In Part 1 of this article, we explored why brands matter, especially for startups. Now we will focus on how brands actually grow in value as people learn about and intensify their preference for them over time.

Over the past two decades, we have witnessed a drastic shift in how companies allocate marketing dollars and how they measure success of their marketing and advertising efforts. Google, Facebook, and Amazon (and recently TikTok) gobble up billions of ad dollars for their ‘performance ads’, ads that promise a click and immediate transaction that can be easily calculated, and performance immediately measured.

Cloud hosting platforms are the hidden backbone behind the seamless operation of websites and applications, yet many SMEs and solopreneurs remain unaware of their potential. So, what exactly is a cloud hosting platform? At its core, it’s a service that hosts websites, applications and data online, ensuring businesses operate seamlessly across a network of connected servers.

Monzo vs Starling is a showdown of two of the most prominent players in the digital banking market. Both have gained significant attention for their customer-centric approach, technological innovation, and disruption of traditional banking norms. This article provides a comparative analysis of Monzo and Starling, exploring their key features, strengths, and potential areas for improvement.

In today’s fast-paced business world, the need for efficiency, speed, and accuracy is more critical than ever. With the rise of advanced technologies, particularly in software testing, bots have become an essential tool for businesses who are looking to maintain that competitive edge.

In the fast-paced world of technology, predicting the next big idea can feel like trying to catch lightning in a bottle. Yet, for those of us deeply entrenched in the tech ecosystem – whether as innovators, influencers, or enthusiasts – staying ahead of the curve is critically important. OG presenter of the original The Gadget Show on UK TV’s Channel 5 and now host of The Gadget Podcast, Jason Bradbury, explains how to get the jump on the next big trend.

In 2023, Statista found that around 850,000 UK businesses turned over up to £250,000. At the £1 million turnover mark, however, this number dropped to just over 123,000 businesses.

No reader of this publication needs me to tell them that finding and maintaining growth for a business of any size is not a straight and linear process. Far from it. Ambitions and expectations clash with the realities of operating a business day-to-day. What you want to do is restricted by the constraints of what you can do.

The Joy Club helps businesses attract, engage, and retain customers in later life through providing its life-changing community and content platform as a benefit and digital channel. The Joy Club Founder, Hannah Thomson, felt inspired after losing her Granny Jean, as she wanted to find a way to pay tribute to such an important person in her life.

Today, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are still dependent on paper-based and offline workflows, with data from Inside Government revealing that 55% of businesses across West Europe and North America are still completely reliant on paper. This means that without existing digital systems and a centralised database of historical data, the transition to AI-powered workflows can seem completely out of reach.

SFE Services is a Buckinghamshire-based air conditioning, refrigeration and ventilation company. Founded in 2017 and based in Widmer End, High Wycombe, it is owned and managed by husband-and-wife team Grant and Sophie Davenport.

Cyber-attacks are on the rise. From ransomware and phishing to data breaches and insider threats, attacks are not only increasingly common, but more sophisticated too.

In today's digital-centric environment, manufacturers are looking to enhance efficiency and increase productivity to stay competitive. It’s a goal that must be achieved against a backdrop of challenges such as labour shortages, supply chain bottlenecks, cost pressures, and even mounting cyberattacks.

Innovation. That’s the answer you’re most likely to get if you ask Scottish Business Network (SBN) founder Russell Dalgleish what Scotland’s most valuable contribution to the world is. He’s not talking about it in the past tense, either. Scotland’s capacity for innovation didn’t stop with world-changing technologies like the telephone, television, and the ATM.

In this article, Matt Bird, CEO and Founder of Lemon, shares insights drawn from his experience in the music industry. Matt highlights the transferable lessons he has brought from his former career, demonstrating the value they offer to fellow business owners.

Control is often seen as a good thing for businesses. Particularly where there’s so much at stake, including customers, employees, revenue, products and more. But it’s a term that lives or dies by its definition.

The impact of social media on our business can’t be underestimated: it can amplify authentic voices and help brands reach a whole new audience (even if the constant rebranding and changes are annoying, I’m looking at you X!). We’ve never been closer to our customers, whether that’s through daily behind-the-scenes Instagram stories or WhatsApp for business chat, but this can also be a double-edged sword.

There are subtle ways you can work out what someone who might want to buy your SME is really thinking, says Clive Stanley of Warwickshire-based M&A advisors, Acqius.

As the Paris Olympics is well underway, athletes from all over the world have prepared to compete at the highest level. It takes skill, dedication, and perseverance to be a gold-standard winner, as the British cycling team demonstrated during the London 2012 Olympics.

Despite the UK's headline inflation rate decreasing from 11% in 2021 to 2% in June 2024, businesses are not resting easy. In a recent survey by consulting firm The Hackett Group, procurement leaders identified inflationary pressures on profit margins as a major concern for 2024. For startups, protection against market volatility is critical to ensuring longevity and growth.