Lionesses switch to navy shorts and announce new sponsor
“This is a really big step forward and something that has been gratefully welcomed by all the players,” Jordan Butler, Millwall Lionesses club captain, said.
“It enables us to focus solely on our performance without the additional worry or anxiety during the time of the month, and that is something we are thankful to the club for in supporting this switch.”
The club is excited also to announce a first-ever exclusive sponsorship agreement with Explore Marketing, whose logo will now be visible on the back of the navy shorts, which have been supplied by Errea.
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Explore, who work with an extensive client base across a vast array of marketing requirements, become back-of-short sponsor for Millwall Lionesses for the remainder of this current campaign.
Founder and Managing Director, Joe Gushlow, added: “It is an honour to support the growth of Millwall Lionesses with this sponsorship, which we hope marks the start of a long and fruitful relationship between the club and Explore Marketing.
“Millwall Lionesses are one of the biggest names in women’s football in this country and everyone at Explore looks forward to working with the club and helping the ongoing effort to support their progress back up the pyramid.”
In 2026, social media still offers huge potential for brands - but organic engagement isn’t the easy win it once was. Algorithms prioritise content that keeps users interacting, and platforms increasingly favour paid content. The good news? Smart strategy and quality content can still help brands boost engagement without spending on ads. Combining algorithm smarts with real-world UK behaviour trends helps brands grow their presence more sustainably. Why Organic Engagement Still Matters Social media usage in the UK remains massive - roughly 54.8 million people, or 79% of the population, use social platforms. That’s a huge audience your content can reach organically if you play the engagement game right! But traditional organic reach is under pressure. Platforms now lean towards showing users content that sparks interactions and keeps them scrolling, not just posting frequency. That’s why high-value content that drives real interaction is now the secret sauce of organic growth. Key Social Media Stats You Should Know for 2026 Short-form video dominates - posts like TikTok videos and Instagram Reels tend to generate the most engagement, significantly more than static images or text alone. Engagement rates vary dramatically by platform, with TikTok often leading the way at around 5.3% engagement on average, while platforms like Facebook and Twitter/X see much lower organic interaction. Interactive content boosts results - polls, Q&A stickers, and polls on Stories can increase engagement by double-digit percentages. These trends reflect how algorithms reward meaningful interaction - comments, shares, saves, and watch time send strong engagement signals. Strategies to Boost Engagement Organically 1. Create Content That Sparks Interaction Algorithms rank posts based on engagement - the more people comment, save, or share, the more visibility your content gets. Prompt conversations by asking questions, running polls, or teasing insights that invite replies. 2. Double Down on Short-Form Video Instagram Reels and TikTok clips are prioritised in users’ feeds. These bite-sized formats see higher interaction and completion rates — and because people spend 49+ hours per month on TikTok alone in the UK, there’s a huge pool of potential organic eyeballs. 3. Use Platforms Where Your Audience Actually Spends Time UK users aren’t all on one platform - Facebook still leads in sheer reach, WhatsApp dominates messaging, and TikTok is the heartbeat of younger audiences. Tailor your content to the strengths of each platform. 4. Make Engagement a Two-Way Street Reply to every comment and DM. Engagement accelerates when users feel heard - and it signals activity to the algorithm. 5. Leverage User-Generated Content & Community Features People trust content from people, not logos. Encourage users to create content about your brand and share it — and build space for ongoing interaction, like Facebook Groups or community channels. 6. Use Data to Refine Your Posting Times Posting when your audience is actually online - typically lunchtime and early evenings - can help your content get traction faster and signal initial engagement to the algorithm. Think Beyond the Algorithm While algorithm awareness gives you an edge, the real key to engagement is authentic connection. Users want content that entertains, educates, or inspires - not just the same sales posts they see everywhere. Prioritise content that speaks to people, not just feeds. Final Thoughts In 2026, boosting engagement organically means adopting a smarter content strategy, leveraging platform nuances, and knowing your audience’s behaviour inside and out. Organic social isn’t impossible - it’s just more strategic than ever. With thoughtful content and consistent interaction, your brand can grow engagement without paying for every view. Need a helping hand? Get in touch with the Explore team!
If you look at many well-known brands today, you’ll notice a clear change in how their logos look. Brands like Google, Mastercard, Pepsi, and Burberry have all moved toward cleaner, simpler designs. Logos are flatter, easier to read, and free from unnecessary details. This shift isn’t just about style. It’s about how brands need to work in a digital world. 1. Logos Need to Work on Screens Most people now see brands on phones, apps, and social media - not just on posters or packaging. Logos need to look good on small screens, even as tiny icons. Detailed logos don’t scale well. Small text and fine lines disappear. Simple logos stay clear and recognizable no matter the size. 2. Simple Logos Are Easier to Recognise People scroll quickly online. Brands have very little time to grab attention. Simple logos are easier for the brain to understand and remember. When a logo focuses on just a few strong elements, it becomes more familiar and easier to spot. 3. More Flexible Across Platforms Today, logos appear everywhere - websites, apps, videos, packaging, and social media. They may need to be animated, shown in black and white, or used in dark mode. Simple designs are easier to adapt. They also work better in motion, where clean shapes help animations feel smooth and modern. 4. Simplicity Lasts Longer Highly detailed logos often go out of style quickly. Simple logos tend to feel more timeless, meaning brands don’t need to redesign them as often. By removing extra decoration, brands create logos that can grow and evolve over time. 5. Simple Design Shows Confidence A simple logo can show that a brand is confident and established. It doesn’t need lots of details to stand out. Well-known brands can rely on recognition rather than decoration. The simplicity sends a clear message: the brand knows who it is. 6. Easier to Use Worldwide Big brands operate in many countries and cultures. Simple logos are easier to understand everywhere and are less likely to cause confusion or cultural issues. Clean shapes and clear type work well across different languages and markets. Keeping Logos Unique While simplicity has many benefits, brands need to be careful not to become boring or forgettable. The best simple logos still have something unique - like custom lettering, a special shape, or strong spacing. Simple doesn’t mean plain. It means focused. Final Thoughts For brands, this shift toward simpler logos is a reminder to focus on clarity over decoration. A strong logo isn’t about adding more elements, but about removing what isn’t needed. Brands should think about how their logo works across all touchpoints - especially digital ones - and whether it still feels clear, flexible, and recognisable. This trend also shows the importance of building a strong brand beyond the logo itself. When messaging, tone of voice, and overall design are consistent, the logo doesn’t need to do all the work on its own. Need help creating your brand? Explore can help! Get in touch with our team to get started today.
In the modern day, people are always talking about using social media and digital advertising as platforms to grow a business. They’re completely overlooking the benefits that still surround printed media and, as a result, aren’t meeting their growth potential. If you want to provide your business with a holistic approach to growth, then it’s vital that you also focus on printed media as a way to reach your customers. In this blog, we’re going to explain 10 ways in which printed media can greatly help your business. 1. People still don’t trust digital adverts According to a study carried out by PR Newswire, consumers still don’t trust pop up ads. In fact, only around 25% of consumers trust online pop-up advertisements . Among the 2,400. U.S consumers that took part in the survey, 82% trusted printed ads on newspapers and magazines while another 76% would trust direct mail. Although these numbers are unique to the US, it does help to show just how effective printed advertisements can be versus digital promotional materials. 2. Printed media is more relevant to user interest There are loads of statistics that point towards printed media being more relevant to customers. For example, two-thirds of direct mail is viewed immediately and around 40% of consumers in a study made a purchase in the past three months because of a piece of mail. Compare this to emails which are often ignored or sent immediately to a spam folder, printed media is far more relevant to user interest and has a higher chance of resulting in a sale. 3. Ad blockers are becoming far more common You’ve likely heard of people using ad-blocking software on their computers and mobile devices which allows them to avoid pop-up advertisements and even video ads that are embedded into videos and internet podcasts and music services. This drastically reduces the effectiveness of online advertising which makes print a much more reliable choice. 4. Print Can Target Audiences Effectively If you want to focus on a particular community or geographic area, print is ideal. Direct mail campaigns, door-drop leaflets, and posters allow you to reach your audience with precision. 5. Not everyone in the UK is on the internet, especially older audiences The internet might be a must-use service for most people, but a surprising number of adults don’t actually use the internet. Although 99% of the UK’s population between the ages of 16 and 34 have used the internet, only 56% of adults aged 75 years and over have used the internet. To add to this statistic, 20% of disabled adults have never used the internet and around 8.4% of adults overall have not used the internet. 6. Print Supports Brand Identity Consistent colours, typography, and high-quality finishes reinforce your brand identity. Print gives you full control over how your brand looks and feels in the real world. 7. Print Has a Longer Lifespan One of the most powerful advantages of printed media is its longevity. Unlike digital ads, which disappear the moment someone scrolls past them or closes a browser, printed materials stay in the physical world. Magazines often sit on coffee tables for weeks or months, brochures can remain on office desks long after an event, and high-quality leaflets or catalogues are frequently kept for future reference. This extended visibility means your message continues to work for you long after the initial distribution. Even a simple business card can resurface months later, sparking new opportunities! 8. Printed media isn’t restricted by the GDPR If you operate a business that serves customers online within the EU then you’ve likely had to adjust to the GDPR in order to remain compliant. As you may know, the GDPR can be incredibly limiting and will restrict the types of data you can collect and use. However, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) states that postal marketing doesn’t require consent if it’s aimed at current or past customers or those that have a legitimate interest in your business. This ultimately means that you will not be hindered by regulations such as the GDPR if you utilise printed media as a part of your promotional campaigns. 9. Improve your presence at trade shows Printed media such as banners, posters and business cards can help improve your presence at a trade show. Around 67% of attendees at a trade show represent a new prospect and potentially a customer, so it’s vital to focus on your trade show appearances and maximise your audience. A poor trade show appearance could negatively affect your business and drastically reduce the potential of your business. 10. Print studios offer a wide range of printed media options Although there are plenty of unique ways to advertise your products and services through digital platforms, there’s also a wide variety of printed media options available. From leaflets to business cards and even posters, printed media can be customised to your needs and you’re also able to reuse design elements such as your logo, colour scheme, slogan and copywriting. Need a hand with professionally designed printed marketing materials? We've got you! Get in touch today to get started.
