On 17 October, Influx turned 10. Ten years on from my first full-time day, we're based in Manchester and still a small team you can reach directly.
How It Started
It started when I helped my Dad start his business, choosing the name, creating the logo and building the website. I enjoyed it so much that it led me to a full-time job at an agency, where I eventually became the digital marketing manager, working on SEO and Google Ads for their clients. While I was there, I helped a friend start their business, Clarke Delta, and that project made me realise I wanted to do this full time for other businesses. On 17 October 2016 I left my job and started working on Influx full time, from my bedroom in Shrewsbury.
Our first client was Hitherbest, who I'd worked with since my very first job as a 3D CAD apprentice, and I'm grateful they trusted me from day one. I designed and built the first few websites myself, but I soon started working with designers and developers far more talented than me. They're the reason we have the portfolio of projects we have today.
From the start, I wanted Influx to be an agency clients could rely on for great websites and marketing. That means working hard for every client, being honest with them, and being proud of every project we put our name to. Ten years on, that hasn't changed.
Why Manchester
I've been coming to Manchester since I was 10, first with my Grandad to watch the football, and I've had a season ticket since 2012. I spent as much time here with friends as I could and loved the city, so I moved here as soon as I could.
What Hasn't Changed
Early on, I made the decision to manage every project myself, so clients always had one person to deal with, and hopefully the person best placed to see across the whole project.
That's no different today. Amelia works alongside me as client manager, and between us we cover every project and every client. Whether it was only me or now we're a team of seven, you deal with the same people from your first call to launch day.
Over 100 clients around the world have trusted us with their websites, branding and lead generation, and we're very grateful for that. Every one of those projects started with a conversation with someone who would still be there at the end of it.
What Has Changed
The quality of our work, for a start. It has got better and better over the years, and that's down to a super talented team.
The tools and the way people find a business have changed too. We build on WordPress, Webflow and Shopify and recommend whichever suits the project. We're a Webflow Premium Partner, and we've been a Google Partner since 2019.
The bigger change is search itself. People now ask ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI answers who to hire, so we build sites those tools can read, trust and cite. We call that AEO, and it's now part of how we build.
What's Next
A few things are on the way.
- A new Influx website and a refreshed brand. Ten years in, it's our turn for a rebuild, with a small update to the brand alongside it.
- A client portal. One place to see where your project is up to, whenever you want to check.
- Northpoint. Alongside Influx, I've helped start Northpoint, a new business that helps UK businesses find where AI can save time and money, then puts it to work.
More on all three soon.
Influx at a Glance
- Started: 17 October 2016, in Shrewsbury
- Based: Manchester
- Team: 7
- Clients: over 100, across four continents
- Services: websites, branding and lead generation
- Partnerships: Webflow Premium Partner, Google Partner since 2019
Thank You
To every client who has trusted us with their business, thank you. To the team, past and present, thank you for making Influx what it is. Here's to the next ten.
James
.avif)
