Strategy and consulting
Most marketing problems do not start with a channel but with the fact that nobody wrote down what has to be achieved and at what cost. Without that, planning shrinks to buying whatever is at hand — the most expensive way to save money. So we sell strategy on its own, with no condition that you buy the execution from us as well.
What we deliver
- Communications and marketing strategy built on a business objective
- Market, competitor and brand position analysis
- Defining audiences and their actual motivations
- Positioning, core messaging and tone of voice
- Brand architecture for companies with multiple products or divisions
- A full-year marketing plan with budget allocation
- Consulting and advice with no follow-on engagement attached
- Onboarding and setting up a long-term working relationship
The plan starts from the goal, not the rate card
Before we look at any channel, we need to know what the communication has to achieve. Launching a new product, defending market share and recruiting staff for regional operations are three entirely different briefs — and they lead to three entirely different budgets.
Only with the goal written down does it make sense to discuss channels and how the money is split. Without it, planning shrinks to buying whatever is currently discounted.
Strategy without execution is a legitimate outcome
Plenty of companies have their own marketing team and need only an outside view and a decision on which way to go. Producing a strategy and handing it to an internal team to execute is as good an engagement for us as long-term management.
Anyone selling strategy as a ticket to an annual contract writes it accordingly. It then fills up with recommendations only its author can deliver.
The annual plan is made in autumn
Co-operative activity with chains, media packages and trade fairs all have deadlines months ahead. A marketing plan assembled in January for that same year has already missed half of them.
So the annual plan is built in autumn: activities by month and brand, budget split across channels and markets, and a reserve for whatever comes up. The client gets a spreadsheet to draw down against, not a deck to read once.
Frequently asked
- What does a consultation cost?
- The first call is free and non-binding — we mostly need it to establish whether we can help you at all. Follow-up consulting is charged hourly; strategy and annual planning are quoted as a fixed price against a scope agreed in advance.
Related services
Analysis and strategic documents
Pricing and competitor analysis, potential studies, economic models. Material for a decision, not a marketing report.
Read more →13An outsourced role in your team
An outsourced brand manager or an entire marketing department — a role hired instead of an employee.
Read more →02Performance marketing
PPC in search, on social platforms and programmatically. Managed against business numbers, not clicks.
Read more →