Judith Lewis

Did you know that a Classic Lasagne is a popular alternative to a Dry Martini? 🤔 Encouraging users to stay on your website by suggesting further reading is a great SEO strategy. However, it's important that such internal links are relevant. I'm not sure BBC Good Food's recommendation of a Classic Lasagne as a popular alternative to a Dry Martini quite works! Remember to check your work, folks. And, if you have an automated system in place, check that's accurate too! 🍸 #seo #seotips

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Over the last three years our web design and build business has grown threefold, alongside a rapidly growing digital marketing portfolio of clients. So much so, that our specialist digital services now account for almost 50% of our turnover. I’m especially proud of our team here, as many ‘traditional’ advertising and creative agencies have struggled to make the switch to the digital world, especially for more complex technical delivery. (And we were no exception, starting out as a pure-play ad agency in 1996.) Thanks to a team of really smart people here (plus some who are no longer with us) we are now breaking through to a higher level of technical capability, where no project is too big or too complex for us. An example of this was the Traffic Scotland website [https://lnkd.in/e3P77giA] which was awarded a Silver at last year’s Marketing Star Awards. With a huge volume of data feeds and integrations, complex mapping and filtering, and the top level of DSSS accreditation required, the two-year project was a significant challenge. But our team took it in their stride, supported by a wonderfully collaborative client. The last six months or so have been especially productive. We have launched or relaunched no less than 14 websites - the production line has been at full capacity. From time to time our Technical Director had moments when he went all Scotty - “She canna take any more, Cap'n! She's gonna blow!” as the team juggled and worked extra hours to keep to deadlines. I’m proud to showcase these sites, in no particular order: https://www.rzss.org.uk; https://lnkd.in/eFpfm-rn ; www.edinburghzoo.org.uk ; www.homeenergyscotland.org ; www.parentclub.scot ; https://www.lostshore.com ; https://lnkd.in/e8NCGS3C ; https://www.rhspt.org ; https://www.jacobite.co.uk ; https://lnkd.in/eUsEBwBW ; https://lnkd.in/ewycMGuf ; https://www.software.ac.uk ; https://childlight.org ; www.pensionmirror.co.uk . This level of productivity and quality could not have been achieved without the combined skills or our account and project management, strategy and insight team, UX specialists, designers, SEO specialists, copywriters, front and back end developers, and our systems administrator. And of course, the clients who a) put their trust in us and b) worked so openly and productively alongside us. Forgive the cliche - teamwork really does make the dream work. We have another batch of sites ready to roll off the production line in the next few weeks. Watch this space. #webdesign #UX #SEO #webdevelopment

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Tasting the new releases from The Sadie Family Wines at work yesterday got me thinking about taking things for granted. A few years ago, Eben Sadie came to Berry Bros. & Rudd for a staff tasting. I couldn’t make it. I thought little of it at the time; it was just a wine tasting, after all. There’s always another tasting. I’d heard of Eben at that stage, but it took me a little while to fully appreciate what I’d missed out on. It hit me a few months later when I interviewed Eben on Zoom. Despite the patchy wi-fi signal and the 8,000-odd miles’ distance between London and the Swartland, he came through loud and clear. It took me about two seconds to realise that I was talking to a true original – a rarity in life, let alone wine. We probably only spoke for 20 minutes and exchanged a couple of emails thereafter, but I remember it vividly: his intensity, his determination, his grit. His unique turn of phrase. I also remember kicking myself under the desk for not seizing the chance to meet him and try his wines. So when my colleague Catriona Felstead MW mentioned the other day that she was leading a tasting of Eben’s new releases, I wasn’t going to miss it. This was my first experience with all but one of these wines (Stanislav Ivanov having delighted our tasting group with a surprise Kokerboom last year). There is a lot of hype around these wines, and you typically can’t get them for love nor money. That could reasonably lead to disappointment, or the vague letdown of expectations not quite being met. Never meet your heroes and all of that. There was no disappointment yesterday. Like Eben himself, these wines are characters. They’re idiosyncratic and distinctive; they’ve got personalities and they’ve probably got opinions. They’re also in flux. This was a dozen or so young wines, the 2022 and 2023 vintages of bottlings that will last for years and years. (“Indestructible,” Cat reckons.) I’m not sure when I’ll taste another one of these wines again, let alone actually drink one among friends. I’m not sure if I’ll ever speak to Eben again, or meet him in person. And that doesn’t really matter. Tasting these wines wasn’t about getting the full picture; not for me, at least. It was making up for lost time, trying to catch a glimpse of something living, moving and developing, for no other reason than to appreciate it in the moment – and, perhaps, to appreciate the moment itself. 

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First time at brightonSEO with 4000 SEO people from 40 countries representing Appius 🎉 Its about to start and I am excited to learn and share experiences 🚀 If any of my connections are here, I made it quite easy to spot me 🦩 #seoagency #brightonandhove #SEOBrighton #ExpertGuidance #marketingagency #digitalmarketing2024 #BrightonSEO #seotips

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🔍 I talked about the Digital Services Act Transparency Report for April 2024 when it was published but I was recently asked again about data relating to LinkedIn usage in Europe. LinkedIn bury this disclosure a bit in their help database but here it is should you wish to see the fine detail. There's some fascinating (saddening/alarming/disturbing?) information in the tables towards the end of this document. Posted on 2 Oct 2024 at 18:31 (GMT+1)

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There are a sea of tools to assist with SEO. But all that people really want, are helpful answers to their questions! Enter Google Search with their semantic SEO update (not new). The idea was simple, to optimise content for 'meaning', rather than just a set of 'keywords'. So here's my third post on what we use ChatGPT for, as an agency. Like I keep saying, we never use it to write copy / content. Post 3 - Using AI to help with semantic SEO

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We we are drinking and thinking about a lot of coffee Sign Salad at the moment. We released the latest episode of our podcast - 'Well Examined Life' - last week, all about the 5 waves of coffee and its relevance to contemporary coffee retailers and consumers... ...and this week we have published a brilliant article from Isobel Grad which continues our exploration and explanation of the role of coffee in the 'Roasting Twenties' of the 21st century. Sip and enjoy while it's still hot... #coffee #culturalinsight #semiotics #marketingstrategy

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Ambivalence. it can kill a career! In the dictionary Well I actually googled it to check it is described as having mixed feelings about an issue or topic which appears to describe the feeling of many job hunters I speak to who are searching for a new role right now. I've not nailed what is creating this but on a regular basis candidates who should be looking eagerly for roles are well not bothered. and hiring managers seem Well non fussed if they move the project forward or not. so what makes us ambivalent? too much of a good thing? life too easy? Nice in the comfort zone? or just had enough of having your ass razed off? and hearing the same old same old all the time. against a back drop world of AI this and AI that candidates are reporting frustrations from job spamming which In the words of one individual turns me right off the market!! At no point in any market has the response been just do more of the same. And so to help those suffering ambivalence keep a look out for my series of posts over the next few weeks as you lay on the beach I'll give some quick hints and tips on how to see through the fog and focus on the fantastic #nymancareeradvice #skillspaybills #interviews #jobhunt #ai #get #fmcg

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WP Recipe Maker - Recipe Collections Meal Planner Who needs white label recipe box tutorials for their members to be able to understand how the meal planner works ? The problem is the recipe box can be a bit confusing for new users. I've build a list of pop up tutorials for users to quickly check out how a feature works. You can easily edit the content and style of the tutorials to suit your site. We can also use the short tutorials in an email onboard sequence when new users join the site to teach them how it works.

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If you can't keep up with the rapid changes in the world of tech, social media and blogging...well, that's why Jeremy Jones and I run a free weekly newsletter that's one of the best in the business on those very topics. Every Tuesday morning, we break things down, so you don't have to. #blogging #contentcreators #socialmedia https://lnkd.in/e4DWfBX

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We need to talk about GAILS. Yes, even they are susceptible to constructive criticism. The first GAILS bakery opened in Hampstead High Street in 2005, and there are now over 100 shops. All positioned with a look and feel of your local independent bakery. But isn’t this playing a small part in the death of the high street? Yes - they’re more exciting than Starbucks. But they don’t elevate local recipes or experiences. They don’t celebrate the areas they’re in. Everything is standardised. And I can’t help but think that GAILS should localise and articulate WAY beyond just offering the same products all over London. Why not have an East London baker make a 21st century GAILS Pie and Mash in their London Fields store?  Or you could have a GAILS in Haringey inspired by Turkish-Greek Simit and Baklava... All made locally, fresh. Let alone the opportunities to invite the community into store and run baking masterclasses to bring these treasures to life. It’s these small localised changes that I believe will go a long way in changing our culture and bringing love and community (AND EXCITEMENT), back to our highstreets. Come on GAILS, mix it up!

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Some great news for British culture with the announcement of a new government backed levy. In future tickets to premium/ large scale venues will help fund smaller/ grass roots venues. Great to see vocal support from some larger venues. This is also a MASSIVE opportunity for brands and marketers to collaborate with smaller venues and influencers to boost grassroots culture. Great quote from Paul Michelmore from The Harrison near Kings Cross in London: “You wouldn’t expect Britain to build airplanes if you shut all the universities where the engineers train. If you want Britain to continue producing arena quality artists then you have got to support the ‘universities’ where they reach that stage.” This model should apply to more sectors, especially across tech, hospitality, sport and media.

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Interesting read on the Press Gazette about the Guardian planning to launch an e-commerce platform. Why the hell not? It has a powerful brand and an engaged audience so it makes sense to monetise that audience if it will help to power its newsroom. In the words of Guardian CFO Keith Underwood: “With the core revenue streams under structural pressure, you’ve got to diversify – you’ve got to look at digital transformation and new opportunities, new formats to try and drive new engagement with audiences, and different revenues, different partnerships coming in”. With the ‘core’ newsroom under relentless pressure, monetising ‘satellite’ revenue streams is a no-brainer, right? Not necessarily. Firstly, when a newsroom becomes dependent on e-commerce and paid-for recipe apps such as Feast, even if they are in partnership with Tesco Finest, the economics are not fine at all. They are febrile at best, flawed at worst. The economics are flawed not just in the way, as Underwood himself is aware, that “moonshot types of diversification plays can take a lot of energy away from business and distract you from really making sure that the core product is there”.   They’re also flawed as these satellite revenue streams are volatile, transitory and disconnected. They are not joined-up ecosystems such as Apple’s where one division can effortlessly carry another under the global ‘one brand’. These revenue streams are built on chance and hope. And you cannot build a global newsroom on either. Underwood continues that the Guardian has become “way more reader-funded versus ad-funded than we were before” and is “absolutely committed to open journalism on the web”. It’s great that more readers are funding the Guardian’s journalism — journalism society needs more than ever right now — but is the Guardian really committed to open journalism? A centralised newsroom, which the Guardian’s appears to be, is not open journalism. Open journalism demands that readers become an active extension of a publisher’s newsrooms, i.e. writers themselves. News has to flow two ways, not one way — and at a structural level. When readers become writers, when citizen journalists work alongside journalists, news publishers will have genuinely open journalism. They will then have the scale and engagement to not just survive, but thrive — and take market share back from the platforms. Ultimately, the answer to the MSM’s core newsroom struggles is not in satellite revenue channels. Far from it. It is by making readers an extension of their newsrooms. If you open your newsrooms by decentralising them, you democratise them and, in democratising them, denarrate your news content by default. And news without narratives is all most of us want — and news, most importantly, that we will value and share. Photo by Viktor Forgacs on Unsplash

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I wrote a playbook of tactics for pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants that will deliver incremental sales, improve guest satisfaction and increase engagement - resulting in being mentioned in socials more often. They also help to demonstrate how you can grow a drinks brand with effectively zero spend. Rather than sit on them, or, wait until we're in a meeting together, I've decided to start sharing my ideas. Next up in the series, creating a Bloody Weekend! I partnered up with one of Brighton's best cafes, Starfish & Coffee, for this one. On the food side, there were 3 weekend specials, including an epic take on Turkish Eggs (Bloody Eggs: preserved lemon & chilli yoghurt, Bloody Bens Bloody Mary Mix marinated heritage tomatoes, poached eggs, bacon crumbs, pangratto and spiced oil) and on the drinks side, a Bloody Mary menu with 7 variations. With these special menus, we invited local foodie influencers (keeping it local means the audience is super relevant and much more likely to visit) and this resulted in numerous social mentions, including 3 reels, like the one below from @aylaeats on Insta, https://lnkd.in/eVmaatFH which combined have generated over 10,000 views and counting. Prior to this, with Starfish not being a glitzy new opening and more of an established legacy venue, they had been struggling to get the attention of the local foodie influencers - changing this story was one of the key objectives of the Bloody Weekend. And, with them all giving glowing reviews, it felt like mission accomplished! I'll be sharing more ideas and tactics soon - do feel free to use them or to iterate on them. I'd love to know what you choose to do. If you'd like any assistance then just reach out. And, if you want to up your Bloody Mary game then it's Bloody Bens Bloody Mary Mix - the ingredient for perfect Bloody Marys - that you need.  DM me or Robert Godber for samples and pricing, or email [email protected] To order the Bloody Mary Mix: Amathus Drinks PLC, Dayla Drinks Group, Hills Prospect PLC and Venus Wine & Spirit Merchants PLC (or talk to me about your preferred distributor and we'll make it happen!). 

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I recently wrote a little playbook of tactics for pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants that will deliver incremental sales, improve guest satisfaction and increase engagement - resulting in being mentioned in socials more often. Rather than you having to wait until you're in a meeting with me to be dazzled with revenue and profile boosting ideas, I thought I'd share some regularly on LinkedIn. Kicking off with these two - please feel free to use (and tag me in if you do) or do an iteration of the ideas. 1. Brunch Pizzas (you'll actually see this one in action at the start of June - I'll be spamming your feed with more about that later). Stick a Bloody egg on it! Everyone loves pizza, everyone loves brunch. And you know these will pair so well with a Bloody Mary and knock out any cheeky hangover kicking around. 2. Micheladas. Bloody Mary Beer. Lager and spicy tomato juice? 127.5 million Mexicans say Si amigo! Extra good for the summer. These will exceed expectations, make people smile and give them an experience they weren't expecting. And, of course, if you want to up your Bloody Mary game then it's Bloody Bens Bloody Mary Mix - the ingredient for perfect Bloody Marys - that you need. DM me or Robert Godber for samples and pricing, or email [email protected] To order: Amathus Drinks PLC, Hills Prospect PLC, Dayla Drinks Group and Venus Wine & Spirit Merchants PLC (or talk to me about your preferred distributor and we'll make it happen!).

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