HI I’m Melissa
I’ve been running my own business for 10+ years, so I know what it’s like to wear all the hats.
My experience spans all things creative and digital. I offer hands-on virtual assistant services to small businesses in Newport, Shropshire and beyond.
Before launching Big ZigZag I spent over a decade building and running Make New Traditions, a wedding media company I founded from scratch. I've managed everything from content and social media to events, supplier relationships and email marketing.
During that time I've also helped launch several local businesses, offering ongoing support as and when it's needed — saving the owners the overhead of hiring staff.
My approach is people-first, and holistic. I understand how all the moving parts of a business connect — and how getting the right support in the right places makes everything work better.
I'm here to take the pressure off, so you can get back to doing what you're brilliant at.
I'm a very lucky mum of two brilliant little humans and wife to one amazing super-human. We live in a colourful little house in Newport, Shropshire, where I've been running my own business for more than a decade — and let's just say, I've learned a lot of things the hard way.
When you're building something yourself, you quickly realise that having a beautiful website isn't the same as having a website that actually works — one that brings in relevant traffic, generates enquiries and makes running your business a little easier.
Social media is great, but I see far too many small business owners putting all their eggs in that one basket just for the sake of likes and follows. Likes and follows don't pay bills. I stopped relying on the algorithm years ago and I'm so glad — because it's only getting worse.
The reality is that everything online is connected. Your branding, your website, the way people navigate your pages, the images you use, the way Google understands your site, and how AI tools interpret your content all play a role in whether someone discovers your business — or someone else's.
Running my own multi-platform business forced me to think about the bigger picture. Not just how things look, but how they function, how people find you, and how the whole experience feels when someone lands on your site for the first time — and whether that visit turns into an enquiry, a booking or a sale.
VIRTUAL ASSISTANT Based in Newport, Shropshire
I work with businesses across the surrounding areas including Telford, Shrewsbury, Stafford, and beyond.
Most of the businesses I work with are start-ups or small local companies, across a range of industries, who want a stronger online presence, and digital marketing approach but don’t want the cost or complexity of hiring staff or using a large agency.