Category: Eggu

Frightfully good learning: Avoiding the scariest mistakes in elearning design

Posted on by Kat

As Halloween creeps closer, it’s the perfect time to face the monsters lurking in your digital learning library.

Great learning should raise spirits, not the dead.

If your digital learning feels more frightful than delightful, here are three classic horror villains you might recognise…

Eggu Halloween Zombie

1. The Zombie

Lifeless, repetitive content that won’t die

This course staggers on year after year — recycled slides, endless clicking, no spark. Learners go through the motions, but nothing sticks.

The symptoms

  • Resurrected PowerPoint style content
  • Walls of text that drain the life from learners
  • Learning objectives that haven’t changed since last Halloween

How to fight it

Resuscitate your content by injecting the cure – focus on real-world scenarios, add storytelling, quick interactive challenges, catchy visuals, or actual voices from your audience. Fresh context makes familiar topics come alive again.

2. The Vampire

Drains all enthusiasm from learners

This course might look slick – shiny graphics, smooth voiceover – but behind the polish, it’s sucking the energy out of everyone who goes near it.

Eggu Halloween Vampire

The symptoms

  • Learners click “next” faster than you can say “bloodsucker”
  • No emotional spark – just endless instruction
  • It talks at learners, never with them

How to fight it

Add warmth and humanity by designing with empathy. Use a conversational tone and relatable scenarios. Cut the jargon and make space for reflection or humour – even compliance training deserves a heartbeat!

Eggu Halloween Ghost

3. The Ghost

Vanishes after launch

You launched the course. Everyone completed it…then nothing. No buzz, no feedback – just a deathly silence. 

The symptoms

  • No follow-up or discussion after completion
  • No visible behaviour change
  • Lost in LMS reports and annual review, never to be seen again

How to fight it

Learning shouldn’t end at the final quiz. Plan for post-launch existence – follow-up nudges, reflection prompts and managers’ conversations will keep it alive.

Escaping these horrors doesn’t take magic – just mindful design

Make sure to start with purpose, ask yourself “What problem are we solving?”. Designing for actual challenges and not just sticking to a generic course outline will keep the learning ‘people focussed’. To keep it interesting and appealing; review regularly, refresh and rebuild the content and design to give the course energy and relevance. Breathe life into it before it gets frighteningly dull!

Truly good learning doesn’t scare learners away, it draws them in, keeps them curious, and leaves a lingering impression. 

Check out our top ‘tricks’ to keep your digital learning fright-free this halloween:

  • Keep it alive: Refresh stale content and design before it becomes a mindless shuffle
  • Resurrect engagement: Design for humans, not content checkboxes – connect with your learners
  • Cast your spells wisely: Use empathy and storytelling to enchant your learners
  • Don’t be invisible: Follow up after launch so learning doesn’t vanish without a trace
  • Stay vigilant to scares: Revive dated courses to energise learners

Happy Halloween from Eggu – Get in touch to slay your elearning demons!

Size isn’t everything: Big ideas for small agencies

Posted on by Kat

In a landscape dominated by big business shouting about scale, small agencies are quietly proving that focus, creativity, and care still win the day.

The very real challenges faced by small businesses:

  • Rising competition from large players
  • Procurement barriers, favouring big brand over skill
  • Client budgets still stretched post-pandemic

So how can us small agencies compete, and win?

We say, play to our advantages:

Eggu agency work life
Eggu agency work life
Eggu agency work life

Agility

While the big boys are still scheduling a meeting, small teams are already moving the project forward.

Our superpower over the big guys:

  • Decisiveness: No endless sign-offs; we can pivot fast and keep momentum rolling
  • Innovation: New workflows, creative approaches, or design tools can be trialled without the red tape
  • Responsiveness: Adapting to feedback in days, not weeks – clients feel cared for and heard
Eggu agency work life
Eggu agency work life
Eggu agency work life
Eggu agency work life

Relationships

Our clients don’t just know the account manager; they know the designer, the developer, and Edgar the office dog. Relationships are built with the people who actually do the work. 

Our superpower over the big guys:

  • Personal connection: Building relationships that go beyond the project brief
  • Continuity: Clients work with the same trusted team from start to finish
  • Honesty: No automated touchpoints, real relationships forge a tailored process
Eggu team
Eggu agency work life
Eggu agency work life

Authenticity

Your story is your strength. Share why your agency exists, what you believe in, and who you help.

Our superpower over the big guys:

  • Sincerity: Founder-led storytelling and real-life case studies builds genuine credibility
  • Integrity: Sharing lived experience shows expertise, not just shouting loud and claiming it
  • Values: Stay true to what you believe in to attract connection, not just clicks
Eggu agency work life
Eggu agency work life
Eggu office dog Eggy

“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”

Mark Twain

So, how do we stand tall among the giants?

  1. Build a trusted network of specialists, and partner with other small agencies or trusted freelancers to scale when needed. You stay small but act big when opportunity knocks.
  2. A small agency’s most powerful growth lever is repeat business and referrals. Invest in long-term relationships, regular check-ins, and stay proactive.
  3. Energy is contagious – share your passion. Showcase your people, your values, and your working style. Clients love working with motivated, creative teams.

Truly good learning doesn’t scare learners away, it draws them in, keeps them curious, and leaves a lingering impression. 

Boutique agencies will thrive by staying connected – to their clients, their craft, and their purpose. In an industry that requires speed, quality, and trust, that connection will consistently outperform scale.

Want to get in touch with Eggu about your next project?

Get in touch to begin your quality digital design partnership.

Hatch: The business community that feels like a hug

Posted on by Kat

Hatch is Eggu and the PA Portal‘s new and exciting Kent business community – But it’s not your average networking group.

It’s a networking happy place designed to boost your headspace. A go-to for connection, clarity, and community as we navigate the rollercoaster of running or supporting businesses.

Where it all began

Myself (Kat) and Ann Read met over coffee earlier in the year at a Digital Women conference in Birmingham. After being inspired from a talk around the power of community, we both admitted something: we’d been dreaming of kick-starting our own events in Kent for ages. So, we decided to stop dreaming and start doing. And what better than to tackle this with a solid team effort.

For me, it was deeply personal. The last few years had been rough – post covid, post baby, all whilst riding the waves and unpredictability of running a small business at that time. The emotional stress and overwhelm started showing up physically, and I knew I couldn’t keep pushing through on autopilot. I needed to address and take care of my mental wellbeing before I had the energy and strength to tackle the practical business stuff.

What I needed was a wider support network in my work life – because let’s face it, running a small business can be a lonely affair. Even if you have staff on board and you’re not fully working solo, the pressure on your shoulders is immense. You don’t want to share your worries for fear of demotivating the troops.

But my journey taught me something huge: the magic of reaching out. Of not hiding behind a brave face. Of saying, “actually, I’m struggling right now” and finding strength in the support of others. The relief, the energy, the connection you get when you stop being “resilient in silence” is so powerful.

Networking without the “ick”

But here’s the thing: I hated networking with a passion.

The forced smiles. The name tags. The formality. The pressure to stand up and pitch yourself. Ugh. I wanted something different – something natural. A community built on hugs, not handshakes.

So Hatch was born. And it turns out, if you create events that genuinely give people something they need – connection, fun, breathing space – the networking part takes care of itself. No awkwardness. No “ick.” Just real people talking and supporting each other.

A place where true bonds and support networks are formed. Events that leave you feeling clearer, lighter, and rejuvenated to step back into your business role.

Our first events

And wow, it’s working! We’ve hosted four Hatch events to date, each one totally unique:

Every single time, we’ve had guests say: “Now, that was exactly what I needed.” And that’s when we know we’re onto something.

All hugs, no handshakes

The concept of Hatch speaks to our core values at Eggu of embracing creativity, transformation, collaboration, motivation and nourishment.

Without doubt, we’re all about celebrating the importance of learning here too – and in life this never stops. It’s not just about seeking out new software or business processes, sometimes its more personal than that. Finding ways to grow and evolve – building strength and positivity to tackle new challenges.

Yes we’re a digital agency – and it’s true, we love almost everything about the online world. But in reality we all need a healthier balance. I chance to interact with each other face-to-face, to get outside and take a breather, to share your struggles and celebrate your wins.

So, what’s next for Hatch?

Well, we’re only just getting started. Our goal is to keep growing Hatch into a community that truly reflects the needs of local business owners and supporters. We’ll be mixing things up with new formats, new speakers, and fresh ideas.

And here’s where you come in:

If you’d like to get involved in hosting a Hatch event, whether you’ve got a brilliant venue, a wellbeing activity, or a skill to share, we’d love to hear from you. It’s a chance to showcase what you do, while giving back to a community that’s all about lifting each other up.

Join our community

Hatch isn’t about networking. It’s about belonging. And we’d love for you to be part of it with us.

To stay in the loop about forthcoming events:

Vacancy: Digital Learning Designer

Posted on by Kat

We’re on the hunt for a Digital Learning Designer to join our eggscellent creative team at Eggu.

If you love creating engaging, interactive online experiences, have a flair for design, and get a buzz from making learning fun, engaging, and effective – this could be the perfect role for you.

Why Eggu?

We’re a boutique digital design agency with a friendly, supportive vibe and a big passion for bringing learning to life. Every project is different – one day you could be working with a global brand, the next with an exciting non-profit. If you’re ambitious, collaborative and bursting with ideas, you’ll fit right in.

What you’ll be doing

  • Designing and developing engaging digital learning experiences in Adapt, Articulate Rise, and Storyline
  • Making sure everything looks and works brilliantly – testing, tweaking, and ensuring accessibility
  • Supporting the team to create eye-catching graphics, animations, and visuals in line with brand guidelines
  • Collaborating with client subject matter experts to transform their knowledge into standout learning content
Eggu HQ
Eggu demo
Eggu at work
Eggu meeting

What we’re looking for

  • A confident understanding of online learning and instructional design
  • Proven experience in mobile-responsive design using Adapt, Rise, and Storyline
  • A design portfolio that shows off your creativity and elearning expertise
  • A great eye for detail and design consistency
  • Strong communication skills – you’re as comfortable with clients as you are with your teammates
  • Super organised, able to juggle projects, and thrive under pressure
  • A true team player who loves collaboration

Bonus points if you have

  • A degree or diploma in design or a related field
  • Graphic design, video, or animation skills using Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects, Premiere Pro, or Camtasia
  • A working knowledge of CSS and HTML (to make your designs sparkle even more)
Eggu meeting
Eggy
Eggu team
Eggu HQ

The practical bits

  • Based at Eggu HQ, Marden, Kent (remote isn’t available this time, but hybrid may be an option after probation)
  • Salary dependent on experience
  • Sorry, no agencies or freelancers

Think you’ve got what it takes to crack this role?

Send your CV and portfolio to: kat@eggu.co.uk

Is your small business facing burnout?

Posted on by Kat

Burnout among small business owners in the UK has become a pressing concern, with various studies highlighting its rise and impact.

A survey by FreeAgent in May 2023 revealed that 37% of small business owners admitted to experiencing burnout due to increasing demands.

Let’s face it – freelancing or operating a small business in the current UK economic climate has it’s pressures and challenges. But taking healthy steps to maintain resilience is essential for business progression.

So, what contributes to small business burnout?

Extended working hours

Research from Simply Business indicates that one in three (33%) small business owners have faced burnout, working an average of over 46 hours per week. That’s 10 hours more than the UK average, which can ultimately lead to physical and mental exhaustion.

Insufficient leave

Three-quarters (73%) of small business owners take fewer than 20 days off annually. That’s below the UK statutory entitlement of 28 days.

Work-life imbalance

An American Express survey reported that 88% of small business leaders experience work regularly interrupting their personal lives, with over a quarter (27%) facing such interruptions daily.

Impact on mental health

The Mental Health UK survey highlighted that 80% of small business owners experience symptoms of poor mental health, including stress, anxiety, and depression, at least a few times a year.

Girl working from bed at home on laptop

So, what steps can we take to mitigate burnout?

Delegation

Assigning tasks to employees or outsourcing to fellow freelancers can reduce the workload and allow business owners to focus on critical areas. Collaborating and partnering with similar sized businesses can also bring a range of benefits to lighten the load and boost your offering.

Setting boundaries

Establishing clear work hours and ensuring time for personal activities can help maintain a healthier work-life balance. It’s tough when the responsibility is on your shoulders, but productivity will undoubtedly improve by restoring balance in your life.

Regular breaks

Taking regular breaks and ensuring adequate annual leave are essential for mental and physical rejuvenation. If booking a two week holiday might be detrimental to your business, make sure you schedule more long weekends to amp up the down-time.

Seeking support

Engaging with professional networks, mentors, or mental health professionals can provide guidance and emotional support. Talking openly with businesses close to you can also give you great insight to how they might tackle similar challenges.

Man working on laptop from bed at night

Summing up

Addressing burnout is crucial not only for the well-being of small business owners but also for the sustainability and growth of their businesses.

Implementing proactive measures can help mitigate the risks associated with burnout and promote a healthier work environment.

Now, to slightly lighten the mood… check out Dom Joly (AKA creator of Trigger Happy TV) fronting Air Landline’s advert to hilariously play out the tricky challenges of work-life balance.

The power of storytelling in elearning

Posted on by Kat

Storytelling has always been a fundamental part of human communication, helping to engage, inspire, and educate.

In elearning, incorporating storytelling techniques can make learning experiences more immersive and impactful.

But why does storytelling work so well in digital learning?

Increases engagement

Stories captivate learners by creating an emotional connection with the content, making them more likely to stay focused and motivated.

Well-developed characters and relatable situations allow learners to connect emotionally, making training more impactful and fostering a deeper understanding.

Provides context and meaning

Real-world scenarios and characters help learners understand abstract concepts in a relatable way.

By embedding concepts into real-life situations, storytelling helps learners understand how the knowledge applies to their own experiences, making learning more meaningful.

Improves retention

People remember stories better than isolated facts. A well-crafted narrative helps learners retain information more effectively.

Simplifies complex ideas

Storytelling can break down difficult or technical subjects into digestible, relatable narratives, making it easier for learners to grasp challenging concepts.

Encourages critical thinking

Scenario-based storytelling presents challenges or problems that learners must navigate, reinforcing practical application and fostering analytical thinking and decision-making skills.

Find out how to enhance the impact of your digital learning with bespoke storytelling?

Play

Celebrating the power of partnerships in small business

Posted on by Kat

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain the backbone of the UK’s economy, accounting for 99.9% of the business population at the start of 2024.

While traditional, formal partnerships have seen a decline, collaborative efforts among small businesses are on the rise.

These modern partnerships often involve resource sharing, co-marketing initiatives, and joint ventures, enabling SMEs to expand their reach and enhance operational efficiency. This trend reflects a strategic shift towards cooperation, allowing small businesses to remain competitive in a dynamic market.

Partnerships offer a powerful way to drive growth, increase brand visibility, and enhance operational efficiency.

Eggu team meeting

Just like Eggu, here’s why more small businesses are embracing collaborations:

1. Expanding reach and audience growth

Partnering with another business allows both parties to tap into each other’s customer base, increasing brand awareness without the high costs of traditional marketing. This cross-promotion strategy helps small businesses grow faster.

2. Sharing resources and reducing costs

Small businesses often face budget constraints. By collaborating, they can pool resources, share technology, and split marketing expenses, making operations more cost-effective.

3. Enhancing credibility and trust

Collaborations can boost credibility, positioning both businesses as industry leaders and fostering customer confidence.

4. Diversifying offerings

By partnering with a complementary business, small companies can expand their product or service offerings without having to develop them from scratch. In crowded markets, this helps small businesses gain a competitive advantage and stand out.

5. Boosting innovation

Working with another business brings fresh ideas and perspectives, sparking innovation and creative problem-solving.

Celebrating a new partnership

Summing up

As small businesses look for smarter ways to grow, partnerships provide a strategic, low-risk way to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.

Eggu are always on the hunt for exciting agencies to partner with on to deliver our clients a blended solution to meet the specific needs or any project requirement.

Looking to collaborate with a digital expert to snag that next contract? Why not get in touch with Eggu to discuss your partnership ideas?

Blue Monday Busters

Posted on by Kat

January’s third Monday, “Blue Monday”, is thought to be the most depressing day of the year.

This might be triggered by gloomy weather, post-Christmas debt, disappointment from not keeping New Year’s resolutions or dissatisfaction about going back to work.

Spoiler alert: None of this is actually true. Obviously, the darkest day of the year would be different for every one of us. Blue Monday is really just a clever PR ploy to sell holidays!

But there is truth in seasonal variations in our mental health. Bodily changes in the winter can also impact our hormones, sleeping, eating habits and even our mood.

So, in light of this trending calendar event, the Eggu team have put together some of the things we find are great to protect our mental health, both in January, and throughout the rest of the year.

Mark flicking through vinyl in a record store
Mark flicking through vinyl in a record store

Mark – For the love of vinyl

Music has the power to evoke joy and create strong associations. Listening to a great album can trigger positive emotions and memories, releasing a dose of dopamine in the brain, which definitely helps me counteract any January blues.

As a graphic designer, I appreciate the artistic and physical aspects of vinyl, as records often come with visually appealing album artwork. Choosing a record, placing it on the turntable, and carefully dropping the needle is always a more satisfying experience compared to just pressing play on Spotify.

For me, streaming is more associated with background listening, whereas vinyl records typically require more effort and attention to play, allowing me to fully engage with the music.

Entering a record store or record fair, rummaging through crates of albums and finding a bargain or rarity evokes happy memories of my childhood which cannot be replicated by any algorithm Amazon tries to produce.

Kat surrounded by sequins
Kat surrounded by sequins

Kat – Just bloody wear it

When I put on an outfit that makes me feel good… it’s like a rush of adrenaline. It gives me armour to tackle my day with confidence and positivity.

Even during lockdown, sat on Zoom after Zoom, pregnant and uncomfortable, there wasn’t a day I did not style a look and slap on some lippy. It seems crazy, but I even insist on a spritz of perfume before every video call. It makes me feel prepared and gives the meeting as much importance to me as if it were face to face.

You might think dopamine dressing always has to be bright colours and sparkle… it often is… but sometimes what you have a craving for might be a bit of grunge, DMs and a dark smokey eye. Whatever the outfit, if it’s captured and coordinated right, it has the mentally stimulating impact I’m looking for.

I’m a confessed shopaholic and huge supporter of independent brands. So much of my wardrobe I used to hold back for those special occasions. Those times we dress up for a social occasion to really feel glam and put together. But why do we lock away these items for fleeting moments each year? We should strive to capture that enthusiasm and self love every day.

In the words of my true fashion icon Dawn O’Porter… just bloody wear it! So I’m gonna!

Luci walking the Scottish hills
Luci walking the Scottish hills

Luci – Climbing the Scottish hills

Putting one foot in front of the other and filling my lungs with fresh air is my go to.

When I feel anxious, or lonely or just a bit flat, I pull on my trainers and get out for a walk. Saying hello to people I pass and smiling gives me that little rush of endorphines. Breathing the fresh air deeply slows down my thoughts and steadies any angst.

Sometimes I get the tunes pumping, sometimes I listen to a podcast, or sometimes I just listen to the world. I always make sure to stop and look around me and take in the beauty – it makes me feel lucky to live where I do, and happy I made the choice to be here.

Amy stretching in the gym
Amy stretching in the gym

Amy – Kicking negative thinking to the curb

Mental health has been one of the most talked about things over the past couple of years and for me it has taken time to find something that can really make a positive impact to my mental health.

Then I found my kind of exercise… Body Combat! As well as really pushing myself and getting the strength and weight loss benefits, the endorphins I get afterwards has really helped boost my mood and get my days started off right with a clearer mind and more motivation.

I’m the better and happier version of me having found this way of boosting my mental health!

REMEMBER: It’s always important to distinguish between temporarily feeling down and experiencing depression or a mental health problem.

If you have concerns for your mental health and are looking to seek help and support, Mind is a great place to start.