First Search Digital · Sussex
About First Search Digital
Big-business thinking for small businesses across Sussex.
I’m Ciaran, the consultant behind First Search Digital. I help small business owners make clear decisions about their digital presence and turn those decisions into practical work.
I spent 11 years working in a corporate environment at American Express. I bring that experience to small businesses: a focus on customers, clear priorities and careful decisions about where time and money will make the most useful difference.
You know your customers and the work you do best. My job is to understand your business, explain the digital options clearly and help you get found by the people who need your services.
I bring together SEO, paid advertising, website design, WordPress support, AI and training. You work directly with me, with hourly support shaped around your business needs and budget.
What clients like about working with me
Personal support, clear explanations and a plan that reflects the realities of running a small business.
I start with your business
A new website or advertising campaign should have a clear purpose. We start with who you want to reach, what makes your offer valuable and what you need customers to do next.
That might mean improving local visibility, making an existing website easier to use, reviewing advertising spend or removing repetitive work from your day.
Technical knowledge, clearly explained
My strength is combining a high level of technical knowledge with the ability to explain it clearly and logically. If digital technology feels confusing, I can break it down into understandable steps and explain what each decision means for your business.
I explain what matters, what can wait and how the work fits together. The focus is a practical plan you can understand, with an agreed scope and a clear next step.
You may need a fresh pair of eyes, hands-on delivery, ongoing support or training so you can manage more yourself.
Flexible support that fits your budget
I charge hourly and shape the work around the budget you have. My range of skills means we can use that time for advice, practical delivery or a mix of both, focusing on what will be most useful to your business.
At the beginning of each month, we agree a plan of work around your business needs, budget and the time available. That time can go towards SEO, PPC, social media or website work, depending on what your business needs most.
We agree the hourly rate and time to spend before work begins. There is no minimum contract term or notice period.
Big-business thinking, personal support
You get the benefit of my corporate experience and broad technical skills in a way that suits a small business. We agree clear objectives, focus on useful work and keep the time and budget proportionate.
You deal directly with me for both the advice and the delivery. There is no need to commit to a large package when a smaller, focused piece of work is what you need.
One conversation, connected services
Search, advertising and your website affect each other. Bringing them into the same conversation helps identify where effort is most useful. More visitors will only help if the right people can understand your offer and get in touch.
- Visibility: SEO, local search, AI search visibility and content that answers customer questions.
- Advertising: PPC and social advertising, with objectives and budgets agreed before work begins.
- Websites: website design, WordPress recovery, security, maintenance, speed and migrations.
- Business support: digital consultancy, practical AI support and training shaped around your needs.
A personal approach to working together
Some businesses come with a specific problem, such as a hacked WordPress website or an advertising campaign that needs attention. Others know they could do more online but need help deciding where to begin.
In either case, the starting point is understanding your situation. We agree the work, the responsibilities and the costs before getting under way. If the brief changes, we discuss what that means for the plan.
Training can be part of that support, helping you understand your website, search or advertising and feel more confident making decisions.
Honesty, transparency and integrity
I only take on work where I believe I can help. If something is unlikely to be useful, or I am not the right person for it, I will tell you. We discuss the options, costs and limitations openly before work begins.
I understand that small businesses sometimes need a financial break. You can pause, reduce or stop future work without a notice period; just let me know. I am happy to adjust the support to your budget and circumstances.
I believe in honesty, transparency and integrity. I use rolling contracts with no minimum term or notice period, so clients stay because of the quality of my work, not because a contract ties them down.
Previously Finn McCool Marketing
I started my previous business in 2014, trading as Finn McCool Marketing. The name reflected my love of Irish mythology and the impending birth of my first child.
The original Finn McCool website supported the business for around a decade before the rebrand. It is now being repurposed as a separate project focused on Irish mythology.
If you knew me through Finn McCool Marketing, you’re dealing with the same person: Ciaran Clarke. First Search Digital brings that experience and those long-standing client relationships together under the current name.
I still use my @finn-mccool.co.uk email address for existing client relationships. You may continue to hear from me through that address, particularly during the transition, as many long-standing clients still use it. For new enquiries, please use [email protected].
Client relationships and previous work
The portfolio includes direct client work and projects carried out through Finn McCool Marketing. It brings together businesses and brands I have worked with across websites, search, advertising and training.
See the portfolio and client work
The business behind the name
First Search Digital is a trading name of FINN DIGITAL MEDIA LTD, registered in England and Wales, company number 14351302.
Registered office: C/O Brennan Herriott & Co 1, Blatchington Road, Hove, East Sussex, United Kingdom, BN3 3YP. Please use email for enquiries.
Let’s talk about your business
Tell me what you want to improve, what you have tried and where you feel stuck. We can discuss the support that fits your priorities.