News

The High Street Customer Journey Starts Before They Reach Your Shop
The High Street Customer Journey Starts Before They Reach Your Shop
Last week, I had the pleasure of representing The Retail Champion on a panel for The Future of UK High Streets, hosted by Public Policy Exchange. The discussion brought together people... Read more...
Stop Producing Beige AI Slop: Your Lived Experience Is Your Brand Voice
Stop Producing Beige AI Slop: Your Lived Experience Is Your Brand Voice
There’s a particular type of AI-generated content that seems to be everywhere at the moment. You’ll know it when you see it. The poster for a village fete.The dental practice... Read more...
AI generated laptop with shopify logo and yellow background
How to Add a Product in Shopify: A Step-by-Step Guide for Better SEO and Sales
Adding a product to Shopify is relatively straightforward, but it is worth taking your time to do it properly. Every product page on your website does an important job. It... Read more...
Product Page Fix Checklist
eCommerce Strategy 2026: Why Your Store Isn’t Converting (And How to Fix It)
Everyone thinks turning on ads is going to fix everything. I see it all the time. Businesses pouring money into traffic, expecting sales to follow. But if you haven’t written... Read more...
Ecommerce Scotland Conference 2026 at the Glasgow Science Centre
Inside Ecommerce Scotland 2026: Omnichannel Retail, AI and Why the High Street Still Matters
Yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking at Ecommerce Scotland 2026 at the Glasgow Science Centre, what a brilliant day it was. Around 350 ecommerce professionals gathered overlooking the Clyde,... Read more...
Social Media is a Distraction - Keyboard and coffee with notepad and pen on white desk
Why Social Media Is a Distraction for Businesses
Part 2 of the Kind but Commercial Series Most small business owners do not have a social media problem. They have a traffic and conversion problem. They are pouring time,... Read more...
Kind & Commercial Series Part 1 title with keyboard, coffee, notepad and pen
Kind, Commercial, or Burnt Out
The Kind But Commercial Series – Part 1 Most small business owners think being commercial means being ruthless. Cold. Salesy. Aggressive. Slightly icky. So they do the opposite... They underprice.They... Read more...
2026 Notepad with pen in hand
Retail Trends 2026: What Retailers Need to Accept (Not Just Predict)
Retail Trends 2026: What Retailers Need to Accept (Not Just Predict) By Steph Briggs There’s a particular kind of quiet that makes retail business owners spiral. Not the nice quiet.... Read more...
Steph Briggs in front of Christmas Display with Taitti the Border Terrier
Confidence Sells: How to Market Yourself Without Cringing
By Steph Briggs – Freelance Marketing Expert If you’d told 25-year-old me that one day I’d run my own marketing consultancy from a Victorian farmhouse in rural Scotland, I’d have... Read more...
Google Business Profile with magnifying glass
Google Business Profile Might Be the Most Powerful (Free!) Digital Marketing Tool You’re Not Using
Increase your local SEO for free By Steph Briggs – Freelance Marketing Manager Let’s talk about something small that can make a very big difference to your digital marketing strategy — your Google Business Profile.... Read more...
SEO bubbles
What Is SEO? And Do I Need It?
Turns out, “build it and they will come” only works if Google can find you. If I had a pound for every time a small business owner whispered “What actually... Read more...
Shopify logo on a phone with desktop in background blurred
9 Game-Changing Free Shopify Apps (Plus 1 Paid Must-Have) That Will Skyrocket Your Store
8 Free Shopify Apps That Will Skyrocket Your UK Ecom Store in 2026 Along with a time saving paid essential and your first upgrade... Running a Shopify store can feel... Read more...
Mobile Phone with Voice Search Activated
Voice and Visual Search: The Future of SEO for Small Businesses
If you run a small business and rely on people finding you online, here’s a question worth asking: Are your customers typing, talking… or tapping? In 2026, online search isn’t just... Read more...
AI blue ball with SB logo
How to Use AI in Marketing: The Role of Ethics, Values, and the Human Touch
The Role of AI in Marketing: Ethics, Value, and the Human Touch Artificial Intelligence is transforming marketing at an astonishing pace. From automating content creation to predicting customer behaviour, AI... Read more...
Mac on a desk with notebooks and coffee mug
Digital Marketing vs. Content Marketing: Stop Mixing the Message, Start Mastering the Method
Just because you’re showing up online doesn’t mean you’re making an impact. If you’re shouting into the void with zero conversions, you’re missing the message. Stop hard selling. Start connecting. Too... Read more...
The Ultimate Guide to Hiring a Freelance Marketing Manager for Your Business
The Ultimate Guide to Hiring a Freelance Marketing Manager for Your Business
Are you a business owner looking to elevate your marketing without committing to a full-time hire? You’re in the right place! This ultimate guide will walk you through hiring a... Read more...
The Art of Persuasion: How Sales Copywriting Can Boost Your Business
The Art of Persuasion: How Sales Copywriting Can Boost Your Business
Looking to take your business to the next level? You need more than just a great product or service—you need words that sell. That’s where sales copywriting comes in. It’s... Read more...
Shopify Logo on a bag printed on paper
Unleashing the Power of Shopify: How a Shopify Expert Can Revolutionise Your E-Commerce Business
Are you looking to take your e-commerce business to the next level? Look no further than Shopify, the world’s leading e-commerce platform. With its robust features, user-friendly interface, and extensive... Read more...
Laptop with product page example on desk with mouse
How to Optimise Product Pages for Higher Conversions: Sparkle Your Way to Sales Success
If you want your product pages to stand out and convert browsers into buyers, it’s time to work some SEO magic and I’m not talking about sprinkling fairy dust (though... Read more...
The Ultimate Guide to SEO for Small Business Owners: A Sparkling Journey to Digital Success
The Ultimate Guide to SEO for Small Business Owners: A Sparkling Journey to Digital Success
So, you’ve launched your small business, and you’ve got the products or services that people need—great! Now comes the fun part: ensuring your future customers can actually find you online. Cue dramatic music.... Read more...
Laptop with printed marketing diagrams
Why Your Small Business Needs a Freelance Marketing Manager
Running a small business is no small feat. From product development to customer service, your to-do list is endless. And then there’s marketing, a mysterious mix of creativity, strategy, and... Read more...
Your Essential E-Commerce & SEO Glossary: Decoding the Jargon
Your Essential E-Commerce & SEO Glossary: Decoding the Jargon
Let’s face it: the world of e-commerce and SEO can feel like a whirlwind of acronyms, buzzwords, and downright confusing lingo. If you’ve ever sat through a conversation about “long-tail... Read more...