Bright Light Marketing

A fresh perspective

Falkirk Employment Law combines the employment law expertise within two local firms to create one dedicated employment law service and for the first time ever in the area, local employers are able to access a service that is dedicated specifically to law in the workplace.

Here’s a step by step guide to the work we carried out for Falkirk Employment Law to help them to launch and establish this exciting new business venture:

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Heard it on the Grapevine?

Find out how we have worked with the Grapevine to deliver all aspects of their marketing campaign to successfully launch it both in Selkirk and now in Galashiels. This has included development of the brand identity and signage for Grapevine, a contemporary new website for the County Hotel and the Grapevine, organisation of the launch event, a Press and PR campaign as well as a dedicated social media campaign. More...

SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN

A plan whether it is a Business Plan, a Feasibility Study or a Marketing Plan should give you a definite route to follow so that you can identify and achieve your goals. This may be to successfully get planning permission from your local authority for a new development or to extend your existing business, it may be to access grant or bank funding or it may be to increase profit in your business or a mixture of these goals. There are many reasons to have a plan but in this edition we thought we would look at three reasons why you should invest. More...

Working with Dundee Employment Law

"Right from the branding through to the website, the launch and ongoing support, the team have been unique and tenacious in their approach and friendly manner. An amazing experience leaving me delighted with the results and excited about the future. I would recommend Bright Light Marketing to any business needing that total marketing solution at an affordable price."

Caroline Dunn More...

Reasons why e-newsletters work

E-newsletters have to be one of the most effective and affordable marketing communications available to any business but are something that can often be overlooked and undervalued.

• Attracting a new customer will cost your business 5 times more than keeping an existing customer.

• Just a 5% increase in spend to existing customers can increase profitability by 75%.

• 80% of your company’s future revenue will come from just 20% of your existing customers.

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Advert placed – job done. Think again!

Don’t market your business like your competitors – stand out from the crowd and get noticed.

We hope these three tips will give you food for thought and assist your business in attracting new customers over the Autumn period and beyond.

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All aboard

Don’t worry that you have already missed the train. We can help make sure that you and your business make the most of the Borders Railway and benefit from the new customers that it will bring. Here are five simple ways we can help you and your business get noticed (and apologies for the train related puns in advance!) More...

Working with you

"Working with the team at Bright Light has been a fantastic experience. They very quickly understood exactly what we needed and were able to transform that into a brand identity supported by a promotional campaign that was incredibly effective. I look forward to continuing to work with them through the development of our exciting new business." Iain Burke

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Facebook advertising really works

News & Updates | Case Studies | Strategy | Brand Development

In the past year promoting your business on Facebook has changed. You can still start a business page and communicate with customers and potential customers without taking advertising but it is becoming increasingly difficult to increase your page likes or ensure that you are seen by as many potential customers as possible without taking advertising. More...

Bright Heat Stoves – A Flaming Success

Bright Heat Stoves is the brainchild of father and son team Hamish and Fraser Hunter from Stow.

With such a good concept, it was clear from the beginning that there was a strong business case for the new venture. But to capitalise on the potential, Hamish and Fraser needed help to raise awareness and successfully launch the business in the market place from scratch
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Shining Bright

Shining a seasonal bright light on a selection of our clients. You will see it’s quite an eclectic mix but every single one of them has a unique quality product or service on offer that we think you will love. We really hope this gives you some great ideas and inspiration for the festive season and you enjoy reading their individual stories too. More...

Are you anti social?

News & Updates | Case Studies | Strategy | Brand Development | Campaigns

For the past few years there has been a massive rise in the use of social media not just for personal use but increasingly it is a vital tool for any business to target all of their customers and not just the young and trendy ones. If we had a £1 for every time someone said to us that they don’t use social media as it’s only for young people. More...

The Pubs and Bars of Scotland have certainly got A Story to Tell ……………

It goes without saying that the Pubs and Bars of Scotland are wonderful places to have fun, meet locals and learn more about this great country. But we were also keen to tell visitors and fellow Scots the many fascinating stories about our pubs, some you might know and others that you won’t. More...

What is a Blog?

News & Updates | Case Studies | Strategy | Campaigns

Quite simply a blog is a website or part of a website which features articles, often themed articles, in chronological order. A blog enables you to include longer, more detailed articles than you can on the likes of Facebook and Twitter and allows you to incorporate photos and videos as well as using it as a way to really tell the story of your business.

Once you know the purpose you want your blog to serve, a blog is an excellent channel to communicate with your customers and there really is no limit to what you can communicate to them.

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The art of communication

It’s time for a sweeping statement from Bright Light Marketing.

Generally as a nation we are not very good at blowing our own trumpet and get embarrassed in promoting ourselves and ultimately asking people to spend their hard earned money with us. And of course how to get your message out effectively is easier said than done as marketing communication can be a real minefield.

Don’t worry help is at hand, the art of communication is alive and kicking. More...

Sorry to blow our own trumpet but....

Do you know your Trending from your Blogging? Your Strapline to your SEO?

If not, don’t worry help is at hand. More...

Oink - Going the whole hog

Ultimately Oink has a loyal customer base because it is a great product which many residents of Edinburgh and visitors to the capital love. However Adam and Sandy were very aware from the outset that in order to ensure business all year round they needed to not only have a great product but they also needed a strong attractive brand and they needed to let as many people as possible know about Oink. More...

Scotland’s Pubs and Bars – A Story to Tell

Pubs have always played an integral role within Scottish tourism. Where an average of 30% of visitors to Scotland will visit a pub during their stay. More...

Case Study - Borders Pet Rescue

Case Studies | Strategy | Brand Development | Campaigns | Social Media

"To survive in today's fast-moving world and to compete with the big spend of the national charities, we needed professional help - and fast. Bright Light Marketing came highly recommended and did not disappoint. Probably the best investment we have ever made in our organisation....." More...

Opportunity Knocks in 2014

News & Updates | Case Studies | Strategy | Research | Trends & News

We certainly don’t have crystal ball but we have been working on a number of Marketing Plans recently and as part of the process have been carrying out extensive research into future trends for the next year and beyond.

So what does that mean for you? We have argued for all the clients we have been working with it means Opportunity for you to build your business. More...

Oink - Going the whole hog

Ultimately Oink has a loyal customer base because it is a great product which many residents of Edinburgh and visitors to the capital love. However Adam and Sandy were very aware from the outset that in order to ensure business all year round they needed to not only have a great product but they also needed a strong attractive brand and they needed to let as many people as possible know about Oink. More...

It's the way that you do it!

News & Updates | Case Studies | Brand Development | Campaigns | Social Media

Bright Light Marketing would argue that as effective as social media is (and we see the benefits for business on a daily basis) you do need to consider some key questions before you get started. We thought it would be useful therefore to give you five key tips to consider before getting started on your social media journey that will ensure that you get the most out of social media and are not left wondering what all the hype is about. More...

Advert placed - job done. Think again.

News & Updates | Case Studies | Strategy | Campaigns | Research

Successful businesses have at their foundation a strong customer base but they also attract new customers both by word of mouth from their loyal customers and also by their marketing campaigns.

1. Have you covered all bases ?
2. Do you do the Team Talk?
3. Don't jump the gun More...

Make Hay

Summer can traditionally be a time when businesses don’t pro-actively market themselves, such as tourism businesses because it is main season and for others who are busy running their business and dealing with holidays. However people still need products and services over the summer. So we thought we would give you three simple tips to market your business over the summer and make sure when people are buying products and services that they think of your business. More...

Whats your story?

Do you believe that action speaks louder than words?

Well to a certain extent that might be true but in business you can run the risk of being a best kept secret. You might know what a fantastic business or product that you have but are you telling your story and getting your messages out there to potential customers? More...

Copy cats

News & Updates | Case Studies | Strategy | Brand Development | Campaigns

Not everyone can express themselves in words as effectively as they would like and as a result can fall into the same common traps.

Be bold and focus on specific themes and products.
Avoid using jargon and clichés.
Be confident and friendly in tone.
Use clever and creative copy that grabs the attention of the customer. More...

A bloggers guide

A blog is a good way of driving traffic to your website and also making you more interesting on social media thereby increasing your likes and followers on Facebook and Twitter, aswell as establishing your expertise on the likes of LinkedIn. More...

Do you make up marketing as you go along?

News & Updates | Case Studies | Strategy

Although you know you should have a Marketing Plan and more importantly follow it. Sometimes it’s easier to just do a bit here and a bit there when you have a spare moment. But how effective is that? More...

Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter – It’s not just about a cup of tea!

News & Updates | Case Studies | Strategy | Brand Development | Social Media

There is a lot of cynicism, scepticism and distrust about social media. Like any communication tool it has its pro’s and con’s and like any communication method the rule of thumb is simple, never say anything on it that you wouldn’t be happy saying to someone’s face! However in the Bright Light Marketing office we are a champion of social media. Why? Well because it brings us business direct to our door, it’s free to use and we use it very effectively for our clients. So we thought we would showcase some examples from three different professions – retail, tourism and professional services. More...

A Sign of the Times

News & Updates | Case Studies | Brand Development | Campaigns

It might seem obvious but first impressions really do count – is that signage that was installed back in the day really doing your products and service justice in 2013? Your business will have changed greatly over the years but are you portraying it accurately to potential customers. We do live in a very image conscious world where the power of branding should not be underestimated and that is why we thought you’d like to see some of our brands in action in the real world. More...

Bamboo Touch

News & Updates | Case Studies | Strategy | Brand Development

The Lavender Touch Charity approached us to help them take an innovative new sleepwear product to market and create a memorable trading name and contemporary brand identity for the product. More...

It’s a Secret

News & Updates | Case Studies | Strategy | Social Media

Like any business we are proud of the clients that we work with and love to talk about them in our communications. It makes our clients look good and showcases the work that we do. But there is some work that we do that we keep 100% quiet about. More...

Don't keep it a secret

News & Updates | Case Studies | Strategy | Brand Development

Are you planning to expand your business or even start a new business venture in the New Year?

Either way you will find yourself very busy and no doubt feel that there aren’t enough hours in the day. So in one way we hate to burden you with more work but really we have to - what have you done so far to communicate your development? Many businesses neglect to do this this, leave it to the last minute or start the business and then wonder why nobody knows about it. So we would advise that the sooner you start communicating the better. More...

Sykes - With you every step of the way

News & Updates | Case Studies | Brand Development

This summer, Sykes approached Bright Light Marketing to tell their story via the production of brand new printed materials which clearly explain the seamless range of integrated services that they offer their clients. This project involved researching and writing copy, organising a dedicated photo shoot in the plant and providing contemporary graphic design and artwork, whilst working closely with the team throughout. More...

So what makes a good Marketing Plan ?

News & Updates | Case Studies | Strategy | Research

There are many ingredients that go in to a good Marketing Plan.

But ultimately the test of a good marketing plan is does it work? Your objective might be to successfully launch a new product, sell more to existing customers, reach new markets, reposition your business in the marketplace or all of the above! And the ultimate test is not that it looks good on paper but that it actually works in reality for you when you implement it. At Bright Light Marketing we create Marketing Plans that don’t just prove in theory that the objectives can be achieved but far more importantly, the client achieves their objectives in the real world. More...

Growing business together

Case Studies | Brand Development

JRW are one of the largest accountancy firms in the Scottish Borders. And when the company decided to re brand, Bright Light Marketing helped them develop a contemporary identity to make them stand out in the marketplace and re position themselves. More...

Are leaflets worth the paper they’re printed on ?

News & Updates | Case Studies

The ever increasing array of clever devices is changing the way we live at an astonishing rate. And of course a debate has been raging for quite some time as to whether we are witnessing the demise of printed material as more and more marketing is done electronically.

To illustrate the case here are a couple of case studies of recent promotional campaigns we have carried out for clients which clearly show how printed material can enhance a marketing promotion. More...

Back to the Future

Case Studies | Strategy

As a marketing agency, Bright Light Marketing offer the full range of marketing communications and for many of our clients we carry out their marketing for them and act as their marketing team. However before we get to that stage we work with clients and take a strategic look at their business analysing a whole range of areas from existing customers, potential customers, competitors and current and future economic impacts on the business. We then create a Marketing Plan which includes a communications action plan with concise goals and targets on marketing the business. The Marketing Plan is then the property of the business and they can then either follow the communications action plan themselves or appoint us to carry out the marketing for them. More...

Small but perfectly formed !

Case Studies | Strategy | Campaigns

“How do I successfully market a small business on a budget ?”

We loved this question from a follower of Bright Light Marketing’s Twitter account and one of our original goals of being in business was to get small businesses noticed. When we first set out in marketing it was very hard for a small business to compete against the bigger companies who had the ability to out spend you, back in the days when the key communication tools tended to revolve around advertising, direct mail and Press and PR. Today things are very different with the plethora of marketing communication tools that are now available to you. In some respects it is perhaps more daunting as which tools do you choose and where do you start? However we would argue that small businesses now are able to effectively market themselves and compete with the big guys. Firstly we believe that people are starting to believe that small is beautiful and that people want to buy and work with companies with integrity, who are experts in their field and who do not have complex management systems with dare we say it ‘big bonuses.’ People buy people and you need to ensure that people buy from you. So how do you do it? More...

An Oldie but a Goody

Case Studies | Brand Development | Campaigns

In the age of new technology that we live in it is easy to dismiss print as very much last century and not appropriate for the 21st Century. But is that really the case or is there still a use for printed materials? More...

Borders Book Festival – Read all about it !

News & Updates | Case Studies | Research

Bright Light Marketing has recently completed an evaluation of the 2011 Borders Book Festival which was held in June in Harmony Gardens, Melrose. The Borders Book Festival is a key cultural event in the Borders event calendar and the festival over its four days has a major economic impact on the Borders economy. It is also one of the leading book festivals in the whole of the UK.

Some of the Key findings of the 2011 report are: More...

Border Bingo – Are you coming out to play ?

Case Studies | Strategy | Brand Development | Campaigns | Press & PR

Bright Light Marketing and design partners Whitenoise Creative are very proud to have been involved in helping this independent locally owned company to open a club that ranks amongst the best in the country and which takes the bingo playing experience to a whole new level here in the Borders. More...

Fasten your seatbelt

News & Updates | Case Studies | Trends & News

In the words of the late great Bette Davis “Fasten your seatbelt. It’s going to be a bumpy night! “

Yes 2011 has been yet another rollercoaster of a year, we may be officially out of recession but times continue to be incredibly tough for both business and households alike. Many sectors especially retail are finding this year perhaps their greatest challenge yet. Whilst the media update us daily on the bad news they are also quick to point out that for some the economy is doing well with the much vaunted Staycation being heralded as the saving grace of the tourism industry. So which is it - Boom or Bust? More...

Social Media is Word of Mouth online

Case Studies | Campaigns

Bright Light Marketing understand that not everyone shares our enthusiasm for social media as a marketing tool. Regular questions include, What benefits will it bring them? Why should they use it when social media is for young people and their clients are in the older category. This article focuses on the benefits of social media and explains why the age arguements are simply not true. More...

It’s good to talk

Many people will have already ditched their New Year resolutions while others are bravely carrying them on. But what about your work resolutions? How have you done with them? And have you communicated with your customers in 2011? If not why not? We offer up three common excuses. More...

The Tontine Hotel – “Everything an active break should be.”

The Tontine Hotel is 200 years old and has 36 bedrooms at its High Street in Peebles location. Bright Light Marketing has been working with the hotel for the past 4 years and in that time the Tontine has increased its profit year on year even in the extremely difficult trading conditions of the last two years.

How has it done this? More...

Roulotte Retreat

Roulotte Retreat is a new company in the Scottish Borders where you can sleep in the first ever Roulottes in the UK. Roulotte Retreat opened up at the end of 2010 and are about to start their first ever full season. Despite setting up from scratch Roulotte Retreat have already got forward bookings for 2011 and have benefited from extensive press coverage including The Independent, Scotsman and The Telegraph as well as raising awareness via Social Media particularly by using Twitter. More...

Borders Book Festival – Economic Impact Study

News & Updates | Case Studies | Press & PR | Research

Bright Light Marketing have just completed an Economic Impact Study of the Borders Book Festival. The results show that the event makes a significant impact on the Scottish Borders. More...

This little piggy went to Bright Light Marketing !

Case Studies | Campaigns | Press & PR

It is very difficult for any business with the daily pressures of running the operation, looking after staff and taking care of the finances and perhaps marketing is something that you don’t really plan for properly ? Maybe you just don’t have enough time in the day. More...

You never write, you never phone …… !

News & Updates | Case Studies

Is your business ready for 2011 ? and will you make the most of the opportunities ?

It may seem obvious but it is surprising how few businesses regularly communicate with their best customers. Your existing customers are the most valuable source of business both through repeat bookings and referrals. On average it costs 5 times more to attract a new customer than it does to keep an existing one and this has never been more important than in the current climate. More...

Seeing the bigger picture

Case Studies | Brand Development | Campaigns | Press & PR

We firmly believe that the key to successful marketing is to really think like a customer and to try and put ourselves in our customers shoes. Never assume that potential customers know exactly what your product is like and that they always understand what is on offer to them. More...

A little help from our friends

Case Studies | Strategy | Campaigns

No matter how great your product is, sometimes we need to take a look beyond our front door and be prepared to work with others.

An excellent example of working together is the Summer 99 campaign which the Tontine Hotel in Peebles has recently launched. More...

Are you getting your share of the Twitter Pie?

News & Updates | Case Studies | Strategy

We have mentioned Twitter and Facebook and highlighted it in our March news as one of the key trends for 2010. It is easy to be cynical about social networking as something that is for the kids or for people who have too much time on their hands. However small to large companies across the UK are finding that it is a valuable marketing tool that can raise awareness of your company, draw traffic to your website and actually bring you business. Still cynical? Well you are not alone so we thought we would show through live examples how social networking can be a targeted and cost effective marketing tool for your business. More...

Are you coming out to play ?

Case Studies

Border Bingo Clubs have been successfully running their bingo clubs for over 25 years. However various factors including the smoking ban and more online bingo meant that they needed to re-position themselves in the marketplace and encourage a new and younger audience to play. But whilst doing so it was vital for them to look after their existing loyal customers and communicate the planned changes to them. More...

Location, Location, Location – are you making the most of it ?

Case Studies | Campaigns

In an incredibly competitive market place it is very difficult to stand out from the crowd no matter how good your product is. To stay ahead businesses have to continually invest in their product and staff and come up with clever marketing to get themselves noticed. More...

This little piggy went to Bright Light Marketing !

Case Studies | Campaigns | Press & PR

It is very difficult for any business with the daily pressures of running the operation, looking after staff and taking care of the finances and perhaps marketing is something that you don’t really plan for properly ? Maybe you just don’t have enough time in the day. More...

This little piggy went to Bright Light Marketing !

Case Studies | Campaigns | Press & PR

It is very difficult for any business with the daily pressures of running the operation, looking after staff and taking care of the finances and perhaps marketing is something that you don’t really plan for properly ? Maybe you just don’t have enough time in the day. More...

Marketing and Customer Care go hand in hand

News & Updates | Case Studies

No matter how sophisticated your marketing techniques are or how much exposure you achieve this all stands for nothing if you do not deliver on customer service. It is vital that marketing and customer care go hand in hand and only then will a company realise its full potential.
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