Top 5 for Marketing

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Charlotte Murray Ltd

An innovative hair salon that uses the web, text and email to engage with customers. Clients are invited to host special events at the salon - ensuring customer loyalty - and treated to special offers and treatments when they introduce new business.

Gower Cottage Brownies

This chocolate brownie company sells online and wholesale. The beautifully branded packaging converts new recipients to customers instantly. Founder Kate Jenkins is also a social media whizz, listed in the Top 100 Social Brands (alongside Dell and Starbucks).

Neon Play Ltd

Neon Play builds mobile phone games for the iPhone and iPad. Through the smart use of in-game dynamic banner ads, the firm has achieved 21.5 million downloads, seven UK number ones and customers in 120 countries.

Tutor2u Limited

This online teacher training course and e-learning website has used Facebook to grow a vast customer base. Tutor2u currently has 20,000 Facebook fans for its niche site and has managed to grow visitor numbers 68% to 18.5 million.

Peppersmith

Peppersmith makes natural, healthy chewing gum and sweets. Accredited by the British Dental Foundation, fans include Boris Johnson and Bill Bryson. The firms is also working with the Keep Britain Tidy project to tackle gum litter.

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You don't have to have a big budget to make a big noise. These firms have created a phenomenal buzz around their brands, converting new customers and boosting revenues, all on a shoestring with no help from agencies or big shot marketing consultants. From Facebook to smart packaging, this shortlist proves that for every firm, there's a perfect marketing channel. You just have to be savvy enough to work out which - and create the killer campaign to make it work for you.