Google could soon face new rules in the UK that may change how businesses appear in search results and how digital ads are bought and displayed, particularly as AI becomes a bigger part of search.

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which ensures fair competition between businesses, is investigating how Google runs its Search and Advertising services. Their main focus is on Google’s new AI-powered search features, which often show AI-generated answers instead of a list of website links.

The CMA has raised concerns about:

• Whether Google is ranking websites fairly in search results
• High costs for advertising on Google Search
• Use of other websites’ content in AI-generated summaries without clear permission

To deal with this, the CMA is considering giving Google a label called Strategic Market Status (SMS). If applied, this status would allow the CMA to enforce specific rules on Google without needing to prove the company has broken competition laws.

This status would apply to Google’s AI search features, although not to Gemini, its AI assistant tool.

Why this matters for digital marketers

If Google is given this new status, it could lead to:

• Changes in how ads are placed and displayed in search results
• Shifts in how visible your website or content is on Google, especially when AI summaries appear instead of traditional links
• Potential changes in ad pricing, which could impact your digital marketing budget

These changes could increase competition in the search market, which may benefit smaller businesses. However, they may also bring new compliance issues and require updates to your marketing strategies.

What Google is saying

Google has criticised the CMA’s proposals, calling them too broad and unfocused. The company warned that unclear rules could get in the way of progress in AI development.

“Evidence-based regulation will be essential to avoid turning a roadmap into a roadblock,” Google said.

What’s next

The CMA’s current review ends on 13 October 2025. If they move forward, a second, more in-depth phase will begin in early 2026. This next stage could look at other areas of Google’s business, such as:

• Its dominance in the ad market
• How it works with publishers
• How it treats rival search engines

If your work relies on Google ads or organic search traffic, it’s worth keeping an eye on these developments.

Whether you’re emerging into your first marketing role or you’re hopping onto a client/agency meeting, you’re bound to hear some acronyms being thrown around. With so many marketing long-tailed terms, we’ve found ways to abbreviate and simplify. But as a marketer, it’s easy to forget just how unfamiliar all these terms are when you first hear them.

This is your go-to marketing dictionary, where we’ll delve into all the key terms you’ll need to know so you’re armed with all the marketing jargon for your next meeting!

A-Z Marketing Acronyms

A/B Testing

A/B testing is a method used in marketing to test two versions of a piece of work to see which performs better. This can be for ad campaigns or establishing the best user interface for your website.

ARPU

Average revenue per user is the revenue a business makes from a single individual. This can be calculated by dividing the total revenue by the number of users (within a set time frame).

B2B

B2B is the abbreviation of business-to-business- it just keeps it short and sweet. A great example of a B2B business is ourselves, as we don’t work directly with our clients’ customers, but rather support the business in their marketing efforts to optimise the experience for users.

B2C

B2C stands for business-to-customer; unlike business-to-business, this is direct communication with the customer/audience.

BR

BR, or bounce rate, is the volume of users who leave after viewing a page. It’s an incredibly important metric for understanding audience engagement. To calculate it, you’ll need to divide the number of single-page sessions by the overall total of sessions.

CAC

CAC stands for customer acquisition cost- another incredibly valuable metric to gain insight into how much of your budget is spent on drawing in an audience. This is done by dividing the budget for a specific period by the number of new users.

CPC

Cost-per-click is a more common term used for paid advertising, whether that online advertising via search engines or through paid advertising on social channels. Simply divide the number of clicks by the overall cost to determine the cost per click.

CPM

CPM is abbreviated from cost per mille (thousand).

CPV

Cost per view which can be calculated by dividing the total advertising cost by the number of views.

CRO

CRO is a shortened form of conversion rate optimisation, a term used to describe you optimising your site, content or campaign in order to maximise the amount of conversions.

CTA

A CTA is a call to action, which is language used in content or on buttons which are there to encourage your audience/customer to take action.

GA/GA4

GA4 is just an abbreviation of Google Analytics 4, Google’s most recent analytical platform used to track performance.

GDPR

General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, is the protocol and regulations a business must follow to keep its customers’ data safe and ensure it is used legally.

KPI

A KPI is a key performance indicator. We set these in marketing in order to measure the success of our performance. We assign specific metric values as a reference point to compare and analyse against the actual performance.

PPC

Pay-per-click is the term coined for digital advertising and how much it costs to have their ad clicked.

ROI

ROI is an acronym for return on investment, which analyses the performance profitability. Return on Investment equals (Revenue generated from marketing minus the cost of marketing), divided by the cost of marketing, then multiplied by 100 to get a percentage.

ROAS

Return on ad spend defines the overall money made back from the money spent on an ad campaign. To find your ROAS metric, divide the revenue generated by the overall cost of the ad.

SEO

SEO is a classic marketing term; it stands for search engine optimisation. Search engine optimisation looks to optimise your website performance through technical and content optimisations to create a better opportunity of displaying on the search engine results page.

SERP

SERP is a search engine results page. This is the content list you see when you are exploring the internet, on a search engine. When we talk about the SERP, it’s typically in reference to the overall ranking on the results page and where your website is being positioned as recommended.

UGC

User-generated content, or UGC, is content that the customer created about your product or service (without you collaborating or sponsoring them).

UI

UI is the acronym for user interface, a term used to describe how a customer sees your website. I.e. web elements, visual/ design elements and auditory components.

UX

UX is user experience. When we discuss the user experience, it is about the enjoyment and ease of use of your website.

Final Thoughts

Marketing acronyms can feel like an entirely new language when you’re first getting started, but now, you’ve got the cheat sheet. Whether you’re building your first campaign, sitting in on a client call, or brushing up on industry lingo, this dictionary is your go-to reference for demystifying the jargon. The more fluent you become, the more confidently you’ll navigate conversations, strategies, and results.

Keep this glossary handy, and you’ll be speaking marketing like a pro in no time.

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.

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.

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:

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.