Digital Flamingo

17/12/2025

There’s a Facebook update doing the rounds that could impact how businesses share links - especially over Christmas & New Year if the rollout continues.

Have a scroll through for what to be aware of.

This information comes via Mari Smith, one of the most trusted Facebook & Meta marketing experts, who’s been sharing screenshots and sources as this rolls out across different countries.

If you’ve been focusing more on content-first, zero-click strategies already, this won’t feel like a huge shift. Facebook has been favouring value-led posts over link posts for a long time.

This isn’t live for everyone yet, so don’t panic, but it is one to be aware of.

As always with Meta…watch this space.

Thanks for the early Christmas present, Facebook! 😆

16/12/2025

Feeling like your content’s gone a bit quiet this season? It’s just the festive slowdown! 🎄

Everyone’s busy enjoying the festivities and shifting priorities. So, take some time to enjoy the season too! Keep going, and don’t take it to heart. Your content will sparkle back to life soon! 🌟

10/12/2025

Let’s be honest…most of us have used AI at some point this year.
When you’re juggling a business, clients, emails, workshops, dogs, life, of course you’re going to reach for anything that saves you a bit of time.

And AI can help. It’s brilliant for sparking ideas, doing quick research, getting you started when your brain is waiting for the caffeine to kick in.

While it is a great tool, it still can fall flat when it comes to your marketing. Copy–paste captions aren’t going to make your business stand out, and your audience doesn’t connect with “generic internet voice”. They connect with you!

It's your stories, tone, energy, experience and opinions that it can't recreate, and that’s exactly what makes your marketing actually work.

AI is a tool. A helpful one! But it’s not your strategy, it’s not your personality and it’s definitely not your community-building.

If you want support using AI in a way that saves you time without losing your authenticity, I can help you create a strategy and content plan that feels human, do-able and very you.

Because that’s what your audience shows up for.

04/12/2025

Yesterday was quite a day.
I delivered an Instagram for Business workshop, had a meeting with an existing client, another with a potential client, squeezed in a 2.5-hour virtual consultation…

…and then I passed my CIM assessment after completing my second CPD year, meaning I’m now officially a Chartered Marketer! 🎉

This is a huge moment for me. I’m honestly over the moon (and a little shocked it happened so quickly!). Being a Chartered Marketer isn’t just a title - it’s recognition of experience, ongoing professional development, high standards and a commitment to keeping my knowledge sharp in an industry that changes constantly.

And for the businesses I work with, it means you’re supported by someone who’s continuously training, learning and staying ahead of what actually matters in social media and marketing. It means proven expertise, reliable strategic thinking and someone who takes this profession seriously, so you can feel confident in the advice, support and direction you’re given.

It reflects the work I’ve put in over the years with Digital Flamingo, my students at the university and the incredible clients who trust me with their brand visibility.

I’m really proud of this one. It means a lot. And after the year I’ve had…it feels extra special.

Now back to work - with a very big smile today! 😊

CIM - The Chartered Institute of Marketing

02/12/2025

Hello December… even if I’m a day late to the party! 🎄 *Warning: This is a long one - grab a cuppa and a mince pie!*

It’s been tremendously busy already and I’m all for planning ahead, but I’ve always preferred my monthly posts to be rooted in right now - what’s happening, what’s coming up…and honestly, the answer is: everything, haha!

November didn’t let up for a second. I looked back at my calendar and realised I only had one free Friday (which I absolutely used to catch up). But I still carved out time to properly celebrate Thanksgiving with my husband, in our new house, with our new furry family member, who enjoyed his first turkey experience far more than he probably should have. It was such a lovely day to pause, reflect and eat pumpkin pie while remembering just how much there is to be grateful for this year.

And now…December. Whoooooa. 😱
First up, we’re wrapping up the modules I teach at Salford, which I’m genuinely sad about. It’s been such a great term watching students bring their ideas to life through their social media marketing projects. Then I’m presenting my final Instagram for Business workshop of the year this week.

Next week, it’s the Tameside Female Entrepreneurs Christmas Celebration, and I cannot wait to celebrate the year with some incredible local women in business. I know we have all achieved amazing things this year, and I can't wait to hear all about them!

And of course, there’s the classic end-of-year list: scheduling content over the festive period for clients. Everyone’s strategy looks different this time of year. Some are closing completely, others are staying open, but the vibe is the same: fun, easy, informative posts that keep things feeling festive without overwhelming anyone. And I’m on it (with help from my brilliant clients).

So, yes…it’s shaping up to be a very non-stop month, but it ends exactly how I like it: relaxation and an abundance of cheese. I’ll be off from 23rd December to 5th January, so there is plenty of time to try every new Christmas cheese I can find. 👀🧀

December isn’t the finish line though. The new year will be here before you know it - 30 days to be precise at the time of writing! If you want to step into January with clarity and confidence around your social strategy, now’s the time to chat.

Here’s to a December to remember for all the right reasons! 🎄

27/11/2025

Happy Thanksgiving! 🤎🧡

This year hasn’t been the easiest for me, but it’s one I’m really grateful for. A new house, a new four-legged family member, new networks, new faces, a busier-than-ever business and even being recognised as a finalist at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. It's a lot! ❤️

I’ve also loved being able to support and bring together local women in business (thank you, Katie!).

With all of that has come stress, chaos and the usual Digital Flamingo whirlwind, but today is the reminder I needed to stop and take a breath. I’m genuinely thankful for the friends, family and colleagues who’ve kept me going this year.

Now I’m off for pumpkin pie and a catch-up with my family back home in the States - fully back on Monday!

18/11/2025

🎄✨ The Tameside Female Entrepreneurs Christmas Celebration is officially a go! ✨🎄

Join us from 1-4pm on Thursday, 11th December where we’ve got an amazing afternoon lined up – networking, festive fun and plenty of time to celebrate all your wins from 2025 over a delicious festive menu, thanks to Graze Manchester! 🍰

This is the party that so many of us “teams of one” don’t get, and we want it to be inclusive for all female founders in Tameside, whether you’ve been with us from the very beginning or are new to the group. Come help us celebrate a brilliant year of achievements, collaborations and inspiration!

As this is a special event with food provided by Graze, there is a fee of £15 per person, which goes directly to cover the menu. Think of it as your ticket to a festive afternoon of cheer, good company and celebration! 🎉

Spaces are limited, so make sure you grab your spot and get ready for an afternoon to remember! Link below 👇

17/11/2025

Today is the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, and I am genuinely so sad to be missing it this year. If you’ve ever been, you’ll know it’s one of those nights that fills you with inspiration for months afterwards. and if this is your first time attending, you’re in for something unforgettable!

Being named a finalist for the third time still stops me in my tracks a bit. It’s one thing to believe in the work you do, but moments like this give you that extra boost of confidence and credibility that reminds you you’re moving in the right direction. When my Finalist certificate arrived, it honestly meant more than I expected. It was a lovely reminder of how far Digital Flamingo has come.

A huge thank you to the GBEA team for the recognition, and the biggest good luck to all the finalists tonight. Enjoy every second, soak in the atmosphere, and celebrate the incredible work that got you here. You’ve earned it.

13/11/2025

They say kindness is contagious, and while I completely agree, it’s just as important to remember one person in that chain: ourselves.

Showing kindness to others matters. Checking in on a client, offering a hand to a friend or even just smiling at someone in passing. These seemingly small gestures can stick far longer than we realise and make a real difference in someone’s day.

But it’s equally important to extend that kindness inward. Giving yourself a break, recognising your own efforts and being gentle with yourself isn’t selfish - it’s necessary. When we nurture ourselves, we’re better able to show up, connect and positively impact the people around us.

So today, on World Kindness Day, let’s do both: be mindful of how we treat others AND be intentional about being kind to ourselves. Because being kind to yourself is good for business, too. 💛

12/11/2025

Social media can quickly slip down the to-do list, but getting a plan in place now can make all the difference heading into the new year!

I’ve got just a handful of spaces for social media consultancy and training and just one for management (a rare thing!) - all designed to help businesses build confidence, consistency and results online while being authentically them. I daresay, I might even make it a bit of fun!

If you’d like some extra support or a fresh strategy before things get busy, I’d love to help. Send me a message and let’s have a chat about your business, your goals and how we might be able to work together in building meaningful relationships with your audience.

07/11/2025

01/11/2025

Hello Beautiful November!

October was certainly full-on here at DFHQ! I was lucky enough to sneak in a short break to London - not exactly relaxing, but being away from the laptop even for a little while made such a difference. And since being back, it’s been hectic but rewarding.

I know I say that a lot, but honestly, this is my favourite time of year, helping businesses ramp up their strategies and pivot where needed. Part of that is planning loads of content, and although it’s busy, the best part is getting creative and festive with it…and I am here for it! 🙌 Planning now means I can actually enjoy the spirit of the season, starting with American Thanksgiving (I still celebrate every year with pumpkin pie!) at the end of this month.

I do have limited availability this November, so if you’d like to book a Power Hour to tackle your strategy or content planning, now’s the time. Power Hours are completely tailored to your needs, whether that’s updating your strategy for this busy season or brainstorming content to fill out a do-able content calendar. One less thing to stress about while the seasonal craziness rolls in!

Let’s make this month a productive and festive one, without the overwhelm. 😊