Meet our new Digital PR Specialist – Natalie Howard

Natalie joined iThinkMedia this month to provide Digital PR and outreach services to our clients. She brings nearly a decade of experience in the media, having worked as a journalist and PR manager.

Q: Welcome to the team! How did you get into PR?

NH: I’ve worked in the press industry for nearly a decade, graduating straight into the recession and working through it on local and national newspapers, magazines and websites. I’d enjoyed a random stint doing Jade Goody’s PR before I started in journalism, so I moved over to ‘the dark side’ of public relations full time five years ago. From being a journalist I knew how important PRs are in influencing news and content in print and online. From working in PR I learned how important it is to companies wanting to increase brand awareness, drive traffic and sales and attract top talent and clients.

Q: How has the media industry changed during your career?

NH: It has been sad to watch local newspapers dwindle. As much as PR, this is where news flows from – the reporters on the ground. These stories, if interesting enough are picked up by the big news corporations and TV stations. This shrinkage is of course due to less advertising spend, but also because the way we get our news has become super-local. A decade ago you got the news for your town in a weekly paper. Today you know, minute by minute, what is going on in the restaurants, councils and even living rooms of your neighbourhood online and through social media. Instead of media for the masses, each person’s daily news journey is tailored and unique. This has opened up an exciting world of opportunity for digital marketeers.

Q: What are you looking forward to doing at iThinkMedia

NH: I recently joined iThinkMedia as a Digital PR Specialist to add value to the SEO, content and PPC we already offer our clients. I will do this with a tailored outreach strategy, creating bespoke content and generating valuable traffic from top influencers, therefore boosting SEO. I’m looking forward to applying journalistic integrity, traditional PR skills and digital strategy to my new role and am excited to see what we can achieve.

Q: Why did you choose iThinkMedia?

NH: I come from a mainly corporate, global in-house PR background, so an agency like iThinkMedia is a big change for me. I love the flexibility of being part of a smaller more agile team where creative ideas can be actioned quickly. The team are super smart at their jobs and are keen to use their skills to deliver for each client. Digital PR is the future and it is 100% the right next step for my career – I’ve already learned so much! Also – have you seen The Old Barn where we are based? It’s a stunning 18th-century building in the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside. We even have an office dog and an outdoor pool!

Q: What’s next for the media industry?

NH: There will always be a place for print media, but it is impossible to deny that the possibilities of digital marketing are more dynamic and the results more tangible. Companies cannot afford to ignore the opportunities it holds and are wisely investing in it more and more. I hope that the integrity of traditional journalism and PR will remain and adapt into the new digital landscape creating honest, quality content and organic web traffic.

Q: And what do you do when you’re not at work?

NH: I’m a local Hertford girl, so you will usually find me in town enjoying a sunny glass of wine with friends. I keep my writing skills up with some freelance journalism. I used to write a pub blog for Hertfordshire life and recently joined the Hertford Writers’ Circle. I am also a vintage car WAG (wives and girlfriends). My partner builds racing cars and has a 1930s Jaguar so we can often be found at vintage car events (I have plans to start vintage car blog for us WAGS called “Spare Part”). We were recently lucky enough to be at the start line of the Mille Miglia – a vintage car rally in Rome. Travel is my favourite thing – my last big trip was partying in Hong Kong with friends and then doing yoga in Bali to recover.