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Blog, news and free resources
I write about trending topics in marketing and communications skills, careers and leadership. I also share free resources like marketing 'how to' guides and templates. Browse through my latest posts below, or search using the categories to jump to a specific topic.


Campaigns Are Easy, Stakeholder Management Is Hard
Campaigns are the visible work. Alignment is the invisible work. Why stakeholder management, diplomacy and organisational alignment define senior marketing roles.

Carolyn
2 days ago


Practical AI for Senior Marketers
AI is moving fast, but most marketing teams are still finding their footing. Drawing on insights from a recent Marketing Meetup webinar, this post explores where AI genuinely adds value, how to avoid the hype, and what human-centred, effective use of AI really looks like for modern marketing leaders.

Carolyn
Jan 23


Why the Death of the Saturday Job is an Issue for the Marketing Sector
The "Saturday job" is becoming an endangered species. This isn't just an issue for teenagers - it's going to become an issue for the marketing sector too.

Carolyn
Jan 8


Beyond the Buzzwords: Closing the 22-Point Confidence Gap in Communications
Key takeaways on closing the 22-Point confidence gap in communications

Carolyn
Nov 14, 2025


Celebrating Europe's Very Best Women in Technology
On Monday I was in Brussels, representing FreeBalance at the WOMEN IN TECH ® Europe Awards . The partnership between the organisations is one I'm proud to have deliver over the second half of 2025 and it was fantastic to experience the fruits of this in person! It was a privilege to be given the opportunity to address this prestigious audience and deliver a speech on the important role of women in tech diplomacy. Women are leading the way in uniting communities, governme

Carolyn
Oct 8, 2025


Bridging the Gap Between Comms and Leadership
How to speak the language of the boardroom and bridge the gap between comms and leadership

Carolyn
Sep 21, 2025




Trust in Crisis: What the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer Means for Marketers
What insight can marketers gain from the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer?

Carolyn
Feb 7, 2025


Global Risks 2025: What They Mean for Marketers
What should marketers learn from the new Global Risks Report?

Carolyn
Jan 28, 2025


Engaging customers: Creating content that is easy to understand
The average reading age in the UK is 9-11 years old. So why do so many organisations talk to customers like they are experts in their field?

Carolyn
Jul 26, 2024
Designing your first marketing plan: Evaluating your campaign
This is Step 4 in the Designing your first marketing campaign series. Read the previous posts on how to identify your marketing objectives , analysing your audience and campaign planning . Please, PLEASE, don't just batter out some marketing and judge whether it's working on whether you mum or your mates in the pub comment about it. Know, before you start , what you will measure in terms of effectiveness and what numbers you want to hit. Good marketing effectiveness metrics

Carolyn
Jun 26, 2024


How to Give Compelling Marketing Advice
As a marketing and communications professional, you may often be asked for your recommendations on how to approach a campaign, boost performance, or get a message across. This is a great opportunity to support your organisation's objectives and grow your own personal reputation. Done well, these are also good examples for CVs and job interviews. Managing stakeholders and customers in this situation is key, because it's not just that your advice has to be good, it's that you h

Carolyn
Jun 12, 2024


What To Do When Your Marketing Advice Is Ignored
How do you handle it when your best advice goes unheard? Or is heard and quickly discounted?

Carolyn
May 29, 2024


Curiosity is a Marketer's Superpower
I was recently asked to guest on the Marketing Careers Uncovered podcast. Dave Heywood and I had a brilliant chat about career progression, being a line manager, interview panels and a lot more. So much more in fact that we actually ran to two episodes instead of one! Give it a listen - both episodes are now available on Apple , Rephonic , Spotify and the other main places you'd normally go for your podcasts. I had an absolute blast catching up with Dave. And (I can't rememb

Carolyn
May 24, 2024


Nine Reasons You Should Consider Working with a Mentor
I offer mentoring support for marketing professionals at all stages of their careers, and I've benefitted from working with a mentor...

Carolyn
Apr 10, 2024


Crisis Communications: You say it best, when you say nothing at all...
Depending on your age and music genre of choice, you might have heard a number of singers tell you this: "You say it best, when you say...

Carolyn
Jan 29, 2024


Celebrating 60 Years of Strategic Communications in Scotland
On Wednesday night I joined a great group of fellow PR and comms professionals to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Chartered...

Carolyn
Jan 19, 2024


Branding: what it is, and how to use it
Competition is fierce. Attention spans are fleeting. How do you stand out in a world inundated with products and services vying for...

Carolyn
Nov 20, 2023


Top Tips for Creating Christmas Campaigns
The topic for the latest The Marketing Meetup IRL event in Edinburgh was Christmas campaigns, and presenter Laura McLachlan (Director of...

Carolyn
Nov 13, 2023


Navigating the Challenges of Effective Internal Communications in Small and Large Businesses
Effective internal communication helps your employees feel like a team. It improves productivity and morale, equips your staff to be...

Carolyn
Nov 3, 2023
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