Copywriter - useful creative links
As a copywriter, people often ask me if I know of any good graphic designers, web designers or other creative or marketing people - or, if I'm busy, if I can recommend any other good copywriters.
Over the past decade or so I've worked with a host of different people including other copywriters, not just in Leeds or West Yorkshire but further afield too. On this page you'll find my choice of the best - with a brief explanation of why I've included them here.
Graphic designers / studios
SourceFour Design, graphic design studio: Based in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, Source Four is a full service graphic design business run by Robert Pritchard. I've been the copywriter for Source Four for quite a few years and they're great guys to work with. They seem to be continually expanding (they've recently moved into new state-of-the-art premises) presumably because they produce such excellent work. The copywriting isn't bad too.
Sizzle Creative, graphic design studio: Sizzle Creative is a full service advertising agency based in North Manchester that says it "specialises in unleashing a business's potential through brand-boosting design, direct response advertising and an increased web presence". I've worked with Sizzle on a number of projects (mainly websites which they're very good at). They're also very nice people to work with and they're got a super new website. The person to contact is Paul McMahon.
Anna Christensen, freelance graphic designer: Based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, Anna Christensen is a one-woman graphic design business covering a broad variety of work from corporate ID to brochures and websites. I've worked with Anna on a large number of projects and she very kindly designed the Christmas Fair banner for our school PTA for free. Working from home (like me), Anna has a background that includes many of the big Yorkshire advertising agencies and design studios. In other words, she knows her stuff.
Freelance copywriters / copywriting services
Nigel Graber, copywriter: When you work on your own, it's always great to have another copywriter you can chat to or use as a sounding board - just like the old days of working in advertising agency creative departments. When I'm busy, I often refer new contacts to Nigel Graber the copywriter at 'Mightier Than' and he does the same for me. He's a very talented copywriter and - along with Nick Harman and Chas Walton below - one of only a handful copywriters I'd recommend. Nigel is based in Manchester and says about his business: "Mightier Than - freelance copywriting with its feet up on the boardroom table".
Nick Harman, copywriter: Nick Harman is a copywriter that I've worked with for many years now. Based in London and with over twenty years' experience, Nick does copywriting for the London Eating website in his limited spare time. He has to put up with being wined and dined by top chefs in 5 star restaurants across London (he's even been spotted at some eateries here in Yorkshire). It's a tough job, but someone has to do it... Nick has worked on brands like IKEA and the London Stock Exchange and is a dab hand at lots of different types of copywriting.
Text Wizard, copywriting services: Chas Walton of Text Wizard is another copywriter in the freelance copywriters 'A league' and, like the two copywriters above, we go back a long time. Chas is "based in Market Harborough on the Leicestershire / Northamptonshire border, midway between Leicester and Northampton in the East Midlands of England" (so you'll never get lost when looking for him) - but like any copywriter worth their salt, he offers copywriting services across the UK and beyond.
PR companies / agencies
Umpf PR agency: One of the newest kids on the block in Leeds City Centre (the famous 'Calls' area of Leeds) is Leeds PR agency, Umpf. Although the agency itself is brand spanking new, the people in it have been in PR for years. In fact they've got an amazing client list of household name brands and organisations, and I was very impressed when I had a long chat with Umpf's Jonathan Priestley at a get-together on Sunday. Enough to put a link on my website. Their website isn't half bad, either. Visit it here>>
Website hosting services
Express Hosting, website host: I recently moved all my websites to Express Hosting because I'd seen a load of recommendations on one of those independent advice sites. And I haven't been disappointed. The hosting has been reliable and affordable - and they go out of their way to help you. After having put up with poor hosting for years from another company, it's been like a breath of fresh air! Highly recommended. Visit their website here>>
