BrightonSEO
Events
Digital Bites March 2025 overview and slides
The sun was out in Manchester on Thursday, and we kicked off our first Digital Bites of the year with a packed house! Over 120 marketers joined us for an afternoon of networking, great conversations, and insights.
We had ten amazing sessions from our brilliant speakers, covering everything from video SEO and UGC content to becoming a better manager and the power of keeping communication simple.
Overview of the talks
Sanjay Purewal – Head of SEO, HUB
Liverpool FC, data & SEO: The winning formula for buy-in
Success in both football and SEO isn’t just about having the right strategy—it’s about getting buy-in, demonstrating value, and overcoming resistance to change. Inspired by How to Win the Premier League, Sanjay’s talk explored how Liverpool FC leveraged data models to drive strategic decisions and how marketers can apply similar principles to SEO and digital marketing.
Sanjay gave us a run-down of the techniques to gain buy-in from key stakeholders, the importance of evolving how we present and report data and he explained how data extraction, cleaning, and visualisation can uncover valuable insights.
Download Sanjay’s slides here.
Elle Pollicott – Head of Content Strategy, Connective3
Climbing the ranks: Video SEO tips that’ll get you discovered
Video is now an essential part of content strategy, but getting your content seen requires more than just great production. Elle’s session was a step-by-step guide to how you can start implementing video SEO to ensure your videos are showing up in the SERP and being watched by your audience. She covered video ideation, keyword research, and optimisation techniques to help boost discoverability across multiple platforms.
You can also check out Elle’s in-depth guide, where she covers exactly how to incorporate video into your content strategy here.
Paddy Moogan – Founder, The New Leader
What got you here won’t get you there: Why most managers fail & how to succeed
Many marketers become managers because they excel in their field—but leading a team requires a completely different skill set. With 82% of UK managers receiving no formal training, it’s no surprise that many struggle. Whether you’re a new or seasoned manager, Paddy explained how to navigate common pitfalls and adopt effective leadership strategies.
Jess Farnham & Allen White – Connective3
Driving brand narrative through content creation in 2025
In the evolving digital landscape, content creation drives brand storytelling. Using brand examples like the evolution of M&S’s social strategy, Jess and Allen, explored the differences between Employee-Generated Content (EGC) and User-Generated Content (UGC) and ran through how you can leverage both to build authenticity and grow your audience.
Download Jess and Allen’s slides here.
Aidan O’Sullivan – Digital Marketing Manager, Pets at Home
Bridging brand & performance: Maximising digital impact
Marketers often prioritise performance marketing due to its clear ROI, but brand marketing plays a crucial role in driving long-term growth. Aidan explained exactly how brand initiatives fuel performance marketing and how to prove their value with data-driven insights. He ran us through the ways we can make sure our performance marketing is capitalising on our brand building activities.
Timur Berent – Paid Media Manager, Connective3
Why culture matters in international PPC
Timur’s talk explored the importance of understanding cultural differences in paid media strategies. He covered key concepts like Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions and how they influence online buying behaviour across borders. Timur also provided practical insights on implementing cultural considerations into international paid campaigns to drive better engagement and results.
Helen Hope – Heritage Brand Manager, N Brown Group
The power of simple: How abstract thinking transforms communication
Complex ideas don’t always need complex messaging. Helen explored how abstract thinking can help marketers streamline communication, making messages more impactful and memorable. With examples from the nail brand, HONA, and some free give-aways too, we learnt how simplicity fosters stronger customer connections and differentiates brands.
Tom Lanaway – Product Manager, Connective3
Magic, machines & the mess we’re in
AI promised to free us from repetitive tasks, yet in many cases, it’s reshaping creative work instead. In this session Tom took us behind the scenes of building Merlin, Connective3’s AI business intelligence tool, and examines where AI enhances marketing—and where human creativity still reigns supreme.
Emily Conyard – Lecturer in Digital Marketing, Manchester Metropolitan University
The power of why
One simple question of “why?” can transform your marketing approach. Emily explained that by continuously questioning the reasoning behind decisions, marketers can create more intentional, impactful, and aligned strategies. This session explored how asking the right questions leads to better marketing outcomes.
Patrick Reardon-Morgan – Digital Marketing Data Manager, BT
How to respond to the big tech’s “deal with the devil”
Marketers are increasingly reliant on Google and Meta for traffic and conversions, but these tech giants have become their own brand safety risks. From AI-driven content to regulatory battles, Patrick explained that the digital landscape is shifting. This talk examined the ethical dilemmas and practical strategies for reducing dependence on big tech.
Download Patrick’s slides here.
Event images
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Check out our highlight reel
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