Who made you the bloomin’ expert?

My name’s Pete, and I’m an expert.

I’m hired to write positive news stories about businesses like yours, and when those articles appear in the press my clients look at me with a combination of admiration and stunned disbelief.

To me, of course, it’s easy: ask questions, write answers in notebook, craft answers into sparkling editorial copy, send to newspapers, bask in glory on my blog, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Ask me to put up a shelf, though… actually, don’t. I didn’t say I was an expert in everything.

Now I’d like to share my expertise with you:

You can promote your own expertise to raise your profile, build your credibility and, ultimately, win you new business.

Birmingham riots – Secret Agent Marketing becomes part of the solution

The riots across Britain last year felt like something that happened on a different planet – or at least a different country – to Secret Agent Marketing, working as we do in the middle of a forest in Wiltshire.

However we are all about supporting young people and social cohesion – we also work in two cooperatives after all, one of which, www.welovemarlborough.co.uk, often works with young people on arts and culture projects.

So we were excited to get involved in a Birmingham-based project positively affecting the post-riot lives of young people in Birmingham.

How to Write a Press Release

How To Write a Press Release

Secret Agent Marketing is delighted to announce the publication of its first book – How to Write a Press Release.

The step-by-step guide has been written Peter Davison – or Agent Pete as he’s known in these parts – who has seen the PR industry from both sides.

He was a journalist and newspaper editor for 13 years before moving into press and public relations in 2006.

Recently he has moved back into journalism while maintaining his role as public relations consultant to businesses and organisations around the UK.

How to Write a Press Release is aimed at beginners – self employed, small businesses and those within larger organisations whose role includes press communications.

To get your free copy sign up to the Secret Agent Marketing mailing list at www.secretagentmarketing.com/signup

Don’t call me dear

Found out today that the spam filters don’t like emails to be addressed ‘Dear’.
Our most English and polite start to a letter may mean our emails end up in the junk folder. The world is all upsidedown!
My postmaster Grandfather will be spinning in his grave…
So it’s ‘howdy’ or ‘hi’ or maybe even ‘dude’. Actually I don’t really recommend ‘dude’ unless you have a email list full of teenagers.

Read more at http://kb.mailchimp.com/article/how-do-i-set-default-merge-values-like-dear-customer

Gu Gu love you

I attended James Averdiek’s talk at the Swindon Business Show today.

He is the founder of Gu chocolate puddings; rather expensive but utterly delicious, found in Waitrose, etc. The business value increased from £0 to £30 million in seven years.

After getting fed up trying to launch Utterly Butterly in Belgium (they weren’t interested in margarine and thought the name was fraudulent) James had an idea for his own business, inspired by his addiction to chocolate and the Belgium attitude to ‘dieting’ – same gorgeous food, just tiny portions.

Swindon Business Show

Alongside the solicitors, accountants and financial services (though don’t get me wrong – these services are indispensible!) you meet some really unusual and innovative businesses.

The stand-outs for me today were:

Gibbons Gardening who gave me a packet of meadow seeds and had a conversation about how wrong it is to weedkiller nettles. And anyone who has a monkey for a logo can do no wrong…

e-motion electric vehicle company who sell electric bikes. This may be the way forward for someone like me who lives in the middle of the countryside.

Red Penguin consulting for having a randomly coloured animal as a name.

CS Handwriting Analysis – though I was too frightened to show Christina mine…

Young at Heart – who will do an artery age check to see if you are furry on the inside

Inner Flame – who do team and confidence building through fun activities for 14-19 year olds

Solomon Training – who help unemployed people with their basic (and beyond) maths English and IT skills.

Severnprint for their total commitment to quality and eco-friendly printing (and because they gave me lots of free notepads).

And also: Frank Stobrawe from PAT Testing Services who gave me (dare I admit it) some handy tips on marketing via Amazon and QR codes!

Moron extraction team

As our name suggests, when we’re not helping people with their marketing we are actually Secret Agents. A real bona fide James Bond and Sydney Bristow. Yesterday, we were involved in the extraction of a friendly operative from a bunch of hostiles. We had them surrounded in the Savernake Forest, which was handy cos it’s just a short commute from our Secret Head Quarters. Anyway, we had to wait for Special Forces to turn up to provide extra firepower. Sadly, due to budget cuts, all the military could spare was these two morons (click the picture to watch the video).

Really cool beginners’ guide to LinkedIn

I came across this really cool guide to LinkedIn this morning. I love it so much I’ve already sent it to one client, who has just started her own business. Now I’d like to share it with you. It’s a big picture file, so give it a minute to load.

Using social media – which platform is best?

Assuming we know about these things, people are always stopping the Secret Agents in the street and asking: “What’s the best social media platform to promote my business?”

The other day we came across this handy guide at www.breakingcopy.com. Hope it helps!