Tools and platforms I work with
What a Digital Marketing Consultant Does Differently.
I’m Steve Bell, a digital marketing consultant who has run WEBKANDY since 1999, with 25+ years in SEO, UX, CRO and paid media, working with founders and marketing leads to diagnose what’s holding growth back, build the plan, and see it through.
Most brands don’t need another agency. They need a digital marketing consultant who’ll tell them which three things actually matter.
Too many channels, no clear priority, and an agency invoice every month for work nobody can tie to revenue. That’s the usual picture.
WEBKANDY works the other way round. Diagnostic first, roadmap second, delivery only where it earns its place.
You pay for judgment first. Everything else is optional.
Not sure which applies to you? Start with a free check, or go straight to the full audit.
Recent work.
Shopify stores, record labels, DJ agencies and promoters.
Google certifications
Four ways to work with a digital marketing consultant.
From a one‑off audit to fractional leadership.
Growth Audit
Fixed‑price diagnostic. Where you’re leaking traffic, conversions and revenue, and what to fix first. From £1,500. What’s in a Growth Audit →
Growth Roadmap
A prioritised 6–12 month plan across search, site, email and content, with numbers attached. From £4,000. How the Growth Roadmap works →
Fractional Growth Lead
Senior marketing leadership on a monthly retainer, without the salary. From £2,500/month. How a fractional marketing lead works →
Delivery
When the roadmap needs building: WordPress and Shopify, SEO/AEO/GEO, Klaviyo and Mailchimp. Scoped per project. Website, SEO and email delivery →
Free growth check.
Not ready for an audit? Send me your site and I’ll come back with the top 3 things holding it back. Free, no obligation.
- Search and AI visibility
- Biggest conversion leak
- One quick win to do this week
Since 1999: 25+ years across SEO, paid media, UX and e‑commerce design
Google‑certified in Google Ads and Google Analytics. SEO certified by the IDM
BSc (Hons) Web Applications Development, University of Plymouth
Digital Trends.
Practical guides on SEO, AI search, e-commerce and music marketing.
FAQs.
Straight answers on hiring a marketing consultant, SEO, AEO and what things cost.
When should I hire a digital marketing consultant instead of an agency?
When you need someone to decide what to do, not just do it. Agencies are built to deliver the brief; a marketing consultant writes the brief and checks it’s the right one. If you’ve had agencies for years and can’t say what changed, start with a Growth Audit.
What does a Growth Audit include?
A fixed-price review of your site, funnel and marketing channels: traffic sources, technical SEO and speed, search and AI visibility, conversion points and channel priorities. You get a written report with findings ranked by revenue impact, a clear first, second and third priority, and a live walkthrough. Most take 1–2 weeks, from £1,500. See what’s in a Growth Audit.
What does a fractional marketing lead cost?
Typically £2,500–£6,500 a month depending on days, against £80k–£120k plus on‑costs for a full‑time hire. You get senior experience, no recruitment risk and a 30‑day exit.
Do you only work with music brands?
No. Roughly half my work is e‑commerce and service brands on Shopify and WordPress. The music background means I’m one of very few consultants who understand both.
What's the difference between SEO, AEO and GEO?
SEO gets you ranked on Google. AEO structures your content so ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google’s AI Overviews quote it. GEO shapes how generative models describe and cite your brand. I treat all three as one visibility strategy.
How long does SEO take to work?
Technical and on‑page fixes can move rankings in weeks. Topical authority and links compound over six to twelve months. The audit tells you which quick wins you actually have.
Can you build it as well as plan it?
Yes, WordPress, Shopify, Klaviyo, Mailchimp. But I won’t build without a diagnostic first.
Do you work outside Plymouth?
Yes. I’m a marketing consultant based in Plymouth, but most engagements run remotely; clients are across the UK and internationally.