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Our Purpose

Built for owner-led and growth-focused businesses who want to get seen, get chosen and keep growing.

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Our Straightforward Story

Marketing doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective.

Straightforward was founded in 2002 with a simple belief: that businesses deserve effective, practical marketing, not overcomplicated campaigns and empty promises.

That belief has never changed.

What has changed is the shape of the agency. Too many businesses pay agency rates and get junior execution. Briefed-in account managers, work passed down to whoever has capacity and a senior face you only see at the pitch.

At Straightforward, the person you speak to on day one is the person writing your strategy, doing the work and answering your calls.

That’s Shane Robinson. 30+ years of experience, directly applied to your business, every time.

The result is an agency that punches well above its weight, combining strategic thinking, creative execution and smart automation to deliver measurable results for ambitious clients across the Midlands and beyond.

An Uncomplicated Approach

Most marketing problems are actually clarity problems. Businesses that struggle to grow aren’t usually short of effort. They’re short of focus, consistency and the right message in the right places.

That’s where we come in.

We don’t do bloated retainers, vague deliverables or agency theatre. We do clear strategies, sharp creative and honest conversations about what’s actually working.

Here’s what working with us looks like:

 

  • You talk to Shane directly. Not an account manager. Not a junior. The person actually doing the work.

     

  • You get senior thinking on everything. 30 years of experience informs every brief, every decision and every piece of output.

     

  • You know what you’re getting. Everything is agreed upfront, deliverables, timelines, rounds of amendments. No surprises. Ever.

     

  • You get a straight answer. If something won’t work, we’ll say so. If there’s a better way, we’ll find it.

Giving Back to The Local Community

We Love Lichfield Logo

We’re proud to call Lichfield home and proud to play a small part in making it a great place to live and work.

One of the causes we’re proud to support is We Love Lichfield, a community endowment fund that provides grants to voluntary and grassroots organisations right across the Lichfield district, from the city itself out to Burntwood and the surrounding villages. Twice a year it puts real money into the hands of local groups doing good at a community level. 

Built to keep giving long into the future, not just while the goodwill lasts.

Straightforward supports We Love Lichfield by donating free studio time, helping spread the word locally so more people know the fund exists, what it does and how they can contribute.

 

Who We've Worked With

Straightforward works with a mix of ambitious owner-led businesses, B2B companies and regional organisations across Lichfield, the Midlands and the wider UK.

The common thread isn’t sector or size. It’s a mindset. Our clients care about quality, value honesty and want a long-term marketing partner they can trust. If that sounds like you, we’d love to talk.

Trusted by

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West Bromwich Albion Logo
The FA Logo
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Croydex Logo
Ideal Standard Logo
The Plastic Man Logo
Yamaha Logo
Great British Racing Logo
Coltman Precast Concrete Logo
Arthur Price Logo
IHG Logo
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Downes & Daughters Estate Agency Logo
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FAQs

We work with business owners and marketing teams of all sizes – from start-ups to established brands. If you already have a brand and assets, we can build on what you’ve got. If you’re starting from scratch, we can create everything you need.

From branding to websites, SEO, PPC, social media and email marketing, we offer everything you need to grow your business. Whether you need a one-off project or long-term support, we can help. View our full list of services.

Once we understand your goals, we’ll share a clear proposal with options that suit your budget and priorities. You’ll know exactly what we’ll deliver, when it will be done and what it will cost – no surprises.

No. Everything is agreed upfront in writing, including deliverables, timelines and revision rounds. If anything needs to change along the way, we’ll discuss it with you first and quote before doing the work.

Not necessarily. If you already have content or brand assets, we’ll work with them. If not, we can handle everything — copywriting, design, video and brand development, depending on your requirements

We’ve worked across hospitality, sport, home and lifestyle, technology, property, retail, construction, manufacturing and professional services. But we’re not tied to any one sector – we’re good at quickly understanding new industries.

For larger projects like websites, we offer staged payments. For ongoing services such as SEO, PPC or retained support, we typically work on a minimum term of three to six months so we can plan, implement and measure results properly.

Start dates depend on our schedule, but we’ll always give you a realistic timeframe upfront. Projects include clear milestones so you always know what’s happening.

We’re open to pitches, but we like to qualify opportunities first to make sure there’s a good fit. We’ll usually ask a few questions before committing time and resources.

Success is defined upfront. We agree measurable goals and track performance using KPIs like leads, sales, engagement, website traffic and ROI. You’ll always know what’s working

However, the strongest measure of success is that most clients choose to stay with us long term.

We keep things clear, practical and results-focused. No jargon, no fluff – just honest advice, strong creative thinking and reliable delivery.

Change begins with a conversation, so let’s start with a chat about your goals and the challenges you want to solve. Get in touch or book a discovery call to get started.

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