Agency roundup: Xpand; Aberfield; Wolfenden; and more
A digital marketing agency has promoted and empowered two of its key members of its team and has been rewarded with significant sales growth.
Xpand started 2022 by beating its first two monthly targets by 10%. That followed a record year for turnover in 2021, the best in the company’s 14-year history.
Company founder Jag Panesar puts success in the first quarter of the year down to giving two committed members of staff more management responsibility as part of a new-look senior management team.
Digital marketing expert Danni Johnson was promoted to digital marketing manager while office manager Simon Patchett took on a more strategic role in the wider management of the business side.
Panesar, who founded the Saltaire-based agency in 2007, said: “When you first start out in business, it’s generally just you holding the fort and being the one which achieves the results.
“As you grow, however, you bring in talent and they become the ones also making a difference and getting results for clients.
“Helping Danni and Simon progress and develop their own careers is definitely the best decision I’ve made and it has had a positive impact not only on our business but on clients too.”
Johnson’s new role saw her take on more responsibility for client management, junior team members and spotting opportunities to help existing clients grow their personal brand through LinkedIn.
She said: “When I first started at Xpand, I knew I was joining a company that cared about my progression. I’ve had constant support from Jag and the team over the last few years and I’m now honoured to be part of the senior management team.”
Patchett already had management experience but has taken on more responsibility for internal and external processes, workflows and line management this year.
He said: “I joined Xpand six years ago and I’m proud to be part of the growing success story of the business. To be part of the senior management team helping to shape the future of the firm is exciting.
“Jag always rewards his team and invests in their progression, and this makes us feel valued and know we are part of something bigger.”
The promotions have allowed Panesar more time to focus on business development and client satisfaction management while opening up new opportunities with the business.
The role of social media executive was created in February and apprentice digital marketer Hamza Hussain also joined the firm. Xpand is now focusing on recruiting further talent.
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Credit: John Kees
Aberfield Communications has been appointed by developer and asset manager MEPC to support Wellington Place in Leeds.
The Leeds-based PR, social media and brand communications agency will provide ongoing PR, website content and social media support to help drive occupier interest and communicate the mixed-use development’s sustainability credentials and its position as an innovative community hub and visitor destination.
Wellington Place is home to a range of high-profile occupiers including HMRC, Savills, Sky Betting & Gaming, the Ministry of Justice and Squire Patton Boggs.
Once complete, the scheme will boast a total of 1.5 million sq ft of commercial, retail, leisure and residential space.
It adds to Aberfield’s growing client list, which most recently includes being appointed by leading supplier of foundry and dental products, John Winter.
Dominique Murray, marketing manager and head of customer experience at MEPC, said: “Exceptional communication to both Wellington Place occupiers and the wider community is a key part of what we do, which is why the experienced and proactive people-oriented approach that Aberfield demonstrated really set them apart.
“It’s this approach which will further illuminate Wellington Place as a leading business, visitor and community destination in Leeds and beyond.
“It’s a really exciting time for us as Covid-19 restrictions ease and people return to the office. We have a busy 2022 planned with the completion of 11 and 12 Wellington Place – one of the most sustainable developments in the UK – as well as the launch of some exciting community initiatives.”
Ian Briggs, director at Aberfield Communications, added: “With a wide breadth of experience working within Leeds, we are passionate advocates of the city, its residents and business community, so we are excited to be working with Wellington Place as it enters the next phase of its growth.
“Our audience-focused and insight-led strategies that ensure we’re communicating the right messages, in the right places, at the right times, have allowed us to deliver success for other clients within the sector, including The Helmsley Group and York Biotech Campus.
“We’re looking forward to working with Wellington Place to further establish it as a vibrant community for both businesses and visitors alike.”
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Car leasing comparison site, Moneyshake, has chosen digital marketing agency Wolfenden to lead its organic search strategy, supporting the brand across SEO and digital PR to hit its 2022 business growth targets and beyond.
Leeds-based Wolfenden will implement a strategy to lift the brand’s organic visibility and revenue, helping to future-proof Moneyshake’s organic performance in an increasingly competitive market.
A core element of the agency’s strategy includes data and tracking support, creating a robust tracking foundation to deliver invaluable insights on site performance and user behaviour to the Moneyshake team.
Moneyshake – which has recently announced a partnership with automotive charity Ben – chose Wolfenden to strengthen its organic performance following a competitive pitch.
Moneyshake’s CEO, Eben Lovett, said: “The Wolfenden team came recommended by another business, and the strength of this feedback as well as the agency’s demonstrable focus on successful and long-lasting partnerships at pitch stage was what really aligned with us.
“We’re in the middle of a really exciting period of growth and it’s a vital time to get our organic direction just right, not only generating lifts in 2022 but setting the foundation to continue building our brand and our market share for years to come.”
Daisy Wolfenden, managing director of the agency, added: “The online automotive sector is certainly crowded, but we’ve seen plenty of opportunity to communicate Moneyshake’s unique innovative and transparent qualities to new users, and we’ve no doubt we can help this brand realise its full potential.”
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Digital agency, Spike, has won two major clients over the past month.
It is now working with Bank North and commercial laundry and catering equipment company JLA, handling SEO and digital marketing strategies for both companies.
After a competitive pitch, Leeds-based Spike won the brief for JLA to help the business rank for commercially focused keywords. JLA is a supplier of commercial laundry and catering equipment and commercial heating.
Digital marketing manager at JLA, James Myers, said: “We invited Spike to pitch as I knew about the good work they had done in the past, and they didn’t disappoint. We look forward to working with their team to ramp up JLA’s SEO strategy.”
Bank North is a Fin-tech enabled bank, combining customised technology with the trust of face-to-face banking and built to disrupt the £150bn SME lending market. Spike will be helping the company improve its organic search visibility by providing SEO consultancy.
Sophia Ramsbottom, marketing manager at Bank North, said: “We are working with Spike on our SEO strategy ahead of a savings proposition launch this summer. This is an important partnership for us as we build the foundations to achieve our long term SEO goals.”
Director of Spike, Duncan Colman, said: “As with all clients, our proactive approach to SEO and customer feedback are the two priorities as we onboard these exciting new key clients.”
