Catching up with relocator - Niddocks Internet Marketing

What happens to relocators once they've made the move to Cornwall?

We caught up with Rob and Andrea Edlin of Niddocks Internet Marketing to find out how they have fared since moving to the county in May of 2007.

What made you decide to move to Cornwall?
We came to Cornwall about four to six times a year on SCUBA diving breaks and this was the initial drive to relocate.  However, as we looked around the county and saw more of Cornwall we realised this is where we wanted to be.  There were so many outdoor activities we could do.  We still dive, but we also sea kayak, body board & go fishing.  Even Andrea has caught a few Pollack and mackerel! 

Was it difficult for you to make the move?
Looking back it was probably a harder wrench for Andrea to leave her family and friends in Nottinghamshire.  Now though it is a different kettle of fish - Cornwall is home to us and we hate leaving the county and only go if we have to!

What has been the biggest benefit with regard to your relocation?
Having a successful business and a wide variety of lovely clients.  Even the company that looks after our telephone calls comment about how lovely our clients are.  Cornwall is a fantastic county to work in and our customers are really open to new ways of marketing on the Internet so this is a great benefit to them too.

Has Cornwall changed much in the time that you've been here?
It's gotten better!  It's such a great place to be and we feel that a lot of the companies in Cornwall are more open to ideas and use the Internet for communication which helps projects we are involved in become much more successful.

Have you changed the way you do business since moving to Cornwall?
Initially we provided training courses and a small amount of consultancy.  We still hold courses regularly and provide consultancy on a larger scale now.  However, many companies now require different services such as Google AdWords account management.  We tend to get involved at earlier stages of a new website project now which makes life a lot easier for us and is also less costly for the client in the long term.  The Internet is changing all the time and we like to keep our clients up to date so if new technologies become available we'll let them know as soon as possible.  Also a few organisations have a marketing team within their organisation and we provide in-house and One to One training.

Do you have to travel out of the county often?  If so, which means of travel do you use?
Not really, once a year back to Nottinghamshire to visit family at Christmas and an annual online marketing conference in London.  Most of our work is now in the county.  If we do travel out of the county it is usually by train or car.

Has your business grown since you've moved to Cornwall?
Absolutely.  We didn't have any clients based in Cornwall when we moved here in May 2007.  Some said we were completely mad moving, others said "Good Luck".  Boy is that a kick up the bottom when you don't have any clients in the county!  Now just over two and a half years later we have a client list that's 99% Cornwall based businesses. 

Do you belong to any networks or business groups in Cornwall?
The Hub
The Cornwall Chamber
Business Link
Intelligent Networking
Cornwall Social Media Cafe
Digital Peninsula Network (DPN)
West Cornwall Business Network (WCBN)
Cornwall Sustainable Tourism Project (CoaST)
Cornwall Marine Network
Network Cornwall

Have you developed any new products or services since moving to the County?
We provide more in-depth training on Google Analytics - Rob was one of the World's first Google Analytics Qualified Individuals and this is an area we are really keen to encourage businesses to use.  It is one of the easiest forms of tracking what is spent on Internet marketing and money wasting campaigns can easily be identified.  As trends change and technologies improve we always keep up to date and ensure our customers have the latest techniques applied to their online marketing strategies.

Any advice to those thinking of making the move?
Our advice is to "Just do it!" Don't worry about moving.  Not having many clients makes you motivated and we'd hate to get to retirement age and say "if only we had moved".  Life is an adventure and if you truly believe in doing something or wanting something, you will get it.  We moved to Cornwall just as the recession was starting, looking back knowing that there was a  recession looming may have put us off but having a determined attitude and a belief that "we will be OK if we work hard" helped us.  I know we made the right choice and we have really worked hard at developing our brand over the last two and a half years.

Niddocks Internet Marketing
7 Lusart Drive, The Lizard, Helston, Cornwall, TR12 7RS
Telephone: 0845 258 1070
Email: info@niddocks.com
Web: www.niddocks.com