Find out more about our company, our history, the services that we offer and theEword team
We're a digital marketing agency in Manchester that specialises in paid and natural search engine marketing and commercial web design.
Our dedicated team of fourteen marketing experts, designers, journalists and programmers work hard for our clients, which is why we've seen so much success.
We use industry standard tools and channels, such as Google AdWords, Microsoft AdCenter and Yahoo Search Marketing as well as our own custom technologies and tools.
Our business and staff are accredited, transparent and experienced. We're experts in helping companies to improve their online marketing strategies and general online presence.
Find out more about our team below, or view more images of our team and offices.
theEword is a member of Microsoft AdExcellence, Manchester Digital and is also Google AdWords-certified.
theEword was formed in 2006 by design director Tom Glass and MD Al Mackin, as the demand for professional marketing agencies grew. Both had been on the client side before - Al when he was head of e-commerce for Celltalk PLC and Tom when he worked with internet retail specialists ShopDirect - and they saw that there were no specialist marketing agencies who could provide a full service, from the formulation and execution of a marketing campaign to the analysis and optimisation of the website that the user visits.
Since its formation, theEword has grown from a team comprising just two to employing fourteen members of staff (and it's still growing). The company has also received several awards from industry bodies: Al Mackin was named as one of Crain's Manchester Business magazine's 40 Under 40 - a list of the most successful people in the region under that age, while in September 2009, theEword itself made its debut in the TopSEOs list of the ten best SEO agencies in the UK, an accolade it still holds.
Meanwhile, the company has taken on board more than a dozen new clients in fields as varied as online gaming, energy efficiency and consumer technology.
Read more on theEword: Our Team | What makes us different | Client Testimonials | Press Releases
Al has been search engine optimising commercially since 1997, and has previously worked at Manchester.com; conceptualising, managing and marketing the online guide ManchesterAD.com. Subsequently he worked for Celltalk PLC as head of e-commerce, driving (at peak) a net margin of £40,000 per month; he also managed the SEO projects and a PPC spend that peaked at circa £100k/month.
Further details on Al Mackin
Tom has previously worked with Shopdirect, Abound, Additions and Innovations, as well as designing for charities. He headed up the online design team at Celltalk PLC, overseeing the creation of additional brands and online properties, and optimising the user interface, driving sales by maximising the conversion rate.
Further details on Tom Glass
Mark is an IDM-certified digital marketer with 4 years experience in online marketing and ecommerce. He joined theEword team in September 2008, taking over the management of our PPC and SEO projects. Mark has worked for several large retail brands including Additions Direct, Great Universal and Kays, overseeing increases in conversion rates and direct retail sales of around 30% with his work on PPC, SEO and site development projects.
Further details on Mark Baker
Dan joined theEword team in August 2008, having previously worked as an online copy specialist for HMPJ. With several years' experience in media, Dan has written for titles such as CityLife, the Manchester Evening News and various music websites. He now creates and manages content for our key clients, overseeing our team of writers and handling the flow of content from our office.
Further details on Dan Nolan
Having spent nine months cycling around Eastern and Western Europe on his own last year, Percy returned to the UK and set himself up as a freelance writer. With a portfolio ranging from music reviews to travel magazine articles, as well as a stint as assistant editor for a music magazine, Percy joined theEword in May 2008 as a specialist writer. He now edits online city guide whln.co.uk, producing and managing the site’s content and SEO.
Further details on Percy Herbert
Adrian joined theEword having previously worked for one of Manchester's biggest SEO companies. He has nine years' experience in web development and his freelance portfolio includes contract work for the National Health Service and numerous bespoke projects. He is now responsible for the coding and development of theEword's internal and external projects.
Further details on Adrian Mursec
Richard is an NCTJ-qualified journalist who started as an SEO copywriter in the summer of 2006. His previous roles in the media include serving as Theatre Editor at online magazine Durham21.co.uk and Sports Editor at Durham University newspaper Palatinate. A willingness to pester the great and good of journalism has helped him build a varied portfolio of news articles, features and reviews for InTheNews.co.uk, the Times, the Southport Visiter, the Watford Observer and the Liverpool Echo.
Further details on Richard Frost
Rachel joined theEword after completing a Business Administration and Marketing degree at Manchester Metropolitan University, where her core modules included electronic relationship management and digital marketing, marketing communications and marketing law. Her previous work experience includes managerial positions in busy, high-stress environments throughout Manchester.
Further details on Rachel Mackie
Nick joined theEword at the end of 2009 after returning from a period spent travelling around the USA. He brings with him a wealth of PHP and development skills, as well as a firm understanding of SEO, having previously worked for one of Manchester's largest optimisation agencies. He graduated from the University in Salford with an honours degree in Computing.
Further details on Nick Price
Carli began her placement as a copywriting intern at theEword after impressing with examples of her previous work and her enthusiasm to gain experience in SEO and commercial writing. She combines her role at the company with studying for finals at The University Of Manchester, where she has been reading Film Studies and Philosophy since 2006.
Further details on Carli Harris
Michael Thornton first started working for theEword as a freelance writer in 2010. However, his work was so impressive that he was taken on in a full-time capacity two months later. A graduate in English, Michael has held positions in both SEO and journalism for numerous websites including Digital Spy. He has also worked both on-stage and off at Manchester's Frog & Bucket comedy club, and still performs regularly around the country whenever time allows.
Further details on Michael Thornton
Natalie Booth joined theEword in May 2010 after gaining three years' marketing experience in Manchester. Her previous roles, which included working in-house for some of the region's largest brands, saw Natalie amass an impressive knowledge of the digital market. Her enthusiasm and passion for the industry was immediately apparent.
Further details on Natalie Booth
Rachel Shillcock boasts four years of professional design experience, having worked on a variety of campaigns in her career. Her impressive portfolio includes email marketing projects, website creation and the occasional foray into site development. Her talent has seen her amass an impressive portfolio, which she regularly expands upon in her spare time.
Further details on Rachel Shillcock
Rachel studied English and French at Warwick, spending a year at Bordeaux University before graduating in 2009. She spent a gap year studying an NCTJ certificate in sub-editing, running an after-school club in Gorton, and volunteering at Oxfam. As well as writing music reviews for various websites and local papers since the age of 17, her portfolio includes travel writing, an entertainment blog, and editorial work at Big Issue in the North.