Worldcom EMEA Survey on PR trends reveals that traditional media still plays a key role

Barcelona, March 1, 2011– Worldcom Public Relations Group, the world’s leading network of independently owned public relations counseling firms, has announced the results of its first survey on PR trends in Europe.

The study shows several similarities between European countries. For example, when a new client is launching a product for the first time in a specific market, all agencies have said that dailies are still very important. Nevertheless, they’ve all agreed on the fact that newswires, magazines, TV/radio and bloggers should also be invited. For a fashion and cosmetics announcement, bloggers can be more relevant than dailies.

If the client is visiting the agency’s country for the first time and has no local offices, the most recommended events are one-to-one interviews, or a breakfast / lunch meeting with a group of local media. But then sub-regions show different preferences towards this: Southern Europe agencies would still organize a press conferences in one city but do not recommend social events, while in Central Europe visits to editors are well received. Northern European PR Pros would organize either a breakfast / lunch or a social event, and only Eastern Europe agencies recommend to cover more than one city when organizing a press conference.

Across Europe, consumer goods’ press conferences are the ones that can expect the biggest number of attendees (about 24), while Pharmaceutical events are the ones with less quantity of attendees (less than 10). There are also significant differences depending on the country. For example, the number of people attending a press conference in the technology industry is around 20 in Southern and Eastern Europe while in Northern and Central Europe this will be less than 10. In the consumer goods industry we can find as much as 40 attendees in Southern Europe and as less as 5 in Northern Europe.

Concerning meetings and tradeshows that imply travelling, Southern European agencies explain that in their region journalists will not travel if their expenses are not covered, while in Northern Europe 4 out of 10 journalists would still travel on their own expenses. Most countries have said that they need press releases to be translated into their local language in order to distribute them to the press, except for Portugal: here journalists would prefer to receive press releases in English instead of Brazilian Portuguese.

Overall, 29,4% of agencies would recommend Facebook for a B2B campaign. This practice is more popular in Eastern Europe, where 75% of agencies encourage this, and totally unpopular in Northern Europe, where nobody recommended it. Concerning Twitter, most agencies (70,6%) have said that less of 25% of the journalists in their country use it as a professional tool.

“This is a very interesting survey, as it allows us to learn more about common PR trends in Europe, and also about key differences. Each country counts with specific local characteristics that make it unique. In consequence, the way of doing a same announcement even in neighbour countries can vary significantly”, said Imma Folch, Worldcom EMEA Marketing Chair.

The purpose of this survey was to identify differences between regions when dealing with media. Worldcom PR Group has analyzed media trends across Europe in the following market sectors: Tourism; Public Affairs; Pharmaceutical; IT, Technology and Electronics; Health; Fashion and Cosmetics; Food and Beverage and Consumer Goods.

This survey was done in December 2010, and counted with the participation of 17 agencies based in Central Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria), Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovenia and Turkey), Northern Europe (Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom) and Southern Europe (France, Italy, Spain and Portugal).

About Worldcom PR Group

Worldcom Public Relations Group is the world’s leading partnership of independently owned public relations counseling firms, with some 109 offices in 95 cities worldwide. Established in 1988, it was formed so that the strongest, most capable independent public relations firms could serve national, international and multi-national clients while retaining the flexibility and client-service focus inherent in independent agencies. Through The Worldcom Group, clients have on-demand access to in-depth communications expertise from professionals who understand the language, culture and customs of the geographic arenas in which they operate. Visit www.worldcomgroup.com for more information.

Worldcom EMEA currently comprises 34 agencies with strong expertise in consumer, healthcare, travel & tourism, technology, energy & environment, financial services, investor relations, public affairs and crisis & issues management. Clients include Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, Panasonic, Sony Ericson, LG Electronics, the EU Anti-Tobacco Campaign, Verbatim and Palm. Visit www.worldcomprgroupemea.com for more information.

Press Information:

Press Office Worldcom PR Group EMEA:

LF Channel
Flor Calveiro
Email: fcalveiro@lfchannel.com
Twitter:@WorldcomEMEA
Tel: +34 93 418 81 51
http://www.lfchannel.com

Worldcom EMEA Survey on PR trends reveals that traditional media still plays a key role (190)

LF Channel celebrates its fifteenth anniversary and faces new projects in 2011

Barcelona, February 23, 2011 – LF Channel, a full-service agency with added value in communications and marketing, is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary enhancing its services and strengthening its presence in new markets.

Founded in February 1996, the agency’s main goal was and still is using the formula of combining and creating synergies between the areas of marketing and communications, to communicate, educate, and inform through their passion for service. LF Channel has spent 15 years creating, developing, and implementing successful strategies in order to increase the quality of sales, image, and market share of its customers, mainly in sectors such as technology and consumer products.

LF Channel, which has a long experience in the technology market, has now expanded its services to the pharmaceutical and consumer health markets, as part of its process of opening up new market segments.

Among the main services LF Channel offers these include strengthening:

• Communication and Events. Using 2.0 tools that complement the plans and comprehensive communication strategies of their clients
• Online Marketing. Through the in-house training courses:

1. Development of a basic plan for online marketing: Develop and define a plan for optimizing online marketing investment with clear objectives that can range from the capture leads to direct sales.
2. Joomla Web Development workshop course: Create, manage and optimize one of the most used web content manager.
3. The keys to a successful website: Get the most out of investment, usability and SEO.
4. Management of Social Networks in the company: Managing social networks as tools for brand placement on the Internet.
5. Social Media Reputation Program: Take the best decision on where to be present as a company or what communication channels create a higher level of recognition to obtain the best return on investment (ROI)

• Strategic market consulting. Offering support in negotiations with wholesalers and distributors, or by quantitative and qualitative studies ad hoc designed for each specific customer and market.
• Field Marketing. Using innovative tools that adapt to the times at the moment of a sale or merchandising.

Since 2009, LF Channel has been the head of the EMEA marketing area for Worldcom Public Relations Group. The Spanish agency has been a member of this professional association of public relations and communications since 2007, which has allowed the management of communication strategies for Spanish companies in different countries and expanded its influence in various international markets such as Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, France, United Kingdom or Russia.

“We are very proud of the quality level achieved by the work of the LF Channel team during this stage of the company. Our line of action is to keep improving with and for our customers, expanding our range of services with the same professionalism and involvement that characterizes us,” said Imma Folch, General Manager of LF Channel and Marketing Chair of Worldcom EMEA.

For more information about the online services offered by LF Channel, please visit: www.lfchannel.com

About LF Channel

LF Channel is a marketing and communications agency with 15 years of industry experience, specializing in developing and implementing comprehensive plans that suit the different needs of each client and market.The company’s main objective is to serve its clients with a number of vital tools to enhance the quality and quantity of their sales, market share, and image, allowing them to grow and evolve in an increasingly competitive and dynamic sector.

LF Channel has more than 40 specialists working, who are distributed among the various corporate communication disciplines: public relations and communications, marketing and event management.

LF Channel is part of Worldcom Public Relations Group, an international network of independent agencies, and is an active member of Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA).

LF Channel
Raúl García
Email: rgarcia@lfchannel.com
Tel: +93 418 81 51
http://www.lfchannel.com

LF Channel celebrates its fifteenth anniversary and faces new projects in 2011 (182)

LF Channel audits and advises its clients about their reputation in social media

Barcelona, January 26, 2011 – LF Channel, a full-service agency with added value in communications and marketing, has launched its new Social Media Reputation service that allows the clients to know a user’s activity, such as the where, when, and how, on social media in relation to their company. This is defined as social mapping. This service provides the necessary information that allows a customer to make the best decision on where to be present in social networks or which communication channels to create to achieve their desired position.

The actions on social networks require setting clear objectives and to define the best return on investment is particularly useful to know the image of the company that runs the networks, which requires a distinct analysis from the traditional metrics. Therefore, the methodology proposed by LF Channel involves a first phase that analyzes the statements and conversations that are generated from a brand, company or person, in different mediums of social media (Facebook, Microblogging, Bloggers, YouTube and Flickr). In this phase, the messages sent by the client and what others say about it can be tabulated.

In the second phase, a small comparative study of major competitors or references that may attract similar desired demands is conducted. And finally, once all data is collected and tabulated, LF Channel advises the client to make the best decision when choosing the best communication strategy and which online-marketing activities to continue, while focusing on the diverse target audience.

The qualitative and quantitative analysis of Social Media Reputation service about visibility and quality of information that moves across the network can be done both nationally and internationally. It pays special attention not only to the strengths highlighted by the users, but also to all “unwanted” messages by the client to make a subsequent monitoring and control of them.

“Now days, it is vital to utilize in a strategic form the information that provides us with the tools for media analysis and social networks and this allows us to define how we will build our presence in them. The ability to show that there is a team after a brand or product can allow the gain of proximity, closeness and trust, which helps maintain a direct dialogue and interaction with users or potential clients. The aim is to build trust and create a loyalty program that will maintain, as well as, attract new audiences, “said Jofre Folch, Director of Online Marketing Channel LF.

For more information about the online services offered by LF Channel, please visit: www.lfchannelonline.com

About LF Channel

LF Channel is a marketing and communications agency with 15 years of industry experience, specializing in developing and implementing comprehensive plans that suit the different needs of each client and market. The company’s main objective is to serve its clients with a number of vital tools to enhance the quality and quantity of their sales, market share, and image, allowing them to grow and evolve in an increasingly competitive and dynamic sector.

LF Channel has more than 40 specialists working, who are distributed among the various corporate communication disciplines: public relations and communications, marketing and event management.

LF Channel is part of Worldcom Public Relations Group, an international network of independent agencies, and is an active member of Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA).

LF Channel
Raúl García
Email: rgarcia@lfchannel.com
Tel: +93 418 81 51
http://www.lfchannel.com

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LF Channel coordinates the international PR and communication strategy of Spamina

The agreement between Spamina and LF Channel, has the objective of enhancing the brand of the prestigious email security solutions, in Europe and Latin America

Barcelona, 29th November, 2010. – LF Channel, communication and marketing agency, and Spamina, manufacturer of innovative email security solutions, are working together since the 1st of November 2010, with the main objective of enhancing brand awareness as well as the position of the prestigious security solutions in different countries as UK, France, Italy, Brazil, Mexico and Chile.

“Our extensive experience in the security sector, has allowed us to identify the needs of Spamina since the first moment. Besides, being part of the Worldcom PR Network and having several agreements between different international agencies, let us offer, through our partners, global services with a high quality level.” said Imma Folch, General Manager of LF Channel.

“The collaboration agreement with LF Channel, allows Spamina to pursue its ambitious marketing plan in the different countries where the brand is already established, in order to achieve an important presence and visibility in the security sector, and allows the company to become a reference in email total security” added Ramon Planas, Sales and Marketing Vice-president of Spamina.

Once the Project initial phase is developed, the collaboration could be expanded over time with more countries in the action plan.

LF Channel has a wide experience of almost 15 years in the management of international accounts that wish to introduce their products and services in Spain, as well as national companies that want to expand to other markets.

About LF Channel:

LF Channel is a marketing and communication agency with nearly 15 years of experience. In LF Channel we are specialists in providing, developing and executing communication, marketing and sales plans for our clients. Our objective is to form a team with our brands, to reinforce their image, increase sales and to communicate in the best way possible the products and services our clients offer.

In LF Channel more than 40 specialists work in all the business communication disciplines: strategic marketing, field marketing and public relations. We work by objectives and by and for our clients. We advise about the most suitable channel, to communicate the competitive advantages and explain the product better than anyone else in the point of sale (the moment of truth). LF Channel is the market intelligence applied to sell more.

LF Channel belongs to Worldcom Public Relations Group, the world´s leading partnership of independently owned public relations counseling firms. More than 110 partners operating in over 91 cities on five continents belong to Worldcom, professional network with strong expertise in consumer, healthcare, travel & tourism, technology, energy & environment, financial services, investor relations, public affairs and crisis & issues management.

www.lfchannel.com

About Spamina:

Spamina is a company that offers email security solutions market by providing all the options for businesses and individuals protect against attacks that appear via email. With its comprehensive combat to 100% of undesired email (spam), viruses, and fraudulent mail (Phishing) or malicious (Spoof) and guarantees the system administrators and users, management and total control of the email. It also ensures the safety Spamina regardless of device used to access e (PC, laptop, PDA, BlackBerry, etc …)

Spamina (Aegis Security) has offices in Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Reading (UK), Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Mexico City and San Francisco (USA). Its products and services are distributed through major dealers

www.spamina.es
Press information:

LF Channel
Raúl García
PR Director
Tel. (+34) 93 418 81 51
Email: rgarcia@lfchannel.com

 LF Channel coordinates the international PR and communication strategy of Spamina (140)

LF Channel Expands its Marketing and Communication Services with a New Online Marketing Division

Jofre Folch will be leading the new department and will integrate its new services into the LF Channel’s traditional marketing division to expand its global offer to customers

LF Channel, an independent marketing and communication agency that counts with more than 15 years of experience in the market, completes its marketing department with a new online marketing division. The new department will offer and manage SEO, SEM, social media and online media campaigns for those customers who want to strengthen their web presence and increase the efficiency of their 2.0 actions in order to enhance brand awareness and raise sales. Jofre Folch, online marketing strategies expert, consultant, professor and director of the new department, will provide his know-how to LF Channel’s wide current and future customer portfolio. LF Channel’s online marketing division will also support the PR department in launching PR 2.0 campaigns.

Nowadays the organizations must foster customers’ brand awareness keeping in mind that users are much more loyal and engaged to their peers in the web and that posts and comments in social networks are the best behavioral change factor. Thus, the need to design and execute a strategic online actions plan, integrated in the corporate marketing plan to define and analyze customers’ needs and adapt the overall strategy to them. This is the main reason why LF Channel has moved to expand its services with the new online marketing division. Apart from Jofre Folch, the new department is completed by Enrique Hernando, Business Development Manager and Bertha Lagos, community manager.

 LF Channel New Online Marketing Dept (169)