Marketing Update

Audit clients of the Top 50 firms in our area continue to be a prime target in our campaigns. Within this market we have an opportunity to offer a local, responsive and more cost effective service. Our next mailing to these targets is scheduled for February as part of an on-going “drip, drip” campaign to keep the name Rickard Keen high with them.

We are holding regular lunches in the newly-refurbished conference room for our professional contacts as part of a programme to maintain stronger relationships with our professional referrers. The last lunch was held with Charles Stanley Stockbrokers on 2 February. We are also planning a “Race for Business” fun run with professional contacts in May 2010 and are embarking on a new programme of “Supper Club” events which will be hald at the Bacchus Restaurant in Southend. The first took place on 16 January with Ayers & Cruicks and BTMK among the guests. We are also looking a creating closer links with Business Link to engage with them on their local business initiatives.

Our website continues to be well received and as a result we are now featuring highly on Google for searches in Southend on Sea and Basildon. Contacts and clients also now receive our monthly newswire and regular informative e-shots and event invites.

In order to raise the profile of Rickard Keen locally we have been issuing regular press releases to the local newspapers and business journals. Press releases issued to date can be seen in the news section of the website.

As part of our public relations programme we are investigating the opportunities of sponsoring a pupil award with Southend Boys School.

In an effort to stay proactive with clients we have implemented a regular process for conducting satisfaction surveys and client spotlight meetings The feedback from clients to date has been very positive and many have agreed to conduct client testimonials for us which again can be viewed on the website.

We continue to promote the benefits of RKFS as part of our client communication and as such are sending a specific RKFS newsletter to clients in January.

We have a regular events programme in place which includes both events for clients and new targets. We recently held an Open Evening with Barclays at Southfields Business Park on 1st February. Coming soon will be a client event with Sage to launch the on-line VAT filing tool, a seminar to launch our new range of Legacy Services and a joint event for clients to discuss DR Planning event.