The Plain Speaking PR way

Our approach to public relations can be summarised very simply by the Plain Speaking Circle of PR Success.

If you are confident that you are doing a great job, then we will help you tell other people about it. By communicating with the audiences that are important to the success of your organisation, we will help you build relationships and raise awareness of your brand and what makes it so special. In short – developing, maintaining and protecting your reputation.
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PR planning
and strategy

No Plain Speaking PR campaign, project or long-term programme of activity kicks off without LOTS of research, thought and questions. Strategy and planning are fundamental to our approach.

We take the time to get to know your business, asking lots of questions and finding out about your marketplace. We will only recommend that you spend money on a PR campaign if we believe it will deliver positive results and measurable value.

For organisations and businesses who have limited marketing resources in-house, we can be your virtual marketing and PR department. As a Norfolk PR agency, we can work with our network of trusted partners to provide a full-service, integrated approach to PR and marketing: from design and print to web development and email marketing.

How do you know if it’s working? Measuring the success of communications activity – and the return on your investment – is essential. We devise measurement protocols that are bespoke to each campaign; evaluating impact, outcomes and value according to your specific objectives.

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Our Brand Vitals© process

We start almost every client relationship with a Plain Speaking PR Brand Vitals workshop. Your brand is made up of your business aims, ambitions, beliefs and values, and how you communicate with the people who have an interest in what you are doing. It’s how you behave, what you say and it’s how you interact with your key audiences. Put simply, your brand is what makes your business unique.
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Credit: Rebecca Osborne illustrations

Whether you are starting a new business, going through a period of change, launching a new product or service or simply want to re-evaluate or sense check your existing strategy, a Plain Speaking PR Brand Vitals workshop will help you gain clarity and ensure that your future PR activity is moving you in the right direction.

We’ll spend time with key members of your team to get under the skin of your organisation, looking at your overarching goals, proposition, key messages, target audiences and tone of voice. From that, we’ll produce a bespoke Brand Vitals ‘manual’ for your organisation; an essential guide that you can refer to time and time again, whenever you are planning a new PR or marketing campaign. It will ensure that every element of your communications activity, every campaign and customer touch-point contributes to the development of a consistent brand identity.

If you’ve already carried out a similar brand investigation, we’ll talk to you about the findings to ensure our work fits in with your values and beliefs.

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Our ethos
and values

The best agency/client relationships work when values align. Here’s a snapshot of our ethos and values:

Belief in the power of PR

A professionally devised and delivered PR strategy is a powerful tool for businesses, not-for-profits and communities, particularly when part of the senior decision-making process.

Business with balance

We strike many balances as a business: hard work v staff wellbeing; commitment to clients v time management; contribution to our communities v profitability.

Working together

Our aim is for our clients to be delighted by the value we deliver. If they don’t feel we are contributing to organisational success and the bottom line, then something is wrong.

Good people, doing good work

We look after each other and our clients, always operating with integrity and respect.

Do we sound like a good fit for you? If so, please get in touch.
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Stephanie Callen, PR Expert

Steph began her career in communications almost 20 years ago as a journalist on local newspapers in Suffolk and Norfolk.

Every day involved meeting new people and writing about a diverse mix of topics, which gave Steph a real appreciation for the issues that affect people across the region and honed her ability to build trusted relationships.

When she left journalism to pursue roles in PR, Steph took her news instincts with her and has achieved valuable media coverage for organisations from a varied range of industries, including healthcare, education, housing and animal welfare.

Steph, a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, now brings her eclectic experience to Plain Speaking PR as a freelance consultant, supporting clients with bespoke copywriting, research and media pitching.

Outside of work, Steph enjoys family days out with her young daughter, cuddles with her rescue cat Clarence, a good thriller on the telly, and the – albeit occasional – run.

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Hannah Freeman, Client Services Director

Hannah is our client services director and has been with the business since 2018. Pippa’s right-hand woman, she’s responsible for overseeing accounts, managing client agency relationships, and making sure we’re delivering a professional PR service that delivers real value, contributing to objectives and goals.

Working in PR and communications since graduating (let’s not count the years!) Hannah has worked in PR for 15+ years, mostly spent agency side, advising clients in a diverse range of sectors, spanning tourism, hospitality, B2B services, waste and recycling, public sector, retail, and charities. She completed the CIPR Diploma in 2010.

Hannah brings in-house experience too, having worked as a PR and communications officer for one of the UK’s largest social housing groups for 18 months. She gets what it’s like to be the client, understanding the challenges and demands of this role.

Outside of work, Hannah walks, lifts weights, occasionally paddleboards, tries to keep plants alive and watches Schitt’s Creek on repeat. Mum to two busy, sporty girls, she’s also their PA. In summer, an outdoor dip at Beccles Lido is her no.1 spot to enjoy time out.

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Pippa Lain-Smith, Managing Director

Pippa is the founder and managing director of Plain Speaking PR and has worked within the communications sector for more than 25 years. Having worked on both client and agency side, Pippa is passionate about her job and will talk until she’s blue in the face about the value professional PR can bring to businesses and communities.

Whilst the Plain Speaking PR agency name derives from her maiden name, Pippa is a firm believer in a plain speaking, straight-talking approach to communications, with minimal jargon and maximum results. She’s proud to have helped many organisations navigate communications surrounding complex and sensitive issues; often during times of change or crisis.

In her spare time, Pippa enjoys attempting to keep fit, writing beauty articles for regional magazines and newspapers, enjoying the best of Norfolk’s food and drink, and planning her next holiday to Greece. She also supports a number of local charities and social enterprises including Miniature Donkeys for Wellbeing.

Pippa is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.