Hello hello there!
March Madness
Where to start? We should be used to this by now, but Spring has sprung. We start the year knee-deep in planning, February disappears in the blink of an eye and then hey presto, March madness appears.
Events are back in full swing, spinning the plates of new business enquiries is a job in itself, and then as I’m one never to rest on my laurels, we have training and agency planning sessions to schedule in.
Projects this month have included everything from the unveiling of a new £15m showroom for a client, to a partnership with JOE.ie that reached 350,000 people in just two weeks, including almost 30,000 people participating in the weekly joe.ie quiz! Not forgetting our first-ever pieces of coverage in Scottish Farmer and Agriland.co.uk for a pedigree cattle sale in a Co Down Estate and multiple award entries for clients.
We held an agency planning morning, attended a special awards event at Hillsborough Castle and I was honoured to be asked to judge the inaugural PR Week People and Places Awards.
It starts with an idea
So many times when I look back at what we’ve delivered for clients, it started with an idea. A good idea. Over the years, this has been a true strength of the agency. My creative brain can be a challenge at times, but like everything, there are certainly many gains - including a never-ending supply of new thinking and ideas.
A few weeks ago, an idea that we discussed back in Jan for a client became a reality. From the initial idea to planning, outreach, scheduling, filming and the final edits, a new YouTube series is now live. Episode 3 has just aired and I’m so proud of what the team has produced.
For our client, they gain from the introduction of a totally new concept, benefit from rich content that has huge potential to grow in popularity, growing their audience through affiliations with the featured guests, and giving audiences another reason to visit their website.
I can’t wait to see how this series develops. The challenge for both the client and us is to stick with it, not become obsessed with the numbers, build on marginal gains, and give it the time it deserves to deliver – check out the series here: https://homesni.com/behind-closed-doors
In the business for new business
A big learning from last year, that I always need to remind myself of, is the need to have an ‘always on’ mentality for new business. To not get consumed by the current workload and always leave capacity for working on and embracing new business.
From the frustrating and often bewildering process of tenders (thank goodness for Sinead and her love of processes and paperwork) to open-ended briefs for FMCG brands, we must have responded to well over ten new business briefs in the last four weeks, and that’s not to mention new business enquiries for fetch Ireland - our micro-influencer platform that seems to attract lots of interest from brands outside of the UK and Ireland, as well as local companies.
Did we win them all… no! And thank goodness for that as delivery and quality for our current clients is paramount.
And I’m a big believer in that what we didn’t win, wasn’t for us. But we did secure several really exciting new pieces of work which fit our experience, expertise and ambition.
Time to get LEAN
In the midst of everything else, Sinead and I have been studying the concept of LEAN - based on LEAN manufacturing principles, it puts the customer at the heart of everything we do. I’m part of a book club of entrepreneurs who are deep-diving into the principles and then incorporating them into their businesses. Sinead at RNN is bought in and can see how we, and all businesses, can adopt LEAN principles to make our business more streamlined, our delivery more valuable and our culture vibrant.
One of the team quite rightly asked me: ‘why are we doing this?’ Because I’m a firm believer that none of us has it sussed. There’s always room for improvement and growth. Forward motion and curiosity make us richer in terms of our knowledge, learnings, how our business runs and what we can offer to others.
If you’re interested in finding out more about LEAN, here’s where to start – the Lean Made Simple website that houses hours of superb content from the book’s author, Ryan Tierney of Seating Matters - https://www.leanmadesimple.com/
And that brings me to a super blog article by Sarah - The Many Hats of PR. Sarah joined us in September from a marketing agency and six months in, Sarah was recently reflecting on how many different hats we wear in PR, our chameleon nature and the pace of the agency. If you have a few minutes to spare, check out Sarah’s blog here: The Many Hats of PR: Why Versatility is the Secret to Success - rnn communications
And so, thanks as always for reading. That’s you up to speed with all of the goings on at RNN this month (well, those that I can publish 😜)
If you’ve any questions on the above or would like to get in touch, my inbox is always open: riki@rnncommunications.com
For now, it’s over and out.
Riki
As I sit in the office, reflecting on some of the exciting client projects we’ve been delivering lately, it never ceases to amaze me how many different ‘hats’ we wear within the PR and Communications industry.
Far from a ‘one-size-fits-all’ job, if you ask any PR pro what their typical day looks like, you’ll likely be met with a laugh before they rattle through a list of roles that could rival an entire department!
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt, it’s that no two days (or even two hours) are ever the same in RNN Communications. One day, we’re strategists, mapping out long-term campaigns that align with business goals. The next, we’re creative copywriters, crafting compelling narratives that capture attention. And then there are the days when we’re producers, working behind the scenes to bring ideas to life through video, events, or social media content. PR really isn’t just about media relations anymore - it’s about being a storyteller, a strategist, a creative and a problem solver all rolled into one.
From Idea to Execution
Believe it or not, a great PR campaign doesn’t just happen. It starts with insight, research and a strong creative vision. As PR and Comms professionals, we also tick the box of…
It’s this ability to wear multiple hats (*and switch between them seamlessly) that makes PR professionals so valuable.
So, the next time you see a perfectly timed campaign or a story that captures headlines, remember: behind the scenes, a PR team was busy wearing many hats to bring it to life.
Hello hello there!
We’ve been feeling the LOVE in February…a love for our client work, new projects and events, and a love for other experiences too.
SAYING YES Just take two weeks ago - I said YES to a new adventure. I had so many reasons to say NO. We have deadlines, there are lots of spinning plates and an endless stream of new business enquiries. But – I said YES! And I’m so delighted I did.
Rachel, a former colleague of mine, asked me to accompany her to Abu Dhabi to the Tech Powered Luxury event at the Irish Ambassador’s private residence. Rachel and I joined a host of Irish fashion and jewellery designers, Irish media and UAE-based influencers at the event which covered a live podcast recording, a fashion show and networking. Although Rachel’s days in PR are long behind her, her PR training has stood her in good stead. From the involvement at the event to maximising the models and imagery, building her social following and personal brand, this was a one-off opportunity that Rachel maximised for her new bridal dress business, The White Era, which sits alongside Rachel’s long-established bridal boutique https://www.thewhitegalleryboutique.co.uk/
For me, I got to spend time with Rachel, meet new people and reconnect with some others, see new things and simply take two days out from our PR, deadline-driven world.
We visited the Louvre, Abu Dhabi, the amazing St Regis Hotel on Saadiyat Island (where we spotted a family photoshoot on St Valentine’s Day that was complete with a seven-strong crew), one of the largest mosques in the world - the incredible Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - and we finished off an epic trip with dinner at Hakkasan Abu Dhabi. Set within the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental… honestly, I have NEVER visited such an opulent hotel. I love a little OTT but this was on a whole other level! What a 48-hours, whistlestop trip to Abu Dhabi!
COOKING UP A STORM AT CATEX: Back on Irish soil, this February marked 60 years of CATEX - one of Europe’s longest-running trade events. Organised by the superb team at EventHaus on behalf of IFSA, we have worked alongside the EventHaus team for many years, providing the comms support for the event.
CATEX is right up there as one of our favourite events. Created for the hospitality, foodservice and catering sectors, CATEX is a feature-rich event that welcomes 12,000 visitors every two years. This year’s event was exceptional - from the standout quality of the exhibitor stands to the mix of exhibitors and programme of events.
Jill and I attended the event, which was superb. After our work (of course 😊), we nibbled our way around the show, spotted new trends in cuisine, met some seriously progressive businesses and watched the bartenders ‘in the mix’ at the Irish Cocktail Championships. We met baristas, young budding chefs and catering veterans who all shared a love for the vibrance of hospitality.
Business-to-business events are a particular favourite of RNN’s and in this digital-first world, there’s a realness that exhibitions offer. I truly believe that their value will increase and the importance of expos will be elevated as we seek to build real connections that the digital world just can’t offer. Through face-to-face opportunities, meaningful business discussions can take place, new connections are made, and there’s a chance to see and taste products in real life.
Not everyone understands how to market B-2-B but for us, this is our bread and butter. We have years of experience delivering comms for trade events, and that’s why we know our stuff, especially when it comes to how exhibitors can boost their presence at trade events.
In this month’s blog article, Jill shares some very solid advice on how exhibitors can maximise their event - for the full article, click here: https://rnncommunications.com/blog/top-tips-before-you-turn-up-to-a-trade-show/
#TRENDING I know what you’re thinking…eye-roll (me too sometimes) - but the facts are that if you can keep up to speed on what’s trending on social, what’s in vogue, what to tap into - you’ll supercharge your social with relativity the same time input. So being aware of the trends isn't just common sense but it makes financial sense. It saves time and makes your social pop.
I’m all about effectiveness and efficiency, and continually questioning what’s new, what’s trending, how our work reflects this and what are the results. Delighted to see that Tara’s blog this month is on current trends. So whether it is to expand your reach, launch new products or reach new demographics, consider incorporating Tara’s social trends in your future content – Three Social Media Trends You Can’t Ignore in 2025 & What to Watch Out For - rnn communications
And we move…. marching into March with renewed vigour, exciting client campaigns and new names in our inboxes. Onwards we go.
As always, my inbox is open for any questions. I wish you all a year of progress ahead and if we can be of help in any way, please do get in touch.
Over & out,
Riki
