Today marks the 50th anniversary of the first human space flight when Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin completed a single orbit of Earth. Gagarin’s achievement earned him instant global stardom, and dispelled fears humans could not survive beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. Gagarin’s face and voice were beamed down from space, and the world saw that the cosmos was not to be feared – it was to be explored.

How far things have come. With the advances in technology, we are now a generation of real time access and communication. Take for instance Nasa, using various Twitter accounts, they offer the world easy-access to their once-exclusive world, providing a glimpse into the science, discovery and everyday life of the agency.

By following NASA and its astronauts on Twitter, they offer followers the chance to win tickets to spaceshuttle Tweetups, learn about the latest discoveries, and ask them inquisitive questions like, “why is that funny dance move called the moonwalk?”

With more than 100 live twitter accounts across the agency and 20 tweeting astronauts FROM SPACE, the general public have never before been given such an opportunity to engage and understand the day-to-day workings of the space agency. By offering real time engagement, alongside a regular image of the day and daily videos, including launch and landings, they have gained not merely followers but advocates of the brand through strategic digital pr and are happy to spread the Nasa brand as they are able to connect to a network of people who share similar interests.

Speaking of similar interests…

The Revolver PR team love nothing better than a bit of people watching and on our travels, whether virtual or real, we often spot things that make us chuckle.

We like a bit of banter too so decided, just for fun, to start a game with the witty, intelligent people who follow our blog and Twitter account.

To take part all you need to do is tweet your “caption” followed by #RevolverPR or add your comment to the blog.

This week’s winner, drum roll please… Jan S. with her caption on Twitter “Shep felt exceedingly sheepish in his Easter bonnet”

Congratulations and your invisible prize is winging its way to you now…

Image courtesy of Getty Images.

Created by McCann London, the video features Darren, a keeno ‘Dance Central’ gamer, who emulates Kylie’s famous dance routines and squeezes into her revealing outfits, including THE gold hot pants and white jumpsuit.

Topping off with Kylie locked in her dressing room and Darren hitting the stage, this video works to promote the fact that Kylie’s hit song ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Head’ is one of the tracks on ‘Dance Central’, which works with the Xbox Kinect motion controller.

The film was shot by Bafta award-winning director Becky Martin, who was behind the British Comedy series ‘Peep Show’ so definitely worth a watch.

In a savvy digital pr tie-up, Xbox has been inviting fans to upload videos of them busting their best Kylie moves onto its Facebook page, which along with YouTube, is hosting the film.

The deal was made between Xbox EMEA and EMI Music, and will be supported by a full marketing campaign that will run across online, social media and Xbox Live, as well as Kylie’s own channels.

In this digital world we live in is there such a thing as too much information?

We’ve all heard the stories of employees taking sick days and getting caught out by their boss for posting hangover updates to social networks, but this story directed by Max Luere takes it a step further.

“A Life on Facebook” is a revealing, clever, amusing insight of one man’s life which we couldn’t resist sharing with you. For the old romantics out there it may well tug on the heart strings as well.

In day to day life we may all be talking the same language but we interpret words and actions differently. View points, morals, beliefs, opinions and accents all differ which can add confusion to the clearest of messages.

So, how does a brand communicate with a large audience to promote a service or product? Perhaps by creating an imaginative online pr campaign and introducing social media to engage with customers? Or using digital platforms to drive traffic to a website? Add traditional media and broadcast and you are on the right track.

However as “the Blonde” demonstrates it’s essential to be clear in your message , find the correct tone and ensure you are communicating with the right audience.

*Disclaimer* This article was written by a blonde woman and no librarians were hurt in the process.

We like a bit of banter too so decided, just for fun, to start a game with the witty, intelligent people who follow our blog and Twitter account.

To take part all you need to do is tweet your “caption” followed by the hashtag #RevolverPR or add your comment to the blog.

The winner is Iain with the caption:

“You were only supposed to tape the bloody doors on!”

Well done Iain, invisible prize in the post.

*image courtesy of walyou.com

Tweet

Sean & Joanne, who run Taste, the sandwich shop across from our office have earned themselves a reputation around here. Everyone is talking about them. If you’ve grown up in Scotland and spent your life trying to avoid “getting a reputation” you might think that statement is a negative. Think again.

Taste serve great food but where they stand out from the crowd is in the friendly customer service they offer. They greet me by name, they remember that I like a soft roll instead of a crunchy one and they actually listen when they enquire about my day. Their sandwich shop is always busy because they have the whole package, great food, reasonable prices and most importantly they care about their customers and in doing so are earning a good reputation. They don’t have a website or promote their business in a digital way, word of mouth is their most powerful tool and it’s working because they remember to focus on the customer.

Transfer this scenario to your own business. Who is managing your reputation? Do you have a digital public relations strategy? How can you engage with a large audience and generate business? The world of PR has been changing over the last few years to embrace the powerful effect of social networking and step forward from traditional broadcast and media. The volume has been turned to high on word of mouth as consumers can quickly research your brand with the help of google, social networks, forums as well as traditional press. Are people talking about you? Are they saying positive things? Worse still, are they saying nothing?

Silence may be golden but when it comes to generating business, driving traffic, promoting a brand and building an excellent reputation, focusing on the consumer should be your priority. The rest, we can look after for you.

Taste Sandwich Bar,

387 Great Western Rd, Glasgow, 0141 337 6888

Tweet

It is the tale of a Spanish man, living in America, called Israel Melendez who set up his Twitter account with the handle @Israel. Mr Melendez has an unusual career as the owner of a pornography site so I imagine his tweets were pretty colourful.

According to the New York Times Mr Melendez has just sold his twitter account to Israel for a six figure sum. The Israeli government has said of the account: “We thought we could put it to better use than he did.” The new @Israel account is being managed by Israel’s Chaim Shacham who is the Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Information & Internet Department.

An interesting twist for a country which closely guards information and has previously banned foreign journalists and briefly the I-pad. I hope they remembered to block all Mr Melendez followers as soon as they took ownership of the account, after all, it is so important to be engaging with the right audience.

Let me explain myself a little more. A very well-known high-end high street store, to which I am rather fond of, had recently captured the attention and more important the purse string of a close friend. 

However, not to be too frivolous with her hard earned cash she took her time to make the right decision with her purchase, afterall a half a day’s worth of soul destroying work was at stake.

But when it’s right it’s right, right? To say she was content with her purchase was an understatement. Polishing for 10 mintues after every day’s wear of the patent gems.

It wasn’t until our reunion, and her bragging, that we discovered not all well-respected brands get it right every time. Yet it does depend on how you deal with the problem when it arises.

I can safely report that the matter was swiftly taken onboard and my friend got a brand new pair of ones & twos.

Not forgetting, she continues to have only good things to say about the shoe masters in question. So when it goes a bit pete tong, the answer is.. sort it.