Marketing advice: from the problem to an actionable plan
Marketing consultancy helps clarify decisions before your next campaign. Specify what you are buying: an assessment, a plan, a workshop or implementation support.
What should the advice resolve?
Start with a concrete question: why are relevant enquiries scarce? Which offer should we promote first? What can our team realistically manage? A defined problem is easier to price than a request for more marketing in general.
Separate advice from implementation
A strategy document does not automatically include adverts, copy or a new website. Agree on deliverables, who will implement them and how findings will be presented. Advice can cover pricing and distribution as well as promotion.
| Assignment | Concrete output |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Prioritised issues and next decisions |
| Marketing plan | Audiences, positioning and action plan |
| Ongoing support | Agreed meetings and implementation reviews |
Define the offer and customers
State your sector, the offer to promote and the market. A local business differs from an online shop or a B2B company. Where several offers exist, identify the priority and why customers should choose it.
A short brief is enough to start
You do not need a finished plan or confidential customer data for the first enquiry. Describe your offer, situation and desired output in your own words. Relevant documents can be shared later by agreement.
- Starting point. What already works, and what remains unclear?
- Output. Which decision or document do you need at the end?
What determines the cost?
Effort depends on the offers and markets examined, interviews, workshops and depth of analysis. A defined assignment may have a fixed price. For open-ended support, agree on rates, billing intervals and an effort limit. A general price range would say little without this scope.
| Cost item | Clarify in the quote |
|---|---|
| Analysis | Data, interviews and markets covered |
| Workshop | Duration, preparation and documentation |
| Implementation | Separate fee, production and advertising spend |
Choose suitable advice
Ask about similar assignments and who will actually work with you. Check how recommendations are justified and whether the consultancy also sells execution services or media. References provide context, not a guarantee of success for your business.
Agree on a usable handover
A useful handover identifies priorities, responsibilities and a realistic next step. Agree on the presentation, included revisions and access to documents. To assess subsequent impact, define the measure, starting value and period together.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an existing strategy?
No. Advice can start with an assessment. State whether a plan exists and what you want to resolve.
Is campaign execution included?
Only if agreed. Planning, production and media buying should be itemised separately.
Can consultancy be remote?
Many discussions work remotely. On-site workshops and travel costs should be agreed separately.
Must I provide a budget?
A fixed budget is not required for the enquiry. An effort limit later helps define the assignment.
What should my enquiry include?
Your offer, audience and desired output are enough to start. Do not include credentials or customer data.
How do I compare quotes?
Compare outputs, people, time allowances and revisions for the same scope. Price alone says little about usefulness.
