#Performance marketing companies London

[startups-bar]

Why UK Startups Should Partner with Top Performance Marketing Agencies for PPC Success

In the fast-paced and highly competitive landscape of UK startups, achieving significant online visibility and growth can be challenging. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising is a powerful tool that can propel startups towards success by driving targeted traffic and generating leads quickly. However, mastering PPC advertising requires expertise and experience. This is where partnering with the best performance marketing agencies in the UK can make a significant difference. Here’s why UK startups should collaborate with top performance marketing agencies for PPC success.

Expertise in PPC Advertising

PPC advertising is a dynamic and complex field that demands a deep understanding of various platforms, bidding strategies, keyword research, and ad creation. The best performance marketing agencies in the UK, such as [Example Agency 1] and [Example Agency 2], have teams of specialists with extensive experience in PPC. These experts stay up-to-date with the latest trends and algorithm changes, ensuring that your PPC campaigns are optimized for maximum effectiveness.

Precise Targeting for Maximum Impact

One of the key advantages of PPC advertising is the ability to target specific audiences. Performance marketing specialists use advanced targeting techniques to ensure that your ads reach the right people at the right time. By analyzing demographics, interests, and online behaviors, these experts can create highly targeted campaigns that drive high-quality traffic to your website. This precision targeting is crucial for startups that need to make the most of limited marketing budgets.

Efficient Budget Management

Startups often operate with tight budgets, making efficient budget management essential. Top performance marketing agencies in the UK are skilled at maximizing ROI through careful budget allocation and continuous optimization. They monitor campaign performance in real-time, making necessary adjustments to bids and targeting to ensure that every penny is spent wisely. This level of expertise helps startups achieve their marketing goals without overspending.

Comprehensive Digital Marketing Integration

PPC advertising doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It works best when integrated with other digital marketing strategies such as display advertising, social media advertising, and search engine optimization (SEO). Leading performance marketing companies in London, like [Example Agency 3], offer comprehensive digital marketing solutions. By combining PPC with other tactics, these agencies create cohesive and powerful campaigns that amplify your online presence and drive better results.

Advanced Google Ads Management

Google Ads is a cornerstone of PPC advertising, offering immense reach and targeting capabilities. However, managing Google Ads effectively requires expertise and continuous optimization. The best performance marketing agencies in the UK excel in Google Ads management, conducting thorough keyword research, creating compelling ad copy, and optimizing campaigns for peak performance. Their expertise ensures that your ads appear prominently in search results, driving relevant traffic to your site.

Leveraging Facebook Ads Management

Social media platforms like Facebook offer additional avenues for PPC success. Facebook Ads management is another area where performance marketing specialist shine. By leveraging Facebook’s sophisticated targeting options, these experts can create personalized ads that resonate with your audience. This approach not only drives traffic but also enhances engagement and brand loyalty.

Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) for Enhanced Performance

Driving traffic to your website is only part of the equation. Converting that traffic into customers is the ultimate goal. Top performance marketing agencies in the UK focus on conversion rate optimization (CRO) to improve the effectiveness of your PPC campaigns. By analyzing user behavior, testing different landing pages, and implementing strategic changes, these agencies ensure that more of your visitors take the desired action, whether it’s making a purchase or filling out a contact form.

Tailored Solutions for Startups

Every startup is unique, with its own set of challenges and goals. Performance marketing agencies in the UK understand this and offer tailored solutions that align with your specific needs. Whether you’re looking to increase brand awareness, generate leads, or boost sales, these agencies create customized PPC strategies that deliver results. Their flexibility and adaptability make them ideal partners for startups in various stages of growth.

Building a Strong Online Presence

A strong online presence is crucial for startup success in today’s digital age. By partnering with the best performance marketing agencies in the UK, startups can build and maintain a robust online presence. These agencies use a combination of PPC, display advertising, social media advertising, and content marketing to ensure that your brand remains visible and engaging to your target audience.

Conclusion

For UK startups aiming to achieve rapid growth and online success, partnering with top performance marketing agencies is a strategic move. These agencies bring expertise, precision, and efficiency to PPC advertising, helping startups make the most of their marketing budgets and drive tangible results. With their comprehensive digital marketing solutions, including Google Ads management, Facebook Ads management, and conversion rate optimization, performance marketing specialists provide the support and guidance that startups need to thrive in a competitive market. By leveraging the expertise of the best performance marketing agencies in the UK, startups can navigate the complexities of PPC advertising and achieve their business objectives with confidence.

[kreativemachinez4]

Running Ads on Twitter? Don’t Make These 9 Mistakes

If you’re planning to run on Twitter as well, avoid these nine critical mistakes

[stylesnews]

FLORENCE, Italy – As Steven Stokey-Daley’s fall show in Florence during Pitti Uomo wrapped, the British designer, the 2022 recipient of the LVMH Prize for Young Designers, revealed longtime fan Harry Styles is acquiring a minority stake in the company.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Harry and I have a shared vision for the future of S.S. Daley and we look forward to this new chapter together as we focus on brand longevity and scaling the business into a modern British heritage house,” the designer, 26, said.

The pair was introduced by Styles’ stylist Harry Lambert, who masterminded the wardrobe for the artist’s “Golden” music video, outfitting him in Stokey-Daley’s graduate collection.

The investment is geared at building S.S. Daley’s direct-to-consumer business and forge ahead with plans for a “sustainable and long-term expansion,” the company said in a statement.

After graduating from the University of Westminster, Stokey-Daley made his London Fashion Week debut in September 2021 supported by the National Youth Theatre artistic director Paul Roseby, staging a four-part performance by members of the theater, riffing on British tailoring and tackling such topics as social class, inequality, school life, sexual awakening and homosexuality.

That same year, the S.S. Daley designer was among the recipients of the British Fashion Council’s Newgen initiative and was awarded again by the British fashion governing body the following year, with the BFC Foundation Awards.

The designer’s gender-fluid take on the uniforms of the British upper classes, such as wide-leg trousers, argyle-knit wool vests and embroidered shirts, appeals to a Gen-Z sensibility, and a growing female customer base. The brand is currently stocked in a handful of retailers, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Dover Street Market, Matchesfashion, Bergdorf Goodman, 10 Corso Como Seoul and I.T Store.

Attending the S.S. Daley show in Florence, Sir Paul Smith praised Stokey-Daley and said: “I think that the ideal thing [for him] would be to try and work in parallel with a commercial company that help him develop as a commercial designer, as well as creative designer. And of course, that’s what everybody dreams of. He has the balance between commerciality and creativity.”

“I think [his designs] might have had similarities in my earlier [career]… We are in 60-something countries now. So you have to be a lot more aware of commerciality and things that work for the shops especially right now because the business and around the world is so difficult for people,” Smith added.

Styles’ investment falls in line with a growing number of celebrities becoming brand shareholders. They include, among others, Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon who invested in Spanx; Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in skiwear maker Perfect Moment; Beyoncé, Jessica Alba and Rihanna in French accessories firm Destree; Mila Kunis, Cameron Diaz and Gabrielle Union in Autumn Adeigbo, and Mark Wahlberg in Italian sneaker brand P448.

[scotianostra]

July 13th 1900 saw the birth of Elizabeth “Bessie” Watson in Edinburgh.

Born just off the Grassmarket, at 11 The Vennel to Agnes Newton and Horatio Watson, Bessie did not take long to make her mark in the world, at the tender age of 9 she combined her two greatest loves: bagpiping and woman’s suffrage, the latter makes her arguably the youngest in Scotland, if not the world.

When she turned seven, Bessie’s aunt Margaret contracted tuberculosis – an incident which would change the youngster’s life forever. Margaret lived with the family, and Bessie’s parents, worried that she might fall ill to the contagious disease, encouraged her to take up the bagpipes in a bid to strengthen her weak lungs. Her first set of pipes was specially-produced according to her diminutive stature as she was too small to properly inflate an adult-sized bag. The half-sized set of pipes was purchased from Robertson’s pipe makers at 58 Grove Street. “I hurried home from school and carried it, in a brown paper parcel down to my (music) teacher”, Bessie recalled. As one of the very few female bagpipe players in the world at that time – not to mention one of the youngest – Bessie took to her new instrument with great enthusiasm.

Bessie had more than her bag pipe playing to make her worthy of a post here, while walking with her mother through the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland, Bessie stopped to look at the window of the Women’s Social and Political Union office. Bessie became excited about the idea of women receiving the right to vote, even though she wouldn’t be able to vote for many years.

Bessie realized that her talents could help promote votes for women. She would run from school each day to play her bagpipes outside of the Calton Jail in Edinburgh for fellow suffragettes in prison.

At the first suffrage pageant she performed at, she wore a sash with the words “Votes for Women” as she performed with her bagpipes. At the height of the suffragette movement, Bessie was playing at major demonstrations and parades for the Women’s Social and Political Union, including the famous procession through Edinburgh on 9th October 1909. On that day a large crowd watched as hundreds of banner-laden ladies, wearing the suffragist colours of purple, white and green, marched down Princes Street before congregating at Waverley Market for a rally led by Emmeline Pankhurst. Watson rode on a float beside a woman dressed as Isabella Duff, Countess of Buchan in her cage! Isabella is famed for crowning Robert the Bruce at Scone when he seized the Scottish crown, she was later captured with the Bruce family and held prisoner in a cage in the open air at Berwick for four years.

Back to oor Bessie, who just a ten year-old she travelled to London to play her bagpipes in a women’s march on June 17th, 1911. J ust a few weeks later, for George’s state visit to Edinburgh, Bessie, leading the 2nd Edinburgh Company of the Girl Guides, received recognition from the king himself as she raised her salute. Having secured regal acknowledgement in time for her 11th birthday, Scotland’s youngest female piper continued in her quest to support women’s rights, accompanying inmates bound for Holloway Prison to Waverley Station and playing the pipes as their trains departed.

For the part she played in Edinburgh’s historic women’s rights pageant of 1909, young Bessie received a special gift from one very prominent individual. Christabel Pankhurst (daughter of Emmeline) came to Edinburgh to address a meeting at the King’s Theatre and Bessie was invited to attend. During the evening she was presented with a brooch representing Queen Boadicea (Boudica) in her chariot, as a token of gratitude for her help in the pageant.

During WWI, Bessie was just a teenager and used her talents to make a difference in other ways. She began helping the Scots Guard to recruit army volunteers by playing her bagpipes

In 1926 Bessie moved with her parents to a new house on Clark Road, Trinity where she would remain for the rest of her days. Following her marriage to electrical contractor John Somerville at the end of the Second World War, Bessie devoted her life to teaching music and foreign languages. Former neighbours recall that, even into her late eighties, Bessie continued to play her bagpipes at 11am every morning. It was something she had always done.

Bessie died in 1992, two and a half weeks short of her 92nd birthday. Over the course of her long life she had experienced almost a century of social progression and upheaval, and had played her part in changing the world for the better.

A pictorial tribute was unveiled at The Vennel in Edinburgh on August 1st 2019 in memory of Bessie, the University of Edinburgh also have a lecture room named in her honour.

[justforbooks]

The actor Michael Jayston, who has died aged 88, was a distinguished performer on stage and screen. The roles that made his name were as the doomed Tsar Nicholas II of Russia in Franklin Schaffner’s sumptuous account of the last days of the Romanovs in Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), and as Alec Guinness’s intelligence minder in John Le Carré’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy on television in 1979. He never made a song and dance about himself and perhaps as a consequence was not launched in Hollywood, as were many of his contemporaries.

Before these two parts, he had already played a key role in The Power Game on television and Henry Ireton, Cromwell’s son-in-law, in Ken Hughes’s fine Cromwell (1969), with Richard Harris in the title role and Guinness as King Charles I. And this followed five years with the Royal Shakespeare Company including a trip to Broadway in Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming, in which he replaced Michael Bryant as Teddy, the brother who returns to the US and leaves his wife in London to “take care of” his father and siblings.

Jayston, who was not flamboyantly good-looking but clearly and solidly attractive, with a steely, no-nonsense, demeanour and a steady, piercing gaze, could “do” the Pinter menace as well as anyone, and that cast – who also made the 1973 movie directed by Peter Hall – included Pinter’s then wife, Vivien Merchant, as well as Paul Rogers and Ian Holm.

Jayston had found a replacement family in the theatre. Born Michael James in Nottingham, he was the only child of Myfanwy (nee Llewelyn) and Vincent; his father died of pneumonia, following a serious accident on the rugby field, when Michael was one, and his mother died when he was a barely a teenager. He was then brought up by his grandmother and an uncle, and found himself involved in amateur theatre while doing national service in the army; he directed a production of The Happiest Days of Your Life.

He continued in amateur theatre while working for two years as a trainee accountant for the National Coal Board and in Nottingham fish market, before winning a scholarship, aged 23, to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he was five years older than everyone else on his course. He played in rep in Bangor, Northern Ireland, and at the Salisbury Playhouse before joining the Bristol Old Vic for two seasons in 1963.

At the RSC from 1965, he enjoyed good roles – Oswald in Ghosts, Bertram in All’s Well That Ends Well, Laertes to David Warner’s Hamlet – and was Demetrius in Hall’s film of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1968), with Warner as Lysander in a romantic foursome with Diana Rigg and Helen Mirren.

But his RSC associate status did not translate itself into the stardom of, say, Alan Howard, Warner, Judi Dench, Ian Richardson and others at the time. He was never fazed or underrated in this company, but his career proceeded in a somewhat nebulous fashion, and Nicholas and Alexandra, for all its success and ballyhoo, did not bring him offers from the US.

Instead, he played Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1972), a so-so British musical film version with music and lyrics by John Barry and Don Black, with Michael Crawford as the White Rabbit and Peter Sellers the March Hare. In 1979 he was a colonel in Zulu Dawn, a historically explanatory prequel to the earlier smash hit Zulu.

As an actor he seemed not to be a glory-hunter. Instead, in the 1980s, he turned in stylish and well-received leading performances in Noël Coward’s Private Lives, at the Duchess, opposite Maria Aitken (1980); as Captain von Trapp in the first major London revival of The Sound of Music at the Apollo Victoria in 1981, opposite Petula Clark; and, best of all, as Mirabell, often a thankless role, in William Gaskill’s superb 1984 revival, at Chichester and the Haymarket, of The Way of the World, by William Congreve, opposite Maggie Smith as Millamant.

Nor was he averse to taking over the leading roles in plays such as Peter Shaffer’s Equus (1973) or Brian Friel’s Dancing at Lughnasa (1992), roles first occupied in London by Alec McCowen. He rejoined the National Theatre – he had been Gratiano with Laurence Olivier and Joan Plowright in The Merchant of Venice directed by Jonathan Miller in 1974 – to play a delightful Home Counties Ratty in the return of Alan Bennett’s blissful, Edwardian The Wind in the Willows in 1994.

On television, he was a favourite side-kick of David Jason in 13 episodes of David Nobbs’s A Bit of a Do (1989) – as the solicitor Neville Badger in a series of social functions and parties across West Yorkshire – and in four episodes of The Darling Buds of May (1992) as Ernest Bristow, the brewery owner. He appeared again with Jason in a 1996 episode of Only Fools and Horses.

He figured for the first time on fan sites when he appeared in the 1986 Doctor Who season The Trial of a Time Lord as Valeyard, the prosecuting counsel. In the new millennium he passed through both EastEnders and Coronation Street before bolstering the most lurid storyline of all in Emmerdale (2007-08): he was Donald de Souza, an unpleasant old cove who fell out with his family and invited his disaffected wife to push him off a cliff on the moors in his wheelchair, but died later of a heart attack.

By now living on the south coast, Jayston gravitated easily towards Chichester as a crusty old colonel – married to Wendy Craig – in Coward’s engaging early play Easy Virtue, in 1999, and, three years later, in 2002, as a hectored husband, called Hector, to Patricia Routledge’s dotty duchess in Timberlake Wertenbaker’s translation of Jean Anouilh’s Léocadia under the title Wild Orchids.

And then, in 2007, he exuded a tough spirituality as a confessor to David Suchet’s pragmatic pope-maker in The Last Confession, an old-fashioned but gripping Vatican thriller of financial and political finagling told in flashback. Roger Crane’s play transferred from Chichester to the Haymarket and toured abroad with a fine panoply of senior British actors, Jayston included.

After another collaboration with Jason, and Warner, in the television movie Albert’s Memorial (2009), a touching tale of old war-time buddies making sure one of them is buried on the German soil where first they met, and a theatre tour in Ronald Harwood’s musicians-in-retirement Quartet in 2010 with Susannah York, Gwen Taylor and Timothy West, he made occasional television appearances in Midsomer Murders, Doctors and Casualty. Last year he provided an introduction to a re-run of Tinker Tailor on BBC Four. He seemed always to be busy, available for all seasons.

As a keen cricketer (he also played darts and chess), Jayston was a member of the MCC and the Lord’s Taverners. After moving to Brighton, he became a member of Sussex county cricket club and played for Rottingdean, where he was also president.

His first two marriages – to the actor Lynn Farleigh in 1965 and the glass engraver Heather Sneddon in 1970 – ended in divorce. From his second marriage he had two sons, Tom and Ben, and a daughter, Li-an. In 1979 he married Ann Smithson, a nurse, and they had a son, Richard, and daughter, Katie.

🔔 Michael Jayston (Michael James), actor, born 29 October 1935; died 5 February 2024

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[rhapsodynew]

Freddie Mercury made his debut 55 years ago. And it wasn't Queen

In 1969, the Ibex group was founded in Liverpool, where 22-year-old Farrukh Bulsara became the vocalist. By that time, he had already graduated London College of Art in Ealing and change several jobs. At one point he worked as a porter at Heathrow Airport, and at another he sold clothes at Kensington Market.

However, Farrukh Bulsar's thoughts were far beyond the market stalls. In August 1969, he met the musicians of the Ibex band, which was part progressive, part heavy blues band. They had played their first concert just a few months earlier, in May. At that time, Ibex consisted of Mike Bersin on guitar, John Taylor on bass and Mick Smith on drums. Most importantly, they were willing to consider bringing in a new vocalist and embrace some of his new ideas.

Just ten days later, Bulsara had already mastered the band's setlist, added a few moments of his own and traveled to Bolton and Lancashire to perform in front of an audience.

On September 9, 1969, the Ibex band performed at the club "With Sink" in Liverpool, where they performed an encore Brian May and Roger Taylor. It was their first concert together. At that time May and Taylor was a member of the band Smile, which also included Tim Staffell is Farrukh Bulsara's college friend.

Farrukh quickly became a fan of the Smile band, and this joint concert was his last as a member of the Ibex group. He joined the band Sour Milk Sea, which disbanded just a month later.

Sour Milk Sea

Then Farrukh Bulsara had to return to his former band, which was now called Wreckage.

The Ibex band, like Wreckage, have not recorded a single studio album, but a couple of demo recordings have been preserved - a song called "Green" and a cover version of "Rain" by The Beatles. Both of them were included in the album "The Solo Collection" by Mercury, released posthumously in 2000.

The Wreckage band did not last long either, and after its breakup in November 1969, Farrukh Bulsara joined the company of his friends in the Smile band.

Farrukh, always bubbling with ideas, suggested renaming the band Queen, and took the pseudonym Freddie Mercury for himself.

A long twenty-year history has begun...

Much later, Ibex guitarist Mike Bersin in a conversation with a historian Queen John S. Stewart said:

 "We thought that as a trio it would be enough for us to play fairly simple music and not worry too much about stage skills. But Freddie was different. He's always been a star. He was much better at organizing shows and entertaining people."

According to Bersina, Freddie was the "most musical" of all the Ibex band members.

"He learned to play the piano and could write on black keys," explained Bersin. "He said, 'We're never going to achieve anything by playing all this three-chord blues nonsense, we need to write some songs.' A few things came out of it, but now they're all gone."

In particular, concert recordings of such covers as "Crossroads", "Communication Breakdown", "Jailhouse Rock", "We're Going Wrong" were lost.

Yes, it's a pity that these records were not preserved, but in the end, everything turned out as well as possible. And we all know that for sure now.

Mike Bersin added to everything:

 "Freddie knew what he wanted. That's why he became an international star. It wasn't an accident. It happened because that's what he wanted to be from the moment I first met him. He had a purpose and an aspiration."

And that's great!

[edwinadaily]

COSMOPOLITAN UK | A few weeks ago, Charithra Chandran was having a dinner party with some of her oldest friends. A few of them work in advertising and marketing, another is a doctor, one is a lawyer. None work in ‘the industry’. ‘Have I changed?’ Chandran asked them, as plates were cleared and wine glasses topped up. Their answer was unanimous. ‘No way.’ ‘In fact,’ one joked, ‘it’s actually sad how little character development there’s been.’ They all laughed. ‘Sometimes dickish things come out of your mouth like, “I’ve got a fitting with Dior next week!” Look, your life might have changed, but you certainly haven’t.’

Their words reassured Chandran of something she already knew. In just two life-changing years, she had gone from being a philosophy, politics and economics graduate preparing to start a job in management consultancy, to playing a lead in one of the biggest TV shows of the past decade. In the year since she appeared in Bridgerton’s second series, caught in a love triangle with Jonathan Bailey’s Anthony Bridgerton and Simone Ashley’s Kate Sharma, her trajectory has shown no signs of slowing down. This year, she stars in a handful of films including Good Intentions, a short with Micheal Ward (who you’ll know from the Oscar-nominated Empire Of Light), as well as playing the lead in teen rom-com How To Date Billy Walsh. And just a few weeks ago, she was in India with Ashley for the Dior pre-fall show (hence the fitting), which she describes as ‘special and incredible’. But while 26-year-old Chandran may be sitting front row, booking lead roles and appearing on magazine covers, she still feels like that same wide-eyed graduate, the one with no idea what would come next.

‘My life just feels so... normal?’ says Chandran, over a builder’s tea in one of her favourite central London cafes, her hair slicked back in a silk headscarf. 'That is the number one thing that has left me feeling sane. I worry that if my personal life was fully in this world, these crazy experiences would start to feel normal. I need to be surrounded by people not involved in the craziness.'

Most of her friends – like the ones at the dinner party – are from school and university, and the industry friendships she has tend to be with older women, including her Bridgerton cast mates Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte) and Shelley Conn, who played her mother in the series. ‘We hang out all the time. We go see shows; we grab tea or dinner. Golda’s so cool, sometimes I wonder why she wants to hang out with me. Shelley is literally like my older sister; I’m super close with her family. They both give me advice constantly about how to hold yourself in the industry. They provide perspective as well; they’ve been in it for so long, and they’re both women of colour; they remind me how far we’ve come and how far we have to go. Everything that I go through, they’ve been through it tenfold. I really rely on their counsel.’

The road to Bridgerton

Chandran auditioned for the show in 2020 before the first series had aired. At the time, her career as an actor was precarious. She’d loved performing for as long as she could remember (‘I was that annoying kid who always wanted to be the centre of attention’), acting throughout school and university, even performing in the West End with youth theatre companies, but she’d never really considered it as a viable career. ‘I never even talked about wanting to act because I felt embarrassed. Saying you wanted to be a professional actor felt like saying you wanted to be prime minister or an astronaut.’ Her reasons were twofold. The first was a lack of South Asian representation on screen and stage, – ‘For a long time I didn’t really have any inspiration to look towards,’ she says – and the second was familial expectation. ‘I’m the literal opposite of a nepo baby. My parents are doctors; we didn’t know any actors or journalists. Anyone who’s not a medic was foreign territory for us.’

Though her parents hoped Chandran would follow them into the profession, she credits their progressive attitudes with giving her the courage to follow her dreams. ‘They always expected academic excellence, but they gave me so much freedom and trust. I don’t know if that was an active choice or [if] it was because they were immigrants, junior doctors and single parents who didn’t have time to be focused on me 24/7. Either way, they really let me be me.’

Being herself meant giving acting a serious shot before starting the management consultancy job. She deferred the start date for a year and, in between working as a tutor and running a food bank, spent time crafting a CV and a showreel to try to get professional representation. Her graft paid off, and she signed to an agent who began to get her auditions for film and TV roles. Her first was a Bollywood dancer in the star-studded Marvel film Eternals, which Chandran landed after finding an advert on Instagram, helmed by the likes of Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden and Salma Hayek. On set, it was Kumail Nanjiani who really stood out for Chandran. ‘Being on a proper movie set with this fellow brown actor looking buff felt amazing. He treated us with so much kindness and grace.’

Shortly after, Chandran landed a role in Amazon Prime’s Alex Rider series, and then came her even bigger break: Bridgerton. The process was turbulent. The world had gone into lockdown and after a handful of virtual auditions for Ashley’s role (Kate), Chandran was told she looked too young for the part. Months later, out of the blue, she was approached again, and by that point, season one was already out and the show was a breakout hit that became the most-viewed English-language series onNetflix at the time. ‘While they continued looking for Kate, they had me on the back burner. I’d got a part in another show, so I was like, you know, okay, I love the sound of Bridgerton, butI have [other] work so, whatever. And then season one came out and I was like, “Oh, man! It’s such a good show. I would have loved to get that!”’ This time, the team wanted her to audition for the role of Kate’s younger sister, Edwina Sharma. ‘I desperately wanted to be in the show, but I didn’t want to do it solely for that – which is such an ego trip! I only had one credit at the time. But I was fully being like, “Okay, tell me more about the role...’ So I read for it, and then I didn’t hear about anything for months. I was like, “Okay, well, clearly it’s over!”’

Then, one afternoon, while helping out in her mum’s allotment, she received a call asking her to audition with Bailey and Ashley. ‘I didn’t even realise I was still in the running. But the chemistry read was so special. I remember they looked so beautiful on Zoom. The lighting was amazing, and I was in my dingy dining room in the dark. I thought, “Okay, I need to step up my game.”’ Clearly she was already bringing her A-game because she landed the part.

Surviving the spotlight

Bridgerton has a habit of launching the stellar careers of its leads. Almost overnight, season one’s Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page went from emerging actors to household names. ‘So many of the cast members who’d been through it were like, Charithra, get a therapist because this is crazy,’ she remembers. She took their advice, and while therapy has been invaluable, nothing could truly prepare her for such a life-altering experience. She cites events in particular as ‘anxiety-inducing’, explaining, ‘There’s an impostor syndrome there. I leave and I want to cry every time!’ It sounds intense, and the internet’s opinions only exacerbated it. ‘I think when anyone is first exposed to this [fame] on the level that I was, they read the comments, they google themselves. And when you read the really aggressive ones – I know this sounds dramatic – but you feel really vulnerable. I’m a normal person – I’m taking the bus, I’m taking the Tube. You’re thinking all it takes is one person being slightly too deranged and trying to hunt you down... It took me like a solid four months to [get] through that.’

When it comes to social media generally, and whether she feels any pressure with what she posts and the persona she presents, Chandran is typically low-key. ‘I’m not famous enough for people to care about me enough to feel that now! I’m not thinking to myself at any point, “I wonder how the public will receive it.” Maybe I should! But even if – fingers crossed – I continue to do really cool things, and I do get more famous, I’m a very open person. I’m not trying to hide anything. I’m very active on social media and I share loads of parts of my life. But that’s what I’d be doing anyway, even if I wasn’t doing this. I don’t do things differently because I have a platform.’

One thing she is clear on: she doesn’t read negative comments any more and focuses her attention on what a powerful impact the series has had, particularly for young women of colour. ‘I get so much energy and enrichment when I meet someone who’s watched it and tells me how much seeing Simone and me on the show means to them.’ She adds, ‘She is so beautiful. We both went through a baptism of fire together, so we really bonded for life over this very seismic experience that we had. We’re connected by something so big.’

Chandran is clearly proud of the show, however not all responses to Bridgerton have been positive. While the Shonda Rhimes Regency-era romance has largely been praised for the diversity of its stars, some critics have questioned the casting, suggesting it’s tokenistic and that the characters of colour aren’t afforded sufficient context or cultural recognition and could just as easily have been played by a white actor. ‘It’s not a perfect show,’ says Chandran. ‘No one’s out here saying this is a perfect representation of anything. If we were to do it again, I’m sure we’d make certain different decisions, but it’s a damn good try. And it’s a really bold try. Let’s enjoy the fact that we have this and continue striving for more.’

Chandran says some of the commentary that bothered her the most were ‘the comments that said I only got to where I am because I’m Eurocentric or I’m white-passing. That really bugged me because all my life I’ve had to face prejudice for not being those things. I have a quintessentially Tamil face, not even Indian, people can place me as a Tamil. You open books, you go to a temple, you see the pictures and paintings; they look like this. So it’s like, bro, I didn’t go through prejudice and discrimination for you to now belittle my identity. When the show was coming out, that’s all I could focus on.’

From Regency to romance

As she gears up for the release of her next project, How To Date Billy Walsh, this time around, her feeling is one of excitement. She plays Amelia, a precocious teenager who, much like her Bridgerton character, finds herself caught up in an unlikely love triangle with her best friend Archie (played by Heartstopper’s Sebastian Croft) and an elusive new student (Cobra Kai’s Tanner Buchanan). The film brims with all the fun, campness and nostalgia of a classic romcom. ‘We wanted to make something that was really timeless,’ says Chandran. ‘My cousins who are 12 and 13 are still watching Clueless, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. We wanted to do something fun and heart-warming that harked back to the 90s.’

While classic teen romances are praised for their charm, they’re less celebrated for their diversity. As a woman of colour, did it feel like a big deal to be at the helm of a high school romcom? ‘I think it’s so interesting because what I really loved and appreciated was how not a big deal it felt, and I think that’s a real testament to all the people that have come before me, all the directors, producers, actors who have paved the way. I love representing my culture, and I love playing characters who are culturally specific to me,’ she says, ‘but on the flipside, I also enjoy playing a normal person where the story isn’t just about her being Indian. That is what I want for my career as well. I want to do things about race that start important conversations, and things about love and friendship. I don't want to be a one-trick pony.' When choosing roles, she says her approach is simply to find characters who feel truthful. 'The times I've said no are if it perpetuates bad or lazy stereotypes, if it's a character I've already seen before.'

As a romantic lead, her performance is effortless. Amelia is a plucky teenager who reels through the full spectrum of emotions when she develops a crush on the titular character, faces off against bullies and navigates some complicated feelings towards her best friend. Her portrayal of a girl caught in the full throes of an all-consuming crush is vibrant and hilarious, but she also imbues Amelia with a real sense of vulnerability.

Chandran shares some of Amelia's confidence and her thirst for new experiences, but her own memories of dating as a teenager were quite different. rowing up in Oxford, she went to an all-girls school. Most weekends involved house parties with boys from the neighbouring schools, where she would be the only one to get, ‘no attention from the guys,’ she remembers. ‘I thought, "Maybe they’re just not attracted to brown girls." I’m curvy; Indian women tend to have curves and fat in different places. All my friends were white and skinny. It was confusing, but I never took it personally. I used to wonder, is it because they see a brown girl and think, “Oh, she probably can't drink, she’s probably really prudish” – what assumptions were they making just from the colour of my skin?’

While she was at university, one of the boys who had been on the same teen house-party circuit messaged her on Facebook. 'This is a guy I’d seen every weekend for almost two years. He said I was cute and asked me how we knew each other. What’s mad is that I didn’t go to uni and have some glow-up. I looked exactly the same at 19 as I had at 15.’ She believes his sudden interest reflected a broader cultural shift towards diversity. ‘By that time, there were more Black and brown women in magazines and in lead roles on TV. I realised, "Oh, I'm trendy. So now you see there’s an attractiveness there. Because I objectively know I don't look different." That kind of shit happened quite a few times.’

Needless to say, Chandan ghosted the message. ‘I’m not a trend,' she says with a playful eye-roll. In life after Bridgerton, she admits dating can be difficult to navigate. She doesn’t use apps because ‘even before the show, people would see me on Instagram or google me. Which we all do, it's fine... but it started to get weird. So it is harder to meet people, but I don't think I'm famous or successful enough to ever have to worry that someone’s dating me for clout’. Plus, she knows what's important in a potential partner. ‘If I think about what kind of person I want to date, the number one thing I'll say is that they need to be a feminist. I'm a feminist, I'm an advocate for women. I went to a girls school, my family is a matriarchy.’

Dating aside, the fact that Chandran’s life hasn’t changed all that much is a testament to her ability to keep both feet on the ground. There’s also perhaps the knowledge that, should she ever find herself changed by fame, her best friends will absolutely be there to bring her back to reality at the next dinner party. ‘They're the most important people to me’ she says. ‘I love to be surrounded by women. I love the men in my life, but I just prefer women. Women made me feel safe, they make me feel heard.'

[lenbryant]

(Long rePost) "Blood in the water"

How SAG-AFTRA strike will create global havoc for Hollywood - Los Angeles Times

SAG-AFTRA members picket outside Netflix in Hollywood on Friday, the first day of the union’s strike — and first such walkout in 43 years.

(Myung Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Hollywood top executives figured they could ride out a skirmish with screenwriters reeling from technology’s changes to the industry.

But few executives were prepared for — or wanted — a strike by the industry’s largest union, SAG-AFTRA, which represents 160,000 actors and other performers. 

After talks over a new contract collapsed last week, throngs of performers joined writers on picket lines — plunging Los Angeles’ signature industry into chaos and further complicating what some fear could become a long and devastating strike.

Movie shoots have ground to a halt. A-list stars have bailed on film and TV marketing campaigns. Matt Damon, Cillian Murphy and other actors walked outduring Thursday night’s London premiere of Universal Pictures’ highly anticipated “Oppenheimer.” 

The upcoming fall TV season could sputter, devoid of new scripted episodes of “Abbott Elementary,” “Law & Order: SVU” and “NCIS.” And media companies that were already struggling to compete in the streaming era could see their fortunes further sink.

“There’s going to be a lot of blood in the water,” Jonathan Taplin, director emeritus of USC’s Annenberg Innovation Lab, said. “This is not going to end well.”

Simultaneous strikes by the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists — the first joint work stoppage since Ronald Reagan led SAG in 1960 — couldn’t come at a worse time for traditional entertainment companies.

Their businesses haven’t fully recovered from pandemic shutdowns. Walt Disney Co., Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery have been grappling with heavy debt loads due to mergers, and also from ordering dozens of shows to ramp up their streaming services. All the while, linear broadcast and cable TV networks have witnessed a precipitous slide in viewers to Netflix and other streaming services.

“The economics of the industry are very challenging — the worst that we’ve ever seen,” veteran media analyst Michael Nathanson said. “A prolonged strike will only make things worse.”

Amid a nationwide rise in labor activity, Hollywood’s discord has taken on the trappings of a larger cultural clash, ostensibly pitting everyday workers against top wage earners, America’s 1%. 

On picket lines and social media sites, richly compensated industry leaders, including Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger and Warner Bros. Discovery Chief David Zaslav, are being portrayed as cartoon villains.

Outside Disney’s Burbank headquarters on Friday, a striking worker hoisted a sign that depicted Iger’s face superimposed on a hand-drawn Marie Antoinette figure, holding a raspberry-colored confection under the words: “How about sharing some of that cake, Bob?” 

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, center, and SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, left, outside Netflix on Friday. 

(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, best known for starring in the 1990s sitcom “The Nanny,” has been celebrated among striking workers after her rousing speech Thursday to announce her board’s unanimous vote to call a strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the organization that negotiates on behalf of the media companies.

Actors are seeking higher minimum pay, increased residuals and revenue sharing with the streamers. They’ve demanded protections against the use of artificial intelligence to simulate background actors, known as “extras.” Writers have made similar demands, saying since the rise of streaming, midlevel writers have struggled to make a living wage.

“The entire business model has been changed because of streaming, digital and AI,” Drescher said. “At some point, you have to say ‘no, we’re not going to take this anymore.’”

The AMPTP defended the offer the group had made to actors, including what it said was the highest percentage increase in pay minimums in 35 years and a “groundbreaking” proposal for AI protections. 

“A strike is certainly not the outcome we hoped for as studios cannot operate without the performers that bring our TV shows and films to life,” the AMPTP said. “The union has regrettably chosen a path that will lead to financial hardship for countless thousands of people who depend on the industry.”

It’s not clear when bargaining sessions with the actors might resume. No talks are currently scheduled. 

AMPTP negotiators haven’t met with the WGA in more than two months.

Taplin, a former film producer who wrote a book about artificial intelligence, “The End of Reality: How Four Billionaires Are Selling Out Our Future,” said the threat posed by technology “for all artistic production is gigantic.”

“People worry, in the abstract, about AI replacing workers but here it is, it’s actually happening,” Taplin said. “They don’t want to have to pay for extras anymore, so they could have a scene that has 5,000 AI extras in the background.”

Technology also has upset Hollywood’s hierarchy. AMPTP’s shifting makeup now includes tech giants Amazon, Apple and Netflix — companies that don’t have a tradition of collective bargaining.

Veteran executives said the group, even in good economic times, formed an uneasy alliance. Member companies, including Disney, Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Netflix, are more accustomed to battling one another for viewers and revenue. 

And some in Hollywood have wondered whether the AMPTP’s shifting makeup will stand in the way of a deal. 

When reached for comment, AMPTP spokesperson Scott Rowe said: “The companies remain completely united.”

But unlike past strikes, including the 100-day standoff between writers and studios in 2007-2008, no leading executive has emerged to help broker labor peace.

Director Steven Spielberg, left, Disney CEO Bob Iger and director James Cameron in January. 

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Wall Street already has placed its bets, punishing the stocks of legacy media companies. 

Since the writers’ strike began in May, Disney’s stock has fallen 13% to $88.62 a share. Paramount has dropped more than 30% to $15.96 a share, and Warner Bros. Discovery has declined nearly 7% to $12.40. 

Shares of WBD, which owns HBO and CNN, closed at $12.40 on Friday, down nearly 50% since April 2022 when the smaller Discovery absorbed WarnerMedia — a deal that saddled the company with more than $45 billion in debt. 

In contrast, Netflix shares have soared 36% to $441.91 since the writers’ strike began.

Netflix now boasts a higher market value — nearly $200 billion — than Disney, the world’s largest entertainment company, which is valued at $162 billion. 

“Investors are saying Netflix can weather the storm,” Nathanson said. “They make a lot of shows, and stack them up because of the binge-viewing model. They also have a lot more international production that they can import.” 

Disney’s boss, Iger, appeared on business channel CNBC last week from the annual media mogul conference in picturesque Sun Valley, Idaho. The executive, who returned to the company in November, acknowledged that he underestimated the challenges confronting his company — particularly in the traditional television business.

“The disruptive forces that have been preying on that business for a while are greater than I thought,” Iger said. “We have to come to grips with that.”

Disney already has slashed nearly 7,000 jobs this year in an effort to save $5.5 billion. And in a nod to the changing winds, Iger suggested Disney might consider shedding linear channels, perhaps even the ABC television network. 

The company, he said, also is open to taking on a strategic partner for ESPN. 

Disney’s sports empire remains lucrative, but it is plagued by the trend of consumers ditching cable and satellite subscriptions in favor of streaming apps. At some point, the company plans to offer ESPN directly to consumers — but Iger didn’t say when.

“We’re seeing accelerated cord cutting as people are dropping the cable bundle,” Nathanson said. “And advertisers are no longer supporting the networks as they have in the past.” 

Broadcast networks — ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox — are expected to be hit hard by the twin strikes because they are most reliant on fresh programming. Late-night comedians, including ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel and CBS’ Stephen Colbert, have been off the air since early May, when the writers’ strike began.

If the two walkouts are not resolved before October, there probably won’t be any new scripted shows produced until next year, according to company insiders. 

And that could be devastating at a time when traditional networks are struggling to hold on to viewers.

“The networks have sports and news but a lot of their constituents are there to watch the prime-time shows,” said Neil Begley, a senior vice president for Moody’s Investors Service. “Among those viewers, there’s an expectation that fall is the start of the new season. The networks are going to have to reach far and wide for content to fill those hours.”

Compounding matters, this year’s annual TV advertising market, when TV networks sell their commercial time for the new season, has been sluggish.

“Advertisers don’t know what type of programming they’re going to get with these strikes,” Begley said. “They’re saying: Why commit?”

Privately, company executives say their businesses won’t feel much financial pain for several months. Without widespread production, costs will be lower, which translates into higher profits — at least in the short term.

Studios also are expected to begin canceling TV writers’ overall deals to find more savings.

But eventually, networks and streamers will run low on original episodes and media executives will be motivated to reach a detente.

“You can’t get by without actors,” Begley said. “The actors’ strike gave more leverage to the writers.”

Analysts and veteran executives said the market is straining to support all of the streaming services — and shows to stock them — launched in the last five or so years. Hollywood, they say, could look dramatically different after the strikes get resolved.

“Consolidation is going to happen,” predicted Nathanson. “Perhaps the strike will accelerate those moves as the weakness sets in. Some of these players are going to get weaker.”

Times staff writers Richard Verrier, Yvonne Villarreal, Ryan Faughnder, Stephen Battaglio and Anousha Sakoui contributed to this report.

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

STILL THE MOST (IN)FAMOUS GEISHA GIRLS IN THE HISTORY OF ROCK MUSIC.

PIC(S) INFO: (L to R): Spotlight on Kuniko Okamura and Michi Hirota, members of Japan's Red Buddha Theatre/dance company, photographed by American photo-artist Karl Stoecker for glam rock/art rock band SPARKS "Kimono My House" LP sleeve cover art, c. 1974.

MADELINE BOCARO: "Who were the two geishas on the cover, or were they actually guys in drag?"

RUSSELL MAEL: "The two girls were members of a Japanese dance company touring England in 1974. They are women, not men, not Ron, not me. We were very happy that Island Records allowed us not to have the name of the band nor the album title on the front cover. We thought the image alone would speak loudly enough. Try to get a company to go along with that concept today."

SLEEVE ART MINI-OVERVIEW: "The "Kimono My House" album cover, featuring two slightly askew kimono-clad geishas with absolutely no mention of the band at all, has been voted among the best album covers of all time in almost every poll taken. Beck named it again in the November 2001 issue of "Vanity Fair."

Island Records’ Marketing Director Tim Clark fashioned his promotional strategy for Sparks after the one he had implemented with ROXY MUSIC. “The very name SPARKS meant to us that the music would lend itself to a very glossy and arty feel.”  The photographer of Roxy’s glamorous album covers, Karl Stoecker and art director Nicholas de Ville were recruited to create the iconic cover of Kimono My House, though the concept of the goofy geishas was completely Ron Mael’s idea."

PART II: The two garish geishas on the cover of "Kimono My House" with smeared makeup and disheveled hair were the antithesis of Roxy’s classy covers. They laughed in the face of cover art, while at the same time making history as one of its greatest examples! One of them seems to foresee this – with a wink! The chosen cover photo was actually an outtake, shot near the end of the photo session.

It has been voted among the best album covers of all time in almost every poll taken. Beck named it again in the November 2001 issue of "Vanity Fair." The models, Michi Hirota and Kuniko Okamura were from Japan’s Red Buddha Theatre headed by Stomu Yamashta performing in London at the time. The geisha on the right is Michi Hirota, who also provides the memorable abrasive spoken Japanese vocals on the song "It’s No Game (Part 1)" on David Bowie’s "Scary Monsters" album, 1980."

-- MADELINE X (Madeline Bocaro blogspot), "SPARKS’ Iconic Album Cover – "Kimono My House," retrospective, c. 2015

Source: www.madelinex.com/2014/12/25/sparks-iconic-album-cover-kimono-my-house.

[startups-bar]

Facebook Ads Management: Expert Tips from the Best Performance Marketing Agencies in London

In the dynamic world of digital marketing, Facebook Ads Management stands out as a crucial component for driving brand success. As one of the most powerful social media advertising platforms, Facebook offers unparalleled reach and targeting capabilities. To harness its full potential, many businesses turn to the best performance marketing agencies in London. These experts not only excel in Facebook Ads Management but also integrate their strategies with PPC advertising, display advertising, and conversion rate optimization to maximize results. Here are some expert tips from leading performance marketing agencies in the UK.

Understanding Your Audience

The cornerstone of any successful Facebook Ads campaign is a deep understanding of your target audience. The best performance marketing agencies in the UK invest significant time in audience research. They utilize Facebook’s advanced targeting options to define demographics, interests, and behaviors. This precision ensures that ads are displayed to users most likely to engage and convert, optimizing the ad spend for maximum ROI.

Crafting Compelling Ad Creative

Creative is king in the realm of social media advertising. Top performance marketing specialists know that engaging visuals and compelling copy are essential for capturing attention. They employ A/B testing to compare different ad creatives and identify what resonates best with the audience. This iterative approach helps refine the messaging and visuals, driving higher engagement rates and better overall performance.

Utilizing Facebook’s Advanced Features

Facebook offers a plethora of advanced features that can significantly enhance ad performance. Leading performance marketing companies in London leverage tools like Custom Audiences and Lookalike Audiences to expand their reach. Custom Audiences allow for retargeting existing customers, while Lookalike Audiences help find new potential customers who share characteristics with the best-performing segments.

Integrating Facebook Ads with Other Channels

A holistic approach to digital marketing is vital for achieving comprehensive success. Expert agencies integrate Facebook Ads Management with other channels such as PPC advertising, Google Ads Management, and display advertising. This multi-channel strategy ensures consistent messaging and maximizes touchpoints with potential customers across different platforms, enhancing the overall impact of the campaigns.

Continuous Monitoring and Optimization

Performance marketing is an ongoing process. The best performance marketing agencies in the UK continuously monitor their campaigns, analyzing data to identify opportunities for improvement. This involves tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) such as click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, and return on ad spend (ROAS). Based on these insights, they make informed adjustments to bids, budgets, and targeting parameters to ensure optimal performance.

Implementing Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)

Driving traffic to your site is only half the battle; converting that traffic is equally crucial. Performance marketing specialist emphasize the importance of conversion rate optimization (CRO). They analyze the user journey on landing pages, test different layouts and calls to action, and implement changes that facilitate smoother conversions. Effective CRO ensures that the traffic generated by Facebook Ads translates into tangible business outcomes.

Tailoring Strategies for Startups

PPC for startups requires a different approach compared to established businesses. Startups often operate with limited budgets and need to achieve quick results. The best performance marketing agencies in London tailor their strategies to meet these unique needs. They focus on highly targeted campaigns that can generate immediate traction, providing startups with the momentum they need to grow.

Choosing the Right Performance Marketing Agency

Selecting the best performance marketing agency in the UK involves evaluating their expertise, track record, and the range of services they offer. Leading agencies provide a comprehensive suite of services that includes not only Facebook Ads Management but also PPC advertising, Google Ads Management, and display advertising. Their ability to integrate these services seamlessly is a key differentiator that drives superior results.

Conclusion

Facebook Ads Management, when executed by expert performance marketing agencies, can be a game-changer for businesses. The best performance marketing agencies in London bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, ensuring that every campaign is finely tuned for success. By understanding the audience, crafting compelling creatives, leveraging advanced features, and continuously optimizing for performance, these agencies help businesses achieve their marketing goals and drive substantial growth in the digital age.

[otbsolutions]

6 Cutting-Edge Web Development Trends in London for 2023

Innovative websites balance creativity, performance and future-proofing across digital experiences. The latest web development requires ongoing learning due to fast technology changes. What are the popular frameworks, techniques, and interactions are people discussing for the upcoming year? Top UX Design Company London and coders are sharing the latest web trends that influence their strategic consulting for 2023 engagements.

1. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

Web Design Services London says Progressive Web Apps are a game-changer. They bring together web and mobile apps' high performance and user engagement. Like traditional web pages, PWAs load quickly, offering functionality like offline accessibility and push notifications. Businesses in London that choose PWA technology will enjoy better user experiences, higher conversion rates, and lower development costs.

2. AI and Machine Learning Integration

More and more web design services London UK include artificial intelligence and machine learning in web development. They analyze users 'behavior and preferences and provide customized experiences for users. Whether through chatbots that provide immediate customer service, or through AI-assisted personalization of content and gifts, AI and machine learning are changing how companies do business online with their customers.

3. Voice Search Optimization

With voice-activated devices becoming ubiquitous, focusing on voice search is becoming essential. Digital Marketing Services in London believes that web content must be adapted to voice queries, which are more conversational and longer than typed searches. This trend is geared towards making your website's information easy to find through voice search, improving navigability and user experience.

4. Motion UI Design

Motion UI is a rising trend among the London UI design Company experts. Animations and dynamic graphics are used to liven up web pages and make them interactive. This year, you will see more sites using inconspicuous animations, hover effects, and background animations to direct user focus and to enhance storytelling on pages.

5. Cybersecurity Enhancements

Experts in IT Consultation service London are discussing the need for strong cybersecurity in web development due to the growing threats in the digital world. It means using modern security protocols, doing regular security audits, and following data protection rules. Companies must protect their data and build trust with customers.

6. Sustainable Web Design

Sustainability in web design is an emerging trend. Therefore, Web Design London firms have focused on developing environmentally friendly and energy-efficient websites. This means optimizing images and videos for quicker load times, using eco-friendly hosting services, and designing for less data transfer. It's about designing sites not only pretty and functional, but friendly to Mother Earth.

Conclusion

London Web Development Services stays ahead of tech shifts. They do this to serve clients better. They experiment, test solutions, and adopt new technologies early. They also choose the right time to implement these changes. OTB Solutions is the Best UX Company In London and a digital transformation expert. They combine strategic vision with tactical implementations. Their goal is to convert ambitious ideas into engaging online experiences. These experiences are future-ready and prepared for what comes next.

[unravellingsilencehq]

THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC HEREBY INVITES YOU TO THE SPRING SOLSTICE FESTIVAL

DATE: 20th of March 1986 TIME: 12hr00 to 00hr00 LOCATION: The Alleys of Wizarding London

DEAR FRIENDS

As the weather begins to warm and flowers begin to bloom, the Ministry of Magic felt it fitting to host a Spring Solstice Festival in the Alleys of Wizarding London. Please join us in celebrating the changing of the seasons as we embark on a journey of reflection and renewal for the year to come.

The Alleys will be decorated in full force with flowers lining the cobblestone as vendors line the streets with booths, ready to serve food or drink. The booths will be open for your perusal until 18hr00 when the sun begins to set and the lights strung above begin to lead down the way to Carkitt Market. Beginning at 18hr30 sharp, there will be a performance from The Playthings Company if you wish to take a moment off your feet. The Hopping Pot will also be open to provide any food or drink as festival goers enjoy an evening of live music and new beginnings.

We hope to see you there.

Best regards Millicent Bagnold Minister for Magic

We are proud to announce Unravelling Silence’s first event! The festival event will begin Monday the 20th of March and continue through the 26th of March! While not required, this will be a fast paced event and we highly recommend that all threads during this period revolve around the festival. We would like all threads to be wrapped up by 27th of March but this may be due to change based on how fast the dash is moving.

The event will start at 7 GMT on the 20th of March. Please keep an eye on the dash as we do have a few tricks up our sleeves and there will be some plot drops throughout the event.

Before the event, we encourage members to create a post displaying their character’s outfit for the festival to be judged by guest writer AURELIA ROOKWOOD. Posting an outfit will win your alliance one Faction Point. The best outfits will be featured in WITCH WEEKLY and will win you an additional Faction Point.

Please tag your outfits with ‘urhqevent’ and all threads relating to the Spring Solstice Festival with ‘event: solstice festival’. Please post a link to your outfit into the task channel on discord to help the mod team keep track of the Points and for them to be judged.

We look forward to seeing you on the dash, happy Solstice!

[scotianostra]

July 13th 1900 saw the birth of Elizabeth “Bessie” Watson in Edinburgh.

Born just off the Grassmarket, at 11 The Vennel to Agnes Newton and Horatio Watson, Bessie did not take long to make her mark in the world, at the tender age of 9 she combined her two greatest loves: bagpiping and woman’s suffrage, the latter makes her arguably the youngest in Scotland, if not the world.

When she turned seven, Bessie’s aunt Margaret contracted tuberculosis – an incident which would change the youngster’s life forever. Margaret lived with the family, and Bessie’s parents, worried that she might fall ill to the contagious disease, encouraged her to take up the bagpipes in a bid to strengthen her weak lungs. Her first set of pipes was specially-produced according to her diminutive stature as she was too small to properly inflate an adult-sized bag. The half-sized set of pipes was purchased from Robertson’s pipe makers at 58 Grove Street. “I hurried home from school and carried it, in a brown paper parcel down to my (music) teacher”, Bessie recalled. As one of the very few female bagpipe players in the world at that time – not to mention one of the youngest – Bessie took to her new instrument with great enthusiasm.

Bessie had more than her bag pipe playing to make her worthy of a post here, while walking with her mother through the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland, Bessie stopped to look at the window of the Women’s Social and Political Union office. Bessie became excited about the idea of women receiving the right to vote, even though she wouldn’t be able to vote for many years.

Bessie realized that her talents could help promote votes for women. She would run from school each day to play her bagpipes outside of the Calton Jail in Edinburgh for fellow suffragettes in prison.

At the first suffrage pageant she performed at, she wore a sash with the words “Votes for Women” as she performed with her bagpipes. At the height of the suffragette movement, Bessie was playing at major demonstrations and parades for the Women’s Social and Political Union, including the famous procession through Edinburgh on 9th October 1909. On that day a large crowd watched as hundreds of banner-laden ladies, wearing the suffragist colours of purple, white and green, marched down Princes Street before congregating at Waverley Market for a rally led by Emmeline Pankhurst. Watson rode on a float beside a woman dressed as Isabella Duff, Countess of Buchan in her cage! Isabella is famed for crowning Robert the Bruce at Scone when he seized the Scottish crown, she was later captured with the Bruce family and held prisoner in a cage in the open air at Berwick for four years.

Back to oor Bessie, who just a ten year-old she travelled to London to play her bagpipes in a women’s march on June 17th, 1911. J ust a few weeks later, for George’s state visit to Edinburgh, Bessie, leading the 2nd Edinburgh Company of the Girl Guides, received recognition from the king himself as she raised her salute. Having secured regal acknowledgement in time for her 11th birthday, Scotland’s youngest female piper continued in her quest to support women’s rights, accompanying inmates bound for Holloway Prison to Waverley Station and playing the pipes as their trains departed.

For the part she played in Edinburgh’s historic women’s rights pageant of 1909, young Bessie received a special gift from one very prominent individual. Christabel Pankhurst (daughter of Emmeline) came to Edinburgh to address a meeting at the King’s Theatre and Bessie was invited to attend. During the evening she was presented with a brooch representing Queen Boadicea (Boudica) in her chariot, as a token of gratitude for her help in the pageant.

During WWI, Bessie was just a teenager and used her talents to make a difference in other ways. She began helping the Scots Guard to recruit army volunteers by playing her bagpipes

In 1926 Bessie moved with her parents to a new house on Clark Road, Trinity where she would remain for the rest of her days. Following her marriage to electrical contractor John Somerville at the end of the Second World War, Bessie devoted her life to teaching music and foreign languages. Former neighbours recall that, even into her late eighties, Bessie continued to play her bagpipes at 11am every morning. It was something she had always done.

Bessie died in 1992, two and a half weeks short of her 92nd birthday. Over the course of her long life she had experienced almost a century of social progression and upheaval, and had played her part in changing the world for the better.

[diveseo]

Should I use a SEO Company in London

If you’re looking to get your business noticed online, you may be considering the use of a SEO company in London. Search engine optimization (SEO) is a powerful tool for helping businesses reach their target audience and increase visibility. By optimising content and creating quality backlinks, businesses can bring in more customers and make more money.

However, it’s important to determine whether hiring an SEO company in London is the right choice for your business. We will explore the pros and cons of using an SEO company in London to help you decide if it’s worth investing in.

What is SEO?

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the practice of improving the ranking of a website on search engines. The main aim of SEO is to increase the visibility of a website and attract more visitors from organic (non-paid) search results.

There are a number of factors that contribute to a website’s ranking on search engines, including the quality and quantity of the site’s content, the structure of the site, the popularity of the site, and the number of backlinks pointing to the site.

SEO can be performed by an experienced webmaster or an SEO company. London is home to many reputable SEO companies that can help improve your website’s ranking on search engines.

What are the benefits of using an SEO company?

There are many benefits of using an SEO company in London. Perhaps the most important benefit is that an SEO company can help you achieve higher search engine rankings. This, in turn, can lead to more traffic and more customers for your business.

Another benefit of using an SEO company is that they can help you to improve your website. This can involve making your website more user-friendly and easier to navigate, as well as improving the quality of your content. This can make a big difference to how successful your website is, and can help to increase your conversion rate.

Finally, an SEO company in London can also offer other services such as social media marketing and email marketing. These can be extremely beneficial in helping to promote your website and attract new customers.

Are there any risks associated with using an SEO company?

Yes, there are some risks associated with using an SEO company. The most common risk is that the SEO company may not be able to deliver on their promise to improve your website's search engine ranking. This could leave you with a lower ranking than you started with, and you may have to pay the SEO company more money to continue working on your site.

There is also a risk that the techniques used by the SEO company could get your website penalised by Google, which could lead to your site being removed from search results entirely. However, these risks are relatively small compared to the potential benefits of using an SEO company, and they can be mitigated by choosing a reputable company and monitoring their progress closely.

How to choose the right SEO company

When looking for a reputable SEO company in London, like DiveSEO it is important to consider the following factors:

The company's experience and track record in the industry

The company's approach to SEO and whether it aligns with your own goals and methods

The company's transparency and willingness to share information and results

The company's pricing structure and whether it is affordable for your budget

Choosing the right SEO company can be a daunting task, but by keeping these factors in mind, you can narrow down your options and find the best fit for your needs.

Conclusion

Using a SEO company in London can be a great way to improve your online presence and gain visibility. With the right strategy, you can ensure that more people are finding your website, increasing traffic and ultimately improving sales. If you are considering using this service it is essential to weigh up all of the options available to make sure that you find the best provider for your needs. With research and careful consideration, utilising this type of service can be hugely beneficial in taking your business to the next level.

[unhonestlymirror]

It became known that Lizaveta, the daughter of the deputy of the House of Representatives, former press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ex-Ambassador of Belarus to Turkey Andrei Savinykh, has been living and working in Great Britain for quite some time, which official Minsk considers an "unfriendly country". At the same time, her father is actively demonizing the West in the eyes of Belaruthian society. The publication "Lyusterka" tried to find out from him whether there is no contradiction in this.

Performer Vladislav Bohan drew attention to the fact that the 34-year-old daughter of Andrei Savinykh Lizaveta lives and works in Great Britain. After analyzing the Facebook accounts of Andrei Savinykh and his wife, he found their daughter Lizaveta in social networks. Her LinkedIn account lists her places of study (Geneva) and work (London).

In the profile of Lizaveta Savinykh on the LinkedIn social network, it is indicated that from September 2022 to the present, the girl works as a manager for the development of solutions in the field of combating money laundering at the British financial and technical corporation Quantexa. So far, she has worked for 11 years at the largest bank in terms of assets and market capitalization, HSBC.

In addition, a certain Elizabeth Savinykh, who has British citizenship, is listed as the director of Canabel Limited, which deals with real estate in the British city of Leeds. According to the British government service and information gov.uk, this firm is engaged in buying, selling, renting and managing own and rented real estate. However, this company looks strange, because it does not have a separate website or active social networks.

At the same time, everywhere it is shown that Lizaveta Savinykh was born in December 1988, and this information coincides with the information about the date of birth of the deputy's daughter, which "Lyusterka" received from the association of former security forces Belpol.

The "Lyusterka" journalist called Andrey Savinykh and asked if the information that his daughter is a citizen of Great Britain and works in companies in this country is true, but he refused to talk. The journalists also did not receive an answer from Lizaveta Savinykh herself.

"Lyusterka" received an answer only from the company Quantexa, which was asked if they were aware that the daughter of a Belarusian deputy and a former official works for them. And also, are they afraid that this will leak some information to Belarus that will help the authorities to circumvent sanctions.

"Quantexa has strict hiring rules and training programs that ensure that all members of our team will meet high standards of ethical behaviour," -- Quantexa's response. — Our company has reliable and effective controls that ensure safe and reliable management of any confidential information — technical, strategic, personal — in accordance with our contractual and regulatory requirements."

[solar-installations-are-the-way]

Solar panel Kent

Solar power for Photovoltaic panels

Photovoltaic panels in London Solar energy begins with the sun. Photovoltaic panel (likewise referred to as "PV panels") are made use of to convert light from the sun, which is composed of particles of energy called "photons", into power that can be made use of to power electric loads. A photovoltaic panel can be made use of for a wide range of applications consisting of remote power systems for cabins, telecom tools, remote sensing, and certainly for the production of power by household and business solar electrical systems. In a healthy grid-connected solar setup setup, a solar array creates power during the day that is then made use of in the residence in the evening. Internet metering programs allow solar generator proprietors to get paid if their system produces more power than what is required in the residence.

Making use of PV panels is a really useful way to produce power for lots of applications. A solar electrical system is potentially more economical by minimizing your power bills and can provide power for upwards of three decades if appropriately preserved. With the arrival of international environment change, it has actually come to be more important that we do whatever we can to lower the stress on our atmosphere from the emission of greenhouse gases by minimizing your carbon footprint. Photovoltaic panel have no relocating components and need little maintenance. They are ruggedly built and last for decades when appropriately preserved. Last, however not least, of the benefits of photovoltaic panels and solar power is that, once a system has actually spent for its first setup prices, the power it produces for the remainder of the system's lifespan, which could be as high as 15-20 years relying on the quality of the system, is cost-free! Prices for photovoltaic panels has actually lowered substantially in the last couple of years. This is great because, incorporated with applicable rewards, NOW is the most effective time ever before to invest in a solar power system. As well as consider this: a solar power system in advance costs about the like a mid-sized car! Obviously, you would certainly require to contrast the expense of a solar setup versus the financial benefits of the decrease in power usage from the power energy grid. A solar company market photovoltaic or PV panels and provide photovoltaic panel setup along with photovoltaic or PV cleaning and repair work services. The solar company will be able to suggest you about solar power, available solar tax credits or solar loans amongst various other things. Space is a key factor to consider. The ordinary roof solar system size is around 3-4kW and this will normally use up around 15-20m2 roof covering location. An unshaded, South facing roof covering is suitable for maximum electric output. East or West facing roof coverings could still be taken into consideration, however North facing roof coverings are not suggested. A system facing East or West will generate around 15-20% much less energy than one facing directly South. Any nearby buildings, trees or chimney stacks could shade your roof covering and have a negative impact on the performance of your roof solar system. Solar PV panels are taken into consideration 'allowed developments' and usually do not need planning consent. If you're preparing to set up a solar PV system in your house, you should register it with your Distribution Network Operator (DNO).

Solar power for Photovoltaic panels

Photovoltaic panels in London Solar energy begins with the sun. Photovoltaic panel (likewise referred to as "PV panels") are made use of to convert light from the sun, which is composed of particles of energy called "photons", into power that can be made use of to power electric loads. A photovoltaic panel can be made use of for a wide range of applications consisting of remote power systems for cabins, telecom tools, remote sensing, and certainly for the production of power by household and business solar electrical systems. In a healthy grid-connected solar setup setup, a solar array creates power during the day that is then made use of in the residence in the evening. Internet metering programs allow solar generator proprietors to get paid if their system produces more power than what is required in the residence.

Making use of PV panels is a really useful way to produce power for lots of applications. A solar electrical system is potentially more economical by minimizing your power bills and can provide power for upwards of three decades if appropriately preserved. With the arrival of international environment change, it has actually come to be more important that we do whatever we can to lower the stress on our atmosphere from the emission of greenhouse gases by minimizing your carbon footprint. Photovoltaic panel have no relocating components and need little maintenance. They are ruggedly built and last for decades when appropriately preserved. Last, however not least, of the benefits of photovoltaic panels and solar power is that, once a system has actually spent for its first setup prices, the power it produces for the remainder of the system's lifespan, which could be as high as 15-20 years relying on the quality of the system, is cost-free! Prices for photovoltaic panels has actually lowered substantially in the last couple of years. This is great because, incorporated with applicable rewards, NOW is the most effective time ever before to invest in a solar power system. As well as consider this: a solar power system in advance costs about the like a mid-sized car! Obviously, you would certainly require to contrast the expense of a solar setup versus the financial benefits of the decrease in power usage from the power energy grid. A solar company market photovoltaic or PV panels and provide photovoltaic panel setup along with photovoltaic or PV cleaning and repair work services. The solar company will be able to suggest you about solar power, available solar tax credits or solar loans amongst various other things. Space is a key factor to consider. The ordinary roof solar system size is around 3-4kW and this will normally use up around 15-20m2 roof covering location. An unshaded, South facing roof covering is suitable for maximum electric output. East or West facing roof coverings could still be taken into consideration, however North facing roof coverings are not suggested. A system facing East or West will generate around 15-20% much less energy than one facing directly South. Any nearby buildings, trees or chimney stacks could shade your roof covering and have a negative impact on the performance of your roof solar system. Solar PV panels are taken into consideration 'allowed developments' and usually do not need planning consent. If you're preparing to set up a solar PV system in your house, you should register it with your Distribution Network Operator (DNO).

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