Fran

 

Bellingham

Founder / Head of Growth
Core Team

With over 25 years’ experience working in advertising, media and marketing management, both in New Zealand and the UK, I can be your trusted ‘right hand Fran’ when it comes to making marketing decisions for your business.  

I operate as Chief Client Officer of Virtual Marketers and as Virtual Chief Marketing Officer for several of our clients. I have managed marketing in eCommerce (including my time at Trade Me), Life & Health Insurance, International & Domestic Education, Govt behaviour change initiatives, Health Saas products, Fashion brands, Healthcare Providers and Not For Profit membership organisations.   

I have worked on both client and agency sides of the business, and my vast knowledge and experience of the creative and media landscape in NZ ensures we’ll develop sound digital marketing strategies to propel our client’s organisations and brands forward. I welcome you to the reimagination of the marketing of your organisation, it’s the future of strategic working partnerships.

Read 
Fran
's 
articles...
Marketing in Challenging Times: Retaining Existing Customers
10
 minutes
Marketing 101

When economic uncertainty strikes, marketing budgets are often the first to be cut. However, scaling back your marketing efforts can do more harm than good. Businesses that focus on keeping customers during tough times stay stable. They also set themselves up for long-term success.

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10 powerful ways to be efficient with your marketing
3
 minutes
Marketing 101

In our latest video, we unveil **10 powerful ways to make your marketing efforts more efficient**—so you can achieve more with less.

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How to create a social media video in Canva Pro
3
 minutes
Marketing 101

In our latest video, we break down the simple steps to craft engaging videos that will capture your audience's attention in minutes.

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How to Optimise Your Marketing Subscriptions Spend
5
 minutes
Grow Your Business

Time to tighten your marketing budget belt? By auditing your current subscriptions, prioritising essential tools, and maximising their utilisation, you can significantly reduce costs without sacrificing effectiveness. Read on for our thoughts on the good tools to use and how to regularly assess which ones you still need.

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Virtual Marketer's Monthly Mashup: January 2025
3
 minutes
Grow Your Business

Virtual Marketers is now officially a Google Partner! 😍 and meet our new marketer Nicola 😀

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The State of TikTok in America: What’s Happening and What It Means for Businesses
5
 minutes
Grow Your Business

‍TikTok, the social media platform that has captivated millions with its short, engaging videos, is at a crossroads in the United States. As the app’s popularity surges, it also faces mounting scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators. As of January the 19th, we wrote this blog on the 15th, we understand that if TikTok don’t sell their US operation it will be banned in the states.

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2025 SME Marketing Strategy Ideas
20
 minutes
Marketing 101

In 2025, SMEs can thrive by embracing innovative strategies like AI-driven personalisation, interactive video marketing, social commerce, and partnerships with micro-influencers to build authentic customer connections.

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Is Your Website Performance Hurting Your Business?
10
 minutes
Marketing 101

Your website is more than just an online placeholder; it’s the face of your business or shopfront of your store. Every business owner or manager should ask themselves regularly: is our website working for us, or against us?

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Can organic social media still get results?
10
 minutes
Marketing 101

Do You Need to Spend Money to Get Your Social Media Posts Seen on Facebook (Meta) and Instagram?

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The Importance of Branding in Marketing
10
 minutes
Marketing 101

Businesses need more than just a good product or service to stand out—they need a powerful brand. Branding is key to marketing success. It helps companies stand out in a crowded market amongst their competitors and can help retain existing customers and attract new ones. Good branding builds customer loyalty and supports long-term growth. 

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Guide: Growing Your Business Through Google Ads
5
 minutes
Marketing 101

Google Ads is a powerful tool that allows businesses of all sizes to grow by reaching their target audience through highly targeted advertising. Whether you're a small local business or a large e-commerce site, Google Ads can help you attract more customers, increase sales, and boost brand awareness.‍

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Fran talks SEM vs SEO
5
 minutes
Grow Your Business

Fran explains the essentials of search engine marketing (SEM), highlighting the importance of combining search engine optimization (SEO) for organic traffic and search engine advertising (SEA) for paid visibility to effectively increase website traffic and attract high-intent users.

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