Celebrating 23 years of helping our clients grow their businesses

NOW IS the time to put a social media strategy in place. With 500 million active Facebook users globally, the need for getting your brand seen by your customers is even greater.

William Murray Communications has launched a fast-track way to start right now. At a time when marketing budgets are working harder than ever, Social media for business should be part of your strategy.

Contact digital and social media director Bernadette Costello for an initial chat about your online needs. +44 (0)20 8256 1360.

IF YOU’RE not a sponsor of 2012 then mind how you market your products at the Games

The London 2012 Organising Committee has warned UK companies, who are not sponsors of the London Olympics, that associating their brands with the Games could result in court action.

Firms cashing in with marketing jargon related to the London Olympics or Paralympics – in ads and press releases – also face paying out hefty compensation for breaching the rules. (more…)

WILLIAM MURRAY, the No1 PR and communications agency for foodservice and hospitality, has launched three fast-track steps for businesses to embrace social media. The three stages form a social media strategy to position your company for growth.

Used on their own, each step targets different areas of your online strategy – without duplicating the work of your marketing or web team.

What are William Murray’s new services and how will they grow my online business?

1.    The online report
This bespoke report is for companies keen to engage with potential customers on social media sites but need help defining the right audiences. Extensive, behind-the-scenes research identifies these target groups for you and recommends the key messages you should be communicating about your brand.

2.    The social media workshop
This half-day workshop helps your staff communicate commercially on social media sites. We’ll devise guidelines to avoid staff damaging your brand while helping them stay true to the chatty spirit of Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

This hands-on, practical social media course will give your staff the tips and tools to attract new business. Potential new customers will be directed to your website and not to a competitor or third party. We work with your web team to optimise social media.

3.    The engagement plan
This monthly strategy will target and engage with your potential customers on social media sites. It includes a combination of SEO (Google AdWords where necessary), relevant blogs for your industry, hands-on social media and contact with online influencers. Other elements include:
•    Reporting the changes to your search engine rankings
•    Writing and syndicating news and blogs to press distribution services
•    Creating quality links to your website to increase your Google presence.

To discuss how social media helps business, and other online marketing queries, please call Bernadette Costello, digital & social media director at William Murray, on +44 20 8256 1360.

Or email: bernadette@williammurray.co.uk
LinkedIn: Bernadette Costello

“The biggest challenges facing businesses are being found in search engines by the right target audiences – but then working out what to say to their customers,” said Bernadette Costello, digital and social media director at William Murray.

“Companies are under increasing pressure to make their marketing budgets work harder – social media is a cost-effective way of doing this. William Murray’s three new steps will identify where your target groups are talking about your brand. We also work flexibly with your team to reposition your business for growth.”

Then come and work with William Murray and you’ll be rubbing shoulders with the crème-de-la-crème of chefs.

An award-winning PR and communications agency, William Murray runs trade and consumer campaigns across all media platforms. We’ve worked with Hell’s Kitchen stars including Marco Pierre White and Jean-Christophe Novelli, as well as chefs Michel Roux Junior and Glynn Purnell.

Work with masterchefs like Jean-Christophe Novelli

We are now looking for a senior account manager with an eye for detail, ideas by the dozen and a passion for food, drink and hospitality.

You’ll work on a range of major accounts for print, trade, consumer, TV and social media. In return for your previous experience as a PR account manager, we promise you a fast-track career progression in a top 100 agency.

Interested?
Persuasive?
Great writing skills?
Organised?
And above all, fun to work with?
Then we’d like to hear from you.

To apply for the role of senior account manager at William Murray:
Please send us an email telling us your proudest PR achievement to date, along with your CV and salary expectations to Judith Williamson: Judith@williammurray.co.uk
For further questions call +44 (0)20 8256 1360.

William Murray location
William Murray’s office is in East Croydon -  just 15 minutes from Victoria and London Bridge and with some of the best shopping facilities in the South East.

Package
We offer a competitive salary, on-going training and flexible benefits.

I can’t imagine why businesses haven’t already considered this, or already put the practice into action, but a recent article The Publican has reported that a recruitment consultancy is advising businesses to consider introducing flexible working hours during the World Cup to avoid staff taking sickies.

In the economic climate we’re in today, I wouldn’t think that anyone would run the risk of taking a sickie to watch the football as no job is seen as secure, however this can only do the employer good as it’s offering the option for their staff that do want to watch the football the opportunity to do so whilst not having to worry about taking holiday to cover the time off.

According to the latest issue of the Morning Advertiser top chef Marco Pierre White is planning to open 14 Wheeler’s pubs in a joint venture with independent pub company Powder Train, following the re-opening of an East Sussex pub this week.  The Chequers has benefited from an extensive £150,000 refurbishment to enhance its 18th century character. The pub has previously traded mostly on wet sales but is now set to become a food destination with an exciting new menu. Sounds like it could be a great new place to try for William Murray’s Diva’s Who Dine!

With a licensee transforming her back garden into a community allotment it goes to show that local pubs still have that community spirit.

Bringing the community together to appreciate ‘home-grown’ fruit and vegetables not only encourages locals to get involved, but could also help to establish healthier eating in our children giving them the opportunity to see first hand picking of the fruit and vegetables when ready.  Although this isn’t viable to many licensees out there – it’s a nice thing to do if you can.

KAREN BROWNE – reporting live from the Bocuse d’Or final in Geneva:

Count down to the Bocuse d’Or results

“This is just so exciting. The crowd is being entertained by the Swiss National Orchestra and a dance troupe. Talk about an ‘event’ – it’s a real homage to the chefs and the spectacular food we’ve seen. Not long to wait now…”

Log in later for the results

SIMON HULSTONE RIB EYE ROAST - Image courtesy of Michelle Diederichs

KAREN BROWNE reporting live from Bocuse d’Or …. ‘I’m here in Geneva for the Bocuse d’Or Euro Finals as part of ‘Team UK’ supporting Simon Hulstone. Simon has been amazing and the atmosphere is electric. It’s the chef equivalent of the World Cup!’

Log in for results later this afternoon

William Murray Communications has created the new position of digital and social media director, recognising the importance and value of the opportunities available to its clients in the online environment.

Award-winning writer and social media specialist Bernadette Costello took up the new role at the beginning of June. A journalist for 10 years, Bernadette started her career as a sub-editor at The Sun newspaper before joining global business-to-business titles in drinks and later the overseas property industry.

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