Behind the Stripes
The Bluestripe Team Blog
What 2026 Holds for Advertising, Marketing and Media
The advertising ecosystem has never stood still, and 2025 was no different. It was a huge year for marketers, as the industry finally moved away from the cookieless narrative and into a world defined by AI.
The Ad, Media & AdTech Moments That Shaped 2025
Let’s be honest: 2025 has been a wild ride for anyone in advertising, media, or adtech. Forget "trends" and buzzwords" -this year delivered not only real change but huge potential for further change in 2026.
The PR Evolution: From Media Relations to Content Authority
The role of Public Relations has fundamentally changed. If you're still defining PR as purely media relations, which is essentially pitching journalists and securing external placements, then you're missing the most critical play in the modern communication game.
How Awards and Events Can Elevate PR Strategy
Being visible in an industry is often easier said than done. Awards and events are among the most powerful tools brands can use to stand out, gain attention, and showcase their fantastic work. When approached strategically, they do more than add credentials. They create moments that stick.
How Programmatic DOOH can supercharge last-minute shopping
Unlike traditional Out of Home campaigns that are locked in weeks in advance, pDOOH allows brands to be agile, dynamic and responsive, which is exactly what you need when consumer behaviour can shift overnight.
Making the most of the Christmas period to get ahead of 2026
Managing time is one of the most essential aspects of PR. This applies year-round, especially in Q4 as Christmas approaches and the year comes to a close.
Thriving at Events: Making Industry Panels More Powerful
This industry thrives on its events scene. You can get to an industry event any week of the year and learn from some of the experts in the industry, giving insightful and erudite opinions. At least, that’s the idea.
The rise of independent agencies - the current industry landscape
There’s one theme that seems to be running through many of the new business conversations I’ve been having lately: "How do we get in front of the independent agencies?” When you break this down, the appetite for the indies stems from brands seeking greater transparency in their media buys.
Cracking the French Market: Culture, Media, and Business Insights
As companies consider expanding into new geographies, several key factors come into play. For the purposes of this blog, and drawing on more than 20 years of experience in the French market, I will focus specifically on France and b2b companies.
Keeping up - Time Management in Public Relations
Managing time is one of the most essential aspects of PR; it ensures that deadlines are met and, consequently, that clients remain satisfied. It also prevents burnout and keeps a balance with the workload.
Turning Data into Headlines: How Research Gives PR its Edge
Journalists love data. Faced with hundreds of pitches each day - of which only a few ever make it into print - a story needs something extra to stand out. One of the best ways to give it that edge is evidence. That’s where research comes in. Data doesn’t just strengthen a narrative; it adds the credibility and originality editors are looking for when deciding which stories deserve attention.
Going International - Why Global Media Coverage Matters
Whether your business is completely new to doing public relations or it’s been getting coverage in just its core market, there can be a lot to consider when deciding to expand into other territories.
Making Conversation - PR People Pick Up That Phone!
There was a time, not so long ago, when the phone never stopped ringing with PRs keen to tell their clients’ stories. And yes, of course, that was sometime difficult to manage. But you always took the calls and they often led to something interesting or useful.
An Age-Old Debate - Are Events Still Worth It?
If you look at the 2025 calendar, there’s something to attend almost every week. In fact, if there’s only one or two in that timeframe, you’d see that as slow.
Driving Success - What Makes the Perfect Roadshow?
Well, I wouldn’t claim to have cracked the code on the perfect roadshow - but after running quite a few, I’ve learned some practical tips that can make yours far more successful.
5 questions for branded opinion and thought-leadership pieces
The technique I’m about to share with you allows non-writers to create compelling thought-leadership articles simply by answering 5 questions. This time, your answers will provide you with the content of your article and help you to construct a solid argument, capable of engaging your target audience.
The Importance of Building Relations with Journalists
Building relationships with all journalists matters. Not just the editors, but the staff writers, junior reporters, freelancers and new starters who are shaping tomorrow’s newsrooms.
SXSW comes to London in 2025 - A New Era
South by Southwest has officially made it across the Atlantic. The iconic US festival brought a blend of tech, music, film, and culture over to London last week, holding sessions, performances and pop-ups across East London. But did it succeed in translating that spirit to a new city? Here’s what the team thought…
The balance between quality and quantity in PR
“Quality over quantity” is an overused but factual phrase, right? This easily relates to metrics in public relations. By that I mean that a lot of statistical information is beneficial, but it needs to be appropriately measured, analysed and used. This is where qualitative information fills in the gap.
Bluestripe Group releases new B2B Marketing Trends report
Bluestripe Group has launched a new insight report on the evolution of B2B Marketing in digital media and advertising.
‘Marketing the Marketers’: Key trends in B2B marketing for digital media and advertising brands gathers expert opinion on current and predicted trends, the shifting boundaries of B2B marketing, and how to deliver omnichannel success in the B2B space.
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