a campaign can receive positive recognition in minutes, it can also receive disastrous feedback.

The only way to tackle this is by being extremely cautious during the implementation stage.

Regardless of how you have chosen to go live with a campaign, whether that be distributing a press release or publishing new content across social media channels, be extra vigilant with regards to the response you receive. It is often a good indication of how well the rest of your campaign will go.

If you do run into any trouble, don’t be afraid to revisit and tweak your approach so that it tackles any issues at hand. It’s much better to have fixed something early on in the process, than let it spoil the entire campaign.

Conduct a thorough evaluation

One of the most critical steps when creating campaigns, is to provide a thorough evaluation.

Not only is it a valuable way to learn how well a campaign has been received, it also plays an instrumental role in defining the next steps for a brand. Should they continue with the approach that was taken? Or would they benefit from a new creative, message or medium?

It is also important to take pride in an evaluation. It’s your opportunity to show off the incredible results you’ve worked so hard for. Be concise, be clear and be sure to present it in a way which your client understands.

Ultimately, when creating campaigns, the reputation of a brand is left under the care of its PR team. So, you can see why it’s imperative that these steps are followed to ensure no damage is done.

If you’d like to discuss an upcoming campaign, please contact the team here or simply give us a call on 01924 862477 – we’d love to hear from you.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A PR AGENCY

Posted on May 6, 2020 by Open Communications

The world of communications never stands still. To keep up, PR agencies are constantly having to evolve. This also includes extending the services and tactics that are available to clients of all sizes.

Here at Open Comms, we work tirelessly to ensure that we continue to meet with the growing needs of our clients, whatever sector they work in. Our offerings encompass everything from traditional PR to digital content and more.

If you’re considering investing in Public Relations, here’s what you can expect from a PR agency that provides a full toolkit of tactics to deliver results and meet with objectives.

Social Media

PR’s natural ability to tell stories and build relationships goes hand in hand with social media. Which is why you will often find the two interlinked.

At Open Comms, you will be given extensive support with your brands online profile and audience engagement; whether that be through management, monitoring or strategic campaigns.

Management

Social media management refers to the process of managing a brand’s social platforms. This typically includes creating relevant and engaging content with the target audience in mind.

Not only can you expect us to craft tailored content for your social media platforms, but we will also publish this content on your behalf and monitor the levels of engagement it achieves.

A thriving social media presence is critical for the success of any business. This is why we will regularly analyse all social activity to ensure that our approach is working. If it isn’t, we will never shy away from suggesting different strategies.

Monitoring

Currently, we support a number of clients with the monitoring of their social media channels; Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram being the most commonly used.

Social media monitoring involves proactively keeping an eye on your social media platforms to check what others are saying about your brand.

This can often include, replying to customer enquiries, engaging with positive comments or dealing with customer complaints. All of which are taken care of by your chosen PR team.

Campaigns

An effective way to get noticed online is through carefully planned and timed social media campaigns.

An alternative to traditional marketing, campaigns on social media can help to build brand awareness, reach a wider audience, increase website traffic and ultimately drive sales.

We have extensive experience of creating seasonal campaigns. These can include everything from drafting content and carefully curated copy through to arranging brand led competitions and everything in between.

So, you can count on us to deliver activity that meets with results and objectives.

Influencer Marketing

It goes without saying that influencers and their large followings are being leveraged on a global scale, with the influencer industry predicted to be worth $15 billion by 2022.

And, rightly so.

Influencer marketing has proven to be impactful. It helps brands build credibility and long-lasting trust with relevant audiences.

As an agency, we have supported several clients with influencer campaigns. This is why you can expect a large database of contacts that align with your business objectives and brand values when you work with us.

Market Research

A fundamental part of PR is conducting market research. It allows a business to keep up to date on the latest trends and is also vital for finding out what competitors are doing.

To ensure that our clients are always informed about news that is relevant to their industry, we can share weekly market reviews. In addition, we also provide ideas and recommendations to capitalise on latest trends, so that our clients’ brand never miss an opportunity.

Not only is market research a vital part of any PR strategy, but it can also provide valuable insight when making important business decisions.

Traditional

Although times have changed, traditional PR is just as important as ever.

Press releases, print editorial, copywriting, media relations and crisis management are all essential components of Public Relations.

As an agency, we have offered traditional PR services for more than 11 years, so let’s just say, we consider it our bread and butter.

Our approach to PR is simple. We recognise that different tactics reach different audiences. This is why we listen to your objectives and design a tailored PR strategy to align with your business goals. Whether that be through traditional PR, digital PR or a combination of both.

Aside from professionalism and expertise, you should be able to expect a level of honesty and openness from your PR agency. Ultimately, an agency should work as an extension of your own team and that’s exactly how we do things here at Open Comms.

If you are looking to collaborate with a PR agency, why not give us a call on 01924 862477 or contact us here.

LEVERAGING BRAND PERSONALITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Open Communications

Brands and businesses often misjudge social media and the way it should be utilised. In the midst of polishing and refining a picture perfect online presence, brands can sometimes lose sight of what makes them different.

Every brand has its own story waiting to be shared online.

Social media simply acts as the medium which assists with a brands storytelling process and through this helps express its unique personality. This is not as simple as plastering a logo or copying and pasting the same 30 character long bio across all social channels.

Consumers nowadays crave authentic interaction and exciting content. Which is why injecting personality into every aspect of a brands social media presence is so important.

It’s what makes you and your content stand out.

Establishing a brand personality online can seem daunting at first, especially if social media is an entirely new territory for your business, so here’s a few tips to help get you started-

Focus on the brand, not the product –

Websites are for selling products. Social media is where you tell people about who you are, what you do and how you came about. Consumers want to know more about the brands they buy from and social media is the easiest way to share this information.

Bespoke interactions –

Avoid sounding scripted or generic and take a more personalised approach when engaging with people. This is a simple, yet effective way to take ownership of how your brand is perceived online.

Explore trending topics –

Social media is constantly evolving and trends change at the speed of light. Some of which you may not even know about. This is where google alerts come in very handy. Set up google alerts of key words that are relevant to your brand, so that you never miss an opportunity to reap the benefits of a trending topic!

Develop a social media handbook –

A social media handbook plays a vital role in sustaining a brands online presence, but unfortunately is often overlooked. Essentially, a social media handbook should outline your brands personality traits. It might also include a list of words or phrases that your brand should use or maybe topics that your brand should ‘watch out’ for. Either way, this handbook should act as a bible for you or your team to follow and will help to create relevant content for social media that is consistent with your brand and its personality.

Gone are the days when a product was enough to attract consumers. Now, brand personality is the driving force behind capturing the attention of audiences. For more tips on how to tell your brands story, read Lindsey’s blog here.

If you are wanting to explore social media or PR further, please do give us a call or email.

ADDING AWARDS TO A COMMUNICATION STRATEGY

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Open Communications

It’s hard to miss the glitz and glamour of the ongoing movie award season. Every broadcaster, radio station, magazine and social media platform is trying to ride the wave of the public’s unwavering interest in the rich and famous.

But despite these celebrities seemingly living a life we mere mortals can only dream of; it’s still surprising to see how much pride and joy they feel when receiving an award. More importantly, the viewer will register and remember who the winners are.

A movie or television show is much more appealing to the viewer if it has already been dubbed as ‘award-winning’. This forms an expectation that it is of a high quality. The same rules apply in the business world.

Winning awards adds credibility

As we live in such a connected and digitalised society, businesses can be subject to a thorough background search by practically any potential customer or client. Hence why it’s crucial for businesses to pursue opportunities to be awarded. Any type of special recognition will significantly help when differentiating themselves from competitors.

As such, awards must become a priority. Pursuing awards often falls under a company’s communication strategy, which will be implemented by their in-house marketing team or external PR agency.

Raising a company’s profile

PR agencies are brought in to raise a company’s profile, increase their brand awareness and secure as much media coverage as possible. As award submissions can require a lot of work, which has the potential to garner zero results, there is a risk of letting them fall off the agenda.

To prevent this from happening, the company and PR agency must be aligned in understanding the benefits of winning awards and where it fits within a communications strategy.

Below are three key tips to integrate award submissions into a long-term PR campaign;

Securing Earned media coverage

Shortlisted companies in for each awards category will be featured multiple times in the media as part of the build up to the event
Media coverage will continue for those that are announced overall winners
Awards are a useful way of securing organically generated coverage
Promotes companies within industry and wider business community
Builds brand awareness and increases overall profile
Increases visibility among competitors and industry leaders
Can be used as a way to introduce the company to prospects and customers

Social media

Promoting an award shortlisting or win on social media platforms to notify existing followers about the newly gained credentials will almost certainly attract attention and engagement
Can be used to attract new followers, which could be converted to new customers
Allows the company to add more personality to posts on social media i.e. celebratory gifs
Enables a company to engage directly with followers, thanking them for the support
Reshare media coverage of the shortlisting and win, adding in the awards # to engage with other nominees and attendees

Website/blog copy

Feature copy of shortlisting and win in the news section of website is a good way of increasing visibility with new and existing customers or clients
Repurpose copy for a blog post
Enhances a company’s reputation within its specific industry and distinguishes them from the competition
Validates services or products a company offers
Use links to blog and news section in social media post to draw traffic to website

Having a positive impact from awards

Winning awards can not only impact new business, but it can also have a positive effect on employees, senior team members and the company as a whole. They must not be overlooked. A robust communications strategy must place emphasis on award submissions, and if they are done right, the long-term impact can be extremely beneficial.

For more information about how Open Communications works with businesses and brands of all sizes please call a member of the team.