Ever get that sneaking feeling that all the creative ideas you have just planned into your marketing calendar have been used a million times before? Well, maybe getting a bit more playful is the answer.
The huge churn rate of digital content means it’s harder than ever to create that ‘thumb-stop’ moment, and garner even a few seconds of a person’s attention as they scan their social feeds. Games can help cut through this noise, by offering people more of a reason to interact with you.
So, if you’re looking for a bit of inspiration, here are seven game concepts to try out:
If you’d like to find out more about how you could make more use of games in your digital campaigns, get in touch with us.
For those who didn’t attend our event ‘Harnessing the Power of Play’ at Social Media Week Bristol in June, you can find out more about the science behind the power of play in our recent blog post.
This is the second edition in our featured members series, where we profile our members and showcase the amazing businesses and individuals within our network. In the last edition we interviewed AMBITIOUS PR, if you haven’t seen it, give it a read here.
This month we hung out with Kerry Harrison and Richard Norton from Tiny Giant, here’s what they had to say…
Tell us about Tiny Giant, who are you?
Tiny Giant are all about moving ideas with minds and machines. They’re a studio that wants to create and create and create. They’re a house of ideas, not just a house to inhabit, but to live in and I think that’s what separates them so much…because they’re so passionate about their ideas… it’s very much about feeling like you’re a part of something larger, a part of what’s important.
Well that’s what a neural network would say, but if you asked Kerry and Norts then…
So it’s us, Kerry Harrison, Richard Norton, plus our technical director Derek Ahmedzai. Fun fact, Ahmedzai means the tribe of Ahmeds. Do you notice that the last 2 letters of his name are AI? That’s why we asked him to join our merry jamboree. We also love to collaborate – so if anyone is keen to join forces, give us a call.
What do you do?
We do quite a lot of different things, but I’d say there are 3 main things. We help our clients tell compelling stories with social media, websites and content, we’ve both been doing it for over 20 years. We’re also interested and excited by online bots and smart speakers like Alexa and Google, lately we’ve been playing around with chat bots and voice technology. Lastly, AI, we use it to supercharge our client’s creativity and make headlines with fun things like AI cocktails and cakes.
How long have you been a Bristol Media member?
We’ve both been with Bristol Media for a long time prior to Tiny Giant. Before we took the plunge and set up Tiny Giant, we both worked for other local agencies who were members of Bristol Media. It’s a long history!
What are you most proud of as a business?
In terms of what we’ve achieved so far, creating the first ever AI curator for the Cheltenham Science Festival is a huge highlight for us. It’s been really cool working with them because the person that came in as the coordinator wanted to create some noise and excitement, so she was open to everything. We’ve done some amazing things like live interview with Aida on BBC Radio Gloucester, featured in plenty of blogs, plus an animation is on the cards. It pushed us creatively because we’d never done anything like it before.
What’s your favourite office gadget?
Our Alexa, we can’t even remember a time before smart speakers. Tiny Giant even has its own Alexa skill, Tiny Giant Tales, so you can stay updated on what we’re up to.
Whose work do you admire and why?
In Bristol, we love Fiasco Design, they create beautiful work plus they do an event called Thread which always gets inspiring speakers. Outside of Bristol, a company called Lord Whitney, who create these otherworldly dreamlike sets for music videos and advertising.
What’s your favourite place in Bristol/this area?
[Kerry] The Watershed, I really like what they do there, plus I really love independent films and going to their cinema. A little place out of Bristol I love is the view from the top of Ashton Court, where you can look over the whole of Bristol, it’s gorgeous.
If you could sum up Bristol/this area in 3 words, what would they be?
Welcoming, chilled, collaborative.
What’s the best tip/trick you’ve learnt as a business?
Resilience and positivity. As a start-up it’s not always easy, but it’s much better to DO the thing and think about what could go right rather than what could go wrong. You need to have a positive mindset, keep going and always look on the sunny side.
What exciting plans have you got coming up this year?
We’ve got a few talks coming up, we’ve just finished Social Media Week and K In The Park with the BBC’s Hannah Fry. And there are lots more in the pipeline like the World of Work Conference at the Henley Business School. We’re going to build some storytelling bots, and generally doing a lot of festivals – look out for all kinds of things – bots, AR filters and lots of creative AI.
If you’re interested in collaborations (particularly if your name has an ‘AI’ in it!) get in touch with Kerry and Norts. Thanks to Tiny Giant for getting involved.
Deloitte welcomes Bristol-based Stitch Communications to its Global Employer Services practice.
Stitch Communications – owned and managed by local entrepreneur Emma Dawson – is an internal communications agency, specialising in creating pay and reward communications that help employers to better engage their staff. Stitch’s team officially joined Deloitte at the beginning of this month, expanding the firm’s footprint in the South West and enabling it to harness the region’s specialist expertise and talent to benefit local, national and global clients. Stitch will help enhance Deloitte’s current offerings for HR programmes, such as reward and benefit strategies.
Martyn Gregory, practice senior partner for Deloitte in South West & Wales, commented: “The Stitch team is renowned for innovation and quality. They are a natural fit for Deloitte as we enhance our ecosystem in the South West to help our clients make an impact that matters.”
Ian Stone, head of tax services for Deloitte South West & Wales, added: “Our clients are increasingly focused on and committed to increasing their engagement with employees. Our decision to invite the Stitch Communications team to join Deloitte was about enhancing the services we can provide to clients by having industry leading communication experts who specialise in making the complicated clear. Bringing the team on board will further elevate the service we provide our clients in designing, implementing, managing and communicating HR and reward programmes.”
Emma Dawson, managing director of Stitch Communications, said: “This is an incredibly exciting moment for Stitch. We’re proud of the expertise we’ve built in creating bold and engaging communications strategies that help businesses to truly connect with their employees. Being part of such a recognised and trusted team as Deloitte’s Global Employer Services will enable us to enhance our communications offering further than ever before. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Stitch as a Deloitte business.”
Bristol Media’s Chair, Chris Thurling, has just arrived back from Austin, Texas where he’s been attending SXSW 2019 – the world’s largest annual celebration of the interactive industries. On Tuesday 19 March, Chris will be joined by Ann Hiatt (former Amazon and Google Chief of Staff, SXSW speaker and one of our Keynote speakers last year) for a ‘hot off the press’ lunchtime digest to share their highlights and latest trends emerging from this year’s festival.
Following the 40-minute talk, there’ll be an opportunity to ask questions in a 20-minute Q&A.
The talk starts at 12.30pm on Tuesday 19th March at Zone, The Brew House, Tower Hill, Bristol BS2 0EQ. There’s a small fee of £10+VAT for Bristol Media members (£15+VAT for non-members), light refreshments will be provided.
We have very few places remaining for the talk so book now!
Bristol Media has appointed Kirsty Phillips as Marketing, Events and Operations Manager, bringing a wealth of client service and marketing communications expertise to the South West based creative industries membership organisation.
About Kirsty’s role
A newly-created full time post, Kirsty will be charged with delivering an exciting programme of events for members, developing marketing communications activities to support membership and managing Bristol Media’s day to day operations. A large part of her role is to champion members outside of the city, raising the profile of Bristol’s creative industries above and beyond the South West.
With a background in client services and over 12 years’ experience working for agencies in the South West as well as internationally, Kirsty has worked with brands including the National Trust, GSK, American Express and McDonald’s, planning and delivering direct marketing, events and branding projects.
Chris Thurling, Bristol Media’s Chair, commented: “Kirsty will be a great addition to the team. She has a breadth of experience that will really help drive our activities, support important collaborations between our members and continue to drive creativity, innovation and the fame of the region across the South West and importantly beyond.
Kirsty added: “Living in Bristol I know just how thriving a city it is and the huge potential it offers. I’m really excited to be joining an organisation committed to raising the profile of a sector that I’m passionate about and am looking forward to helping Bristol Media grow from strength to strength.”
Contact Kirsty
Kirsty is based at the new Origin Workspace on Berkeley Square and is interested in hearing from potential speakers and companies who would like to get involved in Bristol Media’s plans for the year ahead. Contact [email protected].
According to Business West’s Business Skills and Training Survey 2017, 64.9% of businesses in the West of England have never hired an apprentice, with lack of time cited as the main reason.
Yet with 96% of companies who take on an apprentice reporting benefits to their business (National Apprenticeship Service), organisations who do not consider this option when hiring or developing staff could be missing out.
Read on to find out more about some of the key benefits to employers of hiring an apprentice:
Increased Productivity
An astonishing 72% of businesses report improved productivity as a result of employing an apprentice, according to the National Apprenticeship Service. Having an extra pair of hands on the team means more tasks can get completed and you may even have time to explore projects or carry out research that you would not have previously been able to do. Although there can be time spent assisting an apprentice, the increased overall productivity can outweigh this.
Increased Revenue
On the back of this, increased productivity usually means an upturn in revenue and profit. The National Apprenticeship Service claims that the average person completing an apprenticeship increases productivity by £214 per week, so what’s not to like about that?
Lower Staff Turnover
Apprentices are often loyal to the company in which they gained their training and qualifications, with The National Apprenticeship Service reporting that 71% stay with the same employers once they finish their apprenticeship. They recognise that you have invested time and money into training them up in a particular skill, and at the same time will feel integrated into your organisation so will repay that with loyalty, resulting in a lower staff turnover and in turn, less money spent on recruitment.
Fix Skills Gaps
Taking on an apprentice within your company means that you can teach them the specific skills you need as a business. Working with a training provider, you can also use apprenticeships to upskill your existing staff where you feel it is needed most, so whilst technology advances and different skills are needed, you can protect your company from skills gaps that could have a negative impact in the long run.
Revitalise Your Business
Apprentices often come into an organisation with a fresh perspective, as well as bags of enthusiasm and energy. This can have a positive effect on your existing staff too, who may enjoy having someone with new ideas join the team. A positive workforce are more likely to perform better as well, so really it’s a win-win for you.
Build Your Brand
Apprenticeships are big news and are becoming a more popular recruitment method across all industries. Any organisation that has an apprenticeship scheme is likely to be seen as a business that is forward thinking and likes to invest in their staff, and that is attractive to anyone, whether they’re looking for a new role, or great company to work.
Apprenticeships can benefit any size of business, whether you’re a large corporate, SME or start up. Need more advice and information on where to start? Why not get in touch with the Skills Team at Business West who can let you know the best next steps to take. You can email them or call 0330 124 4446.
Rebecca Steer runs Steer & Co, a small law firm specialising in the creative and tech sectors. Over the last few years Rebecca has run numerous successful workshops for Bristol Media members. This particular workshop is a must attend for Digital Agencies and developers who are involved in pitching for and delivering digital development and services projects. It will cover the traditional development models of agile and waterfall from a legal and commercial perspective and give helpful hints to ensure your pitch and associated contract negotiations are successful and minimise project risks.
The session will also cover other legal considerations around using consultants, freelancers and third party/open source software in your projects and is brought to you by award-winning lawyer, Rebecca Steer, who specialises in IP, IT and media law.
Who should attend?
Aimed at executives at Digital Agencies and individual developers who are involved in pitching for and delivering digital projects and who are responsible for the contractual aspects of projects.
The workshop will cover:
This workshop takes place at The Square Club from 4-6pm on Monday 4th March and costs £30.00+VAT for members and £50.00+VAT for non members.
Booking is via Eventbrite
Rebecca’s sessions are always very popular so book early to avoid disappointment!
On March 14th, Design/Build/Market is bringing together a panel of startup experts to discuss the most effective ways to build and launch an app.
The quarterly D/B/M event promotes collaboration between founders, designers, developers and marketers to devise better solutions in the tech industry. It’s run by CookiesHQ, an agency that turns innovative ideas into digital products.
Past events have focused on topics such as social media, VR and web performance – this D/B/M will feature specialists from the Bristol tech community tackling questions about research, development, release and everything in between.
The speakers will be TechSPARK’s Ben Shorrock, founder of Yena Ash Phillips, angel investor David Harris, technical director of CookiesHQ Nic Alpi, and a representative from startup hub We Are Growth. The event will be chaired by Briony Phillips, Associate Director and Scale-up Enabler at Engine Shed.
The CookiesHQ team will be giving away tips, tricks and insider knowledge – plus running a competition for aspiring founders to win a free discovery workshop.
Design/Build/Market: Building and Launching an App takes place on the 14th March, 6.30-9.30pm at Engine Shed, Bristol. It’s open to founders, developers, creatives, business owners, students – or anyone who’s curious.
Places are limited, so book your place now.
January is traditionally the busiest time of the year when it comes to looking for a new job and with the continued strength of the creative sector, there’s no reason for 2019 to be any different. Why not get ahead and treat yourself to membership of Bristol Media? If you’re a freelancer and you join before 5pm on Wednesday 9th January 2019 we will even give you 3 months FREE so you’ll get 15 months membership for the price of 12.
Creative companies regularly search our online directory and freelance database on SW Creative Jobs to find their next pair of hands for both freelance and permanent roles so give them a chance to find you with an online profile in our member directory. Your online profile is just one of the many ways that Bristol Media can help you connect with creative employers across the region. In addition we hold a variety of networking events and training workshops throughout the year to help inspire you and keep your knowledge and skills up-to-date. And if your CV is looking a little tired and in need of a revamp we can point you in the direction of our recruitment partners who will be more than happy to advise and help get you that all-important interview.
Here’s what some of our freelance members have to say…
“As an independent creative, membership of Bristol Media is a ‘no-brainer’ for me. A valuable asset in terms of the events and support they facilitate, but also a number of clients have found me through the website directory” ~ Carys Tait
“Sometimes being a freelancer can feel a little isolating, Bristol Media does a great job at connecting creative freelancers in the city, it’s a great platform to meet like-minded people” ~ Mark Sharman
“A number of businesses have contacted me after finding my freelance profile through Bristol Media. Happily, most of them are now regular clients” ~ Sam Tarbuck
At just £40+VAT, freelance membership will make you part of one of the UK’s biggest creative networks and could potentially open up limitless opportunities. It could be the best £40 you’ll spend this year! If you’d like to take advantage of this offer just sign up online here and we’ll add on your additional 3 free months and email you confirmation.
We’re delighted that Blair Enns will be back in Bristol in January 2019 to deliver a one-day workshop.
About the Workshop
‘Mastering The Value Conversation: Making Value-Based Pricing Real’ is a one-day workshop designed to help creative professionals increase their prices and their impact on their clients’ businesses through a shift to value-based engagements and pricing. The hands-on, exercise-driven workshop combines pricing theory with facilitator Blair Enns’ Win Without Pitching approach to new business development to deliver a unique learning experience designed to lead to immediate pricing wins.
“You cannot be an effective pricer if you study pricing alone and eschew some of the complementary skills of selling and negotiating,” says Enns, author of Pricing Creativity: A Guide to Profit Beyond the Billable Hour. The barrier to pricing success in the creative professions, he says, is not knowledge but skill. “You can intake most of what you need to know about pricing in about 90 minutes,” says Enns. “Then you need to apply it firsthand and practice having the conversations.”
Pricing Knowledge + Selling Skills = Value-Based Pricing Success
This workshop is relevant to any creative or marketing firm professional with P&L responsibility or the authority to set or negotiate price.
You will learn:
What better way to kick off 2019 than by mastering the value conversation within the first couple of weeks of the year!
This workshop will take place on Tuesday 15th January in the beautiful new offices of one of our Approved Legal Suppliers, Foot Anstey, 2 Glass Wharf, Bristol BS2 0FR and is priced at £595+VAT for Bristol Media members and £795+VAT for non-members. Email [email protected] to book your place. A 50% deposit will be taken at the time of booking with the balance payable by 8th January 2019.
About Blair Enns
Blair Enns is on a mission to change the way creative services are bought and sold the world over. He is the founder and CEO of Win Without Pitching, the sales training and coaching organisation for creative professionals, and the author of two books on selling and pricing for creative professionals. He is the cohost, along with David C. Baker, of 2Bobs, the podcast on creative entrepreneurship.
Blair lives in Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada and lectures throughout the world. He has spoken to dozens of conferences and organisations on five continents.
You need to load content from reCAPTCHA to submit the form. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More Information