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