Four in five UK companies ‘unable to scale’ digital transformation plans

People sitting at a table with a phone and laptop.

Many UK businesses are in danger of suffering stunted growth due to a lack of investment in core IT connectivity systems.

A new report has found that four in every five UK firms are unable to scale plans to their fullest potential with current connectivity arrangements. Just 20% of UK businesses state they are in a position to undertake digital transformation plans.

This comes as 84% of enterprise organisations state their digital transformation plans have accelerated...

17 February 2022 | Automation

Creating engaging online communities – the key to post-pandemic brand success

People raising their hands at a community event..

Over the last 18 months, marketers have had their playbooks completely transformed. The traditional standards and rules defining customer relationships have evolved – and they’re predominantly digital. According to McKinsey, a decade’s worth of digital adoption has been uncovered in a manner of days due to the economic downturn, preference shifts and the acceleration of digital consumption.

Consumers have changed their behaviour and preferences and it’s redefining the...

9 February 2022 | Customer Experience

One in four UK consumers spend more than five hours a day on social media

A man looking at his Facebook profile.

The majority (53%) of UK consumers spend two to four hours a day on social platforms, while a further one in four spend more than five hours a day scrolling, watching and clicking through their social feeds.

These are some of the key findings from a study by Integral Ad Science (IAS), a specialist in digital media quality.

The Social Media Ad Receptivity report is based on a survey of online UK consumers, provides an overview of social media usage, as well as insights...

3 February 2022 | Social Media Marketing

More than half of social media influencers participate in the metaverse

A man wearing a virtual reality headset.

As many as 56% of social media influencers are working in the metaverse with 60% of influencers viewing themselves as creators in virtual worlds.

This is according to a study by IZEA Worldwide, a provider of influencer marketing technology, data, and services for brands. The study, which polled 1,034 US internet users ages 18 to 60-plus examined how social media influencers are leading the way into virtual worlds.

The report is the first in a series of research studies...

17 January 2022 | Influencer Marketing

Kevin the Carrot ranked most Googled Christmas advert character

Kevin the Carrot.

Aldi’s Kevin the Carrot is the most Googled Christmas advert character, according to data from Google trends.

The friendly little vegetable has been crowned the best Christmas advert character, after data comparing Google searches over the last five years revealed that Kevin the Carrot is the most Googled Christmas advert character.

The data as compiled based on the top six UK retailers, who release hotly anticipated Christmas adverts every year, including John Lewis,...

4 January 2022 | Advertising

Quartile creates ‘largest cross-channel e-commerce advertising platform’ with Sidecar takeover

Quartile, an ad optimisation platform for top e-commerce marketplace sellers, has acquired Sidecar, a performance marketing technology provider for e-commerce retailers and brands.

The two companies will combine under the Quartile name, growing the brand into the world’s largest cross-channel e-commerce advertising platform. Both platforms apply machine-learning and natural-language processing to provide data-driven strategies and best practices to brand marketers while also...

15 December 2021 | Advertising

Lush shuns social media in user safety protest

A Lush shop.

British cosmetics retailer Lush has ditched social media in protest at what it deems to be a lack of action taken by the social media networks to improve user welfare.

From November 26, the brand has turned its back on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat, until the platforms take action to provide a safer environment for users. This policy is rolling out across all the 48 countries where Lush operates.  

In the same way that evidence against climate change...

30 November 2021 | Best Practice

Julie Meredith, Dash Hudson: Why video and authentic content are vital

Julie Meredith, VP of marketing at Dash Hudson.

Could you tell us a little bit about Dash Hudson and what makes it unique?

Dash Hudson was founded back in 2015 with the mission of helping the world's most important companies deepen engagement with their consumers through photos and videos. Our goal is to close the loop on all key visual marketing channels for brands, by focusing on the performance of photos and videos. Our software helps brands to choose the right image, inspire their audience to action, and measure the results...

22 November 2021 | CMO

B2C e-commerce leaders are fast-tracking social commerce initiatives

Spocial media apps on a smartphone

Social commerce has become a strategic imperative for brands seeking to expand revenue and capture new audiences as competition for next-gen consumers grows at a staggering rate across the retail and direct-to-consumer markets. 

This is according to a study commissioned by customer experience platform Emplifi, which uncovered insights from more than 220 global enterprise ecommerce leaders on social commerce strategies, early trials, and planned areas of...

8 November 2021 | Commerce

Advertiser spend on TV and social media is twice as high as daily consumption

A couple holding hands while watching TV.

Advertiser spend on TV and social media is highly inflated in relation to daily consumption. 

This is according to analysis of advertising spend forecasts of 100 worldwide markets by marketing intelligence service WARC, and the results of a survey by GWI of more than 715,000 consumers.

The analysis found that, as of the first quarter of 2021, social media now attracts more investment from advertisers than linear TV for the first time. However, both media draw far...

21 October 2021 | Advertising