We’re feeling anything but “blue” this January, as we welcome our brand new Account Manager, Matthew Dodwell to Team EV. Matt joins us with a wealth of industry knowledge, having built up a variety of global brand experience from his time at Hilton, Marriott and JLR. In this 60 Seconds With, he shares how he got into the world of PR, his go-to coffee order and his marketing predictions for 2022.
How did you get into PR?
I was the guy that never knew what he wanted to do, but was adamant that I needed a creative role that was amongst people. In the early stages of my time as a Funeral Director – hear me out – I interned at a PR agency and fell in love with story mining, creating content: immersing myself in brand visions and values to make magic happen.
Tell us a bit more about your role!
My role focuses on developing strategies that engage and deliver awesome results for our clients. Variation is the spice of life when it comes to PR but EV.,
truly is a whirlwind and I love it. I’m in touch with clients constantly and can either be focused on planning or day-to-day delivery.
What is your favourite part of the job?
I’m the newest member of the team, but I have never felt so at home. The team are an all-star cast that work so hard and support each other. It’s love all round.
What’s your go-to coffee order?
Oat Chai Latte with extra chai or an iced caramel macchiato with less ice. Plus I always ask how the Barista’s day is going because it’s important to engage guys!
Here’s a divisive question… dogs or cats?
DOGS – cats know something that we don’t and it’s a scary subject.
What are your top three marketing tools that you can’t live without?
Canva for design. Instagram for content and paper for brainstorming – you can now rule the world.
What is one top tip that you give every client about PR?
Know your product/service and your consumer. If Tina dines at your restaurant: where does she live, what makes her tick, why has she chosen to sit at your
restaurant.
What is your PR trend prediction for 2022 and beyond?
Stunts, man! We thought flash mobs were a thing of the past but there’s been a massive increase in stunts that are making their way to the gram. Studies show that Gen Z (the digital natives) connect more with physical marketing as they’re existing digitally.
Who would your dream client be and why?
Having worked extensively in the leisure sector, my dream client would have to be Four Seasons! I particularly enjoy marketing the luxury goods sector, plus who doesn’t love a nice, boujee hotel? Experience-led consumption is definitely on the up after the pandemic.
Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to get into the industry?
I never studied PR and went through the normal channels, however I would recommend budding PR’s to read… read everything! Explore your writing and take note of what’s happening around you. When applying for a job/internships, don’t just send a CV, be creative and find a way of landing on an employer’s desk.