Digital marketing is shifting in two big ways. First, search is no longer just about your website. As AI tools, social platforms, reviews, and online communities influence buying decisions, businesses need to think beyond traditional SEO and focus on being visible and trusted everywhere their customers look.

Second, buyer behaviour is changing. Under ongoing pressure, customers are prioritising immediate value, wellbeing, and quick rewards over long-term promises. That has major implications for loyalty schemes, offers, and how businesses build trust.

In this episode of Digitally Speaking, we explore 2 key themes vital for marketing success in 2026: Why “everything optimisation” matters, how AI-driven discovery works in simple terms, and why genuine human connection is becoming more important in an increasingly automated world. Practical, realistic advice for small businesses who want to stay visible, relevant, and competitive.

In Episode 17 of Digitally Speaking, we walk listeners through the brand new NSDesign 2026 Social Media Calendar, packed with 180 UK and Scotland-friendly awareness days to spark ideas for the year ahead.

Perfect for busy small business owners, we explore why these topical days can boost engagement, help you stay consistent, and make brainstorming posts far less painful.

We pick out some of the fun and meaningful themes throughout the year, with simple, practical examples of how different types of businesses could use them.

If you’ve ever stared at a blank social media calendar wondering what on earth to post, this episode gives you plenty to think about.

A special edition of Digitally Speaking from NSDesign. This time, our usual hosts take a back seat as a brand new Scottish AI voice – created using ElevenLabs – introduces an entirely AI-generated music act built with Suno. Every sound, every lyric, every note… made by artificial intelligence. We might be biased, but we think it’s catchier than most of what’s in the charts these days. But does it still count as music?

In Episode 16 of Digitally Speaking, we step away from the digital world to talk about something more traditional – direct mail. Once seen as outdated, sending physical mail to customers is proving to be a valuable part of a hybrid marketing strategy, offering more attention for less cost than online ads. We also discuss a recent flyer campaign that divided opinion, raising questions about creativity, authenticity, and ethics in marketing. Old-school? Maybe. Effective? Definitely worth considering.

Episode 15 of Digitally Speaking is all about the QR Code - a simple tool that’s often overlooked, yet can be a game-changer for small business marketing. Inspired by a recent lively LinkedIn debate, we explore how QR Codes are being used well (and not so well), why they still matter, and how you can put them to work in creative, practical, and safe ways. Sometimes the simplest tools can make the biggest difference.

Two huge AI updates in just days! In Episode 14 we check out Notebook LM’s new “Video Overview” feature (yes, the tool that makes this very podcast), then dive into the launch of GPT-5 in ChatGPT and what it means for SMEs. Plus, a quick look at “Agent Mode” - early steps towards AI that can actually do tasks for you. Big leaps, exciting times.

As AI models continue to train on publicly available content, a new battle is emerging: control and compensation. In episode 13 of Digitally Speaking , we examine growing concerns among content creators over AI scraping, and explore tools like Cloudflare’s Pay-Per-Crawl and default crawler blocking designed to monetise and restrict access. From technical defences to the ethical and strategic questions raised, we ask: should you block AI bots... or embrace them? For small businesses especially, visibility and value may be at odds. Listen in as we navigate the trade-offs of protecting your IP in an AI-driven digital economy.

In this episode, we unpack Instagram’s game-changing algorithm update, effective from 10th July 2025. For the first time, content from public professional accounts - including posts, Reels, and videos - can now be indexed by external search engines like Google. We explore what this means for SEO, the growing overlap between social media and search, and how brands can optimise Instagram content for discoverability, traffic, and conversions. With AI Overviews and Zero Click Search on the rise, this is more than just an update - it's a strategic shift. Tune in to learn how to stay ahead, and how to opt out if needed.