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Standing out in a competitive market is crucial. That’s why we’re excited to introduce “Brand You,” a personal branding podcast designed to help professionals and entrepreneurs in Lincolnshire elevate their brands. Hosted by Caz Grant of Quirq and Toby Lee of Headshot Toby, “Brand You” is your go-to resource for practical insights, expert advice, and actionable steps to enhance your personal brand. Meet Your Hosts Caz Grant of Quirq, a personal branding agency dedicated to.helping individuals shine in crowded markets. With extensive experience in personal branding and marketing, Caz crafts compelling personal brands that resonate and drive success. Toby Lee is the professional headshot photographer behind Headshot Toby. Specialising in capturing the best first impressions, Toby understands the power of visual branding and its impact on professional presence. What to Expect from “Brand You” Our podcast demystifies personal branding and makes it accessible and effective for everyone. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, career professional, or just starting out, “Brand You” provides the tools and knowledge to elevate your personal brand. Each episode covers essential topics, such as: - Understanding Personal Branding: Discover its importance in today’s digital age. - Setting the foundations: Learn what to do before you start creating your personal brand. - Content Creation: Create valuable content that showcases your expertise. - Networking and Community Engagement:   Build and leverage professional networks. - Visual Branding: Gain insights on professional photography and videography. - Thought Leadership and Authenticity: Position yourself as a thought leader and connect authentically. - Collaborations: Understand the benefits of partnering with other businesses and professionals. Join Our Community Join the Brand You community on LinkedIn to connect with like-minded professionals, ask questions, and get personalised advice from Caz and Toby. Engage with us, share your progress, and be part of a supportive network dedicated to personal branding success. Tune In to “Brand You” Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your business and life through effective personal branding. Tune in to “Brand You” and let us guide you through building a powerful personal brand. We’re excited to bring “Brand You” to the Lincolnshire business community. Click here to watch / listen to the Brand You podcast on your preferred platform.

I first experienced coaching in 2010 after being promoted into a very demanding and highly scrutinised leadership role. It was invaluable, and to this day I use all I learnt about myself. In leadership, self-awareness is key. Coaching provides it in abundance. Stepping out of the day to day, working with someone on how you think and your professional priorities is invaluable and liberating. I felt super productive with a clear actionable plan. My decisions felt absolutely right because my coach made sure they were, by asking me the right questions and challenging me when necessary. That’s what I love to provide to clients: a personalised, bespoke experience that’s purposeful and valuable. My clients leave feeling lighter, excited, highly motivated and determined. My interest in people and behaviour is engrained and evident from my pre-teen years, my academic subject choices, my degree and my 26-year career. I qualified as a Workplace Coach in 2013 and completed my Executive Coaching and NLP qualifications. I coached regularly to build my experience, launching my business in 2019. One to one: I work with busy, time poor executives and leaders with a growth mindset, who want to invest in themselves to be the best they can be, to learn, grow and improve, to lead themselves, their teams and ultimately their organisation's in the best way possible. I build a relationship with clients to ensure I give my best, to get their best. I partner with clients to understand their goals and visions. Personality profiling is available to work with clients and their unique qualities. The best thing you can do to build a high performing team is bring people together. Working with teams I use coaching to facilitate bespoke team days, to surface a team’s creative thinking including: Getting the best from teams based on their personality profiling. Developing an organisations values, mission and vision. Organisational priorities and ‘next steps’ action. Find out more about Nicky Dewhirst-Vickers on her website. Photography: Headshot Toby

Tick HR Solutions was founded in 2018 with a clear mission: to provide quality HR support to small businesses throughout the UK. The inspiration behind creating Tick HR Solutions stemmed from a recognition of the unique challenges that small businesses face when it comes to managing human resources. Many small businesses cannot afford in-house HR, yet they still need to ensure compliance with employment laws, create effective HR policies, and manage employee relations efficiently. Understanding the Needs of Growing Businesses: As businesses grow, their HR needs become more complex. We saw firsthand how crucial it was for these businesses to have access to expert HR support without the overhead costs associated with hiring HR staff. This gap in the market motivated us to create a service that could offer flexible, tailored HR solutions, whether on a remote or onsite basis, to fit the specific needs and culture of each organisation. Commitment to Quality and Efficiency: Our goal was to ensure that small businesses could receive the same level of HR expertise and support that larger companies enjoy, but at a fraction of the cost. By providing comprehensive HR services, including policy development, compliant contracts, handbooks, and onsite support. Tick HR helps businesses focus on their core operations, while we handle their HR needs efficiently and compassionately. Resolving Employee Issues Before They Escalate We have helped numerous businesses resolve employee issues before they escalate to tribunal proceedings, saving businesses time, money, and stress. Here’s how we achieve this: Early intervention Coaching managers Clear communication Compliance expertise Our Evolve Hub Evolve Hub is a professional learning and development service that helps businesses develop their employees and help them to achieve their business goals. Our development programmes focus on enhancing leadership capabilities, fostering innovation, and cultivating a growth mindset, which equips businesses to thrive in today’s dynamic market. Easy Access to HR Expertise Getting in touch with Tick HR is effortless. Whether you prefer email, phone, or video-call, we’re always just a click or call away. Our dedicated team guarantees same-day responses, ensuring you get the HR support you need without delay. Find out more about Tick HR here Photography: Headshot Toby

In today’s fast-paced business environment, video content is more than just a creative endeavour. It’s a vital component of a successful marketing strategy, and while some companies may promise that investing in video production guarantees an immediate boost in ROI, the reality is far more nuanced. At Dela Media, we believe that video content is powerful only when strategically aligned with your business goals. No matter how polished, engaging, or expensive, a video is not a silver bullet. Without a well-thought-out marketing strategy, even the most stunning content will not achieve its goals, even if it gets broad reach and many views. To make video content 26 efficient, it  needs to be a part of a larger, cohesive marketing strategy. It’s about creating beautiful visuals and delivering a message that resonates with your audience and drives them to action. At Dela Media, we don’t just work for you, we work with you. We value your input and collaborate closely with our clients to ensure that every piece of content we produce serves a strategic purpose and aligns with your business objectives. Instead of focusing on breaking walls between the creative team and your budget, we pride ourselves on building bridges that connect your creative vision with effective marketing strategies. We listen to your needs and work alongside you and your marketing team to provide the right tools to bring tangible results. Efficiency and cost-effectiveness are at the heart of what we do. That’s why we’ve created a versatile studio space at Sparkhouse in Lincoln, now available for local businesses and creators. Our studio is designed to produce a wide range of content, from podcasts and talking heads to tutorial case studies and short and long-form videos. Imagine creating a month’s worth of content in just one day – our space makes it possible, saving you time and ensuring a consistent, cohesive message across your marketing channels. Dela Media is all about efficiency, reliability, and delivering predictable results. We want to help bring your vision to life. We also offer clear service packages to help businesses plan their budgets effectively and achieve their marketing goals. Our structured approach ensures you know exactly what to expect, helping you make informed decisions and  maximise your investment in video content. Find out more about DELA Media Photography: Headshot Toby

If your marketing strategy is solely digital, you may be missing the mark! While digital marketing is undoubtedly powerful, direct mail campaigns offer unique targeting opportunities that should not be overlooked. Living in a digital world has led people to forget about the power direct mail has on their audience and even believe that direct mail campaigns are dying, but they couldn’t be more wrong! 84% of marketers reported that direct mail marketing gives them the highest ROI of any channel and said that direct mail results in the highest response rate. 82% of marketers said they were increasing the amount they’ve allotted for direct mail in this year’s marketing budget. So why is direct mail making a comeback? Personalisation Personalisation is the key to the success of direct mail marketing. It’s not about generic mass mailing anymore. By leveraging data and segmentation, you can build trust with your consumers. They’ll appreciate the effort you put into understanding them, leading to increased engagement. Tracking is easier than you think Assign unique codes or URLs to each direct mail piece to monitor response rates and conversions. Use analytics tools to track website visits, online purchases, or phone inquiries generated by your campaign. Analyse the data and identify areas of improvement. Optimise your future campaigns based on the insights gained from the tracking and measurement process. Showcase your brand’s personality Visual appeal plays a significant role in the success of your direct mail marketing campaign. Direct mail can be a canvas for your creativity, allowing you to showcase your brand’s personality with various formats, sizes, shapes, and styles. We can give you a million other reasons why you should consider introducing direct mail campaigns to your marketing strategy, but we wouldn’t want to bore you to tears. However, you can get in touch if you want to learn more or get the ball rolling with your next direct mail campaign. We are more than happy to help in any way we can. Visit Visual Print & Design Photography: Headshot Toby

I’m Sharon, a former police detective, now counsellor and psychotherapist. After I went through the medical retirement process after 12 years of service as a result of fracturing my spine, I experienced my own mental ill health and went to therapy for the first time. It changed my life. Fast forward to now, and I have my own thriving practice based in Lincoln city centre: Blue Light Counselling. At Blue Light Counselling, I specialise in providing integrative therapy to emergency service workers and support staff. But what I would like to introduce to you today is a new model of psychology and psychotherapy with fast, effective and long- lasting results. It’s called ‘BrainWorking Recursive Therapy®’ (BWRT). BWRT uses the latest findings in neuroscience to help anyone overcome almost all psychological problems. Imagine being able to conquer your fears, phobias, depression, anxiety and stresses that are adversely affecting your life and holding you back from reaching your full potential. Because of the scientific nature of BWRT, it is more effective and faster than many other therapies, and you don’t even need to discuss anything that you’d prefer to keep private! This therapy is used daily by the South African Police Force thanks to its ability to resolve debilitating trauma symptoms, even PTSD, where officers can return to their duties much faster and much fitter. This is also essential for the wellbeing of their officers and offers real support where it’s needed, when it’s needed. It also works exceptionally well with serving military personnel and veterans. To find out more about BWRT, visit Blue Light Counselling. Photography: Headshot Toby

As a small business, you NEED effective marketing strategies to grow. At Lincolnshire Marketing, we specialise in helping local businesses achieve measurable and sustainable growth. As the founder of Lincolnshire Marketing, here are some of my top marketing tips that you can implement today for organic growth. 1. Optimise Your Website for SEO Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business. Ensuring it is search engine optimised (SEO) is crucial for organic growth. Start with keyword research to identify terms your target audience is searching for. Google Trends and Semrush are great tools for this. Then, incorporate these keywords naturally into your content, meta descriptions, and headers. Additionally, ensure your site is mobile-friendly and has fast load times to improve your search engine ranking. Remember, more and more people are viewing sites on mobile devices. 2. Leverage Social Media Social media platforms are powerful tools for engaging with your audience and promoting your brand. Identify which platforms your target audience uses most (I call this fish where the fish are) and focus your efforts there. Consistent posting, engaging content, and interaction with your followers can significantly increase your reach. Utilise tools like Hootsuite, Buffer or TomCRM to schedule posts and analyse their performance. 3. Create High-Quality Content Content marketing is an excellent way to attract and retain customers. Start a blog on your website where you can share valuable information related to your industry. Where possible, use video and embed this into blogs. This not only positions you as an expert, but also improves your SEO. Aim to provide solutions to common problems your customers face, share case studies, and offer insights into your business practices. 4. Build an Email List Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to reach your audience. It’s data that you own. Encourage website visitors to subscribe to your newsletter by offering a valuable freebie, such as an e-book or discount code. Regularly send out informative and engaging emails to keep your audience informed about your latest products, services, and promotions. Use platforms like MailChimp, Constant Contact or TomCRM to manage your email campaigns effectively. 5. Utilise Video Marketing Video content is incredibly engaging and can help convey your message more effectively than text alone. Create short, informative videos that showcase your products, explain your services, or provide industry insights. Share these videos on your website, social media channels, and YouTube to reach a wider audience. Video creation tools like Canva or Capcut can help you produce professional-looking videos without breaking the bank. Simply add subtitles and use the features in the platforms (like YouTube Shorts and Insta Reels). 6. Invest in Local SEO If your business relies on local customers, local SEO is essential. Claim your Google My Business listing and ensure all information is accurate and up-to-date. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews, as these can significantly impact your local search rankings. Additionally, ensure your business is listed in local directories and that your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across all platforms. 7. Monitor and Analyse Your Efforts Finally, continuously monitor and analyse your marketing efforts. Use tools like Google Analytics to track website traffic, social media insights to gauge engagement, and email marketing software to see open and click-through rates. Regularly reviewing these metrics allows you to understand what works and what doesn’t, so you can adjust your strategies accordingly. Implementing these tips can help you achieve organic growth affordably. At Lincolnshire Marketing, we are dedicated to helping businesses in Lincolnshire thrive through tailored marketing solutions. For more personalised advice and support, see Lincolnshire Marketing. Photography: Headshot Toby

You have less than a couple of seconds to make a first impression. After that? Well, it’s an opportunity missed. Whether you have a shop, offices, warehouse or vehicles each one is a cost-effective way to brand and market your business, if done well. You shouldn’t see your signs or livery as simply a piece of information. But rather use each opportunity to communicate with new, existing and potential customers. The opportunities are endless, once you start looking. Look at the sign over your business, not as just a piece of information, but as a statement of your brand. There are lots of material options available and working with a good sign company means you don’t have to settle for a run of the mill sign, but one that will help you stand out in what is a highly competitive climate. Different finishes and materials are all available, so it’s worth investing the time to think about the look and feel that you want and discussing these options. Internally, you have even more options available. Think digitally printed wallpapers, logos cut from a wide range of materials, clever use of discrete LED lighting, (which is more accessible than ever), branding touch points like reception counters, desks and display units. These all add to the brand of your business. There’s also such a wide range of finishes available, it’s possible that maybe a piece of furniture you thought about replacing, could be refurbished at a fraction of the cost. All of these options apply equally to every business, but if you have a large site, wayfinding might be something you need to consider. If you walk around your site and look at it not through your own eyes but that of a stranger, how will they use the site? Often - and again this applies almost everywhere - less is more. Keep visual clutter to a minimum, as the more information you try to convey the less the information is seen. Remember the first impression rule. You only have seconds so make the message stick. Lastly, good signage doesn’t have to break the bank. For sure, you can have the most elaborate materials and techniques, but it might not be needed. Engage a good signage company and they will advise on the most appropriate materials to suit your business, your premises and your budget. The possibilities are endless. Find more about Allen Signs here Photography: Headshot Toby

Businesses across the UK are increasingly turning to asset finance brokers to secure funding for essential assets. Whether it’s for acquiring new machinery, upgrading technology, or expanding their fleet, the expertise and market knowledge of asset finance brokers are proving invaluable. Asset finance is a financial arrangement that allows businesses to obtain the equipment or vehicles they need without paying the full cost upfront. Common forms of asset finance include leasing, hire purchase, and asset refinancing. Each option has its own set of terms and benefits, making it essential for businesses to choose the right solution tailored to their specific needs and financial situation. Navigating the myriad of asset finance options can be overwhelming for businesses, especially those lacking in-house financial expertise. This is where brokers come in. Unlike banks or direct lenders that may have a more rigid approach, brokers understand the nuances of different finance products and have access to a broad network of lenders, often allowing them to secure better terms and rates. We act as intermediaries between businesses and lenders to find the most suitable financing options. As each finance option has its own set of terms and benefits, we help choose the right solution by assessing a business’s needs and matching them with the right funder, saving you and your business time and resources. Securing the correct funding solution for your business can involve a considerable amount of paperwork and negotiation. We handle much of this burden, from preparing the necessary documentation to negotiating terms with lenders. This allows business owners to focus on their core operations without getting bogged down by the complexities of the financing process. For example, we were recently approached by a small manufacturing firm whose owner had struggled to find a suitable financing deal independently. We were able to secure a lease agreement with favourable terms that allowed the firm to acquire new machinery without depleting their cash reserves and, as a result, the business increased its production capacity by 30% within six months. Connect with Chris Mountain to find the right funding solutions for your business Photography: Headshot Toby

As a senior marketer who mentors junior talent, I’ve seen firsthand how marketing apprentices can transform businesses. Here’s why you should consider this strategic investment: Cost-effective talent acquisition Government funding often covers most training costs Lower starting salaries compared to experienced hires Fresh perspectives and innovation New ideas and creativity for marketing strategies Digital-first expertise to reach new audiences Tailored skill development Train apprentices in skills aligned with your business needs Fill specific gaps in your marketing capabilities Increased productivity Apprentices handle day-to-day tasks, freeing senior staff for strategic work Expand marketing capacity cost-effectively Long-term talent investment Higher retention rates among apprentices Build a loyal, skilled workforce for the future Enhanced company culture Demonstrate commitment to nurturing talent Inject enthusiasm and energy into your team However, I understand that not all businesses have the in-house expertise (or capacity) to mentor junior marketers effectively. This is where external support can be invaluable. As a consultant, I’ve helped companies bridge this gap. For example, I’m currently supporting the Digital Marketing Apprentice at a medical services company near Birmingham. My role includes: Aligning apprentice tasks with company goals Day-to-day mentoring and liaison with training providers Providing strategic marketing advice to the company This model allows businesses to benefit from both fresh talent and seasoned expertise. As the apprentice grows in competence and confidence, the need for external support gradually decreases. By combining a marketing apprentice with external senior guidance, you can cost- effectively expand your marketing capabilities, bring in fresh ideas, and invest in your organisation’s future. It’s a win-win that drives business growth while developing the next generation of marketing professionals. Find out more about senior strategic marketing support for your business Photography: Headshot Toby

Studies show that photography and artwork with faces attract more attention as they are more likely to evoke an emotional response compared to those without. Similarly, content on social media, and platforms such as LinkedIn, performs remarkably better when featuring people. Let’s jump straight into some interesting LinkedIn statistics: 1. Posts with photos of people see a 2x higher engagement rate compared to those without. 2. LinkedIn posts with photos get 94% more total views  on average compared to text-only posts. 3. Posts with human faces are 38% more likely  to receive likes and 32% more likely  to get comments. We’re social creatures, and by integrating people into your business photos, you not only enhance the visual appeal of your content but also create meaningful connections with your audience. We’re wired to seek connections with others, and this extends to our digital interactions. When we see a face, the part of the brain that specialises in facial recognition interprets the emotions and intentions. From this, we then make instantaneous decisions about how we feel about that person. Do we trust them? Do we want to connect with them, or avoid them? So, utilising selfies and photos of your employees on your business social media channels  goes a long way to building trust and authenticity. Instead of reaching your audience with sales messaging, you can engage them with content they feel they relate to, and in turn this may make them more likely to onboard with you as a client in the future. As a headshot and branding photographer, the worst-case scenario is seeing an empty profile photo on an active LinkedIn account. The individual may be trying to post, message and connect to grow their network, but will be treading water as the recipient battles with whether or not the faceless account can be trusted. It’s estimated we are exposed to anything from 5,000 to 10,000 marketing messages per day! We’ve evolved to do as much subconscious filtering through these to establish what is genuine or applicable to us. Brands that show us real-life moments of people enjoying their products, or capture behind-the-scenes style content, break down the barrier of what is a marketing tool and what is a real individual. This relatability encourages viewers to engage more readily, whether through likes, comments, shares, or a purchasing decision. So don’t be afraid to humanise your business. Showcase your employees, your workplace culture and client success stories. Create posts that resonate on a personal level with your audience with deeper, more meaningful connections. By including friendly faces in your content, you’ll see higher engagement rates. Click here to find out how a brand photoshoot works Photography: Headshot Toby

How Wallbreaker’s “Too Many Hats” Video Marketing Campaign Went Viral Video. Is. Everywhere. From TV adverts to social media campaigns, we’re bombarded with video content on a daily basis. Anyone can record a video, but it takes expertise, creativity, and a LOT of market research to create content that actually resonates with your target audience and encourages them to take further action. Wallbreaker’s recent “Too Many Hats” campaign is a testament to the importance of thorough market research, emotional appeal, and relatability. Our target audience for this campaign was marketing managers - a demographic we’ve engaged with repeatedly in the past. By conducting in-depth market research, we identified their most pressing pain points: hectic workloads, high-stress levels, and the need to juggle numerous tasks simultaneously. With our research phase over, we gathered the entire team together to discuss concepts and ideas. We wanted to address these challenges in a relatable and humorous way, and our research revealed that LinkedIn would be the most appropriate platform to use to target this group. Once a storyboard had been drawn up, the real fun began. Anyone who knows me will know I’m not one to shy away from a challenge. Especially one that involves arts and crafts. I got to work gluing together an impressive tower of hats for our actor to wear - the perfect visual metaphor for a marketing manager’s role. It raised a few eyebrows on  the way to the office, but the painstaking gluing and sticking paid off! The video went viral organically, garnering over a million impressions, with 26% of viewers holding the job title of our target audience. The campaign achieved over 9,270 reactions, 645 comments, and 1,074 reposts without any paid support. By connecting with our audience on an emotional level, we had created content that was both memorable and actionable. Once we’d assessed our organic reach, we initiated a paid LinkedIn ad campaign that resulted in eight warm. sales calls and two new clients, both of whom have signed up for our subscription service at £4k per month. Anyone can whip out a camera, turn on some lights, and record a video, but this campaign underscores the importance of market research in creating video content that truly resonates. These are the results we aim for - both for our company and our clients. If you’re looking for video content that connects with your clients, and you’d like to work with a company that has a 10-year proven track record of viral video success, drop me a message on LinkedIn. If the project involves arts and crafts, even better! Click here to connect with Ash Wilks from Wallbreaker Photography: Wallbreaker