Back to Blog

Adopting AI in your business

Let’s talk about AI adoption and where to start with your employees.AI remains a key focus for our team. Some of us attended a session on AI in marketing earlier in March. Charlotte is also participating in an April session designed to equip business owners and managers with practical tools to streamline their business processes.Artificial intelligence is shaking up all sorts of industries, including ours, and really changing the way businesses run. If you’re a leader or business owner who h...

Keep looking up as you tackle business this year

Sometimes, we need to press pause - to step away from the noise, the schedules, and the constant motion of life and business. My recent retreat in Samoa was exactly that - an opportunity to breathe, reflect, share problems and challenges with a small group of like-minded people, and reaffirm my purpose in both life and business.The breathtaking To Sua Ocean Trench was one of our stop-off points during the retreat after a morning of personal development and learning new tools. If you’ve been to...

Out with the old, in with the new for Instagram

Social media is always evolving and some things change out of the blue. That was the case for some of Instagram’s newest features. Cushla shared two of them:Transition of post format from 1:1 to 4:5The length of reels has increased Check out her tips in optimising these features and improving the look and reach of your Instagram profile....

Does your content match what people search for?

In digital marketing and PR, creating content that resonates with your audience is crucial. Making sure your content matches what people are searching for is essential, otherwise your message may be lost.Google processes billions of searches daily, with users seeking answers, information, and recommendations. Ensuring your content includes the right keyword, i.e. the specific terms and phrases your audience is entering into the search bar, can help you connect with them more effectively. It’s ...

Getting your communication right when building your reputation

Mastering the fundamentals of business communication can make a huge impact on your brand’s identity and reputation and, ultimately, your bottom line. This is especially important if you’re a service provider.Amazon founder Jeff Bezos once said, "your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room." Just tweaking a few ways you communicate can really shape how customers see your brand and boost their experience with your company. So it's really important to focus on the lit...

Kickstart 2025 - Top 3 ways to set yourself up for success this year

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, business leader, manager, or simply someone in a comms, PR or marketing role with big dreams and aspirations, your choices in January can set the tone for the rest of the year. If you’re like us, you’ve probably had some quiet time to reflect on 2024 and think about what you’d like to achieve at a high level in 2025.  The new year provides the perfect opportunity to make a fresh start. It’s the time to reflect, refocus, and reignite your g...

Social media trends for 2025 – here’s what you need to know

As we step into 2025, the social media landscape continues to evolve rapidly. Brands and marketers need to stay ahead of the curve to engage with their audiences effectively. Here are a few key trends we capturing from a recent Hootsuite article, which could shape the way you use social media for business in 2025.Creative disruptionLast year we shared that some of our clients were concerned that their social media engagement was dropping. To build on that, in 2025, creativity will...

Navigating paid and earned media

Have you pitched a story to your local paper recently, only to be redirected to paid advertorial or ad placement options? You’re not alone. The media landscape has shifted significantly, and managing expectations around earned media (free print, broadcast, and online coverage) is more important than ever.Here’s what’s happening:Newsroom’s are shrinking, and dependence on advertising has increasedOne of the most significant challenges facing traditional media is lack of revenue. Many news...

Measuring what matters in media coverage

This week's local paper reported that the district council improved its media coverage with 80 mentions this year, up from 64 last year. The council also noted its average potential audience reach hit 600,000+ per month, surpassing their 200,000 goal. According to the Council, this is "how we measure success."At first glance, this might seem pretty impressive. But for seasoned PR professionals, it's clear that this method is mostly about numbers and doesn't really get to the heart of what's happ...

Mastering your messaging (part 1): Four cognitive biases you need to know

We’ve recently been learning about cognitive biases and how they apply to public relations, marketing and communications. Understanding how we as humans relate to information and each other is fascinating – and super useful when creating marketing and communications messaging. ...

Tips for taking a great photo to accompany your media release

A great photo can go a long way with mediaWhen it comes to pitching a media release, the importance of a compelling photo cannot be overlooked. Editors and journalists are inundated with press releases, and having a professional, eye-catching image can be the difference between your story being buried in an inbox or landing a coveted feature.This blog provides valuable tips for creating and sourcing outstanding photos to complement your media release, along with insightful strategies for maximis...

Is Facebook for business dead or is it your content?

Many businesses have expressed frustration with dwindling engagement on Facebook. Posts that once generated likes, comments, and shares now often go unnoticed. So, the big question is: Has Facebook for business truly lost its relevance, or is your content the real issue?...

The importance of fact checking in PR and marketing

Happy first official day of Spring! Today is the official first day of Spring. That's correct. 23 September 2024 is New Zealand's official first day of Spring, which runs until Saturday, 21 December 2024. How many of you knew that?Most Kiwis think that the start of Spring as 1  September, which is the traditional meteorological start date. This is based on the convenience of dividing the year into four three-month seasons. However, astronomically, Spring begins on the spring equinox&nb...

Could Belle be the solution to building your team’s capacity?

OK, so you get it. Your company understands why communications, engagement, and marketing are crucial for keeping your reputation and brand sparkling and successfully managing relationships with customers and stakeholders. You also understand that during challenging economic times, investing in PR and marketing is even more crucial to ensure your business maintains a competitive advantage when the market bounces back.You face a tricky choice when it comes to getting the job done. Do you Hir...

Mr Beast digs deep into his pocket after Waitomo Caves visit - Waikato Times

Spending seven days underground with the world’s most popular YouTuber ‘Mr Beast’ - and pocketing $50,000 cash - might make for some good work stories for “real life Avenger” Joel from Waitomo Adventures.That’s because Joel acted as guide for streaming giant Mr Beast’s latest video, ‘7 Days Stranded in a Cave’, which at the time of writing had racked up more than 94 million views.In the video Mr Beast - real name Jimmy Donaldson - and his team spend seven days in the Waitomo ca...

Curiosity, growth and success – what a year it has been

Wow! It has been a year already. Mind you, they say time flies when you're having fun!Joining Belle PR as an intern in July 2023 was the start of an amazing journey, and writing this blog has given me a chance to reflect on the personal development and exciting milestones that I have achieved.Charlotte's mentorship at Belle has had a huge influence on my passion for the industry as she has helped me navigate the transition from student to employee and the day-to-day life of working in public rel...

An intelligent move - Waikato Business News

Artificial Intelligence services are helping Waikato businesses stay competitive while improving efficiency.“My advice to all businesses, large and small, is to not wait,” said Houston Technology Group founder Alan Chew.“The benefits of AI are immense and within reach. If you don’t act, your competitors will.”Chew has run free generative AI workshops for not-for-profit groups in the region.“The jaw dropping moments at such workshops are a wonder to watch.”During the Covid-19 pandem...

What they say behind your back

How to get the small things right when building your reputation...As a business owner, the lists are endless, the unsolicited advice is rampant, and the noise is overwhelming when it comes to where you should be placing your priorities. Getting the basics of business communication right can have a huge impact on your reputation and ultimately, bottom line. Far too often I see missed opportunities for owners to implement small changes that could be the difference between a customer ravi...

Can nature teach you to be a better communicator?

When you spend a decent amount of time in the bush like I have, you find a clear head for thinking and reflecting on things close to your heart.I love to explore our great outdoors. Hiking is my happy place (followed by a nice glass of chardonnay and hot shower of course!).Nature is a great teacher to anyone who cares to listen.I’ve learned a lot about life and communication, from arguably the best communicators around – trees and birds!Here’s what nature has taught me about being a better...

Conducting a website audit for your business

This week, Cushla shared how we conduct a website audit and the reasons why you should be doing a regular website audit for your business, too. Check out the video below.Consider these steps:Run your website URL through a site audit tool. At Belle, we use The HOTH.Find technical errors.Identify SEO problems.Analyze design and UX.Assess website content.Generate a checklist of all site issues and recommended fixes.Make these changes to improve your website.Check out the bloopers over on our Instag...

Noplace: The New Social Media App for Gen Z

At Belle PR, we’re always looking for new industry trends that have the potential to transform the way we connect and interact with others. Enter from stage left…. Noplace: make new friends, a new social networking app that’s captivating Gen Z users around the globe and promises to ‘bring back the awesome’.In fact, over the last week, it has hit the top spot in the App Store. It aims to take on companies like X and Threads.Noplace has been developed to reinstate the essence o...

The art of crisis management and why communication is key

Lessons from real-life failuresEffective communication is more than just exchanging information—it's how organisations and brands build trust and loyalty, maintain a positive reputation, and ensure operational success. During my time as a public relations professional, I’ve seen numerous communication mishaps. Plans have gone askew, leading to full-blown crises that require effective management and recovery.Crises are unexpected, disruptive to business, can involve loss of life or injur...

Curious about Gen Z? Insights into a Gen Z mind

What are the unique and important attributes of Gen Z? Will these affect the success of your business?Well... As a Gen Z female myself and a keen digital gal at Belle PR, you’re getting the information straight from the source. I was born in 2002 and grew up being completely exposed to the online world, which was brought into schooling at a young age and now influences society's daily life.I am aware that marketing to my generation is unlike marketing to any other generation. It isn’t just a...

How Meta Business ads can boost your brand

In today's tough digital world, businesses are always trying to get noticed, connect with their audience, and grow. Meta Business Ads are a great way to reach customers, stakeholders, and communities. But first, you need a digital marketing plan to target ads on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.With these ads, your business can reach a wide and varied audience, making sure the right people see your messages about your services, projects, and deals. Here are some tips to start off.Tip #1: Us...

Is social media still relevant?

Have you heard anyone say their 2024 New Year’s resolution was to decrease their screen and scrolling time? Team Belle have heard this a lot!However, research shows we’re not backing down just yet with our consumption of social media. According to the Datareportal January 2024 global overview, we can see that social media growth has continued to increase:·       More than half of the world now uses social media (62.3%)·   &nb...