The steer

Enjoy an insight into our work, culture, opinions and everything in between.

  • Filter

  1. Ride Shotgun makes its second US-based acquisition of 2024

    Exciting news! Ride Shotgun has expanded its capabilities with the acquisition of PIX-US, a leading CGI company based in North Carolina. This strategic move follows our earlier acquisition of Silicon Valley’s Volume Group in March, establishing our strong presence on both the East and West coasts of the US.

    Read post
  2. Keeping Pace with The Changing Face of Health & Beauty

    Beauty standards are shifting—are you keeping up? Discover the trends reshaping the health & beauty landscape and learn how to stay ahead in this new age of authenticity.

    Read post
  3. What’s Driving Home & Interior Trends 2024/5?

    These five consumer behaviours have the power to give your marketing meaning in 2024/5 and beyond. Giving you a reason to play a bigger part in consumers’ lives so they remember you and positively impact ROI.

    Read post
  4. Challenges of a CMO (Part 3): AI in Marketing

    AI in Marketing: How AI is disrupting the marketing world - and what you need to know to stay ahead.

    Read post
  5. Challenges of a CMO (PART 2): Creative Expectation vs. Reality

    Creative Expectation vs Reality: Managing the gap between vision and outcome when working with agencies.

    Read post
  6. Challenges of a CMO (PART 1): Budget vs. Brilliance

    Budget vs Brilliance: Striking the perfect balance between tight budgets and standout content - what’s the secret?

    Read post
  7. “The Challenges of a CMO” Webcast

    CMOs are facing more challenges than ever, from content production to budget optimisation and navigating AI's impact. Join our team and expert guests as they share insights and perspectives.

    Read post
  8. “Challenges of a CMO” #2: In-house vs Agency

    Finding the right combo of agency partners that tick all your boxes can really put the pain in campaign. So, how do you find the right balance for your brand? We’ve put together this infographic to give you the pros and cons of each kind of agency model and help you find what works for you.

    Read post
  9. Insights from the Agency Hackers Conference

    Robots have entered the chat (and they’re here to help): Insights from the Agency Hackers Conference

    Read post
  10. Juggling multiple agency partners

    “Challenges of a CMO” #1: Juggling Agency Partners

    From reducing spend to keeping brand consistency, how can you achieve more with less agency partners?

    Read post
  11. Crush the Content Game with Smart Production

    Feel like you’re always playing catch-up with content creation? There’s a smart way to get ahead of the game.  

    Read post
  12. Rapid Growth Agencies in the North

    Rapid growth agencies in the north? Andy Weir and Stephen Kenwright have both been there. In fact they’ve been there, done that, got the agency merch t-shirt. We got Andy and Stephen in a room to chat about what’s been important in their journey, from culture to content and everything in between.

    Read post
  13. Meet Ride Shotgun’s New Group Finance Director

    Introducing Steve Armstrong, the new Finance Director at Ride Shotgun. An MBA graduate from Manchester Business School, Steve brings 15 years of experience across various sectors, including hospitality, travel, and technology.

    Read post
  14. Rise at Seven Founder Joins Ride Shotgun

    Ride Shotgun welcomes Stephen Kenwright to lead its strategy and digital divisions. Kenwright founded creative agency Rise at Seven with Carrie Rose in 2019, serving as Chief Commercial Officer and taking the agency to more than £7m revenue before exiting in 2022.

    Read post
  15. Shaking up ROI in the Drinks Sector

    Discover how Smart Production can revolutionise your drinks brand's ROI with insights and real-world examples from PepsiCo, Nestle, and Diageo.

    Read post
  16. What’s a Joined Up Brand Journey Anyway?

    What's the real cost of not having a joined-up brand journey? The answer might surprise you. Find out why a joined-up brand journey matters more now than ever. In our latest "Brand Bites" podcast, Lee Morton, Head of Brand and Proposition Development at Arco, reveals all.

    Read post
  17. Festive Packaging Trend Report 2024/5

    It’s Chriiiiiiiistmas! Only kidding. But with the gift packaging market soaring to a reported £21.9 billion in 2023, it pays to stay ahead in the design game. That's why we're releasing our free 2024 Festive Packaging Trend Report, full of insights from industry experts and our very own packaging team.

    Read post
  18. HSBC Bank on Ride Shotgun for World-Class Creative

    When HSBC asked us to launch their first ever Global Investment Summit in Hong Kong we were more than up for the challenge. Best of all, we were invited along to see it all in action.

    Read post
  19. Moving up the ranks: Celebrating Our Spot in Prolific North’s Top 50!

    We're excited to announce that we've been named in the Prolific North Top 50 Integrated Agencies list, ranking 24th - two places higher than last year!

    Read post
  20. Ride Shotgun acquires Volume Group, boosting Extended Reality and People Performance capabilities

    Ride Shotgun has completed the acquisition of Volume Group, an award winning agency group made up of global B2B Marketing Agency Volume, and leading People Performance and Learning and Development specialist, Shine.

    Read post
  21. Interior Trends Report 2024/5

    Our 2024 Interior Trend Report unveils the latest looks for 2024 and 2025, curated with industry insights and our stylists' expertise. Buckle up for a visual feast full of inspiration.

    Read post
  22. Finance Marketing Trends 2024

    In our latest report, we’ve outlined 3 Financial Marketing Trends You Can’t Afford to Miss in 2024. Giving you food for thought and a look at some examples in the industry to help you get inspired and kickstart 2024/5 plans right!

    Read post
  23. Immersive Tech Trends 24

    Make immersive technology work for you in 2024

    Read post
  24. A Fortnight with the Future Riders

    Find out what our two latest placement students made of Ride Shotgun.

    Read post
  25. We’re the Reel Deal

    Check out our latest showreel, showcasing the most impactful pieces from every area of the Ride Shotgun agency.

    Read post
  26. Bringing the Next Generation along for the Ride

    Why Ride Shotgun is uniquely set up for agency work experience.

    Read post
  27. Glancing Back to look Forward

    It’s our birthday! It’s now two years since we launched Ride Shotgun and we’re celebrating by revving up our plans for the next year of the biz.

    Read post
  28. Festive Shotgun Shenanigans

    Last week we ditched our strategic and creative super powers for the much anticipated Christmas Party.

    Read post
  29. CGI Marketing: The Ultimate Guide

    CGI is everywhere, folks! From kitchens to bedrooms, bathrooms to mind-blowing deep fake models, it’s taking the product marketing world by storm. If you’re fashionably late to the party, don’t fret. We’ve got you covered...

    Read post
  30. Why Virtual Shopping Experiences are the Real Deal

    Nothing beats browsing around a retail showroom in person… or does it? Find out why virtual shopping experiences are the real deal.

    Read post
  31. Insights and Highlights from DEVELOP3D LIVE

    DEVELOP3D LIVE offers an annual peek into the groundbreaking advancements in product development and technology. Dive into the event through the eyes of our intrepid Technology Director, Danny Austin, as he takes you through the highlights, featuring talks from industry leaders, and share his insights on the latest tech trends.

    Read post
  32. CGI to Metaverse Ready in 6 Simple Steps

    Ever wondered how the Metaverse could transform your marketing game? The Metaverse might sound like sci-fi, but it's real, and we're here to show you the ropes. Keep reading as we walk you through 6 simple steps to effortlessly transition from CGI to 'Metaverse Ready'. Let’s roll!

    Read post
  33. BRAND BITES: Where Marketing Meets Creativity

    We're thrilled to introduce our new podcast series BRAND BITES to the Ride Shotgun audience. Prepare for a deep dive into the minds of creative industry experts, serve up engaging interviews packed with insights, invaluable lessons, and perspectives.

    Read post
  34. 10 Steps to Create Stand Out Packaging Design

    Packaging design isn't just about aesthetics; it's a strategic powerhouse that can set your product apart. Learn how to outshine the competition with these top tips!

    Read post
  35. Our Regime for Stunning Health and Beauty Content

    Discover how we make your health and beauty brand content stand out in a crowded market with our foolproof regime.

    Read post
  36. Ride in 5: Making the Search for Your ‘Why’ easier

    Defining, articulating and implementing your ‘why’ plays a key role operationally and culturally across your business. It’s your North Star, a shared goal, the DNA that runs through every action and decision the business makes.

    Read post
  37. Even More Creative Content? Works for us!

    Take a look at our shiny new showreel showcasing some of our best work from the world of home interest and interiors, FMCG and drinks.

    Read post
  38. Ride Shotgun acquires CGI powerhouse, Creative Content Works

    Exciting news: Creative Content Works (CCW) is now part of the Ride Shotgun family!

    Read post
  39. Outdoor CGI: Insider Secrets to Outdoor CGI

    Unlock the secrets to breathtaking outdoor CGI with this in-depth guide. Discover our top "5 Tell Tale Signs it’s Cheap CGI" along with our Creative's Secrets to pixel perfect production, that's indistinguishable from the real thing.

    Read post
  40. Ride in 5: 5 reasons why content is still king for B2B & B2C marketing

    In the ever-evolving landscape of B2B and B2C marketing, one constant remains unshaken: the reigning power of content.

    Read post
  41. Ride in 5: Why brand basics are your tactical advantage

    Discover why resilient brands thrive in challenging times. Explore effective strategies to boost click rates, supercharge lead generation, and revitalise sales conversions before resorting to extra PPC spending.

    Read post
  42. 3 Game-Changing Strategies to Overcome the HFSS Ban (WITHOUT CREATING A NEW PRODUCT RANGE)

    Discover why marketers are wary of the new HFSS regulations and explore 3 strategies to navigate the ban without altering or creating a new product range.

    Read post
  43. The 5 Best Creative Chocolate Ads of All Time

    With World Chocolate Day fast approaching, feast your eyes on our favourite chocolate TV ads, creative branding, and iconic commercials of all time.

    Read post
  44. Sealy Wins “Bed product of the Year”

    We've had some more awesome awards news, this time for Sealy UK & Ireland who won the coveted "Bed Product of the Year" at the National Bed Federation award ceremony.

    Read post
  45. Magnet: Kitchen of the year – Ideal Home awards 2022

    As Magnet clinches "Kitchen of the Year 2022" from Ideal Home Magazine, we can't help but celebrating too! We’re proud to play a part in bringing their design concept to life using the latest in CGI content production.

    Read post
  46. Can You Really Save Time, Money and the Planet with CGI?

    There’s certainly a lot for marketers to be excited about with CGI. Transform your marketing, future-proof your business and engage prospects and existing customers in ways you never could before.

    Read post
  47. Making a Splash

    Riders from our Leeds and Sheffield offices flocked to Rother Valley Park last week for the hotly anticipated summer party, ready to take on a fun-packed, adrenaline-fuelled day of activities.

    Read post
  48. CGI Foodography: The Secret Ingredient to your Marketing Mix?

    CGI ‘foodography’ is transforming the way brands showcase their products. Find out about the benefits and how we create delectable CGI food imagery.

    Read post
  49. All the Gear and all the Ideas for Studio

    Top-notch content without all the hassle for Studio

    Read post
  50. AI – The Intelligent Choice in Marketing?

    AI (Artificial Intelligence) has become increasingly popular in marketing as technology advances. While it can improve efficiency, accuracy, and the overall effectiveness of marketing campaigns, understanding exactly how marketing agencies currently use AI might be less clear.

    Read post
  51. Springing into April

    Celebrating team growth and new client wins

    Read post
  52. Life Behind the Lense

    We sat down with our very own Senior Producer Jamie Franklin to get the lowdown on our recent shoot for home emergency repairs and improvements company Homeserve.

    Read post
  53. Trend. 23/24

    Interior design industry trends and strategies for growth report 23

    Read post
  54. How to Curate More Searchworthy Content

    3 steps to make your content searchworthy

    Read post
  55. Where Content Always Shines

    Behind the scenes at Ride Shotgun’s sunny Portugal outdoor production hub

    Read post
  56. From Retro to Futuristic: The Evolving Trends in Graphic Design

    Stay ahead of the curve with our insights into the latest graphic design trends and techniques.

    Read post
  57. Building Brands Inside Out

    Unite and excite to supercharge your brand

    Read post
  58. Trends, Tips and Terrazzos

    Cool stuff we spotted at The Surface Design Show 2023

    Read post
  59. How to Define Your B2B Brand’s Tone of Voice

    10 tips to avoid ending up in middle of the road

    Read post
  60. Why a Tier Two Agency is Having Your Cake and Eating It

    Finding the right balance between strategy, creativity, and your content production budget can be a real challenge.

    Read post
  61. Death Sentence or New Chapter?

    Should human copywriters worry about AI content writing tools?

    Read post
  62. A Guide to Using CGI to Create New Brand Experiences

    As competition heats up in the online world, it’s vital for brands to use every tool in the box to help them to stand out.

    Read post
  63. Riding into Another Year!

    What a first year it’s been at Ride Shotgun.

    Read post
  64. How to Create the Perfect Food and Drink Shoot

    Behind every great food or drink shoot there’s a team of specialists, working hard to make your products look their very best in front of camera, and produce knockout, droolworthy content.

    Read post
  65. A Guide to How to Have Ideas

    ‘Where do you get your ideas from?’. It’s the first question you get asked if a ‘muggle’ from outside the industry finds out that you work in a creative department.

    Read post
  66. Extending the Value of your Content

    Keeping up with the increasing desire for content is challenging for many marketing teams.

    Read post
  67. Amster-DAMN! We Learned About Some Amazing New Stuff at BlenderCon

    We’re always on the lookout for new ways to bring better, faster, more creative capabilities to the work we do for our clients. And it’s no exaggeration to say our recent trip to BlenderCon in Amsterdam delivered all that and more. 

    Read post
  68. Stand Out From The Packaging

    When it comes to food and drink packaging design, we know there’s a lot of competition.

    Read post
  69. How to Write a Video Script for Advertising

    Call us biased but, while you can of course create amazing ads without one, a well-written script can really bring a video to life. Whether it’s an emotive brand film or a simple sales pitch, the words you choose can add the colour, character and emotion that leads to engagement.

    Read post
  70. CGI Ecommerce

    A Guide to CGI in E-commerce

    Discover how to get more engagement and revenue with computer generated imagery in our CGI for e-commerce ebook.

    Read post
  71. Making your Brand Values more Meaningful

    If your visual and verbal identity is how your brand looks and talks, your values are how your brand behaves. Externally, they let customers and prospective employees know what you’re like to do business with, internally they guide everything from decision-making to culture.

    Read post
  72. Ride Shotgun Acquires Set Visions

    Ride Shotgun Expands with CGI Acquisition

    CGI studio Set Visions has joined Ride Shotgun. The acquisition further bolsters our in-house expertise, adding 18 highly skilled CGI specialists and a Tech Development team for bespoke technology solutions...

    Read post
  73. Creating Content That Cuts Through And Connects

    Increased filtering of content can make it more tricky for brands to reach their audience, but it does mean there is a chance to really connect – if they get it right...

    Read post
  74. Thriving in the Changing Health and Beauty Landscape

    The face of the beauty industry is changing rapidly. Like many sectors, beauty is facing an eco-reckoning to commit to more sustainable practices; calls from campaigners for greater inclusivity and better representation are being amplified loud and clear; and the rise of more advanced technology is inspiring new innovations.

    Read post
  75. Conquering Content

    5 Ways Content Marketing Fuels Brand Growth

    Conquering quality content marketing is the ultimate skeleton key for unlocking brand growth. Read how to get it right across multiple channels.

    Read post
  76. Health & Beauty Trend Report

    Health And Beauty Industry Trend Report 2022

    What's changing the face of the beauty industry? Our 2022 Health and Beauty report delves into the statistics, trends, and strategies to guide the way forward.

    Read post
  77. Usage Rights

    Usage rights: Are they Past Their Sell-by Date?

    The content industry is changing and budgets are shrinking. It’s time to do things a little differently.

    Read post
  78. Interactive tools for lead generation

    How to use Interactive Tools for Lead-gen

    Interactive content is twice as effective at converting visitors than static content. But what type of tool will generate the best leads and data for your brand and how can you make it stand out?

    Read post
  79. Employer Brand Examples

    5 Awesome Employer Brands (and what we love about them)

    A good employer brand can help businesses compete in their industry, establish credibility and recruit, retain and engage the right people. But a great employer brand can have candidates queuing at your door.

    Read post
  80. How To Create An Authentic Employer Brand E-book

    Retain and win the best talent with our latest downloadable e-book.

    Read post
  81. HFFS Update

    The HFSS Ad Ban: 6 Ways Brands Can Thrive

    The HFSS delay has given brands more time to prepare. Find out what new brand-building opportunities are on the table for food and drinks brands.

    Read post
  82. How to Source Vintage Interiors for Sustainable Set Design

    Sourcing vintage interiors for film sets and shoots doesn’t have to be costly. Learn how to find hidden gems and bag a bargain with insight from our styling team.

    Read post
  83. HFSS Ad Ban

    HFSS Legislation Changes | A New Recipe for Marketing?

    What fresh ingredients will brands need ahead of junk food ad changes? Read our tips for success.

    Read post
  84. Modular Content

    Content? Tailor it. Scale it. FUSE it.

    FUSE is our modular content, asset automation tool. It creates thousands of unique branded assets in a time-efficient, cost-effective and easy to use way.

    Read post
  85. Interior Design Trend Report 2022: What’s Hot Right Now?

    We’ve put together our 2022 Interior Trend Report asking the big questions in the wake of Covid and the dawn of new ways of living and working.

    Read post
  86. Introducing Our New Starters

    This month has been a busy one for Ride Shotgun, we’ve had a raft of new starters and we thought it was about time that we introduced them!

    Read post
  87. Ideal Home Show 2022: Interior and garden trends

    Intrigued by suede-effect walls and conker pods? Read what interior and garden trends our styling team discovered at Ideal Home Show 2022.

    Read post
  88. Celebrating International Women’s Day 2022

    To celebrate International Women’s Day 2022 we asked some of our team what empowers them and what can be done to break the bias in the drive towards an equal future. Here are their inspirational stories.

    Read post
  89. Meet our Chief Growth Officer

    Richard has recently joined us as Chief Growth Officer and will head up the growth team, check out what he'll be getting up to in our latest update

    Read post
  90. Sally Rushton – Ride Shotgun

    Bolstering our Strategic Offering – Welcome Sally Rushton

    We recently welcomed Sally Rushton to the team. She joins as our new Strategy Director heading up the strategy team and all things Ride Shotgun proposition-related.

    Read post
  91. Black Bottle Whisky

    Making Black Bottle whisky an experience

    Black Bottle whisky’s new Alchemy Series was more special than your average spirit and the brand wanted to make sure everyone knew it. They asked us to create a four month interactive social content plan to do just that. Launching the range to target consumers ‘The Experience Seekers’.

    Read post
  92. Gaia Baby

    Making people gaga for Gaia Baby

    Hera Furniture had a new range of Gaia Baby nursery furnishings. They needed impactful digital content to shout about the new colourways in the heirloom collection. So, they brought in the experts to create a bespoke, adaptable lifestyle environment made for mass content creation.

    Read post
  93. Pizza Hut Content Campaign

    Pizza Hut: Feeding a content-hungry audience

    As temperatures rise, Pizza Hut’s sales dip. It was time to feed their content-hungry audience with a range of lifestyle shots, GIFs and videos of core pizza and Unilever ice cream ranges. Then fire them across social, email and press office to build brand awareness.

    Read post
  94. Amanda Holden

    Making waves with Amanda Holden x Charles Worthington

    25 years of Charles Worthington is a big deal. One they wanted to celebrate by partnering with much-loved celeb Amanda Holden. A tight turnaround and a trusted brand left us raring to make waves for such an iconic pairing.

    Read post
  95. Ride Shotgun Agency Directos

    Agency merger creates strategic content powerhouse

    Leeds based Cry Havoc and Sheffield based Born + Raised have merged to create an exciting agency proposition. The move will firmly establish them as one of the UK's leading strategic content creation agencies.

    Read post
  96. How a Content Hub Can Revolutionise Your Digital Marketing (if you do it right)

    We dig deep into what a content hub is, why this structure helps your content succeed and the results a well-executed hub could help you achieve.

    Read post
  97. Filling Your Funnel: The Importance of Content at Every Stage of the Buyer’s Journey

    Find out why paying attention to your content marketing funnel is more important than ever, and how to make content count in your buyers’ journey.

    Read post
  98. Review your agency roster – are you doing enough?

    There are lots of uncertainties hanging over us all at the moment, but as a marketer I’m willing to bet one of your biggest worries is an internal question you keep coming back to – Am I doing enough?

    Read post
  99. It’s Officially Great Here… Again! One of Campaign’s Best Places to work

    Born + Raised have featured in Campaign magazine's Best Places to Work list for the third year in a row! Operations Manager and Mental Health First Aider Tamaris takes us through how we managed to maintain a great workplace during the pandemic.

    Read post
  100. 4 tips to kickstart your reactive marketing

    Megan explains the difference between reactive and proactive marketing as well as giving 4 simple tips for you to make the most out of your reactive marketing.

    Read post
  101. Why “Making do” is not a campaign strategy

    Andy sets out 10 key questions to ask yourself to make sure you're not compromising when it comes to your marketing campaigns.

    Read post