By Simon Rushworth
Compelling video content can be the catalyst for a full circle communications strategy. David Broom, founder of dynamic marketing agency B7, outlines the bigger picture.
Entrepreneurial at heart and visionary by nature, David Broom has always done things differently. Whether cutting his teeth on the uncompromising market stalls of inner-city Glasgow or dancing his way to glory on the world stage, the affable Glaswegian’s route to running multiple businesses – and becoming a family-focused father of four – has been far from conventional.
Sure, there have been doubts, knockbacks, personal setbacks and professional challenges but the founder and director of B7 has always fought the odds and, more often than not, won. A modern-day David and Goliath story? Maybe.
“As a young boy I was a bit of a show-off and quite boisterous,” admits David. “But when I was eight my dad lost his job in Glasgow and he moved to Africa for three years to find work. That’s when I felt my confidence drain. I was an only child and suddenly it felt like I had a lot of growing up to do. I felt lost.
“I was dancing at the time. I was a member of a great dance school but I didn’t want anyone to know that’s what I did. In 1995 I even represented Scotland at the World Championships but I’d already decided that would be my last event. I was about to go to high school and I was terrified that people would find out who I really was.
“That’s why I’m so passionate about never falling victim to that kind of self-doubt again. I gave up on a huge opportunity because I was so scared of what other people would think. At that point I was impressionable, timid and just trying to fit in. That attitude held me back for years.”
These days David wouldn’t even consider ‘trying to fit in’. He’s a forward-thinking creative who, alongside co-director Phil Duggan, is fast shaping B7 into the North East’s leading story driven marketing agency. Innovators and disruptors at heart, the idea of ‘fitting in’ is anathema to a management team embracing the future.
“I suppose we initially set out to be known as ‘the video guys’,” adds David, whose eye-catching work with the Entrepreneurs Forum, at the organisation’s 2026 annual conference, turned heads and got clients old and new talking. “To an extent we’ve succeeded. But now we no longer want to be known as simply ‘the video guys’. B7 is in a position to do so much more.
“But let’s look at video first. Why, as a business, would you record video in the first place and where would it go? You need to ask yourself those questions from the outset. The ‘where’ is really important. It has to go somewhere, otherwise what’s the point of spending money on it in the first place?
“For most of the businesses we work with the content we shoot is used in three places. There’s social media – and predominantly LinkedIn – and of course that remains a priority for clients looking to connect with like-minded individuals and organisations. The second place is on the business’s website. Short explainer videos are perfect for outlining what you do, what you believe, who you serve and the problems you can solve. Those hero-style films become long-term assets that deliver time and time again.
“And the third strand? Think about how your team pitches its product. Often you’re sending PDFs or directing people to your website. That’s fine for people who enjoy reading – and I love reading – but what about those people who are inundated with daily content and exhausted by trying to keep on top of it all?
“Video is a wonderful way to communicate effectively and efficiently what you’re all about. Imagine pulling out your phone over a coffee and playing a 90-second or 120-second video to set the scene. Suddenly the meeting’s up and running and you can get down to business.”
B7’s perfectly positioned to ensure your content ends up in all the right places, all of the time. But, as David explains, compelling video content can be the catalyst for a wide-ranging marketing and communications strategy.
“The problem with communicating ourselves as ‘the video guys’ is that, if we’re not careful, it might look as though we just hand off the assets and move on,” he adds. “That couldn’t be further from the truth. We want to be seen as the people who manage the production of the video but also the strategy behind the filming in terms of what’s included in the video and how the videos are used.
“The content we capture can complement all manner of PR and communications activity. Transcripts can be used to shape longer form written content for print media, websites and LinkedIn posts and we work with experienced journalists and editors to achieve the best possible coverage. Soundbites from the videos can inform marketing and advertising campaigns and we can use the content we capture to create impactful visuals and presentations.
“We’re not just ‘the video guys’. We’re the guys you can trust to manage every aspect of your client-facing messaging!”
www.weareb7.com