We certainly won’t be the first people to tell you that the marketing world moves quickly, and we won’t be the last. Trends ebb and flow, with consumers’ interests constantly evolving as they look towards the next big ‘thing’ - and it’s always been this way.

The invention of mass printing in the 15th century eventually led to the production of the first magazines in the 1700s. A century later, businesses began to advertise on posters and billboards, and the early 1900s brought the rise of radio advertising, followed by television ads and telemarketing. By the time we reach the turn of the millennium, marketing trends and tactics were developing more and more quickly within the new digital age. 

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), blogging, social media marketing, e-commerce and email marketing were some of the trends we saw rise in the 00s. The following decade saw the maturation of many of these tactics as more people began to use smartphones and social media. High-quality, engaging content marketing, video marketing and influencer marketing all became popular in the 2010s.

On our recent expedition into the wilderness of Google, we found ourselves trekking through endless lists of social media holidays for every single day of the year. Whilst it’s good to know National Wine Day is on the 25th of May, this might not be relevant for a company selling children’s books. Similarly, National Grammar Day (4th of March) may be off-topic for your local bakery - they should probably wait until the following Monday, when British Pie Week begins (yum). 

Figuring out which dates are relevant for the UK vs the US can also pose a challenge - luckily, we’ve compiled a list of 2023’s biggest dates for your marketing calendar in the UK. From awards shows and sporting events to religious observances and bank holidays, this is your one-stop-shop for all you need to plan for this year.

If you think of a great advert you have seen in the past, you may think of the gorilla from Cadburys, the annual John Lewis Christmas adverts or the cheeky skittles adverts.

What do all of these have in common? They are not focused on their core product; they are selling an emotion. Whether it's laughter, heartfelt emotion or second-hand embarrassment.   

The advertisers are creating a memorable advert that you would want to share with your friends. Everyone has had a Cadbury's chocolate bar before, but only some have seen a Gorilla playing the drums to Phil Collins's 'In the Air Tonight'. I bet you are playing it in your head as you read this. 

While social media has become an essential utility in today's world, it hasn't always been that way. Many people are unaware of how Social media started, or the digital landscape before tech giants like Facebook and Google controlled so much of our digital activity. The Rise and Fall of so many social media platforms mirror the same issues modern networks have today, so where did it all start?

Before we begin, it's important to remember that in the late 90s and early 2000s, the Internet was extremely primitive compared to today. The platforms I am about to outline are referred to as Social Media platforms but share more modern similarities to forums. However, what makes a website a social media platform has never really changed; while they may have looked and functioned very differently 20 years ago, the basic premise of connecting and sharing with people online has remained a core pillar of the experience.