Marketing firm takes Black Sheep to fresh pastures

The Harrogate-based marketing agency has worked closely with the Masham-based brewery since 2004, delivering all of its online marketing activity over the past six years.

The site, www.blacksheepbrewery.com, is the third one that Extreme Creations has created for the brewery.

Antony Prince, managing director of Extreme Creations, said that the company is increasingly working on a retained basis with clients to achieve their online business and marketing objectives.

"Working with Black Sheep Brewery over such a long period has allowed us to be closely involved with the evolution of the site and the company's online marketing strategy," said Mr Prince.

"It has changed considerably over the past six years, but we've always aimed to communicate the brand's Yorkshire charm and humour.

"With the latest re-design Black Sheep wanted to appeal to, and engage with, a slightly more modern and youthful audience, while ensuring their range of cask and bottled beers remained at the heart of the site."

Extreme Creations also had to make sure that the site was easy for users to navigate and simple for customers to make a purchase.

The launch is the first stage in an on-going on-line marketing strategy that will involve Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), further integration of social networks, and analysis and reporting of visitor activity on the site.

It will also involve email marketing.

The site is also set to continue growing, with the addition of a section featuring games, a search feature so visitors can find out which pubs stock Black Sheep in their local area, and a series of videos about the brewery and its staff.

Jo Theakston, marketing director of Black Sheep Brewery, said: "We're delighted with the new site, it has given us a fresh new look and reinforced the uniqueness of Black Sheep.

"Our long-running relationship with Extreme Creations is testament to their understanding of our business and what we want to achieve on-line – in terms of sales, brand awareness and community."

Extreme Creations, which was founded in 2002, works with a number of national and international clients, including BIC, Global Knives, DeVilbiss Healthcare, North Yorkshire County Council, Wensleydale Creamery and Bradford University.

The group employs 12 people at its agency in Harrogate.

The company offers a full range of on-line marketing services, including website design and development, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and online advertising, analytics and reporting, ecommerce, email marketing and content management systems.