There is no one-size-fits-all approach to my strategic advisory services.
Some clients start with a one-hour Discovery Session to tease out a particular issue. Others benefit from a workshop to explore the bigger picture with their team.
Whether we work together on a short-term project basis or a retainer, my role is broadly the same: to bring an independent perspective, ask the right questions and help you make informed decisions about where to focus.
First things first – chemistry matters. Book a free introductory call so we can find out more about each other.
1. Discovery session
Following a complimentary introductory call, this one-hour session on Teams or Zoom gives us the opportunity to dig into a particular challenge or decision.
The aim isn’t to give you all the answers in an hour. It’s to help you step back, challenge assumptions and identify what you need to consider before deciding what to do next.
Think of it as a small investment that could help you avoid an expensive mistake – or simply give you the clarity to move forward with confidence.
No two Discovery Sessions are the same, but we might use the time to:
- Take a fresh look at your positioning and whether it reflects your business goals
- Sense-check a proposed communications or marketing investment before you commit
- Work out whether you need to recruit or bring in external expertise – and what skills you need
- Unpack why an agency relationship or project hasn’t delivered what you expected
- Review your current activity and decide what deserves more or less attention
No pressure to follow through. Just sound advice and food for thought.
Pricing: £250 including:- 60 minutes of discussion and consultation
- A short follow-up summary with some high-level recommendations
Marcie has this brilliant knack of getting straight to the feel of a business and the respect flows out of her. She makes me, as a business owner, feel really seen. In a one-hour call, she helped us take a step back and look at the business from the outside – we’re generally too busy to even take time to think. If this is what you get from a first meeting I look forward to doing more with Marcie.
I worked with Marcie for more than a year on several comms projects for IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health), one of which was of critical strategic importance. Marcie brought much needed experience, strategic thinking and capacity to it. She led us through this project with energy, clear plans and second to none implementation.
2. Workshops and projects
Sometimes you need to step back and get to the heart of an issue before deciding what to do next.
A focused workshop can be a valuable starting point, helping founders and leadership teams challenge assumptions, explore what’s working and what isn’t, and identify gaps, opportunities and priorities.
Where more substantial work is needed, I can take a deeper dive to diagnose the issues, establish the right direction and help put the pieces in place.
Areas I can help with include:
Positioning
Has your business outgrown the way you describe it? Are you struggling to articulate why clients should choose you? Or does your brand no longer fit where the business is heading?
I can help clarify how you position your business, what makes it different and how best to communicate that. Where this leads to a wider brand project, I can help you identify, brief and oversee the right creative partner.
Communications and marketing strategy
When activity has grown organically or become fragmented, it can be difficult to see what’s working and where effort and budget are best spent.
I can help you assess the current picture, identify gaps and opportunities, and develop a focused, practical plan covering priorities, resources, measurement and what not to do.
Team and capability
Sometimes the issue isn’t the strategy – it’s whether you have the right people and skills to deliver it.
I can help assess what capability your business needs, decide whether to hire or bring in external expertise, define roles, support recruitment and help new or existing team members succeed.
A strategic communications challenge
Not every brief fits neatly into a box.
You may be preparing for growth, entering a new market, managing change, reconsidering an agency relationship or facing a reputation or stakeholder issue. I can bring an independent perspective, get under the skin of the problem and help you work out the right approach.
3. Retained strategic support
For businesses that want regular access to senior communications and marketing counsel, I can work alongside the founder and leadership team on a retained basis.
This gives you ongoing access to an experienced strategic adviser who can bring perspective, challenge and continuity as priorities evolve.
The scope varies according to the business and its priorities. I might help establish the strategy, challenge and guide decisions, oversee priority projects, advise on internal capability and external partners, or mentor the people responsible for delivery.
The emphasis is on direction and judgement rather than day-to-day execution. My aim is ultimately to leave you with greater clarity, stronger capability and the right people, plans and systems to take things forward.
The time commitment and length of engagement depend on what you are trying to achieve.
Fees are agreed according to scope, time commitment and length of engagement.
Marcie is proving invaluable in steering our next steps. We are making good progress with getting the essential building blocks in place, and her strategic focus keeps us aligned on the long-term vision. Marcie works well with people at every level and doesn’t hold back if she feels the need to challenge my thinking, but she does it respectfully. It’s an exciting time for the business and there are lots of activities coming together with the benefit of Marcie’s experience and guidance.