SEO Next hits £1m turnover

Stockport-based search specialist SEO Next says it has hit a turnover of £1m three years after being launched.

The firm's 29-year-old managing director Justin Blackhurst is now aiming for sales of £6m by 2014.

He said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with our progress over the last 12 months. Our growth has surpassed all our expectations and it’s all the more impressive given that three years ago we were a bedroom operation.

"Now, we’re really looking forward to setting a benchmark for excellence in the search market.”

Blackhurst set up the business with his university friend Vaibhav Kakkar, 27, in July 2009.

It has its main sales office in Hyde, as well as an operation in India and a sales office in Miami. The business also has plans to open satellite offices in Dubai and Sydney later this year.

The company said it works with 150 clients in the UK, including a mix of household brand names and SMEs. It employs 12 staff in Hyde and 180 in India.

Blackhurst added: “We believe our success is down to the transparent way in which we operate. We don’t believe in tying our clients into contracts, instead we like to operate in an open and honest fashion.

"Our sole reason for being is to deliver a return on investment and we get a particular kick out of seeing smaller SMEs starting to punch well above their weight."

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