I’m Sophie Martin (formerly Sophie Cross), an experienced and entrepreneurial freelance PR consultant, copywriter and social media manager, with over 30 years working in pr and communications in both the UK and Australia (and a bit in Spain!)
Having worked across a wide range of sectors, run my own PR company and worked at Director level for other PR agencies, I have developed a host of skills from successful news generation, copywriting and strategic communications to client management and sales and business development and social media management.
I studied languages (French and Italian) at Birmingham / Florence Universities and have worked in PR since graduation (with a couple of interesting but short-lived diversions!).
Over the years, I’ve written about and PR’d everything from advertising to adhesives, child care to carpets, makeup to The Muppets, perfume to parenting and travel to toiletries!
I’ve also acted as Australia PR Manager for the Supercross Nationals (Motocross) and managed publicity and media for other sports, including boxing and triathlon, as well as acting as publicist for various celebrity chefs and their restaurants in Sydney.
I ran my own PR business, PR Chicks, in Australia for many years, working with clients both in Australia and back in the UK.
Following 11 years in Sydney, I moved to Spain in 2012, and then in 2013 returned home to roost in leafy Limpsfield, Surrey – a delightfully rural location, but just a hop and a skip from the bright lights of London (LBG and Victoria) when Southern Rail allows…
Now in the UK, under the working name of The Word Bird, I tend to focus my attention on small businesses needing help with pr, copywriting, marketing, social media and websites.
I am passionate about promoting local business and the local high street, and wear several hats in this regard: as the Marketing Manager for The Oxted Business Improvement District (aka Love Oxted), promoting Oxted town centre and its businesses @loveoxted; as the publisher and editor of www.limpsfieldsurrey.com and @limpsfieldsurrey social media and also as Clerk for Limpsfield Parish Council, as well as contributing to various local media including Tandridge Independent, Limpsfield Parish News, Oxted Local and County Chronicle.
I am a lead invigilator and occasional (and former) cover teacher at Oxted School and am on the Friends of Limpsfield Common committee.
The Word Bird 