Serving the Teesside Business Community | 5
/NEWS
RectrixAS, pictured at Fusion Hive, was
one of 1,000 new start-up businesses in
Stockton during a positive 2015.
/ ADVICE
DON’T PROMOTE
SCARVES IF YOU’RE
TRYING TO SELL ONIONS!
Lately, whilst browsing business pages
on Facebook and researching companies
on Twitter, I’ve found an abundance of
nonsense across their pages.
T
START-UP BOOSTS
FOR TEES TOWNS
eesside saw an encouraging
“We are looking forward to develop our
spike in the number of start-up
business in the coming months to provide
businesses during a positive 2015,
more of our UAV services to a range of
according to new figures.
companies and to spread the word about the
A report by Tees Valley Unlimited
advantages UAVs bring.”
showed more than 3,400 new businesses
Stockton Council leader, Cllr Bob Cook,
registered during 2015 with new companies
added: “These positive figures show that
setting up across all districts.
start-up businesses are booming in Stockton.
Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool each
“The support on hand from the council
saw around 500 new registrations, Darlington and its partners is helping start-ups such
added almost 600, Middlesbrough more than
as RectrixAS get up and running as well as
800 and Stockton saw around 1,000 new
helping fledging businesses develop and
company registrations over
expand.”
the year.
Middlesbrough’s figures
By the end of 2015
were also up on 2014,
“alongside many
close to 18,800 active
and the town’s Mayor
established national
businesses were
Dave Budd added: “The
names we are developing Middlesbrough Means
registered in the Teesside
area at Companies House,
Business initiative reflects
a real reputation for a
according to TVU’s report.
our support for both new
vibrant and diverse
Stockton’s figure is up
and existing businesses,
independent sector.”
by a huge 822 on the
because they’re the
previous year, and among
lifeblood of any town
the new businesses
– especially one with
includes technology firm RectrixAS, which
aspirations to be a city.
uses unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), also
“The wider area has been hit with some
known as drones, to provide bespoke asset
really challenging announcements in recent
integrity inspection and surveying solutions
months, so it’s heartening to see that new
for a wide range of sectors including oil and
entrepreneurs are still willing to make a go of
gas, petrochemical and renewables such as
it, and that increasing numbers are choosing
wind and solar.
Middlesbrough as their starting point.
The company, founded by Alex Westwood
“We have a great offer across the town,
and Chris Young, started life at Durham Road
and alongside many established national
Industrial Estate but moved to Fusion Hive on names we are developing a real reputation
Stockton’s Northshore in November.
for a vibrant and diverse independent sector.”
RectrixAS business development manager
TVU chairman Paul Booth said: “What
Chris Young said: “The support so far has
is being achieved in the wider Tees Valley
been fantastic and now we are based in
economy is due to effective partnership
Fusion Hive the opportunities for us to work
working that has created a support network,
with other tech and digital companies means
which is helping entrepreneurial individuals
we are able to network effectively and grow
turn commercial concepts into reality and
and expand.
start-up enterprises grow and develop.”
I appreciate how difficult it can be to
curate content on a daily basis, but why
does this give companies consent to
re-publish a post from a news site or a
funny GIF?
The problem with re-publishing or
freebooting content from elsewhere
is that you’re detracting from raising
awareness for the product or service
you offer.
Yes, you’ll get more likes and a
higher reach, but is this audience your
intended audience? Is that person who
comments “LOL” on an image of a cat
dressed as a monkey really going to
purchase from you? I’m sorry to break it
to you, but they won’t even know who
you are or what you do!
The fact is, content posted on your
page will be viewed on a user’s news
feed. While you may think the amusing
image of the cat is driving people to your
page - I can promise you that it’s not!
Even existing fans will be consuming
media that you publish on their feed and
for this reason it’s important to get right
message across on each and every post.
To produce a successful posting plan,
I suggest focusing on the benefits of
your product and setting specific adverts
to focus on a demographic that is going
to buy from you.
In a nutshell; aim for leads - not
“LOLs”!
James Pennington
Managing director, Viral Effect