Have you checked in with your audience lately? Customer needs evolve over time, and it’s essential to stay ahead of these changes to maintain strong connections and effective marketing. In this post, I share how you can identify shifts in your audience's needs by analysing buying patterns, reading reviews, conducting surveys, and more.

In this post, we’ll walk through the key steps to developing an effective content marketing plan that aligns with your business goals and resonates with your audience, because they should always be the foundation of everything you do!

Marketing trends evolve quicker than ever; we’ve seen a massive change just since the pandemic! And brands constantly decide what trends align with their business goals and customer expectations. Here is a look at some key retail and consumer marketing trends and how to decide which ones are right for your business. 

To become an unforgettable brand, focus on authentic storytelling that resonates emotionally with your audience and reflects your core values.

Stories that can be easily re-told not only deepen customer loyalty but also turn your audience into passionate advocates who share your brand for you.

By consistently showing up with purpose-driven content, personal touches, and emotional connection, whether that’s joy, happiness, or inspiration, you build a brand that people remember, trust, and talk about.

If you’ve just launched a new campaign, you must feel relieved. The campaign is out there, the results are coming in, and the marketing team can take a deep breath. 

But it’s best not to get too comfortable, as a lot of the magic in marketing campaigns happens after it's launched! 

However, the number of metrics can be overwhelming, and you might struggle to know where to start. This is where I can help you.

A key factor in unlocking new clients and projects for HCxConsulting has been to partner with other dynamic agencies and freelancers in the industry, creating solutions-focused teams, built for purpose, with complimentary skill sets.

This approach unlocks the best value for clients, bringing together the best in the industry to help them with their marketing campaigns and projects.

My focus is to create tailored marketing solutions that drive real results for my clients.

Whether you need help with a specific project, long-term campaign support, or expert guidance to steer your marketing strategy in the right direction, I offer flexible ways to work together that fit your unique needs.

I share my thoughts on my most productive working style and how changing up my work environment allows me to deliver the best results for my marketing clients.

The retail and consumer marketing landscape is constantly evolving, with changes in buying habits, shifts in social platform preferences and new trends influencing our behaviour all the time.

To keep your marketing strategy relevant, targeted and effective you need to review it regularly, understand how your campaigns are performing and evolve with your audience needs.

Here is a glimpse into my approach when creating a successful marketing strategy foundation.

If you are looking for something great to listen to while you are driving or walking the dog then check out these podcasts.

I found them really interesting they challenged my views on how naivety to an industry could be a marketing superpower.

Confused about where to start with creating a marketing plan, lacking a solid strategy foundation from which to build, scattered ineffective campaigns, and processes which don’t enable your best work?

I know how you are feeling… and I can transform your marketing with HCxConsulting and together we can drive your business growth and impact with your audience.

How have my life experiences led me to deliver the type of marketing I do today?

Whether it's being a parent, being involved in a community group, or championing a subject you are passionate about all these experiences outside of work can have a huge influence on how you work as a marketer, and how you understand people and talk to them.

What experiences have you had which influenced the way you work as a marketer? 

The valuable skills and experiences from my past roles provide my customers with a refreshing and exciting way to drive their strategic marketing campaigns.

Recently I’ve had some excellent conversations and insightful guidance from my peers and one of the standout strengths we focused on was how I am the "Ultimate Connector."

What does being the "Ultimate Connector" mean for you as a client?

How does it contribute to the growth and success of your business, project or campaign?"

When you collaborate with a consultant or freelancer, their working style may not be top of your list of things to consider.

💡 However, it is a crucial factor you cannot ignore if you want to have a mutually beneficial relationship.

➡️ Alignment and agreement on working styles are just as important in a client-consultant relationship as in an employee-employer relationship.

Do you spend enough time with your customers?

The payoff with events may not be huge short-term growth of social followers or new orders for your product or service, but the long-term gains can be incredible.

It allows you to validate your strategy and gain insightful feedback which guides you on a path to sustainable growth and drives loyalty.

Have you ever been to the supermarket before when you are hungry and don’t have a list?

Did you come out with a basket full of food but nothing to eat for dinner?

This is like creating a marketing activity plan without first building the strategy.

You buy lots of things you like but they don’t create anything useful.

Spending time on your marketing strategy first is essential if you want to build an activity plan which delivers on your business objectives.

Is it possible to translate brand marketing well in retail?

Taking your brand marketing campaigns through 3rd party retail can be tricky as the goals are often different.

In my experience it is possible and can be done well, however, there are some key elements to nail to drive success, here are my tips and guidance.

You know your brand inside out… but you are not sure how to translate that into marketing...

Your customers trust you, your product, and the way you communicate. That trust has built a strong, lasting bond between your brand and your audience.

But when it comes to streamlining your marketing plans and managing campaigns, things can feel overwhelming, right?

Being a brand expert doesn’t automatically make you a marketing strategist. That's where a dedicated marketing consultant can make all the difference, taking your deep knowledge of your brand and elevating it to new heights.

Winning hearts and minds: Crafting compelling marketing content that leaves them wanting more.

Here are my key steps to understanding your audience and creating content which delights them and inspires action.

Being a small business means that the service I provide to every client must be outstanding. My clients choose me because of the marketing skills, approach and experience I bring, which translates into value for them and their customers.

Here is a bit more info on the process of working with me and what my clients say.