Burrell Communications’ Post

"I'm sorry, but the media will not run these photos." 😬 Delivering this news was devastating after a team spent precious time and energy on a massive overhaul of new photography and a brand refresh. 📸 So, the question begs: Should the PR team dictate creative? 🤔 No, not exactly. However, the PR team should be consulted if you want a fair shake at earned media. 📰 In most cases, the PR team doesn't set foot in the world of production or creative🙅🏻♀️ [Although in my previous life, I was the on-call food styler for a maple syrup brand 🥞 before "sticking" with the written word] But as your publicist, a communications expert, and someone who's mastered the art of pitching by placing hundreds of thousands of stories, it is my responsibility to be radically honest about what media will and will not run with photos. 📢📷 And as I look to call out some of the more common PR pain points on my personal LinkedIn, let’s take a stab at this one so everyone avoids: a.) spending precious resources 💰⏳ b.) the drama and heartache when a product/story doesn’t get picked up. 💔 Here are a few tips on what media will not run in photo/video assets: 📉 Low Res — screenshots won’t cut it, my friends. Don’t bother. 🚫 Anything with branded/promotional text or your logo. Repeat after me, “THIS IS AN AD.” 📸 Overly Staged - this is in the same vein as “ads” - but think of overly posed group shots. Candids and “in action” are best, especially if you’re a service provider. ✂️ Overly Edited - I’m looking at you, beauty brands👀. Do us all a favor and lay off the photoshop and lean on UGC. 🤖 AI-Generated Assets - your proactive PR campaign might turn into a reactive one with crisis comms. Debatable: 🖼️ Renderings — def not ideal for media use but editors will use them in a pinch and at their own discretion. [In full candor, I’ve been guilty of pitching renderings, especially with my real estate brands] Bottom line: renderings are OK, but high-res assets are WAY better - so if you have a finite budget, spend the dollars on photography📸💰 A few other tips: 🖋️ ALWAYS provide photo credit for the photographer to the editor 📁 Use filenames for your photo assets that are short but descriptive for some extra SEO juice - new-product-by-Yourbrand.jpg is better than IMG00023.JPG. 🤔 Editors, Freelancers, Reporters and Producers: Did I miss anything? 🤔 General Pop: Any surprises here? [Photo: Me "fake working" - which should never be used for pitching media 😅] #MediaRelations #PRAgency #PRprofessional #Pitching ---------------------------------------------------------------- 🙋🏻♀️Hi! I'm Britt - I turn national lifestyle and real estate brands into media magnets. ⌨️PM to chat all things PR! 

The infamous photo of Ed Miliband struggling with a bacon sandwich is still hilariously cruel, but it serves as a stark reminder of why creative professionals—photographers, videographers, designers—are vital in modern communications. And yet, The Times has criticised the energy secretary for advertising a £41,000 photographer role, branding it as a "vanity hire." Let’s unpack why this criticism misses the mark. In today’s integrated PR world, visuals are no longer an optional extra—they’re essential. Every organisation, whether it’s a company, charity, or government department, relies on professional content to grab attention and tell their story effectively. From showcasing green hydrogen facilities to documenting international climate conferences, these visuals aren’t about glorifying the individual; they’re about engaging the public in meaningful ways. The job description makes it clear that the role focuses on capturing images to promote the department’s policies and initiatives, not Ed Miliband’s personal profile. Whether it’s offshore wind farms or net-zero campaigns, the content serves public interest, not ego. A photographer embedded in the communications team works alongside videographers and designers to deliver cohesive, engaging content. This reflects modern PR best practices, where multimedia is essential for amplifying key messages across news outlets and social media. By hiring in-house, the department avoids paying external agencies or freelancers for every project. For £41,000 (plus a £5,000 communications allowance), you’re getting a professional who is always on-hand to deliver consistent, high-quality content—something that ultimately offers better value for taxpayers. This is not a new idea. Most government departments already have photographers, videographers, and other creative roles to meet the demands of public engagement. The advertised salary aligns with other mid-level civil service communications jobs, making this role entirely consistent with industry standards. In a world where headlines are fought over in a crowded media landscape, great imagery is often the difference between a story being noticed or ignored. High-quality visuals that "grab headlines and stand out on social media" directly support the department’s goals of promoting net-zero policies and showcasing progress to the public. We live in a world where every organisation needs talented content creators. Some businesses hire a single creative; others establish entire in-house studios. In both cases, the aim is the same—to connect with audiences through powerful storytelling. If anything, government departments tasked with advancing critical policies like energy security and net zero should be leading the way in this approach. Calling this position a "vanity hire" fundamentally misrepresents its purpose and undermines the importance of integrated communications in modern government. But that picture is hilarious!

Is fear holding you back from pursuing your dream job? Here's my latest blog to cheer you on. #copywriting #marketing #writing #contentwriting #storytelling #VOGUE #magazinewriter

Hiring a social media agency sounds complicated, right? Let me stop you there. Nine out of ten clients say the same thing after seeing our process: “This is way easier than I thought.” We take care of everything: ✔ Strategy ✔ Content creation ✔ Editing ✔ Captions ✔ Posting Your only job? Show up for shoots (if needed) and review the plan when you feel like it. That’s it. We make it simple, smooth, and stress-free so you can focus on scaling your business.

The life of a social media manager means that one minute you're a graphic designer, the next you're a copywriter, analyst, customer service rep, and maybe even a part-time therapist. If only we got paid for each hat we wear. 😂🎩👒🧢 Here's to all the multitasking maestros out there juggling more roles than an actor in a one-man show.   #SocialMediaSuperstars #JackOfAllTrades #MasterOfAll

🌟 Elevate your marketing game with the top talent solutions for your next campaign! 🚀 Whether you need a creative director, account executive, strategic planner, client service expert, copywriter, or art director, we've got you covered! 💼💡 We are your staffing solution! #marketingmavens #creativegenius #strategysavvy #clientfirst #copywritingkingdom #artistryatwork #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #businessboost #digitaldynasty #innovationinspiration #brandbuilders #marketingmagic #toptalent #marketingstrategy #advertisingaces #creativeagency #digitalmarketing #contentcreation #clientsuccess #brandmanagement #marketingconsultants #agencylife

Social Media Manager – Jack of All Trades, Master of Some? Really?? 🤔 A ‘Social Media Manager’ is often expected to encompass a wide array of responsibilities, including: 1. Video editing. 2. Graphic design. 3. Content writing. 4. Content creation. 5. Digital marketing. Yes, that's true! But weird, I was once criticised for not knowing how to handle a camera. Hold on, 🫷🏻shouldn’t that be a cameraman’s job? Normalising one individual to master every part of creative social media work isn't fair at all, because it can create such an unbalanced workload. So, stop piling everything onto one role! Let’s be practical: 1. Want a better video edit? Get a profesional editor. 📹 2. Need creative visuals? Team up with graphic designers. 🖌️ 3. But when it comes to building a strong social media presence, that’s where the Social Media Manager can truly excel! 💡✨ Being a Social Media Manager isn’t just about posting content; it’s about strategic planning, seamless coordination and the process of building a strong brand presence across all social media platforms. You should really recognise each person’s strengths in social media team in the first place. When everyone focuses on what they’re best at, the result works so much better. 📈 P/s. Dear employers, hear my plea — trust your Social Media Manager, they’ve got you covered! 🫡💯 #SocialMediaManagement #Collaboration #Productivity #EffectiveWork

Media Agencies Are Struggling—Here’s How to Fix It Media Agencies Are Facing More Challenges Than Ever... Tight deadlines. High-volume content demands. Shrinking budgets. The pressure to deliver high-quality campaigns—faster and cheaper—is real. 📊 85% of agencies struggle with high-volume content production. 📊 72% face budget constraints while trying to scale. 📊 65% say hiring the right talent is a constant challenge. But what if there was a way to scale production, streamline workflows, and meet deadlines—without overloading your in-house team? That’s exactly what we do at Yokly. ✅ Dedicated, Pre-Trained Creative & Marketing Professionals – Get expert video editors, designers, and campaign coordinators without the long hiring process. ✅ Flexible & Scalable Support – Scale your team up or down as needed without increasing overhead costs. ✅ Faster Turnaround & Workflow Optimization – Keep up with multi-platform campaigns without burnout. The best agencies don’t just work harder—they work smarter. Curious about how top agencies are solving these challenges? Let’s talk! Drop a comment below or DM me. 🔽Check out the visual below to see what’s holding agencies back and how they’re fixing it. #MediaAgencies #CreativeProduction #MarketingPainPoints #ScalingAgencies #AdvertisingTrends #AgencyGrowth #MarketingChallenges #MediaProduction #CreativeSolutions #AdvertisingStrategy

Why a social media agency will cost 10x more than my solo business... Agency Account Director 10%, Account Manager 10%, Strategist 10%, Designer 10%, Videographer 10%, Photographer 10%, Video editor 10%, Performance Manager 10%, Media Planner 10%, Copywriter 10% Me 100% - Account Director, Account Manager, Strategist, Designer, Videographer, Photographer, Video Editor, Performance Manager, Media Planner, Copywriter That's not to say there isn't a place for an agency. If you're a very large business with huge budgets - 10x campaigns running at one time with millions of media spend, then yes of course, you need a team not an individual. But for the majority of SMEs, you don't need an agency. You need someone who is passionate enough, pro-active enough and hard-working enough to have up-skilled themselves in all the necessary areas of social media marketing - the individual may not be the McDonalds of innovation or the Specsavers of execution, but that individual is enough to give your competitors a run for their money at a fraction of the price.

Love this POV from Savarone Ammann on how copywriters can make themselves more essential, now that AI's here. Particularly love the points about what good copywriters do that is frankly irreplaceable, like: 1. Asking questions 2. Thinking strategically 3. Judging the info that's truly useful in the client brief. Easy to take for granted, but we shouldn't.