After working for 12 years in marketing, Rich Sutcliffe founded Agency For Good, a digital marketing agency that uses the profits from paying socially-responsible clients to fund free training and strategy advice for non-profit organisations. He tells BQ about his business.
What is it the company does?
We are an ethical digital marketing agency. We are ethical by the way we interact with people and our values, to our mission of helping 50 non-profits this year create more impact through better use of digital. We provide full-service digital marketing services to socially responsible for-profit businesses and use any profits to subsidise work with non-profits including free digital marketing strategy and training sessions.
Describe your role in no more than 100 words
I set up and run the company. I am the face of the company and manage all the associates we work with including providing the paid for and free digital training sessions and strategy documents.
How did you come to do the work that you do?
Having worked for 12 years in sales and marketing I wanted to do something worthwhile with my skills. I also saw a lot of people getting overcharged and having terrible experiences with marketing agencies. Having worked with lots of start-ups, small business and also working in the third sector I wanted to give these people a better alternative while helping as many people in communities as possible.
What has been your biggest challenge in your current position?
The biggest challenge has been convincing people that the free work I do for non-profits is not too good to be true and doesn’t come with a catch!
Where do you see the company in five years’ time?
I have plans to have four other locations around the country in five years’ time. I would expect to be helping 1,000 non-profits for free each year at this stage. At the moment our target is to help 50 this year (we are already over 40).
Why did you take part in Digital Enterprise or Digital Knowledge Exchange?
I have been to and exhibited at a number of digital enterprise conferences and the connections made there have been invaluable.
What has the Digital Enterprise or Digital Knowledge Exchange done for your business?
It has given me new ideas and connections to allow my business to grow a lot faster than I thought it would initially.
What advice would you give to an aspiring business leader?
Surround yourself with trusted, like-minded people and find communities you can be part of. Also, don’t be paralysed by inaction, the sooner you start the better.
What do you wish someone had told you when you started out?
Working seven days a week is less productive than working just five or six in the long term; you need to look after you.
Why would you recommend Digital Enterprise or the Digital Knowledge Exchange?
It is an invaluable place to get advice and build connections which can give a solid foundation to your business for the short and long term.
If you liked this post, please share with your friends and followers. If you are interested in digital, why not check out the Digital Enterprise Top 100, a major initiative to identify those companies that are setting an example for others to follow within the world of digital transformation.