19/01/2009

Throw your shoes at Bush! And everyone else!

Before Christmas Fubra bought SockandAwe.com from entrepreneur and PopJam founder Alex Tew on eBay.

I haven’t managed to find the time to write about everything that has happened as a result of Fubra taking over the site, so here’s a quick list of links:

Seven days of SockandAwe

Fubra buys SockandAwe.com

Global press coverage – including Reuters, Channel 4 News and Kevin Spacey telling Piers Morgan about the site…!

SockandAwe.com ‘Christmas Message’ (more than 31,000 views)

Competition to throw Bush out office and win $1000

So yes, it’s been a bit busy!

I’ve finally got round to blogging about it because Fubra’s talented developer Steve has just shown me two really cool things:

Shoe counter widget

Anyone can now add this widget to their website using Steve’s instructions – you can also add it to iGoogle as it’s a Google Gadget. I love it! We’ve been working on a similar thing for OurProperty.co.uk, but I just think it’s a great way to drive traffic to our sites. More like this in the future hopefully.

FOUR new SockandAwe.com levels

Steve has also been working hard on new levels for SockandAwe.com, which are due to launch this Wednesday. I’ve just previewed them, and I can honestly say that even though I helped to plan the new levels and knew what was coming, my mouth dropped open with shock-amusement. You’ll see what I mean. Sneak preview below… and levels for Robert Mugabe, Nicolas Sarkozy and Dick Cheney coming Wednesday…

SockandAwe Level 2 - Gordon Brown

SockandAwe Level 2 - Gordon Brown

20/11/2008

Strictly Not News

I’ve been meaning to use this blog more to comment more on media/PR news and to document my comments on news stories elsewhere, but life somehow gets in the way. Here is my latest comment on an article about the number of complaints to the BBC over John Sergeant leaving Strictly Come Dancing on MediaGuardian:

It’s understandable that the public, egged on by programme makers looking to boost viewing figures at that crucial two-thirds-of-the-way-through hurdle, fall for these kind of stunts. But the press? There was a whole package dedicated to this on Channel 4 News last night. What happened to a news agenda?

The public need to learn that outside of voting competitions and ‘have your say’ that actually, they can’t expect to influence aspects of the lives of those on TV. If John Sergent wanted to leave it’s his choice – why should viewers have the ability to bring him back?

The press need to learn not to fall for PR scams and stop giving reality TV contestants space on the agenda of serious news outlets.

I would have been much more interested to read about the way the media have blown this story all out of proportion and possible reasons (audience figures of the news outlets themselves, infotainment culture, payoff to leave) that paper thin publicity stunt fodder ended up as news at all.

The article is here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/nov/20/strictly-come-dancing-john-sergeant

I’m still in utter disbelief that this kind of shite makes the news!

16/10/2008

What do Gordon Brown and PetrolPrices.com have in common?

I’ve been meaning to write for a while, but this is the reason I chose to write today:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/3209961/Financial-crisis-Gordon-Brown-says-petrol-prices-must-fall-as-oil-tumbles.html

It’s great because the only two people quoted in the article are Gordon Brown and…. “Brendan McLoughlin of PetrolPrices.com” …! How’s that for credibility?!

The press release I wrote which prompted it is here:

http://www.petrolprices.com/press-release14102008.html

We’re also front page on the Express again:

Express front page 16/10/08

And in:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/aa-petrol-to-be-pound1-a-litre-by-christmas-14002300.html

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=358454

http://www.eadt.co.uk/content/eadt/news/story.aspx?brand=EADOnline&category=News&tBrand=EADOnline&tCategory=News&itemid=IPED15%20Oct%202008%2017%3A32%3A14%3A673

http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/finance/further-oil-price-cuts-expected-$1245097.htm

http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/1-a-litre-at-Rushden.4596489.jp

I’ve also done 4 radio interviews today already, and one on BBC Radio 5 Live this evening. I’ll try and get a copy of that to put up tomorrow.

So it’s been a pretty busy day today! I also wrote this release (economic insight courtesy of Brendan):

http://www.petrolprices.com/press-release16102008.html

I’m really intrigued to find out if it will be picked up as much as the story today. It might, because it’s an original story. No one has said this before, plus petrol is already in the news. But it might not, because journos are unlikely to run 2 separate petrol stories, and it could become quite confusing to link the banking crises, currency, supermarkets and petrol prices together. I did wonder whether to wait.

We shall see…

13/05/2008

Uninformed TeleVision

I’ve just got back from a trip to Belfast to take part in a discussion/debate programme for UTV, the Irish version on ITV for PetrolPrices.com… only to discover from the footage that it was virtually pointless:

Late & Live, UTV, 12/05/08

Ok, so I’ve been quoted as Brendan, not quoted at all, quoted as an ‘industry analyst’ but ‘consumer advisor’ is a new one. Not mentioning PetrolPrices obviously makes the trip a complete waste of my time work-wise, but it was fun to go! The other guests on the show, Late & Live (not a porn show, no), were really interesting to chat to, and it was good experience doing another studio interview… but the best part was the amaaaaaaaaaaazing meal I had. And it was nice to hear my surname pronounced properly for a change.

On the plus side, I came home to see an article I’ve been working on with the Sun published:

The Sun, 13/05/08

Again, another example of newspapers not writing their own content – I wrote those tips. At least I can say my work as been published in the Sun now! Now it’s out I’ll email it out as a press release and put it up as a blog to get the most out of one piece. Or perhaps a new page on the site since it’s not time sensitive or topical info. It’s the type of thing which will make good radio discussion I think.

29/04/2008

Yorkshire Post

Not front page, but a good article:

Yorkshire Post, 29/04/08

Local papers LOVE petrol prices. Although they didn’t bother to ring to make it specific to Yorkshire. I’ll start putting that on the bottom of the press releases actually.

Another Express front page!

After being front page on the Express on Saturday I really didn’t expect another front page story so soon… but here it is:

Front page Express, 29/04/08
Front page Express, 29/04/08

Only problem is I have suddenly become an ‘industry analyst’, and nothing to do with PetrolPrices.com… must have a word :s

Other stories today…

Daily Telegraph
Guardian, who can’t work out the price of a gallon from a litre…
WebUser Magazine, an interesting way to make the Grangemouth strike techie

Also, discovered an awesome website this morning where you can view pics of all the major newspaper pages for free (you’d think the paper’s websites would do it, but not all do):

http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx

You get more features for free than I’d expect too, so I’m going to investigate using this to measure coverage.

Another hectic day today, just done an interview with BBC Radio Gloucester, and got another in an hour or so on BBC Radio Newcastle, talking about prices rises as a result of Grangemouth, and the combined £7m profits that BP and Shell have announced this morning.

Later today I’m heading up to Westminister to do an TV interview for BBC South East Today and BBC London, which will go out after the main BBC news at 6pm! Transaction 2007, part of one group who were involved in the 2000 fuel protests are organising a protest in London so I’m going to comment on that and also the BP and Shell profits again.

Ok… now best go decide what to wear…

28/04/2008

Front page Telegraph, Mail and Express

Ok, so here is my first post. I’ll try to add new coverage as often as possible, but also backdate previous coverage too.

So in the last month or so, I’ve had front page stories on the Daily Mail, the Express (twice!) but today, I’m moving up in the world… today, my name AND PetrolPrices.com URL are on the front page of the Telegraph! Next stop, front page of the Times I think. Then move onto a more eco angle to get the liberals :)

Front page Telegraph, 28/04/08

Front page Express, 26/04/08

PetrolPrices.com front page Express

Front page Daily Mail, 23/04/08

Front page Daily Express 22/02/08:

Interestingly… compare this with my original press release… spot the difference!

This was printed as a front page story, without even ringing to confirm, ask questions or even check the source. I couldn’t believe it at the time, but you’d be amazed at how much it happens.