Blog, Journal & Insights

Stay up to date with the latest industry trends, lifestyle, culture and pretty much cool topics that we at the Candy Marketing Studios talk about.

Top Santa Website of 2023 – Google SantaTracker

We’re feeling festive here at Candy Marketing – so today’s blog just had to be Christmassy. And what better way to celebrate the season of snow, sledging and sparkle than with a blog focused on Santa-themed websites?

Insights & News December 2023
DIY Websites & SEO: Good or Bad?

Here we dive deeper into this and share some insight into exactly what DIY web builders can offer in SEO terms, and how opting for one of these platforms could impact on your visibility online.

Insights & News November 2023
10 Different Types of Web Development

It’s easy to understand why the word web development can be confusing for businesses – but if you don’t know your code from your cookies, at Candy we’re here to help demystify web jargon.

Insights & News October 2023
The Significance of Good Web Design: Why It Matters

In today’s digital age, your website is usually the very first interaction potential customers have with your brand. It serves as a virtual storefront, a 24/7 marketing and sales tool, and a platform for communication with existing and potential clients. 

Insights & News October 2023
The Importance of Branding in Business

Branding is clever because it’s elusive. The beauty of great branding is that it makes an impression without you even knowing about it. Brilliant branding isn’t obvious or ‘in your face’. It’s subtle and covertly connects with customers or clients on a subconscious level.

Insights & News October 2023
5 things to consider when building a brand for your business

More than just an eye-catching logo, your brand is of major importance when it comes to the initial and continued success of your business. It informs your entire marketing strategy and how you show up in the world online and offline – from how you speak to clients and your company uniforms to your website and social media platforms.

Insights & News September 2023
3 major branding mistakes start-ups make

There’s been much debate on the pros and cons of using AI within marketing strategies and as a tool (or in some cases a replacement for human support) to enable businesses to create and share content with ease and less time and money spent.

Insights & News August 2023
Google’s new Merchant Centre Policy bans AI reviews

There’s been much debate on the pros and cons of using AI within marketing strategies and as a tool (or in some cases a replacement for human support) to enable businesses to create and share content with ease and less time and money spent.

Insights & News August 2023
Is SEO dead 2023 (A Data-Driven Answer)

The world of SEO is changing rapidly – and with so many new technologies and algorithm updates to keep on top of, rumours are circulating that SEO is dead.

Insights & News July 2023
Why AI will never replace humans

Here we explore the different areas where AI is limited compared with human experience and expertise within the branding and marketing space – as well as sharing some innovative ways agencies can employ AI tools to help enhance their offering and support client success.

Insights & News June 2023
What is a brand design agency, and why do you need one?

There’s a lot to focus on for businesses when it comes to making yourself visible and connecting with your target market. Consumers are bombarded with a growing amount of information and messaging each day from thousands of brands, and with the digital marketing space becoming increasingly complex, it’s never been more important to stand out from the crowd.

Insights & News June 2023
How will AI affect SEO?

If you’re one of the businesses currently wondering whether AI could simplify and streamline your SEO strategy (and cut monthly spend), you’re not alone. Here we take a look at exactly how AI could work within an SEO campaign to boost your profile online, and whether there are any pitfalls or penalties associated with using it.

Insights & News June 2023
How to stay ahead of Google algorithm updates

There’s a reason that Google is still the number one search engine globally – but unfortunately this constant innovation and evolution does have a downside for businesses who rely on Google for visibility.

Good SEO costs money – but your investment will bring significant returns

Put simply, the need for SEO is even more crucial now than it was even five years ago because of how much time we spend online. Almost every activity we engage in now is conducted via the internet at some stage – from banking and booking holidays to scheduling services and scheduling appointments.

Why are Web Design & SEO Discovery sessions important?

If you’ve ever worked with us before, you will have been invited to a Discovery Session with us – whether it took place online via Google Meet, Zoom, Teams, or in person. 

Insights & News April 2023
Web app development – what is it and how could it help grow your business?

One of our specialist subjects here at Candy is web app development. We’re increasingly being asked by more clients to develop bespoke web apps to help their business to reach more people in an intelligent, intuitive way.

Insights & News March 2023
5 benefits of web applications for your business

Web apps are becoming increasingly popular amongst businesses looking to enhance user experience, diversify and engage their customer base more effectively If you’re not yet familiar with web apps and how they work, take a look at our guide here.

Insights & News March 2023
Why is SEO becoming more complex?

SEO has always been something of a blessing and a curse for business owners. On one hand, it has the power to transform your profits and raise your profile online if you get it right. And at the same time, it can be costly, confusing and time-consuming if you get it wrong. 

Insights & News February 2023
ChatGPT – Could Artificial Intelligence software run your marketing campaigns?

ChatGPT – Could Artificial Intelligence software run your marketing campaigns? What are the benefits of using ChatGPT for businesses?

Insights & News February 2023
Why you need a new website for 2023

We’re feeling festive here at Candy Marketing – so today’s blog just had to be Christmassy. And what better way to celebrate the season of snow, sledging and sparkle than with a blog focused on Santa-themed websites?

Insights & News January 2023
Marketing mistakes to avoid this Christmas 2023

Christmas is arguably one of the busiest times of year for many businesses. At the very least, it’s one of the most high-profile events on the marketing calendar. Capitalising on the festive season and the…

Insights & News December 2023
The Best 6 Halloween Marketing Campaigns Ever 2023

October is here, and that means one thing – Halloween! Yes, it’s time to get spooooky and harness this horrible holiday and ghoulish event to supercharge your marketing campaigns. If you’re looking to get inspired,…

Insights & News October 2023
Eurovision 2023 is coming to Liverpool

As a proudly Liverpool-based creative agency, we were thrilled when we heard the news this week – yes, Liverpool has been successful in its bid and will be hosting the 2023 Eurovision song contest in…

Insights & News October 2022
Is Email Dead? No, Find Out The Right Applications

As Britain waved goodbye to decimal currency, Muhammad Ali lost for the first time to Joe Frazier and John Lennon and Yoko Ono recorded their iconic single Power To The People, the very first email…

Insights & News January 2023
How to choose the best SEO agency (the one and ONLY tip you’ll ever need)

Choosing an SEO agency has got to be up there on the list of things business owners dread – and with good reason. SEO is a pain-in-the-proverbial because it’s complicated, specialist and takes time to…

Insights & News October 2022
Checkout-Free Stores… Success or Failure?

First we had self check-outs…now Aldi has announced it is opening its first ‘till free’ store in London in an effort to cut queues and minimise waiting times. Many experts (and AI enthusiasts) believe that…

Insights & News July 2022
8 of the biggest PR Disasters

One wrong comment at the wrong time, one misstep from your social media team, or big picture decisions that are out of step with current trends in the wider world. PR disasters can have a…

Insights & News March 2022
You can’t sell anything if you can’t tell anything

Once upon a time, in the ‘old days’ of marketing, selling your product or service involved telling people what it was, and what it did. But it’s no longer enough to simply outline what you…

Insights & News February 2022
How animation and moving elements improve web design

Non-static website design has become ever more popular in recent years, and with good reason. The use of moving imagery, videos, and animation within web design in the UK has led to a vast improvement…

Insights & News January 2022
A list of ten UK website design trends to look out for in 2022

Web design in the UK continues to evolve year-on-year, with the best UK website design agencies showing great innovation at every turn. At Candy, our design team loves to discover new trends, new ideas, and…

Insights & News January 2022
Why is having a secure site in 2022 Important?

As a business owner with a website, you might not have considered the importance of website security, but it should be a vital part of your thinking for 2022 and beyond. At Candy, we know…

Insights & News January 2022
What is Social Media Management for Business?

In a world where social media is part of everyone’s lives it is important to think about how your business and brand is perceived through social channels. If you have a company with an online…

Insights & News January 2022
Most Expensive Xmas Marketing Campaigns

Christmas is a fun time of year for everyone. As soon as Halloween is over, we start seeing festive products in the shops, and before we’re halfway through November we’ll have all seen a few…

Insights & News December 2021
Top 5 Biggest Xmas Marketing Disasters

It’s that festive time of year again, where you’re doing everything you can to stay on Santa’s nice list. Marketing is a full-time job for every company, and when it comes to the holidays it…

Insights & News December 2021
4 Tips from Big eCommerce Brands

eCommerce brands are big business and big news. Seeing how, in recent years, the big-name brands connect and collaborate with social media platforms to gain access to larger numbers of users and potential leads, it…

Insights & News December 2021
How to use Social Media to Build a Brand

Social media is a massive part of our daily lives. Everywhere you look there is news about Facebook, dance crazes that are sweeping the world via TikTok and professional articles and job shares on LinkedIn….

Insights & News December 2021
How Pay per Click Advertising with Google will Help your Business grow

We’ve all experienced a different time since the pandemic drove the entire world into lockdown at various stages. The world economy has suffered, and all industries have had to face up to new challenges and…

Insights & News December 2021
What Lessons can we Learn from the Global Facebook Outages

On October 4th this year we were all a little confused for a few hours when our phones just didn’t seem to be working. WhatsApp messages were not sending, our Instagram feeds were stuck on…

Insights & News December 2021
Top 5 Web App Failures and How to Learn from Them

There are many reasons why a web app might fail. In the early days of web apps there was good reason for a public failure, as web app developers were still learning about the best…

Insights & News November 2021
TikTok v Facebook for Business

Only two of the social media giants has a reach of over 3 billion downloads in the world – Facebook and TikTok. Whereas Facebook has evolved over the years from a network of friends to…

Insights & News November 2021
10 Fun Websites you Might not Know About

The Internet is a marvellous thing. From basic pages with just simple bits of text and information a couple of decades ago, it has quickly evolved into something that none of us ever thought possible….

Insights & News November 2021
Welcome to the Metaverse

Mark Zuckerberg announced at the Facebook AR/VR-focussed Connect event, at the end of October, that the parent company that is responsible for Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Oculus, is to change its name after 17 years…

Insights & News November 2021
6 Big Companies That Have Made SEO Mistakes

If you’ve thought about taking a shortcut to SEO success, it may be time to think again. Notably, even some of the world’s most established companies have received Google penalties for their approach to SEO….

Insights & News October 2021
Top 5 Reasons Why Branding is Important for your Business

Top 5 Reasons Why Branding is Important for your Business Branding is such an important part of modern-day business, and in particular, how digital marketing works. Think about the biggest brands of today, such as…

Insights & News October 2021
Top 10 eCommerce Websites in the UK

There are some brilliant eCommerce platforms in the UK, and across the world. As we have moved online as consumers, the technology attached to payment mechanisms online and integration of eCommerce platforms into websites has…

Insights & News October 2021
Largest Acquisitions by Big Tech

There is a very good chance that you are reading this on a phone, or a laptop made by Apple, or using a browser built by Google. You’ll have scrolled through your Facebook feed today…

Insights & News October 2021
The 10 Worst Branding Disasters to Learn From

When it comes to branding, there are an array of factors to take into consideration. However, even some of the biggest, most successful companies have experienced their fair share of disastrous branding moments. So if…

Insights & News October 2021
Social Platforms that Failed

We are social animals at heart. As soon as the Internet was readily available to the masses, it was obvious that it would be used for us to try and make connections with other people….

Insights & News September 2021
The Problems with Agencies who use Templated Shortcuts

Is your agency using a website template? If so, you may be selling yourself short. Successful agencies invest the time and money in a bespoke website that authentically represents who they are and what they…

Insights & News September 2021
Top 5 Reasons why Video is so Important to your Website

As the technology to film and view video has improved dramatically in recent years, it has become a more feasible option to include as part of website design. There are numerous reasons why you would…

Insights & News September 2021
Is Photoshop Dead for Web Design & UX Design?

Photoshop was deemed to be the standard tool for web design and app design for many years. Designers would work in Adobe on the whole, although you might occasionally see the odd file sent over…

Insights & News September 2021
Six MASSIVE Investment Regrets…

Every single big brand name that you can think of came from a single spark, a bright idea of imagination that a person had to put together and bring into fruition. There are some great…

Insights & News August 2021
Investing In a Website Makes You Money and Saves You Time

If you’re looking to boost your client base in the long term, investing in a website could be the solution you’ve been searching for. Although paying for a website can feel costly at the time,…

Insights & News August 2021
The Importance of having a company website

You might think that it goes without saying that every company has a website these days, but it isn’t always the case. Having a business website is so important for the growth of a company,…

Insights & News August 2021
5 of the most expensive logo changes in history… including the $1.28 BILLION logo.

A great logo fits seamlessly with your company brand and even if it doesn’t have the brand name incorporated into it, it can have a massive impact in terms of recognition. Think about Apple, Nike…

Insights & News August 2021
The Top 5 Brand or Ideas Companies Stole

Brand identity is so important, as is the core idea behind any successful company. There are many different products, services, and brands that we instantly recognise. It takes a cracking idea, great design and a…

Insights & News August 2021
How Brand Logos Change Over the Years

How many brand logos can you think of? When you consider this question, we suspect that a number of universal logos, purposefully slotted into your memory, spring to mind. The first logo you thought of…

Insights & News August 2021
Web App versus Website – What is the Difference?

For the user, whether or not they have clicked on to a website or a web app is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. If the end result is that they have found the…

Insights & News August 2021
What is a Bespoke Website?

An online presence is so important to any business, and a good, strong presence online even more important. In fact, a bad website that looks outdated and functions poorly can do more damage to the…

Insights & News July 2021
What Does Your Website Say About Your Brand?

No matter how big or small your company is, a better website can revolutionise your business. In the digital age, the way that you present your brand, products or services is paramount.  With a strong…

Insights & News July 2021
Is Web Design Dead?

Good design never stands still. The same can be said about web design. Every now and then you’ll come across an opinion from an ‘expert’ that says web design is dead, but in reality, website…

Insights & News July 2021
When the Bubble Bursts: 6 Dot com Bubble Disasters

The dot-com boom was an exciting time for all involved at first, but as the companies began to develop and the market opened up to even greater levels of investment, it quickly became apparent that…

Insights & News July 2021
Brilliant Marketing Campaigns of 2020

When a marketing campaign works, it really hits the spot and resonates with the general public. There are plenty of examples of great marketing campaigns and TV adverts in particular where we all know the…

Insights & News June 2021
How to be an Influencer: Five ways to lose your pride

If you think influencers are your best friend, think again. And if you trust them with you brand, your cash or your tastes, you need a good talking to. And not from an ex TOWIE star.

Insights & News June 2021
Beware the Dangers of Templates When Looking for a Brand-New Business Website ????

There are so many times over the years where we’ve heard from a potential client that they don’t see the point in spending more money than is necessary with a web design agency such as…

Insights & News June 2021
Branding Disasters & Fails from Household Brands to Forget…

Brand recognition is so important to any business. It builds trust with loyal customers and becomes instantly recognisable to potential future customers. Even if you don’t buy a certain product yourself, a big enough brand…

Insights & News June 2021
Has Lockdown Turned You into an Amazon Addict?

Alongside sunny glimpses of spring, March also marked one year since the first UK lockdown. 2020 was the year that working from home became the norm, and many of us noticed a significant shift in…

Insights & News April 2021
We’re Not Remote Working, and Here’s why…

The last year has been such a tremendous change for literally everyone the world over. We’ve been hit hard by the lockdowns and social distancing measures that Covid-19 led to in the UK and beyond.

Insights & News March 2021
The Modern Web IS Bauhaus.

Bauhaus has been such an inspiration on the art and design world for decades. The design team here at Candy has been constantly inspired by the German school of arts since we were in designer nappies back in the early 00s.

Insights & News March 2021
The Frankenstein Effect

You know what it’s like to click onto a website for the first time and to feel like it makes no sense to you at all. Even if you have gone to a company’s website in good faith to buy their products or services…

Insights & News March 2021
5 Signs you Need a New Website

You only ever get one chance to make a good first impression. Your website is still the digital business card for your business and most likely the first port of call for any potential customer to visit.

Insights & News March 2021
The Most Expensive Branding Campaigns

To get to a certain level of success in business you have to spend some money. There is only so far you can go without spending money on branding and advertising, you can’t do it…

Insights & News January 2021