TECHNOLOGY
I'm a Marketing Director, Writer, and inbound advocate who's passionate about all things writing and marketing; from producing website copy that stands out to understanding and conceptualising a brands identity.
I've worked with businesses in the sports, technology, business/marketing and health industry. My primary work is in B2B technology and clients include Lenovo, Cognizant, DocAuthority, SecureData, IP Solutions, Efficient IP, Veritas, Panasonic and Blue Coat.
My experience includes:
- Producing a range of content for each stage of the marketing funnel
- Writing both short and long-form copy for various audiences
- Managing marketing campaigns across sectors including technology, sport and health
- Coming up with creative ideas to drive leads and brand awareness
- Using marketing technology (such as HubSpot) for more efficient and effective results
- Creating marketing strategies for long-term growth
I also created Vivi Nation, a community and blog for runners, cyclists and those who want to get healthier, to inspire an active nation. Additionally, I regularly blog about sports and technology topics.
TECHNOLOGY
Boardrooms should be developing a business strategy that combats the threats as well as taking extra steps to personally secure their digital activities.
In short, a business continuity plan outlines the processes and procedures that you need to take in the event of a disaster or disruption.
The cyber risks facing firms grow daily, with savvy and experienced hackers looking to target both the firm's financial, corporate assets and, more concerning, their untrained and unaware employees. The threat posed to the business and its network of suppliers and partners by naïve employees, known as an insider threat, is perhaps the most dangerous of all.
When it comes to email management, your challenges can be addressed with just a small few tweaks that result in big gains. The question is - what small tweaks and where to get started? Here are our 7 deadly sins of email management and the resolutions to ease your pain.
Cyber criminals are increasingly using complex and sophisticated attack methods to target businesses of all sizes and their leaders. While some cyber criminals attack for political gain, others pursue notoriety by seeking to either leak or expose the personal and/or private data instead.
The concept of remote working has long been touted as the future of work. But now, with many people working from home for the first time, the challenges and benefits of this way of working have swiftly become abundantly clear. However, with pressure on the industry to make up for lost productivity, remote working presents businesses with major challenges.
Fortunately, the advancement of voice over cloud, or VoIP (Voice-over-internet protocol) technology has made working from home a lot easier. While there are many benefits to homeworking, for both employers and staff, there are several communication challenges that need to be overcome for it to permanently replace office-based work and be a success.
In the face of uncertain times, the importance of good productivity levels and business management tools that enhance project deliverability has never been starker. The alien concepts of social distancing and self-isolation that we've all become accustomed to look set to become the new norm for the foreseeable future, according to research from Imperial College .
The rise of remote working presents a revolutionary change in the traditional workplace, especially with many businesses being forced to adopt remote working principals overnight given the current uncertain circumstance. In response, employers are having to adapt, if they hadn't already, to ensure seamless communication and business continuity.
As enterprises increasingly 'go digital,' the constant flow of data has become the heartbeat of the business ecosystem. This growing mass of data is created, distributed and pumped through the veins of corporate networks, enhancing the requirement for protection and governance. Of course, this also creates greater opportunity for adversaries to actively target business' critical data assets.
A fundamental problem with the Internet, as it currently stands, is the problem of identity. Each year, millions of pounds and dollars are lost in fraud and identity theft because there is no secure, reliable and verifiable way for someone to prove their identity online or prevent someone else from using it maliciously.
I want to start by saying I am not a legal expert on the GDPR. However, I have certainly learnt a few valuable lessons on my GDPR learning curve. In this blog, I want to try and capture: What impact will the GDPR have on marketing? Why is it an opportunity?
Over the last thirty years, the technology that powers today's businesses has evolved dramatically. Many employees, now see what was once seen as 'best of breed' technology, as prehistoric today. Throughout this period, organisations have acquired software to help automate processes and, in the main, to drive back-office productivity.
Kill the Noise - a look at the challenges for today's businesses Cybersecurity today is a vortex of fear and panic. There is a new threat, vulnerability, or attack every month. Why? Because there has never been a better time to be a cyber-criminal. This has created a lot of industry 'noise'.
How to reduce risk and deal with a cyber-attack When it comes to tackling cyber-attacks, it is important for financial organisations to realise that cyber-crime can't be dealt with in isolation by the IT department. Traditional security measures, such as anti-virus software and firewalls, are increasingly unlikely to be able to deal with the growing sophistication of modern cyber-attacks.
The Premier League is back for another season and the Olympics is underway. Gold medals are to be won, and trophies lifted. Behind the scenes, technology will play a huge part in who will be celebrating victory.
Modern-day fraudsters use every trick in the book when it comes to infiltrating a network. They are well prepared, well researched, and highly innovative. One of the most common tactics used to glean valuable information is social engineering, using techniques such as phishing or collecting data from social media.
The UK was an early adopter of Enterprise IT. The world's first ever commercial computer was developed here over sixty years ago. These days the UK has some of the most archaic systems powering the very core of our large businesses.
The aptly named 'WannaCry' ransomware attack, which brought organisations around the globe to their knees when it first appeared on Friday 12th May, is the latest in an ongoing tidal wave of ransomware cyber attacks. At the time of writing, WannaCry has hit 150 countries and over 200,000 computers leaving a wake of destruction.
Look to your Fortune 500 Neighbour on your left and say goodbye. If the trend over the last fifteen years or so continues, the likelihood is one of you will cease to exist in the form you do today. Si...
The growing risk of un-inspected encrypted traffic in enterprise networks has been discussed for some time now.
The reputation and privacy of wealthy families and High Net Worth (HNW) individuals have never been more valuable and yet also more vulnerable. In today's digital age, a nexus of forces has heightened the risk landscape.
Now that the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) has been passed, EU residents will soon have a consistent level of protection and a better say in how their data is handled by private organisations. But what do those organisations need to change in order to be compliant?
WannaCry's global impact may have captured the headlines, but the exploit's methodology is counter-intuitive to any covert ability to actually collect the ransom. Could it be the WannaCry attack for all it's devastation is actually a proof-of-concept strategy Or perhaps, a diversionary tactic? In this light, the threat from ransomware can only exacerbate.
SPORT / HEALTH / FITNESS
There's nothing quite like getting fresh air in your lungs and exploring the great outdoors by bike. However, with the rise of indoor cycling continuing apace, it's tempting to just stay at home Zwifting and forget to complement your indoor efforts with regular outdoor sessions. We get it... The wind.
'Jeffing' - sounds dirty, but isn't - is the run/walk strategy that many runners adopt for long distances, created by Jeff Galloway, an American Olympian and the author of Galloway's Book on Running. Now, I'll start by saying that it's not for everyone.
The National Three Peaks Challenge involves climbing the three highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales. The challenge is completed either within 24 hours or over a weekend. The three mountains in question are: These three peaks are the tallest mountains within each representative country: Scafell Pike is the tallest in England; Snowdon, the tallest in Wales and Ben Nevis the tallest in Scotland.
Virtual cycling platform Zwift has become a go-to training ally for cyclists over the last few years, especially as more people took to indoor cycling during the pandemic. Zwift is no longer just a winter training addition. The addictive nature of its gamified cycling and fun virtual worlds ensures cyclists will use the platform all year round.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, cycling has seen a boom across the UK. And in London, that's no different. Where there was once gridlocked, there were thousands of runners and cyclists instead during the lockdowns.
Yorkshire's picturesque landscapes, scenic routes and challenging hill climbs are making the White Rose county one of the go-to destinations for cyclists all over the world. The fact that the county hosted the opening two legs of Tour de France back in 2014 speaks volumes for its rising stock among cyclists.
Air pollution on the roads has become a big issue across the UK as big cities like London face major challenges to reduce toxic emissions from rising issues such as road traffic fuel, particularly from diesel. In fact, air pollution is a big killer in the UK.
It's incredibly disappointing to see the results of the latest research from the World Health Organization (WHO), revealing that very little progress has been made in reducing levels of physical inactivity worldwide. The WHO report (which analysed data from surveys in 168 countries and 1.9 million people) estimates that more than a quarter of people worldwide (1.4 billion) are not doing enough physical exercise.
Strava, the social fitness network, is handy tool for staying motivated on your commute. Why? Because it's features generate an abundance of data which enables you to see how you are progressing, your speeds and how other people in your network are doing.
I've recently come across two stories that have really inspired me. Both stories show that if you put your mind to something, you can achieve anything. Firstly, my cousin James Randall recently completed his first 69-mile ultramarathon, raising money for charity, in just over 14 hours, coming in the top 100 entrants - quite incredible really (you can read about it here).
Since founding Vivi nation, I've been privileged to hear some amazing stories that have inspired myself and others to get fit and active. So, when I was told I needed to get in touch with an old school friend, Jamie Marriott, I looked forward to finding out what he was up to.
Liverpool face Real Madrid in Kiev tomorrow night in the biggest game in club football: The Champions League final. But, regardless of the result, it should be a campaign remembered as a huge success. Let's put this into context. The Champions League is a tournament the Reds had to qualify for last August (in what seems a lifetime ago against Hoffenheim).
Going on a cycling tour is one of my favourite things to do. I've been lucky enough to get a fair few under my belt, but it hasn't always been smooth sailing. There are many highs, but there are also some lows. Either way, I can look back at them fondly now.
A year or so ago, I read Obsessive Compulsive Cycling Disorder. It's a book written by cyclist Dave Barter about the world of cycling, celebrating the average cyclist living in a world defined by the pros. 'The writings include lengthy descriptions of end-to-end rides in Britain and Ireland.
Visit any decent gym at the moment and chances are they will be running some form of High Intensity Interval Training class, which is an advanced form of training that alternates periods of short and intense workouts with less intense recovery periods.
The Power of Sport: It was 1995. It was t he Rugby World Cup final, rugby union's biggest game. And yet it was so much more. It was nation-defining for South Africa, a transcendent moment in the transformation from apartheid to multi-racial democracy.
Whether it's for a week, a month or a year, exploring by bicycle is a great way to see a country and experience its culture. I've been lucky to go on some great cycling tour's with the team here at Vivi, including hitting the roads of Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
European countries such as Belgium and The Netherlands have already truly embraced the cycling bandwagon, with Europe now set to follow suit.
MARKETING / BUSINESS
I mean, who doesn't want to make the most of every opportunity? Especially if it means no extra spending and very little effort needed. When it comes to making every deal count, there are a few ways to add more value to them. Here are three ways to maximise every opportunity and bring in more ...
Ask yourself what you'd rather: 5 smaller-sized deals, or one big, mega sized deal? It's a tough one. You need to think about which approach is more sustainable, and which approach is more profitable. But if you can supplement smaller deals with mega deals, then you've hit the jackpot.
Being a good sales manager is critical to the success of your team. Your own performance helps set the tone and culture within the sales team. Good sales managers are able to get their team firing on all cylinders. Here are 5 qualities you need to have to not only manage but lead your team ...
Broad, open-ended sales questions are great for helping you find out what's going on in your prospects' head. You want to be known for listening and understanding your prospects' needs so open-ended sales questions are a good way to do that. Plus, open-ended sales questions really help you connect with a prospect on a more ...
B2B content lives within a dangerous world. A world filled with monstrous jargon, hyperbole and rhetorical nonsense.
'No'. It's a tough one to swallow. It's harsh, short, blunt and not what you want to hear. Especially if targets are tight and you are trying to meet your quota before the end of a quarter. However, it's not the end of the world.
The right tools can take your marketing performance to the next level. That includes increasing engagement, lead acquisition, customer relationships and analytics. Here are a few of the best tools around that will help drive B2B marketing success. Drift Grammarly via GIPHY BuzzSumo Google Analytics Databox Want to go one step further with your data and insights?
Inbound marketing rules, but Rome wasn't built in a day. It takes time to achieve greatness. That's why you need quick wins to fill your funnel while you build up your inbound presence. Here are four ways to get leads in fast.
If you wanna get to grips with marketing automation, congrats, you've arrived at the right place. We get it, there is a lot of noise being made about the incredible things marketing automation can do. Funnily enough, a lot of what you hear is true.
Inbound marketing is built upon the foundations of good content, but it can be a hard journey to find the Holy Grail. Much like in Arthurian legend, the quest for the Holy Grail is a long and drawn out process. But those who find it thrive.
You know you want to generate leads, but you don't know how, or where to start. One effective way is to create a lead gen magnet. I.e. a piece of irresistible content that your target audience just has to get their hands on. This could be a video, an eBook, a guide or a whitepaper.
By Chris Smith - Content Manager at First Base After a motivational and inspirational day one at Inbound 2017, I had high hopes for day two. Particularly since it began with a keynote Q&A from Michelle Obama. Michelle Obama was everything I hoped she'd be: funny, inspirational, strong and emotive.
By Chris Smith - Content Manager at First Base The last day of Inbound 2017 has come around thick and fast. Over the last three days, I've heard from some of the most inspirational people in our industry who have hammered home how the future of marketing and business is changing.
Yes, you've probably heard it: 'Content is King'. It's overused, it's hyperbole, it's also resulted in a lot of bad content on the web. Content is
Marketing is a changing landscape. It's been taken by technology and blasted into space as automation and creativity drive its progression. However,
Espionage. Spies. Infiltrators. No, I'm not talking about the real-life James Bond. Or Jason Bourne. Or even MI6. In fact, I'm talking about our journalist friends and whistleblowers who will feel the full force of the law if the Government's proposed Espionage Act becomes legal.