Acorn Marketing

Acorn Marketing "Mighty oaks from small acorns grow" Helping Cumbrian business owners to focus on running their business by effectively managing all marketing activity

Dancing to 90s pop anthems at 9am on a Tuesday. Natasha Hamilton from Atomic Kitten on stage. Andrew and Pete absolutely...
17/06/2026

Dancing to 90s pop anthems at 9am on a Tuesday. Natasha Hamilton from Atomic Kitten on stage. Andrew and Pete absolutely delivering as always.
That was my Tuesday morning. 😄

Atomicon is one of those events I look forward to every single year. Not just for the learning, but for the people. Old friends, familiar faces and some brilliant new ones I can’t wait to see again next year.

Twenty-five years in marketing and I still come away from days like this with pages of notes and a head full of ideas. That’s the point. You never stop learning.

A few things that really stuck with me:

The psychology behind DMs and how we communicate, from Richard Moore

What it actually means to be human in a world of AI, from Shawn Kanungo

Peeling back the layers and building on what makes you uniquely you, from Ryan Deiss | 3X Inc. 500 Founder | Author .

Slowing down and being more intentional with Ann Handley

Drilling into my competitive advantage and zone of genius with

Prepping for a future book launch with Lucy McCarraher MBE

Discovering my unique character and core beliefs with Jo Bird

And the brilliant , interviewed by Suman Randhawa | Sales & Messaging Consultant , who delivered some of the most grounded, honest business advice of the day. No celebrity fluff. Just the real stuff.

Oh, and the golden 90:10 rule from ATOMIC: For the Small & Mighty Business. Always that.

Next year Atomicon moves to Manchester — bigger and better than ever. Ticket already bought. 🎟️

Right. Notes open. Time to implement.

01/05/2026

Today I celebrate 15 years of Acorn Marketing. I genuinely can’t believe I get to do this every day. 🌱

Started with one laptop, a determination to make it work, and absolutely no idea what the next 15 years would bring.

It’s been a ride. And I wouldn’t change a single bit of it.
Here’s to the next fifteen. ✨

You can read my article ‘15 lessons I’ve learned from 15 years in business’ on my website (link in bio)

ArtsMarketing

Look what I spent the morning doing - in the rain, full of cold, but I think I pulled it off with of make-up and tissues...
04/12/2025

Look what I spent the morning doing - in the rain, full of cold, but I think I pulled it off with of make-up and tissues! Now go check out the page, give us a like and you may just win your Christmas Dinner

Well, it’s 5pm and I’m only just getting to my first proper work task of the day… because, let’s be honest, sometimes li...
28/11/2025

Well, it’s 5pm and I’m only just getting to my first proper work task of the day… because, let’s be honest, sometimes life throws a curveball and all good intentions fly out the window! Today has been one of those days where “just getting started” happens a little (okay, a lot) later than planned. If you’re in the same boat, you’re not alone!

But even with the chaos, I wanted to jump on and talk Black Friday. I’m a big believer in supporting local and not feeling pressured to slash prices just because the world goes into shopping frenzy mode. Instead, I love using these moments to shout about things I genuinely care about and to support fellow small businesses doing the same.

So, here’s something a bit different: as some of you know, I recently published my children’s book, Doctor April and the Rainbow Farts (yes, it’s as magical and silly as it sounds, and perfect for 7–11 year olds – though grown-ups have been known to giggle too!). And today, I’m trying something new: I’ve just started selling on Whatnot (it’s like QVC but online and way more fun).

If you fancy supporting a local aspiring author (hi, it’s me 👋), here’s the cool bit: if you follow this link https://whatnot.com/invite/writelisawrite and sign up, you get £10 credit FREE to spend anywhere on the site – and you can use it to buy my book! Even better, because it’s Black Friday, Whatnot are charging me 0% commission today, so every penny goes straight to me (not a big third-party platform).

Got kids aged 7–11 (or know any)?
Want a fun read, or a quirky Christmas gift?
Love supporting small, local, and creative businesses?

If you tick any of those boxes, I’d absolutely love your support today, or please share with a friend who might be interested. Every purchase, every share, every little bit helps get my story out to the world, and it means the world to me. 🙏

02/10/2025

Anyone else want to join my special club! 🤪

I may look like a swan, nailing all the stuff, but I actually don’t really know how I do it all sometimes…I just get on and do it!

Just discovered so I’m hoping that helps! Thanks Polly

25/09/2025

Brace yourself Instagram are making more changes to the algorithm…here’s what you need to know if you want your content to actually be seen (without tearing your hair out!)

1. Reels are (still) King: Instagram LOVES short-form video right now. If you want to reach new people, Reels are your best friend. Make them quick, engaging, and full of value – people’s attention spans are shorter than ever!

2. Keywords are your secret weapon: Gone are the days of just stuffing in hashtags. Now, Instagram is reading your bio, captions, and even the text IN your images and Reels. The more clearly you describe what your post is about (using real words your audience would search for), the more likely you are to be found.

3. Keep it original: Instagram is prioritising high-quality, original content. Repurposed or low-effort stuff just isn’t getting the same reach. So let your creativity shine and don’t be afraid to do things your own way (even if it’s a little quirky!).

4. Engagement beats follower numbers: The algorithm cares far more about who’s liking, commenting, saving, and sharing your posts than how many followers you’ve got. Focus on starting conversations and building relationships, not just chasing numbers.

5. Relationships matter: Instagram wants to show your posts to people who interact with you most. Reply to DMs, tag people, and engage in the comments – it all counts!

6. Timing still counts: Newer posts are favoured, so posting when your audience is actually online will help you get more eyes on your content.

And finally (from me, not the algorithm): don’t feel like you have to do everything, everywhere. Pick what feels right for you and your audience, and do it well. Authenticity and consistency are what really make the difference. ✨




Social media moves fast – what worked last year might not work today.Here are 4 trends I’m seeing right now across the p...
18/09/2025

Social media moves fast – what worked last year might not work today.

Here are 4 trends I’m seeing right now across the platforms we all use:
🎵 TikTok is fast becoming a search engine – think “how to” content
📸 Instagram is about engagement, not follower counts – create conversations
💼 LinkedIn rewards stories and personal insights – show the human side of business
👥 Facebook thrives on community-driven content – behind-the-scenes always wins

Keeping up with these shifts can make the difference between posts that get scrolled past and posts that spark action.

💬 Over to you – have you noticed these changes on the platforms you use most?

“Resilience is not what happens to you. It’s how you react to, respond to, and recover from what happens to you.” – Jeff...
16/09/2025

“Resilience is not what happens to you. It’s how you react to, respond to, and recover from what happens to you.” – Jeffrey Gitomer

Being shortlisted for the Digital Women Awards 2025 in the Carer of the Year category (still pinching myself) feels incredibly special – not just as recognition of my business journey, but of the resilience it’s taken to get here.

Running a business is never straightforward. Over the last few years I’ve juggled being a mum, carer for my dad, and keeping Acorn Marketing thriving. There have been days when it felt impossible to keep all the plates spinning. But what I’ve learned is that resilience isn’t about “having it all together” it’s about finding a way forward, even when things feel tough.

I know I’m not alone in carrying that mental load. So many women are quietly juggling caring, parenting, working often unseen. To me, this award isn’t just about my journey; it’s a recognition of what so many of us are managing every single day, behind the scenes.

That’s why this award means so much. It’s a reminder that resilience, creativity and sheer determination can carry you through, even in the hardest seasons. And that we don’t have to do it alone – community, clients, family and friends all play such a big part too.

✨ Here’s to resilience, to carving out space for what matters, and to celebrating the strength it takes to keep moving forward.

Wish me luck at the Digital Women Awards tomorrow – I’m so excited to be part of it! 🤞💛

I’d love to know – what does resilience look like in your business journey? Share your story in the comments 👇

This week I’ve been reminded just how powerful it is to surround yourself with the right people.At Pink Link Networking,...
12/09/2025

This week I’ve been reminded just how powerful it is to surround yourself with the right people.

At Pink Link Networking, I’ve loved spending time with like-minded women in business – sharing ideas, getting to know each other better, and cheering each other on.

Being part of Atomic has given me that same sense of belonging too. Every time I attend Atomicon, I come away buzzing with energy from being in a room full of ambitious, supportive business owners who just get it.

And next week, I’m heading to London for the Digital Women Awards where I’m shortlisted for an award 🏆 (still pinching myself!). I don’t really know anyone going, but I’m excited to be surrounded by a whole new community of inspiring women who are passionate about marketing. Who knows what opportunities and connections it might bring!

Then there’s my own community online – clients, mentees, peers, friends. I love how we collaborate, share contacts, support and celebrate one another.

Business can feel lonely sometimes, especially when you work by yourself at home, but when you find the right communities, it changes everything. 💛

Which communities or groups make you feel most supported right now? 👇

⏳ “If you want something enough, you’ll make space for it.”I heard this recently on the Don’t Work Harder podcast with g...
10/09/2025

⏳ “If you want something enough, you’ll make space for it.”

I heard this recently on the Don’t Work Harder podcast with guest Sophie Milliken – and it really stuck with me.

Marketing is often one of those things we know we should be doing… but it gets pushed down the list. Growing the business, serving clients, running the day-to-day – all that takes priority. And then suddenly weeks (or months!) have gone by and the marketing still hasn’t happened.

It’s not because you don’t care about it – it’s because you don’t have the time, skills, or headspace to give it what it needs.

That’s where I come in. By stepping in as an outsourced marketing manager, I give my clients back the space to focus on what they do best.

🎢 If you run a visitor attraction, you should be out there creating brilliant experiences for your guests, not worrying about Instagram algorithms.
🎭 If you’re a theatre director, your job is to bring stories to life on stage, not to sell tickets or design posters.
🏛️ If you’re a museum curator, your passion is in crafting exhibitions, not in figuring out how to drive footfall.

One of my clients said recently that since working with me, they finally feel like their marketing has “just been taken care of” – freeing them up to focus on growing the business they love. That’s exactly why I do what I do.

So tell me – what’s the biggest marketing challenge you’d love to make space for? 👇

Address

CLINT MILL, CORNMARKET
Penrith
CA117HW

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+447751212662

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