We’re still in very uncertain times, and I apologise that I can’t offer any certainty as to when in the month this newsletter actually gets published 😅 (life with kids etc.)
Despite the uncertainty, people are still putting out some great content and securing impressive coverage for their campaigns. While COVID-19 still dominates the majority of publications, journos are clearly still after uplifting, light-hearted and entertaining stories.
Made something you’re proud of? I’d love to see it! Send it over to markprtr@gmail.com 💌
Must-see Content 👀
Tech Adverts Reimagined 📱
This is a great piece that re-imagines adverts for current tech and gadgets in the style of 1960s ads. I originally spotted this from Shaun Hill’s thread of campaigns, so drop him a follow because he regular shares great content.
Discovered via Shaun Hill 🕵️
Are You Quicker Than Tesla’s Autopilot? ⚡
Those of you who have been in the content game for a long time will recognise where this piece may have drawn its inspiration from. However, pitting you against a Tesla’s autopilot is a very clever angle to add to it, and it’s subsequently bagged some really nice coverage.
Discovered via Lou Crane 🕵️
Famous Lifespans: The Price of Fame? 🧑🎤
This is a cool data-driven piece that looks at the lifespans of famous people across different occupations. It turns out that, contrary to popular belief, sports stars don’t necessarily live longer.
Geological Map of Ireland 🍀
I stumbled across this map of Ireland on Reddit that uses a geological survey from 1878. The end product is great, and the creator Sean Conway has put together a many more examples from around the world. If you’re looking for similar inspiration I highly recommend you add /r/mapporn to your list of sites for inspiration.
If Light Pollution Cleared 🌃
This is probably my favourite piece from this issue for a few reasons. Firstly, it’s a simple but effective idea. Secondly, it’s really well executed with a non-distracting page design and great use of sliders. Lastly, it’s super relevant to the site in question (they sell personalised star maps). I hope the creators give themselves a pat on the back as it’s hard to tick all those boxes!
Population Density in Europe 👨👩👧👦
Another map, this time looking at population density in Europe. The squares you can seeare 50km x 50km, with each cell being 1km squared. The height of the cell represents the number of people living there, highlighting cities and showing how we often flock to the coast.
Discovered via Pat Langridge 🕵️
Q1 2020’s Most Impactful PC Games 🖥️
Those of you that know me will know that I’m a big PC gamer and that I love a good data-driven index, so you can imagine my excitement when this piece cross my path. It looks at Q1 2020’s most impactful games using metrics such as monthly active players, hours watched (streams etc.), distributed winnings from professional tournaments and more. A lot of the biggest competitive events were cancelled due to COVID19, but due to their nature, games can easily flex to online only without taking too much of a hit.
Discovered via Dave 🕵️
Worst Episode Ever 📺
I’ve covered similar pieces to this before, and they always seem to do well on Reddit. This one looks at a large number of the most popular TV shows and highlights their lowest rated episodes. No surprise to see GoT falling off the face of a cliff. There’s also an interactive version here.
The Pudding Music Challenge 🎤
If you’ve been doing a tonne of pub quizzes in recent weeks, you might enjoy this music challenge by content extraordinaire The Pudding. Not only is it a bit of fun, they’re using the data for a future piece, so help them out by having a go.
More Great Content…
- Britain’s Home Stress Points 😡
- Coronavirus Hand Sanitisers Selling for More than 5000% RRP Online 🦠
- Dreaming of Your Ex Again? You’re Not the Only One With Unusual Pandemic Dreams 😴
- What Kids Around the World Keep in Their Pockets 🧒
PR Stunts
The below campaigns may not have been intentional PR stunts, however they did attract substantial attention from the media.
Book a Trip 📚
This is a seriously great idea by a bookstore and bar based in Dallas. It looks like your usual package holiday travel site, however choose a destination and instead of a trip away, you’ll be presented with books that can help you ‘escape’ to that destination from the confines of your own home. I personally recommend The Shadow of the Wind if you haven’t read it yet.
Airbnb’s Talent Directory 💼
This isn’t really a PR stunt, but I wanted to include it as it is a nice touch from Airbnb. They recently laid off 1,900 people as a result of COVID-19, and followed up their well received note on the situation with a talent directory. It includes everyone who has worked at Airbnb that was let go.
Heinz Ketchup Puzzle 🍅
Puzzles have experienced a surge during lockdown, and Heinz have gotten onboard with their entirely red 570 piece offering. They’re giving them away in 17 countries so get involved if you feel like your lockdown is missing an infuriating but rewarding challenge.
Discovered via The Weekly PR 🕵️
Must-read Articles ☕
Below are some articles that are absolutely worthy of a read during your coffee break:
- How to get the best out of your team in ideation sessions 🧠 by Kristina Lazarevic
- The State of Nofollow, UGC, & Sponsored Link Attributes in 2020 🔗 by Patrick Stox
- Newsjacking- How this strategy drove authority and over 250 links for our client in 6 months 🔗 by Will Hobson
Must-follow Marketer 👑
Who: Pat Langridge, Head of SEO at Screaming Frog
Why: I generally try and leave my bias at the door when it comes to this newsletter, however I’m ignoring that rule on this occasion. Pat had the pleasure of working with me for 8 years at Screaming Frog, and we collectively put out a lot of content during that time-frame. He’s also incredibly clued up on SEO, and often tweets about both subjects. Drop him a follow.
To Conclude
That concludes this issue, and as always thanks to everyone that sent content in. I appreciate that you think of this newsletter when you stumble across awesome content 👍
If you’re not yet subscribed, feel free to do so in order to be notified of future issues, and follow me on Twitter if you want.
Cheers,
Mark.