Why Brighton is a thriving hub for businesses needing media planning

Brighton isn’t just the birthplace of MEERKATworks, it’s a thriving hub for an array of businesses, many of whom already benefit from our expert media planning and buying services. 

Brighton’s economy has long been known for its colourful hospitality, its diverse cultural scene, its eclectic, independent businesses, and its seaside tourism, but it has also become a magnet for creatives, entrepreneurs, and visionaries of all kinds. Today, it is regarded as a ‘coastal hub of innovation’ distinguished by its digital prowess, its thriving creative industries, and high rate of startups, particularly in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and digital sectors.

Brighton’s reputation as a digital hub has been cemented by its ability to attract and retain talent, with many graduates from its local universities – Brighton University and the University of Sussex – choosing to launch their careers and businesses within the local community. This synergy between education, business and technology has positioned Brighton as a leader in the digital and creative industries, not just in the UK but increasingly on a global scale.

Brighton also acts as a regional commercial hub, drawing in business and talent from the broader southern counties. The MEERKATs work with numerous companies in and around Brighton, as well as in the wider South and South East of England areas, for example My University Hospitals Sussex, Kent Surrey Sussex Air Ambulance, Sussex Bay and SES Water.

All these elements mean that Brighton has become a mecca for businesses, many of whom already draw on our extensive local knowledge and expertise across digital and offline media. Why not join those in the know and give the MEERKATs a call?

What makes MEERKATworks a leading media agency in Brighton?

The MEERKATs ‘stand up and stand out’ as leading media planners and buyers in Brighton with our extensive 20 years’ experience and our ability to ‘dig deep’ for local businesses across the media spectrum.

We know Brighton like the ‘back of our paws’ and have a proven record of utilising our knowledge of the local audiences and advertising landscape to ensure success for our clients. Whether this be promoting the women’s football league for Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club (BHAFC) with radio campaigns across Heart Sussex; working alongside the University of Sussex for over 10 years to promote a range of initiatives from Open Days and Clearing, to Civic Engagement; or planning ‘Always On’ Programmatic campaigns, using Display, YouTube and Pre-roll Video, to make sure Lightning Fibre are prominent in a competitive marketplace.

Here’s what makes us the foremost media planners and buyers in Brighton:

Comprehensive Media Expertise: Quite simply – “We NOSE media”. The MEERKATs excel across both traditional and digital media, including programmatic, TV, audio, print and outdoor advertising. We plan, buy, and create campaigns across all channels. 

Specialised Knowledge: The MEERKATs have experience across all sectors, but we are particularly well known for our work in the areas of food and drink, education, events, charity, and travel

Local experience: MEERKATworks was founded in Brighton in 2005. Our media planning agency has a long and award-winning history in Brighton – we know the local media landscape and understand the specific needs of the business community. 

Networked Approach: Today MEERKATworks has “burrows” across the UK, including Brighton, London and Edinburgh. This allows us to offer agility and flexibility, plus local knowledge and national reach to our clients. 

Independent and Objective: As an independent agency, we are free from commercial ties. We focus solely on what’s best for our clients, offering an objective and open approach to media planning. 

Creative and Innovative: We are known for our fresh thinking, innovative media planning, and alertness to the latest media trends and opportunities

Bespoke planning with a focus on results: At MEERKATworks, we plan campaigns that are specifically tailored to the needs of our clients. We focus on delivering results and maximising impact, using data tracking and optimisation to ensure the effectiveness of campaigns. 

Negotiation and Value for Money: The MEERKATs understand the market and how to negotiate effectively to get the most from each media pound, ensuring our clients always receive the best value for their investment. 

Friendly and relationship-focused: We are a friendly and approachable team, excellent collaborators and work closely with clients to fulfil their precise needs and goals. The MEERKATs have a long history of building strong relationships with both local clients, such as University of Sussex and BHAFC and our media suppliers.

Brighton media planning – How we help brands succeed

The MEERKATs help brands succeed by tailoring our media services to the precise needs of local businesses. Our experts guide businesses through the complexities of the media landscape, ensuring effective and measurable advertising campaigns. 

Data-driven media strategies for Brighton businesses

Here’s a more detailed look at how we use data-driven media strategies to help local businesses:

Programmatic Expertise: The MEERKATs fully leverage the capabilities of digital advertising and Programmatic to deliver highly targeted, impactful campaigns, enabling businesses to reach specific audiences, at a local or national level, based on behaviour, interests, and demographics.

Audience Segmentation: We use our advanced media planning knowledge and technological capabilities to precisely segment and target audiences across media channels. These abilities extend beyond Programmatic to also include OOH, audio and TV etc. For example, we use sophisticated planning tools for Out-of-Home to geo-target billboards, and plan at precise postcode level for Digital Audio and connected TV campaigns.

Data-Driven Insight and Optimisation: We utilise data tracking and analytics to test, learn, and optimise digital advertising in real time, ensuring maximum impact for both local and national campaigns. The MEERKATs are ‘masters of insight’, using Programmatic to give ever deeper understanding of audiences (see our testimonial from Lightning Fibre).

Retargeting and effective capping: We use programmatic advertising to retarget audiences who have engaged with a business’s website, directing them back with strategic messaging and a call to action. And, very importantly, the MEERKATs believe in ‘capping’ ads, setting limits on how often a user sees an ad within a timeframe. In this way we maximise results for our clients and prevent ad fatigue among target audiences.

Multi-channel media buying in Brighton

Multi-channel media buying comes naturally to the MEERKATs. We use our 360-degree vision and local knowledge to examine, plan and tailor media to the specific preferences and behaviours of target audiences. We understand the importance of integrating online and offline strategies and diverse media to create a cohesive and impactful marketing strategy. See, for example, the exacting combination of media we used to promote Lightning Fibre from 4 sheets and Ad Gates at Brighton Station, to Programmatic, TV and Out-of-Home. 

We understand exactly how to interweave a variety of communication channels to reach customers more effectively, rather than relying on a single method. Depending on each business’ precise goals, we can increase brand awareness, engagement, and conversions by reaching potential customers on their preferred platforms, at exactly the right time and place.

Multi-channel media buying can encompass both traditional channels like TV, radio, outdoor and print, as well as digital and Programmatic. For example, the MEERKATs’ hyper-local targeting of Brighton-specific audiences with our civic engagement campaign for the University of Sussex, and ‘lamp-post’ advertising for Brighton SEO. 

Key aspects of MEERKATworks’ Brighton-based multi-channel media buying:

• Diverse Channel Usage: Reaching customers by utilising multiple communication channels across the online and offline landscape including digital and Programmatic, as well as traditional channels like TV, radio, outdoor and print.
• Strategic Planning: Developing a plan that considers the strengths and weaknesses of each channel in the local area to maximise impact. 
• Cross-Channel Consistency: Ensuring a consistent brand message and experience across all channels. 
• Audience-Centred Approach: Tailoring media buys to the specific preferences and behaviours of Brighton target audiences. 
• Measurement and Optimisation: Tracking the performance of each channel and adjusting strategies as needed. 

Supporting Brighton events, startups and established brands 

The MEERKATs long-term knowledge of the Brighton business scene and the nuances of local audiences has meant we are highly adept at planning and buying media for Brighton events and start-ups, as well as established brands. We have, for example, built customised media strategies for Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club (BHAFC), Brighton SEO, and the University of Sussex.

Creativity in Brighton

There is a saying that we are proud to live by at MEERKATworks:

“There are few creatures on earth who work as creatively and productively together as MEERKATs”

And, as helpful, friendly creatures, we relish sharing our creative expertise and media know-how with Brighton businesses and charities. For example, we worked closely with The Social Society on developing the ‘super-powered’ concept and creative messaging for their first campaign to promote their easy, engaging and impactful local volunteering. Further we were delighted to contribute our creative expertise to Sussex Bay – an initiative which focuses on restoring and conserving the marine and river ecosystems along the Sussex coastline.

Case study – A successful Brighton-based campaign

The MEERKATs have planned and bought innumerable high-impact media campaigns in and around Brighton.

One example is our multi-channel media campaign for Lightning Fibre, including ‘always on’ Programmatic, 4-sheets, AdGates (above) and geo-targeted OOH. You can read the full testimonial from this local hyper-fast fibre broadband company and learn more about the impactful campaigns we have run in some of Lightning Fibre’s key coverage areas across Brighton, Worthing and Eastbourne.

Why Brighton companies trust MEERKATworks for media buying

Brighton companies trust MEERKATworks due to our experience and media expertise, our ability to deliver tailored campaigns that meet local client needs, and our provision of impressive results across business sectors. 

Here’s a more detailed look at why Brighton businesses trust our media planning and buying services:

Expertise across all traditional and digital media channels

The MEERKATs have two decades of experience right across the media landscape from TV, radio, outdoor and print, to cutting-edge digital and programmatic. Our clients tell us that “we know our media onions”.

Local knowledge and national reach

Using our carefully established data systems, strong relationships with suppliers, local knowledge, and wide-spanning MEERKAT network, we can plan and buy effective media campaigns from John of Groats to Land’s End. All our campaigns are personalised and tailored to the specific needs of each client.

A caring, innovative, effective media agency

At the centre of everything we do is the desire to provide the best possible service for our clients. Quite simply, we care. Every brief is bespoke, we keep an eagle eye on the detail, and we spend time building and nurturing relationships. We are known for our creative thinking and for developing innovative solutions for our clients.

Independent and impartial advice

The MEERKATs are proudly, some might say fiercely, independent. With no commercial ties to bind us, we always give objective and impartial advice. We’re never scared to stand up tall and fight to ensure our clients’ needs are met.

Transparent, cost-effective media planning and buying 

We are experts in media buying, understanding the value of media, and negotiating the best rates for our clients. Our 20 years’ trading history means we are well known in the industry and able to secure highly competitive deals and premium placements for our clients. 

Proven results for Brighton businesses

Lastly, but not least, the MEERKATs have proven results for a host of businesses, near and far. Read more about what some of our local clients, such as the University of Sussex, SES Water, and the Social Society, say about us.

The MEERKATs relish working with new clients. Our expert, bespoke media services have already helped a wide range of businesses in the Brighton area and far beyond, to create, plan and buy high-impact advertising campaigns. Our friendly, can-do team have a passion for sharing their media know-how and we thrive on getting stuck into briefs of all shapes and sizes. 

So, if you’re looking for experts in media planning and buying, why not drop us a line? We’re friendly and don’t bite… unless you’re a scorpion!

More about us:

MEERKATworks is an independent media planning and buying agency with burrows in Brighton and Edinburgh, founded in 2005. We are award-winning experts at planning, buying and creating advertising campaigns for businesses, large and small. We excel across many sectors including Food and Drink, Education, Events, Charity and Travel and our media plans are always bespoke and carefully designed to fulfil your unique goals.