Partner Article

Shout Digital take Bdaily behind the business

Shout Digital is a digital media agency working on both regional and national clients for a diverse range of SMEs and blue chip companies developing their digital strategy and offering solutions from web development, to software design, online marketing and mobile apps.

Set up by the technical wizard behind the emergence of global chip&pin and the BBC TV Licensing groundbreaking web work, Gary Boon established Shout Digital towards the end of 2009, quickly attracting a 17-strong team of high calibre digital specialists, as well as the backing from an impressive board of directors including ex-Sage CEO Paul Walker, ex-hedge fund specialist Jason Mackay and Adderstone Group founder, Ian Baggett.

What key challenges has your company recently faced?

One of the biggest challenges we face daily is the volume of things we juggle not only with meeting deadlines but also in building the business into something to want to get out of bed for in the morning.

We started up Shout Digital just under two years ago in the middle of the recession which in itself would provide many challenges especially to a new start up business with staff.

Although many CEOs and businesses across the UK were aware of us and our abilities individually, we were keen to establish ‘Shout Digital’ as a trusted name providing expertise and experience. From this and with a proven track record, we have gone on to win national and international contracts and awards for our work.

What is your biggest achievement over the past 12 months?

In just its second year trading, Shout Digital has made substantial progress and is on the Recommended Agency Register (RAR) which is achieved through client recommendations highlighting the high levels of client satisfaction with the company.

Over the past 12 months we have won some impressive national accounts, entered into a partnership with global printing giant Elanders, grown the team significantly and are about to open a London office. Along with that, we have just won another industry award for our work, been named as one of the Top 100 best agencies outside of London (The Drum) and our reputation is growing fast as one of the best digital and mobile app specialists in the country.

What is your biggest focus for the coming year?

Having now established Shout Digital as one of the UK’s leading digital agencies with a revenue stream complemented by products and product revenue, we have been developing some exciting and innovative technologies, concentrating on mobile technology and commerce that will allow us to sell them in parallel to agency business.

We are also opening our London office and working with some exciting new clients in the New Year in a variety of different sectors.

If you had to choose one top piece of advice for someone starting out in business, or is currently operating within your sector, what would it be?

To others starting their own business whether it is in the digital sector or otherwise, the one piece of advice to share would be to never under-sell your services - put a value on your work and stick to it. Selling services is a big challenge and delivering at a higher level whilst trying to keep your costs reasonably priced in a recession is hard.

Can you share with us your view of the current landscape of business, in this region or generally and where your organisation sits within it?

In the North East it is a difficult time with highest unemployment figures and it is evident that many businesses are suffering from the lack of Government funding so as a region moving forward, we need to be more pragmatic within the market place.

Now that the region cannot rely on funding, businesses need to find strategies to grow by themselves and sustain that growth. There are so many good companies around - many just need a vision and drive to be able to achieve the success they deserve.

Shout Digital is bucking the trend of bad news with the fast rate in which it is growing – we are recruiting consistently, getting business from within and outside of the region etc and constantly developing the business to keep up with demand.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gary Boon .