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Checking In with the AdVantage Competition Finalists: How They Turned Free Marketing Support Into Real Growth
Published on in Business Support
Checking in with the AdVantage Competition Finalists: How They Turned Free Marketing Support Into Real Growth
First launched in September 2024, the AdVantage competition, a collaborative initiative between BEST Growth Hub and Let’s Do Marketing, aimed to give Essex-based businesses the tools, skills, and strategies to thrive in today’s digital-first world. The initiative offered a competitive opportunity to access expert marketing support, and after a rigorous selection process, nine outstanding businesses were chosen for their ambition, creativity, and community impact.
Following the Pitch Skills Workshop in November and the subsequent Big Pitch Event in January, two overall winners and seven finalists were provided with tailored marketing support – a vital resource for small businesses striving to boost their visibility and sharpen their marketing strategies. Now, several months on, we’re checking back in with them to see how they used their free marketing time and what impact it has had on their businesses.
Overall AdVantage Winners – Winning £2500 worth of Marketing Support
Zoe Beaumont – Beautiful Healthy Home
Zoe’s mission to create interiors that prioritise both design and wellbeing took centre stage in her marketing journey. Her main challenge was understanding how to communicate with different audiences across different platforms. With the support of Let’s Do Marketing, a strategic LinkedIn campaign was created to position Zoe as a thought leader in wellness-focused interior design. A comprehensive content library and a social media scheduling tool were also introduced, enabling her to maintain a consistent and purposeful presence online.
Petra Voglova – Refill Town Chelmsford
For Petra, raising awareness of her zero-waste shop was the key priority. Many passers-by were unsure of what the shop offered or hesitant to walk in. A clever combination of physical and digital marketing helped address this. Let’s Do Marketing supported Petra in acquiring a shop window TV screen creating a looping video to showcase the shop’s ethos and offerings. Alongside that, changeable display messaging and tailored social media content helped amplify their presence both on the high street and online. An SEO audit and website tweaks further improved Refill Town’s discoverability.
The AdVantage Finalists – Receiving £1500 worth of Marketing Support
Lydia Carrick – Apputee
Time-poor and juggling multiple demands, Lydia needed tools that could work for her in the background. Let’s Do Marketing took some of her existing content and transformed it into a lead-generating PDF, supported by email templates for onboarding and outreach. These assets now serve as a key part of her marketing funnel, helping grow awareness and interest in her app for amputees.
Lucie Wheeler – RECAP
Lucie found it difficult to consolidate her ideas and clarify her messaging. With the help of consultant Rich Burns and Let’s Do Marketing, she refined her core services and markets. Her website was overhauled for better performance and SEO, and new email marketing tools were implemented to ensure consistent communication with her audience.
“It was a real privilege to be shortlisted for the Best Growth Hub competition and to receive some fantastic marketing support as a runner-up. Working with the Let’s Do Marketing team was a great experience—they not only helped me with the practical aspects of marketing, but also connected me with a knowledgeable business advisor who offered valuable support around strategy and business development. I also had the opportunity to work with a marketing mentor who did a brilliant job of drawing out my vision and helping me translate that into achievable steps toward my bigger goals. The whole experience has been incredibly supportive and inspiring.”
Ashley France – Polished Marble London
Ashley was looking for ways to be found more easily online. An in-depth SEO report helped him understand where improvements could be made. He now has a clearer path forward to boost his search visibility and reach new customers.
India Kelly – Studio Libre
Running a new wellness studio meant India and her partner Charlie were stretched in every direction. With LDM’s support, they refined their audience and tailored messaging for different demographics. A mini marketing plan was created, complete with eye-catching graphics, social posts and press materials to launch Studio Libre into the community with impact.
Roland Kannor – Brentwood Brewery
Known for its innovation, Brentwood Brewery wanted to explore new markets and opportunities. Consultant Rich Burns helped map out a 6-month marketing strategy, while Let’s Do Marketing produced social media templates and conducted an SEO audit, providing actionable insights to improve the brewery’s online footprint.
Julie Quy – Julie’s Cooking Academy
Julie had a strong grasp of social media but wanted a more strategic approach. With LDM’s help, she defined her product offerings and aligned them with targeted marketing plans. Her website underwent a significant revamp, improving user experience, SEO, and navigation. New pages and rewritten content now better reflect her brand and offerings.
Shani Strauss – Mrs Strauss Tutoring
Marketing was an intimidating area for Shani – until now. With guided support, she learned how to run Facebook ads and create regular, high-quality social media content. Let’s Do Marketing also helped overhaul her website, implementing keyword research and SEO improvements.
“The help I received from Kerry and Stacey has been fantastic. My website has improved massively and this is all down to Stacey, both with her direct input and her helpful suggestions that I was able to implement. Kerry helped me to create an ad campaign on Facebook, and I have been able to put into practise her suggestions on posting to local groups. I thank you both from the bottom of my heart.”
The AdVantage competition didn’t just offer free marketing—it gave business owners clarity, confidence, and a clear sense of direction. Whether it was through sharper messaging, better online visibility, or simply having someone to bounce ideas off, the impact was tangible across all finalists.
It’s been a great initiative—helping small businesses get to grips with their marketing and, more importantly, learn how to use their time more wisely. We look forward to seeing how these businesses continue to grow, and what new ideas emerge as a result of this inspiring programme.