Before moving into marketing, I began my creative career as a graphic designer. I recently went to a creative group meetup in Edinburgh. It’s usually a lively and inspiring event. I’ve been going to this gathering for twenty years. It’s one of those rare times when graphic designers, web designers, illustrators, photographers, videographers, and other…
There’s a quiet misconception spreading through businesses of every size: that automation, in and of itself, is a strategy. It isn’t. It’s a means, often a powerful one, but still just a means. Treating it as anything more can lead to wasted investment, diluted customer experience, and ultimately, missed opportunity. Automation has earned its reputation.…
Many SMEs collect customer feedback but don’t always use it to make changes. After a project, a survey might be sent out. Some reviews come in. Sales teams hear objections every day. Still, most of this feedback never reaches strategic planning or marketing. This means a valuable opportunity is being missed. When used well, customer…
When markets tighten, confidence dips, and boardroom conversations turn to “cash now, growth later”, marketing budgets often become the first casualty. The instinct is understandable: focus on activity that delivers an immediate return. Shift spend from long-term brand building to short-term lead generation. Protect the bottom line. But history, data and experience tell a different…
In any business, and especially in project-driven ones, the gulf between senior management (or business owners) and the operational teams is a latent risk. From a recent case described in an article by the BBC (concerning a company where the leadership’s grand vision was divorced from front-line reality) the consequences are instructive. When leadership drafts…
You’ve planted your business seed, watered it daily with sweat, grit and perhaps way too many cups of coffee. It’s growing. But at some point, when the leaves are sprouting vigorously, or when you notice weeds starting to creep in, you’ll realise you could use more than just your own two hands to tend to…
I was listening to a podcast recently where the hosts were discussing the power of modern advertising, and something interesting caught my attention. As the conversation unfolded, it became clear there was some confusion among them about where the line is drawn between marketing and propaganda. They used the terms almost interchangeably at times, praising…
In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping the marketing landscape, businesses face a growing challenge: how to remain authentic and human in a sea of machine-generated content. AI tools can produce marketing copy at scale, but they often lack the nuance, depth, and emotional resonance that genuine human experiences provide. As a result, many…
Sometimes, the writing is on the wall. You’ve poured energy into your business, worn every hat, and built campaigns from nothing, but now, growth has stalled. The progression you once saw is no longer realistic. Whether it’s a shift in the market, an irreconcilable clash with co-founders, or simply burnout, you’ve realised it’s time to…
Real-time conversations on social platforms are a living focus group that never sleeps. When you learn to read those signals early before they crystallise into mainstream headlines, you can shape campaigns that feel inevitable the moment they launch. I have written a play-by-play guide to turn raw social data from Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn and…