#35: Highlights from Blue Earth Summit 2023
And the question it left me with...
A curated tour around the world of brand copywriting and purpose-driven business by Martha Moger
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Small Things Big #35 by Martha Moger. Find me here.
It was Mark Shayler who said it. The F-word we hate to hear.
“Failed”.
It was the first night’s wrap-up at Blue Earth Summit 2023 in Bristol. I’d heard incredible pitches for investment from big-thinking start and scale-ups with serious ambition. I’d taken part in a fascinating workshop by Propellernet on how to get ethical products ranking higher up in SEO search. I’d admired Dragon Deborah Meaden on how forward-thinking she’d been in investing in greener businesses and marvelled at the radical way that professional climber, Leo Houlding, was taking his kids into nature. I’d met countless, interesting, passionate people and now Mark was wrapping up the day.
He walked us through musical eras, showing how emissions had risen as the decades went by. He told us that he’d been working in marketing for over 30 years - and that he’d failed. Because if that marketing had been effective, we wouldn’t be facing the disastrous reality that the environment has turned into.
I think Mark is great and those were his words, not mine, but he got me thinking… In a crisis that doesn’t feel immediate, but actually is, and faced with something that feels so completely beyond any one person’s control, what part can language play in making things better?
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8 Highlights from Blue Earth Summit.
Meet Babbasa, the Bristol-based social enterprise helping young people to do big things (the dancing on their homepage is a pretty great start too).
Waterbear, home of captivating films about the planet.
Doughnut Economics. I lost count of how many people mentioned this at Blue Planet. I’m yet to get stuck in but here’s a good start into what a healthy economy could actually look like.
Climbing Hangar presented an investment pitch at Blue Earth and I thought it stole the show.
Purpose Disruptors are shaking up the advertising industry.
W’zis. I met Russell from W’zis and we had a lovely chat. Dog treats anyone?
Leo Houlding. The places he adventures with his family will blow your mind.
Propellernet is a search and marketing agency with a ton of knowledge, doing things right.
A small thing big.
In this week’s Small Notes, the secret to being a great writer.
Today’s writing tip.
More of a quote than a tip, from Copy Chief Vikki Ross. In case you were in any doubt about what copywriting is.
"As copywriters, we have one of the best jobs in the world – we get to talk directly to our audience and tell stories. We get to entertain, to make an impact, to appeal to emotions. And we get to play. We can play with words, move them around a page and bring their meaning or character to life in unexpected ways.”
Need to get your brand talking?
“The Stitch Writer is a total gem and the whole team have nothing but glowing feedback from the work you’ve done.” CJ Fiala, Hue & Cry agency, London
A very poignant and thought-provoking question I would love to brainstorm!