As we come to the end of February, thanks to some gentle encouragement from Pretty Little Marketer, I wanted to reflect on two ad campaigns that have particularly stuck out to me so far this year.
My two chosen ads have been widely discussed in the media, but not necessarily for the right reasons.
Read More »Valentine’s Day has to be one of my favourite days.
Don’t even try to come at me with “it’s a commercialised holiday designed to make people spend money”.
It’s easy to get so caught up in our lives that we forget to show our appreciation for those around us, and I love Valentine’s Day because it’s the perfect opportunity to do exactly that.
So today, just share some love. Whether that be to friends and family, work colleagues, or even that person you see in Greggs sometimes with the impeccable taste in funky trousers (okay, that last one might be a bit too specific…)
It won’t cost you a penny. And it might mean more to them than you realise.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
I have a confession to make: I’m a LinkedIn lurker.
Every day I scroll through my feed, soaking up the latest news and marketing trends, but rarely engaging or posting myself.
I’ve been keen on both consuming and creating content for brands for as long as I can remember, whether it be blogs, social media campaigns, or even out in the wild.
When it comes to my own personal brand, however, it’s another matter entirely.
I’d often compile content for myself, only to freeze on the ‘post’ button, reading and re-reading before convincing myself not to share it. Why? Because I didn’t have a bigger brand to hide behind – it was my face out there for the whole world to judge.
You see, I used to think personal branding was for CEOs and big names – not for little old me.
But after reading the posts of some fantastic marketers, I realised I don’t need to hold a senior position to be able to share my thoughts, values, and opinions on there. After all, people invest in people, so why not make the most of what this platform has to offer?
So here’s to staying consistent. To showing up on the days I don’t want to. Why? Because I trust that one day it’ll all be worth it.
P.S. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this – what’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone looking to build their personal brand?
It’s Christmas Eve, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to share some things as the year comes to a close – this time with a festive twist!
1. 💿 Spotify Wrapped
Their questionable use of gen z language aside (not unlike the “how do you do, fellow kids” meme), it just wouldn’t be an end of year roundup without touching on Spotify Wrapped. Working from home for months on end meant that my results consisted mostly of the lofi beats I used as background music to preserve my sanity. This resulted in a total of 40,419 minutes listened, which is apparently more than 91% of listeners in the UK. Whilst the thought of how much data they harvest might give you a headache, it’s a fun campaign nonetheless.
2. 📚 Goodreads challenge
One positive from this pandemic is my rediscovery of my love for reading, taking solace in the escapism it provided after a difficult 18 months. Although this may seem odd for a literature grad, it turns out this bookworm didn’t enjoy being told what to read and when. The ability to read whatever I like without pressure meant I could actually enjoy it, and I subsequently doubled my Goodreads challenge target! Highlights included:
3. 📝 Sweden’s Arson Goat
And now to finish off with quite possibly my favourite new Christmas tradition. More commonly known as the “Gävlebocken”, the world’s most famous straw goat, has featured in the city of Gävle’s Christmas celebrations since 1966. On the first Sunday of Advent, the 13-metre-high goat arrives in the city centre, attracting tens of thousands of locals and onlookers throughout the festive season.
Every year, they build it, and every year, someone tries to burn it down, leaving authorities scrambling to stop the destruction, the BBC reported. People have tried to drive cars over it, smash it with clubs, and even torch it with fireworks. Two people dressed as Santa Claus and a gingerbread man shot the goat with flaming arrows in 2005, and in 2010, someone attempted to abduct the goat with a helicopter.
Only about 15 times in its 53-year lifetime has the goat made it through the holiday season uninjured. It was put under 24-hour protection in 2016 and has been able to withstand arson and other attacks – that is, until this year.
Yes, the goat has gone, but it’s only a matter of time before it returns — and only a matter of time before someone tries to burn it down again.
Merry Christmas! x
In case you missed it, TikTok train star Francis Bourgeois has been capturing the hearts of viewers across the UK and beyond, only for an article by The Tab last week to suggest we’ve been calling him by the wrong name all along.
Read More »Winter’s setting in and I’m loving cosy jumper season already. The trusty beret has already made an appearance, and I’m counting down the days until Winter Wonderland. So, what have I been up to since my last post?
Lately I’ve seen newsletters and blog posts circulating where people recommend things they’ve enjoyed, and I thought I might start my own series. Think of it as a culture roundup of stuff you’ve heard about (and perhaps a few things you haven’t).
It’s good if you like lists of stuff to check out, which I do.
Read More »I started this blog as a way to find my “thing”.
Three questionable hair transformations, two job roles, and one global pandemic later – here I am.
A lot has changed over the past year and a half. I’ve changed a lot. I can’t pinpoint many absolutes in this change, but I know that my confidence has grown and continues to grow, and I think the child version of me would be proud of how far I’ve come. As for understanding myself – my “niche” – that’s another issue entirely.
Read More »Can you believe how quickly October has been and gone? 2020 is rapidly approaching with mild panic incoming. But hey, a new year brings new opportunities, right?
Read More »Nobody tells you how difficult it is to set up a WordPress blog. Generally I’d consider myself to be reasonably tech savvy, at least in comparison to the rest of my family – my trusty googling skills and I are here to help. This, however, is an entirely different kettle of fish. So why am I doing it?
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Kate Josselyn 