On this episode of Build Better Brands, Danielle Clarke is joined by Darren Jamieson, Co-Founder and Technical Director of Engage Web, an online marketing agency that helps small to large businesses attract more attention to their websites.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• I originally wanted to be the next Quentin Tarantino, I went to film school and nearly made it with a film, starring an actor from The Bill, that we went to the Cannes Film Festival to get finance for, but we couldn't get the finance together, so I fell into digital marketing accidentally through promoting the film and ended up working for GAME, which in hindsight was a great job, not every job I've had has been that good, so we created our own company to get back to what I had almost a decade earlier. My personal brand became a digital marketing nerd with a bit of a mouth, speaking out to people in a room with an audience. 
• Sometimes your brand evolves, sometimes outside of your control, but you should always try to be in control because it's going to massively affect your business. What you do impacts on your business and your business impacts on your brand. Some people I know try to separate their brand from their business, and I don't understand why they do that, people aren't seeing the real you and why you do what you do.
• People get hung up on the look and feel of their brand and logo and they're not really thinking about why, and who are their target clients and audience, what is it that turns them on and off, those are the real issues. One area we really see that is with website text/copy, it's the biggest backlog when working on web design. We write the text for them now because we know it fills them with dread to write and they write it from their perspective not from the client's perspective. They want to know what you can do for them, that's it.
• Your team is really important. Even if you're a one-person organisation there are always other people involved in your business: Who you use as a courier to deliver your products is your team. If they're chucking stuff over people's fences, that reflects on your brand. Your call answering service is your team, using Microsoft for your emails and half the incoming emails go to junk and you're not replying to them, that's an extension of your team. That all reflects on how people see you, your business and how they enjoy working with you.

BEST MOMENTS

‘I'm a large person that talks in front of people and has no qualms about getting up onto a stage and going for it. Usually there'll be some sort of rant that lands me in it as well!'

‘The branding, colours and logos aren't for you, they're for your target market. So many people don't get that.'

‘People make their buying decision based on emotion, then they'll justify it afterwards using logic.'

‘I've always wanted to be the centre of attention, right back to primary school. That's encouraged me to not just run an agency and help businesses with digital marketing and websites, but get up onto a stage and teach and entertain so they remember what I'm showing them and how it made them feel when they were there, that's why I'm doing what I'm doing.'

ABOUT THE GUEST

Darren Jamieson says: “As a child, I dealt with Scoliosis, a spine condition that meant I walked differently to other kids and faced daily bullying. My need to be liked and make people laugh grew. I needed to be the centre of attention on my terms. Now I help clients with their online presence, through websites, video, or social media, because I need to attract attention. Their success is my success; that's why I do what I do now.”

Co-founder Darren Jamieson has over 20 years' experience of working online, having started his web career in the last century before Google was even a ‘thing'. His work on websites and affiliate networks in the 90s earned him the role of web designer at GAME, where he gained an important understanding of the needs of the client and the complexities of an industry-leading ecommerce website.

After leaving GAME, Darren worked for various digital agencies around the UK for clients such as Sony, the NHS, the Environment Agency and Manchester United (although, he's LFC all the way).

Over the years, Darren has worked with pretty much every type of content management system available, and has developed many of his own – including the ‘Writers' System' we use here at Engage Web to manage our global network of writers. Darren's experience of web hosting providers is extensive, having worked with many different companies over the years. The knowledge he has gained allows him to manage the many websites hosted by Engage Web for our clients on our own dedicated server.

It is within the field of search, online marketing and blogging where Darren has really found his passion, all of which fall under the banner of digital marketing. Darren formulates the marketing strategies Engage Web uses for each of our clients, which are then executed by our team.

Darren also has experience of speaking at conferences and giving seminars, and welcomes relevant speaking opportunities.

Websites: https://www.engageweb.co.uk/ 

Podcast: https://engagingmarketeer.com/ 

ABOUT THE HOST

Danielle Clarke is a Brand and Marketing Consultant, University Lecturer and Business Owner.

Since 2006 Danielle has provided brand design and marketing support for clients including Škoda, Gtech, UK Biocentre, UK Mail and GIRLvsCANCER Danielle is committed to helping brands that want to have a positive impact on people's lives. She spends her time consulting and working with business owners to help them attract and retain their best customers.

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