Now is an excellent time to think about your 2019 PR reading list and start the new year with big ideas. Whether you are a communications professional on the lookout for case studies from leaders in your field, an influencer learning how to revitalise your campaign strategy or, a chief executive wanting to improve the way you communicate, there is something in my list of PR & communications books for every professional. 1. Spin Sucks: Communication & Reputation Management in

It’s been a little over 20 years since Tom Peters first coined the term “personal branding” in his Fast Company piece, “The Brand Called You.” The concept was simple: all workers must be in control of their own careers. It sparked a phenomenon where many people started to perceive themselves as brands. It became all about having that distinct voice and signature image that made you recognisable to everyone from your colleagues to your stakeholders and clients. It was far more

The term “quality content” gets thrown around a lot. Does anyone really know what that means? What makes content high-quality or compelling? To connect through content, the key is to shift your perspective and view things the way your target audience would. When it comes to making content more attractive, the secret is to make is easy to consume for the people who matter to your brand most. Your content has the best chance to get noticed when you stop trying to target as man

Should brands use their advertising campaigns to take a social or political stance? For a long time, there has been an unspoken agreement between brands and stakeholders that it is safest to remain neutral when it comes to social and political issues. But what happens when brands have reflected on their own morals and beliefs and no longer want to stay quiet? What happens when they decide to take their influence and use it in a meaningful way to spark change? Having a social

One of the best corporate branding campaigns ever is that of Nike. When the company started, the products were made almost exclusively for marathon runners. When the fitness vogue emerged, the marketing department of the company knew they needed to take advantage of it to surpass Reebok which was their main competitor. The Just do it campaign was launched in 1988. During that year, Nike sales were at 877 million dollars. Ten years later, in 1998, sales exceeded 9,2 billion. T

The one thing that you will notice in almost all brand advocates is that they all have an emotional connection with the brand they are loyal to. They even feel that they are being personally attacked when someone says anything negative about the brand. But how do you get people to feel this way about your organisation? How do you get them to invest their feelings into your cause, your products or services? To win your stakeholders and customers’ loyalty, you need to engage on

Now is a good time to think about your 2018 PR reading list. Christmas is approaching and you are looking for the ideal gift for family, friends, and of course, your clients and stakeholders. Books about communication is a fantastic idea. PR used to be all about gaining exposure and generating buzz for organisations through the media, but with content marketing, new technologies and social media coming to the forefront during the last years, comms must continuously adapt. Lea

About a month ago, I received a message from Euractiv, the pan-European media platform : "You are ranked among the Top 40 EU digital influencers. We are writing to invite you to join us at an event in Brussels". Wow, but how do you become an influencer - an authority in your field? How do you gain celebrity-like status on social media? Being an influencer means many things, but it really comes down to being someone who actually influences decisions of others. It’s not about

In the projects funded by the EU like Horizon 2020, ERASMUS, INTERREG, ENPI or CAP the work package of communication and dissemination is a key element. Progress and important results need to be communicated through different channels in order to show that these projects are relevant to everyday lives. To demonstrate how they can create jobs, fight diseases, introduce novel technologies or make our lives more comfortable. Here are 7 tips on how to communicate successfully you

In January 1996, Bill Gates wrote an essay titled "Content is King", which was published on the Microsoft website. He begins by saying: "Content is where I expect much of the real money will be made on the Internet, just as it was in broadcasting." More than two decades later, needless to say that Gates was right in his predictions. Internet has brought us several new mainstream communication tools, which revolutionary saved us time in creation and delivery of content. In sev

In recent years the EU has spent a lot of time and money on communicating with its citizens, explaining its policies and its purpose. Nevertheless, this communication has been high on jargon and low on impact. Winston Churchill once said that the difference between poor management and leadership is communication. During the Second World War, the radio was one of the few media for disseminating messages directly to the public. With his charisma and outstanding communication sk

Is it really eleven years ago that Cyprus became a member of the EU, during the largest-ever round of enlargement? I have a fairly vivid recollection of 2004, a turning point in Cyprus political history. The referendum rejection of the UN reunification plan by the Greek Cypriots had as result the complete isolation of the tiny Republic in international politics. I was then Press Officer at the EU Permanent Representation and the Embassy of Cyprus in Brussels. Therefore, I

​ “Accuracy, Authenticity and Interest” was the slogan of Ivy Lee, one of the founding fathers of public relations, creator of the press release and pioneer in the field of crisis communications. Almost 100 years later, this slogan remains at the core of sustainable public relations. Though it takes long years to be built, an organizations’ reputation can be rapidly damaged. This can happen to any kind of organisations including a supranational union like the EU. In spite of