Thoughtful, methodical and practical support.
I help improve existing brand and marketing strategies to deliver business growth.
I work alongside marketing teams and their leaders to strengthen existing strategies and objectives. And it starts with a review of the current activity.
I build on where the strategy works well and identify what can be strengthened.
My engagements vary. Some clients use me for one-off projects, others retain me to refine the strategy, mentor teams and monitor the execution.
I bring a fresh, thoughtful and helpful focus that tests assumptions, sharpens thinking, and sets realistic objectives for growth.
Four stages. Stand-alone or used together.
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It begins with a thorough review. I won’t make any assumptions and take time to listen to your objectives. By speaking with existing clients and staff, reviewing competitors and the sales pipeline, I can quickly assess how effective your brand and marketing strategy is.
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Sometimes it's helpful to probe the hunches, niggles and what-ifs of a brand and marketing strategy away from the gaze of others. I work one-to-one with senior leaders across several discreet and confidential sessions, acting as a critical friend for new ways to focus the brand and marketing. I provide the space, tools and perspective that allow leaders to think freely about what's possible in a risk-free context.
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Compelling brand and marketing need a clear strategy. I take the information gathered in the first stage and outline recommendations to refine the current plan to help cut through the noise. I bring a fresh perspective on what can be easily strengthened and where more rigour would help.
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I help implement the new strategy across various tactics and channels. I can work with existing roster agencies or bring in a range of trusted partners to help shape and deliver marketing campaigns. I have hired and managed writers, designers, front and back-end developers, SEO analysts, film crews and project managers. I’ve worked on a range of projects with various budgets. Sometimes these have led to wholesale changes; others just needed to refocus.
What others say about me
“It was clear that Michael could bring his years of marketing experience to our organisation. But there was some nervousness that he might reject everything and impose his own framework. Far from it. He's been willing to get his hands dirty to understand our brand, our market and our existing marketing strategy; then, building on what is good, he has helped us to shape something significantly better.”
Paul Houghton
CEO, Kingdom Bank
“Michael is a deeply experienced and energising brand strategist. Key areas I value are his ability to challenge effectively, that his advice is rooted in robust processes with market insight and the way he is prepared to roll his sleeves up to help us deliver on the tactics. He’s passionate and cares deeply about what we are creating. We get on well, which makes projects enjoyable.”
Laura Boyle
Head of Marketing, Snowball
“Michael worked really hard to get to know us. We felt energised by the thorough degree of questioning and the quality of the listening. No stone was left unturned. The in-depth process led us to a fantastic brand strategy. We’re all really buoyed up by it.”
Esther Higham
Higham & Co