Chris

Hi, I’m Chris McDowell, and I started BrisTechTonic after moving to Bristol and finding myself surrounded by creative, independent businesses. I saw a clear gap in the market: smaller companies needed proper SEO, but big agencies were too expensive for them and often too rigid. With a background in technology and project delivery, I decided to build something better; big-brand services with small business values.

The idea really started to take shape after a conversation with Rachel from The Rose Shed. She wanted help growing her florist business online but didn’t have the kind of budget big agencies demanded. Around the same time, I spoke to Bronwen from Bristol Chiropractic Clinic, and that gave me the final push to do something about it. I realised there were so many small businesses just like theirs; ambitious, passionate, and brilliant at what they do… who just needed someone to make SEO understandable and achievable.

BrisTechTonic was a bit of an off-the-cuff name at first — “Tonic” to your Bristol “Technology” but it stuck. It captured what I wanted to create: something refreshing, approachable, and energising for businesses who’d been told SEO was too complicated or out of reach. My first project was with The Rose Shed and a handful of local florists, and then I started talking to a group of Freelance Mums. That’s when I realised just how many small, independent business owners were craving simple, clear, human help with their online presence.

I’ve worked in digital marketing on and off for over 20 years (yep, really!), but it was always a side passion. BrisTechTonic started as a one-person venture, and it’s grown steadily ever since – six years strong and still going.

Bristol itself played a huge part in that. It’s an incredibly creative city, and so different to where I grew up in South Wales. Being surrounded by an entrepreneurial, community-driven network gave me the confidence to launch BrisTechTonic in the first place. During lockdown, that sense of community became even more important. We built a website for local suppliers; butchers, bakers, jewellery makers and then some, where they could list their products and reach customers stuck at home. We also ran weekly takeaway events where street food traders could set up safely, pairing meals with local breweries and distilleries. Over six weeks, we helped generate more than £20,000 for small businesses, and many of them are still thriving today.

I’ve spent my career working across multiple different industries, until I found my own niche of sitting between “what people want” and talking to “techies” to make that happen. I love to help people, and since moving to Bristol and being surrounded by a creative community, BrisTechTonic was launched, and we’ve helped hundreds of businesses ever since. Our team has grown and we’re now helping clients all over the world, but we’re firmly rooted in Bristol.

What makes us different is how we break things down. SEO isn’t complex or at least, it doesn’t have to be. There’s a lot of noise and misinformation online, and it can easily overwhelm business owners. We focus on the why behind every recommendation, explaining things step by step so our clients understand exactly what’s happening and how it helps.

What I love most is helping people. Genuinely. Watching a florist sell more flowers and put down a house deposit? Amazing. Helping a charity get more eyes on their work? That’s the stuff. It’s about giving people the tools to grow and seeing what they do with it.

I’ve always believed people buy from people and not sales pitches. When you show real value, trust follows naturally. That’s something I try to instil in the whole team. I encourage everyone to attend events, keep learning, and stay curious, because our industry moves faster than ever. My approach is to lead from the back and giving the team space to be their best selves and supporting them every step of the way.