Alpha Public Relations Limited

25/06/2025

My 15-year-old daughter was with me for work experience last week. Hopefully she learned something, but it was also an important reminder for me that not everyone, however intelligent they might be, has any knowledge of the concepts many of us in the business world take for granted. I'm not talking about sector-specific jargon. Obviously she's still a teenager, but people don't enter the workforce at 22 miraculously endowed with the hinterland that took the rest of us years, decades even, to build up. Many people never have any cause to develop that knowledge at all, but they do all get to vote in elections. As people in particular, and businesspeople in general, I think it's important to remind ourselves just how few people have the faintest clue what we mean most of the time - and that it's in all of our best interests to communicate with them in ways that don't alienate them further.

03/06/2025

can be pain when writing for, and PRing, the services sector. When you know what you're doing, though, the constraints it imposes can actually fuel creativity and good writing. Like the rigid structure of a Petrarchan sonnet. But with key features and risk warnings.

27/05/2025

I've said this before but it bears repeating. My top tip for judging whether that thing that happened at your business is or not is very simple. If it happened at one of your competitors or suppliers would you care (enough to read an article about it)? If so, you just might have a news story on your hands. If not, save it for the staff newsletter.

15/05/2025

In we talk a lot about key messages. It's important to remember, though, that people buy from people, and the most important factor in whether or not somebody buys your service is whether or not your name pops into their head at the right time. Therefore, as long as it won't actively damage your reputation, don't automatically turn down any opportunity to feature in the media that isn't immediately relevant from a perspective. is hugely important, but only if people are listening in the first place.

10/05/2025

If you're considering engaging in media relations for the first time, bear in mind that once you have raised your head above the parapet you can't just pull it back down again. Every business has a history, and potentially some disputes, but if you have a lot of disgruntled ex-employees, or ongoing unresolved disputes with customers or suppliers, then your efforts to promote your "good news" in the press might end up backfiring. This doesn't mean that only corporate saints can engage in , but you do need to look honestly at your business and make sure you have a credible response to any allegations that might be levelled at you once you start appearing in the media.

07/05/2025

When company owners are planning a they are usually (well) advised to make sure their contracts are in order, they have a good management team in place and all their legal loose ends are tied up. There is also a very strong argument for engaging in media relations which, among other things, can raise the profile of your business among potential buyers and investors, making the sale process more competitive.

02/05/2025

Here we are, on the brink of what we'd usually consider to be a nice sunny bank holiday weekend, if it wasn't for the scorching few days leading up to it. PR, and indeed business, can be similar. Sometimes you get a flurry of great results - often through blind luck or unrepeatable circumstances - which make the day-to-day successes that follow seem a bit meagre by comparison. Perspective can be important, though. So maybe still have that barbecue this weekend, but wearing a jumper, and be grateful it isn't six degrees, or raining.

22/04/2025

Do you want to get some in the but don't think your business is big enough to justify retaining an agency? What if it were possible to train your marketing team up to act as a press office day-to-day, only calling on expert help as needed? https://buff.ly/wfMizAX

PR training service for marketing teams who work for smaller law firms, accountancy practices and regulated financial services businesses.

08/04/2025

I wrote an article for the latest issues of BCL Legal's "The Brief", looking at the ways junior lawyers can distinguish themselves in an era in which, apparently, pulling all-nighters at the office is no longer de rigeur. You can read it here:

How can junior lawyers distinguish themselves in an era when pulling regular all-nighters at the office is increasingly frowned upon? The Brief seeks expert advice.

03/04/2025

I am, obviously, keen for businesses to engage in . And, in particular, to hire my business to help them do so! However, as I was discussing with some people (for whom this point isn't relevant, I hasten to add!) a few days ago, you need to have your house in order first. This article explains more:

An article about how to stave off the need for crisis management by resolving as many issues as possible before engaging in PR/media relations.

02/04/2025

I completed my latest round of CIPR last week, so I can describe myself as an "Accredited PR Practitioner " for another year.