Media Consultancy services.
With nearly 30 years in media and publishing - including senior commercial roles at Future and Mediaclash, and successful startups Jack Content, Circus Journal and nearfield - I can offer fresh ideas, energy and know-how to your own media project.
Magazines & Media
I have launched a LOT of magazines, websites and social channels; from newsstand launches in music and video games, customer magazines for brands like Sky, Savills and Vodafone, a pioneering project for musician Jamie Cullum, and my own regional media ventures; Circus Journal and nearfield.
There are lots of reasons to publish a magazine: to reward customers, raise awareness, build communities, tell the story of your brand, or just for the sheer creative joy of doing so… free from social media algorithms and invisible tech companies harvesting your data.
I can help you develop your magazine and media strategy, and advise on all aspects of publishing operations including advertising, content, distribution, print management, subscriptions, email marketing, social media, staffing and financial management.
If you’d like to explore how a magazine would benefit your business, or how I can help with your existing content strategy, please get in touch.
New Projects
I do my best work taking new projects to market, and have delivered rapid growth for magazines, agency startups, marketing campaigns, websites, new tech products and community projects.
I launched YUMPU News, an online subscription platform for magazines and newspapers in the UK, using my contact network to successfully recruit and onboard over 550 regional, national and international publications.
I helped PR firm DawBell shape their new business offering, and worked with Wanderlust to launch their content marketing studio.
I worked with French publisher IDEAT to help them find a licensing partner in the UK.
I advised on launch strategy for At the Kitchen Table, a website project for the writer Sophie Dahl.
In 2016 I helped Bath City FC become a community-owned club, raising £350k in a community share offer.
If you have a new project or launch that would benefit from some external energy and fresh Ideas, please get in touch.
Business Development
I’ve spent my whole career selling media solutions - from classified ads in a high octane sales department (with minimum call rates and ‘Power Selling’ training courses) to agency business development where the value proposition shifts completely towards bespoke, content-led creative solutions.
I’m good at selling but I’m not salesy. My approach has always been “don’t sell, make it easy to buy” which means offering something that has real value to the client. This happens by asking questions, showing interest, understanding what the client needs, and ultimately building symbiotic relationships with commercial partners that deliver value to both parties.
I’m selective about what biz dev projects I take on. To sell effectively I need to 100% buy into it myself, and need to immersive myself in the DNA of the product so it’s authentic.
If you have a business development project that would benefit from some external firepower, please get in touch.
“Simon’s expert knowledge and experience of the UK publishing market was essential to the launch of YUMPU News. Already well-established in German speaking territories, we needed someone with great contacts and sales ability to help us introduce the platform to the UK. We could not have launched YUMPU News in the UK without Simon!”