Marketing consulting
Marketing consulting for when you need answers, not a retainer
Audits, brand strategy, launch plans and a straight read on your funnel. Scoped as a project. You keep the plan, and you decide who runs it.
No retainer required to get started. No 60-page deck nobody reads.
What does a marketing consultant do for a small business?
A marketing consultant diagnoses what's working and what isn't, then gives you a specific plan to fix it. Typical projects include marketing audits, brand positioning, go-to-market plans for launches, and aligning sales and marketing around a shared funnel and CRM. You get senior advice without committing to ongoing management.
Sometimes the most valuable thing we sell is a second opinion.
Why people call us
The questions that usually start a consulting project
You don't need a team to run everything. You need someone senior to look at the thing and tell you the truth.
- We're spending real money on marketing. Is any of it working?
- We're launching something new and have one shot at the first impression.
- Our brand sounds like every competitor in our category.
- Sales says the leads are bad. Marketing says sales doesn't follow up.
- We bought a CRM. Nobody uses it properly.
- An agency pitched us a big plan and we want an honest read before signing.
What we do
Marketing consulting services
One-off and advisory work, sized to the problem.
Marketing audits
Spend, channels, tracking, website, search and AI visibility, funnel. What's working, what's broken, and what's just vanity metrics in a nice font.
Brand strategy
Positioning, messaging and the story that makes you the obvious pick instead of one of three similar options.
Go-to-market strategy
Launch plans for new businesses, products and locations. Who to reach first, with what, through which channels.
Sales and marketing alignment
One definition of a qualified lead, clean handoffs, shared numbers. Fewer arguments in the Monday meeting.
CRM and funnel advice
Pipeline stages, lead routing, segmentation, follow-up automation and the reports you actually need. Built around how your team sells.
Agency and proposal reviews
A second opinion on a plan or contract before you sign. We'll tell you what's fair, what's padding, and what to ask.
How it works
How a consulting project runs
Clear scope at the start, clear handoff at the end.
Scope
A free call to agree on the question we're answering, what we'll deliver, and what we need from you.
Discover
We get into your accounts, data and team. Interviews, analytics, CRM, competitors, customers.
Recommend
A written plan with priorities in order, the reasoning behind each, and what to stop doing.
Walk through
A working session to go through it together, answer questions and pressure-test the plan.
Hand off
You run it yourself, with your team, or with us. Your choice, and no hard feelings either way.
Go deeper
Our core consulting projects
The three projects we're asked for most.
- Diagnose
Marketing audit
A full, honest review of your marketing with a prioritized fix list.
- Position
Brand strategy
Positioning, narrative and voice that set you apart and stay consistent.
- Launch
Go-to-market strategy
Launch plans for new businesses, products and markets.
Launches we've planned and run
From zero to launched
- axCEOAI leadership app launch: 1,000+ downloads in the first month and 250% month-over-month growth in website visitors.
- SunState BrokerageFreight brokerage launched from zero online presence. Facebook and LinkedIn engagement up 75% in the first quarter.
- Winstar RoofingNew roofing company launched with brand identity, website and local Google Ads built for high-intent searches.
Right tool, right moment
Consulting or fractional CMO?
A specific question, answered
- Project scope with a defined deliverable
- You or your team execute
- Best for audits, launches, brand work and second opinions
Ongoing ownership of marketing
- Part-time senior leader, ongoing
- Owns strategy, budget, vendors and reporting
- Best when nobody is in charge of marketing
Your terms
Four ways to use what we find
DIY with guidance
Take the plan and run it. Book follow-up sessions when you get stuck.
Consulting
Regular advisory check-ins while your team executes.
Collaborative
We take some channels, your team keeps others.
Done for you
We run the plan end to end, as an ongoing engagement.
From clients
What owners say about working with us
“Their team is not only friendly but also incredibly knowledgeable and responsive. In fact, many of my calls with them turned into insightful learning sessions where I gained valuable knowledge about marketing strategies.”
Gabe K.Account Exec, SendSafely “Understood my firm and offered impactful solutions. Excellent service.”
Alecia R.Owner, Alecia Reading Law “They also really listen to what I want and offer great suggestions on how to accomplish my business goals.”
Rachel W.Owner, Bloomfield Bike
Marketing consulting questions
How much does marketing consulting cost?
It depends on the scope: how many channels we review, how much data there is, and whether you need a plan only or ongoing advisory time. We scope every project on a free call. For general cost context, read our post on what a marketing agency costs for a small business.
Do I have to sign a retainer after a consulting project?
No. The plan is yours to run however you like. Some clients execute it themselves, some hire freelancers, and some ask us to run part or all of it as an ongoing engagement.
What's the difference between marketing consulting and a marketing agency?
A consultant tells you what to do and why. An agency does the work. We do both, but a consulting project is about getting the right answer first, before you spend on execution.
Can you review a proposal from another agency?
Yes. We'll tell you whether the scope, deliverables and contract terms are reasonable, what's missing, and which questions to ask before you sign.
Do you help with CRM setup and sales processes?
Yes. We advise on pipeline stages, lead scoring, routing, segmentation and follow-up, and help sales and marketing agree on what a qualified lead is. Where automation helps, our AI integration team can build it.
Related services
Fractional CMO
Ongoing senior leadership for your marketing function.
SEO audit
A deep look at search and AI visibility specifically.
AI workflow audit
Where AI can save your team time, and where it shouldn't.
Do I need a marketing agency?
Seven signs you do, three signs you don't yet.
Next step
Get an honest read on your marketing
Tell us the question that's keeping you up. We'll tell you how we'd answer it, and whether you need us to.