Here’s a brand new feature for our news page: ‘Meet Our Marketing Experts’ this month introduces Brian Hardie from The Marketing Centre:
1. Who are you?
2. What do you do / what are you a specialist in?
Chartered Marketer with international and B2B expertise across multiple sectors. I support clients achieve their growth ambitions based on clear market insight, compelling propositions and effective support of the business owner and sales teams to help win, retain and grow their clients
3. Tell me about a “typical day” in the office
There isn’t one – and I love it. My role combines being a Regional Director with that of a Senior Marketing Director for our clients. So, from networking, to meeting new clients, understanding their challenges and assisting the fantastic team of marketing directors in the region, genuinely no two days are the same.
4. What do you like most about your job?
Variety, diversity and the absolute need to be on top of your game for our clients. This gives them, and the team, the confidence to tackle multiple projects and achieve amazing results.
5. What approach do you take to help your clients?
Listen, probe, understand, check and then propose and implement new ways to help them grow. We are only interested in them being successful – and if they are, we are too. We are often told our approach is refreshing as we are genuinely aligned with their long term aims – whether that is growth, profit, exit or whatever.
6. Are there any common marketing pitfalls that you see?
The most common ones we see often focus on sharp agencies providing services or solutions that clients don’t really need or can afford. The number of times a client tells us they have invested several thousand pounds in Search Engine Optimisation or Pay per Click with nothing to show for it, can be dispiriting for them – until we show them a better way of working and of delivering value.
7. What interesting developments / exciting changes did you witness in 2014?
A real surge in interest in the part time marketing director concept. Every week new clients and colleagues seem to be clamouring to find out what we do and how it might work for them. Usually, but not always of course, it does work and so I have rarely been so busy. If you know anyone who’d like to find out more , join the queue.
8. What excites you most/have you recently spotted that’s new in 2015?
Too early to say really, but the economy is looking quite promising and the upward trend in interest shows little sign of stopping – long may it continue.
9. Are there any brands or organisations that you think are marketing particularly well?
Most of the major corporates do a decent job – but not all do. Apple has hit a hot spot and has the resources and products to impress. Tesco may have lost their way but has a decent underlying proposition which I am sure they will recover. Most of our clients are (not yet anyway) as large. We have loads of examples of examples of smart SME’s really punching above their weight and it just shows that you don’t have to be huge to make an impact.
10. Are there any websites, books, or training sessions you’d recommend that have been helpful to you and why?
The CIM always has useful resources for marketers and clients. Just about every business needs to keep abreast of all things digital. And as a fast-moving area keeping up to date can be a challenge. I tend to monitor Hootsuite to track what folks are saying about my clients and areas of interest. This, and other tools, can be really powerful and current and keeping abreast of hot topics day to day.
Feel free to get in touch with Brian if you wish to have a discussion or you can learn more about our other marketing experts in your area.
