Most people have a vague idea. Someone who helps with marketing. Probably expensive. Probably not for businesses like mine.
Wrong on all counts.
Here’s what a marketing consultant actually does — and how you’d know if you need one.
They tell you the truth.
That’s the job, really. Most business owners are too close to their own business to see what’s broken. A consultant comes in with fresh eyes and tells you what’s not working, why, and what to do instead.
Not in theory. In plain language, with actual steps.
I’ve worked with over 5,000 Irish businesses. The same problems come up again and again — a message that isn’t clear, a website that doesn’t convert, social media that’s busy but pointless. None of it is complicated to fix once someone points it out.
They’re not an agency.
This is the one that matters if you’re a small business trying to figure out where to spend your money.
An agency executes. They manage your ads, build your website, post your social content. You pay a monthly retainer, they do the work. That works well once you know what you want and you have the budget.
A consultant helps you figure out what you actually need first.
Before you spend €1,500 a month on ads, someone needs to check that your message is right, your offer is clear, and your website can actually convert the traffic. Otherwise you’re pouring money into a leaky bucket.
A consultant is the person who looks at the bucket.
Who needs one?
You probably need a marketing consultant if:
You’re busy delivering your service but you’re not growing. You’ve tried a few things — posted on social, updated the website, maybe ran some ads — but nothing seems to stick. You don’t know what to fix first. Or you’ve just taken on a new challenge and you want to get it right from the start rather than waste a year figuring it out.
You don’t need someone to do it all for you. You need someone to tell you what to do — and make sure you actually do it.
What do results look like?
Not always a dramatic number. Sometimes it’s clarity — finally knowing what your business actually offers and who it’s for.
More often it’s practical things. A website that starts getting enquiries. A Google Business Profile that shows up when local customers search. A message that stops confusing people and starts attracting the right ones.
The businesses I work with don’t usually need more marketing. They need better marketing. Often that means doing fewer things, done properly.
What does working with me look like?
I start with a Reality Check — a straight-talking audit of your digital presence. What’s working, what’s broken, what to fix first.
From there, some clients want ongoing support. Others just need the clarity and they take it from there. Either way, you’ll leave with a clear picture and a practical plan — not a 40-page document you’ll never open.
I don’t do corporate speak, long-winded reports, or strategies that live in a drawer.
I’ve been doing this for 25 years. I’ll tell you what I’d do if it was my business.
→ Find out more about me and how I work
→ See how I can help your business https://www.marketingeye.ie/how-can-i-help/
→ Start with a Reality Check – https://www.marketingeye.ie/how-can-i-help/the-reality-check-fix-whats-broken/
