Our Purpose
Intelligent marketing for ambitious businesses.
For more than 20 years we’ve helped businesses tell their story, connect with the right audiences and win more customers. No jargon. No fuss. Just good work that gets results.
Our Straightforward Story
Straightforward was founded in 2002 by John Heeler with a simple belief:
Marketing doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective.
Over the years, the business grew through long-term relationships, word of mouth and good honest work.
In 2025, Straightforward entered a new chapter under the leadership of Shane Robinson. After more than 20 years working alongside John and a long career in the creative industry — Shane continues to lead the agency with the same values: clarity, creativity and practical results.
Straightforward now blends strategic thinking, intelligent marketing and smart automation to help businesses grow. Proudly based in Lichfield, the agency continues to support local charities and community causes.
An Uncomplicated Approach
We keep things clear and honest. We listen first, challenge when it adds value, and focus on what will genuinely move your business forward.
Our way of working is simple:
Understand
We get clear on your goals, challenges and opportunities
Challenge & clarify
We ask questions, explore ideas and make sure we’re solving the right problem
Plan
We agree a practical plan of action that fits your business
Deliver
We build, launch and improve
Grow
We measure what matters and keep moving forward together
No layers of account management or slow processes. Just experienced people working closely with you to get things done.
Who We Work With
We work with ambitious business owners and marketing teams who want reliable support and real progress from their marketing.
From local independents to national brands, we’ve built ongoing partnerships built on trust, good communication and solid results.
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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.
Our Latest Insights

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Many small businesses lose enquiries not because demand is low, but because leads aren’t handled consistently once they arrive. This guide explains how Zapier automations connect everyday tools, save time and stop leads quietly falling through the cracks – without adding unnecessary complexity.

How to Set Up and Optimise Your Google Business Profile (GBP)
Your Google Business Profile is often the first (and only) thing local customers see before they call. This practical guide shows Midlands businesses how to optimise their profile properly – so they appear more often in Maps, build trust faster and generate more enquiries.

Why First-Party Data Is Replacing Guesswork in Digital Marketing
First-party data is replacing guesswork in digital marketing by showing what customers actually do, not what platforms and businesses assume. This guide explains what first-party data is, why it matters for small businesses and how it powers better targeting, AI-driven personalisation and smarter automation within their marketing.