Barbara Specchia

Job Summary:
As a Senior Communications Consultant specialising in global media strategy and digital planning within a dynamic PR & Creative agency, I am at the forefront of crafting innovative and impactful communication strategies for diverse clients (including Diageo, Proximo, Zalando, Booking.com)

Responsibilities:

Client Consultation:
- Act as a trusted advisor to clients, understanding their business objectives and aligning communication strategies to meet their goals.
- Conduct thorough client assessments and provide strategic recommendations to enhance their global media presence.

Global Media Strategy:
- Develop and execute comprehensive global media strategies tailored to clients' needs, ensuring optimal coverage and visibility.
- Forge and maintain relationships with international media outlets.

Digital Planning and Execution:
- Lead digital communication planning, utilizing data-driven insights to inform strategies.
- Oversee the execution of digital campaigns across various platforms, ensuring seamless integration with broader communication efforts.

Campaign Development:
- Collaborate with creative teams to develop compelling and on-brand content for digital and traditional media channels.
- Implement integrated campaigns that span both digital and traditional media landscapes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Work closely with internal teams, including creative, public relations, and account management, to ensure alignment and cohesion in client campaigns.
- Collaborate with specialists to incorporate SEO, SEM, and other digital marketing strategies into communication plans.

Measurement and Optimization:
- Establish KPIs and metrics to measure the success of media and digital campaigns.
- Use analytics tools to provide clients with actionable insights and recommendations for continuous improvement.

Crisis Communication and Reputation Management:
- Develop crisis communication plans tailored to the unique challenges of clients.

Compliance and Ethics:
- Ensure that all media activities comply with legal and ethical standards.
- Stay informed about industry regulations and standards related to advertising and media.

Media Planning and Strategy:
- Develop and implement comprehensive media plans that align with clients' goals and target audience.
- Conduct market research to identify trends, target demographics, and competitive landscape.
- Collaborate with other departments to align media strategies with overall marketing and business objectives.

Media Buying and Negotiation:
- Manage relationships with media vendors, negotiate advertising rates, and secure optimal placements.
- Stay informed about industry trends, advertising platforms, and emerging technologies to make informed decisions.

Campaign Management:
- Oversee the execution of media campaigns across various channels, such as digital, print, TV, radio, and social media.
- Monitor and analyse campaign performance, making adjustments as needed to optimise results.

Budget Management:
- Develop and manage budgets for media campaigns, ensuring cost-effectiveness and a positive return on investment.
- Provide regular financial reports to leadership, demonstrating the impact of media efforts on the organization's goals.

Team Leadership and Collaboration:
- Lead and mentor a team of media professionals, providing guidance on strategy, execution, and career development.
- Collaborate with other departments, such as marketing, advertising, and public relations, to ensure cohesive and integrated communication efforts.

Media Analytics and Reporting:
- Utilise data and analytics tools to measure the effectiveness of media campaigns.
- Provide regular reports on key performance indicators and insights to inform future strategies.

Crisis Management:
- Develop crisis communication plans related to media and public relations.

Compliance and Ethics:
- Ensure that all media activities comply with legal and ethical standards.
- Stay informed about industry regulations and standards related to advertising and media.

Research and Analysis:
- Conduct market research to identify target audiences, media trends, and competitors.
- Analyse data to understand consumer behavior and media consumption patterns.
- Utilise demographic and psychographic information to create audience profiles.

Media Planning:
- Develop comprehensive media plans that align with marketing objectives and target audience characteristics.
- Select appropriate media channels (e.g., TV, radio, digital, print) based on campaign goals and budget.
- Determine optimal timing and frequency for ad placements.

Budgeting:
- Collaborate with the finance team to establish and manage media budgets.
- Ensure effective allocation of budget across various media channels to maximise reach and impact.

Negotiation and Buying:
- Negotiate with media vendors to secure favorable rates and placements.
- Execute media buys in accordance with approved plans and budgets.
- Monitor and optimize media buys to ensure they align with campaign goals.

Campaign Optimization:
- Analyse campaign performance data to identify areas for improvement.
- Implement adjustments to media plans based on real-time performance metrics.
- Optimize media strategies to enhance overall campaign effectiveness.

Client Collaboration:
- Work closely with clients to understand their business goals and marketing objectives.
- Provide regular updates on campaign performance and discuss optimization strategies.
- Collaborate on creative elements to ensure alignment with media plans.

Reporting:
- Generate detailed reports on media performance, providing insights and recommendations.
- Share reports with internal teams and clients to showcase the impact of media efforts.

Stay Informed:
- Stay up-to-date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and changes in media consumption.
- Continuously seek opportunities for innovation and improvement in media planning and buying processes.