Last month saw a subtle but important change in how Google handles the world’s search requests. The company launched a new indexing approach, called Google Caffeine, which is designed to produce far ‘fresher’ search returns than its previous index. Among the benefits of Caffeine (hey, we all love a little caffeine) is that Google indexes new online content far sooner than before. This makes an even stronger argument for companies to keep their online news and content regularly updated. Further details about Caffeine are available on the Official Google Blog.

Following on from our recent post about PR and Measurement, a new global charter of principles for measuring PR was launched last week. The ‘Barcelona Declaration of Research Principles’ was launched at the second European Summit on Measurement, where representatives from PR companies and research organisations rejected Advertising Value  Equivalence as an appropriate measure for public relations. Although the new charter is only a roadmap to a better solution, it seems a helpful development and may take us closer to the industry’s Holy Grail.

For technology businesses, recommendations or favourable reviews from research organisations such as Gartner or Forrester can provide a major boost to sales. Keeping the appropriate research houses informed is therefore an essential part of your marketing. However, it is a mistake to treat analysts as if they were journalists or customers. Getting the most from a vendor briefing depends on understanding the analyst’s role and particular requirements. (more…)

President Obama’s firing of General Stanley McChrystal has highlighted the uncertainties of ‘off the record’ press briefings. With debate raging between McChrystal’s team and Rolling Stone over the ground rules agreed for the interview, the episode has shown the potential dangers of one of the least-understood practices in media relations. What does ‘off the record’ mean, how does it work in practice, and are the risks ever worth taking? We help guide you through the minefield. (more…)

A few years ago, Hugh Grant starred in a film called Two Weeks Notice. (In a daring career gamble for Grant, it was a romantic comedy.) (more…)