At ANS, we’re all about forming long-lasting partnerships. As we continue our partner showcase, Ryan Martin, Indirect Sales Manager at ANS, sat down with Mark Blackhurst, co-founder of Digitalnext, to discuss their company, our partnership, and how we continue to grow together. With that said, let’s get to know Digitalnext…
First of all, please introduce yourself and the company…
I’m Mark Blackhurst, co-founder of Digitalnext, a Manchester Headquartered Digital Agency started in 2009, alongside my Brother Justin Blackhurst. Fast forward to today and we are an industry-leading digital agency plus proud top tier Google Premier Partner, Meta, Microsoft partners, and FSB partner. Our journey has been nothing short of remarkable, and I am excited to share the essence of who we are and what we represent.
What does your company stand for?
Our Values and Core Principles: Excellence, Innovation, Collaboration.
At Digital Next, we stand for excellence in every facet of our work. Our values and passion for growth online are deeply ingrained in our DNA since day one – they drive us to continuously innovate, collaborate effectively, and deliver unmatched digital solutions for our clients. We take immense pride in staying ahead of the curve.
Our Google Premier Partner status echoes the commitment we have to providing exceptional services to our clients. To meet the requirements for an accredited Google Premier Partner, you must deliver strong Google Ads revenue and growth plus meet a higher ad spend across your managed accounts. Furthermore, you must have two or more users in your company who are certified in Google Ads (or who have admin or standard status on your organisation’s Google Ads manager). If you can fulfil these criteria, you are in the country’s top 3%. That means great news for your customers who can expect a higher standard of results, expertise and customer service.
At Digital Next, we’re not just about code and algorithms; we’re about people, relationships, and results. Our team isn’t a faceless entity. We have friendly faces behind the screens, working passionately to help our clients soar past their competition. We’re on the ground, as an extension of your marketing team, ensuring that every strategy, every solution is tailor-made for commercial success.
Tell us about your proposition, key tech partners, and how you want to work with others…
**Our Proposition and Collaborative Approach**
Our proposition is simple yet profound: we empower businesses to thrive in the digital realm. We build game-changing websites at the same time use our core expertise in Digital Marketing, while combining these strategic partnerships with key tech giants.
Our use of digital technologies, social media, analytics, and cloud computing to empower organisations is key. Digital processes are used to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and open up new opportunities for businesses.
We harness cutting-edge technologies to create bespoke solutions for our clients. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. We believe in working hand-in-hand with our clients and tech partners to craft solutions that not only meet but exceed expectations and deliver results.
Ultimately, what do you want your company to be known for?
**A Vision of Distinction**
We have always envisioned Digital Next to be synonymous with digital marketing excellence right from day one. We have gone to enormous lengths and have strived to be known for our unparalleled expertise in digital marketing, web development, and innovative strategies that deliver tangible, commercial results. Our goal is to be the go-to agency that transforms online marketing and thus business results through the power of the Internet.
Are there any technology areas on your radar screen/any trends in the market that interest you? And why?
In the ever-evolving technology-driven world, we keep a keen eye on emerging trends. We have seen the rise of many new trends, but recently Artificial Intelligence, immersive experiences, and data-driven insights are areas that intrigue us. These trends have the potential to revolutionise the digital sphere, and we’re determined to harness their potential to create impactful solutions for our clients moving forwards. One should also not discount Blockchain and Cryptocurrency although they have been inconsistent over the years, their growth should not be ignored.
Our approach will always stay true but will always include Detailed auditing and research and transparent reporting.
What is your biggest achievement/what are you most proud of?
Consistent long-term Client Success is key;
Our biggest achievement lies in the consistent success stories of our clients now for over a decade. Witnessing their businesses grow, thrive, and achieve remarkable milestones is what keeps us going. Their success is our testament to the dedication and expertise of our team which we have tried to build over many years.
How do you see your company evolving?
Looking ahead, we see Digitalnext evolving into a true global force in innovation in gaining commercial success through Digital marketing. As technology and skills evolve, so do we. We’ll continue to adapt, innovate, and stay at the forefront of digital trends, ensuring our clients always have a competitive edge. This is a key foundation to our business.
How would you describe your partnership with ANS?
**Our Dynamic Partnership with ANS**
Our partnership with ANS is nothing short of inspiring for us. Their expertise in cloud services, cybersecurity, and digital transformation perfectly complements our offerings. Together, we create a comprehensive digital ecosystem that empowers businesses to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
The ANS expertise complements ours seamlessly, creating a holistic ecosystem for your digital triumph. We see it to be about combining forces to ensure you have every advantage in this fast-paced digital world.
What sets ANS apart from the competition?
In our view ANS’ commitment to innovation and their unwavering focus on client success is what sets them apart. Their ability to craft end-to-end solutions that seamlessly integrate with our digital strategies is truly impressive, creating a holistic ecosystem for Digital and commercial success. For us, It’s always been about combining forces to ensure you have every advantage in this fast-paced digital world.
Any other comments/market viewpoints?
In this ever-evolving market, the team here at Digital Next are excited to continue pushing boundaries and delivering unparalleled value to our clients. Our journey is fuelled by innovation, collaboration, and the passion to redefine what’s possible in the digital realm. We’re more than just a digital agency – we’re more a strategic partner on the path to digital success and growth.
Brief history of your company
Digitalnext was founded in 2009 by Brothers Justin and Mark Blackhurst with a vision to revolutionise the digital marketing landscape. Since then, the company has continued to grow, at times exponentially, consistently achieving milestones that reflected its dedication to excellence.
Our journey from a budding UK only agency to an International Google Premier Partner with Offices in Manchester, Melbourne and the UAE, plus clients all over the world has been a testament to our commitment to innovation and client success.
**From Manchester to Australia: Digitalnext’s Global Odyssey**
Our journey began in Manchester, where our passion for digital excellence was born. Evolving within the industry, we honed our skills in SEO, web development, and multi-channel strategies.
The company has grown in potential due to our initial success in SEO. We constantly tried to improve our offering, with SEO engineers, developers and content writers headhunted from well-known internet companies such as Google itself. With an impressive team on board, we realised that key assets are our staff, with many now having completed a decade of service, thus rewarded as shareholders in the company. This only underpins our long-term commitment to our staff, partners and clients in that it gives us long term confidence in our skills and knowledge.
Our expansion to Australia was a leap of faith, driven by a belief in universal digital success. We adapted strategies to diverse cultures and market dynamics, nurturing global triumphs for our Australian clients.
Today, Digitalnext operates as multiple hubs of excellence – Manchester (UK), Melbourne (Australia) and the UAE are built upon the pillars of innovation and collaboration, we continue to set benchmarks, shaping the digital future across continents.
Recent years have seen us collaborate with some remarkable organisations, such as EE in national advertising campaigns and inspirational content, but alternatively we have also been involved in writing published books such as “Doing Business After Brexit“ and “Cyber Security Law and Guidance”. These books try to give thought leadership about what business owners need to be focusing on Digitally to stay ahead.
Justin and I ever since day one really enjoy making a difference and working with our team on the ground; we still really want to continue expanding the UK side of our business while also targeting international growth. We are as hungry and determined as ever to make sure DigitalNext is leading the charge in the Digital Marketing arena.
Our services include Web design, Google ads, SEO, web design, and true multi-channel marketing.
Your success is our success.
For more information on Digitalnext, please visit www.digitalnext.co.uk
