Ruth Boulter

Thanks, WORK(period) and Adam Estabrook for the insightful discussion on the business of design! It was a great reminder to pause and reflect on my values as a creative leader. What do you value most in the design process? #designleadership #creativity #design #branding #businessofdesign

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"About two-thirds of the agencies taking part in this year’s PRWeek UK Top 150 Consultancies project continue to have all-white boards." PRWeek UK Does this come as a shock? No, Not really for people working to build a more inclusive industry. These numbers were to be expected. I feel some anger and more despair..............It is not just me but research shows that most DEI efforts since BLM and COVID were performative and opportunistic, so they were doomed to fail. Within our industry there has been a disproportionate focus on diverse hires, numbers and representations - but at lower levels. Here we are talking about some of the most powerful agencies in the world and the UK. They advise clients on reputation, DEI, sustainability and are asking their clients to change to be relevant in the future! Ironical considering they are not willing to or see the need to change. Change does not happen when you maintain status quo. Change does not happen when you don't invest time and money into enabling that change. Change also does not happen without a vision. And change will definitely will not happen without the buy in from industry leaders and board members. Incremental change is good, but increasing representation at leadership levels and in the C-suite requires transformational thinking, a willingness to adapt, to recognise that this is an imperative, allocate resources and hold themselves accountable. To see any real change in my working life we need to recognise that ethnic minorities with leadership aspirations face (and will face) the broken rung, the glass ceiling, glass cliff and a system stacked against them, that encourages homophily. Small comfort that the number of black and ethnic minorities in the industry has increased from last year, but we know leadership aspirants will drop out when they cannot see role models or people like themselves leading. Industry leaders know that DEI can no longer just be a talking point or tick box, it is a fundamental building block of social justice and a human rights concern. We will be held to account! So, let's see leaders step up, and be accountable not just for profits but for building a fairer industry. Well done PRWeek UK on the insights👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 #buildbackbetter #inclusionandbelonging #rolemodels #ethnicminorityleaders

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In today’s globalised world, successful marketing hinges not only on reaching broad audiences but also on resonating deeply with them. This is where the concept of localisation comes into play. Specifically focusing on the UK market, we delve into the intricate strategies and nuances that drive effective marketing campaigns tailored to the diverse preferences, cultural dynamics, and regional peculiarities of UK audiences.

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While commemoration is vital, #FreedomDay also presents a valuable opportunity for growth. By strategically utilising PR tactics, organisations can extend the significance of Freedom Day beyond simply looking back. Create a lasting impact by facilitating dialogue for a brighter future, community engagement through action and elevating untold stories. #HappyFreedomDay #FreedomDayZA #SouthAfricaFreedomDay #CelebratingFreedom #FightForFreedom #PRandCommunications #communication #comms #BrandCommunications #publicrelations #PublicRelationsAgency #focused #BrandfundiPR #PRPartner #PublicRelations

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We've been creating again. Here's our latest mini-guide to crafting a meaningful PR strategy in a changing environment. What are your key PR concerns today?

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Need a creative director to mentor your team but can’t afford a full time role? How would a mentoring programme delivered by a Creative Director and founder with over 24 years experience and a desire to help others grow impact your team? If you would like to support your blossoming talent and offer space for supportive open conversation, creative critique and guidance in how to elevate their creative potential then this is for you. You will improve your creative output, delight your clients, demonstrate your dedication to helping your people grow and create loyalty and trust. Feel free to ask me more about this great service to elevate your creative team. This is the value add service you might have been waiting for. #creativementor #mentoring #creativetalent #fractional

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Audience: Who are they? Where are they? Which should you prioritise? How to reach them? Thank you Retail Jeweller for the opportunity to talk about the importance of working on your brand’s audience. Link to read further below!

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About 7 million is the straw poll readership of the most favoured UK magazine. So… if your business was featured in such a magazine, what could it do for your business reputation and revenue from a free publication? But, how do you get a journalist to write up on your business? We at ExpertSources, www.expertsources.co.uk can help by getting you registered for over 7,700 regional, national and international journalists and professional media members to see your profile, and to be privy to contacting you directly! You would win by increasing your reputation, your revenue, but you would be helping journalists simultaneously by providing them with extra media opportunities with your expertise, to enable them to finish their work on or even before deadline. Media folk, join here FREE OF CHARGE https://lnkd.in/gWTuBX5 to find real experts easily and quickly. And Experts, if you can talk factually on any topic in any sector through your experience, career or education, and you could really do with a boost in revving up your business revenue by potentially gaining valuable media publicity, join here https://lnkd.in/dbnVv_m for a HUGELY REDUCED FEE. #Publicity #Media #MediaProfessionals #Journalist #Journalists #MediaExposure #Revenue #PR #PublicRelations #Expert #Experts #Charity #University #Business #Journalism #Editorial #Podcast #Vlog #Magazines #TV #Radio #SocialMedia #ROI #Business #StartUp #Entrepreneur #Success #BusinessSuccess #Revenue #YourDream #Reputation #Journalism   Photo by Seb Reivers on Unsplash

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How to become indistractable... Check out my key takeaways from the podcast. It's all about boosting productivity and focus.

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If you want to feel as confident pitching to #journorequests as Georgina does (and look at the success she has had with them!! 🤩) then my Masterclass next week will be just the thing you need… Introducing The Pitching Playbook: A #journorequest Masterclass! A 60-minute LIVE online workshop that will leave you ready for pitching success! In this live video training - on Thursday 27th June at 9.30am - I'll share: 📣 Proven techniques to craft compelling pitches. 📣 Real-life examples of successful #journorequest pitches. 📣 Tips to tailor your pitches specifically for journalists. Imagine what life could be like when you master the art of pitching: ⭐️Your inbox flooded with positive responses from journalists. ⭐️Increased media coverage that boosts your brand's visibility. ⭐️More time to focus on growing your business instead of stressing over pitches. Let's turn those rejections into YESes and make your media dreams a reality. Are you ready to take the leap? 🚀 Join me on Thursday 27th June at 9.30am UK time to transform your pitching techniques and elevate your media game. Link to sign up! https://lnkd.in/gS4wrbap

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Today marks 6 months trading with Alma! 🥂 We were very lucky to hit the ground running with London based publisher, The Lead , as our first official client and since then have worked with GoFundMe, and another household name I can't actually say. We also have a number of clients closer to home, and it is nice to be working with some familiar faces. Although my 13 year old asked me the other day "what do you actually do?" 🤣 So for those who are also wondering but too polite to ask, I help clients communicate with their audiences. Sometimes that means making plans and strategies - figuring out who they need to speak to, how they can reach them and what kinds of things they want to say - and sometimes that means doing it for them - socials, websites, newsletters, press releases, intranets etc. I help when things go pear shaped, but also try to prevent it from happening. I facilitate workshops and consultations, and represent clients at events. I add capacity to in-house teams and upskill on a range of topics. Want to chat about it? Here's to the next 6 months Ed Walker & Luke Beardsworth! #AudienceDevelopment #Comms #Consultancy

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Embracing our new B Corp status, our always insightful Strategy Director Astrid shares why legacy brands shouldn't shy away from adopting and showcasing purpose driven values. Don't let striving for perfection paralyse action: Committing to making a change for better is the first step in the journey.

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Dear Carole Bildé, When I first saw the Bold initiative by Veuve Clicquot, I knew I needed to get my brand and campaign agency, Aphra, on your radar (www.weareaphra.co.uk). We share a very similar ethos and mission of wanting to encourage, empower, and support women into entrepreneurship. It is one of the three leading pillars of our work this year, and a key driving force within our wider parent group, The Metamorphose Group, under which we have a number of aligned projects. I figured I could either send you a few irritating DMs asking for a meeting, or pester your team to somehow get me a diary invite... or I could just use my initiative, be proactive, and show you what we are capable of. So I set about creating this campaign video - which was a combination of both self-funded and hustled for by myself - and created with a team of talented individuals who I brought together to bring my vision to life. My hope, which I am manifesting to the universe with this post, is that I can meet with you to present you with the finished piece of artwork. The bottle tells the story of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, whose story blew me away when I began to research her more. I've lost count of the amount of glasses of Veuve Clicquot I have drank over the years (maybe I shouldn't admit just how many!), but I never knew the powerhouse of a woman whose story sat behind the brand - or how much she innovated within the champagne industry. I had no idea that when she took the helm, women could only run businesses if they were widows. Layered over the life of Madame Clicquot on the bottle in this video is the next part of this story - the one being written by you and your team through Bold as we speak. The one that will have an impact that can be passed on to the next generation of young girls, like my daughters (the eldest of which I managed to convince, with the bribe of 4 new key-rings, to play a small part in this video - but who also was SO inspired to come on set and see what Mummy does for a job! The power of inspiring young girls via entrepreneurship!). The women featured on the bottle are shaping the future. I hope you and your team enjoy this video. There are dozens more ideas where this came from! And for anyone else watching this, I hope you are inspired to share it with your networks and learn about the work of Bold: https://lnkd.in/eUCqSbbc. CC: Julie Delmar, Ruben Kazumian, Aude Leparmentier, Gallot Jean-Marc, Leonia Frescobaldi, Salomé Pilpoul, Sonia Crocker, Katie Mossop, Rose-Marie Effa, Iris Decamps, Anna Birolli Coty, Brune Failliot, Caroline Laurent, Anne-Sophie Lecoanet, Pascale Callari (...and many others at Veuve Clicquot) Thank you - and hope to see you in Paris soon! Grace - MD The team behind the magic: Agency: Aphra Script and creative concept: Grace Carter Art direction and artist: Tommy Lloyd Steward Voiceover: Kayleigh Rattle Cinematography: Dan Hugo, Seb Marshall Editing: Sarah Drage Project management: Kirsty Laifa

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The Financial Times has struck a content licensing deal with Open AI which will grant access to Chat GPT users to FT reporting.... The likelihood is that other publishers will follow suit. But my question is, what what does this mean for newspaper paywalls? Why would you continue to pay for a subscription for the newspaper if you can just get the info from AI? Also...and this goes out to my PR friends...how on earth does this work from an NLA perspective?! The FT was one of the first newspapers to hire an 'AI Editor', so it's clearly setting AI trends for other papers to follow. My fear is that we'll end up in a world with AI generated content being read by AI editors which in turn is read by AI bots to inform more AI content...and round and round we go with little or no human involvement. How does that help inform, educate, inspire or entertain? John Harrington - thoughts? I'm sure this will be a topic for your next podcast! For those of you without an FT subscription: https://lnkd.in/er6dda2T

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As ever an insightful article in The Media Leader regarding the GB News and Ofcom situation from Ray Snoddy There is a possibility that GB News are actively undermining the right wing vote by adding to the split between the Conservatives and Reform, thus helping Labour. The presence on GB News of Nigel Farage, a vocal critic of the Conservatives, will reinforce this rift. If so, the losses that Ray refers to in the article will have been even less well-spent.

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Focusing on creating inclusive working cultures will allow for a reframing of the conversation around diversity, which unfortunately has been brandished of late. You can watch my talk on how News UK work to reduce bias in media and the workplace through a framework called THINK TWICE, available in full on Creative Equals Youtube now, link in the comments ⬇ #thinktwice #unconciousbias #inclusivecultures

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Do you realise that you’re sat on PR content? Content that will get you into the media- so you can reach more people and build your credibility and visibility through being elevated and celebrated. So often in business we just get on with what we think is normal. Book launches, event planning, thought leadership - we often forget to capitalize on it. The media can amplify your message, it can shine a light on your work, it creates a new level of energy around you when you step into celebration mode What are you doing in your business that you should be celebrating?? I’ll bet there’s something!!!

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Places are brands too. Yesterday’s impromptu trip to the Tower of London with our 8yr old got me thinking about how messages cut through: Pre-visit, for him the Tower of London = - Crown Jewels - Beefeaters (Yeoman Wardens) Post-visit, the Tower of London = - Tower Bridge (‘you see it everywhere you go’) - Armour & swords (‘I got to try archery and hitting cabbages with a virtual sword’) - Stone steps (‘we climbed all the towers’) - Beheadings (‘Henry really didn’t like his wives much, did he?’) ********** Most cities become brands with very little effort. Time. Consistency. Protecting ‘distinctive assets’. Most attractions embed messages through experience ⚡️ - it was the things our son could constantly see, touch and do that ‘stuck’ in his mind. What messages stay with your customers as a result of their experience with your business? 👇🏻

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