Hello
When most people look at a table lamp, they see a table lamp, very nice, pretty. Me, I see the lamp, the cable and how it’s run, I wonder what it is made of, I visualise the bulb, the filament, I imagine it turned on and then off, I start thinking, what are its faults, can it be improved, how much does it weigh? And so on... I do this with everything, that’s just me..
My Story
My early career started in publishing and specifically subscriptions and circulation. I studied companies in America such as Readers Digest and learned about new techniques for customer retention, renewal strategies and promotions. Most of all I became fascinated with how customer information is collected, analysed and then used for marketing purposes.
I progressed into marketing and promotions (especially with regard to online marketing) and have honed my skills in list building, market research, public relations, graphic design, web publishing, Google Ads, content creation, copywriting and display advertising. But, at the core, is a desire to make sure I have the very best information possible to be able to do my job effectively.
Over the years I learned just how difficult it is to collect accurate data. Untrained or incompetent data entry staff, wrongly worded or inaccurate forms and inefficient databases meant that most companies really don’t accurately know who their current or potential customers are let alone how to market to them.
I have spent most of my career ensuring that, before I even start the marketing part, the companies I work for have as much data as possible. This often means revolutionising their databases, their phone systems and especially their customer relationship management system, if they have one!
It also means looking at efficiency analysis and often procurement to make sure that, if we do succeed in increasing sales through our marketing efforts, that the company is able to cope whilst maintaining healthy profits.
For the last 20 years I have been working as an independent consultant. My self-employed status has given both the employer and myself a unique degree of flexibility. Small companies often do not require or cannot afford someone of my experience on a full-time basis. I can be extremely efficient and can work (and therefore cost) as much as the role demands. A secondary benefit is that an employer can review and test my abilities without committing to employee contracts, benefits and the like.
Every company I have worked for see significant growth from my efforts. I look for opportunities and exploit them. At one I was able to transform their use of IT. At another I increased profits by streamlining marketing strategies. Recently I have helped two local companies to go from ‘small business’ operations and thinking with turnovers of £150k per annum to professional businesses with turnovers over £1 million (one is fast approaching £2 million). I have a clean, full driving license and I am available for immediate start. I can provide references on request.