Year Two in Bloom
When did you last pause to celebrate your own success? As small business owners we are great at cracking on, less great at looking up. Red Rose Media & Marketing has just turned two, so I’m taking this moment to reflect, say thank you, and share a few lessons that might help you too.
Two years on, my values are the same: make it clear, make it human, make it easy to act. Here’s how that shaped this year.
What I’ve learned this year
I’ve found, talking to small business owners, the biggest gap is often clarity about what they offer. Say what you do, who it’s for, and how to get it. Keep the page or post clean and give a single next step. With that simple structure, enquiries follow.
Then keep showing up. A steady rhythm of useful content is a better strategy than chasing a viral post, and it’s far easier to sustain. People are now searching in more places — Google, social platforms and tools like ChatGPT — so being consistent, and keeping your audience at the heart of your messages, helps them find you and remember you.
Finally, show you’re real and back it up. Share social proof — reviews, case studies and before-and-after stories — and let your voice come through. People buy from people.
Work that made a difference
This year reminded me how powerful simple, joined‑up work can be. At Hednesford Town FC we tightened the tone of voice and set a calmer, more consistent content rhythm across channels, so supporters could find what they needed and engage with it. For Euro‑Matic, the priority was brand awareness and showing product versatility; we shared real customer stories and brought the team to the front, which lifted engagement and started better conversations. With Clearly Accounted we built a friendly, straight‑talking presence online, shaping clear pages with obvious next steps. For Staffs Sports Massage we focused on foundations: a simple booking journey and a social plan built around FAQs and everyday proof to build confidence. And the Katherine Allport Foundation film was a privilege - a respectful story that reminded people why the charity exists and how it helps.
Whatever the sector, good storytelling helps people connect with you, trust you and take action.
There were plenty of one‑off pieces too that kept things fresh: thoughtfully planned launches, social strategies that help owners spend time where it counts, accessibility fixes on websites, and newsletters that sounded like real people.
What I’m good at (and what I enjoy)
Content creation — planning and producing posts, blogs and newsletters you can actually keep up with. I love finding fresh angles to talk about your business and turning one strong idea into useful pieces across different channels while keeping your voice consistent.
Video storytelling — one‑person shoots that feel relaxed and natural. I enjoy helping people feel comfortable on camera, drawing out the story behind the service, and editing it into something that connects and gets watched.
Social media management — organised calendars, a human tone and community‑minded replies. I like turning a busy feed into a simple system, then learning from the data so we know what to do more of (and what to change) to match your strategy.
Websites that are easy to navigate and act on — from audits and improvements to complete builds. My favourite part is making your site sound and look like you, and smoothing the journey so people can do the thing you want them to do.
Accessibility stays front and centre: alt text, readable formatting, captions, good contrast and clear calls to action. I’m careful with budgets and focus on outcomes that matter to you — enquiries, bookings, sign‑ups and useful conversations.
What’s next
The Red Rose Roundup continues – my monthly newsletter of friendly, practical ideas you can use in your digital media and marketing. It is free and a good way to keep in touch.
Between the Thorns is coming soon. These are short, affordable, step by step online sessions to help you raise your profile and engage your audience. If you would like to be first to hear, subscribe to the newsletter and I’ll keep you in the loop.
I’d love to do workshops and podcast spots - sharing simple, useful ideas on content, social and websites. If you’re organising an event or team session and think I could help, give me a shout. I’m saying it out loud because people don’t know unless you tell them, right!
A final thank you
To clients who have trusted me, to volunteers and students who bring energy and ideas, and to my family for backing me when edit mode takes over - thank you. Here’s to year three!
