Two independent Norfolk businesses team up to create new website reflecting PR company’s digital evolution
Back in 1990 leaving London to set up a PR company in the middle of a field in North Norfolk seemed like a crazy idea, but that’s exactly what The Publicity Works’ founder and director Tim Morgan did.
“I suppose I was ahead of the ‘working from home’ trend,” says Tim. “Running the business in the middle of the countryside back then would have been easier if we had things like digital communications and video conferencing, but we made it work.”
The company started to grow, and over the years has seen an eclectic range of different clients, including mobile phone companies, insurance brokers, specialist construction businesses, food and foodservice equipment suppliers and manufacturers, restaurants, theatrical companies, schools, colleges, book companies, artists, shops and more.
Two staff members Alison Haynes and Fiona Morrison have been working alongside Tim for over twenty years, starting while their children were attending the same local schools as Tim’s twin sons, Callum and Kieran. Callum joined The Publicity Works after university, specialising in video content, and has helped in its digital evolution alongside his cousin, Richard, who started at a similar time.
The previous site played with journalistic imagery, emphasising a more traditional PR focus. As The Publicity Works’ services and clients saw an increase in digital media strategies, from video case studies and reels to social media development and campaigns, a full re-brand of the site that more effectively communicated its standing as a modern PR company became vital.
Finding a web designer can be relatively easy in 2024, and going local is hardly necessary when it comes to finding the right company. Nonetheless, charmed by her enthusiasm for the project and word of mouth recommendations, The Publicity Works opted for Norwich-based web designer Little Nerd Web Design, which is operated by Louise Foster from her home.
“I think we made a great team,” says Louise. “We got on well and they understood and trusted my judgement when something wasn’t working.
“They also brought fresh ideas to the table and I think the process was really creative. The brief was a more modern website that showcased the variety of services The Publicity Works now offers within today’s digital marketing realm as well as celebrating their traditional PR routes. I really feel we’ve succeeded in doing that!”
“I saw this an opportunity for us all to rebrand the company,” says Callum. “We’re a small, family-run business which I think allows us to be really focused on the campaigns we run. Everyone has different specialities and I wanted the website to reflect all of our tastes as much as possible.”
“The new website represents the new us – faster, dynamic, streamlined and easy to use,” says Fiona, who specialises in written content. “We’ve a mission to keep PR transparent and accessible to all. By branching out into new areas, including music and publishing, we can now truly boast a varied and dynamic client list.”
Working alongside Louise, as well recent campaigns with companies like local book distributor and publisher, Bittern Books, The Publicity Works is interested in engaging more with its local business community and seeing how it may help other smaller businesses improve their online presence, as well as raising brand awareness through more traditional PR routes, too.
“I’m really keen to talk to more local businesses and see how we may be able to help them with small but focused campaigns. While many of our clients are based further afield and our digital and online world is very different to the one my dad first built the business in, we still keep the company ethos of getting to know our clients and putting their needs first,” says Callum.
The Publicity Works is an award-winning public relations company operating since 1990. A leading specialist in the foodservice industry, it also has expertise in construction, retail, insurance, automotive, music hospitality, sports, charity, tourism, publishing while also specialising in video and other digital content creation.