Media Alerts

07/07/2021

😯 Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water! You’ve heard the phrase, and maybe you even heard the completely ridiculous origin story that says that families in the 1500s only used to bath once per year, with the men going first and the baby last, and with the water so murky that the baby was in danger of being thrown out unseen!

It turns out that the only slightly accurate thing about this story is the date. The phrase did indeed first appear in print in 1512, written in a German satirical piece, a treatise on fools who by trying to rid themselves of a bad thing succeed in destroying whatever good there was as well.

Now you know! 😊

Interestingly, this image is the woodcut artwork that was included in Thomas Murner's 1512 satirical work, called Narrenbeschwörung (Appeal to Fools).

23/06/2021

😮 To be caught red-handed means to be caught in the act of some misdemeanour, with the evidence there for all to see. But did you know that the term was used in official legal proceedings in Scotland from the 15th century, even printed in the Scottish Acts of Parliament of James I in 1432! 😯

As you might have guessed, being caught red-handed did not refer to a clumsy thief raiding the shed for red paint, but rather to the act of poaching or butchering an animal they didn't own. However, as one written account from 1674 of a Scottish criminal case revealed, "If he be not taken red-hand the sheriff cannot proceed against him".

Now you know!

17/06/2021

If you’re focusing on increasing engagement with your social media marketing, much of the relationship building and the opportunities for sales happens in the private messages.

Instagram is rolling out their new DM automation functionality to streamline business communications, helping you ensure those high value opportunities are leveraged instead of lost.

Here’s a useful article we found with examples of how to use the feature:

Learn how to use Instagram direct messaging automation to streamline business communications on Instagram.

11/06/2021

Hey, it's time! 😆

09/06/2021

Did you know that the phrase to ‘bury the hatchet’ came from the Native American tribes? It means to settle your differences and make peace. But while much of what we think about the way Native Americans spoke was invented by Hollywood scriptwriters, this figurative expression really did originate as a literal American Indian practice! 😮

The hatchet was the principal weapon of the time, and so when the chiefs of tribes came to a peace agreement, they would bury their hatchets in the ground. This was a ceremony that was more significant and binding (and practical) than any written articles of peace!

Now you know. 🙏

08/06/2021

While some brands focus on social media growth no matter what, this article suggests that if you want your actions to translate into positive results and sales, a better strategy is to be ‘purposeful, not popular’.

How to attract the right followers on Instagram:

Learn how to attract the right followers on Instagram without buying any extra software or apps.

04/06/2021

Sometimes it’s just silly, but we love a fun !

03/06/2021

If you’re looking for a smart strategy to clean up your Instagram profile, this article talks about why you might want to archive certain types of posts instead of deleting, and when to use each option:

Discover the difference between deleting and archiving an Instagram feed post or story, what happens when you archive a post, and when to use each option.

02/06/2021

To ‘turn a blind eye’ means to knowingly refuse to acknowledge something that you know to be real, but did you know its rather cheeky origin story?

British Naval hero, Admiral Horatio Nelson - who had one blind eye - is supposed to have demonstrated this idiom quite literally in 1801 when he wilfully disobeyed a signal to withdraw during an attack on a fleet of Danish ships.

The British fleet was commanded by Admiral Sir Hyde Parker at the time, but the two men disagreed over tactics. So when Hyde Parker sent the signal (by use of flags) for Nelson to disengage, Nelson didn't agree and was convinced he could win if he persisted. So he held up the telescope to his blind eye and said, "I really do not see the signal".

Historians point out that the phrase 'to turn a blind eye' was actually already in use at that time, but while Nelson may not have coined the term, his actions certainly made it come to life in a memorable way!

Now you know! 😉

31/05/2021

Great advice to always be choosing the roads we take, or deliberately creating a new one.

27/05/2021

If you want to market your business or products with video, this article shows some useful outlines and formats (like the Smile & Hold method to record cuts that are easy to edit): How to structure marketing videos for success.

Discover a format to make a marketing video that achieves your marketing goals.

27/05/2021

🤪 If you thought the phrase “as mad as a hatter” originated from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, you’d be mistaken. 🤨 The origin’s actually a little darker and older than the fantastical fictional character.

In the 17th century, mercury was used in the making of hats and led to mercury poisoning, causing a variety symptoms such as tremors, mood swings and anti-social behaviour. In fact, mercury poisoning is sometimes referred to as Mad Hatter’s disease! 😟

However, as is often the case, there are always competing origin theories. Some word historians say that to do something “as a hatter” meant instead to do something with full intensity, with examples in literature of “work like a hatter”, “drunk as a hatter” and to “hit like a hatter”. We also don’t know if ‘mad’ originally referred to being crazy or angry, but thanks to Lewis Carroll’s colourful character, the loony, crazy version of ‘mad’ is what’s stuck! 🙃

Now you know!