TLMW newswire, a wire partner with an extensive database containing thousands of editorial contacts, searchable by industry, location, media type and outlet, including key bloggers.

London, 7 June 2011.     Companies wishing to distribute news to dedicated trade media effectively and affordably are now able to take advantage of TLMW extensive distribution network through its new news wire service, available immediately as a pay as you go service.

Through TLMW newswire’s national network, press releases reach thousands of journalists online and offline across all media, including key bloggers, through immediate (or timed) distribution. Media distribution may be national or extend across specific geographical areas such as North America, Europe; Asia, or sent worldwide. Sectors covered include air passenger; air cargo; couriers; logistics/distribution; material handling; merchant shipping; international navies and coast guards; offshore energy; passenger cruise ships and ferries; ports; roads; ship building and ship repair; and warehousing. 

Sue Terpilowski, TLMW’s Managing Director said, “We are extending this service to companies and agencies requiring a direct route to media in transport, logistics, material handling and warehousing. TLMW is part of Image line Communications Ltd, one of the leading players in PR for supply chain and logistics. We have been dealing with the media on behalf of our clients for over 23 years and have consequently built strong relationships across all levels. In fact, we have amassed an extensive database of contacts from print, online media and key bloggers nationally.”  

She continued, “TLMW newswire is the perfect wire partner for companies of all sizes.  It was developed to make life easy for companies and individuals working in PR and communications, giving great access to up to date information and contacts. The service is designed to be as flexible as possible, with no long term contracts.  TLMW newswire is a pay as you go service, but with the added benefit of discounted prices for a commitment to distribute three or six releases in a 12 month period.”

Mr David Tarizzo, spokesperson for Linescape confirmed Sue’s comments, saying, “As a user of the worldwide service package, I have had a tremendous response to my releases.  They were picked up by key bloggers and appeared in international trade press, online and offline. What was great was the ease of setting it up and distributing the news.”

TMLW are offering a free one off distribution for new users until June 30th, 2011.  To register interest or obtain further information, please visit www.TLMWNewswire.com, or email info@tlmwnewswire.com or call on + (44) 20 7689 9009.

I attended the Social Media World Forum exhibition on Tuesday 29^th March. 

Here are the key points/messages taken from the ‘changing role of PR in the social media environment’ discussion.

The discussion was monitored by Danny Rogers, Editor of PR Week. Members of the panel included; Nick Sharples, Director Corporate Communications Europe, Sony; Colin Douglas, Director of NHS Communications, Department of Health and Pete Devery, EMEA PR Lead, Microsoft.

·        PR is about reputation.

·        In PR – relationships are important.

·        A lot of relationships are broken – you feel distant from your bank manager and Mobile Phone Company.  Social media can help rebuild those relationships, making you feel closer and a more privileged customer.

·        A brand is a promise. A reputation is the perception of how the brand keeps that promise. You need to protect that reputation and enhance it.

·        Has the role of social media changed PR. To an extent yes.  Technology will always change it. Radio changed PR, and then TV changed PR … now social media.

·        Social media = significant

·        PR departments need to relinquish some control – individuals are becoming brand advocates.  In today’s age it is not just PR Agencies speaking on behalf of brands, in the virtual world everyone is commenting. Companies have to be aware that there are both positive and negative comments being thrown about that they have to take notice of.

·        Common mistakes – for a large organisation to remain on the side, there is a big wall between PR and customer service.  If somebody complains about your product it damages your brand. PR teams see this pollution and want to jump in and help as you can’t just sit there unnoticed.  A new role needs to be created between customer service and PR – a fixed role where they know how to speak in a public space and deal with complaints

·        Social media has started to break down barriers

·        The debates over who should own social media space are irrelevant; instead everyone should be using it to market your campaigns.

·        It is not always how you respond to the customer, it is how you develop that response and change your product.

I found this discussion very informative, provoking many thoughts:

Has social media changed the role of PR?

Do brands have to consider the way they interact with individuals to provide better customer service?

Who should be in charge of customer service, where does the PR role end and customer service begin?

Is social media significant?

What are your thoughts on this?

The break up of liner conferences on European trades provides an opportunity to further develop collaborative relationships in order to reduce supply chain uncertainty and therefore cost. This was one of the messages from a speech by David Mawer, Joint Managing Director, JF Hillebrand, at a meeting of the European Shippers Council today.

“Optimum efficiencyis achieved by collaboratively working to reduce uncertainty, which means improving reliability and responsiveness in the supply chain. Minim ising inventory whilst maximising availability,” Mawer explained.

From 17 October onwards, shipping lines will set their own freight rates based on service levels, internal costs and market conditions. Furthermore, individual lines will be responsible for determining their own surcharges such as THC (Terminal Handling Charges), BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor) and CAF (Currency Adjustment Factor).

While it is unclear how carriers will react to operating individually, there are certain to be major changes for shippers and a lot more scope for negotiation. Certainly there are significant opportunities for both shipping lines and shippers alike, but there are also dangers. One of the major dangers is poor capacity planning leading to oversupply or undersupply. The lead time of putting a large containership into service from order to delivery is a matter of years, therefore the shipping industry is much less able to react quickly to changing market conditions. Oversupply of tonnage will push rates down and could put some lines out of business. On the other end of the scale, undersupply will push up freight rates and could affect global trade growth. 

Whether for good or bad, life is going to get a lot more complicated for all involved. But the key consideration in the post-conference world is not to base decisions purely on freight rates as these are not the sole cost in a supply chain. Shippers could find that cutting costs on the carrier could end up costing them more elsewhere in the supply chain.