Voting Closed
Find out tonight if we have been voted THE SMARTEST business at the Smarta 100 awards - 19th May, London
- Founder name(s):
- Ling Valentine
- Company:
- LINGsCARS.com
- Website:
- http://www.lingscars.com
- Proposition:
- LINGsCARS.com leases new cars to credit-worthy UK businesses and consumers.
LINGsCARS.com
Ling Valentine is a marketing wizard. She has one of the most
visually full-on, brightly coloured, graffiti-effect-laden websites
you've ever seen. Frankly, it looks like a total car crash - but
that's precisely the point. It's gone hugely viral. Visits to the
site have trebled since 2006 - and profit has doubled in that same
period. LINGsCARS.com is the only completely online car leasing
service. Ling also uses low-cost PR relentlessly to save on ad
spend. She famously turned down offers on Dragons' Den, uses London
buses and nuclear missile trucks to pull publicity stunts, and has
had 350,000 views for her YouTube promo videos. And she uses social
media to such success she's been giving lectures at universities on
online marketing.
- Incredibly innovative use of online and offline marketing
- Best Motor Industry Website 2007 (Automotive Management
Awards)
- NatWest/BT Business Everywoman Award 2009 for IT and
Communications
- NE Entrepreneur of the Year 2006