Social Media
Social media for business: Instagram and Snapchat Stories switch-up
The two-leading visual social networks are at the oneupmanship game again, with a host of script-flips set to revolutionise how we use both platforms.
resources & news
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Our News
Social Media
Facebook's new algorithm change – will it be the end for brand pages?
We’re sure you will agree that Facebook has largely been an exercise for your thumb in recent years where you open up the app and find yourself scrolling through content without really stopping. Whether it’s a cute video of a baby panda being born, a meme about blackouts from the weekend or breaking news stories … Continued
Comms
Carillion proves why the comms team needs your ear
It’s the biggest UK news story of the week, and will likely be one of the biggest come year end even if 2018 has literally just got itself into gear. When news broke on Monday that the country’s second largest construction firm, Carillion, had collapsed, many people looked on aghast. Placing tens of thousands of … Continued
Journalism
newspapers
Our News
PR News
Small size means big change: The Guardian’s redesign
It was undoubtedly an exciting turn of events for PRs and journalists alike this week when the Guardian finally revealed its first tabloid format in what has been a long-awaited redesign. The change caused quite a stir on social media and had other national newspapers chomping at the bit to poke fun at one … Continued
Technology
CES 2018: 6 key takeouts
That’s that, then/ CES 2018— AKA the Consumer Electronics Show— finished in Las Vegas on Friday, closing four days of forward-thinking, future-proofing, attendee-wowing showcases for another year. Here are six key takeouts everyone in marketing and comms needs to know about…
newspapers
PR thoughts: Daily Mail, Virgin Trains, and press freedom
As you may or may not have noticed this week, an argument has kicked off between the Daily Mail, Virgin Trains, and two opposing politicians who, for what could be the first (and last) time this year, seem to agree on something. Virgin Trains is the latest brand to bow to pressure from Stop Funding Hate, … Continued
Our News
Smoking Gun's 2017 Almanac
With just four days until Father Christmas gets here we thought it about time to unveil our annual roundup of the year according to Manchester’s most ingenious comms agency.
Our News
Merry panto season from team Smoking Gun
This pantomime season, the hard working Guns have temporarily paused their pens, faded out Facebook and iced over their influencer campaigns to share some festive themed comms insights with you. Watch our latest animated video: After yet another exhilarating and successful year for many of our clients and ourselves, the office will be closed from … Continued
Seen This?
Smoking Gun's 2018 ultimate PR, internal comms, marketing, and digital trend roundup
It has taken some doing, but after pooling our resources, sources, and heads, Smoking Gun has come up with the following not-so-short-list of the best online trend predictions for 2018 in SEO, social, PR, internal comms, marketing, and digital.
Marketing
Male sexism and the modern marketing minefield
Over the last 12 months here on the Smoking Gun blog we’ve tackled a range of issues that directly impact on our work as a leading marketing, PR, and comms agency. One of which is sexism, and the way in which gender stereotypes play out in the media as a whole, and specifically advertising. ‘Are … Continued
Broadcast
ITV's digital plans should interest online PR agencies (and their clients)
ITV News, one of the biggest names in UK current affairs broadcasting, has unveiled its biggest push into digital yet, with three unique programme formats heading for the brand’s website in the near future. Online PR agencies take note, then. It’s a major shift in terms of investment, to date the organisation has been less … Continued
Media News
Public relations agency thoughts: #Royalwedding coverage (and jitters)
So as you won’t have managed to miss, news hit last Monday that Prince Harry and his American squeeze Meghan Markle will be tying the knot in May 2018 at St. George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle. Naturally, the UK and international press reacted by dedicating a good proportion of their content to the event, … Continued
Newsletter
newspapers
Love it or loath it, just don't ignore it! Smoking Gun dissects the national newsbrand that splits opinion more than any other
It doesn’t matter which wing your politics falls into, what side of the fence you prefer to stand on, or how you like your eggs in the morning (incidentally mine’s with a kiss) the idea of genuine editorial neutrality in the UK is a myth, and has been since the birth of news as business. … Continued
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