Effective SEO drives high-quality organic traffic, often more valuable than paid ads, and strengthens brand credibility.
We focus on quality content, user experience, and technical optimisation. Allowing your digital presence to navigate (the constant) algorithm shifts and maintain a competitive edge online.
“I’m thrilled we found Attract & Engage as early as we did in our planning process. They skillfully supported us with strategic communications advice and helped shape our thinking.”
“Driving awareness and downloads for our landscaper app is crucial to Hubscape’s success. From the start, Attract & Engage have efficiently managed our paid social campaigns, continuously optimising for consistent results. As a business owner, I also appreciate their valuable advice on other marketing channels, which has been a great support in our overall strategy.”
“The A&E team are a joy to work with and have consistently produced excellent work in support of our sector marketing initiatives. I highly recommend A&E!”
“After deciding to outsource Zest’s marketing, their delivery has been excellent. Everything is bang on brand and super professional. Despite facing tight deadlines, the team consistently showcases impressive responsiveness, ensuring our needs are met promptly and efficiently.”
“Their work on creating the BBL brand & website revitalised our image and significantly increased engagement. The modern design and enhanced digital presence have been game-changers, driving membership growth and positioning us as a dynamic, inclusive business community.”
“They manage everything from copywriting to paid ads and graphic design, ensuring our brand always looks its best. The team is professional and quick to respond, making our collaboration enjoyable and stress-free. Their support extends beyond execution; they assist with both strategy and content, making a significant impact on our marketing efforts.”
“Attract & Engage excels at creating content that captivates both human audiences and Google’s search bots. Since engaging their SEO services, we are thrilled to rank No.1 on Google for our target keywords and revenue has increased accordingly.”
“A great company that provides first class service. They are quick to respond to requests and provide invaluable content. Highly recommend!”
“Trusting my social media presence and content to such knowledgeable and capable hands has been a game-changer. It has freed me up to focus entirely on the core operations of my business. I sleep soundly knowing this crucial aspect is expertly managed.”
“Outsourcing to A&E has really helped take the weight off my shoulders. I can focus on what I do best and know that all my marketing needs are being taken care of. This has definitely been a real benefit for me, and I’m now relieved of any marketing stress!”
“They understand our brand inside out, have creativity in spades and excellent response times.”
“Marketing strategy & execution is exceptional. Ease of working, creative ideas, output and quality of work. Marvellous to partner with A&E.”
“We are always happy with Attract & Engage. The service they provide has made a huge difference to our presence. We now have several new clients that is 100% due to their works.”
“I’ve worked with Attract & Engage across numerous projects and can highly recommend them. I always suggest my clients invest in their copywriting services, which are excellent value for money. Improving impact and success”.
As we head into 2025, LinkedIn’s latest algorithm insights reveal a shifting content landscape. According to the “2025 LinkedIn Algorithm Report,” trends indicate a pivot towards interactive and engaging content formats. Here’s what’s working well on LinkedIn and how to refine your content strategy to stay relevant and boost reach on the platform. Key Content…
Hear from Miles Adcock, CEO of Concurrent Technologies on the Made in Essex Podcast. When Miles Adcock took the reins at Concurrent Technologies, he faced the daunting task of transforming a legacy business. A complete overhaul followed, powered by swift, decisive change to pave the way for a brighter future. Transforming a legacy…
Attract & Engage take a deep dive into website design for the built environment. What should winning websites for commercial construction contractors include? What are the features every self-respecting gold-standard contractor should include? And, how? Increase the odds of success in the tender process >>> For commercial construction contractors, especially those focused on…
This category is for businesses which have harnessed digital technology in their business, and helped to raise the company profile, profitability or efficiency. A&E is proud to announce our sponsorship of the Digital Business of the Year Award at the upcoming Newham Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, an event that celebrates the innovation, resilience, and…
Build a Messaging Matrix in 6 Steps Have you ever wanted to explain your brand strategy in a way that resonates with different customer groups? Or provide much-needed information to your employees? Perhaps you’re looking to deliver reassuring, well-constructed messages to your investors? If the answer is “yes” to any of these questions, your company…
Made in Essex with Will Polston, author of North Star Thinking. Now a leading business performance coach, Will Polston overcame the misconception that money equalled happiness. It led him to redefine success — and focus on aligning his actions with his true values. Will Polston is a renowned business performance coach and author of North…
In today’s crowded marketplace, standing out is more critical than ever. Businesses are constantly seeking ways to attract and retain the attention of their target audience. This is where the concept of Vital Business Attractiveness comes into play—a comprehensive strategy that focuses on three crucial layers: Use, Aesthetic, and Values. These elements, when aligned, create…
Made in Essex with John Gladman. MD of AVRT. Adaptive Virtual Reality Training, a tech businesses making the way emergency services & military personnel train for difficult scenarios, safer, and more realistic, Now leading AVRT Training, John Gladman has faced business setbacks which made him re-evaluate his approach — and turn failure into…
Made in Essex with Andy Thorne. CEO of Kestrel Shipping. “When I was young I was constantly told ssssh Thorne! I’m the manager and I know better”. From the label of ‘disruptive child’ in school, to a portacabin in Grays, and now to 8 interlinked businesses, with 300+ offices, shipping to well over 1,000 destinations.…
The Top Benefits Of Case Studies In B2B Marketing 73% of B2B buyers say that case studies are a key factor in their purchasing decision, according to a survey by the Content Marketing Institute. It’s a sad but true state of affairs in sales & marketing today: the large amount of unhelpful, irrelevant content being…
Business Development is stalling and the call comes in… “Quick, I need you to whip up some new ideas – original ones that are going to get prospects interested and start conversations. And have them on my desk by the end of play.” You think: “New content ideas that are going to appeal to our…
The Cost of Neglecting Your Digital Footprint: How Much Revenue Are You Losing? In the fast-paced digital age, having a phone that still rings despite not investing in your website for years might seem like a sign of success. But pause for a moment and think about the calls that never come through because your…
BBC Essex. Interview with Jill Willis Jill and Akylah Rodriguez explore the Made in Essex podcast, and dig into the culture of entrepreneurship that exists across the county. Jill shares the commonalities that she’s found amongst the founders and CEOs she’s interviewed and the extraordinary range of businesses that are scaling all around us. …
The Ultimate Guide to Successful King’s Awards Applications. It is critical to be able to tell your story in a way that speaks to the judges and craft an entry that showcases your unique achievements. Attract & Engage have detailed out the key steps to tell your story. The King’s Awards for Enterprise is one…
How most B2B & Built Environment marketers use ChatGPT… Prompt: Give me 10 content ideas around [insert subject, e.g EV installation] The issue with that prompt is that you get terrible results. Instead, you should try this prompt which we’ve been running tests on in new tool ConstructAI. ***Start Prompt*** Please carry out customer research for…
Customer trigger points and Sunak’s Sambas. Think about something you purchased recently. It doesn’t matter whether it was for work or home. Got something in mind yet? Now, think about the journey you went on towards that purchase. How long did it take? What were the contributing factors? WHY did you buy THAT one and…
Made in Essex – The Podcast With Joe Tighe. A new episode of Made in Essex has just landed!💥🚀🎙️ Director Jill Willis joins the incredible Joe Tighe, CEO of KleanDrive the Essex based B Corp repowering commercial bus, lorry, and marine fleets to EV. Joe shares his personal entrepreneurial journey, from commodities trading to the…
BBC: Embracing Adverts in the Digital Age The BBC has announced plans to feature adverts in content for the first time in its 100-year history. Featuring on lower profile podcasts & on demand radio shows, you can expect to hear ads appearing later this year, before being rolled out to bigger shows if the…
Building a Powerful Construction Brand to Boost Sales A lack of brand differentiation and new project leads can put a strangle hold on growth for built environment firms at this stage of expansion. We call it the “growth chasm”, the point at which the existing network becomes too small to deliver the number of new…
5 reasons to have a fractional Marketing Director in your business. There’s a lot of pressure on business owners & leaders right now due to increased competition, inflation, and a growing need for organic growth. Consider five reasons to armour up with a Fractional Marketing/Communications Director, fully supported with a ready-made marketing team you…
Made in Essex – The Podcast. With Martin Series. Global Services Director at Foxway UK, a leading player in the circular economy. Located in Braintree, Martin shares insights into their phenomenal journey, experiencing remarkable growth from 3 to 130 staff since 2016.🚀 Discover Martin’s early career, the challenges faced, and the incredible achievement of winning…
Our co-founder Richard Willis is a Strictly contestant on Saturday 9th March 2024 to raise funds for the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance. A charity close to Richard and his late Father’s hearts, it’s an opportunity to watch Rich try & shuffle around the dancefloor doing the Quickstep & Cha Cha Cha. However, the real…
Made in Essex – The Podcast With Graham Higgins. A new episode of Made in Essex has just landed!💥🚀🎙️ Director Jill Willis joins the incredible Graham Higgins, Founder of aviation technical support firm ACS. Graham shares valuable advice for fellow business owners in the midst of a rapid growth phase, and shares how Braintree Council’s…
Here’s why you shouldn’t cut your marketing budget Marketing is often one of the first budgets on the hit list when businesses are looking to weather economic challenges. You would of course expect us to be bias, but with 25+ years’ experience working across startups and global brands, we know what it takes for sustained…
Made in Essex – The Podcast With Kim Morrish. A new episode of Made in Essex has just landed!💥🚀🎙️ A rich, and insight packed conversation with the incredible Kim Morrish, experienced entrepreneur, social impact investor, and owner of the UK’s leading external maintenance business. Huge thanks to Kim for lifting the bonnet on Ground Control’s…
Case studies are the backbone of any good B2B sales and marketing programme. For decades, good case studies have demonstrated how products and services are achieving favourable results and helped business development teams move potential customers closer to a sale. When writing a case study, one of the most important steps we can take is…
It’s official – Made in Essex is now live!💥🚀🎙️ Founder, CEO and health campaigner Brigette Bard recently sat down with A&E Director Jill Willis for our launch episode. A big thank you to Brigette for sharing insight into Biosure’s extraordinary success, her personal entrepreneurial journey and why Essex is so great for a scaling business.…
As we all learn to adapt to the new Artificial Intelligence driven era it’s easy to forget Tech giants must also embrace change and evolve with the changes governed by AI. Google is no exception, and as they turn 25 they continue to stay at the forefront of the world’s technology landscape, by continuously improving…
Awareness: At the top of the funnel, potential customers become aware of you. Their trigger (need or want) point may be approaching, and they are beginning to open their minds to solutions. Interest: Prospects express an interest in your offering. They are researching and considering various options, and it’s at this point they may make…
AI Marketing: Why Your Plans Need Humans to Succeed In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become indispensable for businesses aiming to stay ahead of their industry. AI offers marketers powerful capabilities, from automation to data analysis, and design to copywriting assistance. However, as with any technology, AI tools come…
There’s strength in strong brand foundations The built environment is designed to tolerate incredible natural forces. Earthquakes, storms, hurricanes will bounce off large buildings and external structure because of their significant stability. Why? Because of strong foundations that not only act as an anchor but also inform the design of the whole structure above. …
Marketing to Drive Downturn Growth As the new financial year begins, you may be faced with a slower than usual business pipeline or have concerns about the possible impact of an economic downturn. If this is the case, your initial reaction may be to cut back on spending, and flatline sales & marketing investment. But…
Consumers are paying more attention to experience than ever, putting the pressure on businesses to deliver better experiences. Customers crave branded, personalised moments at every point of engagement and it’s all about showing up for the customer when and where they need you, with consistency. What is Customer Experience & why is it important? …
Don’t let complicated subjects hold you back in terms of content. Instead, use them as an opportunity to demonstrate clarity in marketing. Here, we’ve collected the top strategies the Attract & Engage team use to strike the perfect balance of complex VS concise copy. Get to the point quickly Like with most B2B content,…
10 Tips for LinkedIn Success Business owners are still unaware of the value LinkedIn can bring to their B2B sales efforts. Whether you’re a newbie or find it difficult to know where to start, we’ve created top tips to LinkedIn success. Read through, then pick three that you like and can start actioning straight away. …
The B2B Business Guide to Plucky Marketing When it comes to growth marketing, a tendency towards perfectionism is one of the biggest barriers to making activities a tangible success. Whenever a business tries something new – whether it’s running an event, webinar, or even just a lead generation email campaign – the first-time round is…
We live in a world where most SME business owners and company accountants see marketing as an Overhead not as a Cost of Revenue. This is an out-of-date assessment. Fundamentally, today profitable sales generation is the key to business success. This is an important thing for company accountants and business owners to understand. …
In today’s culture of a fully digital, multi-channel, 24-hour news cycle, brand awareness and reputation management has intertwined with the sales cycle for both B2B and B2C companies. Are you lost in how to leverage this new overlap between PR and sales? We’ve put together a few ways to unite PR and sales efforts to…
This whole energy fiasco is a sucker punch for small businesses. All around us, we see business owners who feel vulnerable, even more so than during Covid. And, with good reason, most don’t have the buffers of big corporates. What worries us most is that smaller SMEs may well feel alone. During the pandemic business communities drew…
You don’t need to become the next viral sensation to drive growth with your social media marketing. Simple, consistent and relevant content created for your target audience across the right channels will increase your brand awareness, market reach, attract customers and ensure your digital ‘shopfront’ reflects your brand values. According to a report by Datareportal…
Attract & Engage offers free marketing help to construction businesses Attract & Engage, iConstruct member and Thames Estuary Visionary, is launching a free guide to help small and medium-sized construction and landscape buinesses increase the odds of success in the tender process Tendering can be a major opportunity to win new construction projects however, it can…
How to Win the Tender Process Our 10-point marketing checklist for construction contractors Tendering can be a major opportunity to win new construction projects however, it can also be a huge drain on resources and leave you feeling frustrated. As a small or medium sized contractor, you will more than likely be judged against tender…
2021 has been prolific year packed with new client campaigns to help sales teams acquire leads, close deals and nurture clients. We have jokingly referred to it as the year of ‘Getting Shi*t Done’. Of course, while this is a rather light-hearted view of things it belies a more serious message. Too many business owners…
We’ve been named as a Thames Estuary Visionary business! Recognised by Kate Willard OBE and her team for our work helping ambitious clients drive social and environmental change, as well as the greener choices we’re making within the Attract & Engage business too. Founder, Jill Willis first began supporting Estuary businesses in 2012, putting her experience as a communications…
Aligning marketing with customer goals – otherwise known as customer experience (CX) – is rapidly becoming one of the most important components of successful B2B business. So, what does it mean and where should you start? Jill Willis shares her insight. What outcome does your customer want to achieve? Jill says: “This is the…
I’ll let you in on a secret; when you are organised, provide research and a detailed marketing copywriting brief we love it. But give us half an hour with three key people from around your business, and you’ll be rewarded with clearer, more persuasive copy. And let’s speak plainly: all businesses need better copy. Read…
On the 5th October we’ll be sponsoring and exhibiting at the Brentwood Business Showcase hosted by Brentwood Council. Brentwood Business Showcase is a must-attend business event for 2022, with hundreds of visitors from across Essex and the South East. Come and listen to inspirational leaders, attend practical workshops and meet exhibitors who will inspire…
B2B social is big news. Jill’s crash course in best practice will help you stand out from the crowd. Like most people, I installed Facebook on my smart phone circa. 2008 and so began the permeation of social media into our lives. That is well over a decade ago, so you may view this…
It’s wonderful to see green growth and sustainable business featuring so prominently within the Thames Estuary growth plans. It is our absolute pleasure to have helped businesses within the region to share their sustainability story and successfully achieve Thames Estuary Visionary status. This month we’ve supported Ground Control and Gerald McDonald to triumph in the…
Business owners are still undecided about the value LinkedIn can bring to their B2B sales efforts. In our experience some have tried (albeit half-heartedly) before, others are LinkedIn newbies. So, we explored our 10 tips to LinkedIn success through 2021 and thought we’d share it with you too. You may well be doing some of…
Building an email list is essential to the long-term success of your business. This is because changes to social media algorithms or PPC prices won’t stand in the way of you reaching your audience. Trouble is, getting started with an email strategy can feel overwhelming. And, if you don’t have a dedicated ‘owner’ they tend to…
We’re all suckers for ‘shiny object syndrome’ every now and again. In fact, you may well be suffering from it right not, and not even realise. For example, do you want a new website in 2021, but you’re not really sure why? Shiny object alert! Jill Willis, Attract & Engage Managing Partner says: If…
Account Based Marketing is one of the B2B marketing tactics SMEs should focus on for 2021 – and the good news is it’s a natural fit. Smaller B2B firms turning over under £5m are already skilled in hyper-personalisation and relationship building. It’s a natural step for these same firms to embrace a deeper Account Based Marketing…
Video. Everyone agrees it’s a powerful marketing tool, but (spoiler alert) only if you make the most of it – otherwise it can quickly turn into a massive waste of time and budget. Here we share three things the best B2B video scripts contain. Three things your B2B video script should have Whether you…
In the current Covid-19 world it may be tempting to throw marketing planning into the wind, after all, no one included a scenario for lockdown in 2020 forecasts. In truth, long-term marketing planning may not be a worthwhile exercise right now (you still need a vision of where you want to be!) but 6-12 month…
Customers’ priorities have changed – has your marketing strategy? Here Jill Willis explores how Covid-19 has shifted customer behaviour and how business owners can adapt. In my previous blog ‘COVID-19 Marketing Communications’ I outlined why, in the early days of the crisis, it was vital to keep communicating with customers and the importance of…
Historically businesses have made marketing all about them. Their history, their accreditations, their team. However, the reasons people buy have changed. Customers no longer respond to inward looking messaging and so successful brands are reinventing their brand story. Shifting focus to put the buyer at its centre by answering the fundamental question every potential customer…
Referral marketing is THE best way to grow your small business, but what happens when you hit the referral ceiling? In this blog, A&E managing partner Jill helps business owners facing a natural growth slow down, by pinpointing the steps to take when word of mouth is no-longer enough Referral marketing rocks, but it’ll only ever get you…
Growth Marketing Surgery How to prepare for the challenges ahead – and come back stronger Our businesses are all facing challenging times as the economic impact of Coronavirus bites. And, whether you are just starting out or have been growing your business for a while, one truth remains consistent: you need to prepare for…
Furloughed workers are not permitted to work, but does this include posts to social media and digital marketing? In this blog, we share our take for business owners, and limited company directors walking the tightrope of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Can I post to social media during furlough? A tweet, post, blog update…
Ten days into our new coronavirus reality and it’s time to take stock of the marketing modus operandi. In this blog, A&E managing director Jill Willis answers the question: how should businesses adapt marketing communications during the crisis, connect with customers, and weather the storm? Coronavirus marketing communications, how should you adapt? Brewdog, the craft beer company, has turned to producing branded hand sanitiser…
Email marketing is still considered the preferred method of communication for most business decision makers. But times are changing. There’s a new generation of decision makers at the top – millennials – social media natives who’ve grown up with engaging content and have a micro-attention span. In this blog, A&E managing director Jill Willis answers the question: how can businesses revitalise email marketing…
Most of the businesses we help have grown initially through word of mouth and referrals. They’re great at what they do, and that’s driven new business. Now, they want to up the ante. If they’re a B2B business our first question is usually around LinkedIn, because this business focused social media platform is number one…
Business owners are always curious about what PR and marketing tech tools we use to run our client campaigns. So, as we approach the end of 2019, we thought we’d come clean, with our A&E favourites. Want to power-up your business marketing? Don’t overlook the worth of marketing tech We’ve been working within this…
Rather than fear complicated subjects, A&E Head of Content Jill Willis sees them as an opportunity to demonstrate clarity in marketing. Here she explains the three successful strategies marketers in the tech, engineering & manufacturing sectors can use to deliver a clear message, minus the dumbing down. “Complex B2B topics need to be explained in…
If a friend confided that their relationship wasn’t fulfilling them anymore would you suggest they carry on regardless? I doubt it. It’s far more likely you’d recommend a period of reflection, throw in some ideas for positive change, or even tentatively suggest a break up. Now imagine that the relationship we’re talking about isn’t personal,…
Copywriting is easy. Right? I’ll let you in on a communications industry joke – ‘even the boldest of client often ends up at copy sign off by committee’ – making light of how frustrating it is to have a wide group of people (without initial involvement in the project or understanding of the communications strategy)…
A Story Strategy is something we get asked to do, a lot! But what can you expect from a strategy workshop, who should be involved, how long will it take, and what will you get out of the process? Here’s our guide for marketers and business owners. Why do you need a Story Strategy?…
Jill Willis MD at Attract & Engage, offers a pragmatic guide with tips and advice to help SMEs get a head-start on ABM Account Based Marketing is one of the hottest marketing trends of 2019 – and a favourite of SMEs according to the results of A&E’s business census earlier this year. It found that…
“Facebook Messenger has become the bane of my life!” I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard this in recent months, or the number of business owners I’ve spoken to who are fighting consumer preference to message…rather than talk. “Why don’t they just visit the website?” they say. Or, “What’s wrong with just…
January is a defining month for Attract & Engage as we welcome a new team member, move into a new office, and launch a range of new business support packages (you’ll be reassured to find they all still include copywriting…) Work is amazing. And then it’s awful. And then it’s amazing again. Right now…
Until recently we believed email subject lines had a singular purpose – to get the email opened. But, over the past 12 months we’ve evolved that thinking and now see email subject lines as far more important. Jill explains why email subject lines have become a powerful marketing tool for A&E clients. Discreet, yet powerful…
[And other write right advice, to help beat blogger’s block] Collectively, the copywriters at Attract & Engage have written 100s of thousands of words. From blogs to brochures, and everything inbetween. So, it’s fair to say we understand how hard it can be for business owners to not only find the time, but also the…
Get smart with your email campaign composition It may seem an almost impossible task to get your business message across in less than 8 seconds. True, it takes skill, but it’s what’s required if you want your email campaign to work. So, just what does it take to write a well-written B2B email? In this…
Tips, tricks and advice in this ultimate guide to make landing pages work for your content marketing All too often we hear from businesses who have invested heavily in driving traffic to their website. Only to become frustrated because that increase in traffic is not turning into real, actual, live leads. “You can lead a…
OK, Instagram might be where to cool kids hang out. But Facebook is still the daddy (or mummy if you prefer, it is International Women’s Day after all!) in terms of active users. That’s why Facebook features so consistently in successful digital marketing plans, and why it’s so important to dedicate time to Facebook experimentation. …
On May 25th, 2018 businesses will have to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (commonly referred to as, GDPR), a new law governing the secure collection, storage & usage of personal information. If you’re a small business struggling to get your head around what’s required, then it’s time to wake up and shake up…
At this time of year, we’re up to our armpits in New Year’s resolutions; some are our own, but mostly they belong to the businesses we help. It seems January and February are the months when MDs and Directors get serious about how they market their business. And, quality content copywriting is top of the…
Chinese astrology may have 2018 as the Year of the Dog, but at Attract & Engage we’re calling it the Year of the Blog. Not least because of the unprecedented number of successful business owners who’ve told us of their resolve to start blogging as a way to help their business grow even further over…
With January still box fresh, I feel the need to apologise. I’m not usually one to be found ‘soap-boxing’ at social gatherings but, I admit, there were a few occasions through December when I did just that. Why? Because 2017 was a year where words took a battering. It’s true, language has always been used…
A couple of us were having a coffee with a successful Essex business owner last week. We talked about how better marketing could help his business grow even further. (You’ll see why I’m telling you this in a minute). He wanted to kick around the usual ideas designed to attract new customers. Improved SEO, more…
It seems that for many of the business owners we work with, the online world of peer-to-peer feedback, is taking over. On the one hand providing them with powerful ‘word-of-mouth’ advertising, but on the other creating a shed load more work and a whole new customer service channel to try to manage. So, to help,…
It’s not just the quality of content you should consider when writing your next blog, but also the ideal length. The good news is you don’t have to rely on guess work. There are a few factors to consider to help you get it right. For example: Seven minutes is reported to be the ideal…
Can you believe it? Email marketing is just 5 years away from turning 50. The good news is that it’s still going strong, continuing to be one of the top performing and affordable marketing tactics available. Over recent years’ automation (set & forget emails) have made it possible for even the most time strapped business…
Who was it that said, “I hate writing, but I love having written”? So far this week it could have been us! Writer’s block can strike at the most annoying moments – however rather than stare blankly at our screens and grow increasingly frustrated, at Attract & Engage HQ we prefer to try these block-busting…
Email – only for huge organisations, right? Wrong. It’s the perfect marketing tool for growing a business. Let me explain a little more… Why email marketing will be your best investment, ever. It can be tricky explaining email marketing to clients. Often, they are blinded by the ‘glamour’ of social media…certain that Facebook is…
As 2016 draws to a close, social media feeds are a frenzy of ‘2017 top trend guides’ and the like. Lots are humdrum. But one caught my eye. ‘10 Social Media Predictions for 2017 (Where you Should Be Spending Your Time). It tells us “video will be even more important”, and that we should “master…
A good education cannot guarentee a high standard of grammar. There’s always going to be the odd mess up here and there. None of us are perfect. That’s OK, because English grammar is far from easy. As a copywriter I get that. The words and sentences that make perfect sense in your mind, all of…
It might be because B2B PR was where my career started over 15 years ago. Or, it might be because I like nothing better than immersing myself in technical detail, and then turning it into engaging, jargon-free content. Regardless. B2B & ME = a match made in heaven. And no client project better demonstrates this…
So many of the small business owners I meet talk disparagingly of direct mail. Otherwise known as doordrop leaflets. “We’ve tried leaflets,” they say. “Never get any results”. Thing is. The growth in technology, social media and personalisation actually means that in today’s marketing landscape good old-fashioned direct mail has the power to impact your…
According to the Email Marketing Industry Census 2016, email marketing has once again delivered highest ROI (Return on investment), ahead of SEO (search engine optimisation). Not only that, but The Cross Channel Marketing Report (2015) found 48% of businesses rate email as the second most important marketing channel after their website. If, in an age…
It’s not new. The fact is that for the past 10 years the world’s marketing influencers have been shouting from the roof tops about content marketing. King-pin himself, Seth Godin (author of Purple Cow) has said, "Content marketing is the only marketing left." Everyone agrees of course. Customer buying behaviours are transformed. Online search means…
I’ve just finished working on a new website for Upminster based building firm Inline Building Contractors. Partnering with the technically masterful Scott from Eseyo Web Design. Together we created a bold, modern, portfolio site, designed to showcase the firm’s professionalism, attention to detail and premier service. Aided too by stunning photography fromCarmel Jane Photography. I’m…
2016 is the year blogging went intergalactic. But I’m not talking about teenage girls’ blogging about lipstick; I’m talking about businesses. The reason is that Google search algorithms now recognise and reward businesses producing high-quality and relevant content way more than those firms who simply throw money at technical SEO. (Google and blogs sitting in…
I’m often asked "exactly what is it that you do?". My answer: I write. Here’s just a few examples of the projects I’ve been working on over the past few months – – Tugo – Copy writing of new website landing pages, as well as writing content for new marketing brochures. See more at tugo.co.uk…
I had a rather frustrating shopping expedition at the weekend. I won’t name names as that would be unkind…but I will use my experience as an example of how impactful seemingly inconsequential decisions can be on your small business’s brand. I popped out, in a bit of a rush, to buy a birthday present for…
I’ve lost count of the number of Essex based sole traders or independent small business owners I’ve spoken to who are in a marketing-induced panic. Actually, I should probably call it ‘lack of’ marketing-induced panic…because the root cause is their failure to act. And, the root cause of their failure to act is…the size of…
‘Get more customers’ is not a marketing strategy. ‘Get more customers; located in area A, who have hobbies B, have issues C, who also shop with retailer D, are willing to spend budget E, need help solving problem F, during this time period G,’ is. You need to make understanding who your customers are, and…
How much should you spend on the marketing of your business? Rule of thumb is 10% of revenue…more if you want to make a huge impact, quickly. Really? I hear you say. Yes. Really! OK. Now I’ve got your attention. I’d like to talk about why having a marketing budget is so important, and share…
When you’re a sole trader or small business owner it’s not easy to dedicate hour on end to social media. And you know what, I’ll let you in on a secret. It’s not the be all and end all. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE MASTER OF FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, UTUBE, PINTEREST etc. to succeed. There…
Right? Well. It’s true, your trusty iPhone (other smartphones also exist…) has a pretty amazing camera. Add into the mix the filter and edit aps available and you can create some great homegrown images for use in the marketing of your business. But a word of caution. Whilst these images are often more than adequate…
Lots of small business owners will have taken a bit of a break from work during the past few weeks, allowing time to make plans for the year ahead. There’s nothing quite like some distance from the day to day, and a glass of red wine, to allow for clearer thinking. Perhaps you are such…
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the town Not a business owner was stirring, and much wine had been downed! For Christmas day brings a chance to relax, and re-set With the hubbub of the festive season finally at rest! When at Essex Business Forum there arose such a clatter, I sprang from…
I’ve started to notice a common trend amongst the small businesses I work with. For many of them, the business is charge of them…and not the other way around. Take a freelance hair stylist & make-up artist I recently met at an Essex business networking event. Over a quick coffee, she told me that she’s…
Frequently I feel like a bit of a party pooper. My clients are often incredibly excited as we begin brainstorming and planning for a new communications campaign. With ideas bubbling and top of their agenda: The question most business owners want to address. "What do I want my potential customer to know about my business?"…
I work with around four new companies each month, in addition to my regular client base. Usually, these new companies contact me with very specific copywriting requirements. This might be some web copy for a new website, or a sales brochure, perhaps a leaflet or even a company handbook. A few weeks ago I was…
Last week was a really great week. As part of my one women mission to improve the business story telling abilities of Essex I met, and coffee’d with, lots of small business owners. Unbeknownst to them (sorry!) I was conducting a little secret survey during these meet ups. I had set myself a goal of…
I attended my first Business Women’s Network event at Joseph’s Kitchen Cafe in Billericay yesterday. Nick Looby of Feet on the Ground training was the keynote, and gave a really insightful masterclass on effective networking. It struck me that he and I talk the same language…and have one very similar pet hate. Narcissistic businesses. In…
I’ve just completed a new brochure project for client Paul Robinson Solicitors. (PAT ON THE BACK WARNING) I successfully managed the project to come in for half that of their previous re-design, and there’s still not a stock photo in sight! My brief was to showcase what makes this award-winning, independent firm special…and ensure that…
If an image speaks a thousand words, just how many does a video speak!? Your businesses story needs to be truly GREAT. Designed to be told and re-told. When we get that right it spreads, goes viral, enjoys the word of mouth effect etc, etc, etc… Whatever you want to call it, you want it…
Who was it that said, “I hate writing, but I love having written”? So far this week it could have been me! Writer’s block can strike at the most annoying moments – however rather than stare blankly at my screen and grow increasingly frustrated, I try these block-busting tricks. If you struggle to get the…
Typos are great attention-getters. Social media trolls comment on them. Print readers circle them in red pen. Right or wrong, readers hold your businesses print & digital literature to nearly impossible standards of accuracy and clarity. Spelling errors and grammatical mistakes steal the audience’s attention from an otherwise-compelling piece and undermine the integrity of your…
Struggle to come up with creative ideas to promote your business? And find it even harder to make publicity stunt success measurable? #PimpMyBike is a publicity competition I created for client @CyclesUK – It ran through the summer holidays and it’s aim was to encourage engagement on social media, and strengthen the bike shop’s ‘friendly…
