Online Community Experience Drove This Independent Agency From the Start

The Social Element thrives on connection

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Independent agency The Social Element may be based in London, but the world—and the internet—is its office. Founder and CEO Tamara Littleton worked on online communities with the BBC before starting the company in her London garage 16 years ago with a 10,000-pound loan from her parents. “We used to talk to each other on Internet Relay Chat,” said Littleton of the early days. “We were complete geeks.”

CMO and 10-year veteran Ashley Cooksley, who came from AOL, added that “we were able to move into the social world because people didn’t really understand how to connect” back then.

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This story first appeared in the April 9, 2018, issue of Adweek magazine. Click here to subscribe.