As someone who started life in Corporate Communications for a famous American credit card brand, I lived through the pain of Internal Communications as posters and internal launches through to a strategic function. Comms under Corporate Comms, but got moved to HR and back again, even 25 years ago.

Reflecting on these complexities and inspired by Jenny Field's insightful "Chaos to Calm" model, and the podcast where we spoke about this, I delve into the strategic role of internal communication and its optimal positioning within a business.

So, let's dive in! 

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

In the ever-evolving landscape of public relations and corporate communication, data analytics has emerged as a game-changer.

In this podcast, I share five ways data can transform your communication strategies, making them more effective and impactful.

So let's dive in! 

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Today I present practical insights on integrating AI to streamline your team's processes and enhance collaboration. Drawing from my recent conversation with Ben Lee, let's elevate your content, energize your team, and optimize performance.

Let's jump in!

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Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Ben has been working with GenAI at Bidwells since early 2022, determined to focus on the art of the possible. Having seen a few technological shifts in a 20-year career as a journalist, public affairs consultant and PR professional, Ben quickly recognised this one as the most seismic.  

So when ChatGPT landed in late 2022 his team were already using AI tools each day to transcribe interviews, edit videos and create content. Since then, Ben has been focused on leading AI adoption across his business and speaks regularly on the topic.

His team won Best Use of AI in the 2023 B2B Marketing Awards after delivering a four-figure ROI for their AI adoption work.

So let's dive in!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Descript - https://www.descript.com/

Fireflies - https://fireflies.ai/

Japer - https://www.jasper.ai/

ChatGPT Team -https://openai.com/chatgpt/team

Microsoft CoPilot -https://news.microsoft.com/reinventing-productivity/

Follow Ben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benlee22uk/

Welcome to the final episode on the January measurement and evaluation theme! Today we're looking at three ways to set yourself up for success using measurement and evaluation techniques.

So let's dive in!

Links mentioned today:

Track your success with my free measurement framework:

https://mailchi.mp/henbe.co.uk/1g85gwokl5 

Building on the recent Deep Dive with Adam Driver and January's measurement and evaluation theme, I explore a bit more about how SEO can specifically help your PR campaigns.

In today's digital age, the landscape of Public Relations (PR) has transformed significantly, with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) emerging as a pivotal tool for gauging the effectiveness of PR campaigns. 

Let's dive in!

Links mentioned today:

Deep Dive with Andy Barr: https://henbe.co.uk/2023/02/23/ep-114-deep-dive-with-andy-barr-all-things-digital-pr/

Today I am delighted to have on the podcast Adam to unpick and demystify SEO or search Engine Optimisation as part of January's measurement and evaluation theme. Adam originally trained as a journalist and has experience on both sides of the agency divide having been in-house and an account director at an agency. Adam has been a CIPR Chartered Public Relations professional since 2020.

Adam set up Authentic comms in 2020, and describes his work as delivering in a 'channel neutral, sector agnostic' way, focusing on the audience(s) much like me! So we chat about a LOT of things including starting a business in a pandemic, measurement and evaluation and, of course, he provides us with a simple approach to getting started with SEO.

So let's dive in!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Find out more about his SEOhhh™️ and LinkedIn coaching at ww.authenticcomms.co.uk.

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Today, I want to talk about the process of creative thinking. Long ago I read a book by PR Practitioner Andy Green called Creativity in PR. He highlights the importance of creativity in virtually every project.

Today I share some resources for creative thinking with you.

You see, creative thinking is essential for innovation, whether it be writing, designing, or strategising. Often, people break creative thinking down into five stages of creativity. So let's explore what the creative process entails and how each stage builds upon the previous one.

It'll certainly come in handy the next time you embark on your creative journey! Simply click on the tags for a full description of each stage.

Let's dive in!

Links in this episode:

Andy Green's book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creativity-Public-Relations-PR-Practice/dp/0749456507

Lateral Thinking book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lateral-Thinking-Creativity-Edward-Bono/dp/0241257549/ref=sr_1_3?crid=18UZVINHMZI48&keywords=lateral+thinking+debono&qid=1702034408&s=books&sprefix=lateral+thinking+de%2Cstripbooks%2C74&sr=1-3

Thinking hats book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Six-Thinking-Hats-Edward-Bono/dp/0241257530/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2IAB8XJE17AZ8&keywords=six+thinking+hats&qid=1702034439&s=books&sprefix=6+hats%2Cstripbooks%2C68&sr=1-1

For more broader understanding of how we think:

Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thinking-Fast-and-Slow/dp/B006QXGLA8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=AFOYJK5Y3CCZ&keywords=thinking+fast+and+slow+by+daniel+kahneman&qid=1702034530&s=books&sprefix=thinking+fast+and+slow%2Cstripbooks%2C73&sr=1-1

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

In today's episode, we'll be taking some notes from the deep dive and unpacking in more detail creativity related to your environment, and also procrastination. We'll uncover the challenges of creativity in comms and PR, the importance of choosing your battles wisely, and how seemingly unrelated factors can influence our creative prowess.

Here are a couple of things you may not know to weave into your strategy

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

As we kick off December's creativity theme, I am delighted to welcome back to the podcast Helen Reyolds founder of Comms Creatives.  Why creativity this month? Because we often get stuck in 'doing the do' and finding the time to lift ourselves out, reflect and put some effort into thinking can be hard especially when you work in a busy comms team.  So this month Helen and I kick things off by covering a variety of subjects around where to get your inspiration from to how to unboring your content, with some interesting examples thrown in!

Helen is an award-winning social media expert trainer, international speaker on TV, radio and podcasts, avid doodler and founder of Comms Creatives.

She's helped hundreds of corporate comms pros in organisations such as BBC Studios, Macmillan Cancer Support, and Manchester City Council to:

• inject much-needed creativity into their social media

• increase their online reach and engagement

• and have lots of fun in the process!

Through her business Comms Creatives she's on a quest to bring inspiration, support and most importantly – creativity back to your life and work as a comms pro.

So let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Today on the podcast as part of November's focus on brand tracking and insights, I take a look at customer feedback and how it can be used to improve brand reputation.

Looking after our customers has never been more important. Competition is fair and platforms a plenty for people to take to and give their positive, or negative, opinions about your brand, product or service.

How does this relate to PR - well it's about public perceptions and how we can influence opinion so intrinsically linked in fact.

So today I am exploring the significance of customer feedback and three actionable steps to succeed in this critical area.

So let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Remember when we dug deep into brand reputation and its importance in our previous episode? Well, today, we're taking it a step further as part of our reputation and insights series this month. Buckle up because we're exploring the captivating relationship between brand reputation, Gen Z, and the power of honest communication. And include 3 conversation starters to have honest and transparent communication around ESG.

In today's fast-paced and socially conscious world, brand reputation has become a crucial element for an organization's success. The incredible influence of Gen Z, the demographic cohort that follows Millennials, is shaping the reputation landscape.

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

This week we reflect on a recent 'Deep Dive with Adam Driver to unpick a bit more around what SEO is, highlight its numerous benefits for comms folk and businesses, and emphasise how it should be integrated into a broader marketing strategy for optimal results.

Why? Well in today's digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for any business looking to succeed. SEO is one of the most effective tools available to achieve this. However, it is often misunderstood and misused, leading to confusion and missed opportunities.

So let's dive in! 

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Today I'm delighted to have on the podcast, Steve Leigh, from Sensu Insight. 

In 2022, he left his role as a director of a large, independent PR agency to start Sensu Insight. He helps in-house PR agencies, and C-suite teams make sense of reputation, sales and audience behaviours, and how all of these things impact communications and market issues. 

Join us as we 'Deep Dive' into PR measurement and evaluation, how to use research to improve your brand's reputation, and much more.

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Artificial Intelligence and PR are becoming increasingly intertwined as we grapple with the pros and cons in real-time. As professionals, we recognise the immense potential of leveraging this technology to enhance strategies and deliver more impactful messages to their target audience. I find I am using it more and more as I find new tools and think 'oh yeah, is there an AI for that?'

In this episode, we will delve into the various ways AI can be used in public relations, not listing the tools but the how -  focusing on three key areas: sentiment analysis, chatbots, and automated content creation. 

These AI-powered tools are revolutionising the PR & Comms landscape, enabling us to gain deeper insights, engage in real-time conversations, and streamline content creation processes.

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

I'm delighted to have on the podcast this week Jo Twiselton, human change specialists, executive coach, facilitator and consultant. Jo is also a qualified executive and wellbeing coach.

She works with leaders, managers and teams, who want help during times of upheaval, and she does this through her business Twist Consultants. Jo's worked with lots of people over the years, she has worked across tech transport, healthcare, media, and service industries, helping them create change for the better for many, many years. By focusing on the fundamentals of human change, Jo's specific approach is designed to help minimise organisation disruptions in times of change. And we talk about everything today, mostly about Jo's squiggly career and how that can lead to really rounded skill sets. She talks about what big changes and how any kind of change can affect people in an organisation. Plus, she shares some tips and links with us all that Jo has her own podcasts coming out in 2024. 

Let's dive in. 

How to get in touch with me:

www.twistconsultants.co.uk 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jotwiselton/

Twitter/X - @jotwis

Links  mentioned in this episode:

Twist Consultants Wellbeing and Change Report

https://www.twistconsultants.co.uk/downloads

Further info:

Wraw (Workplace Resilience and Wellbeing): https://www.twistconsultants.co.uk/resilience-wellbeing

Health and Safety Executive - 6 management standards - https://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/standards/

Get started on improving listening skills (blog post): https://www.twistconsultants.co.uk/blog/want-to-improve-your-listening-skills-and-have-better-conversations-this-might-help?rq=listening

Wellbeing and resilience report for SMEs:

https://whatworkswellbeing.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/small-business-Oct2018.pdf

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

I am really pleased to be back with fresh content this Autumn after a short break over the summer. I also have some news - for the next 6 months, the podcast will have 3 monthly episodes that will combine into one theme, hopefully with a guest episode 'deep dive' and some useful tools and insights.

It's a trial I am doing based on feedback for longer episodes. I didn't just want to do longer episodes in the same format, so I am switching it up a bit and would love to hear what you think!

I hope you like it.

Kicking off in October we have a theme of communication, well-being and productivity in the workplace;

- Why autumn is a good time to focus on productivity as we all get asked to do more (with less)

- A 'Deep Dive' on Wellbeing, Communication and Change with Jo Twiselton

- How AI is impacting our teams and tasks in real-time; and how to use this to your advantage

So let's dive in with this latest episode shall we?

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Today, I delve into five valuable suggestions on how public relations (PR) can considerably influence the sales procedure by concentrating on the "know, like, trust" elements of a client's experience with your company.

I cover an essential approach to this task and 5 tips to get started.

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

If you are looking to change behaviour with your campaign, it's crucial to design the most effective messages to influence people's outlook and actions. One popular method for optimising these messages is A/B testing. In this episode, I'll explain what A/B testing is, how to conduct it in behaviour change campaigns, and tips for maximising its effectiveness.

I cover what A/B testing is for comms pros, and seven tips on how to get started.

This episode was inspired by a 'Deep Dive' episode with behaviour change expert, Shayoni Lynn of Lynn Globalwhoit was a pleasure to host on the pod earlier in the year. I've added the link to the show notes today so you can listen to that whole episode.

Let's dive in!

Links in this episode:

Shayoni Lynn on Behaviour Change:

https://henbe.co.uk/2023/01/19/ep-110-deep-dive-with-shayoni-lynn-part-one-behavioural-science-and-pr/ 

Statistical Significance - Meaning:

https://www.qualtrics.com/uk/experience-management/research/statistical-significance-calculator/?rid=ip&prevsite=en&newsite=uk&geo=GB&geomatch=uk 

Lynn Global:

https://lynn.global/

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Today, I'm exploring how customer problems can be a valuable source of ideas for PR campaigns. You'll learn how to turn those ideas into successful campaigns, what makes a good campaign, and how to measure its success. And a couple of great examples along the way.

This episode was inspired by a recent Deep Dive with Ayo Abbas on Campaigns - check the link in the show notes.

Let's dive in!

Links for show notes:

How to use campaigns in your strategy 'Deep Dive' with Ayo Abbas: https://henbe.co.uk/2023/05/25/ep-127-deep-dive-how-campaigns-can-improve-your-strategy/

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

As communicators, we must recognise that our roles require essential attributes including; active listening, empathy, curiosity, tenacity, analytical thinking, and creativity.

Today, I explore these essential skills. And This week's episode relfects back on a Deep Dive with Jenni Field where we talked about the softer skills needed to make a great internal communicator - which I think actually are good skills whether you are internal or external.

Let's dive in!

Links mentioned in this episode:

51. Deep Dive with Jenni Field

https://henbe.co.uk/2021/12/02/ep-51-strategic-internal-communications-how-to-go-from-chaos-to-calm/

ITV recently added an audio blog for their contestants on Love Island in a move to make their content more accessible after criticism that it wasn't accessible to all. So this week I discuss audio-first content creation and how it boosts accessibility. If you want to learn more, stay tuned as we delve into how you can use the power of sound to reach and engage with a broader audience.

Let's dive in!

Links mentioned in this episode: https://literacytrust.org.uk/research-services/research-reports/the-role-of-audiobooks-to-engage-reluctant-readers-and-underrepresented-children-and-young-people/

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

What struck me this week was my own personal ethical stance on things like trust, transparency and honesty.  A situation occurred and it made me feel betrayed.  What happened?  I will not recommend that company and people again. 

It got me thinking that content creation requires many of the same qualities I desire from a partner I work with.  It is no longer just about grabbing attention or quick wins for self-gain; it's about engaging audiences with messages that resonate with their values. 

So today, I explore the importance of values-based content creation, who it matters to the most, and the top 5 trends playing out in 2023.

Let's dive in!

Links/show notes:

If you're interested in starting a podcast for your business or yourself and you work in comms or marketing - find out more about my podcasting for comms managers and creators course here: https://bit.ly/StartAudioPodcast

Sources:

[1] Deloitte (2020). The Deloitte Global Millennial Survey 2020: Research Findings: https://www2.deloitte.com/global/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/millennialsurvey.html

[2] Forbes (2019). Good Storytelling Is Key To Building Your Brand Value: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinessdevelopmentcouncil/2019/10/16/good-storytelling-is-key-to-building-your-brand-value/

[3] Influencer Marketing HubBencmarkreport2023https://influencermarketinghub.com/influencer-marketing-benchmark-report/

[4] Hubspot marketing trend report 2023https://www.hubspot.com/hubfs/2023%20State%20of%20Marketing%20Report.pdf

I work with lots of Senior leaders directly, often providing guidance and expertise when there is no in-house resource to do so.  This means that I am often rating the brief as well as taking the briefing about it!  This is fine but today I wanted to spend some time outlining more about why effective briefs are so important.

Creating effective briefs is a cornerstone of successful projects and solid client-agency relationships. For non-experts in marketing, such as Managing Directors or Project Managers, mastering the art of writing a detailed, clear brief can lead to more efficient workflows, better creative outputs, and ultimately, more successful campaigns. 

So if you're a project manager or leader listening today and want to create more value from your partners, or you're a consultant who wants to guide your clients better, this one is for you!

So let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

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

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

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

Let's dive in!

Links mentioned in today's episode:

My simple measurement framework

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Today, we're diving deep into the immense value well-planned campaigns can bring your overall strategy. We'll explore how effective campaigns can boost brand awareness, increase customer engagement, and ultimately drive business growth. So, join me as I connect with industry expert, Ayo Abbas, who shares her insights and experiences in designing result-driven campaigns that truly make a difference! 

Ayo Abbas is an award-winning built environment marketing consultant and was recently named as the overall winner for the Digital Woman of the Year Awards 2022. She has worked in B2B marketing for 21+ years' and has worked with many of the world's leading engineering and design firms including Arup, Mace and Ramboll working on marketing projects such as the Olympic Park transformation, the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street Station and King's Cross Rail and Underground stations. She also led a marketing team of five at an ed-tech scale-up in 2019.

In February 2020, Ayo founded her own consultancy business, Abbas Marketing, offering marketing strategy and content creation services to a plethora of firms both large and small.

We cover:

• Ideas vs Execution

• Top tips

• Skills

• Planning tools

• Lots of examples!

Let's dive in!

Links in this episode:

https://www.abbasmarketing.com/about

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Are you considering starting a podcast for your business but feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start? Look no further! In this episode, I provide you with a step-by-step checklist on how to successfully launch and manage your own podcast.

Oh and this episode is a taster for a talk I am giving for the CIPR Global network on The Dos and Don'ts of podcasting for members and non-members on 8 June 2023 where there will be a Q&A and you can ask me anything!  I will also be advertising a new online training at this talk so make sure you join! Link is in the show notes folks.

Let's dive in!

Sign up for my lunchtime talk on 08/06/2023 from 12:30 - 13:30.

https://www.cipr.co.uk/CIPR/Events/Event_Display_Groups.aspx?EventKey=EA23060806 

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

We talk a lot about 'goals', especially at this time of the year, but often we are not clear on why we have chosen them, or how we will arrive at the outcome we want. Here are a few reasons why it's important.

Setting a clear, actionable goal is the first step towards achieving success. It signals to yourself and others what you want to achieve, and mobilizes your resources towards making it happen. Without a goal, you might be working towards something that isn't quite what you really want, or you might not be working at all. You might think you're making progress when in reality you're nowhere near your goal.

When you set a goal, you're committing to working towards a result. This can be as simple as 'I will complete this project by the deadline

So I am sharing with you why I think it's important to set strategic goals regardless of what time of year it is and how you can go about it in a simple way.

Episodes mentioned in this podcast; Ep. 04 How to measure your comms impact

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Workflow management is a critical component of any business, and its importance cannot be overstated. I recently had a conversation with a client about how we can make our case study development more efficient rather than undertaking hour-long calls. We discussed workflow systems as a way of collating and sharing information.

I also use workflow for administering my podcast and for planning content.

A PR team, in particular, can benefit greatly from workflow management in client work. Being able to assign tasks, track progress, and collaborate efficiently can help the team work more effectively and ultimately provide better results to clients. Additionally, workflow management can reduce the chance of errors and miscommunications, leading to a smoother and more streamlined team workflow overall.

So today I delve into how workflow can be used not just for project management but in our everyday work as Comms professionals.

I cover:

- What workflow is

- Examples of how it can be used

- Tips on raising this with clients and stakeholders as a way of being more efficient

- How automation and workflow are game changers for content generation

Let's dive in.

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Business events, such as trade shows, conferences, and networking sessions, can be a valuable tool in promoting your business product or service. Not only do these events provide opportunities to showcase products and services, but they also allow for face-to-face interactions with potential clients and partners. Additionally, attending industry events can provide insight into emerging trends and challenges within the market, helping marketing experts stay ahead of the curve. As such, we professionals must understand the various benefits of business events and develop strategies for leveraging them effectively.

Today I run through some simple strategies you can use to maximise your event experience and a list of quick takeaways.

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

There are some huge events in the Spring calendar.  I'm currently working on a big event for a client and it reminded me of this episode as I am busily briefing sponsors and speakers about how to make the most out of this opportunity.  You'd be surprised how many people do not, and just rock up and talk.

But the thing is you can create a lot of authenticity and credibility by speaking at events. But it's essential to plan your time and to make sure that the time spent away from the office is worthwhile, as well as make those few minutes on a panel of experts count.

This episode is for you if you are a seasoned pro or starting out as it acts as a helpful reminder of all the things to think about when speaking at an event to make it worthwhile for you, your biz or your brand, product or service.

So let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

I was asked to prove a theory on a stakeholder campaign recently. My first port of call? The UK census data. In the UK, we recently had a new Census in 2021, the first in ten years. The Office for National Statistics started releasing this data in June 2022, providing valuable demographic information for businesses and organisations alike. It's into the final last sets to be released, and there is a wealth of information for the taking for PR professionals.

Today I cover four reasons to use this data in your campaigns.

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

A crisis communication plan before you need one can be daunting—everything from when to write one and how to get engagement on it. But it doesn't have to be, so today; I run through a quick ten-point checklist you can use to get going, however small or big your business is.

I cover:

• What to do before you start

• My ten-point checklist

• My biggest tip

• Share lots of links and my free download so make sure you check the show notes

Let's dive in!

Listen to episode 72 of the podcast for how to work with stakeholders for brand advocacy.

Links for this episode:

View or listen to my free summary guide: https://mailchi.mp/811ad97adf7a/doyouneeedacrisisplan  

Listen to Episode 72 on stakeholders: https://henbe.co.uk/2022/04/28/ep-72-why-you-need-stakeholders-and-advocacy-to-be-an-integral-part-of-your-pr-strategy/ 

Amanda Coleman is the author of Effective Communication Strategies - get her book

Andy Barr is an expert in handling crises, especially with the media - get in touch

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

To effectively incorporate case studies into a campaign, it is essential to understand their significance and the impact they can create.

Case studies provide real-life examples of how a product or service has successfully addressed specific problems or challenges faced by customers, thereby establishing credibility and trust.

Today I share some tips on how to obtain the best case studies, as well as formats to use and why testimonials are not case studies.

I will cover:

• Understanding the Basics

• The difference between a case study and a testimonial 

• What Format to Choose? e.g. Written, Video, Audio? 

• How to Write an effective Case Study / Conducting an Interview

• Hints and tips

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Following on from the topic of self-help coaching and mentoring this month, I thought I would talk a bit this week about how embarking on new projects in podcasting and how self-doubt has impacted this, and how coaching helped unblock me. These challenges, dominated by the whispers of imposter syndrome, have been a significant part of my professional journey. And has led me to talk to you here on my own podcast today

So let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

When planning a PR campaign, it is essential to have a clear understanding of the competitive landscape. By taking a detailed look at key competitors, their strengths and weaknesses, and their PR strategies, you can gain valuable insights into what works and what doesn't in your industry.

Furthermore, analysing your competition can enable you to identify opportunities that your organisation can gain from, or gaps in the market that have yet to be filled. In short, understanding your competition permits you to create a more effective and impactful PR plan that speaks to your target audience and sets your organisation apart from its competitors.

Today I look at 5 ways you can do this.

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

I was asked 3 times recently if I would help people start their podcast. My answer was yes of course! but what's stopping you?

I realized that one of the biggest questions people have is why should they start a podcast? Is it for fun or for business? The answer varies for everyone, but for me, it was a way to establish myself in my industry and to connect with like-minded individuals.

Today's episode rolls off the back of hitting a top 50 position for Marketing in Apple podcast charts. A highly competitive area to make a mark in with a podcast. so I thought I would reflect and share a bit about my podcast and why you should start one of your own.

Let's dive in!

I knew I was going to launch a podcast for several months before Communication Strategy That Works went live. I was just waiting for the right time. Guess what it never comes!

It fitted into my communications strategy, I knew what it was going to be about and who it was for, but two lockdowns, a puppy, and life in general got in the way. I kept telling myself, "I haven't got time".

It got to the point where I actually thought, "I'm going to do this and I'm going to launch it because I am actually now putting more barriers in front of it." And I was ready, I was totally committed to the idea of starting a podcast.

But what is it that draws people to this medium?

For some, it's the desire to share their knowledge and expertise on a particular subject with a wider audience. For others, it's the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and build a community around a shared passion.

Maybe you are listening and this sounds like you? You've got an idea for a show, or you're quite a way down the road with the planning, and yet something is holding you back. I'm now 118 episodes in and regularly hitting the top 200 for marketing for my podcast up against some huge competition from the Marketing Meet Up, Amy Porterfield, The Digital Marketing Podcast and many other great podcasts.

I get asked a lot about my podcast, in fact, its the first thing people talk to me about when we meet. Which is great.

But I also get asked how to get started, so here are three common barriers you may come across and how to overcome them:

Barrier 1: Time

People think that it takes a lot longer than it does eventually. I always say to people when you do start a podcast point at the centre of everything, so that it helps you to create content everywhere else in your business. If you're creating a podcast repurpose that content, transcribe it, and use it in lots of different ways. There are lots of ways to make creating a podcast a lot quicker, including batching your episodes.

I've followed this advice and found a podcast is very rewarding for time spent. I find it easy to talk about a topic and then I can transcribe each episode and turn it into blog articles or social media posts.

Barrier 2: Content

People worry about, 'Who's going to listen to me'. It overlaps with mindset. People think, "Well, who's going to listen to me? Who's going to listen to this topic? Who am I to do this? I've not got any good content. How am I going to pull together all of this content?"

People worry about being consistent with that content as well. They're all just stories that we tell ourselves. I work with clients and students all the time on helping them get through this and showing them that they do have a really unique story. They've got a unique message and it's important to get it out there.

And when you flip in your head into being more about the audience than about you, then that anxiety around it tends to ease."

I sympathise with those early nerves. The first time you record a podcast episode it does feel awful and cringy and you feel like you've really put yourself out there. And then it becomes very normal and now I say to people actually the recording and the editing for me is the easiest bit.

I think being in communications as well, for me I felt like there was this pressure to get it perfect.

Barrier 3: Fear of tech

People worry about the tech all the time. It's perfectly natural to feel a bit of anxiety about something that you've not done before but think about things that you've done in your lives that you never thought you'd be able to do and now you can do them with your eyes closed. It's the same with podcasting.

It takes a bit of practice to get started, but once you do and you're in your flow it's going to become so much easier for you. The tech doesn't have to be that complicated either. You need a few pieces of equipment that don't have to be expensive and it's fairly simple to learn how to create the podcast, how to edit, record it, get it approved by Apple and so on."

Whenever you are embarking on a new aspect of your communications strategy you are bound to have concerns.

Focus on your goals and how what you are doing is going to count towards them. If you would like to talk through your plans, whether you want to launch a podcast, or are wondering whether audio is a good fit for your business, get in touch with me.

My Podcasting Made Simple is a quick and easy introductory programme could be for you, to find out more check the show notes or go onto my website to find out more and register for the next cohort. You can also download my free beginner's guide to using Audio in your comms strategy too.

Spring marks a new beginning in many ways and is sometimes close to the end of the financial year. It's an opportunity to spring clean your mind, your workspace, and your plans and figure out what could help you spring forward into the next few weeks and months.

Today's episode is a quick guide on reviewing your plan, cleaning your workspace, tidying your mind and looking more holistically rather than just refreshing your current strategy and tactics.

We will cover the following;

- How to Get Started

- Evaluating Your Current Plan

- Listen to Outside Advice

- Set Your Personal and Biz Goals

- Tweak Your Tactics

- Upgrade Your Technology

- Streamline Your Workspace

- Block Off Time for Reviewing

Let's dive in!

Links mentioned in this episode:

My top ten tools podcast episode: https://henbe.co.uk/2022/12/15/ep-105-top-ten-tools-for-efficiency-and-time-saving/

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

I am looking forward to bringing you this episode all about Digital PR.  

Digital PR is an essential element of a comprehensive communications plan. It involves ensuring that a brand's digital presence – including websites, social media accounts, online press releases, and other digital content – is optimised and managed effectively to engage target audiences and build relationships that drive successful business results. 

Often mistaken for being about getting as many people as possible to visit a website; it's also about ensuring that the right audience is engaged in the right way with the right message. 

Knowing how to execute digital PR successfully is key to achieving business goals.

Someone who knows this inside-out is Andy Barr. Andy is co-founder and co-owner of 10 Yetis Digital – an award-winning digital PR and online public relations agency that manages influencer, social media, design and PR campaigns for brands of every size. He is a Global Conference Speaker about all things social, public relations and digital and I am excited to have him on the show today.

We talk about what's new, skills that are useful, why PRs are great at their job, and the relevance of digital PR in today's complex PR operating context.

Let's dive in.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Ten Yetis Website
https://www.10yetis.co.uk/

Alertr
bit.ly/2F9g3a9

Crisis Communications Playbook
https://crisiscommunicationsplaybook.com/ 

Follow Andy on Twitter
https://twitter.com/10Yetis

Often, the decision of when to skill up and when to outsource PR can be tricky. You want someone with the right experience, who knows what they are doing and will be able to deliver the desired results. In most cases, it makes sense to opt for an experienced professional who can make sure that the job is properly completed. For certain campaigns or projects that require specific expertise, outsourcing is the more ideal option, as it allows for access to a broad range of skills and resources.

Today I look at a few areas of when and how to consider when to skill up and when to outsource. And 4 tips on briefing a PR or Comms consultant to work with you.

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

The automation of public relations is a bit of a crowd-splitter for very good reasons; arguably the benefits are yet to be fully demonstrated but the impact on ethics has been.

Companies can already use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and software solutions to manage their PR, allowing them to reach a wider audience and increase their visibility with minimal effort.

Automation also allows for faster response time and more accurate tracking of data, which is essential for successful public relations campaigns. In the future, public relations automation is likely to become even more sophisticated, allowing companies to automate more complex tasks and take advantage of advanced machine learning algorithms to better target their audiences.

And it can be helpful; automation can improve how public relations professionals manage projects, as well as how they measure success. It can automate mundane tasks, like data management, which enables PR specialists to focus on other aspects of their jobs. It also supports better analytics and data-driven decision-making, which can help PR experts create smarter and more effective communications strategies.

Today I take a look at some of the opportunities and challenges for AI with public relations practitioners.

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Telling your sustainability story is an essential part of any business model and a growing area for us communications professionals. By telling this story, we're helping to create a strong connection with customers on this topic and helping establish that credibility.

As we move into 2023, I think this topic is becoming even more relevant and important as businesses look to even monetise sustainability and see it as an opportunity of jumping on the bandwagon. There are two important reports launched recently. And I think they're proof of this.

UK Minister Chris Skidmore launched Mission Zero and his report; and the Confederation of Business Industry (CBI), just released a report on mapping the net zero economy.

I think this proves this topic needs to be high on our agenda as communications professionals. We need to be sure we're communicating this story in an authentic and compelling way focusing on the impact of the initiatives, rather than individual products or services – or waving company flags. So here are some of my thoughts on this topic this week. 

Let's dive in. 

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

111- Deep Dive with Shayoni Lynn, Part Two: Misinformation, Disinformation and the PR challenge

I am thrilled to have on the podcast Shayoni Lynn, in a special double-bill all about behavioural science and its application in PR.  Shayoni is founder and CEO of Lynn Group, a fast-growing communications consultancy powered by behavioural science.

Shayoni is a CIPR and PRCA Fellow, and Chair of PRCA Cymru. With over 15 years' experience, Shayoni is an industry leader in data-driven strategic communications and applied behavioural science. She sits on the UK PR Council and is Vice-Chair of CIPR's Behavioural Insights Interest Group. Shayoni sits on CIPR and GCS committees and is an Associate Lecturer at Cardiff University.

In this 'Deep Dive' double-bill we will cover;

Behavioural Science and its application in PR campaigns

Misinformation disinformation and conspiracy theory and how it relates to modern PR

This episode explains the differences between misinformation, disinformation, conspiracy theory, and how as PR practitioners we can spot this and react.

Let's dive in!

Links mentioned in the episode;

Misinformation frameworks

APEASE

INCASE

Wall of Beliefs 

Lynn Group report

BS Monitor

I am thrilled to have on the podcast Shayoni Lynn, in a special double-bill all about behavioural science and its application in PR. Shayoni is founder and CEO of Lynn Group, a fast-growing communications consultancy powered by behavioural science.

Shayoni is a CIPR and PRCA Fellow, and Chair of PRCA Cymru. With over 15 years' experience, Shayoni is an industry leader in data-driven strategic communications and applied behavioural science. She sits on the UK PR Council and is Vice-Chair of CIPR's Behavioural Insights Interest Group. Shayoni sits on CIPR and GCS committees and is an Associate Lecturer at Cardiff University.

In this 'Deep Dive' double-bill we will cover:

- Behavioural Science and its application in PR campaigns
- Misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy theory and how these relate to modern PR

This one is all about Behavioural Science - and how and why it's important to apply it in PR Campaigns.

Let's dive in!

Links mentioned in the episode:

Misinformation frameworks

APEASE

INCASE

Wall of Beliefs 

Lynn Group report:

BS Monitor

Website link:

https://lynn.global/

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Now that we're all back to work and most likely revved up with new goals and resolutions, I'm sharing this podcast again, as I can't emphasise enough the importance of goal-setting.

We talk a lot about 'goals', especially at this time of the year, but we are often unclear on why we have chosen them or how we will arrive at the outcome we want. So here are a few reasons why it's essential.

Setting a clear, actionable goal is the first step towards achieving success. It signals to yourself and others what you want to achieve and mobilises your resources towards making it happen. Without a goal, you might be working towards something that isn't quite what you want, or you might not be working at all. As a result, you might think you're making progress when in reality, you're nowhere near your goal.

When you set a goal, you commit to working towards a result. This can be as simple as 'I will complete this project by the deadline. So I am sharing with you why I think it's important to set strategic goals regardless of what time of year it is and how you can go about it simply.

Let's dive in!

Episodes mentioned in this podcast; Ep. 04 How to measure your comms impact

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Today, I am delighted to welcome to the podcast Jo Twiselton, Human Change Specialist, executive coach, facilitator and fellow communication consultant.

Jo has worked with leaders and teams across the tech, transport, healthcare, manufacturing, media and services industries, helping them to emerge better from any change.

We talk about all aspects of self-help, mentoring and coaching.  It's a great chat and I learned loads! So if you want a free coaching session tune in!

Jo is a qualified executive and wellbeing coach who helps empower leaders, managers, and teams who want to introduce positive transformation. 

How to get in touch with Jo:

www.twistconsultants.co.uk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jotwiselton/

Links:

LinkedIn post on the meaning of 'learning'

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jotwiselton_learning-coaching-organisationalchange-activity-7185660666706284544-7dig?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Executive Coaching services:

https://www.twistconsultants.co.uk/executive-coaching

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

To continue the festive spirit, I've focused on 12 comms tips for you over the 12 days of Christmas, from 25th December to 2nd January. Here are the final 6.

These are short and snappy episodes to keep you going over the festive period to help you improve your comms.

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

Full Transcript (unedited)

To continue the festive spirit, I've focused on 12 comms tips for you over the 12 days of Christmas, from 25th December to 2nd January. Here are the final 6.

These are short and snappy episodes to keep you going over the festive period to help you improve your comms.

Let's dive in!

1. Manage the issues, not the crisis

If the global pandemic of 2020 is anything to go by, we know now that we cannot plan for acts of God. But, still, many bubbling issues within organisations were there when the pandemic hit, and what happened is it unveiled lots of these under-the-radar issues that have been hidden just beneath the surface. Like IT, ways of working, and operational and HR failures. And what lots of businesses realised at this point was that they had to supercharge their operations to deal with some of these issues that could have been dealt with previously.

1. PR isn't just about column inches – no, really, it isn't!

An important part of strategy creation should always include ensuring the strategy is aligned with the organisation's culture. Not just in a strategic sense, though. We cannot change the culture through a PR strategy, just the perception of it, arguably, but it would be tricky to have a plan that contains newsjacking if the organisation is risk-averse.

We have to, therefore, find multiple ways to engage the audience in 2023 without conflicting with the culture of where we work or clients' businesses.

1. Make your comms more accessible

We assume everyone can read. So Number one, reduce the need for alternative format versions. So writing clear English. Sounds obvious, but we all make this mistake, no doubt. And there's lots of slang now, especially around social media posts and marketing.

Be as concise as possible, like short sentences that get to the point quickly. And design it to be as legible as possible. For example, using 14 typeface rather than 12 or 11, which quite a lot of us default to.

Think about using audio-first to engage with your audiences, as some disabilities are hidden from view.

By doing these three simple things, the information will be more accessible to a greater number of people straight away and may reduce demand for alternative versions.

1. Use photos in your press releases

From a consumer product media and trade media point of view, a good image is non-negotiable. If you send a pitch without one, it simply will not get looked at in the same way or tool. Journalists get thousands of emails every day. And a photo can be part of the filtering system. National media also use images as page holders and page turners, as they know that they add this to the story, and it's their job to make it the best possible story it can be for the publication they're working for and for their readers. It's worth researching the publication you want to be in, as they will likely have a particular style. So as part of your strategic approach, you need to think about where we want to be pitched and what images they'll be looking for. Also, see number 9 regarding accessibility.

1. Use technology and AI to help you be more efficient

From project management software to content planning calendars, many tools can help you with your comms planning and content generation. So choose wisely and make it a priority to include some new technology as part of your comms mix in 2023. AI is here to help, not hinder, and using it will help you to be more efficient.

I use a few; Canva, Calendly, Hyperwrite.ai, Buffer, and Trello. These are all powered by AI, and they all help me be more efficient.

1. Spend some time understanding your purpose

I talk about the "why" quite a lot on the podcast regarding how businesses talk to their customers and explain what they do in a way that resonates with people. The "why" is about understanding what your purpose is, I think. This purpose can translate well into external marketing and comms plans. In terms of what you are ultimately trying to achieve? If you're a council, what's your purpose, and how does that inform your communication goals? This takes some thought to make sure that your messages and activity align.

What would a successful campaign look like to you? You know what you want to achieve, but how will you know when you've done it? Without an overarching purpose, this is hard. Purpose is outcomes driven and can also be a much higher organising thought around climate or diversity. A lot of people are aligning ESG to purpose, for example. It also is a good way of aligning comms within the business so that the role is critical to success or failure, and it's therefore seen as a strategic function, not about words and pictures.

I hope you've enjoyed my 12 Comms Tips of Christmas.

To continue the festive spirit, I've decided to focus on 12 comms tips for you over the 12 days of the Christmas period, from 25th December to 2nd January. So here are the first 6 to get you going!

These are short and snappy episodes to keep you going over the festive period to help you improve your comms.

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

If you want to make an impact in 2023, you need to measure your impact. Doing this will help you hire an effective team, budget and focus your efforts where you need them most, and start to see better results. But it's not just for work; use this episode to review your personal goals too!

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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

I've compiled a list of my top 10 tools to help you become more efficient in your PR and marketing in 2023. From project management software to content planning calendars, these tools have been carefully curated by me using them firsthand and those my guests have recommended. 

Whether you're just starting or have years of experience, these ten tools are must-haves for 2023.

Let's dive in!

Liked Listening today?  What to do next:

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

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

Hire my expertise

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

Work with me closely

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

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