It is with huge excitement that we launch our annual VU-tbg Brand Amnesty – your chance to win two days of design. That’s two full days of design work, completely free of charge to help give your brand a boost for 2012. All you need to do is get in touch via our dedicated Brand Amnesty website. And remember we’re not just talking about logo’s, but any branded materials from brochures to your website, adverts or social media. Submit your entry through the website or drop us an email at marketing@vu-tbg.com.
They say that everyone has 15 minutes of fame in their life. If that’s right then I’ve only got 10 more to go.
I was asked by staff at our client WM Housing Group to be videoed about my thoughts of their organisation. I’ve been assured that my words will be just one of a compilation of many videos, all of which will be shown at WM’s upcoming corporate celebration evening taking place next week. I will be present at the event, and I can assure everyone that will also be there that when I appear on screen I’ll be looking somewhere into the mid distance, or down at the floor, or in fact anywhere but at my own projected image!
The Government is planning the biggest shake up of benefits ever seen under the Welfare Reform Bill, due to come in from April 2013. The bill presents many challenges to housing associations.
Kelly Field, chair of the NHF’s East of England PR group, former head of communications at Cross Keys Homes and new associate consultant at The Bridge Group, offers some tips on how to manage resident communications and make the most of PR opportunities.
It may feel too soon to be thinking about annual reports, but some early planning can really pay off.
The best annual reports put residents in the driving seat – and if you are going to give residents a real say then you can’t take any shortcuts in the production process.
Many organisations start by looking back at what they did last year. It’s a good place to start – and hopefully you will already have a bank of customer feedback to review alongside.
But don’t let your residents be limited by the format you have taken in the past.
Research from a new Shelter survey has revealed that almost one million people have used payday loans to help pay their housing costs – a method which Campbell Rob, Shelter’s chief executive, rightfully identifies as “totally unsustainable”.
Payday lenders charge extortionate interest rates and impose tight timescales for repayment. It’s the original bridging loan on acid – and although legal, these lenders take no prisoners, often expressing the jargon-ridden lending terms in the smallest of the small print.
If ever a month needed some PR support it’s January.
I am not surprised it gets a bad rep. After all, when the build up to Christmas begins in September, we are likely to feel a little deflated.
The media doesn’t help. First it hails January 3 the most depressing day of the year.
The human brain is the most complex entity in the known universe and despite the best endeavours of scientists, there are still many mysteries about the 1.5kg crinkled blob between our ears. I remember first hearing that we use just a tenth of our brains in the 1970s when I was at school. And how amazing, I thought, that there might be a way to unlock that whopping 90% of unused brain capacity. What would not be possible with all of my grey matter in action?
We all know the importance of brands and the race to achieve a strong brand ranking. If we look at the well respected Brandz Top 100 as published by Millward Brown, the measurement is put together through teaming customer value perceptions with company financial information. And from Brandz Top 100 it is clear the tech companies have been charging ahead. Apple takes the number one spot, followed by Google and IBM. Meanwhile global branding company Interbrand’s 2011 ranking report, which grades brands on a mix of financial performance, role of brand and brand strength, gives the top three spots to Coca-Cola, IBM and Microsoft.
Professional, steadfast, accurate. These are just some of the words that can be used to describe the working professional. But how can you describe the working parent? Dichotomous, contradictory, and overall, someone with the ability to have a split personality.
So apparently the government has no definite plans for its Affordable Rent programme after 2015. This will come as no comfort to those of you who have worked for months to work out how to apply Affordable Rents. But I’m sure it will also come as no surprise.
The thing is not to be sidelined by this announcement. In communications terms it is a red herring. If your housing organisation is committed to this round of Affordable Rents then you need to be seen by your customers who will be hit by higher rents to be fully behind it, no matter what. Because if you seem frustrated, your customers will pick up on this and use it as fuel to their dissatisfaction fire.
So, as always, grit your teeth, and go where no housing organisation has gone before, into 80% market rent territory. Just be very sure that you’ve got your communications to your future rent-affected customers right. Work out your messages and your likely questions and answers and ensure that all relevant staff are informed.
Then, sit back and await the next government proposal.
Nikki
Nikki Cheung is a senior PR consultant at The Bridge Group. Contact her on nikki.cheung@vu-tbg.com, by calling the office on 024 7656 0440 or via twitter @tbgnikki
