Astus is the UK’s leading media barter specialist. Media barter is a business process that allows advertisers and media owners to trade without having to pay 100% in cash for the media/products/services they want.

Our B2B PR agency programme helped Frances Dickens, CEO of Astus, become one the most regularly quoted female entrepreneurs talking about business issues such as Brexit and women on the board.

Using Simpatico PR’s Book-of-Ideas© process we created thought-leadership ideas to showcase Astus’ business expertise through a series of “how to” business advice articles in key business titles and national press. 

Our B2B PR agency approach also used key news jumps, including latest figures on apprenticeships/women on boards/ political events to push out topical, well researched and trenchantly argued opinion pieces.

Results

B2B PR coverage included Astus-fronted business advice pieces appeared in the nationals and key business press including Management Today, Director, City AM, Elite Business, The Telegraph and Guardian SME sections. 

Simpatico PR also secured a regular bi-monthly slot for Astus in Real Business magazine providing advice on aspects of running and launching a business, obtaining 6 x published pieces.

We had particular success promoting Frances’ views on women in business/on boards. Topical opinion pieces on Women on Boards included a piece in the Guardian Women in Leadership leading to the offer of a regular blog slot on Huffington Post and London Loves Business, as well as a front-page cover interview in the February issue of Elite Business.

Frances Dickens has subsequently been awarded an OBE.

“We started working with Simpatico in 2013 and have been constantly impressed with the results. Media barter is a complex sector, but Simpatico took the time to really get to know our business, taking a positive and proactive approach to the direction we want our communications to go in.”

Chris Gomez, International Marketing Director, Astus