Forbes Slovakia

Fenomén „popcorn brain“. Ako sociálne siete menia náš mozog a ako sa brániť preťaženiu
October 2024

Máte niekedy pocit, že váš mozog je ako vrecko pukancov v mikrovlnnej rúre? Vnímate stále viac a viac rozptýlení, ktoré sú ako kukuričné zrná, vyskakujú rôznymi smermi, až máte pocit, že vrecko neunesie ten tlak? Nebojte sa, nie ste v tom sami.

Read more

TechRound

Experts Share What To Consider When Running An Ecommerce Startup
September 2024

As much as eCommerce marketplaces, like your Amazons, and department store sites are options, they are used less often for final purchases. Usually just to browse through products.
Read more

The Grocer

Creative challenge: next-gen packaging ideas to liven up dairy
September 2024

We challenged agencies to create packaging fit for the future. Ideas ranged from a refillable ice cream carton to a seaweed-based butter wrapper.
Read more

Stratégie.sk

Marketing je v každej krajine iný, emócie sú však rovnaké
Julz 2024

V digitálnej dobe by geografické hranice nemali obmedzovať váš potenciál rastu. Vybudovať dôveryhodnú značku v zahraničí však nie je jednoduché - úspech si vyžaduje strategický prístup a detailné porozumenie cieľového trhu.
Read more

The Financial Services Forum

Trust - the most valuable currency in financial services marketing 
June 2024

There are few other industries where trust is as critical as it is in financial services, explore what underpins that trust and how best to win it.
Read more.

The HR Director

Job Descriptions Don’t Attract Candidates - Companies Do 
April 2024

Discover how to stand out in the competitive talent acquisition landscape by harnessing the power of social media for employer branding.
Read more.

Entrepreneur

Decoding Consumer Behavior: Understanding What Makes Your Customers Tick
April 2024

Marketeers who tap into the psychological aspects of consumer behaviour can connect with their target audience on a deeper level, drive conversions, and build a loyal customer base that will help their business thrive.
Read more.

TechRound

Expert Predictions For PR in 2024
January 2024

In the public relations realm, 2024 promises many strategic shifts and industry dynamics. Petra Smith was again invited to provide her expert insight on the changing landscape of PR in 2024.
Read more.

TechRound

We Asked The Experts: How Has ChatGPT Affected Content Marketing?
December 2023

In the past year, platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT have reshaped how content marketing is done. Petra Smith was invited as an expert to share her views on how AI has transformed marketing.
Read more.

SME News

Greater London Enterprise Awards (2023)
August 2023

SME News is pleased to announce the return of the Greater London Enterprise Awards. Now entering the seventh year, this annual awards programme aims to celebrate and to display the very best of our capital’s businesses and enterprises.
Read more.

Business Leader

My working day- Petra Smith - Founder of Squirrels and Bears
September 2023

As the leader of a company, you are there to set an example and to lead and inspire a team of individuals to achieve a series of business goals. But how do these business leaders go about their daily routine? We spoke to Petra Smith, Founder and Managing Director of Squirrels and Bears, about her working day. Read more.

Forbes Slovakia

Podnikanie a deti ako priama cesta k vyhoreniu? 5 lekcií, ktoré ma naučili moje deti
August 2023

Byť majiteľom firmy je náročné. Byť rodičom ešte viac. Skombinujte tieto dve veci a pravdepodobne si len ťažko spomeniete, aký je to pocit nebyť unavený. V skutočnosti je pravdepodobnejšie, že budete len občas menej unavení. Read more.

Business Vision

Starting a business social media account — from scratch
June 2023

If marketing success was built on simply creating a social media profile and posting content, there would be a lot more profitable businesses out there. Read more.

The Financial Services Forum

How to use Instagram’s algorithm to your advantage
February 2023

Petra Smith, Managing Director of Squirrels&Bears unpacks the algorithm on social network Instagram and how brands can take advantage of it. Read more.

Business Leader

Successful brands focus on people, not just algorithms
December 2022

People buy from people. And they buy from people they like and trust. But before they can establish a relationship based on trust, they will form opinions based on what they perceive from others. Read more.

Entrepreneur

The Small Business Owner's Guide To Business Storytelling
November 2022

The best storytellers immediately draw the audience into the story, capture their attention and set the tone for a unique experience that the audience will remember, whilst focusing on these five key elements. Read more

Startups.

Guide to Instagram Analytics: Tips and Tools
September 2022

It’s all well and good reading articles from marketing experts about the best times to post. Petra Smith at Squirrels and Bears, argues that generic advice just doesn’t cut it. Read more

Creative Boom

A creative freelancer's guide to getting back to work after a summer break
August 2022

Another thing many creatives find about holidays is that they give us space to re-evaluate our careers and lives more broadly. That's often the case for Petra Smith, founder of Squirrels and Bears. Read more

Business Vision

Business lessons I learned from my kids in my first five years of operations
May 2022

Petra Smith, founder of Squirrels & Bears shares some of her lessons learned from her children during her first five years in business with Business Vision. Read more

Forbes Slovakia

Nevedomá diskriminácia: Ako môžu podnikateľky prekonať zaujatosť voči mamám
April 2022

Zaujatosť voči mamám je najsilnejším typom nevedomej rodovej zaujatosti postavená na predpoklade, že ženy strácajú záujem o prácu, keď sa rozhodnú mať deti. Read more

Startups.

How to use Instagram for business
April 2022

On the dangers of cutting corners when growing your audience, Petra Smith, founder of marketing consultancy Squirrels&Bears, stresses: “Quick solutions don’t lead to long-term success.” Read more

Speciality Food

How to stand out from the crowd
March 2022

Petra Smith, managing director and founder of Squirrels & Bears, a marketing consultancy helping small businesses increase their brand visibility, tells us, “Relying on hope as a marketing strategy is never a good idea; it’s essential to have a marketing plan in place.” Read more

Business Vision

Talking ’bout the generations: Each has a particular skillset for boosting brand awareness
February 2022

There are currently five different generations working alongside each other in the workplace, presenting new opportunities for businesses leveraging the benefits of a multi-generational workforce. Read more

Press Gazette

The metaverse, cookies and sustainability: Experts reveal their 2022 marketing trends
January 2022

Petra Smith, managing director of marketing consultancy firm Squirrels & Bears, marks “Face to face events returning in a more innovative and experiential form, focused on sustainability and social value” as one her three major trends for 2022. Read more

Addition

2022 SME Business Trends
January 2022

As hybrid working is forcing businesses to establish an office culture without the office, business owners need to create a connection with their employees and a culture that goes beyond the premises and will outlive the pandemic. Read more

Forbes Slovakia

Vybudujte si meno a staňte sa firmou, ktorej názov bude poznať každý
November 2021

Ľudia kupujú od ľudí – a najmä od tých, ktorých majú radi a ktorým dôverujú. Ale skôr než nadviažu vzťah založený na dôvere, vytvárajú si názory na základe toho, čo vidia a počujú. Read more

The Financial Services Forum

Why employee advocacy matters in the financial services industry
November 2021

People buy from people. And they buy from people they like and trust. Trust, in particular, is an essential trait in the financial services industry, where customers feel more comfortable buying from those with established credibility. Read more

HR Director

How to empower employee brand ambassadors
October 2021

Whilst large budgets are allocated towards marketing campaigns each year to drive brand awareness and lead generation, organisations are often missing the closest link between the brand and their target market – their employees. Read more

Press Gazette

Marketing newsletter experts offer tips on improving open rates
October 2021

Petra Smith, Managing Director of marketing and PR agency Squirrels&Bears: “Send your newsletter from a person – 70% percent of marketers say their highest performing email campaigns were sent from a person, not a brand. Keep it personal.“ Read more

HR News

People buy from people – research shows it’s time to empower employee brand ambassadors
October 2021

A recent research study conducted by marketing and PR consultancy Squirrels & Bears examines the importance of personal employee branding in the hybrid workplace and highlights what organisations can do to turn their employees into brand ambassadors. Read more

Creative Boom

How to deal with feedback and criticism positively
October 2021

"For me, it is about avoiding the immediate reaction, but instead, take a moment and step back to be able to process it and respond," says Petra Smith, founder of marketing consultancy Squirrels & Bears. Read more

Management Today

Child’s play: What kids can teach you about management
August 2021

Although ‘walking the walk’ has become a ubiquitous business cliché, few managers ever wonder if learning to walk as an infant could help them. Yet Petra Smith is convinced that the acquisition of this fundamental skill reveals fundamental – and often ignored – truths about management. Read more

Red Magazine

PR for Entrepreneurs' Online Course
July 2021

Learn how to get featured in key publications to build your brand visibility and credibility! Win our bespoke 'PR for Entrepreneurs' online course designed specifically for you and delivered by Petra Smith, Founder of Squirrels&Bears, and Forbes and Business Insider contributor. Read more

Management Today

Is there a place for gut instinct in business?
July 2021

Is there a place for hunches in business? When should you listen to your intuition, and when should you follow the hard evidence? We asked a panel of C-suite leaders for their advice. Read more

Forbes

National Freelancers Day: Will You Start Your Freelance Journey Today?
June 2021

Many who become freelancers talk about how the risks they took ultimately resulted in an outstanding work/life balance. A good example is Petra Smith, the Founder and Managing Director of the marketing agency Squirrels&Bears. Read more

Working Mums

Business networking lessons I learned from a four-year-old
June 2021

Entrepreneur Petra Smith on how to throw off your networking nerves. Read more

Fresh Business Thinking

Successful businesses build brand communities, not follower lists
April 2021

Digital marketing channels might be changing our perception of the marketplace; however, no matter how sophisticated social media platforms get, people still buy from people. Read more

Sheerluxe

How To Build A Successful Instagram Account
March 2021

Whether you want to build your Instagram account for personal or business reasons, there are several ways you can boost your following and improve engagement. Read more

Your Coffee Break

A Mother’s Perspective: What Can Children Teach us About Business
March 2021

Just like every child, every business is different, and they reach their various developmental stages at a different time. Some start walking when they are nine months old, some take their time and don’t start until they are nearer two years old. Read more

Global Banking & Finance Review

Creating a B2B lead generation strategy in the Covid economy
February 2021

The pandemic has transformed the relationship-driven B2B environment in a significant way and what has started as an immediate response to a crisis, is now becoming the new norm in lead generation and sales. Read more

We Are The City

Managing a growing family with a growing business
February 2021

Having started a business at seven months pregnant with my first daughter, my kids have always been part of it as I never knew anything different. There are good days and there are bad days, but at the end of each day, there is a lot to be grateful for. Read more

The Successful Founder

Turning hope into a marketing strategy
January 2021

Relying on hope as a marketing strategy is never a good idea, but particularly in a business environment where the successful restart will require more than just re-opening the doors, it is essential to have a strategy in place. Read more

Consultancy UK

How to use storytelling in the professional services industry
October 2020

Petra Smith, founder and managing director of boutique marketing agency Squirrels & Bears, explains how professional services firms can use storytelling for brand building and marketing strategies. Read more

Business Insider

Success Insider: Insiders at big consulting firms like PwC and KPMG reveal how they're adapting to the pandemic
October 2020

Leading consultancies are uncertain about what the future of the industry will look like. Here's how business travel, remote work, and client relationships have changed at firms like KPMG, PwC, and Boston Consulting Group. Read more

Global Banking & Finance Review

How to develop a successful marketing strategy
October 2020

Relying on hope as a marketing strategy is never a good idea, but particularly during the current crisis where businesses really have to stand out to reach and attract their returning and new customers’ attention, it is essential to have a strategy in place. Read more

Business Insider

A founder and mother explains the useful lessons she learned from her kids while keeping a business afloat during lockdown
October 2020

In an interview with Business Insider, Petra Smith revealed the lessons she has learnt during the COVID-19 lockdown from her two and four years old children including being creative, ready to adapt, and the importance of taking care of your employees, clients and suppliers. Read more

Vegan Food & Living

Marketing a vegan brand to non-vegans
October 2020

Marketing expert Petra Smith, founder of boutique marketing agency Squirrels&Bears, shares her advice on how to entice non-vegans to buy plant-based brands. Read more.

Clarityy

Secrets To Personal Branding – How To Look Good Offline And Online
September 2020

We are all Chief Branding Officers of our own personal brands, however building a personal brand that you will be proud of is a long-term project - from creating a vision to its implementation. Read more

Global Banking & Finance Review

7 effective ways to build your mailing list
August 2020

Email is still one of the top-performing marketing tactics for businesses of all sizes. In 2017, global email users amounted to 3.7 billion users. This figure is set to grow to 4.3 billion users in 2022 . That’s half of the world’s population. Read more

Forbes Slovakia

Majiteľka marketingovej agentúry vo Veľkej Británii: Situáciu niekedy neovplyvníme, naše reakcie áno
July 2020

Aj v neistých časoch je dôležité zamerať sa na širšiu perspektívu a na inovácie, ktoré pandémia prinesie. Pretože len so správnym prístupom je kríza príležitosťou posunúť sa vpred a naučiť sa niečo nové. Read more

Be Your Own

5 Key tips to building an iconic brand by Petra Smith
June 2020

Petra Smith is the founder and MD of marketing and PR consultancy Squirrels&Bears, based in London, so we ask Petra to help you define and build an iconic brand that is simple to understand that will attract and keep your customer’s attention. Read more

Speciality Food

How to make your brand stand out in uncertain times
June 2020

We speak to the experts to find out what you can be doing to help boost your brand image and increase your market share during these challenging times, and into the future. Read more.

Attest

30 Lessons COVID-19 has taught marketers
May 2020

While we’d all agree that COVID-19 isn’t a welcome addition to 2020, the pandemic has given us pause for thought. For marketers, this has meant a chance to reflect on practices, habits and beliefs, which in some cases have been ingrained for years. Read more

Working Mums

Marketing lessons I learned from a three year old
April 2020

With parents working in closer proximity to their kids in the current times, there are lessons from child psychology that can be applied to business, argues Petra Smith. Read more

Real Business

What employers need to know about coronavirus
March 2020

If you are sending your staff home due to coronavirus fears, here’s how they can maintain their productivity, as told by Petra Smith, Managing Director of Squirrels and Bears. Read more

Forbes Slovakia

Nepodceňujte svoje profily na sociálnych sieťach. Vaša online povesť je dôležitá
February 2020

Náš online profil nás reprezentuje v digitálnom priestore a reputácia, ktorú si vytvárame prostredníctvom sociálnych sietí a iných online médií, je súčasťou našej identity. Read more

Global Business and Finance Review

Bridging the gap between personal and business branding
January 2020

Over a third of UK employees feel disconnected from their company’s brand and lack skills and resources to be brand advocates, according to a survey conducted by marketing consultancy Squirrels&Bears. Read more

Consultancy UK

Equip employees to turn them into brand ambassadors
December 2019

“Employees are the face of a company and their inside knowledge and connection to the business makes them a powerful brand advocate,” explained Petra Smith, founder of Squirrels & Bears. Read more

Creative Boom

Creatives share their biggest lessons of 2019 and how they'll be doing things differently
December 2019

December is always a time for self-reflection. On the things we've done well over the last 12 months as well as the mistakes we've made and learnt from. Read more

Forbes Slovakia

Ako vybudovať úspešnú značku? Dá sa to dosiahnuť vďaka 30 efektívnym marketingovým spôsobom
October 2019

Spoločnosti vznikajú na základe dobrých nápadov, avšak ich úspech závisí najmä od toho, ako svoje nápady dokážu predať. Na to, aby ste obstáli a zaujali na konkurenčnom trhu, potrebujete viac ako len kvalitné produkty a služby. Read more

Tailor Brands

The benefits of aligning your personal and business branding
September 2019

Your marketing communication is directly linked to how your audience sees you, and it has the ability to inform opinions about your business even before you directly engage with your clients. Read more

Future of Sourcing

5 ways marketing outsourcing can drive business growth
June 2019

Businesses thrive and grow by focusing on what they do best. Their ability to deliver is what drives customer trust and loyalty, which in return impacts the bottom line and business profitability. Read more

Real Business

How having kids made me a better manager
March 2019

"Becoming a mum is the best thing I have ever done. Setting up my own business is the second." Here's why Petra Smith, founder of Squirrels&Bears believes being a mum makes her better in business. Read more

Forbes Slovakia

Získajte na Instagrame viac sledovateľov či lajkov. Dbajte na týchto 10 vecí a vyťažíte z neho maximum
March 2019

S viac ako 500 miliónmi aktívnych užívateľov denne je dnes Instagram najrýchlejšie rastúcou a najaktívnejšou sociálnou sieťou, prostredníctvom ktorej jednotlivci aj spoločnosti budujú svoj online profil a komunikujú s ostatnými užívateľmi. Read more

Creative Boom

Rookie mistakes freelancers make when they launch a business
February 2019

"Don't forget to communicate," remarks Petra Smith of Squirrels & Bears. "Keep your clients regularly updated and always be on a lookout for new work by keeping in touch with potential ones. Whichever channels you choose, just keep the conversations going." Read more

Forbes Slovakia

Povedzte to príbehom a ľudia si vás zapamätajú. Ako si získať (nielen) klientov vďaka storytellingu
February 2019

Zaujímavý príbeh je zaručeným spôsobom, ako si získať pozornosť iných bez ohľadu na to, či sú poslucháčmi deti, priatelia, alebo klienti.
Read more

Týchto 7 zlozvykov zabíja produktivitu. Ľahko sa ich zbavíte, stačí vedieť, ktoré to sú
January 2019

Všetci máme každý deň k dispozícii rovnakých 24 hodín. Ale bez ohľadu na to, ako dôsledne si plánujeme povinnosti, často nám na konci dňa ostáva nedokončený ‘to-do-list‘. Read more

7 efektívnych spôsobov, ako zvýšiť návštevnosť firemného blogu. Pomôžete tak svojmu podnikaniu
December 2018

Spoločnosti, ktoré pravidelne zverejňujú na svojej webstránke blogy, majú vďaka externým linkom z iných stránok a zo sociálnych sietí v priemere o 97 percent viac odkazov na svoju webstránku. Read more

Podnikatelia a sociálne siete. 10 dôvodov, prečo by ich mali využívať
November 2018

Nie je náhoda, že väčšina úspešných spoločností využíva sociálne siete na propagáciu svojich služieb a produktov. Dôvod je jednoduchý – sociálne siete sú jedným z najefektívnejších spôsobov na zviditeľnenie sa a komunikáciu s novými zákazníkmi. Read more

SME Magazine

Social media 101 for small businesses
September 2018

There is a good reason why so many businesses use social media to market themselves. Because it works. Petra Smith shares her top 20 reasons why your small business needs to use social media. Read more

Business Insider

5 essential business lessons I learned from my 2-year-old
June 2018

It turns out, kids can teach us a lot about being successful in business, and in life. Kids have no fear, an emotion that tends to hold a lot of adults back from going after what they want. Read more

Digital Marketing Magazine

Measuring the Impact of Social Media Marketing
July 2017

Businesses of all sizes benefit from using social media as it drives their brand exposure, boosts SEO, represents a global PR tool and helps to monitor industry trends as well as competitors. Read more