Expert advice, transparent pricing, good people.
Upstream Connections was founded in 2003 by Jose Mendez and Alexis Sheldon. Five years later, virtually all of our original SEO customers are still with us and going strong.
Search Engine Optimisation (including multilingual SEO) remains at the very core of the business. As the company grows so does the range of services offered, which now includes Social Media Optimisation, web design, Pay Per Click management and viral marketing.
We understand the levels of service that you expect and are happy to explain what we do in plain English. One size does not fit all when it comes to internet marketing strategy and, because our expertise covers much more than just SEO/PPC, we will advise you honestly on how to make best use of your budget.
Our headquarters is in Brighton & Hove but we have people working around the world, including Latin America (Brazil, Argentina), Asia and across Europe. Our Brighton office is a multicultural environment with staff from Spain, Germany, France, Italy and beyond. We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and are proud to call our HQ a green office.
For some examples of our clients, click here
Upstream Management Team
Alexis Sheldon (38) – Joint MD
Alexis founded Upstream Connections Ltd in 2003 with his business partner Jose Mendez.
A Cambridge graduate with an MA in Tourism Management and Marketing, Alexis is currently fluent in Russian and Portuguese and speaks good Spanish, French, Italian, German and Hebrew. With a background in the Media, Event Management and Language Training industries, he has worked with a number of market leading companies, introducing them to new technology and marketing channels. From 1999 until founding Upstream Connections in 2003 Alexis worked as Online Development Manager for Cactus, where he helped create a number of the most high profile websites in the language industry.
Alexis brings marketing and business development expertise to Upstream Connections.
J Mendez (33) – Joint MD
A business graduate who established his first private venture at the age of 23, Mendez is currently fluent in Spanish, English and SEO. Considered one of the leading Search Engine Optimisation specialists in the UK, he has been practising the art of online marketing for more than a decade. His route to Upstream Connections Ltd started in 1998 with e-commerce consultancy work. Joining the Cactus group in 2001, where he met Alexis, Mendez worked as Marketing Manager before founding Upstream Connections in 2003. Mendez is responsible for managing all aspects of the business concerning SEO, design, programming, ecommerce systems implementation and research & development.
Mendez is passionate about internet marketing and will happily tell you all about it.
Jonathan Kelner (38) – Non Executive Director
Jonathan works as a management consultant assisting clients in the service sector with growth and change in their business. Projects have incorporated an Ofex (now Plus) flotation, turning an unprofitable computer retailer into a successful service business, hands-on business planning and fund raising with new start-ups and ongoing advisory roles with companies in the Media, Investment Property, Motor, Security, Charity and Call Centre industries. Jonathan previously spent 10 years in the retail industry, with Marks & Spencer Plc, Heal & Son Ltd and Field & Trek Plc. He has extensive retail management experience, specialising in training and development.
Known affectionately as JK, he is easily manipulated by the offer of a piece of Cadbury’s dairy milk.
Alex Hammond – SEO Manager
With four years experience in internet marketing, Alex started with Upstream Connections as a freelance copywriter, progressing to full time business development and account management in 2007.
An English Literature degree from Sussex University has provided perfect preparation for writing and advising on search engine friendly copy (and the ability to offer a great post-structuralist analysis afterwards). Alex lived in Argentina for a bit and would love the chance to practice speaking Spanish with you.
Claudia Bachmann – Head of SEO
Claudia is responsible for overseeing Upstream’s SEO work. This includes managing a team of junior SEOs, client account management and all reporting.
Claudia studied International Information Management in Hildesheim (Germany). In 2005 she completed an internship with Upstream Connections and impressed us so much with her knowledge and passion that she has been working here ever since.
Dave Khayat – Head of Social Media / Content / Lead Editor
As well as marshalling Upstream’s efforts in the realm of social media, Dave is our lead editor and office systems administrator, responsible for copywriting, style editing, proof reading and quality checking.
Dave enjoys playing the piano, being a “word nerd”, cricket, table tennis and golf (or any other sport that doesn’t require a great deal of running); and dislikes the mutilation of the English language, unforgivable grammatical errors (such as confusing “there”, “they’re” and “their”), and music with little intrinsic musical value.
Hypercritical even of his own grammar, Dave’s fastidious and meticulous editing habits stem from studying Latin & Greek from an early age, leading to a degree in Classics from Nottingham University in 2006. Unfortunately, the ability to unleash ‘hilarious’ Latin quips at will was never as impressive as he originally hoped it would be; but sound knowledge of linguistic roots has afforded him a keen eye for writing and re-writing texts for SEO purposes.
About our clients... Contact us about becoming an Upstream client...
