THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY CONTENT IN THE AGE OF AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t just changing how businesses create content, it’s transforming how they operate entirely.

From automating everyday tasks to speeding up decision-making and streamlining content production, AI has become an essential tool for marketers, agencies, and busy teams looking to achieve more with less. Its impact is everywhere, redefining what efficiency means.

However, as AI content generators become more accessible, one key question remains: does the importance of quality content still hold the same weight in a world where machines can write for us?

In this blog, we will break down what high-quality content really means, explore the conversation around AI generated content vs human content and explain why human input still matters.

THE PROBLEM WITH AI: QUICK COPY, QUESTIONABLE QUALITY

There is no doubt that AI tools have brought a wave of convenience to content production. For businesses managing heavy workloads or working with limited resources, the appeal is clear: content created efficiently, in minutes.

Whether it’s expanding upon blog ideas, rewriting service pages, or optimising existing content, AI offers fast, functional solutions. In the ongoing conversation around AI generated content vs human content, the speed and cost-efficiency of AI give it an edge – on paper, at least.

AI tools are impressive when it comes to quickly gathering information on almost any topic. Within seconds, you can generate a detailed overview or summary. But that convenience comes with limitations.

AI doesn’t always use the most up-to-date sources – for example, some tools are trained on data that’s already two years out of date. That means you risk publishing outdated or even inaccurate information if you don’t fact check. It’s useful for getting started, but it’s no substitute for proper research or real-world insight.

The other major drawback is that AI generates content by spotting patterns in existing material, not by understanding purpose, context, or intent.

So, while it’s great for speed and volume, quality often suffers. Tone of voice can come across as inconsistent or misaligned, nuance gets lost, and emotional depth is almost non-existent.

WHY A HUMAN TOUCH MATTERS MORE THAN EVER

While AI may be changing how we create, it hasn’t changed what makes content effective. Audiences still want connection, relatability, and authenticity and that’s something only people can really provide.

Human-written content brings depth, personality and intent. It’s shaped by experience and the ability to read between the lines. Whether it’s a well-timed bit of humour, or an insight shared from lived experience, these are the elements that stick with your reader. They build trust and loyalty, qualities that generic, AI-written content, often lacks.

When it comes to tone and voice, human writers bring something AI simply can’t replicate, genuine alignment with your brand’s personality.

AI can mimic style, but it often lacks consistency and nuance. Human content is crafted with intent, shaped by a clear understanding of your brand’s audience and ethos.

It’s also more reliable. A copywriter checks facts, considers recent developments, and understands what matters to your audience today, not just what existed online a year or two ago.

Originality is another area where AI struggles. Copywriters think holistically, tell stories, and inject subtle humour or emotional insight. These are the touches that turn bland copy into something that resonates.

Human content is also more culturally aware and more reflective of real-life experiences. Yes, it takes longer, but if you’re building trust, loyalty, and long-term brand value, the investment pays off every time.

THE SEO SHORTFALL OF AI

When it comes to SEO, balance matters more than ever. AI tools can help suggest keywords, but they often fall short when it comes to weaving them naturally and meaningfully into content. The result is often clunky, forced copy that doesn’t flow.

AI also doesn’t replace the need for proper keyword research. You still need to check search volumes, competition, and relevance to ensure you’re targeting terms that will actually deliver results.

Human writers understand how to integrate keywords with subtlety and flow, keeping search engines happy without sacrificing tone or clarity. It’s this blend of creativity and strategy that makes content truly effective, serving both your audience and your goals.

FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE

In 2025 and beyond, it’s not a question of AI versus human input, the most effective content strategies blend both. AI brings speed, structure, and support behind the scenes, helping streamline processes and generate early ideas.

But to truly resonate, content still needs a human eye, someone who understands tone, timing, and what makes an audience engage.

When used together, AI can take care of the heavy lifting, while people focus on the detail, creativity and intuition that make content meaningful.

AI can be a powerful tool for brainstorming and streamlining workflows. But when left unchecked, it can produce content that feels generic and off the mark. It can support your content strategy, but the direction, personality, and performance still need a human touch.

The importance of quality content hasn’t changed. What’s changed is the process. Businesses that strike the right balance between efficiency and authenticity will have a competitive edge.

NEED HELP CREATING CONTENT THAT CONNECTS?

At EDGE Creative, we help brands navigate the complex content landscape. As a full-service content marketing agency, we combine our experience, insight, and creativity to create content that resonates.

Whether you’re exploring AI tools or want to refocus on your brand voice, our team of copywriters can support you with high-quality, human-led content that builds trust and delivers real results.

Call us on 0121 355 8092 or email info@edge-creative.com to chat about your content strategy today.

Measuring PR Success: Key Indicators You Need to Track

Measuring PR success is not just about counting how many times your company has been named in Google News or whether your press release got likes on LinkedIn. The world of PR is evolving, and now it is about tracking the impact of real, measurable content.

Whether you are running a one-off campaign or building your businesses long-term reputation, you need to be aware of what is working and what is not. From website traffic to media mentions to brand sentiment, there are many ways to tell if your PR efforts are paying off, which we will explore in this blog.

WHAT DOES MEASURING PR SUCCESS ACTUALLY MEAN?

Public relations (PR) is all about managing how your brand is perceived – from media coverage to social media. It’s about building relationships, trust, and visibility for your business, which leads to stronger brand recognition, increased customer loyalty, and more opportunities for growth.

Measuring PR success refers to understanding whether those efforts are adding value to your business and helping to bring you closer to your goals and objectives.

Instead of just tracking surface-level statistics, it is about diving deeper and exploring if this campaign reached the right audience? Did it support our business goals? etc. Whether it is boosting your brands credibility or getting people talking about your business on social media, success in PR is all about getting measurable and meaningful results.

HOW TO MEASURE PR PERFORMANCE

Measuring PR success comes down to tracking the right metrics that reflect both visibility and the impact you have.

However, there’s no single way to measure PR. The good news? You’ve got options. And when you track the right ones, it becomes much easier to see what’s driving real value.

Media Coverage: Getting featured is always a win, but where you’re featured matters even more than how often. One high-quality mention in a respected publication can elevate your brand’s credibility far more than a string of lower-profile appearances.

Share of Voice: This is a great way to see how much space you’re taking up in your industry compared to competitors. It’s not just about being talked about, but about being part of the conversation in meaningful ways.

Website Traffic: If your coverage or campaign is driving people to check you out online, you’re doing something right. Looking at referral traffic from specific campaigns can help you determine what’s working most successfully.

Social Engagement: Think of social media as an instant reaction board. If people are liking, sharing, commenting, or tagging friends in your PR-led posts, it’s usually a good sign you’ve hit the right note.

Backlinks: If high-quality websites are linking to your content because of your campaign, it boosts both visibility and search engine optimisation. These backlinks signal to search engines that your content is trustworthy and authoritative.

Sentiment Analysis: It’s not just about being seen, but how you’re seen. Tracking whether mentions are positive, negative, or neutral gives you a clearer view of your brand’s public image.

THE VALUE OF SETTING GOALS FOR PR CAMPAIGNS

Setting clear, purposeful goals is key to making sense of your PR results and understanding what’s working. Without them, it’s difficult to know whether your efforts are supporting your wider business objectives.

Well-defined goals help your team stay focused, track progress, and measure success in a meaningful way, using metrics that reflect the outcomes you want to achieve, from media coverage to engagement levels or lead generation.

Whether you’re launching a new product, entering a new market, or improving brand perception, setting goals that are specific and measurable ensures your PR activity stays aligned with real business priorities.

For example, if your goal is to boost brand awareness, that could lead to increased interest from new audiences or potential partners. A focus on reputation can help build the trust needed for long-term client relationships. Meanwhile, prioritising website traffic or social engagement can drive more tangible outcomes like generating leads or increasing sales.

HOW EDGE CREATIVE CAN ELEVATE YOUR PR STRATEGY

At EDGE Creative, we track PR metrics and make them work for your business. Our team specialises in creating PR campaigns that boost your brands visibility and reputation.

Whether it’s securing great media coverage or creating press content that stand out, we know how to get people talking about your business for all the right reasons.

Want to take your PR to the next level? Check out our PR agency or get in touch today! Call us on 0121 355 8092 or email info@edge-creative.com.

The Difference Between SEO and PPC and Why You Should Use Both

If you’re looking to increase your online visibility, chances are you’ve come across Search Engine Optimisation and Pay-Per-Click. While both are powerful tools for driving traffic to your website, understanding how they work – and how they differ – is key to making the most of your digital marketing strategy.

In this blog, we’ll explore the difference between SEO and PPC, and how a joined-up approach can help increase lead generation and sales for your business.

Organic SEO vs PPC: Understanding the Difference

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is all about making strategic improvements to your website to help it rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). This includes everything from creating useful, relevant content to making sure your site is technically sound and easy to navigate.

SEO is a long-term strategy that takes time to build authority and trust with search engines. However, the long-term benefits make it a worthwhile investment. A strong SEO strategy allows you to attract the right audience organically and, over time, can become one of the most cost-effective ways to drive consistent traffic to your website.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising, on the other hand, offers a level of control, precision targeting, and measurable results that few other marketing channels can match. Whether you want to boost website traffic, drive online sales, or build brand awareness, campaigns can be tailored and refined as your business grows. While SEO requires patience, PPC can offer fast exposure by placing your brand directly in front of your target audience on search engines, websites, apps and social media.

Moreover, it gives you the flexibility to scale your campaign budget as needed. You can adjust your spend based on what’s working, giving you the freedom to make informed decisions along the way.

The Power of Combining Organic SEO and PPC

Some people view organic SEO and PPC as an either-or decision. But the truth is, they are most effective when they work together. Here’s why:


Improved visibility: Integrating your SEO and PPC strategy can significantly boost your visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs). When your brand appears in both the organic and paid listings for the same search term, it not only increases the likelihood of driving web traffic but also reinforces your credibility and trustworthiness. The more touchpoints you create, the better.

Adaptability: PPC offers the flexibility to respond quickly to gaps or changes in your SEO performance. For example, if your organic rankings drop due to an algorithm update, PPC can keep your brand visible while your SEO catches up. It’s also ideal for targeting time-sensitive campaigns, such as product launches, where waiting for organic rankings just isn’t efficient.


Stronger ROI: By combining the long-term value of SEO with the immediate impact of PPC, you can maximise your marketing ROI. SEO helps build a sustainable stream of organic traffic over time, reducing your reliance on paid efforts over time. Meanwhile, PPC delivers quick wins and precise targeting. Together, they complement each other – offering both stability and flexibility – so you can choose the most effective approach depending on your goals.

As an experienced SEO and PPC agency, we believe that every well-planned and connected digital marketing strategy should combine both SEO and PPC, aligning your message and goals across both channels for stronger results.

How to Know When to Prioritise Between Organic SEO vs PPC

When you’re new to digital marketing, deciding whether to prioritise SEO or PPC often comes down to your goals and how quickly you need to see results.

Whether you’re building long-term visibility or looking for a short-term boost for lead generation, knowing when to prioritise SEO or PPC can make a big difference. Here are a few key tips to help you decide what’s right for your brand.

1. Define your business goals clearly
If your goal is long-term growth and consistent online visibility, prioritise SEO. If you’re focused on short-term results, such as launching a new product, PPC will be more effective.

2. Consider your timeline
SEO can take months to see real traction, so if you need results fast, start with PPC to generate immediate traffic, while your SEO efforts build in the background.

3. Look at your budget
SEO typically requires time and expertise, but it’s more cost-effective long term. PPC offers immediate exposure but requires ongoing spend to stay visible. If your budget is limited, start with a strong SEO strategy as your foundation.

4. Use data from one to inform the other
The research you carry out for your SEO strategy can offer valuable insights that also benefit your PPC campaigns and vice versa. For instance, if you discover that your website ranks in organic search for a term like ‘Facebook Ads Agency’, that’s a strong indicator it resonates with your audience. You could then use that same keyword in your PPC ads to boost visibility and reach an even wider audience.

5. Don’t treat it as either/or
Think of your SEO and PPC as a combined strategy. A joint approach often leads to stronger visibility, better audience targeting, and a more consistent online presence.

Need Support with Your SEO and PPC Strategy?

Our SEO and CRO marketing team specialise in creating integrated campaigns that combine the best of both worlds. Find out more about how we can support your business with our PPC services or get in touch to start building your tailored strategy.

If you’re looking to choose between Organic SEO vs PPC, explore more of our blog content for guidance on making the most of your digital marketing efforts.

Digital PR and SEO: How PR Can Help Improve Your SEO Performance

Search engine visibility is a major driver of online success, but ranking well isn’t just about keywords. One of the most overlooked ways to boost performance is through an integrated PR and SEO (search engine optimisation) strategy.

Digital PR helps you earn media coverage and secure high-quality backlinks from trusted sources, two factors that can significantly improve your site’s authority in the eyes of search engines.

On top of this, it builds brand awareness, attracts referral traffic, and supports long-term visibility. When combined with technical SEO and on-page optimisation, digital PR can be a game-changer, helping your website climb the rankings and connect with a wider, more engaged audience.

DIGITAL PR AND SEO EXPLAINED

Digital PR is a modern take on traditional public relations, focused on building a brand’s presence online rather than in print. It involves securing coverage on digital media platforms, earning backlinks from authoritative websites, and collaborating with online influencers, all with the goal of increasing visibility and credibility in the digital space.

Whereas SEO is the process of improving your website’s performance in search engine results. It includes tactics like keyword research, technical improvements, content creation, and backlink building, all designed to help your site rank higher when users search for relevant topics.

While they serve different functions, digital PR and SEO are closely connected.

WHY THEY BOTH GO HAND IN HAND

When done right, PR isn’t just about getting your name in the news, it’s a strategic tool that directly supports your SEO goals. That’s where having an integrated PR and SEO strategy comes in…

Digital PR helps you earn high-quality backlinks from reputable websites, which are one of the most important ranking factors for search engines. The more relevant and reputable the links, the stronger your domain authority, and the higher your chances of appearing at the top of search results.

Digital PR enhances your online presence by securing brand mentions and backlinks from high-authority publications. These features send strong, positive signals to search engines, directly improving your SEO and making it easier for customers to discover your content.

Moreover, consistent media coverage builds brand awareness and recall. As your consumers grow familiar with your brand from trusted sources, they are more likely to search for you directly.

This increase in branded searches not only boosts organic traffic but also signals to search engines that you are a recognised authority in your field, enhancing your online presence.

Unlike short-term marketing tactics, backlinks from digital PR continue to deliver value over time, strengthening your SEO performance long after the initial coverage goes live.

By combining digital PR with SEO, you’re not just getting your brand seen; you’re building the long-term trust, authority, and visibility required to stay competitive online.

METHODS THAT UTILISE BOTH DIGITAL PR AND SEO

Combining digital PR with your SEO strategy can significantly boost your online presence. Here are some key areas where your digital PR can enhance your SEO efforts:

Pitching publications with linkable assets: Including original research, comprehensive data studies, or engaging infographics offers valuable resources to enhance their stories. When publications include these assets, it often results in high-quality backlinks to your site. These backlinks are a vital signal to search engines that your content is authoritative and trustworthy.

Monitor unlinked brand mentions: Discovering instances where your brand is mentioned online without a direct link back to your website, presents a golden opportunity to request a backlink to your site. Transforming a simple mention into an asset that drives referral traffic.

HOW EDGE CREATIVE CAN UPGRADE YOUR PR AND SEO

At EDGE Creative, we’re an integrated Digital PR and Search engine optimisation agency helping businesses boost visibility and receive real results.

From creating keyword optimised content to securing high-quality backlinks, our experts align PR outreach with search optimisation, making every campaign stronger.

Want to take your online presence to the next level? Call us on 0121 355 8092 or email info@edge-creative.com.

4 Key Reasons Why You Should Be Using Google Ads For Your Business

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Should I use Google Ads for my business?” – you’re not alone.

For many brands, the answer lies in Google Advertising. As one of the most powerful and popular digital marketing platforms, Google Ads gives businesses the ability to reach potential customers exactly when they’re searching for products or services.

But is it the best way to advertise your business? In this blog, we explore how Google Ads works, the benefits it offers, and whether it’s the right fit for your brand’s growth strategy.

WHAT IS GOOGLE ADVERTISING?

Google Advertising is a powerful paid marketing platform that lets businesses display ads across Google’s search engine results pages (SERPs), YouTube, Google Maps, and network of partner websites.

By bidding on keywords related to their products or services, businesses can ensure their ads appear when potential customers are actively searching.

WHY CONSIDER GOOGLE ADS?

As a form of pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, it offers a level of control, precision targeting, and measurable results that few other marketing channels can match.

Here are more reasons why you should use Google Ads for your business:

TAILOR CAMPAIGNS TO YOUR GOALS – Google Ads is flexible. Whether you want to boost website traffic, drive online sales, or build brand awareness, campaigns can be tailored and refined as your business grows.

REACH THE RIGHT AUDIENCE AT THE RIGHT TIME – Target users based on keywords, location, interests, and even time of day ensuring your message appears when and where it matters most.

SCALE YOUR SPEND AS YOU GO – Google Ads gives you the flexibility to scale your campaign budget as needed. With real-time performance insights, you can easily adjust your spend based on what’s working, giving you the freedom to make informed decisions along the way.

TRACK EVERYTHING IN REAL TIME – From impressions and clicks to conversions and cost-per-click, every element is measurable. This makes it easier to calculate your return on investment (ROI) and adjust your strategy accordingly.

IS PPC SUITABLE FOR EVERY BUSINESS?

While PPC advertising offers incredible potential, it’s not a universal solution for every business. The secret to success lies in knowing how and when to use it effectively.

For businesses with smaller budgets, it can often be challenging to compete in highly competitive industries where cost-per-click (CPC) rates are high. However, with expert guidance and strategic planning, even modest budgets can achieve meaningful results, targeting niche or local markets.

One of the most important things to figure out before diving into ‘Why use Google Ads’,is how much you’re actually willing to spend to get a sale or a lead. Your target cost-per-acquisition (CPA) acts like a guide for your whole strategy, helping you set smart limits and make sure your budget is being used in a sensible way. When you have a clear idea of your numbers, it’s much easier to make good bidding choices, pick the right keywords, and track what’s really working. Without a CPA target, it’s easy to burn through your budget chasing clicks that don’t turn into customers.

If your business has a niche audience or operates in a more specialised space, PPC can be a powerful way to reach the right people. But to see real results, you’ll need a focused strategy, regular fine-tuning, and clear goals from the start.

For businesses with a bit more budget to play with, there’s room to be more ambitious, whether that’s boosting brand awareness, driving more leads, or pushing for direct sales. That said, success isn’t just about how much you spend. It’s about making sure everything lines up to attract the right kind of traffic and turn interest into action.

COMMON CHALLENGES BUSINESSES MAY FACE WITH GOOGLE ADS

Even though Google Ads offers powerful tools for growth, it’s not without its objectives. Here are some of the most common challenges businesses encounter when getting started:

High competition for keywords – Certain industries (like finance or law) have expensive CPCs or CPAs, making it harder to compete without expert management.

Platform complexity – Google Ads can be a steep learning curve for beginners and can quickly become overwhelming if you are new to it.

Wasted ad spend – Without a focused strategy or proper tracking, budgets can disappear without delivering real value.

GET THE MOST OUT OF ADVERTISING WITH OUR PPC AGENCY

Working with an experienced PPC agency like EDGE Creative can make all the difference, and our team of experts are here to assist.

We help businesses tailor their ad campaigns to meet their goals – whether that’s driving traffic to a website or increasing online sales.

Working closely with brands of all sizes, we deliver performance-focused campaigns designed to get the most out of every penny spent.

The Sensible Way to Choose Between Live Video and Animation

When creating video content, you’ll need to know the following:

The following blog has been written by Philippe Ingels, a visual communication and marketing specialist for more than 35 years, currently leading the creative process at Wakster. His in-depth knowledge of how the brain works in reference to decision-making and behaviour helps him identify the most effective visual marketing methods.

WHAT IS THE CAMERA POINTING AT?

To tease out the difference between live video and animation is not as straightforward as it might seem. Live video points a camera at the real world, while animation points it to something in an imagined world.

Just to make sure things are not unnecessarily simple – I mean, why not – there is a sizable fuzzy border between the two formats. We’ve all seen real-world actors placed in imagined worlds. On the flip side are animations that look so super-realistic that we start questioning whether we’re looking at the real world or not. Both live video and animation can more or less do everything on the long list of requirements to create a compelling message.

We need to explore a bit deeper into the differences between these two formats to determine what you need to consider when deciding which format is best for your purposes.

REAL OR NOT?

One key consideration is whether your message requires you to make a visual connection to real-life people in real-life situations using real-life products. If showing the CEO, your factory or the clever widget you’ve just invented is essential to establish authenticity, then you have to use live video.

On the other hand, if the success of your message depends more on the audience understanding the value of your idea, product or process, then animation becomes a consideration. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t be done with live video. We’re again at an impasse, but this brings us to our second key difference.

How hard and in which way do you need to push your audience’s mental buttons to persuade them to take action?

PUSH AND PUSH

To make your message successful at conversion, you need two essential elements: it needs to make sense, and there needs to be a good dose of the right emotional triggers mixed into the message. Behavioural science has shown that reason and emotions are two inseparable parts of a single decision-making process. The emotions trigger the decision because the mind uses them to determine priorities. The rational framework gives the context and purpose of the emotions. Without emotions, no decisions are made, and without the rational, there is a danger of senseless choices.

So, the two questions you need to consider are these:

  • How likely is it that someone, at some point, might lose the thread of your explanation? Remember, some, if not most, of your audience will not be sufficiently familiar with your products or services to easily connect all the dots. That means they might be unable to keep track of all the essential facts you throw at them.

  • What is the size of the emotional impact you need to make to persuade someone to take action? The more competition for attention and the more objections there are, the more intense the emotions you need to trigger – such as anticipation, excitement and conviction.

As far as the rational argument is concerned, both video and animation are ideally suited for explaining the value you offer. However, animation is particularly good at explaining products or services with multiple features and benefits that are closely interrelated. This is because animation is often much better are handling abstract ideas.

What about creating an emotional impact? There is no doubt that live video can trigger high-impact emotions. Because it deals with real-life people in real-life situations, it has the potential to create an emotional experience at a much deeper level than animation.

There is a catch, though – it’s usually much more expensive to produce such an impact with live video than animation. Why? Because in many cases, you need to secure suitable locations, hire professional actors and get a top-notch production crew on board. And it can get costly to make any changes, especially if it requires hiring the same actors and getting the crew, location, and setup back together.

With animation, you can create any location imaginable – any place, any time period and at any scale. You can also magic as many diverse actors as you need into existence and have them do whatever is required to bring your story to life. Need someone to fly? They fly. Need someone to run the 100m in under 9.58 seconds? No problem, you don’t need to cast Usain Bolt.

You have perfect control over every tiny aspect of the production, which means the story can be perfectly crafted. An animated actor will re-do a scene a hundred times without complaining once. They also never have to go into rehab (unless that’s in the script, of course). Animation allows you to easily change your video content at any time as all the locations, actors and setups get frozen in time, just waiting for you to re-activate them.

THAT REMEMBERING THING

It is always decidedly beneficial if people can actually remember your message. People are not always ready to buy when they encounter your message, so for them to not only recall what you’ve said but still feel some of the conviction they experienced means you have to impress – big time.

By now, you will not be surprised to learn that both live video and animation are perfectly capable of making things memorable. Memorability is directly related to the size of the emotional impact you’ve made. It also relies on factors such as differentiation – how surprisingly different the experience is. It all comes down to cost. Differentiating things using real-world people and locations can have a significant impact but can get very expensive. With animation, your only limitation is imagination.

AND THE WINNER IS…

There really isn’t a winner between live video and animation. It all depends on a combination of factors that include the importance of a real-world connection, the nature of the dots you need to connect, the emotional impact you need to make and your budget. There is even the real possibility of combining the two formats into one production or using the two formats separately to serve specific purposes.  

Use video:

  • If you need to use real-life to establish authenticity.

  • If the dots you need to connect to explain the value you offer are reasonably straightforward.

  • If you have enough budget available to make a significant enough emotional impact.

  • If you have enough budget available to do what it takes to make the video memorable.

  • If you just want a video because everyone has a video.

Use animation:

  • If real-world authentication is less important.

  • If persuading someone to take action is dependent on connecting multiple value dots.

  • If you need to make a significant emotional impact within a reasonable budget.

  • If you need to make your message memorable within a reasonable budget.

YOUR NEXT THING

We’ve created hundreds of animations, combined video with animation and directed live video shoots with actors performing in front of green screens.

If you want to know more about the power of animation, please visit our website. Alternatively, feel free to get in touch if you need advice on what format is best for your needs and what your options are by reaching out to philippe@wakster.com.

How Can PR & SEO Help You Grow Your Business?

PR and SEO are essential elements to maximising your business growth, read below to find what you need to know:

When it comes to marketing your business, PR and SEO campaigns are powerful stand-alone tools. Both can help build high-quality brand awareness and increased visibility, as well as validate the reputability of your business. However, as the landscape becomes increasingly digital, using these together as part of your wider strategy can offer an innovative way to achieve organic growth.

PR and SEO are marketing strategies to help protect, enhance and increase the reputation of your business. Both approaches do this by increasing visibility, trustworthiness and building quality brand awareness. However, when the two strategies work together, it can help your business gain lots of high-quality publicity, as well as contribute towards achieving your overall business goals.

WHAT IS PR?

Public relations (PR) is the way your business communicates and promotes its organisation to the media and public, and with this becoming more digitalised, it can be tied into your company’s wider strategy.

WHAT IS SEO?

PR differs from search engine optimisation (SEO), which involves enhancing your company website to ensure it ranks highly in a search engine result for a certain keyword. When a brand ranks highly, it demonstrates its reliability to the user and suggests that it contains valuable content.

WHAT ARE THE KEY ALLIES?

Digital PR, combined with SEO, makes a marketing power couple for developing your business’s online presence, building up high-quality publicity, and achieving the best results for your brand. Therefore, writing your PR content should be done with your SEO strategy in mind – but why?

Building backlinks to domains with high authority is a key off-page SEO tactic. Promoting your brand in an online publication can help cultivate credibility, helping Google to recognise your website as a trustworthy and relevant source to your target audience. 

If a news piece or press release linking to your site comes from a website with strong domain authority, it will from a high-quality link. This will have a direct impact on your website’s search engine visibility and ranking – as well as providing a door, through which people can easily visit your website!

WHAT IS THE DOMAIN AUTHORITY?

Domain authority refers to the strength of a domain, scoring a website from 1-100 on how trustworthy it is. A trusted website is more likely to be ranked by search engines and understanding this allows you to target your PR at pages with a high score for domain authority.

Remember: when it comes to SEO, choosing the best channels can ensure that you are establishing quality links to directly impact the outcome of a campaign. No-follow or low-quality links would have none to little impact on your SEO, and by avoiding these you can massively impact the visibility of your business.

EDGE CREATIVE

As an integrated marketing agency, we provide unified and innovative solutions by combining our specialist services to deliver campaigns with maximum impact, including PR and SEO.  Want to maximise the growth of your business? Speak to our expert team today on 0121 355 8092 or email info@edge-creative.com.

Webinars vs. Podcasts: How Can You Effectively Market Your Business?

When deciding between Webinars and Podcasts, it’s important to consider the following:

The coronavirus pandemic has affected every business in one way or another, regardless of industry or location. Now more important than ever, it’s essential that you reach the widest possible audience for your product or service so that you can increase leads and sales for your business. 

In order to achieve this, you must engage with your clients or customers in as many ways as possible to achieve both your long and short-term objectives. Whether that’s through digital marketing techniques such as social media marketing or SEO, or creative campaigns through billboards and posters, it’s important to implement a marketing strategy that works. 

Over the last several months, people have been seeking alternative ways to engage with content during lockdown. For this reason, webinars and podcasts have become a growing form of marketing and information sharing, especially as they are super convenient and accessible for everyone (even those working from home!) 

WHY WOULD A BUSINESS USE A PODCAST OR WEBINAR

Whether you’re a digital marketing agency in Birmingham or a financial business based in New York, webinars and podcasts are adaptable for any type of business. 

Expanding the quality and execution of a brand’s material/ will improve not only brand awareness, but also the quality of the information you are pushing to your audience. Webinars and podcasts can be used as a particularly useful, informative and educational tool, which can improve the authenticity and relevancy of your content, portraying your business as leaders in your market. They can be used for many reasons, including storytelling, collaborations with partners, guest speakers, discussions and debates, Q&A’s and sector-based insights. 

WHAT IS A WEBINAR?

A webinar is an online seminar that takes place in real time with an audience. Often referred to as a conference call, webinars can usually host up to 10,000 participants. Incorporating both audio and visual components, this method of information sharing can cater to a large audience. 

The host of a webinar can share presentations, web pages, resources and various other forms of content to engage with participants, and anyone, regardless of their geographical location, can attend. Often, participants can ask questions, leave comments or interact with the webinar, which as it takes place in real time, the host can respond to. 

WHAT IS A PODCAST?

A podcast is a digital audio recording, which is available for download after it has been recorded. Super convenient, listeners can engage with the podcast content while they are doing other things such as driving or reading. 

Some podcasts may take the style of an interview with multiple guests conversing, whereas others may be solo talks, where the host of the podcast will tell a story, answer frequently asked questions or simply talk about a subject they know well. 

IS A WEBINAR OR PODCAST MORE EFFECTIVE FOR MY BUSINESS’S AUDIENCE?

Good question. The simple answer is it depends! 

Let’s have a quick look at the advantages of webinars: 

  • Visual cues – Webinars contain a visual aspect for participants on the call, allowing information to be delivered easily and effectively. This means that the information may be more memorable for the participants as multisensory learning is taking place.
  • Takes place in real time – Participants may feel more connected to the host, as real time interaction allows those watching to get involved and engage with the host when they have questions, and get instant answers to their queries
  • Focus on your target audience – Webinars will attract a relevant audience, as they require individuals to sign up if they want to attend. As a host, you can also be selective with the invitation list, allowing you to ensure you’re spending your time effectively and directly reaching those you think will take something from your webinar.  
  • Grow your audience – Getting your audience to sign-up allow you to build your database on new contacts for further engagement

It is, however, important to note that webinars can be more time-consuming for the host, as they include a visual component that requires preparation. 

For some individuals, webinars may not always be convenient. To get the most out of attending a webinar, it’s best for the audience to watch in real-time, which can be difficult for those with busy schedules. Fortunately, webinars can be recorded, providing you with an asset that can be used at later dates in your marketing. Perhaps you may want to send out an email with a link, or post snippets on your social media channels. 

Now, let’s review the advantages of podcasts: 

  • Highly convenient – Podcasts are pre-recorded, meaning your audience can listen to your content at a time that works best for them. 
  • Large audience – On average, over 150 million people listen to a podcast each week. If you get the content right, you can tap into this large audience, increasing brand exposure, leads and potentially sales! 
  • Easy to produce – As podcasts contain no visual component, they can be recorded where best convenient for you. The only planning that needs to take place is what is going to be said, as there is no need for presentations, images or graphs. 
  • Versatile – Podcasts can be uploaded to different platforms and you can build new audiences. They can be liked and shared with ease. 

Unfortunately, podcasts are less interactive than webinars, which can make it more difficult for your audience to engage with your content. With no visual component (other than the show artwork), listeners may forget the information, and certain topics may be more difficult to discuss without visual aids. You can, however, add resource links into your show notes and as podcasts aren’t live, you can edit them afterwards to create a higher level of quality. 

When hosting a podcast, it is also much harder to gage the satisfaction of the listeners. This is because when a real time webinar takes place, the host can gage the atmosphere and see in real-time, reactions to the presentation. When hosting a podcast, you can review listens and download statistics, but you will need to actively seek feedback for qualitative data.

SO WHICH IS BETTER?

Both podcasts and webinars contain useful features for both you and your audience. In order to find which is best suited for your business, you must ensure to identify your customers and think about what type of information you would like to convey. 

Don’t just guess! With support from EDGE Creative, we can work together to implement a multi-media marketing strategy that helps you to increase brand awareness, traffic, leads and most importantly, sales. 

Enquire today by calling 0121 355 8092 or by emailing our Content Strategy Manager, Jess at jessica@edge-creative.com.  

Why is Advertising an Essential Feature of Your Business Processes?

In this post, we’ll discuss the following:

When you have started a business, it’s imperative that you make people aware of this fact. Marketing and advertising is essential to this process. Any type of business, whether you run online or offline, requires customers. By investing into a marketing and advertising strategy, you can improve leads, increase sales and ultimately, make a profit.

To do this, reaching new audiences and promoting your products or services is crucial, especially in a competitive market.

There are many different ways you may choose to advertise your business. Whether it’s television ads, editorial pieces in a newspaper, banners, leaflets, websites, or social media, each method of marketing has its own pros and cons and you must evaluate the best strategy for you.

Advertising can be tricky to get right, which is why we have provided five quick tips to help you get the best out of your marketing processes and maximise your chances of success.

RELEVANCE IS THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL ADVERTISING

One of the most fundamental aspects of marketing is to drive stronger and more meaningful connections between customers and brands. Everything you do must begin with the customer.

Today, customers are freely engaging with brands via multiple devices and touchpoints in real time. They are more connected and empowered than before, so you must provide them with the relevant information they need. By taking an omni-channel marketing approach, you meet the desires of your customers and answer their questions whenever and wherever they want.

The amount of data we can now gather about target audiences and customer journeys allows you to gather deep knowledge about your customer’s behaviour. Through data-driven techniques, you can gain great insights that should educate your marketing processes.

With so much information available, there is no excuse for creating irrelevant customer experiences.

ALWAYS COMMUNICATE YOUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

Marketing is all about creating and satisfying your customers’ needs and desires. It’s important to relate to your audiences needs, but don’t forget to tell them why you can satisfy them.

Your business is likely to be in competition with many other industry leaders and businesses who are firmly established. Having a secure and strong brand position involves truly understanding your competition and your competitive advantage.

Ask yourself: what can you provide to your clients or customers that your competitors can’t? Once you can answer that question, let your target audience know the answer.

BUILD YOUR IMAGE

The world is becoming increasingly consumer-led.Everyday you will be exposed to hundreds of images, whether they’re adverts, brand logos, signs or symbols. They may come in many forms, shapes and sizes. The most effective adverts are those that remain consistent in their image and build a unique brand through it.

Ensure your advert and message have clarity, consistency and creativity to communicate strongly.

Your principles and identity should be built through an initial brand positioning review. Whether it’s the quality of your products or the tone and personality your business uses, you need to remain consistent with your brand.

This consistency is what makes a strong brand that is familiar to consumers and can significantly improve your bottom line. In fact, according to Forbes, consistency across channels increases revenue by 23%.

ARE YOU BEING SEEN?

It sounds obvious, but ensure your target audience will see the advertising platform you use.

Research your demographic – what do they do, how do they behave and what do they need?

If your target audience is younger and using social media platforms such as TikTok or Snapchat, investing into advertising on Facebook and LinkedIn means you wont be seen by the consumers you want to target.

Evaluate your customer personas and ensure you’re reaching the right people at the right time.

HAVE A REACTIVE BUDGET

Allocate a certain amount of money that you wish to spend on advertising and don’t cut corners – cheap advertising can be counter-productive to your brand image.

Ensure that the platform or advertising medium you use is specific to your target audience and then invest.

It’s also important that you don’t just simply allocate a set figure every month. React to the changes in your sales performances during various seasons or events of the year. To remain effective and efficient, a well-structured advertising strategy will help ensure your return on investment is maximised.

When deciding on where to allocate your advertising budget, think about utilising a variety of media and decide whether physical or digital advertising is more appropriate.

EDGE CREATIVE

It is important that you have measurement controls in place to assess the effectiveness of your advertising. A strong marketing and advertising strategy provides a number of benefits, one of those being the ability to find out what is working and adjust your marketing processes accordingly.

At EDGE Creative, we can draw upon research into your customers and their journeys and optimise your advertising and marketing processes to ensure success. Enquire today to find out more by emailing info@edge-creative.com or calling us on 0121 355 8092.

Wearable Advertising: Where Do We Start?

THE BENEFITS OF WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY

CES is one of the biggest tech events of the year. Taking place over 4 days in Las Vegas, it is internationally renowned for attracting the biggest and best names in the industry. Tech companies are given a platform to showcase their latest gadgets and ideas to the world.

Back in January, we saw both the weird and the wonderful come out of CES. Visitors got the first glimpses of foldable TVs, consumer drones and even a 4D motion sofa. But what stood out head and shoulders above the rest was the number of wearables that will be coming to market over the next few months and years.

Research by Gartner reported that 50% of respondents said they would buy a smartwatch over a fitness band because it offers more mobile functionalities than fitness bands including all the health apps. Wearables represent the next step in technological advancement and realistically they are only the humble beginnings of where this technology could take us.

So now wearable tech is no longer the stuff of science fiction, how can we as marketers plan, build and design advertising for it?

Mobile ad spend in the UK now accounts for over one-fifth (23%) of all digital advertising, according to the IAB UK’s figures. In February last year, Cisco forecast that global wearable device connections would total 578 million in 2019, compared with 170 million in 2015.

You may think that advertising on smartwatches will just be a natural progression from your mobile marketing, taking on many of the same do’s and don’ts. However, as this technology is still in its infancy, any advertising will require further research and understanding.

KNOW YOUR LIMITS

Before you start any advertising you need to understand the limitations of the device. Although similar to mobiles, the features of a smartwatch are extensively limited in comparison. You are going to be working with an even smaller screen than mobile. Most smartwatches measure in at just 2 inches – that’s up to a third smaller than some mobiles! You will, therefore, need to use micro-layouts to deliver what you want to say. Wearable-friendly content is going to be the key to success with experts saying that you will have 2 seconds to capture your audience’s attention. So any information is going to need to be taken in at a glance, especially within adverts.

WHERE TO START

Due to the size of the space you have to work with, your campaign is going to need to be an adaptation of your mobile campaign for tablet and mobile. It’s advisable, as with mobile, to design the layout first thinking about where text, multimedia such as video or images can go and then write the content with the reduced layout in mind. This will make sure you are in the right mind frame to write your content.

WHAT TO FEATURE

Marketing Tech News reported that ‘Industry analysts are falling over themselves to predict an explosion in the Internet of Things (IoT) over the next few years with the introduction and adoption of connected cars, appliances, wearable technology, and more.’ Although we’re not there yet, it is an important point that you will also need to know the special features and specifications of each device. As with mobiles, these will be interchangeable depending on the device so keep that in mind. There are already some common features found on many smartwatches which you should include in your brainstorming session when thinking about how your campaign will shape up. These include:

  • Health sensors
  • Access to texts and phone calls
  • Voice recognition (Siri and Google)
  • GPS

As wearable technology advances and more and more people buy the products, advertising on these devices could be a great addition to any marketing strategy. But this will only happen if it is done correctly by brands in a way that consumers find easy to use and digest.

International Synergies

SUMMARY

International Synergies’ vision is to lead the transition to a global circular economy by helping governments, regional agencies, and private sector clients implement actionable and sustainable carbon-cutting initiatives.

Through their work, they play a crucial role in transforming the global economy from linear to circular, leading the way to a sustainable and carbon-free future across all sectors, from food manufacturing to infrastructure.

THE TASK

THE RESULT

We led a full rebrand, delivering a new identity grounded in sustainability and designed to reflect ISL’s experience and ambition. As part of this, a full set of brand guidelines was developed to maintain consistency across all touchpoints, reinforcing their professionalism and credibility.

Our work included designing and producing a cohesive range of print and digital assets, from brochures and business cards to banners and presentation decks, through our expert graphic design and printing services. All marketing materials used FSC-certified paper and low-ink, minimalist designs to reduce environmental impact.

A key deliverable was their new website – a clean, intuitive platform that clearly communicates ISL’s services, showcases their most impactful case studies, and supports stakeholder engagement. The site plays a central role in their marketing efforts, particularly around their leadership in renewable energy and circular innovation.

As a result, ISL now has a unified brand identity and a compelling online presence, enabling them to engage national and global audiences with confidence. Our marketing for renewable energy approach has positioned ISL as a trusted voice in sustainability, better equipped to lead conversations, build partnerships, and drive long-term impact.

SEE THE WEBSITE LIVE

It’s been a real pleasure working with the team at ISL. From shaping their brand to building their website and print materials, every part of the project reflected their passion for sustainability. It’s great to be part of something that has a real purpose behind it.

Ellena Yapp

Account Manager at EDGE Creative

What we can do for you

Book your free consultation

Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Drive traffic, increase leads and stimulate a positive business impact.

Book Now