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On today's show brand supremo Andy Snuggs from Future Kings explains why it is vital that you as a startup have a clear idea of your brand. Your brand is so much more than a logo - it is a strategic tool for your business growth. Andy explains how we as founders and startup owners can start to identify our 'Minimum Viable Brand' (MVB). Knowing your MVB is the key to unlocking the growth potential in your business, attracting investment, winning an army of customers, attracting the right staff and ultimately being a success. A brand is not simply stating the function of your product or service - it is articulating the impact you are having, the problem you are solving. Identifying your brand will allow you to get your message across clearly, quickly and with passion and conviction. In this interview, Andy helps us to understand why we need to take brand seriously and why if we do it will give us a massive competitive advantage. And brand doesn't stop with our external audiences it also affects everything we do inside our businesses. Marrying our internal brand with our external brand is when the magic happens. You can no longer think of your brand as merely a visual element of your business, it touches everything, from how you behave, communicate to sell and hire. Andy explains how the team at Future Kings work with startup and scale-up businesses to help them identify what it is that really makes them unique and how they are going to take that information and use it to engage their audiences. This is strategic communications at the highest level and if you are serious about growing your business you really need to know this stuff. So for this week take a step back from focusing on the media headlines and have a look at the bigger picture of your brand. Taking the time to get this right will mean that when you're ready your PR efforts will be so much more effective. Over to Andy, the King of Brand.

Josh Nielsen, founder of podcasting platform Zencastr, tells us why he thinks it’s going to become a necessity for businesses to get involved in podcasting and why a word of mouth PR strategy has worked for him. Tech startup Zencastr is making it possible for anyone to host a high-quality podcast – but how does the man behind it put his business on the map? How does he get people to use his platform when there is an increasing number of competitors on the market? By his own admission, Josh Nielsen knows the pains of trying to get a tech business off the ground. He’s ‘launched to crickets’ with previous ventures but with Zencastr it’s different - Josh is right at the centre of the explosion in podcasting and already has more than 15,000 clients! Not bad for someone who claims to be a marketing novice. So how did he do it? A word of mouth PR strategy In today’s episode, you’ll learn how a tech business has built a PR strategy centred on word of mouth, peer to peer referral and basically by being brilliant. Zencastr has also had some great media coverage, including the obligatory article in TechCrunch, but for Josh the real success has come from this organic network of raving fans. Want to learn how he built a word of mouth PR strategy so you can too? Hit play now. Oh…and he also gives some awesome insight into why ALL businesses need to be podcasting right now, it’s a channel that you can’t afford to ignore if you want to succeed. And if you'd like some additional reading on, amongst other things, a word of mouth PR strategy, check out Marketing for Developers. Josh is a big fan of these guys and we reckon they’re pretty neat too. Find out more about Zencastr here and on Twitter and Facebook.

On today’s show, I take a look at why over-reliance on Facebook advertising could be a very risky strategy in 2018 and why PR is SEO. So many of us small business owners have come to depend on Facebook as the number one way to get our messages in front of customers. But a spate of recent reputational crises and the fact that Apple has announced it will soon block the Facebook tracking pixel mean that the good times could be coming to an end. Perhaps not in the next six months but in today’s episode, I argue why now is the right time to diversify your online marketing efforts. PR fuelled SEO is the only way to guarantee your reputation online and start to build the awareness levels and credibility that your business deserves. Appearing high on Google rankings for search terms connected to your business is going to put you in the driving seat in 2018. Of course, this is nothing new but the Google algorithms are now more than ever trying to measure the real-world relevance of your business and that means appearing in mainstream media and high profile blogs and podcasts – all with backlinks to your website. Where traditional SEO folk can’t help you is understanding what makes your business truly newsworthy and capable of securing these major pieces of media coverage. PR is SEO in the digital world. In today’s episode of The Famous Business, you’re going to learn why the time is right to unfriend your Facebook advertising campaign and how to start to get national media coverage that Google loves. The first step is you need to know how to pitch to a journalist so check out TFB060 to learn more about that. P.S In this episode, I mention a couple of recent studies that conclude Generation Z is leaving Facebook at an alarming rate. You can see those here and here.

We got so much love for episode TFB 058 that I wanted to revisit one of the core issues that came up. The fact that Guardian journalist Emma Sheppard (like most journalists) gets around 200 pitch emails a day! This seemed to shock a few of you, and I got a few messages saying 'what's the point in even trying to get media coverage if the odds of getting my story printed are 200/1?!' Don't despair - instead ask 'why is this journalist ignoring me?' It's actually easier than you think to stand out in a crowded inbox if you know the rules of the game. On today's show, I go through the 6 essential rules that you need to apply to every email pitch so that a journalist clicks on your message, opens it, reads it, loves your story and then runs it! Knowing how each of these hurdles works is key to cracking the code and winning major media coverage. Oh, and don't forget even the best pitches in the world sometimes miss their mark so don't worry if not every story you pitch about your business gets picked up - that's never going to happen. Media coverage is so impactful because it's hard-won, not impossible, but hard-won. In today's show, you're going to learn how to be one of the 20 emails that a journalist will read - not the 180 that they won't.  Subject line: listen to this podcast and get media coverage today!  Al 

Entrepreneur Stephen Sacks has a plan to help you 'reboot your business'. In his new book, of the same name, Stephen explains the need for us all to wake up to the rapid speed of change in today's workplace, why being small means you can be nimble to opportunities and how you can release cash from your business. But this is The Famous Business Podcast where we talk about all things PR and comms so why the business advice? Well firstly, you can't be a 'Famous Business' without being a brilliant business - the two are inextricably linked - and secondly, I wanted to ask Stephen what it was actually like to write this book and how it has helped him in his own marketing efforts. What you're going to learn is that to have a brilliant business in 2018 you need to think about all elements of your sales funnel and how your communications build trust through all stages of that process. Stephen shares how writing a book (from a rainy beach in the Maldives) has built so much more trust in him as a thought leader and has increased his own bottom line. If you're considering opening up the laptop and writing about your own expertise then this is the episode for you. Right, that's the introduction...now to Chapter 1...

On today's show, I have the brilliant journalist Emma Sheppard. Emma has written for a wide range of media throughout her career and has spent the last few years covering the small business and startup world for The Guardian Business to Business section. If anyone has the inside track on what it takes to get your business in the national media it's Emma! From a company using tech to revolutionise funeral services to the home coworking movement, Emma has covered more startup stories than most.  Emma tells me why she loves businesses who do their own PR and why it is possible to get coverage without a PR agency. There's her '3 email rule' for pitching  - which you don't want to fall foul of - and her advice on how to stand out from the 200 emails she receives a day. If you're a small business wondering how to write a press release that will get noticed by a journalist this is the show for you! And her top tip? Help her do her job by providing case studies that the media love. If you follow Emma's advice your PR success is guaranteed! Enjoy this chat with Emma. Al.

Today's guest is a young woman on a mission. Hannah Phillips knows more about UK healthcare than most - because as a child and a young adult she underwent major heart surgery. During her years in and out of hospital, Hannah saw that more needed to be done to make appropriate information available for young people. It was hard enough going through such serious procedures but being given information designed for aging adults made it even tougher. As soon as Hannah was well enough she became a health campaigner and is determined to make things better for other young people who find themselves needing serious medical care. On today's show, Hannah tells me how her new campaign, Wired Up, is educating young people about having pacemaker procedures. She also explains how she is using PR to get her message to a nationwide audience and the success she's recently had landing major national TV coverage. I first met Hannah two years ago when she did the Class:PR Famous course - and boy has she put those learnings into practice! Over to Hannah, the queen of the PR pitch!  ...

Doing PR for your own business is hard work. There are a hundred knockbacks, journalists ignore your emails and calls, you feel overwhelmed by imposter syndrome and you're not even sure you have a story. None of these are a reason to give up ... ever. High impact media coverage is the fastest and most reliable way to bring massive awareness and credibility to your business, but like anything worth doing - it ain't easy. In today's show, I look at the reasons why most small business owners and entrepreneurs give up on PR and why that's ALWAYS a mistake. You need to understand the rules of the game you're playing, then your success is guaranteed. No more hoping and praying. And if you like today's show have a listen to episode TFB 040 where you'll find some sure-fire strategies to get media coverage in 2018 Laters, Al

On today's episode, I explain the crucial difference between a news story and a feature - and why it matters to your business. Don't think that they are basically the same - they're not. Once you understand the difference between these two pieces of editorial you'll be able to create PR campaigns that help journalists do their job and get the media coverage you are after for your business. Don't stumble into the PR world uninformed - if you want to put your business on the map you must know the difference between these two. In today's show, you're going to learn just that. This is the news...or maybe it's a feature... Al x

In this episode, you’ll learn how an online jewellery business mastered the art of PR winning major media coverage – and a starring role in hit US comedy show Parks and Recreation! Tiny Hands make scented jewellery which is now popular all over the world. They’ve had heaps of media coverage from Buzz Feed and Fox News to CBS and Nickelodeon. It’s fair to say that founder Mei has mastered the art of PR over the last 10 years and has some pretty tasty tips for you – so listen up guys because there’s a lot to learn from today’s show. Find out more about Tiny Hands here or on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Do you know what you’re doing with your customer’s data? How you’re storing it? What permissions you have to use it? It’s time you did. The advent of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) means that all businesses, small and large, now need to have a handle on how they manage and use customer data. But what the hell does this have to do with P.R (public relations)? Well, quite a lot actually. PR is all about building trust in your business – getting to grips with GDPR is VITAL for your reputation. To help us all get our heads around this on today’s show I have the superb Jonathan Carter, from one of the world’ largest data companies Acxiom. Jonathan explains to me why GDPR is such a big deal and how we can all get ready for its introduction next month (May 2018). In this show you’re going to learn why GDPR is actually a massive opportunity for businesses to enhance their reputation – it doesn’t have to be a burden. If you are ANY type of business you need to know this stuff so sit back and download this vital data. Enjoy the show! Al

In today’s show entrepreneur Sean Ramsden shares his story of how he built a global export business taking brand Britain around the world. Ramsden International exports some of the UK’s most loved food and grocery brands to all four corners of the planet. But Sean has only been able to do this by building a trusted reputation and always living by strong company values. In this interview, Sean shares his tips on how to build a strong company culture, what Brexit will mean for export businesses such as his and why there is so much power in Brand Britain. Enjoy today’s show!

Oliver Lowrie is one of London’s most exciting young architects and I’m thrilled to have him on the show today. Oliver, and his firm, have a vision to create ‘remarkable places’ for their clients and they are pioneering the use of virtual reality in the design process. On today’s show Oliver shares why they have gone down the VR route and how it has given them a competitive advantage. He also describes how they have built a thought leadership strategy based on the creation of white papers and industry expertise. Oliver knows that if he wants to get ahead and stay ahead, in the competitive world of architecture he needs to communicate in an innovative manner, day in day out. Virtual reality and thought leadership are at the heart of that approach – oh and the odd party! Enjoy this chat with Oliver, you’re going to learn a heap about designing and building your reputation.

Crack out the champagne and sausage rolls (or vegan equivalent) – it’s our 50th show! And to mark this historic occasion I wanted to bring back one of our most popular guests – Andrew Watmuff, the boss of Watmuff & Beckett soups and risottos. When I first spoke to Andrew a year ago he’d just been on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, had secured the investment and was on an all-time high. I wanted to catch up with him to learn how he capitalised on that massive media opportunity and how the business has grown in that time. On today’s show you’re going to learn how Andrew has continued to innovate and why you can never rest on your laurels – no matter how famous your brand may have become! As ever, our exchange was soup-er (sorry, puns are just too tempting for this ex-tabloid hack). Enjoy!

Each week I URGE you to download our StoryFinder template because I know it’s what you need to start getting great media coverage for your business. So I figured this week it might be useful to tell you just exactly what that is! Lots of you have been writing in to ask how you can actually use the template for your business. Ask and you shall get! Our awesome weekly guest has sat this episode out and instead, I share a recent webinar I held on StoryFinder to give you everything you need to know. This is a 15 mins crash course in PR that will teach you the rules of the game. If you only ever listen to this you will 10x your chances of getting major national media coverage. This one’s from me to you with love. Now get finding those stories! Al

How do you take a successful pop up food brand and transition to a bricks and mortar business? On today’s show food entrepreneur Simon Bowden shares the story of how he got his first business, The Whole Cheese on national TV, became a ‘must book’ with some of the UK’s biggest festivals and then took the plunge into a full-time premises. Simon’s first business was an instant hit with TV producers and UK audiences when he told the tale of how he transformed a horse box into a cheese truck. And that success has continued with his craft beer and cheese store, Palmer Street Bottle in Frome, Somerset. But building a brand in a small town is a totally different challenge to being the pop-up star at a party. Simon tells us how he has done this, his greatest learnings and some of his most painful lessons. What he has come to realise is that YOU as the owner are CRITICAL to the reputation of a bricks and mortar business – and the thrill of seeing the store succeed is worth all the hard work. Enjoy this fab chat with Simon – cheers!

What can we all learn from the reputational crisis currently ripping through Oxfam and parts of the NGO sector? On today’s show, I wanted to take a break from the normal guest format and put on my other hat, the hard one I wear when I’m advising clients on issues management. Now on the surface, you may think there’s not much a small business can learn from what has happened to Oxfam, but you’d be wrong. All of us face reputational threats on a daily basis – it might be a poor online review, a few nasty tweets, or yes in some cases national media exposure. What all of these have in common is how you engage dictates whether or not you ride the storm and emerge stronger or sink like a stone. A reputation that has taken years to build can be gone in just a few hours and on today’s show I give you my insights on what went wrong for Oxfam and how you can take these learnings to protect yourself in the future. The key learning? Fear is your enemy in a crisis. Preparation, speed, consistency, and courage are your friends. This is the anatomy of a crisis…and the prescription for the recovery.

With Vicki Montague, founder of The Free From Fairy. Today's guest started as a blogger on a mission and is now one of the UK's leading voices in the gluten-free movement. Vicki Montague, aka The Free From Fairy, talks about how her daughter's diagnosis of coeliac disease was the start of a journey to educate, advocate and entertain other people on the road to remove gluten from their diets so they can enjoy better health. As Vicki's following grew from her friends and family to 1000s of people around the world she started to develop her brand and provide a much-loved flour blend - and very soon awesome online training. Vicki talks about the challenge of staying true to one's values and avoiding the temptation to 'cash in' on your audience and endorse products that aren't true to your core mission. As a scientist by training Vicki is incredibly honest about how she has had to 'learn' to be a great communicator - online and offline - it isn't something that came naturally to her. This is a wonderfully honest and heartfelt interview. You're going to learn that you can build a huge audience without selling out to corporate interests or straying from your real purpose. Vicki talks candidly about her daughter's plight and how the thought of other children suffering as she did was all the motivation she needed to dedicate her life to spreading the gospel of gluten-free. The Free From Fairy has taken off - and she's not coming down anytime soon! P.S to connect with Vicki go here and to find out more about Coeliac disease go here

With John Stapleton, co-founder of New Covent Garden Soup Company, Little Dish and serial entrepreneur. It's not often we have someone on the show who has completely invented a new category of product - but John Stapleton was part of a duo that did just that. John is one of the co-founder's of the New Covent Garden Soup Company, the guys who took soup out of the tin, made it fresh and put it in a carton. In the late 1980s this was completely revolutionary and sparked a new way of manufacturing, selling and consuming soup. It's fair to say John is a true pioneer - he even had to build his own factory to get his soup on the shelves! On today's show, John shares the story of his entrepreneurial journey from the early days of NCGS through to toddler food brand Little Dish and the work he does today mentoring young startups. John has so much insight and wisdom to share and is a big proponent of moving beyond our fears to fulfill our business visions. In this conversation you'll learn about the need to clearly define the audience for your product, build a brand that speaks entirely to that person and why it's better to start with a grassroots marketing strategy rather than trying to be 'the next big thing' overnight. If you are a food startup, or in fact any kind of startup, you'll learn so much from this conversation - so sit back and lap up this soup-er advice!

With Matthew Griffin, founder of Combat Flip Flops Today's guest has got quite a story to tell. Matthew "Griff" Griffin is a former US soldier who went from the frontline of Iraq and Afghanistan to running Combat Flip Flops - a flip flop manufacturer with a mission. After, in his own words, 'emptying his karma tank', Griff was seized by a vision to give back to the countries where he had been a soldier. So one day while walking around Kabul he saw a boot factory that was about to be closed down meaning job losses for the locals. Rather than shrugging his shoulders and walking away Griff had the idea of making flip flops to create local employment. Fast forward a few years and Combat Flip Flops is now a global brand raising a huge amount of money to put young girls through education in the developing world. Griff tells me how he built the business and how he told the story of a soldier on a mission - a soldier creating the 'Unarmed Forces'. This is a powerful story of transformation, persistence and respect and one you can't miss. If you're an ethical business, a social enterprise or frankly want to know how to make people CARE then Griff's story is for you. For more info on Combat Flip Flops go here Let's do this!