The Soapbox Archives

The Power of Photography – Tim Bishop

10 September 2024/0 Comments/in Digital PR, Guest Blogs, Marketing, The Soapbox/by Louise

The Power of Photography in Content Marketing

Let’s be real: we live in a world where people scroll through content faster than you can say “double-tap.” In this visual age, grabbing attention is harder than ever. And that’s where photography comes in. Not just any photography—good photography. The kind that stops your thumb mid-scroll and makes you think, “Wow, that’s cool!” or at least, “Hey, what’s this about?”

1. First Impressions Matter—So Make Them Count You know what they say about first impressions—they’re everything. You’ve got about as much time to make an impression online as you do in real life (hint: it’s less than a second). A killer photo can say, “Hey, we’re professional, we know what we’re doing, and yes, you should keep reading.” Whether it’s a slick headshot or a shot of your latest product, the right image sets the stage for everything else.

2. Building Brand Identity Without the Buzzwords Let’s skip the marketing jargon and get to the point—your brand needs to look like, well, your brand. Photography is like your visual fingerprint. Consistent colors, lighting, and style help people recognize you across all the noise. So, when someone sees one of your photos, they immediately know it’s you. And that’s a good thing because nobody wants to be that brand that everyone forgets about five minutes later.

3. Emotional Connection—AKA, the Feels Ever looked at a photo and thought, “Why am I feeling all these emotions right now?” That’s the magic of photography. It’s like a shortcut to the feels. In content marketing, you want people to connect with your brand on an emotional level—because people remember how you made them feel, not just what you said. Whether it’s a warm, fuzzy portrait or a photo that screams excitement, the right image can make your content hit harder.

4. Making Content Less Boring (Seriously, It’s Important) Let’s face it: a giant wall of text isn’t exactly thrilling. People like pretty pictures; it’s just human nature. Adding photos to your content isn’t just about making it look nice; it’s about making it readable. Photos break up the monotony and keep people engaged long enough to actually absorb what you’re saying. Plus, who doesn’t love a good visual aid? Especially when it makes you look like you really know your stuff.

5. Boosting SEO Without the Tech Headache SEO—three little letters that can give anyone a headache. But here’s the good news: photography can help with that too! Search engines love images (especially when you play nice and add all the right tags and captions). It’s like giving your content a little boost in the rankings. And who wouldn’t want to be at the top of Google’s list? It’s like getting a gold star for your website.

6. Storytelling With a Lens Everybody loves a good story, right? Photography takes storytelling to the next level. A well-placed photo can do the heavy lifting in telling your brand’s story. It’s like a shortcut to the “good part” of a book, except you don’t have to read 20 pages to get there. When you pair great photos with your content, you’re not just telling a story—you’re creating an experience that people will remember.

7. Showing Off (In the Best Way Possible) Let’s be honest—everyone likes to show off a little. Photography is a way to flaunt your expertise without saying, “Look how great I am!” Each photo is a testament to the skill, creativity, and hard work that goes into what you do. So, when you see one of my photos, know that there’s a lot more behind it than just pointing a camera and clicking a button. It’s about capturing the essence of your brand in a way that words alone just can’t.

Conclusion

So, what’s the takeaway? Photography isn’t just the icing on the cake; it’s a big slice of it. It’s what makes your content pop, grabs attention, and keeps people coming back for more. In a world where everyone’s vying for those precious few seconds of attention, great photography can make all the difference. So go ahead—invest in some killer visuals and watch your content go from “meh” to “WOW!”.

Tim Bishop – Headshot, Commercial & Advertising Photographer

https://www.timbishopstudio.com/

TMPR’s 13th year: new vision and growth plans

13 June 2024/0 Comments/in Digital PR, Marketing, PR, The Soapbox, TMPR News/by Louise

To celebrate 13 years of business this month, a Penarth-based marketing and PR agency has relaunched with a fresh brand, a renewed vision, and ambitions to achieve further growth by making B2B marketing miracles happen for South Wales businesses.

Having built a strong foundation by specialising in the construction, engineering, manufacturing and technology sectors, Technical Marketing and PR is now broadening its B2B horizons under the ‘TMPR’ brand. This new strategy comes after the agency undertook research last year to identify its strengths, areas for improvement, and growth opportunities.

“We’ve long thought our specialist industry expertise was the reason why we’ve been successful with attracting new clients and retaining them for the long term,” explains Louise Morgan, TMPR founder and director.

“After finally asking the question, not just of clients, but everyone we engage with, it became clear it’s our approach that sets us apart. And that was the catalyst for our shift in vision.”

As well as extending the scope of sectors the agency will support, TMPR has also sharpened its service provision. “There’s a much stronger emphasis on channel communications now, as our experience with distribution models and partner marketing translates to many industries,” continues Louise.

“We’ve already been engaged by companies in the automative, warranty and healthcare sectors, and can’t wait to make B2B marketing miracles happen for more local businesses.”

TMPR is not only growing in terms of service and sectors. The award-winning agency has welcomed two new team members so far this year and is looking to add a further two account handlers before the end of 2024.

To learn more about the B2B marketing and PR services TMPR provides or to enquire about the roles available, please contact us.

TMPR welcomes Jess as operations lead

13 May 2024/0 Comments/in Fun Stuff, Our Team, The Soapbox, TMPR News/by Louise

We’re excited to share that TMPR continues to expand, this time by welcoming Jessica Hollyman to our newly created operations function!

Jess’ appointment as operations coordinator marks the launch of a dedicated department, giving us a solid platform for the future across HR, finance and office operations.

“We’re at a pivotal growth point so it was time for a dedicated operations team,” explains Louise Morgan, TMPR Director. “At TMPR, we empower growth – especially for our people – and so Jess has been brought on board to build the operations function from the ground up.”

Before joining TMPR, Jess worked in various roles including retail and optics, and spent over seven years getting stuck into the insurance industry. Ready for a new challenge, Jess took the opportunity to join TMPR, which aligned perfectly with her personal and professional goals.

“Even though my time at TMPR has only just started, I’ve already gained so much valuable knowledge,” said Jess. “I look to the future with real excitement about the potential for growth. I couldn’t have asked for a better welcome from the team, and I’m looking forward to working alongside them to make TMPR the best it can be!”

Welcome to TMPR, Jess! We are thrilled to have you on board.

Lights, camera, action for TMPR!

25 April 2024/in Fun Stuff, Marketing, Our Team, PR, The Soapbox, TMPR News/by Louise

Keeping up to date with marketing trends and ideas is a vital part of our role, as well as being able to offer our clients a wide range of support services. So, this week the TMPR team stepped out of the office and into the world of mobile video production…

We ventured to Studio Speck in Cardiff Bay for an interactive training session led by the talented Anna Brees. As well as championing personal and professional development, TMPR strongly believes in supporting local businesses. Anna is a true master of her craft, with experience in media and journalism spanning decades. She was the perfect mentor to guide us through experimenting with different styles, exploring the art of video storytelling, and editing our footage into polished pieces using mobile apps.

The team learned many valuable tips and techniques, from mastering camera angles and understanding lighting and audio, to learning how to use AI to generate scripts and video content. But the training went far beyond the technical. Anna also encouraged us to tap into our creativity and helped us to understand how to craft compelling visual stories that capture attention and keep audiences engaged.

As we collaborated on group projects and shared our creations with one another, our confidence grew and grew. The supportive and fun atmosphere fostered a sense of camaraderie within the team – in fact, it felt more like a team building day than official training!

We left the training session with a renewed appreciation for the power of video and a shared excitement to incorporate our new skills into our work. Anna’s infectious enthusiasm truly rubbed off on the team, who have already begun creating video content for TMPR social media – with more exciting plans in the pipeline!

Keep an eye on our social media channels to see some engaging video content from the team.

5 years at TMPR, happy work anniversary Tom!

23 April 2024/in Events, Fun Stuff, Our Team, PR, The Soapbox, TMPR News/by Louise

Today we’re marking five years since Tom Martin joined TMPR, and what an accomplished half a decade it has been!

Tom first joined the team back in 2019 as a Junior Account Executive, shortly after graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in English Language and Literature. He came to us as an enthusiastic graduate with an ambition to pursue a marketing and PR career. His passion and natural talent combined with the supportive environment and development opportunities provided by TMPR fast tracked Tom’s progression into his role as a fully formed Marketing & PR Consultant.

Reflecting on his tenure, Tom was spoilt for choice in choosing just a few highlights. From fully funded professional development, industry events and networking, team away days and celebrations, to spearheading immense projects and campaigns… And of course, taking home the title of Young Communicator of the Year at the 2023 CIPR PRide Wales awards!

When asked about his time with TMPR, Tom said: “Five years feels like a bit of a milestone, doesn’t it? It’s been a great journey so far and I’m confident there’s a way to go still. Seeing how the agency and the team has grown, especially across the past 12 months with new values, refreshed brand and more colleagues, has been extremely rewarding.

“On a personal level, I’m proud to be bringing the same attitude as day one. I’ve come a long way but I’m by no means finished learning, developing and finding new ways to deliver for our clients – and truly, I’m sure I never will be! It’s something to believe in, and I’m glad to be part of an ambitious team setting new standards.”

Louise Morgan, Director at TMPR, added: “Investing in our people to empower growth is a key pillar of TMPR. We believe in nurturing talent and supporting development at pace, most crucially, in specialisms that interest our colleagues the most. Tom has embraced every opportunity since day one, it’s been a real pleasure to work alongside him as his TMPR journey goes from strength to strength. Congratulations on this major milestone, Tom and thank you for the passion you bring to the agency as we prepare for our next chapter.”

Tom’s time with TMPR has been compelling and multifaceted – he has truly thrived since joining the team all those years ago, and played a pivotal role in helping evolve TMPR into the agency we are today.

A huge congratulations to Tom on his five year TMPR anniversary, we can’t wait to see what you achieve over the next five!

“This is not goodbye, but see you later!”

15 March 2024/in Our Team, The Soapbox, TMPR News/by Louise

This week, with a very heavy heart, TMPR said goodbye to our incredible Office Manager, Charlene Lau.

Charlene joined the team as an Office Administrator, but impressed everyone so much, that she progressed to Office Manager in less than a year! Charlene brought a wealth of experience in advertising and the media industry to the team – a skill set that saw her become a fundamental part of TMPR’s growth.

We’re sad to see Charlene leave, but we’ll be wishing her every success and cheering her on from rainy Wales she returns to her family in ‘sweaty’ Singapore.

On her final day in the office, Charlene took some time to reflect on her time with TMPR. Drawing inspiration from our Friday debrief, where we all share our highlights and challenges from the week, here’s what she had to say:

Highlights

“I’m super grateful for the kindness and tremendous support everyone has shown me since I first joined the team over two years ago. I have made friends for life and will miss everyone very much.

“It has been a privilege to watch TMPR grow – winning awards, gaining recognition from clients and publishers, and of course welcoming new faces to the team.

“I have really enjoyed being part of the brand refresh, crafting our new mission and vision statements, and generally laying the foundations for TMPR to grow even more. I’m sad I won’t be here to be part of it, but I know the team will keep doing amazing things.

“I will treasure every moment from our team building away days and parties to training sessions. We have had so much fun together, and shared so many giggles – I will never forget being exposed to new idioms like ‘turkeys don’t vote for Christmas’”. “I will take all these memories and phrases with me to Singapore and think of them when I need to laugh!”

Challenges

“Maybe I’m feeling soppy on my last day, but my time at TMPR has been a dream. The only challenge I can think of is adjusting to the work culture here – it’s much more relaxed than Singapore and Hong Kong!

And of course, a big challenge has been trying to park my car without any mishaps. Even on my last day I have had trouble trying to park my car! Maybe I need to revisit driving lessons…”.

Saying goodbye

“Leaving the TMPR team is going to be really hard. Everyone has been so thoughtful, encouraging, and all round amazing. I can’t go without thanking as many people as I can.

“Louise, my super talented lady boss! I couldn’t be more grateful to you for trusting me, allowing me to try new things, and encouraging me to grow and be better. You have definitely expanded my technical marketing knowledge, but in a way that I can take these skills and use them anywhere. It has been a great privilege to learn from you.

“Tom, the day we met you welcomed me with the most charming smile – it’s one of the best first impressions of someone I’ve ever had. From that day until this one, you have always guided me, offered support, and looked after me like family. Thank you for being a great friend.

“Olly, my partner in crime, lunch buddy, best English tea maker and Welsh cake baker! Life will be boring without you. I am sorry for forever teasing you, but we had so many laughs and so much fun. Your famous slogan ‘get back to work!’ will be part of me forever.

“Rachel Cole, my admin goddess! Your contagious laughter and positive vibes fill every room that you are in. I can’t think of anyone better to look after the team when I have returned to Singapore. Thank you for being authentically you.

“Mollie, my main competitor to marry Harry Styles! My only wish is that we could have more time to work together. It has been lovely getting to know you since you joined the team a few months ago, thank you for introducing me to various kinds of cows!

“Rachel Knight, it has been a great pleasure meeting you. In our short time you’ve shown me what gentleness and the term soft-spoken should be! I know you will do great things at TMPR.

“Jo, Katrin, Grace, Joanna, Elaine, and Chris – thank you for your kind support and the professionalism you have shown me throughout my tenure. I will miss working with you all.

“Publishers and clients, my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for making my time at TMPR truly memorable and smooth-sailing. I wish you all the best for the future.

“Coming together is the beginning, staying together is a process, working together is success.

“This is not goodbye but see you later my dearest TMPRers. My sincerest thank you to all of you. We became the best of friends, and I will miss you all deeply.”

Welcome Rachel, the newest member at TMPR!

6 March 2024/in Events, Our Team, PR, The Soapbox, TMPR News/by Louise

TMPR is excited to welcome Rachel Knight to the team, who joins us as a Junior Graphic Designer! Rachel brings a degree in graphic communication and four years of graphic design experience to the team, alongside her friendly attitude and passion for creativity.

“During my university studies and previous roles, I developed a keen interest in visual storytelling and brand communication,” Rachel explains. “I am very happy to be joining TMPR, and I am eager to embrace the collaborative spirit and transparent approach that they are so well known for.”

“As a Junior Graphic Designer, I’ll be helping edit artwork for existing client projects, as well as acting as a brand guardian for TMPR,” Rachel continues. “I’m looking forward to growing in my role and with the brand. We’re currently going through a re-brand, so I’m very excited about what’s ahead!”

Outside of the office, Rachel tries to spend as much time outdoors as possible. She loves running, hiking, and travelling to new places. Last year, Rachel took a career break to travel around Europe. She had a fantastic time experiencing new cultures and exploring lots of new hiking routes. Her favourite hike being the Picos De Europa, a beautiful National Park known for being the home of the Brown Bear and the Iberian Wolf! Rachel is also a keen amateur photographer, and loves capturing the scenery on her outdoor adventures.

Louise Morgan, TMPR Director, says: “Welcoming Rachel to the team bolsters our existing creative capabilities. In the short time she has been with us, she has already made a positive impact – fitting in seamlessly by bringing a positive attitude and passion for design.”

“Thanks to Rachel joining the business, we are now making good progress with the TMPR rebrand behind the scenes,” Louise continues. “Watch this space in the coming months… great things are on the way!”

“I’m so thankful for the warm welcome I’ve received from the team,” Rachel adds. “Their kindness and support has made my transition into this new chapter smooth and enjoyable. I am genuinely grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such talented, hardworking and friendly colleagues. I can’t wait to see what our future holds!”

Welcome to the TMPR team, Rachel!

TMPR celebrates Tom’s CIPR PRide Awards win!

24 November 2023/in Events, Fun Stuff, Our Team, PR, The Soapbox, TMPR News/by Louise

TMPR are extremely proud to share that Tom was a Gold Winner in the Outstanding Young Communicator of the Year category at this years CIPR PRide Awards!

Everyone at TMPR sees the hard work and dedication Tom puts into all his projects and clients every day, so his win came as no surprise to us, but we are so glad that his talent and commitment has been recognised by the CIPR and celebrated by a room full of industry peers. He truly is an inspiration.

“I’m immensely pleased to be named Gold Winner of the Outstanding Young Communicator award. It feels like the culmination of a great year, and a high point in my career so far. Putting my submission forward was a great opportunity to reflect on what I’ve achieved so far, but also a moment to think about what comes next – I’m sure there’s a lot more steps to take!” Tom explains. “To attend the awards with the team was a real privilege. We all work extremely hard so it’s brilliant to have a chance to celebrate together and unwind a little. I think it’s testament to the strength of our team that we’ve achieved so much, and we’ll undoubtedly be back next year.”

“It was incredible to see Tom win the Outstanding Young Communicator award. We will be celebrating Tom’s fifth year at TMPR in 2024, so this achievement feels like the perfect way to mark his progression so far,” says TMPR Director, Louise Morgan. “At TMPR we are passionate about investing in team development and creating opportunities for growth. Tom has grown so much since his early days at TMPR, so it was an honour to see him be celebrated by the CIPR and the Welsh PR Industry. We are beyond proud of him.”

Here’s what the judges had to say about why Tom is a deserving winner: “Tom is a worthy winner of the Outstanding Young Communicator award this year. His ability and commitment to his role shone through in his nomination. The judges were particularly pleased and impressed to see how he is passing on his knowledge and experience to colleagues. A very deserved honour.”

Held at the Coal Exchange Hotel in Cardiff Bay, the PRide Awards were a celebration of the work delivered by the vibrant Public Relations community in Wales over the last year. The dress code was dress to impress – and the team definitely did! The TMPR team has grown again this year, so the awards were a great opportunity for team members old and new to catch up with the extended team in person instead of through a screen!

TMPR were shortlisted for two other awards at this year’s PRide Awards: Best Long-term Client Care and Small PR Consultancy of the Year. Although we didn’t win these awards, as a small business, to be finalists at such a prestigious event amongst so many excellent peers was a win in itself for us.

Congratulations to Tom, all the award winners, and all our fellow finalists. The last few years have been especially difficult to navigate, so it is incredibly heart warming to see the Welsh Public Relations industry thriving. Everyone should be so proud.

We can’t wait to do it all again next year!

Celebrating 2 years with Charlene at TMPR!

9 November 2023/in Fun Stuff, Our Team, The Soapbox/by Louise

This week we’re marking two years since Charlene Lau joined TMPR, and what an accomplished two years it has been! Charlene joined the team as an Office Administrator but quickly progressed to Office Manager within her first year. She has truly gotten stuck into her role and now celebrates two full years with us.

Originally from Singapore, Charlene brought with her a wealth of experience in hospitality, advertising, and the media industry – a skill set that along with her adaptability and organisation has seen her become a fundamental part of TMPR’s growth.

Charlene can speak an impressive four languages including English, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Hokkien. She is currently brushing up on her French skills and has her sights set on adding a fifth fluent language to the list! Her dedication to learning and growth both in and outside of the office is what makes her the perfect Office Manager, and greatly admired by the whole team.

When asked about her two year TMPR tenure, Charlene said “I can’t believe it’s been two years already! I have learnt so much since I started my role. I have been able to develop my marketing and advertising knowledge, learn how to manage a busy office, and build positive relationships with clients. Everyone has always been so caring and supportive, and treated me with so much respect. There are a lot of exciting plans for TMPR in 2024, so I’m really excited to see what my third year holds”.

Louise Morgan, Director at TMPR, added: “Charlene been instrumental in evolution of TMPR over the past two years. Her positivity, her commitment to her role, and her dedication to the business is an enormously valuable asset to TMPR. Thank you, Charlene, for always being our ray of sunshine”.

Since joining us two years ago, Charlene’s unique skill set and bubbly warmth has become an integral addition to the team, and we could not imagine the office without her. A huge congratulations to Charlene on her two year TMPR anniversary, we can’t wait to see what you achieve in year three!

Shaping the future of TMPR together

18 October 2023/in Events, Fun Stuff, The Soapbox/by Louise

After 12 years in business, TMPR has gone from strength to strength. The team is the beating heart of TMPR, so with two new hires recently joining, it is the perfect time to come together and build a vision for the future.

Long-standing HR partner James Dalton, Founder and CEO of E3i, joined the team to discuss the culture of TMPR past and present, but most importantly future. Throughout the day the team learnt a lot about TMPR, the individuals within it, and how they work as a team. Using valuable feedback and insights from employee, client, and supplier surveys, some fantastic conversations took place regarding what makes TMPR unique and special, and how to take it to the next level.

As TMPR look to begin an exciting new chapter, the team explored the company’s values, shaping a positive vision for the future. Everyone at TMPR feels a special energy in the air and believes it should be shared with the world. Together the team defined the ‘TMPR way’ which will help to better communicate why the agency is a great place to work – and a great agency to work with.

Stay tuned, it’s going to be exciting!