4 C Marketing has turned 7! It is seven years since Caroline Saunders founded our marketing and pr agency in Christchurch, Dorset. In fact, it wasn’t founded in Dorset at all, but back in North East Hampshire.
2019-20 was a big year for 4 C Marketing which saw the business relocate to Christchurch in Dorset. But who would have predicted the even greater change to come as COVID-19 spread across the world?
Caroline reflects on the past year, with some reasons to celebrate despite some huge challenges:
“When thinking about the past 12 months it’s difficult not to think about the negatives of coronavirus. The life-changing difficulties faced by some businesses and families. 4 C Marketing has certainly been affected too. I have adapted to homeschooling my two boys whilst running a business. Understandably, work has dropped off from some clients. Awards nights have been postponed and magazine issues cancelled. Organisations everywhere have had to avoid face-to-face contact and try to recoup losses.
But actually, the past year has featured some real highlights for 4 C Marketing, and I know I shouldn’t lose sight of that. There are many reasons to celebrate:
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Making new local Dorset connections
The Enterprise Hub, Southbourne, Dorset
This year I was keen to build a local network and feel part of my local Dorset business community. I was lucky to discover there were so many local networking opportunities! I visited Athena Network meetings, SWIB meetings, Dorset Chamber meetings, Dorset Gateway 1-2-1s and Get Set for Growth workshops. Each event was so welcoming and I have enjoyed meeting people from so many different industries and fantastic local businesses.
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The value of social media
Pretty much all of those connections that I made came through social media. It started with a LinkedIn search, looking for complementary local businesses like graphic designers. Sending personalised connection requests, explaining that I was new to the area. Liking and interacting with other people’s posts and joining in local conversations. That led to a face-to-face meeting with a connection, which led to a new client. Along with a recommendation to join The Athena Network in Dorset which has proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable, fantastic source of support thanks to the excellent facilitation of regional director Natalia DaCosta and my fellow members.
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Achieving awards success
Not only was it a great year for gaining finalist places for my clients in regional business awards in Dorset and Bristol and in national awards, I even scored a finalist position myself! Sadly, awards events have been postponed. We don’t yet know which of those finalist places may turn out to be a win. But it’s still been an achievement and a great PR opportunity for my clients to get to the finalist stage. Personally, it was a huge privilege to be nominated in the Successful Women in Business Awards in the social media category and then selected as a finalist. I have enjoyed celebrating with the other finalists in our virtual events, and meeting so many successful businesswomen from Dorset and beyond.
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Welcoming new clients
It’s been lovely to welcome new Dorset-based clients this year for a range of marketing services including:
- awards entries
- blogging
- copywriting
- social media
- SEO
From LinkedIn profiles for colour consultants to awards entries for hotels and blog posts for physios, it’s been a rewarding year. I also really enjoyed working on the rebranding of a craniosacral therapist and Pilates teacher. This included new business cards, flyers, advertising and a website redesign, so a real range of marketing communications.
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Retaining existing clients
Whilst any marketing agency is keen to gain new clients, it is as important to me that we retain existing clients. That demonstrates the continued value that 4 C Marketing delivers. 7 years later we are still providing PR services for my very first client Get Ahead VA, securing online interviews, print articles and podcast appearances over the past 12 months. I also recently marked three years of PR and social media management for a client in the chemicals industry. Totally different to virtual assistants, but still just as interesting in its own way! Over the years I have been able to build relationships with key industry journalists and position my client as a valued source of top quality information and thought leadership in their industry.
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Launching new collaborations
Recently I was delighted to launch a marketing guide from the Dorset Marketing Collective. A group of experts from many different aspects of marketing including design, photography, video, SEO and more, we all came together to share our tips to help businesses thrive, especially in difficult times. I have always believed in collaboration over competition. It was a pleasure to be asked to take part in the creation of the guide and share it with local businesses.
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Learning so much
As a business owner, it can be hard to find time for formal ‘learning’. But you never stop learning on the job. We have all had to learn new words like ‘social distancing’. The word ‘pivoting’ has become an increasing part of my vocabulary. But I have been genuinely amazed by the resilience and determination that I have seen – from companies like Bridge Health & Wellbeing, who in their first year of trading faced a complete shutdown. Within weeks, they were up and running with a packed schedule of online exercise classes and video consultations. We’ve all had to become Zoom pros and learn to adapt to virtual networking and breakout rooms. But I, for one, can’t wait until it is safe for us to back to real rooms with real people once more.
So thank you to everyone who has made it such a memorable year for 4 C Marketing for good reasons. If you would like help with marketing your business, from a single blog post to a complete outsourced marketing management service, please give us a call on 01202 002823 or email hello@4cmarketing.co.uk.