CRUNCH

Why do some businesses get media coverage while others struggle to get noticed? In this episode of CRUNCH, HMC Director Heather Claycomb is joined by Senior Account Managers Emma Letessier and Natalie Swart to unpack what “earned media” really means, and why it is much more than free publicity. The team breaks down the four players involved in earning media attention: the business, the PR team, th...

Whether you're marketing to NZ farmers or wanting to get a news story in front of them, they are harder to reach than ever before. The channels available are changing, plus farmers 'media consumption' habits have also evolved. In this episode, Heather Claycomb is joined by Chris Williams of KingSt Advertising and Richard Rennie of Laurich Agri-communications and Farmers Weekly to discuss what is c...

LinkedIn has become one of the most influential platforms shaping professional reputation, trust, and visibility. Yet many leaders still feel unsure about how to show up in a way that feels authentic, strategic, and worth their time. In this episode, Emma and Natalie from HMC unpack what effective leadership presence on LinkedIn really looks like. Moving beyond vanity metrics and formulaic posting...

This is a CRUNCH 'small bite' - a quick tip for our followers and fans. When a crisis hits, the first hour can make or break your reputation. In this episode, Heather Claycomb and Natalie Swart walk through what leaders and comms people must do in those first 60 minutes. They talk about how to pull your crisis team together fast, get clear on who is doing what, and stop people working at cross pur...

This is a CRUNCH 'small bite' - a quick tip for our followers and fans. Got a one star review and feel a bit sick? You are not alone. In this episode we talk about what to do when someone posts a bad review about your business, product or service. We get real about the first reaction most of us have - hurt, angry, defensive - and how hitting reply too fast can make things worse. HMC senior account...

This is a CRUNCH 'small bite' - a quick tip for our followers and fans. Is your brand showing up when people ask AI for information on a product or service? Many people are skipping Google and going straight to tools like ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude when they have a question about a product or service. If your brand is not being mentioned in those answers, you are missing warm leads. In this episode...

This is a CRUNCH 'small bite' - a quick tip for our followers and fans. Are media releases dead, or do they still earn their place in your PR toolkit? In this episode HMC director Heather Claycomb and senior account manager Natalie Swart talk honestly about how business leaders and comms people can work with New Zealand media without wasting anyone’s time. A client recently asked us if media relea...

Businesses are facing a communications environment that is changing faster than at any point in recent memory. From AI-driven search and shrinking newsrooms to rising expectations on leadership visibility, the rules around reputation, influence, and trust are shifting. For leaders and communications teams, understanding what is coming next is no longer optional. In this episode of CRUNCH , HMC Dir...

The way people search for companies and products online is changing. This is part 2 in a two-part podcast series. In this episode our conversation explores communications tactics businesses can use to enhance their visibility within AI-driven searches. And the result will be greater engagement with your target audiences. The HMC team talks about the importance of having a robust communication plan...

The landscape of online search is undergoing a profound evolution, as consumers increasingly opt to bypass traditional search engines like Google in favor of advanced AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. This evolution means brands must reconsider their digital presence, as large language models (LLMs) prioritise credible, consistent and authoritative content found on multiple platfor...

The dialogue with Phil Johnstone is an enlightening examination of the critical role of communications in the realm of global humanitarian assistance, particularly during crises. Phil shares his extensive experiences, having navigated the challenging landscapes of crisis response in various countries, including Nepal after the 2015 earthquake and more recently in Ukraine and Sudan. Phil has recent...

Organisations today face a heightened risk of reputational damage due to an increasingly sensitive public that is quick to take offense at corporate actions and decisions. Understanding the complex social, political, and environmental dynamics at play is essential for leaders looking to navigate this challenging landscape. Claudia MacDonald of Mango Communications, Alan McDonald of EMA and Fred Ru...

This is a CRUNCH 'small bite' - a quick tip for our followers and fans. Effective communication is crucial for businesses looking to build trust and enhance their brand reputation. This episode of CRUNCH highlights essential foundational actions that every organisation should take to ensure their communications are effective and resonate with their audience. Heather and Emma discuss the importance...

This is a CRUNCH 'small bite' - a quick tip for our followers and fans. Building strong relationships is a crucial tool for driving business success, as highlighted in this episode of CRUNCH. Nicola and Kate delve into the importance of internal team dynamics and how they translate to external business goals. Kate emphasizes that leaders must exemplify empathy and understanding to foster a positiv...

This is a CRUNCH 'small bite' - a quick tip for our followers and fans. This CRUNCH episode dives deep into the concept of the 'Credibility Gap', a critical topic for leaders and businesses striving to align their identity with their reputation. Hosted by Kate Webber and Heather Claycomb, the discussion begins by defining the nuanced differences between identity—how one perceives themselves—and re...

This is a CRUNCH 'small bite' - a quick tip for our followers and fans. Building trust for any organisation is essential for fostering strong relationships with your audience and stakeholders, and this episode dives into effective public relations techniques to achieve that. Heather and Nicola from New Zealand PR Agency, HMC, delve into the intricacies of trust-building in their latest discussion...

This is a CRUNCH 'small bite' - a quick tip for our followers and fans. As the saying goes, "Content is King!" But first things first - are you wondering, "How exactly do you define 'content?'" We'll answer that one for you! And once you know what content is, then how do you use it to achieve real, measurable results? We've got a few tips. In this short CRUNCH episode, we give you a few meaty tips...

Whether you're on a board or executive team, having a senior PR advisor by your side is a huge advantage when formulating business strategy, managing risk, working proactively to enhance reputation or tackling a crisis. But what are the skills you should look for in that senior PR advisor? In the conclusion of our two-part conversation with PR industry leader, Strahan Wallis of Wallis&Co, we t...

"What's a farm boy from Raglan, New Zealand, doing here?" That's what PR industry leader Strahan Wallis has asked himself throughout his PR career as his PR roles took him around the world working in the UK, USA and New Zealand. Over the years he’s found himself at a red carpet event where the Queen of England opened a James Bond movie; sitting in the members' lounge at Wimbledon watching the Nada...

PART TWO: In part two of this podcast interview, founding editor of BusinessDesk Pattrick Smellie continues his discussion with HMC.  We talk about how the media is using artificial intelligence (AI) and adjusting for the rise of disinformation and misinformation. Pattrick and HMC also provide some practical tips for how businesses must adjust their communications and media strategies to be s...

PART ONE: Pattrick Smellie, founding editor of BusinessDesk, joins us to discuss the changing face of NZ media and the impact these changes will have on how businesses work together with journalists. He provides a behind-the-scenes look at how media are navigating these industry transformations and adapting.  Plus the HMC team provides a perspective on how businesses must also adjust communic...

In this episode of CRUNCH, we unlock a few secrets of the world of influencers and content-creators and explore the power of third-party endorsement. This time-tested PR strategy has undergone a contemporary evolution over the past decade or so, and our panel of experts provide a few tips. Our guest, Zoe Virtue, Head of Group Social at DDB Group in New Zealand, has a wealth of experience working w...

Julien Leys, crisis management specialist, joins HMC director Heather Claycomb and HMC senior account manager Kate Webber on this information-rich episode. These three senior PR advisors talk through several of the crises they've managed during their careers and provide essential crisis communications tips for any leader who is managing a crisis. You'll walk away from this episode with a deeper un...

In today's competitive job market, attracting and retaining top talent is a challenge that companies face on a daily basis. To stand out in the crowd and become an employer of choice, an effective employer brand is essential. But how can you build and maintain such a brand that not only attracts the best talent but also retains them? A careful communications strategy one of the keys. Join us in th...

Is your organisation considered to be a 'high trust' organisation? Why is it important to build trust? What are the benefits of purposefully building trust? In this episode, we explore the idea of trust and the challenges of building trust, particularly in the current 'age of generative AI.' We tackle tricky questions, such as: "Are communities ready for AI?" "Should you disclose if you are using...