It all started from a flat in Brighton, a laptop, and the belief that brands deserved better than slow, mediocre marketing and guesswork.
Everything was shifting: algorithms, platforms and expectations. The only way forward was to learn quickly, test properly and let results speak for themselves. A few things have really stood out to me over the years.
Nobody is coming to save you: When running an agency and especially in SEO, you’re always one update away from a fresh challenge. You have to build the best team, improve the processes, and take responsibility for every outcome.
Results matter more than reputation: Reports and dashboards are great, but real business / commercial impact is what moves an agency forward.
The team matters more than the tools: Tools change, search engines change. The people doing the work are what keep standards high.
The long game always wins: SEO isn’t built on shortcuts; it’s built on strong foundations, consistency and patience. That’s how we’ve grown, and how we help our clients to succeed.
Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to deliver SEO growth for well-known brands like the NHS, Octopus, Forever New, and many others who trusted us.
None of this happened alone, so thank you to everyone who has supported Circulate since 2014, the team, our clients, our partners, and the people who believed in us when we were still figuring things out. Also, a special thank you to Matt Daley, who was the best business partner I could have asked for. The agency wouldn’t have looked the way it does today without him. You can now follow him over at runwayfive.com
Over 11 years, we’ve refined who we are, strengthened what we do, and fully committed to being the search marketing agency for brands that want to lead in their category.
And truthfully, it still feels like we’re just getting started. If you’re building something of your own, here’s my advice: Stay committed and never give up, because even when things feel impossible, time and experience compound in a way no shortcut ever will.
Here’s to year twelve, and to helping even more brands win in search!