--- title: "Digital Marketing Services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0372b8" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0372b8" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0372b8.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0372b8.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED" published: "2023-03-29" --- # Digital Marketing Services Buyer: NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0372b8 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0372b8) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0372b8.json) ## Summary The public procurement contracting process for the Digital Marketing Services tender issued by Northern Trains Limited has now reached the award stage. The procurement involved splitting the tender into two lots - Paid Search and Organic Search. The contracting authority, Northern Trains Limited, based in York, is seeking marketing services in the services category related to the Rail sector. The successful suppliers for Paid Search and Organic Search are 8 Million Stories Limited. The tender was conducted using a selective procurement method with a negotiated procedure. This tender presents an opportunity for business growth for marketing agencies specializing in digital services, particularly those with expertise in online search advertising and SEO within the travel and tourism sector. Given the focus on targeting prospective and returning customers in the North of England, agencies with a strong regional presence or industry knowledge would be well-suited to compete. Businesses with a proven track record in managing online advertising campaigns and increasing search visibility for clients, especially in the Rail or Transport sector, are encouraged to participate in this tender to support Northern Trains Limited in achieving its marketing objectives. ## Notice This tender is split into two (2) lots. Lot 1 - Paid SearchLot 2 - Organic SearchPlease see tender documents for further information. ### Lot Information Lot 1 - Paid Search The Paid Search partner will act as an extension of the Northern team and will manage Northern's online search advertising presence, ensuring quality traffic is driven to the website and app that increases sales and generates a profitable return on investment. Here at Northern, we want to make a positive impact in the North, and as such we're looking for a Paid Search partner who is based in, or has strong demonstrable connections to, the North of England.The Agency must also have a strong travel and tourism industry knowledge to enable them to educate and inform the Northern marketing team on best practice, algorithm updates, new platforms, and ways of working.Experience working with Rail or Transport sector partners is desirable, but not essential.The Agency is required to target prospective and returning customers in the North of England based on key leisure and commuter personas, making sure the right ads show for the right people at the right time and within the given budget.The agency will consider the positioning of ads given that Northern's paid search activity is targeted at bottom of funnel conversion, complementing above the line activity.The Agency partner shall own and lead Paid Search strategy for Northern, including account management, budget management, campaign structure development and management, writing and creating ads, reviewing conversion performance, and maintaining the brand's presence.Upon joining Northern, the Agency partner will perform an account review and audit, assessing campaign set up and structure, PPC optimisation tactics, bid strategies, competitor activity, keywords, targeting, and ad copy.Northern are keen to test and learn and as such the Paid Search Agency will be required to guide optimisation and improve efficiencies, research new developments, and monitor competitor and industry activity. Renewal: 1 x 12 months. Lot 2 - Organic Search We require a partner on a retained basis who will act as an extension of the Northern team and manage our online presence across organic search, increasing visibility, providing on-page and off-page SEO and content services, and ensuring quality traffic is driven to the website and app that increases sales and generates a profitable return on investment. Here at Northern, we want to make a positive impact in the North, and as such we're looking for an Organic Search partner who is based in or has strong demonstrable connections to the North of England.The Agency must also have a strong travel and tourism industry knowledge to enable them to educate and inform the Northern marketing team on best practice, algorithm updates, outreach, new platforms, and ways of working.Experience in working with Rail or Transport sector partners is desirable, but not essential.The Agency shall focus on increasing Northern's search visibility, delivering high-quality traffic to the Northern website and app, and driving more conversions from that traffic.The Agency partner shall lead on SEO and content strategy, including weekly keyword tracking and monitoring, implementing changes from findings, and collaborating with the Northern team on results.Working as an extension to Northern's marketing team, the Agency will build content designed around our personas that enrich the customer's journey, answer questions, alleviate pinch points, and pique the interests of new and returning customers across the North of England. Renewal: 1 x 12 months. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009072-2023 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | SME | | All stages | Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 29 Mar 2023 | | Submission deadline | 3 Nov 2022 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 22 Mar 2023 | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Cancelled | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Active | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED | | Locality | Not specified | | Post town | Not specified | | Postcode | Not specified | | Country | Not specified | | ITL 1 | Not specified | | ITL 2 | Not specified | | ITL 3 | Not specified | | Local authority | Not specified | | Electoral ward | Not specified | | Westminster constituency | Not specified | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | 8 MILLION STORIES | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 79342000 - Marketing services ## Release History - 29 Mar 2023 at 08:17 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009072-2023 - 4 Oct 2022 at 10:24 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027807-2022 ## Notice URLs - http://www.northernrailway.co.uk - https://in-tendhost.co.uk/northernrailway/aspx/Home ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0372b8. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0372b8.json.