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Big Bang Data

Cen from our amazing design team went to see Big Bang Data at Somerset House. Here’s what she thought of it:

Big Bang Data is an exciting title. The advertising promised a major exhibition showcasing the data explosion of the 21st century and how it is transforming our lives. I couldn’t wait!

It’s easy to forget, but we are all producing masses of data on a daily basis. There’s the obvious stuff, such as using social media. However, there is passive activity as well. For example, being tracked via our card payments, travel and CCTV.

The exhibition is fascinating. It reminds us how data can be accessed and used in myriad ways. Even the “cloud” is visualised by showing images of massive installations where our data is actually stored by the companies we trust with it.

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We looked back into the history of data with a world map of submarine communication cables. This showed us how the world has become more connected over the years. We are also shown examples of cables from Telefonica dating all the way back to 1896. The modern Internet was created in the 1970s, but complex communications networks have existed for a long time.

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Further insights into our data universe included a history of storage – including punch cards, floppy disks, CDs and more.

One of the most interesting features was the Black Shoals: Dark Matter exhibit. A planetarium with thousands of stars, each represented by a company. Fed by live information from the world’s stock markets, the stars move and link up with each other. This provides a visual spectacle, reinterpreting how connected the financial market is.

However, the piece that I was enraptured by was Stranger Visions. A deeply unsettling sequence of sculptured human faces. Nothing strange about the faces themselves. They were all regular people. But they’d been crafted from DNA that the artist Heather Dewey-Hagborg collected from cigarette butts and chewing gum found in public places. Using computer software, she linked the genetic series with natural human traits to create 3D models of the people’s faces that discarded these objects. Incredibly clever. But also very creepy.

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Data is produced in so many day to day actions that in 2012 it was estimated that 2.5 quintillion (2,500,000,000,000,000,000) bytes were created every day. Imagine how many floppy disks you’d need to store all that!

The idea of the exhibition is brilliant, from a design perspective. However, I don’t feel it pushed the boundaries as far as it could. There’s always a balance to be found between design and information. But this is such a great topic I thought it was a shame the ideas didn’t go further. You should still visit this exhibition though. It’s definitely worth seeing as it’s thought-provoking and challenges perceptions.

Big Bang Data: Somerset House – 03 Dec 2015 — 20 Mar 2016

 

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Nelson Bostock shortlisted for two DARE awards

Good news, everyone! The PRCA has announced the shortlist for its annual DARE awards. We are chuffed to have made it not once, but twice – for ‘integrated campaign of the year’ and ‘trade and b2b campaign of the year’.

We entered with our ‘gurus and guidance’ campaign for Canon UK. This campaign helped Canon become a relevant brand in the small business space. We achieved this by working with The Telegraph to pair four successful UK entrepreneur experts with four aspiring small business owners.  The entrepreneurs included Emma Jones MBE (Enterprise Nation and UK business ambassador) and Sahar Hashemi OBE (Coffee Republic and Skinny Candy). The pairings tackled business challenges and achieved a number of print and online stories.

We also partnered with Real Business to host a small business roundtable. But also to judge and present two annual Growing Business Awards. This provided Canon with direct access to the small business community. Our campaign has generated 82 confirmed leads and more than 7,500 potential leads. It grew Canon’s dedicated LinkedIn small business page by over 500 followers and sparked more than 1,000 engagements with SMB content on Twitter.

We’ll find out who will walk away with the PRCA trophy on 13th July. In the meantime we’ve got no other choice but to wait, eating ice cream in the sunshine.

 

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Bridging communications across the B2B buying process

Last week NBU towers was host to a fascinating event. Industry experts came together to discuss how the next generation of B2B researchers are influencing the ever-changing B2B buying process.

With insights from Google, marketing industry analysis house Econsultancy, security brand AVG and B2B Marketing magazine, we explored the challenges brands face in aligning communications and sales strategies across the traditional B2B sales cycle.

For those who couldn’t make it, here are the key takeaways:

  • The new wave of B2B buyers are young and digitally savvy. In fact, Google says 40% or European researchers are aged between 18 – 34 years old. Despite being young, 50% have a ‘heavy influence’ on purchasing decisions. However, they are hard to reach as 30% only consider one to two suppliers.
  • Mobile and video are key to reaching this demographic, and therefore maintaining visibility throughout the consideration phase. B2B brands should look to provide personalised, localised content throughout the entire customer purchase path. Audience data is vital in understanding the type of content that interests your consumers. With this, you can provide the right content at the right time. This will enable you to stand out to buyers.
  • Brand and message consistency across all platforms, and at every touchpoint, must be a priority to create an invaluable customer experience. To achieve this consistency, B2B brands need to have a cross-team approach and a collaborative company culture in place.
  • At the same time, don’t produce content for the sake of it. B2B marketers must stop selling and start inspiring. They must bring more emotion into content production, rather than just promotion. The key to success is clear communication, both internally and externally. However, technology to unify channels and content strategies is also key.

If you’re interested in reading more we have an in-depth report here and you can also see a short video here.

We hope you find it useful, and if you’d like to have a chat with us about how to communicate to this new breed of buyer give us a call!

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Are you part of the Subscription Economy?

Last week, Zuora launched its new report ‘A Nation Subscribed’, an investigation into what we subscribe to and why…

If a Spotify playlist powers your morning commute, then you’re part of Britain’s 40 million-strong subscription economy. From Graze to Amazon Prime, subscription services impact almost every part of our lives. If there is an area of your life you can’t subscribe to, then the chances are a UK start-up will soon allow you, according to a new report.

‘A Nation Subscribed’ is the latest consumer insights report to come from the world’s leading provider of subscription billing, Zuora. The report delves into the dynamic subscription economy. It explores not just the products and services we subscribe to, but why we’ve taken to subscriptions.

The investigation reveals that a whopping four in five people across the UK have at least one subscription service. Moreover, two in five use subscriptions more avidly than they have over the past five years. While streaming media services are now commonplace, subscriptions are increasingly popular in other aspects of consumer life. For example, gaming, dining, transportation and retail. However, millennials and early adopters don’t drive the subscription economy, according to the report. In fact, almost four out of five (78%) of UK citizens aged over 55 subscribe to at least one product or service. Moreover, 15% of over 55s even say they “couldn’t live without some of their subscription services”.

Aside from the report, the UK launch comprised a series of press interviews with Zuora’s founder and CEO, Tien Tzuo. This was accompanied by commentary from consumer psychologist, Kate Nightingale. With the news of its release hitting titles across national, consumer and vertical press, ‘A Nation Subscribed’ has been as disruptive as the movement that it’s reporting on.

Next time you’re searching for a track on Spotify or jumping onto Steam, know that you’re in the company of tens of millions of the UK population driving the next great movement in tech backed by a wave of innovative home-grown start-ups.

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How to rock the German market

5 points for a successful PR strategy in Germany

By Tilo Bonow, CEO and founder of Berlin-based PR agency Piabo

After launching in the US market, the next milestone for many US companies is conquering foreign markets such as Europe. With Germany being the economic powerhouse of the European Union, its capital Berlin presents an attractive environment for expansion – the economic mood is positive and the startup scene is booming.

But even though the US and German market mechanisms are similar, the media landscape is quite different. Strategies that work in the US might fail in Germany. Here are 5 points that you should consider for success with German media:

  1. Press releases:

    German journalists aren’t used to marketing lingo in press releases. Don’t fill your copy with self-praise – this will ruin the credibility of the message. Instead, objectively stick to the facts. If you’re not sure, ask local PR specialists for help with translating not just the language, but also the message. And by the way, in Germany, we use press releases not just for major corporate announcements, but for frequently keeping our journalists updated on a company.

  1. Location, location, location:

    The media landscape in Germany is very decentralised. Editorial staff work in major media cities such as Berlin, Munich or Hamburg. However, they are also working in Cologne, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf, which are also home to major publishing houses. If you don’t want to organise a lengthy, country-wide media tour, a good way to meet many editors in one place is at trade shows.

  1. Stay safe:

    Data protection should be treated with particular caution in German PR. German audiences are much more sensitised to privacy-related issues than US audiences. A good briefing before interviews as to what should be communicated is essential to avoid a PR disaster.

  1. Placing Bylines is tricky:

    While in the US it’s common practice to place bylined articles, this is not the case in Germany. Our authors want to keep their autonomy and it’s hard work to persuade them to feature a guest article. So keep up the regular dialogue and position your spokesperson as an expert on a topic.

  1. Copy approval:

    Last but not least: Before publishing an interview, German journalists often ask for copy approval and in most cases decide in favour of the companies. Good for you, because this will help you to control the company’s PR message.

Sounds complicated? It’s not! If you have a good product or service, then positive coverage is only a matter of time and, of course, skilful PR work in Germany. If Germany is one of the springboards for European expansion – next to London, let’s say – it is a good idea to find an agency with an international network of partners that can help you conquer Europe by storm.

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The implications of Brexit

The fallout from Brexit continues. Both the UK and the rest of the world are coming to terms with what the referendum will mean in practical terms. What we do know is that every business, no matter what industry or stage they’re at, will be affected. This could be through new compliance requirements, removal from the Digital Single Market, or the weakening of the pound.

Here in London, the business community is universally focused on ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes for us, our colleagues, partners and clients. To provide some clarity we’ve produced a video with our specialist public affairs partner in Brussels. In this video, we explore the impact Brexit will have on policymaking. Moreover, we also discuss the resulting impact on business. As Wes says “The UK will Brexit”. Therefore, it’s important to begin thinking about what this could mean for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X18BvB7zhfY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFsAT0uw18g&feature=youtu.be

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Three high growth tech companies electrifying the UK media

15.03.17

An increasingly broad range of journalists are writing about technology in the UK. However, what can you do to get UK influencers excited about a tech company?

Here are three companies doing just that:

Twilio

  • Who? Cloud communications platform that offers critical voice and messaging functionality to your favourite apps, including Uber, Whatsapp and Airbnb
  • What they’re saying On the heels of a much-hyped IPO last June, Twilio is being heralded by UK media as the defacto developer toolkit for cloud software of the future. That’s an expansive addressable market; from apps to servers. Financial Times and CNBC, through to ComputerWorld and DeveloperTech have all covered the company’s potential.
  • Their secret to success? A compelling and well-communicated purpose. The charismatic CEO and his team of ‘Twilions’ truly believe in the company’s mission to ‘build the future of communications’ and replace inflexible, high-cost legacy tech for the developer. That comes across consistently in every interview, blog or press release. Moreover, it’s rubber-stamped by customers who clearly buy into the company ethos.

Monzo

  • Who? App-only banking: the ‘bank built for your smartphone’
  • What they’re saying With two significant funding rounds in quick succession this year, Monzo has certainly caught the eye of the industry and the imagination of consumers, featuring in headlines across national titles, through to business and banking trades. The London Fintech scene has been hot for some time; a circumstance that has played nicely in Monzo’s favour as the fear and scepticism that endured a few years ago has dissipated to give them space to be seen as credible at launch.
  • Their secret to success? Proof of concept prior to launch. Monzo was careful not to blow their launch story until they had a substantial number of engaged banking customers signed up to the service. Consequently, this gave the company hard facts to support their ambition and vision.

Improbable.io

  • Who? Another sign that platforms are where the money’s at. This mega cool London startup has developed a platform for companies to build virtual and simulated worlds.
  • What they’re saying Backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Google will provide the back end to Improbable’s SpatialOS cloud-based infrastructure. Subsequently, this move was viewed by titles including TechCrunch and Wired as a rubber stamp on Improbable’s role in leading the next frontier in simulation.

Their secret to success? A roots and upwards approach to media engagement. Improbable has developed core expertise and hangs out at all the right developer conferences, giving it credibility and notoriety among the developer community. Therefore, the company is receiving a warm welcome from big-league influencers.

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The Future of Technology Journalism

10.04.17

An evening with the PRCA

The rise of digital consumption has had an astounding effect on the media industry. According to a recent report, a staggering 88% of millennials get their news from Facebook[1], and what’s more, current trends suggest that this figure is only set to rise. From credibility to monetisation, it’s presented an array of challenges to nationals and trades alike. One of the ways in which publications are combatting their struggle to turn content into cash is through resourcing. Across the sector, many publications are downsizing their in-house teams in favour of freelance support.

This shift in the way stories are covered was discussed at the PRCA’s recent panel on the Future of Technology Journalism. The evening saw David McClelland, a freelance technology writer and commentator, chair a discussion with four of the industry’s most well-known self-employed journalists. They talked about their experiences as free agents, as well as the direction of technology journalism.

Focussing very much on what they choose to cover and why, the panel, consisted of seasoned generalist, Marc Ambasna-Jones; B2B tech aficionado, Lee Bell; consumer technology and product reviews expert, Verity Burns; and science and space specialist, Tereza Pultarova. Despite the majority of the speakers opting for the freelance life by necessity over choice, the tone of the evening was decidedly optimistic around the future of the profession. While freelancing wasn’t the panel’s first choice, the role’s lack of rigidity suits self-motivated writers.

The lack of structured deadlines and self-dictated work hours allow many to pursue book writing and freelance copywriting work. Moreover, working for yourself enables journalists to form their own news agenda. They don’t need to take cues from an editor. Tereza Pultarova wholeheartedly agreed with this sentiment, adding “if it resonates with me, then I’ll write about it.”

The key takeaway for the evening is pitching ideas over news and concepts over clients. “When I receive a press release, I often look beyond the news hook to discover the trend behind the story. Then I pitch a feature,” commented Verity Burns. As in-house teams shrink in size and become increasingly stretched, it becomes harder for them to dedicate the time and care that some trend-focussed stories ultimately deserve.

Whilst staff writers will often seek to meet their quantity-based quotas, long-form high-quality writing will always attract readers, be it in print or digital. It seems that treating technology freelancers differently to their on-staff counterparts will soon become a thing of the past. Freelancers are quickly becoming a mainstay of the technology journalism world. Simply put, when it comes to the questions of ‘whether or not freelancers will hold a higher stake in the world of technology journalism’, it’s no longer a case of ‘if’ – but rather ‘when’.

Sources:
[1] https://www.americanpressinstitute.org/publications/reports/survey-research/millennials-social-media/

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ICO investigation highlights data privacy conundrum

Data privacy
Data privacy

12.04.17

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) will launch an inquiry into the capture, and potential exploitation, of voters’ personal data for political gain. The ICO began the investigation after it emerged that Cambridge Analytica, a technology company partly owned by U.S. billionaire Robert Mercer, had played a key role in both the UK Brexit referendum and the U.S. Presidential elections.

Cambridge Analytica utilises data analysis to develop sophisticated profiles of individuals to predict how they might vote. This data identifies swing voters, who are then hit with specific social media messages to sway their vote. Indeed, in February 2016 Cambridge Analytica’s Chief Executive, Alexander Nix, discussed how the company had helped to “supercharge Leave.EU’s social media campaign by ensuring the right messages are getting to the right voters online”.1

For a quite some time the development of technology has been outpacing legislation. For example, the disclosure of information over social media during court proceedings or drones encroaching on traditional aviation routes. There is concern around electoral law, which seems to be falling behind technological advancements. This has serious ramifications for us all.

This is underlined by Cambridge Analytica’s impact on the UK referendum on membership of the European Union. But also in the election of reality TV star Donald Trump as U.S. President. The issue of data usage and privacy is, once again, centre stage. The use of big data represents an unprecedented opportunity for many organisations. However, there are many serious questions to ask. There must be an urgent investigation into the use of data to influence the outcome of our democratic processes. New electoral legislation must address any wrongdoing. Moreover, the pace of legislation must increase to match technological development and big data usage.

Any organisation, including those in PR and comms, has a responsibility to safeguard the privacy of the public’s online data and not use it to nefarious gain. This issue of big data, privacy and legislation are issues that will play out for the foreseeable future – as technology develops and corporate big data usage grows. We eagerly await the findings of the ICO’s investigation later this year.

Source: 
1. http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/big-data-better-donald-trump/1383025

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B2B productivity: Just follow the recipe

17.04.17, by Tim Lines, Associate Director

Productivity is a utopia we’re all striving for. Sometimes that means working harder. However, it’s often a question of working smarter. Or, working in a different way. I recently spoke with B2B Marketing about and some of my tips and tricks. While there is no single answer to boosting team productivity, there are some golden rules you must follow. This is especially true in the world of B2B marketing where the challenge can be… a little more challenging!

“UNDERSTAND YOUR CLIENT AND CHALLENGE”

Productivity plummets when teams don’t understand the challenge at hand. It means they can’t impose themselves. In B2B, we’re delivering a complicated message to a sophisticated, professional audience at different places along a lengthy customer journey. That’s why every piece of planning and every campaign that we deliver is steeped in insights. Productivity can’t exist without knowledge, understanding and research. Therefore, you must invest the time upfront. This will help your team not to waste time, or pull themselves in the wrong direction.

“LEARNING NEVER STOPS”

Productive teams are hungry to learn. Our world is always changing and we – as marketers, communicators and consultants – need to learn and share. This value is baked into the culture of the agency. That’s why we invest in training and development. That’s why we give people the opportunity to develop themselves and their own projects. It’s an investment but we believe we’re only as good as our people.

“REMEMBER TO SAY WELL DONE”

Remember to take the time to say “thank you” and “well done.” Yes, it might sound corny, but it works. It can celebrate a win and build a sense of togetherness. You can recognise a job well-done in a hundred different ways. Unexpected surprises – like breakfasts, pizza lunches or sweets and doughnuts – are always popular.

“CULTURE, CULTURE, CULTURE”

All the tips in the world are completely useless without a culture that values people, teamwork and delivering the very best campaigns. In 2017, PRWeek recognised NBU as one of the industry’s best places to work thanks to our agency’s culture. Our culture attracts brilliant people and exciting clients. An award-winning culture makes us special, and productivity is a clear benefit.