Marketing & Communications
From digital marketing and public affairs to print, PR, radio, TV and events - our experience spans the full gamut of the communications spectrum.
We’ve convened and compèred industry fora, done live TV and radio interviews ourselves, managed press packs and supervised live broadcast events.
As importantly we still do the actual work ourselves too - from writing web copy and killer press releases to briefing documents and persuasive pitch decks.
With Blackthorn your communications are in safe and experienced hands.
Services
Public Affairs
We’ve worked at Embassies abroad for the UK Foreign Office - in commercial diplomacy roles that sit right at the intersection of industry, policy and regulation.
From monitoring developments to mapping stakeholders Blackthorn can help you design, plan and run agile public affairs initiatives.
We've broad ranging experience, that includes working in bilateral and multilateral scenarios, with multinational companies and supranational organisations (including offices of the EU and UN).
We're also experienced public speakers and communicators ourselves and can help with briefing and preparation for everything from conference keynotes and panels to radio and TV interviews or Ministerial engagements.
As millennials news media wasn't the first stop in our comms journey, but we've grown to appreciate the power of print.
We've secured coverage in most UK national dailies (incl. The FT, The Guardian, The Independent, The Telegraph and The Times) and mastered the art of picking the right supplements and magazines - to gain exposure for ourselves and our clients.
Digital
We were coding our own shopping carts in the 90s, back in the early days of Google, so believe us when we say we're 'digital natives'.
A decade later we were pushing back the boundaries of search engine marketing in close collaboration with Google.
We've run pay-per-click, SEO, content and social media campaigns for SMEs and corporates like Bank of America, Barclays, Channel 4, Electronic Arts, the Knepp Estate, Porsche, Zurich and a whole host of startups, side hustles and private clients besides.
We've seen fads and fashions come and go and as a result are well placed to cut through the hype and provide sensible advice.
TV & Radio
You never forget the first time you're left to wrangle a press pack of TV news journalists!
Our experience covers live outside broadcast at major public events, packaging content for airing same day and organising interviews for primetime (and streaming) coverage on the BBC, CNN, Channel 4, ITV and Sky News.
We've hooked execs (and ourselves) up with interviews on local and national radio too.
We can shoot and edit 'quick and dirty' video ourselves (eg. for 'authentic' social media), work with trusted partners for higher end deliverables (including 3D graphics) and have even overseen film-scale production shoots together with Hollywood celebrities and corporate sponsors.
Public Relations (PR)
A well executed PR campaign run by a savvy team with a solid network, professional charm and some good old fashioned hustle can provide outstanding returns.
Craft a good narrative and convince journalists / editors to run your story, and you will save a fortune in paid media spend.
We're also strong believers in the efficacy of targeted events, having run VC pitch competitions in London, supply chain events at European ports and private fora and dinners in an array of lavish locations across the world - from ships to palaces!
Talk to Blackthorn today to work on great stories, succinctly told - to the right audience.
Crisis Communications
Having participated in national disaster emergency training and run live crisis comms. in real world scenarios after aviation accidents, the Blackthorn team is well placed to help you find a measured and appropriate tone in trying times.
Clients
Confidential client
Work with e-commerce founder on operational efficiency, strategy and fundraising support.
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Strategic advisory - assessment of current operations and planning for future growth
Fundraising - creation of investor collateral, built pipeline of prospects
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Digital - review of paid media activities, recommendations on natural search, PR and content
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B2C sales - work to segment customer base to enable more targeted marketing activity
B2B sales - advice and guidance on B2B segment
Partnerships - suggested potential brand collaborations for increased exposure
Market entry and expansion - evaluation of opportunities to expand into new European markets
Confidential client
Long-term engagement with London based family office across portfolio of ventures.
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Strategic advisory - investigation of new ventures within digital and physical experience and aviation / aerospace / UAV markets with family office
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Digital - launched new experience venture, built and launched brand and e-commerce enabled site, managed all social media
Public relations - overall responsibility for new venture and parent company's PR
Print - secured editorial in Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, Mail on Sunday, The Times, Sunday Times
TV and radio - interviews on local and national TV and radio including BBC, CNN, , ITV, Sky News
Crisis communications - managed comms during multiple life threatening emergencies according to company's Emergency Plan
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B2C sales - oversight of all B2C sales operations (e-commerce, on-site, telephone)
B2B sales - grew corporate sales through collaboration with US partners
Partnerships - oversaw several successful collaborations with US partners including. NASCAR teams and high profile social media racing drivers
Market entry and expansion - explored establishment of subsidiary ventures in Australia and New Zealand
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Customer engagement - responsible for customer troubleshooting and feedback into revised service provision
Complex operations - oversight of complex, multi-site fixed wing and rotary flight operations (c. 10-20 aircraft)
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New product development - pioneered use of 360-video product line, increasing company revenues by c. 10%
The Ecology Co-op
Re-brand, re-launch and ongoing marketing support for group of ecology consultants
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Digital - re-design and re-launch of brand identity, collateral and web presence, ongoing social media and pay-per-click strategy and management
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B2B sales - drove a fresh, professional approach to bidding on tenders, including design and collation of professional bid documentation, supervising site visits, collecting feedback
Market entry and expansion - helped launch a range of new ecological services from Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and Rewilding to wintering bird surveys
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New product development - supported launch into new market segments including Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), rewilding and wintering bird surveys nationwide