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Are Developers OK With Their Work Being Stolen?
Short answer: No — not really.But the picture is more complicated than that. Across the UK tech sector, a growing debate is taking place around AI scraping, AI training data ethics, and developer copyright. Large language models and AI coding tools are trained on vast amounts of publicly available code, raising serious questions about consent, licensing, and intellectual property. Modern AI coding tools are trained on enormous datasets that include public GitHub repositories, open-source projects, coding forums and technical documentation. This process, often referred to as AI code scraping, allows models to learn patterns, syntax, and best practices. From a…
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Improving Marketing Performance: What’s Holding Your Strategy Back?
Marketing rarely fails because nothing is happening. It stalls because too many things are happening without direction.Campaigns are live. Content is being published. Paid ads are ticking along. Reports are circulated. Yet growth feels uneven. Leads fluctuate. Engagement dips. Results plateau.If you’re focusing on improving marketing performance, the issue sits inside the business rather than outside it. This article looks at the internal blockers that restrict momentum, even when activity is in full swing. Along the way, you’ll find practical marketing tips to help you diagnose the friction and regain control. The Illusion of Progress: When Activity Masks Stagnation Marketing…
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Why Businesses Hire Marketing Agencies (And Why It’s Usually About Gaps, Not Failure)
There is a persistent myth in marketing that businesses work with agencies because something has gone wrong. The reality is far less dramatic and far more practical. Most businesses hire a marketing agency because growth has outpaced internal capability. Not because the team is failing, but because the demands of modern marketing have become broader, deeper, and more technical than most in-house teams are built to handle alone. When people ask why hire a marketing agency, it starts with understanding where pressure points appear as a business grows and how internal capability evolves over time. Almost always, it comes down…
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The Video Era: How Social Platforms Have Been Redefined
Video content has transformed social media by shifting algorithms to prioritise short-form, engaging videos that increase user engagement, brand visibility and storytelling. You can argue that the rise of video-first platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts has been driven by their ability to capture falling attention spans. Reports from SQ Magazine claim that our attention spans are hovering around 8 seconds compared to 12 seconds in 2008, which is shorter than that of a goldfish! It’s definitely no coincidence that during the same period, there has been such a rise in short-form video content. Throughout this blog,…
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WeTransfer Controversy: Safer, More Ethical Platforms to Deliver your File Transfers
Are you using WeTransfer to send large files? Over 80 million people worldwide (including us, until recently) rely on this platform, but ethical controversy has left many users looking for WeTransfer alternatives. So what happened? In short, a recent update to WeTransfer’s terms and conditions sparked global outrage. The new terms granted WeTransfer the right to use your uploads not only to deliver files, but also to train AI, create derivative works, and explore commercial opportunities, all without asking for your permission or offering compensation. This included design files, video drafts, written documents or code, client proposals, private images, and,…
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What are the key digital marketing updates for 2025?
OverviewThe pace of change in digital marketing is relentless. New channels and platforms constantly appear, each offering opportunities to reach customers in fresh ways. Not every idea will work, but staying informed about trends and tools is essential to overcome challenges such as tight budgets and rising expectations. Emerging Trends in Digital Marketing Social Media ShiftsPlatforms can rise or fall overnight. X, BlueSky, and Threads are competing for attention, while user-generated content is overtaking influencer marketing. People now spend two to three hours a day across multiple platforms, and brands must adapt to where their audiences are. BlueSky is trying…
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How Social Media Algorithms Work in 2025
Whether you’re scrolling through Instagram, liking a Facebook post or laughing at a TikTok, you’re experiencing the power of social media algorithms—probably without even realising it. In 2025, these algorithms are smarter than ever, deciding what we see, when we see it and even why we see it. For businesses, that means understanding them isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. In this blog, we’ll unpack how social media algorithms work, what’s changed recently and how you can adapt your content strategy to stay ahead. Whether you’re a small brand or a growing team, this guide is for you. How Social Media Algorithms…
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What are the Most Important Marketing Metrics?
The measurement of metrics within digital marketing has changed the game and given marketers a clearer idea of how well campaigns are performing. Previously, with print and OOH campaigns, for example, there would be no direct feedback on how well a campaign performed. With digital marketing campaigns, we can observe how campaigns perform and update them in real time! However, when working on marketing campaigns, it can become all too common to get controlled by analysing all of the data available to us instead of using the data to make incremental improvements to the campaigns. In this article, we will…
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The Importance of SEO on TikTok
Contrary to its name, SEO is not limited to search engines anymore. Google itself found that around 40% of young people use TikTok or Instagram instead of Google Search! Google recognises this threat and has adapted accordingly, now allowing TikTok videos to emerge in SERPs. Without a TikTok SEO strategy, your content is missing out on vital opportunities to be found. In this blog, we will discuss the importance of SEO on TikTok and the basics of how to achieve it. What is TikTok SEO? Just like ordinary SEO, TikTok SEO refers to the practice of optimising your videos, profile and hashtags…
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Google Business Profile Explained
When it comes to establishing an online presence for your business, having a Google Business Profile is a must. It is a powerful tool that can help potential customers find and learn more about your business and leave reviews and ratings. In this blog, we’ll explore the benefits of having a Google Business Profile and provide tips on optimising it for maximum results. Whether you’re a small business owner or a seasoned marketer, this guide will help you make the most out of your Google Business Profile. What is Google Business Profile? Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is a…
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From Our Design Specialists: Top 5 Design Tools
As a leading design agency in Milton Keynes, our creative team know their stuff when it comes to which tools are worth learning to use. In this blog we’ll give you our top 5 recommendations for tools that will help you elevate your design process and wow your clients. Coolors Coolors is a fantastic design tool because it provides a quick and easy way to create beautiful, cohesive colour schemes. The platform is incredibly user-friendly, with a simple interface that allows anyone to create stunning colour palettes in just a few clicks, regardless of their design experience. Coolors offers a wide…
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The Importance of Site Speed for SEO Marketing
In the fast-moving digital environment, site speed is critical in determining online success. Not just because it impacts user experience, but it also plays an important role in search engine optimisation (SEO). In this blog, we’ll discover how site speed affects SEO marketing and explore its impact on search rankings, user engagement, and conversion rates. So, tighten your seatbelts and get set to turbocharge your site’s speed! User Experience With the increase and advancement of technology, users are becoming less patient – a fast-loading website will enhance their experience. When visiting your website, the site loading speed is often their…
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Defining Your Brand Vision, Mission and Values
If you run your own business, one of the first things you should do is define the fabric of your brand––what does it stand for? It’s pretty common for many businesses not to have already done this, but it is hugely important and valuable in defining your direction and every decision. When working out “what should we do?”, you need a brand barometer to evaluate your choices against, so you are considering “what would our brand do?”. Why we do what we do Many business owners overlook the above because they aren’t aware it’s something that needs doing. Most of…
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When it’s a race to the bottom, climb to the top.
Current market pressures on businesses are coming from all angles: Rising supply chain costs, increased labour costs due to short supply, and rocketing energy bills. These hikes drive competition in most markets, so you need to think about how you will adapt. Cutting your prices to retain or win business is not the answer; you should be increasing them. Read more to hear why! Leading on price will paint your business into a corner I recently read an article where someone, in several years, successfully grew a service business from zero to £3m by providing the cheapest price in the…
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Expert Website Designs That Win
Every business should have a website. No excuses. In contrast, there are one or two alternatives for those who do not want to put effort into a website, such as a Facebook page, nothing more essential nor better for your business than having a great website. It is something you have complete control over, that can be whatever you want it to be, but you can provide a substantially more informative, rich and engaging prospect experience and leverage the power of search engine traffic (e.g. from Google). You cannot do this with a Facebook or LinkedIn page. If it’s worth…
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Exposure that doesn’t cost a penny
Tricks of the trade to go viral on social media Going viral is the holy grail of marketing. What we mean by “viral” content is that you create something on social media that gets the public’s attention; people then share it to their network, and those people do too. Before you know it, and in the same way bacteria multiply in a dish, hundreds of thousands to millions of people have seen your content, and it hasn’t cost you anything! Viral content creates success Many successful businesses and careers have derived through viral content. Looking at your Facebook or Linkedin…
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Creating an E-Brochure to Win Customers
Why is an e-brochure vital if you have a website already? Websites are funny things. Depending on how someone reaches your site, i.e. the landing page they enter the site by and depending on their browsing device, each website visitor’s experience will be different. User journies are something you have limited control over. The user interface/menu system design typically enables the visitor to jump around from one page or content piece to the next in the order that most suits them; it is not a linear narrative. An e-brochure will give you something that you can email a prospect or…
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Free Tools to Drive your Sales Leads
SaaS and how it has changed the way we pay for software. Largely, gone are the days when you paid for a software license; it came in a nice box with a manual, and you owned it forever. Most software developers now prefer a cloud-based “Software as a Service”, or “SaaS”, model, meaning you pay for the software monthly or annually, and what you pay is based on the features you choose and how many people use it. The downsides to this are that you never really own it, the costs can change at any time, there may be service…
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The Hidden Goldmine of Email Marketing – Part 1
Believe it or not, when done the right way, it can be one of the lowest cost/highest return ways to promote your business. We have seen huge returns from it over the years and you can too.
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Brand position and direction to maximise opportunity
The world doesn’t stand still and neither should a brand. Things change so fast nowadays that brands can’t simply do enough to keep up with the times and often miss major opportunities that can be exploited by a real shift in direction. This month’s article is about how your brand should evolve not only to survive but to prosper.
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The Hidden Goldmine of Email Marketing – Part 2
Get the lowdown on what goes into creating the emails themselves and the key rules you should stick to when producing your content.
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Coronavirus, Covid, and Carrying On in Business
During the pandemic, it is easy to lose sight of the way forward, with the worry of what your business’ future may hold. This article is all about positive guidance to get through the tougher times.
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How to Build Your Business Through Linkedin
This article gives you the basic knowledge you need to embrace LinkedIn as a networking platform, get going and see results quickly.
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Getting Back to Business with a Bang
Now is the time for some introspection and to think seriously about what you can do to improve the way you retain your existing customers and reach new ones in new ways.
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The Power of SEO – Part 2
In this article, we build upon the SEO basics I introduced previously, expanding on what you can do on-site and off-site, to make sure your SEO strategy a success.
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The Power of SEO – Part 1
If you can dominate Google search results, you can dominate a market. This is the power of being found first and you should make it your goal.
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An Introduction to Social Media and Using It for Business
This article is going to explore some of the main social media channels, how to choose the best ones for your business and how to use them in the right way to get leads.
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The Art of Selling – Part 3
How you can improve conversions once you get to the stage that you are asked for a price, a quotation or a proposal? Find out how
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The Art of Selling – Part 2
This month, I’m going to explore in more detail what to do when you find yourself in front of someone. This is more tailored to face-to-face selling but you can adapt and apply these techniques to all types of selling situations.
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The Art of Selling – Part 1
Today, this is useful for anyone selling something in person, rather than online, and even if you don’t have a business, you will find tips here you could apply when selling yourself to a prospective employer in your next job interview.
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How to Drive More Customers to Your Business Website… and Get Them to Buy
Build it and they come! Actually, no, they won’t. Having a decent website is only half the battle… you need visitors or, as they’re collectively referred to, “traffic”.
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Hello, World – A quick guide to getting your business online
After you have the basics of your business getting et up, next is to explore the next most important part of communicating your business to a world of prospective customers… building and publishing your website.
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How to Build a Strong Business Brand
Now your idea is off the ground, it’s now time to discuss the topic of “the brand” and how critical it is to getting a business off on the right foot.
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Start your own business – the right way
From the idea stage to bringing a product or service to market, a business launch encompasses myriad steps. Darren Isaac, the founder of TFA, offers his advice on starting the right way.
