SURGE, A FULL SERVICE DIGITAL AGENCY

David Porter founded Surge—formerly The Search Engine Optimisation Company—as a new type of Search Engine Marketing (SEM) agency. When the business was initially established, David had been working on the SEM side of marketing for a number of years, and because he believed in the importance of being open with customers, he decided that his business would be different.

It was around this time that SEM was becoming an increasingly competitive industry; to set himself apart from his competition, David decided that instead of offering clients an annual retainer, he would charge them on a monthly basis. This model was used by other companies at the time but David hadn't seen it being used before.

After leaving his job with £300 in his account and a mortgage payment due the following month, David launched his search engine marketing agency in collaboration with a friend initially provided websites and search engine optimisation packages.

The Search Engine Optimisation Company soon began to make waves in the local industry, attracting new clients. This business model helped David stand out against his competitors which were offering similar services but charging on an annual retainer. After about three years of growth, the agency finally reached the point where it could afford its own office space.

As the team grew throughout the years, their talents diversified. David decided to focus on providing more marketing services for clients. However, an emphasis on search engine marketing pigeonholed the business as an SEM agency. The company rebranded as Surge—a full-service agency delivering a variety of marketing, creative and development strategies. The name 'Surge' evoked power, forward motion, and action—all of which were qualities David wanted for his new direction. 

With the rebranding to Surge, the team was able to expand its offerings to include services such as social media marketing, email marketing, content creation, and website design. The team also made a concerted effort to stay on top of industry trends and constantly improve their skills. This allowed them to provide more comprehensive and effective solutions for their clients. 

Additionally, the new name and branding helped to distinguish the company from its competitors and attracted a wider range of clients. Overall, the rebranding to Surge was a major success for the company and helped to position it for continued growth and success in the future.

Surge continued to build its reputation on providing personal and innovative services that help clients grow their businesses. David’s philosophy was centred around finding solutions that really work for clients and delivering them in a way that builds long-term relationships.

A positive office culture is crucial for attracting and retaining top talent. At Surge, the team fostered a fun, productive culture that valued, supported, and engaged employees, resulting in a close-knit environment that was collaborative and effective. This culture helped retain skilled and experienced employees over time.

At Surge, having a clear mission and values that aligned with the team's goals and objectives was a major draw for potential employees. The team members felt that their work was meaningful and contributed to a larger purpose, making them more engaged and motivated in their roles. Additionally, offering opportunities for professional development and growth was a significant incentive for employees to join and stay with the company.

This approach not only helped Surge stand out in the industry, but it also led to a high level of employee satisfaction and loyalty. David and his team took the time to understand each client's unique needs and goals, and tailored their services accordingly. This personalised approach helped clients see real results, which in turn led to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth referrals.

As a digital agency, Surge faced the constant challenge of staying ahead of the ever-evolving digital landscape, particularly during the pandemic when the world shifted to a digital-first environment. The team worked diligently to ensure that they were providing their clients with the most innovative and effective solutions that were tailored to their specific needs and goals.

As Surge gained more experience, they were able to expand their range of services like Social WIFI and influencer marketing, enabling them to offer a more comprehensive suite of digital solutions to their clients. This helped them to build deeper, more valuable relationships with their clients, and to become a go-to agency for businesses looking to navigate the digital landscape.

In the early days of Surge, the team faced limitations in terms of staff and resources, which forced them to focus on specific areas of expertise and attract clients who needed help with specific aspects of their business. However, as the agency gained experience and knowledge, they were able to expand their capabilities and take on more complex and ambitious projects.

For a business to thrive, it must have a strong foundation of people, processes, and systems. At the onset of Surge's journey in 2011, these elements were not fully developed, but through growth and development, the management team has implemented infrastructure, hierarchy, and other systems to effectively meet new challenges. Despite facing obstacles along the way, the team at Surge maintains a core value of resilience, recognising that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process and using them as opportunities to improve and progress. 

Surge has also invested in the development of its people through training, mentoring and career development programs, which in turn has helped to attract and retain top talent. The company's culture of experimentation and innovation, where calculated risks are taken and new approaches are tried, is also a key driver of success. The team understands that failure can be a valuable learning opportunity and uses it to continuously improve and come out ahead.