We’re a team of earned media pros, former national news editors, and working journalists. Our Chief Storyteller, Carl Stroud (an industry-first appointment), is one of the UK’s leading voices on earned media, with more than two decades spanning Fleet Street journalism.

Our media relationships and astute understanding of the evolving newsroom landscape mean we’re uniquely placed to secure the coverage that matters, whether that’s prime-time TV, digital headlines, or trade bibles.

Never working in silos, we create ingenious stories that not only earn media attention but also work seamlessly across channels, including social media, influencer marketing, and owned content, to deliver maximum impact.

Whether your goal is to grow awareness, ignite a perception change, or establish undisputed thought leadership, we’ll challenge you to think differently and exceed your expectations.

Large Language Models don’t invent brand recommendations; they crawl high-authority, trusted press sources to decide who to trust. Effective media relations is no longer just about tomorrow’s headlines; it is the literal fuel that powers AI discovery.

With ChatGPT alone processing billions of prompts daily, the way the B2B and B2C worlds seek information has fundamentally shifted. To ensure your brand is actively recommended by these platforms, cementing your market authority through top-tier media, expert commentary, and cultural relevance has never been more business-critical.

Smoking Gun keeps its clients consistently cited, highly praised, and actively discussed across the web’s most influential platforms.

We help you play by the rules of AI visibility. By combining the authority-building power of earned media placements with strategic performance techniques, we ensure your brand wins the algorithmic race without compromising on storytelling that remains memorable, intelligent, and unmistakably human.

CASE STUDY: See how we’re helping brands grow their AI share of voice.

Getting your products in the right hands is what we do. In a digital-first world, getting your product featured in the top-tier shopping round-ups, broadcast gift guides, and viral unboxings isn’t about luck – it’s about having the ultimate black book, knowledge of the media calendar, and an understanding of trending hooks. 

From high-authority online wishlists to the digital platforms driving direct-to-basket clicks, we manage a slick product placement machine. We know exactly how to package your offering so it speaks the language of busy shopping editors, prolific product testers, and digital stylists.

But we don’t stop at traditional placements. We treat product placement as a multi-channel catalyst, seamlessly bridging the gap between editorial authority, influencer seeding, and social proof.

At Smoking Gun, we build, shape, and protect brand reputations.

Operating across every communication channel, we marry heavy-hitting media relations with clear-cut social intelligence to command authority and forge ironclad brand trust.

Our highly senior, battle-tested team can step into the fray immediately in a crisis situation and take control of the media narrative. We’ve spent years guiding brands through their toughest public hours, from household-name retailers to major national transport providers.

So whether you need a rapid-response media relations team to tackle an immediate reputational risk or a long-term blueprint to grow your profile and shift market perceptions, our elite communications strategies deliver absolute clarity.