People Over Pixels

Giorgio Cassella & Sam Biggins

Business, marketing and leadership with a people-first perspective. This is People Over Pixels, a show exploring the human side of running a business in an online world. Listen along as Sam and Giorgio, directors of multi-award-winning digital agency Evoluted, share a lighthearted and totally transparent view into the highs, the lows; the fumbles and the f*ckups of their business journey. Discussing everything from marketing and management through to culture and contracts, together Sam and Giorgio will be unpacking everything they’re learning on their way to building a better business with people at its heart.

  1. 12/09/2024

    Ep 014: Nostalgia or Nonsense - Do Christmas Ads Still Make Sense?

    The festive season brings with it a unique marketing phenomenon: Christmas ads. Becoming a cultural phenomenon that spark both nostalgia and skepticism, they continue to raise questions about their true effectiveness. While some may fondly recall the Coca Cola truck or the emotional narratives of brands like John Lewis, others roll their eyes at what feels like obligatory holiday marketing. Hosts Giorgio Cassella and Sam Biggins engage in a spirited discussion about the effectiveness of these ads and their ability to create emotional connections with consumers. They analyse the balance between heartwarming narratives and the expectation of commercialism, questioning if the financial investment in these campaigns yields tangible results. They further examine the changing landscape of media consumption, suggesting that as younger generations gravitate towards digital platforms, the traditional TV ad may not hold the same power it once did. Together they explore the importance of aligning brand values with advertising messages, positing that without this alignment, even the most beautifully crafted ads may fail to resonate or drive sales. The central debate revolves around whether these ads genuinely impact a business's bottom line or foster long-term brand loyalty, or if they are merely a tradition that brands continue out of expectation rather than strategy. ----- Takeaways: Christmas ads evoke nostalgia and emotional responses, but their effectiveness is debated. While brands spend heavily on Christmas ads, their impact on sales remains questionable. The expectation of Christmas ads creates a cultural norm that brands feel pressured to follow. Smaller brands entering the Christmas ad space must carefully craft messages to resonate with audiences. John Lewis's annual Christmas ads highlight the tension between creativity and business impact. Long-term brand loyalty may not be significantly influenced by emotional holiday advertising. ----- ✨Enjoyed listening? Leave a rating or review and subscribe ready for new episodes. 💭Want to send us your thoughts on the pod? Message us on LinkedIn: Find Giorgio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gjcassella/  Find Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-biggins-b88b763b/

    32 min
  2. 10/16/2024

    Ep 013: Mastering Award Submissions - Winning Strategies For Entering Business Awards

    Are you looking to get your business award entries noticed, shortlisted and hopefully, to win!? In this episode of People Over Pixels, Giorgio Cassella and Sam Biggins share their top tips for crafting compelling award submissions based on years of experience and numerous wins.  Crafting compelling award entries can feel like a daunting task, yet it is essential for any business looking to gain recognition for its team’s hard work. With insights into the details that matter, the gents discuss how to present your achievements authentically, including both the ups and downs of your journey. The discussion highlights the importance of narrative in award submissions, urging entrants to weave a cohesive story that not only showcases their achievements but also engages the judges. With a wealth of experience in this arena, the hosts share critical insights gleaned from years of trial and error, including their own successes and setbacks in the award circuit.  Tips include the power of a structured approach - summary, objectives, strategy, and results - as well as the necessity of including both quantitative and qualitative metrics to provide a comprehensive view of a project’s impact.  Ultimately, the conversation fosters a mindset of continuous improvement and resilience, encouraging listeners to embrace both the challenges and triumphs inherent in the award submission process.  Tune in for a wealth of strategies that will help you elevate your award entries and increase your chances of recognition in the competitive landscape of business awards. ----- Takeaways: Crafting a compelling narrative is crucial for engaging judges during award entries.Include both quantitative and qualitative metrics to support your award submissions effectively.Use supplementary information and visuals to enhance clarity and impact in your entries.Detailing the ups and downs of your projects showcases resilience and authenticity.Ensure your entries highlight the unique aspects that set your agency apart from competitors.Do not take negative feedback personally; focus on continuous improvement and learning. ----- ✨Enjoyed listening? Leave a rating or review and subscribe ready for new episodes. 💭Want to send us your thoughts on the pod? Message us on LinkedIn: Find Giorgio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gjcassella/  Find Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-biggins-b88b763b/

    53 min
  3. 09/04/2024

    Ep 010: Pub Meetup To A Thousands Strong Community - Reflecting On Six Years Of DM Events

    From a little meetup in the back-room of a pub on the platform of Sheffield station to a thriving community of thousands of marketers across the UK… Six years ago we started a small evening meet-up to bring local marketing professionals together for an evening of laid back knowledge sharing and socialising over our mutual love for the marketing profession. Fast forward to today and we now have a wonderful, growing community attending bi-monthly events in Sheffield, Nottingham and Manchester; as well as our annual conference - DMXL. In this episode of People Over Pixels, Sam and Giorgio retrospectively reminisce on the DM events journey so far.  Together, the gents chat about the values and ethos behind starting the events and how that continues to this day, attendee feedback and how this gets worked into the business strategy behind the events, and they do a live critique of their most recent DMXL conference and both the personal and professional challenges faced. ----- 🎟️ Fancy attending DMXL 2025? Grab a ticket with 25% off using code PEOPLE-OVER-PIXELS over on Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/949739064107/?discount=PEOPLE-OVER-PIXELS 🗓️ Join the DM community in Sheffield, Nottingham, and Manchester (more locations coming soon!) by following us on Eventbrite, LinkedIn, or booking a ticket for upcoming events 🧡 Sheffield DM: Eventbrite | LinkedIn 💚 Nottingham DM: Eventbrite | LinkedIn 💜 Manchester DM: Eventbrite | LinkedIn ----- ✨Enjoyed listening? Leave a rating or review and subscribe ready for new episodes. 💭Want to send us your thoughts on the pod? Message us on LinkedIn: Find Giorgio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gjcassella/  Find Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-biggins-b88b763b/

    1h 3m
  4. 05/22/2024

    Ep 008: The Dos & Don'ts Of Writing Bulletproof Website Specifications

    It’s one of the biggest projects a company can undertake: launching a new website. Whether you’re creating an entirely new domain or overhauling your existing site, it’s incredibly important and difficult to get it right - because between brief and execution things can easily go off-piste. Success starts with a well-considered website spec that clearly maps out the site’s purpose and core functionalities, but it’s easier said than done. Following the conversation on project discovery workshops in the last episode, on this episode of People Over Pixels we’re talking all about how to write effective project specifications. We’ll be discussing the Dos and Don'ts of writing a specification for your next web project; how to make sure the spec is aligned with your goals; the importance of not skimping on the details; and how to tackle the dreaded budget conversation. Giorgio, importantly, also learns the importance of why your project specs benefit from being living documents before being continuously berated by Sam. ----- Often see website specs that are misguided or rushed, dooming the project to avoidable delays, spiralling costs and fundamentally, a website that doesn't meet its original aims. Here's how to give web developers and designers what they need to create the website of your dreams! Download our guide on How to Write the Perfect Website Spec today: https://www.evoluted.net/resources/how-to-write-the-perfect-website-spec ----- Enjoyed listening? Leave a rating or review and subscribe ready for new episodes. Want to send us your thoughts on the pod? Message us on LinkedIn: Find Giorgio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gjcassella/  Find Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-biggins-b88b763b/

    33 min

About

Business, marketing and leadership with a people-first perspective. This is People Over Pixels, a show exploring the human side of running a business in an online world. Listen along as Sam and Giorgio, directors of multi-award-winning digital agency Evoluted, share a lighthearted and totally transparent view into the highs, the lows; the fumbles and the f*ckups of their business journey. Discussing everything from marketing and management through to culture and contracts, together Sam and Giorgio will be unpacking everything they’re learning on their way to building a better business with people at its heart.