As increasingly newspapers and trade magazines are relying on businesses to submit their own photographs to accompany stories, Zeus PR advises on what makes ‘a good press photo’.

If a story is of key importance to your business, we would always recommend booking a freelance press photographer for an hour’s shoot. They know exactly what newspapers and the trade press are looking for and for the sake of around £150, it is usually money well spent.

However, for smaller stories, or where a budget is not available there are some simple guidelines which you should follow:-

• Always take the image digitally, and email to the journalist in high resolution (usually minimum of 300dpi in jpeg format works best)
• Keep the shot simple – what is ‘the story’?
• Focus on the subject and ‘don’t go too wide’ by including unnecessary background
• Don’t be afraid of ‘close up’ shots, they can be very impactful
• Keep in mind your audience, for corporate press for example a Facebook style-image is not goig to work
• Don’t be too overt with branding, keep logos to a minimum otherwise the image may be seen as ‘too commercial’ for editorial inclusion
•  You can be creative, for charity themed stories for instance an action shot of the ‘fundraising in action’ is often more interesting than a cheque presentation photo

Premium nursery furniture and interiors retailer, Along Came Baby has appointed  Zeus PR to launch its new Chester store and provide on-going retained PR for its well established e-tail site www.alongcamebaby.co.uk.

With an official opening at the end of March, the new store location, on Commonhall Street in Chester city centre will showcase collections from designer nursery brands such as Boori and Designers Guild favoured by celebrity yummy mummys and high spend customers alike.

Due to a number of recent account wins, we are recruiting for two positions – a graduate trainee and an online PR assistant.

If you are interested in starting your career with a fast moving PR consultancy then we want to hear from you.
 
You will be based at Zeus PR’s Head Office in Congleton, Cheshire and will work across a variety of consumer and b2b accounts from motor, beauty and fashion to professional services and education.
 
We have great clients, and boast great results to match. Our environment is extremely fast paced, but rewarding, with great potential for career growth.
 
You will need a highly committed work ethic, strong writing skills and a great phone manner, with the ability to ’sell stories’ to the media.

Your own transport and a valid driving license is a must.
 
If you think you are right for us, email your CV and a covering letter to Anthea Fosti at anthea@zeuspr.co.uk

Zeus PR has recently been commissioned by leading creative and digital agency, Blueleaf.

The PR consultancy  is charged with heightening awareness of Blueleaf amongst potential clients and generating sustained media coverage through showcasing the agency’s achievements for blue chip clients  such as Next, British Cycling and Laura Ashley.

Digital Director and MD at Blueleaf

Journalists can receive up to 500 emails a day – so to make sure you get your press release right, Zeus PR gives 5 top tips:-

• Use a punchy headline
• Detail the ‘how’, ‘what’ ‘why’ ‘where’ and ‘when’ in the first paragraph
• For post event press releases, email across an eye-catching, high resolution photograph to illustrate the story
• Always give contact details (email and phone numbers) so the reporters can get in touch
• Email it across first. If you haven’t had a response by the following day, give the reporter a quick call to check it’s been received (but don’t pester, one call is enough!)

Happy writing!

Zeus PR has won via a competitive pitch the PR brief to launch the newly formed APOD – The Association of Publishers of Online Legal Documents.

APOD has been created to raise awareness of the supply of online legal documents, as an affordable and reliable alternative to costly high street professional legal services.  The association will also serve as an education tool for businesses as to which legal documentation is required to protect their interests, in various matters from employment to trading agreements.

Pockets Casual Shrewsbury Store

Zeus PR has won the retained PR brief for designer menswear chain Pockets, following a 3 way pitch. 

The consultancy has been tasked with raising national consumer awareness of the brand, raising Pockets profile in its store locations and driving footfall to its fully transactional website www.pockets.co.uk.

Pockets which currently operates 6 stores is one of the largest and well known independent luxury retail groups in the Midlands.

Zeus PR worked alongside Blue Bell BMW Wilmslow to launch the new compact X model, BMW X1; and the hatchback crossover, 5 Series Gran Turismo (GT).

Guests were treated to a luxurious wine tasting session, with expert Howard Domney from Charles Mitchell Wines, demonstrating his dedication to the tasting of wine, as well as a chance to experience the new models in all their glory.

Jason Shenton, Sales Director at Blue Bell Wilmslow, says: “The launch event was a huge success. Customers were in awe of every aspect of the new models, which are now great additions to the existing Blue Bell BMW range.”

The Zeus PR team is celebrating its  ’Highly Commended’ award win, presented at the prestigious How-Do Public Services Communications Awards, for Best Partnership Engagement Initiative following their work with Creative Partnerships Staffordshire on the Glebe Primary School project.

The awards took place at a glittering communications industry dinner on 12 November 2009 at MUFC, Old Trafford, Manchester.