The Coca Cola truck has made an appearance and the John Lewis snowman is the UK's newest celebrity but whilst others are getting ready for Christmas, here at Westgate we're already looking forward to the New Year ahead. Whilst everyone is sitting by the fire roasting chestnuts, we have been busy like elves in our workshop, prepping our forward features lists, researching calendar hooks and generating exciting campaign ideas and calendars for 2013.
For our large consumer clients, we're already contacting our key publications to sound out ideas for their Valentines and Easter issues and securing opportunities with magazines that are working many months in advance. Whether it’s a bottle of Adnams Cherry liqueur for a loved one on Valentines Day or a spring trip to Europe with DFDS Seaways, you can be sure that we're planning ahead to make the most of these key events.
For all of our clients we compile forward features, listing article themes that have been planned for the year, which is essential for ongoing media liaison. This works well for both our consumer and B2B clients, to ensure that they are included in the majority of relevant editorial opportunities.
In 2012 we had a whole host of key events and calendar hooks to tie our PR campaigns to, such as the Queen's Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic games. As long as you are fully prepared and plan thoughtfully and strategically, then you can still create interesting and successful PR campaigns which will dovetail in with all of the upcoming high profile events of 2013. We're also really excited to see what 2013 will bring for the Westgate team with two weddings on the horizon (one being mine!); we already feel that it's going to be a great year!