NW Business Insider had a wonderful piece on the dog advertising concept in their current feature on guerrilla marketing.

I originally came up with this concept after selling in the story of a certain dog called Dante in to the South Manchester Reporter. The story of the curry loving pooch spread to the Metro, Manchester Evening News and even The Guardian.

It seemed obvious that there was original and possibly effective advertising mileage to be had and so I teamed up with Mick Greer and Phil Howells, well- seasoned advertising pros.

The lucky recipient was a family lawyers called Greens & Co.

It is some fun but also when there is so much competition to grab our attention it is a little different and attention grabbing.

A quick note: Has no-one done it before? I don’t know. Churchill said an original idea is just a good one everyone has forgotten.

Surveys, surveys, surveys.  Where would PRs be without surveys?

I am sure many journalists get irritated by surveys unless they really show something highly insightful or entertaining.

One Manchester Evening News journalist started a piece a few months ago with: “According to another pointless survey……..”

I like NW Business Insider’s approach: a monthly half page round-up of surveys complete with thumbs up or down according to what they show.  Put all surveys in one place away from proper news, then you can choose whether to indulge or not.

I do not know whether Insider was making fun or being tongue in cheek or serious but it works for me and them.