A digital content consultancy in the South has launched a new service for start-ups and micro businesses.
Deep South Media will be supporting early-stage ventures which have ambitions to grow but don’t have the financial muscle of established firms to spend on all-important marketing.
Named ‘The Spartans’, the agency’s latest division is led by highly experienced senior account directors James Tourgout and Ed Baker.
Already a number of clients have signed up to professional content marketing, such as media releases, website input, social media expertise, photography, video and design.
Deep South Media is the outsourced media partner to larger companies and organisations, saving them significant amounts of money on the cost of an in-house salaried equivalent – industry figures show that the average annual salary of a PR manager is £41,100.
Ron Wain is the managing director of the company, now in its 22nd year.
He said: “All mature businesses started out as rookies and their owners will know only too well of the blood, toil, tears and sweat that comes with building their brand – and they may well have fallen into the trap of working in, rather than on, the business.
“We wanted to offer our services to the brave people who run start-ups or micro businesses so that they can focus on what they do best rather than being side-tracked with DIY content generation, which can be a false economy.
“Spartans pay a monthly subscription, which they can save up and spend on what is most appropriate to further their brand development, from media releases, website content, pictures, videos, social media to consultation and advice.
“We chose the name because it resonates with courage in the face of adversity – in ancient Greek history the Spartans fought the massive Persian army with just 300 men.
“Our message is that, even though the odds seem stacked against them, they have a loyal friend in Deep South Media, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them, as we do with our larger customers.”
Figures show that 96% of businesses in the UK are classified as micro businesses with nine or less staff – 5.6 million of them.
Other divisions of Deep South Media, which draws upon the expertise of 17 staff and consultants, include visual (commercial photography/video) and design.
Headquartered in Bournemouth, the consultancy comprises former business editors, editors and senior reporters from daily regional newspapers and a national news agency, as well as a former picture editor and designer.
Deep South Media works across Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Sussex and also has customers in London, Devon, Cornwall, East Anglia, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey