BUSINESSES are being invited to hear expert advice on how to boost their online presence to increase leads generated by digital marketing.

LOCALiQ, part of Newsquest Media Group, the publishers of Bradford Means Business and the Telegraph & Argus, provides access to a network of 200-plus news brands and publications in print and online, an award-winning events division, recruitment platforms and a wide range of multimedia marketing solutions.

As well as giving hints, tips and strategic advice on everything from social media and display advertising to search engine optimisation, businesses are also invited to take up a free digital health check to see how their digital activity is currently performing – and what can be done to improve it.

Jen Jamieson, marketing manager at multi-disciplinary firm David Allen, said: “We’re constantly looking at new ways to get the brand out to a different target audience.

“We operate across four different business sectors, IT, recovery solutions, financial services and obviously the accountancy part of the business.

“To come and listen to all of the different possible ways we could be doing better digitally is really interesting. We could certainly work with LOCALiQ on pulling everything together, because obviously time is money and we don’t have all the time in the world to be looking at the detail digital marketing entails.

“We’re focused on targeting the local market initially, but all of our business areas are looking at businesses across the country.”

Nationally, LOCALiQ reaches 30 million unique users a month as well as 6.2 million readers of Newsquest’s print titles.

LOCALiQ advertising director Steve Lowe said: “It is really clear that there are some businesses who need some significant advice and guidance in relation to their digital marketing.

“The biggest benefit of LOCALiQ is that although we’re a large national organisation with brands up and down the UK, we are absolutely committed to local businesses.

“What puts us at the forefront of any other digital marketing provider in the UK is our technology. Our conversion-based optimisation technology will ensure your budget works harder than any other provider in the UK and we’re the only ones currently with this technology, which simultaneously operates across Bing and Google.”

Rachael Dunn, business development manager for LOCALiQ, said it was continuing to develop its digital strategy and invest in new products to stay ahead of the competition. “LOCALiQ is a fantastic opportunity for businesses wanting to branch out to a wider audience,” she said.

“They get the benefit of having one person looking after their whole advertising strategy as supposed to maybe three or four different companies dealing with different elements.”

She said that businesses needed to stay focused when it came to their digital marketing and needed to constantly measure results. “I would say to businesses, don’t try and do everything at once; take some time away to reflect and see if what you are doing is working,” she said.

“If it is not don’t be afraid to change it up. If it’s not getting you the leads, the calls and the emails in, then there’s obviously something not right there and you’ll have to choose a different strategy. Not every platform is right for every business.”

LOCALiQ understands navigating around the digital marketing landscape can be challenging and its free sessions are aimed at cutting through the jargon. Free digital seminars will be held in Bradford, Huddersfield and Skipton.

The dates are:

Bradford

Bradford City FC, Tuesday, March 12, at 10.30am and 2pm. Each session will focus on a different topic: 10.30am to 12.30pm - Driving leads and awareness - focus on search, social and display advertising and how to get it right; 2pm to 4pm - Social Media Mastery - covering Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn both organically and from a paid perspective. Get tickets here

Huddersfield

John Smiths Stadium, Friday, March 15, 10.30am to 12.30pm - Driving leads and awareness - focus on search, social and display advertising and how to get it right. Get tickets here

Skipton

The Craven Herald and Keighley News and LOCALiQ are hosting a free digital seminar at the Rendezvous Hotel on Thursday, March 14, from 10am to noon on Driving leads and awareness - focus on search, social and display advertising and how to get it right. Get tickets here