Posts tagged "digital marketing"

How to Use Content to Build an Email List (Without Feeling Spammy)

May 16, 2025 Posted by Maisie Lloyd Round-Up 0 thoughts on “How to Use Content to Build an Email List (Without Feeling Spammy)”

Why email lists still matter in the age of social media… Email lists give us a direct line of communication with our audience, allowing our message to directly hit their inbox.

Why Email Lists Are So Valuable

Utilising your mailing list can offer many benefits for a business, particularly when aiming to get higher levels of engagement and increased conversion rates.

Email campaigns, when done right, can help with long-term audience relationship building. Maintaining communication through email can serve many purposes; it can help you update, inform, or brief your audience.

1.     Start with the Right Lead Magnet

A lead magnet is a method used by providing a free resource, service or product in return for contact information from their audience, in this instance, it would be their email address. Some examples of lead magnets include PDF resources, checklists, courses, e-books or templates.

Consider putting lead magnets in places where they will resolve a question or provide value to the audience. For instance, having a downloadable template that is accessed by providing their email.

2.     Use Strategic Content Types for List Building

Blog Posts: Naturally embed opt-ins in high-traffic articles.

Embedding opt-in buttons allows your audience to choose to follow your email campaigns, and placing these in high-traffic pieces of content will allow you to capitalise on capturing the information from interested readers.

Utilising gated content, for example, industry reports, will give you other opportunities to garner your audience’s contact details.

Don’t forget to use your calls to action, imploring your audience to sign up for your mailing list. Include a link to a sign-up page to make the process smoother for them, making each step as simple as possible.

3.    Placement Matters: Where to Add Signup Opportunities

Making sure you position it in the right spot on your social content or blog posts is just as important as including the information capture. Consider positioning it in places where it feels natural, or is necessary, such as on a navigation bar, with a widget, on your landing pages, and at the end of videos.

4.     Optimise Your Signup Forms

Making sure your signup forms are easy to use will ensure the process is quick and easy, which in turn reduces the potential frustration and leads to abandonments. To keep it simple, you’ll just need their name and email.

In this process, test the user experience with A/B testing, which allows you to trial what colour button works best, the size of the text on the button, the CTA, as well as the placement on the content or page.

5.     Deliver Value by being prepared.

Once you’ve captured the emails of your audience, you need to make sure you make a positive impression, set up a confirmation page to let them know the information they’ve provided has been retained.

The next step is to create a welcome email, which is the first impression in a sense- it needs to positively impact the reader. Adopt a warm and welcoming tone, be authentic and make sure to give a better introduction to your brand’s communication channel.

Top Tips for your Email Strategy

Creating the perfect campaign is about striking a balance between the visual elements, the content itself, the frequency of campaigns, how they’re targeted and so on. Email campaigns must be tracked, analysed and adapted in order to garner the leads and clicks within your business KPI.

Make sure the content you continue to push in your email campaigns works to draw in your reader, drive clicks and ultimately enhance the engagement metrics seen across your channels and website.

Micro-influencers: The key to levelling up your marketing strategy

April 11, 2025 Posted by Maisie Lloyd Round-Up 0 thoughts on “Micro-influencers: The key to levelling up your marketing strategy”

What is a micro-influencer?


A micro-influencer is a content creator with a smaller but highly engaged following,
typically between 10,000 and 100,000 followers. These individuals are well-known to
their specific audience but aren’t considered celebrities in the mainstream sense.


What are the benefits of collaborating with a micro-influencer?


Being able to build trust and transfer authority


Micro-influencers often hold authority in niche areas, which makes them ideal for
promoting products or services authentically. Their established credibility allows
brands to tap into that trust, signalling to audiences that the collaboration is both
informed and genuine.


Garner more engagement


Micro-influencers tend to have more active communities, resulting in higher-quality
interactions. Their audiences are often more loyal and engaged than those of larger
influencers. One effective way to boost engagement is through collaborative posts
that appear on both the brand’s and the influencer’s profiles.
Targeted promotions


While some micro-influencers are known for specific topics, others are local figures
with strong community ties. Partnering with them can be a powerful tactic when
running location-specific campaigns, helping you connect with a targeted and
relevant audience.


Getting the most out of your budget


Collaborating with micro-influencers is typically far more cost-effective than working
with celebrities or macro-influencers. This affordability frees up the budget for other
marketing efforts, or to reinvest back into the business.


How to approach working with an influencer


Partnering with a micro-influencer takes thoughtful planning. It’s important to ensure
the fit is right—for both your brand and the creator—before reaching out.

  1. Define Your Objectives and Goals
    Start by identifying what you want to achieve from the campaign. Clear goals will
    help guide your strategy and also make it easier to measure performance
    afterwards.
  2. Assess Alignment and Suitability – Evaluate whether the influencer’s content and persona align with your brand. Their
    style should complement your vision for the campaign. If you’re unsure where to
    start, use platform search tools and keywords to find creators producing content that
    fits your niche.
  3. Consider Your Offer, think about what you’re bringing to the table—whether that’s a paid partnership or gifting products/services in exchange for content. If you can’t offer some form of value, it’s unlikely the collaboration will take off.
  4. Create a Clear Project Brief – Outline exactly what you expect in terms of deliverables, messaging, and content format. A well-crafted brief is essential—it keeps everyone aligned and ensures thethe
    output reflects your brand’s goals.
  5. Let Their Content Shine -Authenticity is key. While it’s important to communicate your brand message, give
    influencers the freedom to present it in their own voice. This personalisation deepens
    trust and helps the content resonate more naturally with the audience.

Boxed and Branded: The latest AI trend to sweep socials

April 10, 2025 Posted by Maisie Lloyd Trend Tracker 0 thoughts on “Boxed and Branded: The latest AI trend to sweep socials”

What is the trend?

After OpenAI’s latest update, its native image capabilities have enhanced drastically. Users and marketers have flexed their prompting capabilities and generated branded renderings of boxed figurines with accessories.

What works about the boxed and branded figurine trend?

One of the many reasons why this trend has taken over is due to the ease of creation, in combination with the endless creative possibilities AI provides people. Image generation enhancements provide a more polished and refined quality of generated content than was previously possible.

The latest generative AI trend goes to show how better results for specific styles of image generation are going to pique the curiosity of online users. Which, like the Studio Ghibli trend, will gain quick popularity before losing traction to another trend.

This style of trend can help drive engagement for some accounts as they exercise ways to express their individual or brand personality. The trend has become so popular because people want to engage with visually interesting content, as well as concepts which are made more accessible to all users.

We put the trend into action…

Here’s what we prompted ChatGPT with initially ‘ I want you to generate 4 figurines contained within the same box. The box is red with a clear plastic window allowing you to see the characters. Below the characters is a recessed accessory section, where a miniature USB, a Laptop, a notebook, and a coffee mug are. On the box, it should have a title saying ‘The Intelligency Team’. Can you do this?’

We made sure to put plenty of details into the prompt, but found like many other users, that it took finessing and refining the prompt to achieve the perfect render. This included providing brand hex codes and prescriptive details like generating the design like a studio would take a product shot’. Here’s how they turned out:

Examples of the Trends in action on LinkedIn

The trend has taken LinkedIn by storm, with a lot of users and brands hopping onto the trend, with brands like Wendy’s generating their own, and even building suppliers, finding a way to make the trend work for them. Here’s how that looked:

Crerd: @MKMBuildingSuppliers LinkedIn account
Credit:@Wendys_India Instagram
Credit: @OxyzennDigitalMarketingAgency LinkedIn

What’s next in terms of generative image trends?

Looking at the broader picture, this raises some compelling questions about the ethics of AI, not just in terms of its tendency to mimic existing artistic styles, but also the sheer energy required to fuel the rise of generative image trends.

Both issues carry real weight: artists risk losing credit for their unique styles, while the environmental footprint of constantly running AI servers adds a whole other layer of concern.

Google’s Gmail Upgrade: What It Means for 3 Billion Users

April 4, 2025 Posted by Liam Walsh Round-Up 0 thoughts on “Google’s Gmail Upgrade: What It Means for 3 Billion Users”

Google is making some big changes to Gmail that aim to improve your experience, protect your inbox from spam, and boost security, but not without raising some concerns.

Less Spam in Your Inbox

The good news? Google is tightening its rules around spam, and it’s working. Many companies that send out bulk marketing emails are seeing their messages blocked or flagged as spam unless people regularly open and engage with them. That means you should see fewer unwanted messages cluttering your inbox.

Smarter Scams Are on the Rise

At the same time, a serious threat has come to light. A long-running email scam has been using fake login pages that look like real sites—Gmail, Outlook, banks, delivery companies—to trick people into entering their usernames and passwords. After stealing the information, the scam redirects victims to the real login page, making it seem like nothing happened.

These attacks have flown under the radar for years, using clever techniques to bypass security tools and hide behind trusted-looking links and websites.

Google’s AI and Privacy Debate

Google is also rolling out AI-powered tools in Gmail to help users manage their inboxes more efficiently. But not everyone is thrilled—some are worried about what it means for privacy if AI is scanning personal emails. Google says users remain in control and can switch off these features if they prefer.

New Encryption, but Limited Access

To further strengthen email security, Google is introducing end-to-end encryption. This means only the sender and receiver can read the email. However, it’s only available to business users for now and will be rolled out more broadly later.

Stay Safe Going Forward

Email is getting safer, but no system is perfect. Always be cautious of unexpected emails asking for login details. Use strong two-factor authentication or, even better, switch to passkeys if available. Staying alert is still your best line of defence.

ChatGPT’s Generative Image Studio Ghibli Trend

ChatGPT’s Generative Image Studio Ghibli Trend

March 28, 2025 Posted by Maisie Lloyd Trend Tracker 0 thoughts on “ChatGPT’s Generative Image Studio Ghibli Trend”

What is the trend?

OpenAI has recently rolled out a new version of ChatGPT with significantly enhanced AI capabilities, particularly in image generation. This upgrade has sparked a viral trend where users upload their personal images and prompt the AI to “animate this like Studio Ghibli.”

What’s caused this prompt on ChatGPT’s latest version to trend?

Users quickly flooded X (formerly Twitter) with their AI-generated Studio Ghibli-style images, showcasing everything from personal photos to iconic movie scenes and internet memes. The accessibility and improved quality of ChatGPT’s image-generation tools have encouraged widespread participation.

Beyond Studio Ghibli, users have experimented with other animation styles, including The Simpsons and South Park, further fuelling the trend.

What works so well about the trend?

Studio Ghibli has a devoted following, with millions of fans appreciating its distinctive animation style. The Japanese studio is renowned for its hand-drawn artistry, whimsical storytelling, and deep emotional resonance. The ability of ChatGPT to closely replicate this aesthetic has driven its widespread appeal.

Several factors contribute to the trend’s success:

  • Ease of Use – OpenAI’s generative features are free and accessible to all users, making it easy for anyone to create AI-generated art in various styles.
  • Engagement & Virality – The instantly recognizable Studio Ghibli aesthetic has encouraged users to share their results online, prompting others to try it for themselves and contribute to the trend.

Does this raise issues around copyright?

This trend touches on an ongoing debate about AI-generated art and intellectual property. Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki has long been critical of AI in animation, famously stating, “I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself.” His ethos prioritizes authenticity and meticulous craftsmanship, which contrasts sharply with AI-generated imitations.

While AI-generated art does not technically infringe on copyright, it raises ethical concerns about replicating the hard work of illustrators without their consent. The trend serves as a reminder of the growing challenges surrounding AI and artistic originality.

How are brands and accounts using the trend?

While independent creators have embraced the trend, brands have been slower to adopt it. A few exceptions include major brands like Airbus, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who changed his X profile picture to an AI-generated Studio Ghibli-style version of himself.

Untitled design (10)
Untitled design (11)
Airbus’ Post on X

As AI art generation continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how brands, artists, and audiences navigate the balance between creativity, authenticity, and ethical considerations.

Should my E-commerce business try out a pop-up shop?

Should my E-commerce business try out a pop-up shop?

March 28, 2025 Posted by Maisie Lloyd Round-Up 0 thoughts on “Should my E-commerce business try out a pop-up shop?”

What is a pop-up shop?

A pop-up shop is a one-time event open for a limited amount of time, allowing customers to purchase items in a physical location. This could be anywhere from an empty retail store in a shopping centre, a kiosk, a free-standing pop-up spaces built as a temporary location, to a stall at a business convention (relevant to your industry).

This can be a particularly useful marketing venture for an E-commerce store, to scope out the potential of transitioning into a location, or to even get a better sense of their customer’s sentiment around the brand.

How to know if a pop-up shop is the right business choice for you?

The main thing to consider with a pop-up shop is whether it is suited to your business, and if so- how to successfully launch a pop-up store. Defining your expectations, goals and business needs can help prevent your business from making any poor business choices.

These are some of the essential considerations to make before making the leap and deciding to set up a pop-up:

  1. Is it the right time? Are you doing this on a whim, or is it the practical next step in generating traffic or scouting a potential location to set up a shop?
  2. Do you have the resources or stock available? Make sure you have a clear budget for the pop-up. You also need to ensure you have enough stock. Be prepared, as running out will likely cause frustration for the customer- especially if they have waited or made a long commute to your store.
  3. What is your goal? Do you want to sell lots of products, get a better sense of your customers, and test the waters in a physical store? Set your expectations beforehand, so you can realistically measure the success after.
  4. Where do you want to set up your pop-up shop? Are you going to do it based on the majority of your customer’s geo-location, or are you going to capitalise on an event in a fixed location where it feels relevant to set up a pop-up?
  5. How does your brand look when it’s a physical space? Think about the design of the space, how you are going to represent your store, what colour palettes will you use, and what branding will you incorporate. Will you create customised retail items like printed bags or business cards?

Why a pop-up shop could be the best marketing decision you make?

Allows customers to come see a physical representation of your E-commerce store, creating an opportunity for a rapport to be established. This process can also generate conversation around the brand, pop-ups often prompt intrigue and if physical marketing elements tease the pop-up happening prior, it starts the discussion around the brand or product.

The opportunity to sell old stock and promote new products. Capitalise on the eagerness of customers being able to see all the physical items of your store and create the chance for your business to shift old products. Making these products even more desirable with discounts is one way to promote impulse buying.

Equally, using the conversation and excitement around your pop-ups for product launches is one way to ensure your product campaign starts with success! Launching it both on your e-commerce store and in a physical location for your pop-up can give you a frame of reference for what type of buying suits your customer base, which is particularly useful if brands are considering launching a physical store.

It allows businesses to question if a physical store is suitable for them, and to test it out on a short-term basis with less commitment. It will help in gathering insights around customer sentiment, as well as the probability of the physical store driving profit. This can also provide clarity on what location best suits your business.

Choosing the right CMS for your business

Choosing the right CMS for your business

March 21, 2025 Posted by Matthew Widdop Round-Up 0 thoughts on “Choosing the right CMS for your business”

Choosing the right Content Management System is crucial for any business wanting to thrive online. These platforms allow users to create and adapt their websites and content for their audiences, which is the most fundamental element of having success online.

There are a variety of CMS to choose from all with different strengths and weaknesses. In this article, we will run through some of the most popular CMS and which one is the right choice for your business.

WordPress

WordPress is the most popular CMS system currently in use. It is an open-source website which means the code is made available to the public to be modified. This is important because it allows users to add customisable features (plug-ins) to their platforms which enhance functionality and diversify content, making it an ideal platform for a wide range of businesses. Websites can accommodate websites of various sizes so is not only ideal for beginners.

Wix

Wix is an easy to use CMS system that allows users to “drag and drop” elements to build their websites. Ideal for beginners who have small businesses, Wix could be your go to option. However, for larger businesses or businesses that want to scale in size Wix may not be the best option. It is not open source so you are limited to what you can change on the site outside of your content. 

HubSpot CMS

Hubspot is a customer relationship management system that also offers its own CMS. Hubspot’s CMS is available free and has loads of useful marketing features including personalised content, email marketing, automation, membership websites. On the free version the hubspot logo will appear on forms and pages and users are limited to 25 pages. So if you’re   thinking about building a comprehensive long term website, Hubspot CMS might not be the way to go unless you’re considering getting a paid subscription.

Shopify

Shopify is an e-commerce platform that has a user friendly interface, allows for scalability and has advanced features such as secure checkout, multiple payment options, customer support and international selling. However, some users find the platforms content creation and customisation can be complex with the use of apps required for any complex customisation which increases cost.

If you need help choosing the right CMS system for your business feel free to get in touch.

Solution-based thinking: a critical strategy for marketing

Solution-based thinking: a critical strategy for marketing

February 27, 2025 Posted by Maisie Lloyd Round-Up 0 thoughts on “Solution-based thinking: a critical strategy for marketing”

What is solution-based thinking in marketing?

Solution-based thinking involves proactively identifying potential problems and finding ways to resolve them before they escalate. In marketing, problem-solving is essential to minimising the negative impact of challenges and ensuring continuous growth. Instead of dwelling on what isn’t working, solution-based thinking shifts the focus toward learning from mistakes and implementing effective solutions.

This approach also contributes to a well-rounded marketing strategy. By preparing contingency plans—such as Plans A, B, and C—businesses can proactively address potential challenges before they arise, reducing risk and uncertainty.

Additionally, solution-based thinking aids in setting realistic business goals. Analytical skills and continuous evaluation play a crucial role in developing effective solutions, ensuring businesses remain adaptable and prepared.

Why is problem-solving an important facet of marketing?

As a marketing agency, our role is to anticipate, reduce, and resolve client issues across various business areas, including online performance, digital security, and return on investment. However, problem-solving isn’t just a skill reserved for agencies like ours—it’s a fundamental function of any business.

At its core, a business exists to solve customer problems, whether through products or services. In marketing, our job is to ensure businesses have the right strategies, tools, and support to effectively address challenges and meet customer needs. By embracing problem-solving, companies can adapt to changing market conditions and enhance their overall success.

What are the skills and techniques needed to problem solve in marketing?

Solution-based thinking leverages various skills and techniques to analyse data, evaluate campaign performance, and develop effective strategies.

SMART – SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevancy and Time constraints around the goals that are being set in a campaign. This technique is great for defining realistic parameters for a campaign strategy.  

This technique clearly outlines the goals a business wants to achieve. This is valuable as it can allow a business to work backwards from the goals to consider how to achieve them and what problems may occur during that process allowing for a

The Six Hats Method – This technique created by Edward De Bono, involves making considerations with six different perspectives. This technique can be particularly useful in meetings, where different team members can adopt distinct thinking roles.

The hats are assorted by colour and represent different approaches to thinking:

  • The white hat focuses solely on the facts, which means every consideration is based on data, it can prevent opinions from influencing decision-making.
  • The yellow hat offers an optimistic perspective, focusing on the benefits and potential positive outcomes which can be achieved.
  • The green hat offers a creative opinion, they think outside of the box and offer more creative concepts to be factored into a strategy.
  • The black hat considers the potential issues, consider this hat from a risk management perspective. This hat will ensure any complications are averted by considering any problems which could arise.
  • The blue hat is the observer of the group, ensuring everyone is thinking as they should, in order for the technique to be upheld.
  • The red hat uses ‘gut feelings’, it factors in the emotional response to a consideration, whether it’s loving, hating, liking, fearing, or disliking something.

Being able to ideate, is one of the most fundamental skills of a problem-solver. Ideation is one of the most efficient ways to problem solve. Brainstorming sessions, particularly in team settings, can help businesses think through challenges and devise innovative approaches.

Measuring and tracking success is a particularly important part of solution-based thinking. By tracking past marketing efforts and assessing their impact, businesses can refine their strategies and ensure future approaches are more effective.

Consider what solutions are most practical – it is not only going to ensure the strategy is efficient but also has efficacy. Effective resource allocation and well-planned execution help businesses maximise impact while minimising waste.

At Intelligency, we embrace a solution-driven mindset in everything we do—both internally as part of our workplace culture and in our approach with clients. We see ourselves as problem solvers, whether it’s optimising user experiences on websites through data-led insights or enhancing SEO strategies to help businesses dominate search rankings. Our expertise allows us not only to implement effective solutions but also to clearly communicate the process to our clients, ensuring transparency and measurable success.

2025

The top marketing campaigns of 2025

February 14, 2025 Posted by Maisie Lloyd Round-Up 0 thoughts on “The top marketing campaigns of 2025”

In 2025, we’ve already seen campaigns of all varieties, with clever product positioning and playful ways to engage with audiences. Brands are setting the bar high with creative and innovative marketing campaigns. Some of this year’s noteworthy campaigns include Burger King’s witty AI banner to Cadbury’s Made to Share campaign.

Cadbury’s: Made to share

Cadburys have started 2025 off strong with a new and clever campaign, combining innovation with consumer participation to bring the Made to Share campaign. The campaign was developed with Cadbury’s global creative agency VCCP and crafted by Bulletproof. The concept of the piece plays on the nature of how the product is consumed, more particularly, our sharing habits with others.

The creative execution showcases a humorous take on scenarios and the gestures three individuals would make in scenarios to make a joke about how we should share a Cadbury’s chocolate bar.

 One design from the campaign features a chocolate bar split into different portions with the labelling:

  • ‘Who cooked’ has the largest section of the bar.
  • ‘Who cleaned’ has the mid-sized chunk of chocolate
  • ‘Who ate’ has the smallest section of the bar.

 The idea emphasises Cadbury’s core value of generosity, with the chocolate being positioned not just as a treat but a social connector, creatively and playfully reinforcing the brand values.

Credit: Cadbury

Surreal: The OG

Surreal, the newcomer in the cereal industry continues to deliver witty yet effortless campaigns that blend ingenuity with immaculate product placement. Their latest ad spotted on a bus stop advert spot is a zoomed-in part of Kellogg’s logo to frame the letters O and G.

 This clever twist subtly compares Surreal to established brands by using recognisable visual cues to highlight their nutritional advantages. By borrowing elements from well-known competitors, surreal challenges customer perceptions and redefines the narrative, positioning themselves as a healthier brand to go toward in the cereal aisle.

Credit: Surreal/ LinkedIn account

Heinz Dropping the Logo: It Has to Be, Trigger the Taste.  

Following Tesco’s lead, Heinz has embraced dropping their logo from billboard ads. Proving how established brands like Heinz and Tesco can simply be recognised by their products. Created by Wieden+Kennedy London, this campaign capitalizes on Heinz’s unmistakable products, reinforcing the power of brand recognition through association.

The campaign replaces the traditional Heinz logo with a simple yet effective copy strategy:

  • For an image of soup, the tagline reads: “It has to be bread.”
  • For beans, it states: “It has to be toast.”

This approach subtly nudges the audience, allowing them to mentally fill in the blanks, making the brand instantly recognizable without explicit branding. It’s a testament to Heinz’s legacy and an invitation for consumers to engage with the ad rather than just observe it.

Credit: Weiden+Kennedy

Burger King versus McDonald’s: Battle of AI ads

In the ongoing rivalry between McDonald’s and Burger King, the latest battleground is AI-generated marketing. McDonald’s Japan initiated the campaign by using AI to ask: “What is the most iconic burger in the world?” Predictably, AI responded with McDonald’s Big Mac—a response that reinforced their brand dominance.

Burger King, however, saw an opportunity. Their ad followed up by asking AI:

“And which one is the biggest?” The response? A Burger King burger.

This campaign is a masterclass in reactive advertising—Burger King didn’t need to claim superiority outright. Instead, they cleverly highlighted a factual advantage (burger size) in a way that undermined McDonald’s claim without confrontation.

This playful yet strategic use of AI-generated marketing exemplifies how brands can use technology to engage audiences in creative ways while maintaining a competitive edge.

Safer Internet Day 1

The importance of Internet safety: For website and business owners

February 9, 2025 Posted by Maisie Lloyd blogs 0 thoughts on “The importance of Internet safety: For website and business owners”

Online safety has many facets to consider, but the crux of it is that we have to protect ourselves and our sensitive information on the internet. There are many dangers on the internet, and it can be hard to anticipate every last potential risk. That’s why in this guide we outline all the risks, as well as how you can protect yourself, your website and your customers.

What are some of the risks online?

There’s a broad scope of potential risks with being online, particularly around the loss of sensitive information. Understanding what the risks are and how they are posed to us, can help us anticipate and prevent any unsafe situations from occurring. Some of these risks include:

  • Malware or ransomware
  • Scamming
  • Hacking
  • Phishing
  • Data breaches
  • Copyright infringement
  • Insufficient patch management
  • Outdated software for websites

Each issue poses its own threat to a business, and all can quite quickly destroy one too, so prevention is critical. Here’s a visualisation of each impact associated with the potential risks:

The risks for an individual can be damning, any loss whether its financial, reputationally or private data. However, this can be worsened, if it’s a business customer who is the victim of an online attack.  Not only does it immediately demonstrate an insecurity (online) from a website, but it suggests they aren’t reliable or able to protect their customers. This can harm the rapport of the customer, and the reputation of the business.

How can you stay safe online?

Staying safe online can be made super simple, by implementing the following strategies from the inception of an account being created. Beginning the process with caution and prevention in mind can really help to negate any of the potential risks in the future.

Password protection and 2-factor authentication

This may be one of the most obvious ways to protect yourself, but utilising password protection is an essential part of safeguarding your online accounts. When creating passwords avoid the obvious like first names, last names and birthdays. Look to create unique combinations for each account you have.

An example of what makes a password strong is the combined use of upper- and lower-case letters, symbols and numbers. Using a combination of all these different characters will reduce the likelihood of cybercriminals like hackers, from accessing your passwords and hacking your accounts.

2-factor authentication is a protective process offered by some software companies, such as Google. 2-factor authentication works by validating a user, this is usually through generating a one-time code or using a second factor of authentication such as a personal question for them to answer.

Tip: Utilise a password manager if you’re forgetful or pick 3 words to use in your passwords!

Protection of private information

A good rule of thumb around internet safety, is protecting any sensitive information about yourself, here are some instances of sensitive information:

  • Address
  • Full name
  • Bank details
  • Workplace or school address
  • National insurance number
  • Emails and passwords

Avoid clicking unfamiliar links.

Whether it’s via email or online, clicking links without forethought can put individuals at greater risk of phishing, being impacted by malware, or having private data stolen. A good way to be sure the link you’re clicking on is safe, is by checking it is provided by a verified and recognised account or source.

More so, avoid clicking on pop-ups that appear on websites, these include ads. On non-secure sites, these pop-ups can contain viruses/ malware that can hack into your system and take information or money.

For instance, avoid using websites without a lock symbol beside the URL. It looks like this:

Back-up your data

For those with a website or important data on their devices, backing up content is a critical tact-tic to adopt. You can back up to external devices for an additional layer of security, or onto a cloud-based system. This means you still have access to your data in the event it is stolen or compromised.

Ensure your website has the latest software updates

Updating a site all the time isn’t necessary, however, ensuring the site is compatible with its server host, that its security measures are in full force, and that the site elements are all functioning as intended.

This process is known as patch management, implementing updates to both the system and software used for a site. Updating not only ensures security and functionality, it also makes sure that the website is in compliance with current regulations.

Obtaining a Data Protection Legislation Registration

In the UK, all businesses must legally be registered for Data Protection, this ensures compliance with data security and protection. The act, established in 1998 outlines how personal data is collected, handled and stored, whilst empowering individuals by giving them entitlement to know what data people have on them.

If you’re interested in shielding your brand and mitigating online threats, we could be the right consultancy for you! At Intelligency we are adept at eliminating online threats, simply contact us to find out how we can do that for you!

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