Search results for "small business"

Stealing social media ideas is a very good strategy

Stealing social media ideas is a very good strategy

Let me be clear I am not suggesting plagiarism. There is enough of that in the creative industries as it is. Instead I believe, whilst we are locked behind screens and away from the serendipity of the water cooler ‘eureka’ moments, we need to work hard to find inspiration. Mark…
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Latest on TikTok, Triller and Twitch

Latest on TikTok, Triller and Twitch

While there’s always more to learn about the largest social media channels that we’re pretty familiar with when is the last time you checked out what was happening on some of the smaller, or more niche channels? If you fancy watching our latest Serious Social about these three, dig in…
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Episode 31: Serious Social – T is for…

Episode 31: Serious Social – T is for…

  Ep 31: Serious Social – T is for… Get the T in this Serious Social session, because T is for TikTok, Twitch and Triller. With the first narrowly escaping a ban in the US, the second claiming a 223% increase in the number of creators…
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Episode 29: Serious Social – with Milly Youngman

Episode 29: Serious Social – with Milly Youngman

  Ep 29: Serious Social – with Milly Youngman In this episode of Serious Social, Katy Howell is joined by Milly Youngman, social media manager across multiple Travelopia brands, to discuss how Milly spins many social media plates whilst maintaining a strategic approach in the challenging…
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Episode 28: Serious Social – Why do keep reinventing the wheel?

Episode 28: Serious Social – Why do keep reinventing the wheel?

  Ep 28: Serious Social – Why do we keep reinventing the wheel? In this episode of serious social, Katy Howell and CJ get right under the skin of the misinformation shared about social media marketing. You’ll hear how the past is the key to unlocking…
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Ep. 27: Serious Social – Cracking the branded community code

Ep. 27: Serious Social – Cracking the branded community code

  Ep. 27: Serious Social – Cracking the branded community code This year more than most, online communities have sprung up for all sorts of people to connect with each other. Brands are keen to get in on the action, looking to build branded communities. In this session,…
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Ep 26: Serious Social – Don’t make a boob being brave

Ep 26: Serious Social – Don’t make a boob being brave

  Ep 26: Serious Social – Don’t make a boob being brave Social is all about being brave. So, in this episode of Serious Social Live, Associate Director Belle Lawrence gives some examples of brand bravery and gives away some best practice tips on avoiding mistakes! If…
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Ep 25: The Now, Next and Normal

Ep 25: The Now, Next and Normal

  Ep 25: The Now, Next and Normal The now, next and normal of social marketing is not just another webinar. It’s a punchy and pragmatic look at how you can prosper as networks shift and behaviours change. You’ll leave the session with actionable direction and…
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Social Snapshot 09.09.20

Social Snapshot 09.09.20

For this week’s social snapshot, we’re bringing you the top social news that’s on our radar (and feeds). It’s been a big news week, with lots of features, programs and insights guides. So, let’s jump straight in! Some users are now able to view Instagram Stories on Facebook…
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Twitter Lists and how to use them

Twitter Lists and how to use them

In the world of social media marketing, Twitter Lists are important. Brands, businesses, and marketers alike use Lists for various reasons. They can be public or private and can provide you with lots of relevant information that ultimately helps you be the best you can be.
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Brand: “Where, and how, should we be spending our Social Media budget?”

Brand: “Where, and how, should we be spending our Social Media budget?”

It’s a frequently asked question framed at us by boardrooms and marketing directors. More often than not it comes from the senior-most person in an organisation. People who wish to sense-check what the brand is doing on social and validate past spend versus future investment. We’re frequently asked to address…
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Episode 25: Where should boardrooms and marketing directors invest their precious social media budget?

Episode 25: Where should boardrooms and marketing directors invest their precious social media budget?

  Ep 25: Serious Social – Where should boardrooms and marketing directors invest their precious social media budget? Too many businesses start their social media marketing journey with a pre-conceived idea of the number of posts they need, the frequency with which they need to appear,…
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There are brand consequences to the shifting consumer on social

There are brand consequences to the shifting consumer on social

Last week I had the pleasure of talking with Neville Hobson, the Director of Digital Marketing at Internet Society, about all things social media (you can listen to the pod or watch the video). First off the bat was the topic of trust. We’ve blogged…
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Episode 24: Building trust in innovations and the future of social with Neville Hobson

Episode 24: Building trust in innovations and the future of social with Neville Hobson

  Ep 24: Building trust in innovations and the future of social with Neville Hobson In this episode of Serious Social, Katy Howell is joined by Neville Hobson, award-winning blogger and podcaster, to discuss the challenge of building trust in innovations and the future of social.
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Episode 22: How To Improve Your B2B Content

Episode 22: How To Improve Your B2B Content

  Episode 22: How To Improve Your B2B Content The B2B landscape is flush with more usable content than you may think! Businesses need to be controversial (to an extent), experiment with different types of content and front up to the current challenges faced in boardrooms…
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Your B2B content is desperate to be used

Your B2B content is desperate to be used

The B2B landscape is an interesting one. There’s a common misconception that B2B organisations are low on usable content, but it’s simply not true. The landscape is actually flush with more information and eye-catching, challenging content than perhaps a lot of businesses realise. What do I have right now? Think…
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Episode 21: Brands! Don’t get cancelled

Episode 21: Brands! Don’t get cancelled

  Ep 21: Brands! Don’t get cancelled Cancel culture has been around for almost two decades but, like most things, has accelerated in 2020. Businesses need to make sure they protect their reputation and adapt to changing audience behaviours. But where to start? We explore the…
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Episode 20: It ain’t just about the hashtag

Episode 20: It ain’t just about the hashtag

  Ep 20: Serious Social – It ain’t just about the hashtag   If you’re after more know-how to break the social boring, subscribe now.
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Episode 19: Busting myths, sifting the bona fide from the BS

Episode 19: Busting myths, sifting the bona fide from the BS

  Ep 19: Serious Social – Busting myths, sifting the bona fide from the BS If you’re after more know-how to break the social boring, subscribe now.
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Episode 18: Ho Ho Ho! Christmas is trending

Episode 18: Ho Ho Ho! Christmas is trending

  Ep 18: Serious Social – Ho Ho Ho! Christmas is trending It’s social moments and trends that let us understand audience intent. It’s rising interests and topics that enable us to align and drive brand in the category. And it’s changing behaviour that identifies triggers and…
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A new path for B2B social – A post Covid-19 strategy

A new path for B2B social – A post Covid-19 strategy

Social has been hit by a perfect storm. A triumvirate of changes that have set it on a new path. Covid-19, which has more of us on social, spending a lot more time and increased activity is likely to stay; More polarising content has made it a hard…
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Episode 17: Sounds in social

Episode 17: Sounds in social

Ep 17: Serious Social – Sounds in social The latest episode of our Serious Social podcast with our Associate Director, Belle Lawrence looked at the role of sound in social media! Listen now for a deep dive into how you can enhance your ‘sound on’ social…
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Episode 15: How to manage a crisis on social media

Episode 15: How to manage a crisis on social media

Episode 15: How to manage a crisis on social media  From the planning, processes creation and policy development you may need to undertake, we’re going to explore differentiating between issues management and crisis management and knowing the actions you need to take should a crisis occur.
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Episode 14: Trends from TikTok to takeaways

Episode 14: Trends from TikTok to takeaways

Ep 14: Serious Social – Trends from TikTok to takeaways Updates on how user numbers and engagements are growing on certain channels, suggestions about getting started on TikTok and Pinterest, and recent data on sectors like food and drink and travel as the UK starts to…
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Fast, focused and first – creating short social campaigns

Fast, focused and first – creating short social campaigns

Right now, as lockdown lifts, marketers are looking for short-term quick wins that will deliver impact. A fast move to recovery, a chance to grab market share and make a distinctive difference that will run the rest of the year. It makes sense. For many brands marketing had slowed to…
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Episode 12: Quick wins in social will help accelerate market recovery

Episode 12: Quick wins in social will help accelerate market recovery

  Ep 12: Serious Social – Quick wins in social will help accelerate market recovery As we move into recovery, consumers and customers have renewed interest in markets they have abandoned for the last few months. In this episode, we’re talking getting your recovery social media campaign…
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Episode 11: Brands as broadcasters

Episode 11: Brands as broadcasters

Ep 11: Serious Social – Brands as broadcasters Instead of pitching or even bringing in a broadcaster, become the broadcaster. Gain insight on how to make your live broadcasts rival the messaging and quality seen on BBC News, Bloomberg and more. If you’re after more…
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Episode 10: Improving conversion

Episode 10: Improving conversion

Ep 10: Serious Social – Improving conversion Now is the time to reevaluate how you are gaining social media conversions. Belle Lawrence shares how tips and strategies for how you can best use CTAs, motivation and emojis. If you’re after more know-how to break the…
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Episode 9: It’s time to get social emotional

Episode 9: It’s time to get social emotional

  Ep 9: Serious Social – It’s time to get social emotional Why and how to be distinctive, empathetic and in tune. Away with the clichés, sad music and mentions of challenging times. Brands need to demonstrate EQ in their social content – Katy Howell explains…
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Episode 8: The content that rocks vs the content you should drop

Episode 8: The content that rocks vs the content you should drop

Ep 8: Serious Social – The content that rocks vs the content you should drop If you’re still using overly posed shutterstock images, we’re here to tell you, you need to break the social boring. Please, please, please stop using boring photography, go have some fun,…
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Episode 7: Getting your paid social on-point

Episode 7: Getting your paid social on-point

Ep 7: Serious Social – Getting your paid social on-point New to paid social, or looking to brush up – we’ve got some top tips and insight for you. If you’re after more know-how to break the social boring, subscribe now.
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Episode 6: No! Don’t just repurpose social content

Episode 6: No! Don’t just repurpose social content

  Ep 6: Serious Social – No! Don’t just repurpose social content So, how do we speed up creativity? How do we increase the relevancy for our audiences, and how do we create a well-oiled production machine? Katy outlines a framework for creating the right content…
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Episode 5: How to ready your brand for post-lockdown opportunities

Episode 5: How to ready your brand for post-lockdown opportunities

Ep 5: Serious Social – How to ready your brand for post-lockdown opportunities Don’t wait for lockdown to lift and then start your brand planning – you’ll lose valuable H2 ground. Managing Director Colin Jacobs urges brands to conduct their brand planning now.  This episode was recorded…
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Ep 4: Serious Social – Has our sense of community changed?

Ep 4: Serious Social – Has our sense of community changed?

Ep 4: Serious Social – Has our sense of community changed? Social media is replacing some of the physical proximity we’re missing, brands have the chance to be a part of this right now. In this episode, Associate Director Belle Lawrence considers how the current climate…
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Ep 3: Serious Social – Planning your social for tomorrow, today

Ep 3: Serious Social – Planning your social for tomorrow, today

  Ep 3: Serious Social – Planning your social for tomorrow, today What planning must you do for the inevitable new normal? What we know is – fundamentally the pandemic is changing some big factors in society from economy to technology. We  need to understand where…
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Ep 2: Serious Social – How to connect with you audience without disrespecting our societal challenge

Ep 2: Serious Social – How to connect with you audience without disrespecting our societal challenge

  Ep 2: How to connect with you audience without disrespecting our societal challenge Right now, as a Social Media Marketer the single most important thing you can do is listen. Tuning into what’s going on around you, within your sector and within social conversations will…
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Ep 1: Serious Social – Data is a core component to Social Media success

Ep 1: Serious Social – Data is a core component to Social Media success

  Ep 1: Serious Social – Data is a core component to Social Media success The importance of data within marketing shouldn’t be overlooked. Without it, your social media strategy is likely to fall flat on it’s (inter)face. In this episode, we’re talking data. Associate Director…
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Ep 1: Serious Social – Data is a core component to Social Media success

Ep 1: Serious Social – Data is a core component to Social Media success

Ep 1: Serious Social – Data is a core component to Social Media success The importance of data within marketing shouldn’t be overlooked. Without it, your social media strategy is likely to fall flat on it’s (inter)face. In this episode, we’re talking data. Associate Director Belle Lawrence is…
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Facebook to implement limits on how many ads pages can run in 2020

Facebook to implement limits on how many ads pages can run in 2020

Included in Facebook’s latest Graph and Marketing API update, the social media platform has announced that in 2020 they will limit the number of ads a page can run at one time. Your initial reaction might be that this update could limit capabilities for your business. However, according to…
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Going gaga over going global on Facebook ads?

Going gaga over going global on Facebook ads?

If you’re reading this, you’re probably already familiar with the Business Manager on Facebook, and perhaps using it to great advantage in your paid social strategy. For some, the next step is considering markets outside the UK… nope, I’m not going to mention the ‘B’ word! Having attended Facebook’s recent…
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New season, new features

New season, new features

New season, new features In anticipation for the holiday season, Facebook has launched two new features to help marketers with their holiday push. Feature One: Customisable Story Templates  Facebook has finally taken a page out of Canva’s book, with the introduction of customisable templates to boost holiday…
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Staying Clear on Facebook’s Privacy

Staying Clear on Facebook’s Privacy

With all the rumours that surround privacy on social media platforms and the common suspicions we have about being spied on through our popular handheld devices, Facebook is clearly trying to take a step in the direction of transparency. We all get spooked after having a conversation in our non-screen…
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Are you always sending DMs? Test out Twitter’s new feature.

Are you always sending DMs? Test out Twitter’s new feature.

Week in week out, all the major platforms are constantly tweaking, updating and testing in a bid to increase engagement and make users more active. These updates aren’t always ground-breaking, but they’re slowly implemented to improve usage based on how users interact, and ultimately to make the experience more streamlined.
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Happiness is a clean timeline? You can now de-clutter your twitter!    #Twitter #MarieKondo

Happiness is a clean timeline? You can now de-clutter your twitter! #Twitter #MarieKondo

It’s clear that we are in an age where a trend will start from someone or a small community, it then gets shared online and before you know it, it is shared over social reaching millions of people who are then altering their lifestyle to this trend. This is what…
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Another new test feature for Instagram creators.

Another new test feature for Instagram creators.

Instagram is testing another new feature to improve the social platform for influential creators. According to The Hollywood Reporter*, a small group of Instagram users are testing new “creator accounts” on the social platform that provides them with added attractive features. Similar to business-focused profiles on Instagram that were introduced…
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The generation that is influenced by beauty and social media now have been christened with a name!

The generation that is influenced by beauty and social media now have been christened with a name!

A new generation, one that no-one can put their finger on to how they became so adept in technology. How they use their spare time to create profiles on social media, that now make them more money than the average degree-holder would make. How they are so influenced by youtube,…
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Facebook Portal shows a commitment to the household of the future

Facebook Portal shows a commitment to the household of the future

One of the reasons Facebook stands above all other social media networks, is that it isn’t just a social media network. Facebook is a technology giant. That’s why it is in the same category as Google, Apple and Amazon. A lot of this tech is deployed behind the scenes, but…
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Facebook M assistant can now translate French

Facebook M assistant can now translate French

At first glance, the news of the Facebook Messenger assistant M being able to translate French could be a little underwhelming. French translation isn’t a feature that most users are crying out for. But what makes this announcement a little more interesting is how this translation functionality is being used,…
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Taking the plunge with paid media

Taking the plunge with paid media

Investing money in advertising can feel like a bit commitment, however deploying paid on social doesn’t need to be scary. As long as you have a plan in place before you start, social is a great way to test campaigns and creatives easily, with real-time feedback. Here’s how to…
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We can all now apply for a verification badge on Instagram

We can all now apply for a verification badge on Instagram

If you consider yourself to be a “notable public figure” and have a healthy follow on Instagram, you can now apply to have the blue badge that makes your public status official. Instagram considers the badge to be an important way for the wider community to know that the…
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Your video content matters more now than ever before

Your video content matters more now than ever before

Here’s the headline – for the first-time, subscriptions to streaming services like Netflix, NOW TV and Amazon Prime have outstripped traditional pay-TV subscriptions. Not my snappiest headline! Here’s why this is important. While the difference in the number of streaming subscriptions against pay-TV is small now, just…
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The things no one tells you about video on social

The things no one tells you about video on social

For many businesses, producing and outputting video content can be costly in terms of time, money and skills. With the meteoric rise of video across Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, you’ve got to have the video know-how to remain relevant. Where do we come in? We’re here to debunk the myths…
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Social media gets to work!

Social media gets to work!

71% of businesses advertise on social media. And even more businesses plan to start. Work and social media can go hand-in-hand if you take the right approach. In our most recent Serious Social, we spoke about how social media stands on legs of communication and networking.
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Transparency ensures Facebook’s future

Transparency ensures Facebook’s future

Facebook never really had an issue with advertisers. While mainstream media highlighted how some have opted to pull spend, by and large, Facebook remains the juggernaut it is because of the truck loads of money pumped into the business by marketers. Additionally, Facebook never really had an issue with members.
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Insta’s shoppable posts have crossed the pond

Insta’s shoppable posts have crossed the pond

UK-based e-retailers! You’ll step up your social when you hear this… Instagram are giving UK online retailers the chance to publish shoppable posts. Shoppable Instagram posts have been on the horizon for a while. The feature was available to American businesses last year, so it was only…
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What does Snapchat’s redesign do for brands?

What does Snapchat’s redesign do for brands?

As frustrated as you may be about the changes in the app’s layout, Snapchat have announced that it is here to stay. Despite all the negativity, the redesign is claimed to have come from user feedback. For the business, the change is already giving the Discover section a push. The…
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Facebook’s latest feature: Lists

Facebook’s latest feature: Lists

Facebook have officially rolled out their Lists feature globally today. The feature is aligned to the status update box, along with the options such as Photo/Sticker, Polls and so on. With the recent shift to make Facebook a platform to help users connect to their loved ones, have more meaningful…
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Naughty or Nice? Pinterest’s got it sorted

Naughty or Nice? Pinterest’s got it sorted

‘Tis the season we all start panicking about what will land under who’s Christmas tree. Whether it’s family, actual friends (which is a much smaller list than my Facebook friends), or a random colleague (if they happen to be your Secret Santa at work), buying the RIGHT Christmas present can be…
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Will we be seeing a follow hashtag feature on Instagram?

Will we be seeing a follow hashtag feature on Instagram?

We ❤ Instagram, but it seems like the days when we were able to see content that we’re actually interested in on our feed, are slowly slipping away… For a while now, it seems Instagram have been prioritising and promoting posts that generate a lot of engagement, and these very posts have…
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Shoppable Posts on Social

Shoppable Posts on Social

Social commerce is growing and shows no signs of stopping. eCommerce platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce enable purchases through social platforms, which drastically changes the customer experience and customer journey in a multitude of ways. It’s simpler, quicker and easier than ever for us to discover products and make purchases…
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WhatsApp isn’t just for your friends anymore…

WhatsApp isn’t just for your friends anymore…

When Facebook bought WhatsApp in 2014 for £11.4bn, it understood one vital thing – we like talking to our friends. As technology has changed, so have our habits – we’re not picking up the phone to talk any more, we’re picking up the phone to text.  This makes messaging platforms…
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Is instagrammability the new advertising?

Is instagrammability the new advertising?

In our ‘blink-and-you’ve-missed-it’ digital world, social media is leading the way in which most of us receive information. Instagram’s influence continues to grow. The platform topped 700 million monthly active users earlier this year and Instagram Stories reached 250 million daily active users just over a month ago. As we’ve been…
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Will AI copywriting be the creative Terminator to wipe us writers out?

Will AI copywriting be the creative Terminator to wipe us writers out?

Will copywriters remain part of the digital furniture, or be chucked out? Copywriting obviously needs a degree of intelligence. Hell, maybe not even a university degree, but a sound knowledge & understanding of language, with an embedded personal style that’s flexible enough to adapt to business needs. As copywriters, we’re supposed…
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What Facebook has done in just 7 days

What Facebook has done in just 7 days

Facebook’s been busy trying to conquer everything and everyone it seems in the last 7 days taking on everyone from Netflix, Google and Internet service providers. As well as updating its core platform and back end metrics all in the aim to diversify and improve its product offering. Check…
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Snapchat Launches Self Service Ad Platform: Will you be joining the brand waggon?

Snapchat Launches Self Service Ad Platform: Will you be joining the brand waggon?

Facebook did it, now Snapchat have made the financially lucrative choice to make their ads platform more accessible to small and medium enterprises. As the paid media specialist at immediate future, I have been waiting to sink my teeth into this new proposition since I wrote my first blog about…
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TV ads aren’t dead, they’re just getting a Snapchat facelift

TV ads aren’t dead, they’re just getting a Snapchat facelift

Today’s a very chatty Snapchatty kind of day. The internet is awash with stories and speculation about the rise and potential future of the fun messaging application after its first set of results as a public company are released. One of the biggest considerations is their hot…
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Should LinkedIn be a social network or a professional networking channel?

Should LinkedIn be a social network or a professional networking channel?

It will come as no surprise that since Microsoft’s take-over of LinkedIn, the software giant wants to take on the big guns. Microsoft has been waiting years for the opportunity to successfully enter the social media game. Instead of taking the Google approach and trying to make a social network…
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Don’t be a robot, humanise your brand on social

Don’t be a robot, humanise your brand on social

There’s a big difference between simply using social media platforms, and building a genuine social presence that allows your audience to emotionally connect with your brand. Establishing an honest relationship with consumers via social media is simple. Consumers want to know that your brand has a personality, and using your…
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How B2B brands can avoid defaulting to job titles when segmenting in social

How B2B brands can avoid defaulting to job titles when segmenting in social

We have been banging the audience-first drum relentlessly for the last few years. Why? Because it is the best way to deliver results in social. More recently I discussed the merits of micro-targeting in social media: finely slicing your customer segments to ensure you can deliver relevancy at scale.
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Snapchat Gets Publisher Friendly

Snapchat Gets Publisher Friendly

Snapchat means business. Literally. We have written several blog posts about how businesses can benefit from investing into a solid Snapchat strategy. However, despite the benefits Snapchat can bring to brands in terms of audience acquisition, engagement and UGC. not many brands have tapped into the world of Snapchat. One…
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You walk the walk so why not talk the Twitter talk?

You walk the walk so why not talk the Twitter talk?

Sharing your thoughts and expertise can go along way with driving conversation and proving you’re a valuable Twitter contact. Twitter chats may seem like the last thing on your to do list but it’s worth the time and tweets. Answering industry leading conversations and networking with like-minded professionals can set…
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The 6 rules to not screw-up your influencer marketing

The 6 rules to not screw-up your influencer marketing

Influencer marketing is this year’s craze. Not just because marketers are increasingly wanting to use it, but because there is much debate on whether there is any value in doing it at all. Blogs and networks are lit up with the discussion. At immediate future we started out in activating…
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IF event summary: Big brands gathered debating data and personalisation

IF event summary: Big brands gathered debating data and personalisation

At IF, we pride ourselves on evolving. Curiosity is one of our brand values, championed daily by our fabulous staff. Our event format has been well received for many years but it was time to evolve. After a few months of planning and tinkering, all was…
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The Week In Social

The Week In Social

The world of social media is faster than your colleagues when you bring over some cookies for the office. New updates, news, and innovations flood the internet on daily basis so it’s very easy to miss crucial information that could transform you next campaign into a success. So, because we…
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One year on – Still think Periscope is just another passing fad?

One year on – Still think Periscope is just another passing fad?

A few days ago, Periscope passed its first birthday! And what a year of fireworks it has been for the live streaming mobile platform. Twitter recently announced that in a single year, the app has streamed 200 million broadcasts, and 50% of which were created in just…
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Facebook’s monetisation of Messenger

Facebook’s monetisation of Messenger

Last Spring, in a bid to increase the number of users, Facebook announced its plans to start letting brands and businesses use its Messenger app to handle customer service issues. Then, having reached over 700 million monthly active users last summer, they went public with their…
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Why tenuous link marketing won’t own a moment

Why tenuous link marketing won’t own a moment

Regular readers of our blog will know that for well over a year we’ve been advocating the importance of micro-moments and owning them – “owning the moment” is lorded in every brainstorm we have at the agency. Our philosophy is built around identifying the many micro-moments relevant to a brand…
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Content for your community

Content for your community

The idea behind curation is to link and/or excerpt the work of others. Therefore, social has always been about content curation, but most businesses don’t have the time, staff, skill set or budget to regularly publish great content and that’s where content curation comes in. Why curate content? Audiences do not…
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Nailing your social in 2016

Nailing your social in 2016

And now to hammer home the message (see what I did there?!). Many businesses are still figuring out how to go about exploiting the many benefits of social. The start of a calendar year is usually the time companies discuss needing a social strategy, but are unsure…
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How does BBC Worldwide and Universal Music TV drive their digital agendas? (Part One)

How does BBC Worldwide and Universal Music TV drive their digital agendas? (Part One)

  Last night immediate future, together with our friends at CDD, hosted a Q & A with two of the industry’s leading digital marketers: Alex Ayling, Head of BBC Worldwide Digital Studios and Nick Moxham, Head of Digital, Universal Music TV. Alex teed us off; he’s a wonderfully…
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Is social customer service overtaking traditional channels?

Is social customer service overtaking traditional channels?

Customer service – a bugbear of many consumers, and the source of much frustration. Social customer service has long been seen as the much-maligned poorer cousin of traditional channels (call centre and email). But has the tide started to turn? According to Dimension Data, 35% of all customer…
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How to target B2B clients at events on social

How to target B2B clients at events on social

With all kinds of summer events on the agenda and the corporate convention season already rumbling away, marketers are increasingly looking for reliable ways to bide the attention of attendees, eager to solidify connection with their target prospects and make sure they stay on their radar to develop a promising brand relationship.
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9 realities of real-time marketing

9 realities of real-time marketing

In a world where the average consumer expects a response within the hour (42%, Edison Research), and has the attention span less than that of a goldfish (8 seconds for humans, the goldfishes’ is 9 seconds), constantly connected from wherever they are – the prospect of ‘real-time marketing’ seems like…
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Becoming The UK’s Most Social Beverage Brand – Pepsi Max at Social Speakeasy

Becoming The UK’s Most Social Beverage Brand – Pepsi Max at Social Speakeasy

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With Pepsi Max’s new “Genius” campaign officially kicking off this week, the timing of Aman Matharu, Digital Marketing Manager at PepsiCo’s, address at our most recent Social Speakeasy couldn’t have been better. Aman addressed an eager crowd of Social Speakeasy attendees on a balmy spring evening to share the secrets…
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5 do’s that will help embed a data driven culture

5 do’s that will help embed a data driven culture

I recently spoke on the panel at a wonderful Social Media Leadership forum event hosted by Founder Justin Hunt, on the theme of how to embed a data driven culture. Whilst by title, the focus was on social media, it was inevitable that we leaked into all…
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notonthehighstreet shuns facades, likes Facebook, and sees five-fold sales increase via social – Social Speakeasy

notonthehighstreet shuns facades, likes Facebook, and sees five-fold sales increase via social – Social Speakeasy

It is one of the UK’s fastest-growing retailers and its name and mission have shunned the city centre for nine years. But notonthehighstreet.com, which recently underscored its aversion to the high street by opening its new Surrey headquarters overlooking the Richmond roundabout, has ambitions to – wait…
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Facebook’s Product Ads target specific products to those most likely to buy them

Facebook’s Product Ads target specific products to those most likely to buy them

A potentially game-changing development from Facebook Ads means that any brand with multiple products to sell can now upload their entire catalogue into the platform, and the automated system will target specific products to those people most likely to buy them across the devices that they use most often. Sound…
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LinkedIn and Facebook turn attention to connecting your office

LinkedIn and Facebook turn attention to connecting your office

Last week Facebook and LinkedIn announced their intention to focus on social enterprise. Facebook at work launched with small scale trials by invitation. It functions like Facebook, but allows for a separate login and the opportunity to keep work and personal separate. LinkedIn, already considered the de…
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5 ways to take your advertising on LinkedIn to the next level

5 ways to take your advertising on LinkedIn to the next level

We use the LinkedIn paid platform for clients on a daily basis. Despite its rather dated layout and reasonably thin set of features (when compared with the big boys like Google and Facebook), there is no doubt, for me, that LinkedIn still very much has the edge…
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Sony Pictures Crisis and Social Media

Sony Pictures Crisis and Social Media

The debate that has erupted after Sony’s David Boies’ “cease and desist” letter to media outlets was published invokes the paradoxical nature of trying to control and predict the media a la; have you ever walked into a crowded bar and demanded everyone stop talking?…
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Breaking traditional marketing models – reactvertising, real-time, agile, social command centres and other such buzz terms

Breaking traditional marketing models – reactvertising, real-time, agile, social command centres and other such buzz terms

This post has been inspired this week by a hell of a lot of model drawing, inter-brand and agency conversations – scoping the models that will shape our clients in 2015 based on sterling work during this year so far in the real-time social arena. Then this video came up,…
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Cosmopolitan Skillsets – Linkedin Maps the Skills Unique to Each City

Cosmopolitan Skillsets – Linkedin Maps the Skills Unique to Each City

Linkedin, the “Facebook for business” has released maps of the USA and Europe converting user’s professional skillsets data by city and area. A welcome step towards providing visualization of Linkedin’s unique mountain of data, the maps released last week provide a…
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Instagram Ads launch in the UK

Instagram Ads launch in the UK

It’s official. Instagram Ads are going live in the UK. Like Pinterest before them, the photo sharing app is evolving into an advertising hub for social businesses. Having tested sponsored ads with select partners such as Channel 4 and Waitrose, all UK brands will soon have the opportunity to promote…
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4 basic steps to CV writing, whichever way you want to present it

4 basic steps to CV writing, whichever way you want to present it

I personally think, in this era, you should be able to apply for a job virtually, send your LinkedIn profile, and have a video as a CV. As long as it has the following elements, then why does it need to be a plain old Word doc? Unfortunately I am…
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6 social media 2014 predictions from some of the most influential industry authorities

6 social media 2014 predictions from some of the most influential industry authorities

As usual predictions for 2014 abound. Rather than add to the melee with only our voice, we asked some of the most influential movers and shakers in digital to tell us what they thought would be big this year. Interestingly, even though we asked for opinions individually, the feedback revealed…
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Battling with Facebook reach: How to get more eyeballs on your posts

Battling with Facebook reach: How to get more eyeballs on your posts

It is reported that on average only 16% of Facebook page posts reach fans – a somewhat disheartening statistic when community managers spend  a great deal of time and creativity nurturing and managing their business’ Facebook page. It’s frustrating when they take stock and realise that such…
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The real deal: Facebook verifies accounts!

The real deal: Facebook verifies accounts!

Following in the footsteps of Twitter, Pinterest and Google+, Facebook announced yesterday that it would be launching verified accounts for an elite group of prominent brands and public figures. Social Media accounts are rife with duplicate accounts and Facebook has notoriously had…
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Discover what content works in B2B social media using (non-paid) click-through rates!

Discover what content works in B2B social media using (non-paid) click-through rates!

After reading an interesting article from The Real Time Report last week I was inspired to share some of the metrics I know most companies won’t be tracking in the B2B space…   The report above, which looked purely at website analytics as a way of determining referral traffic and…
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Buy it with a #Hashtag!

Buy it with a #Hashtag!

Have you ever tweeted about wanting a new bag, or the latest bit of gadgetry, or pined over a pretty bit of jewellery?  Well now if you tweet about it you may very well be able to own it with Twitter’s new partnership with American Express. Twitter has made a…
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