MARKETING STRATEGY

A marketing strategy consultant who puts strategy first.

A marketing strategy consultant decides who you should sell to, what to say and where to say it, before any money goes out the door. John Graham Seeliger has built those plans for 40 years, and today he does it for businesses in Phoenix and across Arizona. First, strategy. Then media.

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By John Graham Seeliger, Principal and CSO Updated

John Graham Seeliger, marketing strategy consultant in Phoenix

What does a marketing strategy consultant actually do?

We work out why your best customers buy, who else looks like them, and the cheapest reliable way to reach them. The output is a written plan with clear objectives, a defined audience, the message, the media and the budget.

Most marketing "specialists" start with their favorite platform (social, SEO, paid ads, email) and fit your business into it. That is backwards. A platform is a delivery truck. It doesn't decide what goes in the truck or where it should drive.

So we start with you: your structure, your product, your audience, your vision and your growth goals. Only then do we choose the channels that make sense. Sometimes that's digital. Sometimes it's a letter, a phone call, a sales training session or a storybook. (Yes, really. Ask about the Mantel Elephant.)

What you get

  • A frank diagnosis of where you are now
  • Clear objectives you can measure
  • A defined audience (and who to ignore)
  • The core message and the offer
  • The media mix, sized to your budget
  • A 90 day action plan
  • How results will be tracked

Want it carried out too? Our team of web, AI and social media specialists can execute the plan with you.

HOW IT WORKS

How is a marketing strategy built?

  1. We listen.

    A frank conversation about where you are, where you want to be and what's getting in the way. We review your business inside and out before we recommend anything.

  2. We diagnose.

    Blunt assessments. Zero fluff. We look for gaps, bottlenecks, hidden revenue and unicorns. Often there are quick wins before a campaign even starts.

  3. We build.

    A tailored plan with clear objectives, a defined audience and only the media channels that make sense for your business. No cookie cutter programs.

  4. We execute and measure.

    We put the plan to work, track gains in real time and keep the message sharp. You'll know exactly what's working, and why.

PROOF

What happens when strategy comes first?

  • 30%

    business growth for an Arizona bank

    They wanted new customers. Research showed their current clients knew nothing about the bank's other products, so the strategy turned inward instead of outward.

  • 70%

    opening response for a national airline

    Flying empty and near bankrupt. The plan first identified three untapped markets, then went after them. Flights overbooked.

  • 650%

    over projected ROI for IBM

    Nobody wanted to sit through the sales demos. The strategy found the hook that got buyers in the room, and the warehouse almost emptied.

See all the case studies

Who needs a marketing strategy?

Any business that is spending money on marketing without a written reason for each dollar. That includes companies that are growing fast, companies whose sales have gone flat, and anyone starting or relaunching.

Signs it's time:

  • You're on four platforms and can't say which one pays for itself
  • Clicks and views are up, but sales aren't
  • You keep changing agencies, and the story keeps changing too
  • A competitor is winning customers you think should be yours
  • You're about to launch something and want it right the first time

Not sure your plan is the problem? Start with a marketing audit. Want senior leadership on an ongoing basis? Look at fractional CMO work.

"I hired John many times to create and manage marketing campaigns because of his extensive knowledge and experience with a wide variety of marketing disciplines, as well as his consistently high performing strategy and tactics, effective and on target creative, and excellent ROI."

Jeanne Cook, Product Manager, IBM

QUESTIONS

Straight answers.

What is included in a marketing strategy?

A diagnosis of where you are, measurable objectives, your target audience, the core message and offer, the media mix and budget, a 90 day action plan and how results will be tracked. It is written down, so your team, an agency or our own specialists can execute it.

How long does it take to build a marketing strategy?

Weeks, not months. The timeline depends on the size of the business and the research needed, and you get it in writing up front. Quick wins we find in the diagnosis can start sooner.

How much does a marketing strategy cost?

It depends on the size of the business and how much research it needs. The first conversation is free, and you get a written quote before work starts.

What is the difference between a marketing strategy and a marketing plan?

The strategy is the thinking: who, what message and why. The plan is the doing: which channels, what budget and on what dates. We deliver both, with the strategy first.

Can you carry out the strategy too?

Yes. John sets the strategy and creative direction, and our team of web, AI, social media and direct mail specialists does the work with you. Or hand the plan to your own team.

Do you work with businesses outside Phoenix?

Yes. We work with businesses across Arizona, from Scottsdale to Peoria, and over 40 years John has run campaigns that were regional, national and global.

KEEP EXPLORING

LET'S TALK

Ready when you are.

Not sure if you need help? No worries. A quick conversation costs nothing, and you'll know exactly where you stand. Plus, what your next step should be. If any. No sugar coating, no pressure, no BS. Call now. And if you're on the right track, we'll tell you that too.

Start the conversation.

Phone:
602.558.7540

Email:
johngseeliger@cox.net
jgs@creativestrategiesmktg.com

Location:
Phoenix, AZ, serving the Phoenix metro and all of Arizona

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