If I were asked to describe the major hallmark of digital marketing in 2025, I would say it’s brands choosing to adhere to “no-strategy” marketing. Instead of creating a solid 5-year plan with a step-by-step route to success, plenty of businesses today are merely reacting to rapid technological evolution, natural disasters, political shifts, and TikTok trends; our time is rich with Black Swans of all scales.

Today’s startups face the typical set of challenges when it comes to launching a new company in a crowded market. With a niche product or service, you need to cultivate a strong brand identity with a marketing campaign that will be visible. Speaking to potential customers, and gaining their trust are all increasingly important to make your mark entering a market. 

Branding is not just a nice-to-have in venture capital. In an industry built on relationships, trust, and differentiation, a strong brand is one of the most valuable assets a firm can cultivate. Yet, many VCs overlook its importance, treating branding as secondary to deal flow, performance, or network effects.

For startups, creating your branding can feel like choosing your personality. Deciding whether you want to come across as fun and frivolous, safe and serious, or peaceful and personable can be the difference between boom or bust for your company. Throw in the fact that trends come in and out of season, and suddenly the prospect of nailing your visual branding can feel like a daunting task.

Social media in all its forms has become a marketing must-do. Its reach is enormous and its shareability potential far beyond any other marketing channel. But TikTok has a certain reputation. The younger sibling of the social media dynasty, it’s relatively new to the party, and largely associated with frivolous content – viral trends for Gen Z and the impressionable generations.

"In a busy marketplace, not standing out is the same as being invisible," said Seth Godin.

Startup founders have a huge list of things to think about, and somewhere pretty high is the company name. It’s like naming your child, so much emotion and pressure to get it right can lead to a disproportionate amount of time and concern being expended at the expense of other vitally important jobs-to-be-done.

The world of startups and scaleups can prove to be a bit of a shock for some brand and communications professionals, finding that their corporate-leaning playbooks may offer limited usefulness.

Starting a business is an exciting but daunting journey. The sobering statistic that 90% of startups fail highlights the significant challenges new businesses face. But success is out there – and branding and messaging play a pivotal role. Establishing a strong, cohesive brand with a clear and compelling story can dramatically improve a startup’s chances of success.

Zubr Capital is a private equity firm focused on investments in fast-growing private companies with high potential value in international markets. As the Brand Manager, Darya Ksianzova's role involves nurturing the Zubr Capital brand and developing the brands of the fund's portfolio companies. Her primary focus is on establishing sustainable processes to develop and strengthen these brands. It's well-known that companies with strong brands are valued more highly.

Customer retention is a foundation for stable business growth, and email gamification is just the right equipment. Getting customers involved and entertained forms a deeper sense of loyalty. How is that?

As we approach 2025, personal branding is no longer optional for entrepreneurs. It has evolved into a necessary component to achieve personal and professional success.

As we move into 2025, businesses of all sizes – from emerging startups to established industry leaders – face the challenge of capturing and maintaining consumer attention in an era of endless distractions.

As someone who designs for startups, it’s clear that not everyone knows how to work with this group of founders. 

Let’s start with a question: How many people do you think it takes to run a top-tier social media account? One? Maybe two? Here’s a spoiler; it’s more. A lot more.

Today’s digital landscape provides a fertile ground teeming with opportunities for small businesses to grow by reaching global audiences through online platforms. Emerging platforms, such as TikTok shop, are especially lucrative, with SMEs on the platform contributing £1.63 billion to UK GDP in 2022.

Starting a retail business in today's digital age can be both exciting and challenging. With the rapid evolution of online platforms and digital marketing tools, startups have incredible opportunities to reach their target audience effectively. However, navigating the world of small business digital marketing can be overwhelming without the right strategies. This guide provides essential digital marketing tips for retail startups to establish a strong online presence, engage customers, and grow sustainably.

With content flooding our devices 24/7, the human attention span at first sight seems to be shrinking, leading many businesses to believe their advert or marketing has to be as brief as possible to succeed.

Startups often default to quick wins. It's how they survive the early days in business. 

The perceived lag between activity and results means that startups are typically reluctant to invest in SEO. They want gratification, and they want it now. 

There’s no doubt that Augmented Reality (AR) is one of the most exciting developments in digital advertising for a long time. Clever, catchy, shareable lenses and AR filters can propel brands into people’s consciousness as users engage with fun creatives and then share their creations with friends and family.