Why we love working with startups and smaller businesses

(And how we’ve shaped our marketing services around what you actually need)

If you’re a startup, small or mid-sized business looking for marketing support – welcome, you’re in the right place.

At SG, we genuinely love working with ambitious smaller businesses. You’ve got energy, ideas, and a real drive to grow — and we’ve shaped our approach around helping you do exactly that. WE’ve worked with our fair share of mega brands and giant corporates in our time, but it can be hard work – there isn’t the passion and drive you find in smaller companies, plus, the paperwork just to get on the approved supplier lists for these companies is INSANE!

Whether you’re just starting out, shifting gears, or ready to level up, we’re here to make marketing easy, accessible, effective, and enjoyable. We take the time to what you’re building, what makes it exciting, and how we can help make it real in the world. For us, that’s the joy of it.

So, what’s in it for you?

For many startups and SMEs, it’s hard to justify the expense of external marketing support. We get it — you’re watching every penny and every hour. You’ve got your hands full. It’s tempting to keep it in-house, handled by juniors or tacked onto someone’s admin or sales role. Many put off entirely. But there are risks - inconsistency, confused messaging, missed opportunities to name but a few.

And let’s face it, if no one knows who you are, what you offer, or why they should care — everything else becomes harder.

Strategic marketing helps you cut through the noise, connect with the right people, and build a brand that stands for something. It makes the most of your time and budget, helps you avoid costly mistakes, and gives you the tools to grow with confidence. It’s not about flashy campaigns. It’s about using your resources wisely to build a brand people trust. It’s about building momentum.

Marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming

We know finding the right marketing partner can feel like a minefield. If you’ve ever searched “marketing agency”, you’ll know what we mean. Pages and pages of agencies all promising big results, often with a big price tag and not much clarity.

That’s not how we work. We like to keep things simple: no jargon, no hard sell, no cookie-cutter packages. We are more about honest advice, collaborative partnerships, and a bit of fun along the way — because enjoying the process is part of what makes it work.

Most of our work comes through referrals, which we take as the highest compliment. Clients trust us because we care, we’re in it for the long haul, and we focus only on what’s right for your business.

And we actually enjoy helping clients to work out what to do with their marketing. Bashing around ideas, researching their markets, coming up with ideas, coming up with strategies and plans.

How we work with SMEs and startups

We’re often told our approach is refreshingly straightforward. We take the time to really listen — to your goals, your audience, and what makes your business tick. Then we build a tailored plan that fits your needs and budget.

We break things into manageable steps, explain our thinking clearly, and always focus your investment where it matters most.

Our flexible model — a small core team supported by a trusted network of specialists — means we can cover almost every area of marketing and communications, without the big agency price tag.

The best thing about working with smaller businesses is that we can really get to know you. Over time, we sometimes even become friends. The better we know and understand you, the better the advice we can give.

Where to start with marketing

Some clients come to us knowing exactly what they want: a new website, a social campaign, help with messaging. Others just know they need to do something, but they’re not sure what. That’s absolutely fine.

We start with a conversation – it might even be over a coffee or lunch. We love this part of the process. We ask the questions, listen closely, and help you figure out the smartest next steps based on where you are now, what you’re trying to achieve, and what’s realistic for your budget.

Startups: clean slates and big ideas

Startups are exciting to work with because you’re starting fresh — no baggage, no legacy brand to fix. That means we can build something totally original together.

Some startups come with a basic DIY setup and need help taking it up a level. Others need everything built from scratch — name, identity, messaging, website, content.

Whatever the stage, we’re mad keen on helping startups and get their marketing foundations in place and ready to scale.

But we’re not that small — what can you do for me?

If you’re a more established SME — maybe you’ve been around a while, have a solid team, and are clear on who you are — you might be wondering whether we’re the right fit. The answer is yes.

In fact, this is where much of our experience lies: working with medium-sized businesses who need strategic, senior-level marketing support without the cost, complexity or ego of a big agency. You want thoughtful advice, flexible delivery, and a team who can work alongside yours — not take over.

We take a logical, step-by-step approach, reviewing where you are, advising on what’s worth your time and money, and helping you plan ahead.

Sometimes that means modernising your brand to reflect how you’ve evolved. Sometimes it’s about levelling up your website, exploring channels you’ve not tried before, or just bringing clarity and consistency to what you’re already doing.

We’ll never recommend something just because it’s trendy. If video, SEO, email marketing or PR could support your goals, we’ll explain how. And if it’s not right, we’ll say so.

You get senior thinking, hands-on support, and honest guidance — all delivered in a way that’s collaborative, sensible and cost-effective.

Why brand and marketing matter so much for startups

When you’re building a business, it’s easy for marketing to slip down the list. There’s funding to secure, products to launch, logistics to wrangle. But without a clear brand and smart marketing, none of that will get the attention it deserves.

Your brand helps people ‘get’ you — fast. It’s not just a logo. It’s your story, your values, the impression you make. It builds trust and recognition. Marketing takes that brand and puts it to work — helping you reach the right people and speak to them clearly, consistently, and compellingly.

Done well, it turns curiosity into engagement, and engagement into growth.

For us, this is gold dust. Who wouldn’t feel lucky to be involved at this critical stage in a business’s life story?

Telling your story

“Storytelling” is probably the most succinct way of capturing what we do for our clients. Great marketing starts with a clear, compelling story and we help you work out what that is for you. Not the dry “founded in 2021” kind — the real story. Why you exist. Who you serve. What makes you different. Why it matters.

We help you uncover and shape that story into something powerful — brought to life through design, words, and tone of voice that feels genuinely you. Whether it’s a website, social media, video, PR or print, we make sure your brand speaks with clarity and consistency, everywhere it shows up.

In-demand services for startups and small businesses

All of our services are scalable and adaptable for smaller businesses, but we have developed some really cool ways of working based around what smaller businesses need. We’ve adapted bigger processes into more compressed but effective services to suit smaller budgets.

Brand messaging and proposition

We’ve developed a streamlined brand messaging process that works brilliantly for smaller businesses — focused, collaborative and efficient. It typically starts with a simple stakeholder briefing (sometimes including input from key staff or clients), followed by analysis and a focused workshop to shape direction. The result? A clear, compelling brand proposition and messaging platform that gives you the foundation to market with confidence and consistency.

→ Read more about our brand services

Visual brand development

Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to refresh what you’ve already got, we help shape a visual brand that not only looks great but brings your messaging to life and doesn’t cost the earth.

Website design and development

Whether you need your first website or a revamp of an existing one, we’ll tailor the approach to suit your needs and budget. From simple, stylish brochure sites to more complex builds, we focus on clarity, performance and user experience — making sure your site reflects your brand and supports your goals.

→ Read more about our website services

Content marketing

We help you build a consistent and manageable content programme that works for your business — from blog posts and email newsletters to case studies and downloads. Always aligned to your goals, always focused on value, never just content for content’s sake.

Social media marketing

We help you use social in a way that works for your brand and capacity. From content planning and post creation to light-touch support or full management, we flex to fit your budget and internal resource, so you can stay visible without feeling overwhelmed.

SEO and PPC

Whether you're just starting out or ready to scale, we offer practical, cost-effective support to help your website perform. From SEO basics to targeted Google Ads campaigns, we focus on traffic that converts. We’ll share regular activity reports in language that you can understand and show real progress not just meaningless numbers.

Read more about our SEO and PPC services

FAQs

Will I have a dedicated contact at SG?
Yes — always. You’ll have a consistent point of contact who knows your business and keeps everything on track. We’re a small, friendly team, so you’ll get to know us well.

Do I have to use you for all my marketing?
Not at all. You can pick and choose. Some clients come for one project; others stay for years. We’re flexible.

Do you work on retainers?
No. We do not tie people in with retainers or long contracts. Most of our work is project-based, or we can work from a set budget ‘pot’ and track time against it. You stay in control.

How do I know you’re any good?
Check out our testimonials — and we’re happy to put you in touch with a few current clients if you’d like. We’ve stayed in business for over 30 years almost entirely through word of mouth.

If I do a website with you, do I have to pay all at once?
No — we’re flexible with payments and can arrange a staged approach to help with budgeting. This applies to most of our projects.

Can you work with our in-house team?
Yes, absolutely. We often work alongside in-house marketers, adding extra capacity or expertise where needed.

What if I don’t know exactly what I need?
No problem — that’s really common. We’ll start with a chat, get a sense of where you are, and help you figure out the best next step.

I’ve had a bad experience with agencies before. How are you different?
Clients tell us they appreciate how we explain things clearly, don’t oversell, and genuinely care. We aim to make working together straightforward, collaborative and enjoyable. Most importantly, we specialise I working with smaller businesses – we’re a small business ourselves – so we get it. We know that you have limited time and patience and that every penny spent has to count.