Dominic McGregor

Well done Instinct Digital and Cassian Scott Stephen Maynard Great traction for the ambitious growth plans at Instinct Digital - “We are delighted to partner with AlbionVC on the next stage of our journey,” said Cassian Scott, CEO.  “Our prestigious clients are fundamental to our success, along with our partners and team who have enabled Instinct to build a product that has the potential to become the benchmark in investment communications and reporting for investors." see Morningstar Synpulse Marouane Bakhtar #fintech #assetmanagement #assetmanagers #investmentmanagers #wealthmanagement #reporting #investors

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Really grateful to two market-leading Editors of subscription-led businesses and terrific ex-colleagues of mine, Catrin Griffiths and Alastair McLellan, for spending time with me last week on B2B content strategy. If you want to watch on-demand there is a link below. Highlights for me included: Impact on content strategy of the move to a paid subscription business model 17min46 Building a high value B2B content proposition 14min02, 23min05, & 31min29 How to motivate editors & editorial teams 29min42 & 50min47 Removing Print as a platform 45min02: https://lnkd.in/gbwftfwR

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🕵️‍♂️ Steal our top performing pitch template. Swipe for the breakdown of a real pitch we sent to journalists, that got us coverage in every outlet we sent it to 👇 - Daily Record (DR 81) - The Scottish Sun (DR 76) - Scottish Daily Express (DR 63) - Glasgow Times (DR 73) - Edinburgh News (DR 83) - East Lothian Courier (DR 61) #digitalpr #linkbuilding #seo

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After years of "text marketing is just a US thing", SMS is booming across the pond. Seems like we need to give text marketing the cheesy '90s Corporate Tagline makeover. One of our integration partners Attentive cited 128% revenue growth in the UK over the last year. WHOA! (See article link in the comments 🔽) cheesy '90s Corporate Tagline contenders: 1. “SMS: It’s gone global, are you ready?” 2. “SMS – Not just a US thing, it’s a world thing!” 3. “SMS: Crossing borders and boosting business everywhere.” 4. “SMS – The global communication tool your business needs.” 5. “SMS – Now more than ever, it’s international.” Now to pair with synth-heavy jingles, Funky bass lines, or uplifting pop-rock and we're in business!

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Google announced today that they have rolled out YouTube video placement reporting for Performance Max campaigns. While this change certainly doesn't resolve all of the transparency and control gaps within PMax, it is absolutely a win for brands. I have been beating this drum since the Adalytics report last summer highlighting adult-targeted YT ads serving on Made for Kids videos. Brands using Pmax were left completely in the dark while their campaigns optimized to accidental toddler clicks. This latest win builds on our work calling on Google to provide placement reporting to advertisers on Search Partners placements earlier this year. It is a reminder of the importance of having these conversations out loud, and demanding change. Some of the changes that are next on our wish list: 1. GSP Placement reporting should be extended to all campaign types - not just PMax. Simply put, advertisers should be able to pull placement reports and receive log-level transparency on their ads, wherever they run, regardless of campaign type. 2. Advertisers should be able to opt out of extension networks (e.g. GVP, GSP) for PMax campaigns. 3. "Content Suitable for Families" exclusion filter is *not* the same as filtering "Made for Kids" videos. It's malicious compliance. Google should fix it, and provide granular controls to exclude MFK content. 4. Google should disclose publicly (incl. in their documentation) what the apparent persistent "x-Goog-visitor-id" identifier set by YouTube is, and what it is used for. 5. Google should allow actual independent third party verification. Both on O&O and network spending. #transparency #adtech #bigtech

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Early data for Prime Day 2024 is in, and the early read is that Venture Forge clients are beating their 2023 start to Prime Day by some distance. We're seeing bargain hunters kicking in earlier with bigger uplifts in the early hours of the day and customers focussing on higher-priced items and perhaps being more deal-hungry than last year. It would be interesting to see what else is happening in the industry and how other brands are performing throughout the day.

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I posted a couple of weeks ago about my opinion on content and that with Creative Compass UK, I aimed to produce value-driven content, avoiding the buzzwords and jargon I was fed up with reading on my feed. Well, I wrote a blog about it! Have a read; I touch on why it's important, why we should focus on valuable content, and how to implement it! 🚀 https://bit.ly/4eCUQUy Let me know your thoughts if you have any 😊 👇 #ContentMarketing #ValueDrivenContent #CreativeCompassUK #ContentStrategy #DigitalMarketing #Freelance #Smallbusiness

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Great to be at the unveiling of the “State of the Nation” today showing the performance and growth of the affiliate and partner marketing industry in the UK. The full report can be downloaded here https://lnkd.in/encSrqNy

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Interesting. Seeing a lot of people in agencies and the marketing industry on LinkedIn going with stuff along the lines of "ackshually Jaguar's boldness is good and they should be applauded etc". A timely reminder, we marketers don't own brands, our customers do. A brand is an intangible collection of experience that exists in the minds of our customers. We can attempt to influence their thinking but we should never mistake that for ownership. IMO, what the team at Jag has done is professional negligence with a contempt for the brand that borders on malice towards its customers. All in an effort to win over customers who probably aren't interested in the first place. Seeing marketers and agencies supporting this solely because it's "bold" is very helpful because I know who I'll never ask to pitch my business in future.

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Once again ads have been banned, and censure given, where the relationship between the company and the person in the ads is not transparent enough. While many argue against this approach from the Advertising Standards Authority, saying it's obvious, the rules and guidance is clear: you need to think like your audience, who likely have much less information and knowledge than you, the business. Declare the relationship. Use the features of platforms such as 'paid partnership' labels and use '#AD' at the start of any caption, before someone has to tap 'See More'. https://lnkd.in/ev-aUfXm I suspect the reporting of the ads has come from a marketing person, but rules are rules.

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Monday Update (7/1) for Lore 🛰️ Wins 🚀 - My co-founder is finally out of his job to focus on this brand full time - We confirmed a great placement for a URL link on a 24/7 stream with hundreds of our ICP watching Losses 😴 - Not necessarily a loss, but the last week we didn’t gain or lose anything - We were a bit in limbo and could have been more productive Things We Learned 🧠 - Watching some other apparel brands we noticed we need much better systems in place to put out creative - Today we’re templating a few scripts/ formats that we can always run for each product Action Items 💯 - Confirm if we are changing the blank we are using to a new one we found that has a nicer fit and heavier feel - Drop a new product every week, new collection every 3-4 weeks (finalizing calendar) Final thoughts: we don’t want to put all of our hopes and dreams on one design. We need to move faster and put out more content and more shirts to find what sticks organically. I got the inspiration from watching music artists and how new singles released prior to the album historically perform better than the unreleased songs revealed on the album. Taking the same approach, we want to supercharge our content engine and post more teasers and product intros prior to launch days.

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UK marketers want to use 'Uber-Style' surge pricing. Almost half of UK marketers are considering dynamic pricing, adjusting prices based on demand, according to Emarsys research. The survey of over 250 marketers reveals that 47% are contemplating this strategy, with 15% very likely to implement it soon. The #retail and leisure sectors could see the biggest impact, with 54% of marketers likely to adopt surge pricing. Ross Williams highlights that dynamic pricing, driven by #AI, can reward loyal customers and manage high demand or frequently returned products. AI-powered tools are crucial, with 21% of marketers already using them for pricing (this number seems high to me) and 41% considering adoption. #ecommerce

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Will the next government bring increased regulation for the UK advertising industry? The UK general election falls on the last day of MAD//FEST LONDON, so by the time Grace Carter gets on stage to start the party in E1, many of the votes for the political parties will have already been cast. One change that the new government could oversee is increased external regulation and governance of the advertising industry - would that be a good thing or a bad thing for you? Let's take AI for example. Katherine Viner, editor of the Guardian, recently called for AI regulation. She said, "Without quality journalism to train and ground large language models, these technologies would struggle to make sense of the world around them." Without quality, trusted data to train the AI models on, it is easy to see how we could get into a vicious circle of AI choking on its own exhaust fumes: 1 - Incorrect content published 2 - AI reads that incorrect content 3 - AI therefore writes incorrect content Crap in, crap out, as they say in the trade! ;-) I would also add that digital advertising relies on quality content that consumers spend time with, so that the advertising has a chance of having an impact. For example: The difference in dwell time on an MFA site, which uses GenAI to create the content and click-bait to get somebody there, to a page with 10 ads, is a world away from the experience of a subscriber to a premium publisher site, who logs on to consume the content they pay for and only sees a single ad next to that valued content. 💬 - What do you think - more government regulation or not? #ai #regulation #advertising

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Great to read a good news story on the ‘Relentless rise of Secondhand’ by Richard Milne in the Financial Times this weekend. Some of my takeaways: - big brands are entering second hand (SH) as it is growing at a much faster rate than new. Sales increasing 125% in 5 years (Bain & co). Either entering through peer to peer (Vinted model e.g IKEA) or reverse logistics (LEGO) - More than 40% of the youngest consumers buy a SH product at least every few months - Strong customer retention tool for big brands to re-engage their shoppers - Charity shops sadly suffering with lower quality donations - Second hand is still a drop in the ocean to where it will be - mindsets need to shift to think second first - Peer to peer can lead to potential fraud and issues with authenticity - The non peer to peer route means companies need to understand reverse logistics - Secondhand not likely to let up any time soon due to sustainability goals and revenue opportunities The link for full read: https://lnkd.in/euQCUmp5

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Content creators and social sellers aren’t just shaping culture—they’re becoming a powerhouse for the UK economy. 💥 The rise of digital entrepreneurship is undeniable. From influencers to online shop owners, creators are transforming the way people discover, buy, and connect. They’re building brands, fostering communities, and introducing new products and perspectives daily, all while navigating the complexities of monetizing digital platforms. Yet, too often, their contributions are undervalued or overlooked. At VibePay, we recognise the dedication it takes to build and grow in the creator economy. We’re committed to providing the tools that empower creators to take control of their businesses. Whether it’s real-time, fee-free payments, or management solutions for their followers and audiences, we’re building a platform that prioritises creators’ needs. With VibePay, creators can monetise their work on their terms—no middleman, no hidden costs—allowing them to focus on creating value and generating authentic connections. 💡 We envision a future where creators don’t just participate in the economy; they drive it. The power lies in their hands to build sustainable revenue streams and scale their impact. To all creators, influencers, and digital sellers: your role in shaping the future of commerce and community is vital. VibePay is here to champion you every step of the way. 💪 #VibePay #CreatorEconomy #SocialCommerce #Monetisation #EmpoweringCreators #DigitalTransformation

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This week's content nuggets... Fresh drop of the finest content bits that may be useful to you and your business. Particular highlight this week is the Insert Coin documentary, nostalgic gold with inspiring lessons in taking a punk approach to product development, Podcast: The High Performance Podcast Consistently insightful pod that seems to have guests repeating similar tropes about brilliant basics, non-negotiables and such. However the beauty is that it’s the same best practices being repeated to drive impact by individuals and teams in every doman, that we need reminding of weekly. Check here: https://lnkd.in/empUZT8T Book: Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity Hugh MacLeod makes the strong point for sparking creativity be looking within rather outside. But also hammers the vital insight that creativity flourishes through hard work and consistency, with success in creative endeavors stemming from persistent effort rather than innate talent Check here: https://lnkd.in/eWv4-U8z Documentary: Insert Coin Both a nostalgic trip and lesson in ingenuity from the get go in this doc about Midway Games, the games studio with a punk attitude that changed gaming forever with the likes of Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam and much more. Check here: https://lnkd.in/e8awDUsT Music: Kendrick Lamar - GNX King Kenny dropped album number six supringly out of nowehere last week, and it’s another powerful listen. Plenty of swagger and moments of theatre. A lot to take in as always from the best rapper of his generation . Check here: https://lnkd.in/eyiNvNaN TikTok: December & Q5 Opportunity A key learning from the brands who smashed peak on TikTok last year is they kept driving high levels conversion activity after BFCM right up to delivery cut off dates, sweeping up the last minute shoppers and gifters. And then picked up again from Xmas Day for Q5. Still all to play for out there for all you performance marketers! Check here: https://lnkd.in/eS4_kwVU #ecommerce #performancemarketing #gaming #creativity

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Whilst not focused on the Australian market, this is an interesting read for anyone working in the influencer space. We certainly have some applicable laws and codes in Australia, although more is needed in relation to certain issues. It’s somewhat more a matter of compliance and enforcement. #influencermarketing #influencers

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💫 New case study published 💫 from Nomensa, please get in touch with me here or [email protected] if you'd like to know more from one of our Design and UX practitioners

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It's just a process that we know how to do. #walking with #Elvis (& #Hector) - thinking thoughts on walks⚡️⚡️ #Innnovation, by nature, is an #experiment into the unknown. We are working with some early-stage innovative businesses on an health tech accelerator West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator - WMHTIA right now. Talking to some of these businesses and hearing about their journey, we started to recognise that innovation, by it's nature, is an experiment with unknown outcomes. But #marketing #innovation and #innovative #companies isn't experimental. It's a process. As long as you put the correct inputs in. You can anticipate the outputs. So, the #question for innovative companies that want to market their innovation becomes: What marketing company is best placed to help us find the correct inputs to commercialise our innovation? 👇 David & Co. – Book a call, and let's #grow your #innovative #business. If it’s a good fit - we offer guarantees. https://lnkd.in/eKfAdzVQ Josh Moreton Nick Stragnell Alistair Irving Alistair Malins MP Lotter Rupert Lyle Huw Sparkes Amy Deakin Nick Holzherr Richard Parker ProBuild360 Ngen Yap Chris Averill The Technology Supply Chain Miles Tea and Coffee TechWM SuperTech WM Davies Okeowo Charlie Blakemore David Horsfall Prof Gino Martini PhD FRPharmS MBA Jasper Smith Shaa Wasmund MBE David Hollander Gareth Andrew NEWAVX Garland Surgical Ltd Dexter AI Cytecom Holly Health EarSwitch Ademen Ltd Genomate Health Pyrexia Praxium AI MESOX Intelligent Assist Medherant Limited #business #preditory #thinking #customers #growth #business #straightlinethinking #marketing #healthtech #medtech #fintech #lawtech #manufacturing

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