Leaving behind her city lifestyle for love in the country, Meg Kennedy took her experience & started Marketing Directive; in which they focus on helping clients acquire and retain customers and pointing them in the right direction through customer-driven strategies.
Tell us a little bit about your business Marketing Directive.
The team at Marketing Directive assists local entrepreneurs through to International corporations with marketing solutions to elevate their business activity.
We consider all the marketing levers on offer and ensure these are tailored to specific industries and target audiences. We have experience supporting not-for-profit, retail and service-based, agribusiness, and community organisations.
We offer comprehensive marketing services, including campaign development, website design and development, content creation, social media management, paid advertising, email campaigns, and strategy creation for businesses of all sizes.
You traded in a corporate job in the city to move to Regional NSW. How did the idea for Marketing Directive come about after that?
Marketing Directive and the creation of this business resulted from a fantastic woman, the then Head of Marketing at Perpetual, Amanda Tibbett, who had the foresight to suggest continuing my role and working remotely in 2008 when I left Sydney for love.
After a year of delivering marketing support to Perpetual through meetings over zoom, and the phone and being in Sydney for monthly catch-ups, my situation changed. While this remote role had been an incredible opportunity, we were starting a family, so our priorities shifted.
It got to a point after I had had my two kids in which I realised I could use all the experience I had gained over the previous year working remotely as a Marketing contractor and put it to use in the regional market. This would allow me to keep my mind stimulated whilst being a mum to my two small children.
What is unique about Marketing Directive?
Marketing Directive is a digital marketing agency offering a unique marketing and customer acquisition approach. Unlike traditional marketing agencies, we help clients acquire and retain customers with a targeted approach using consumer-driven strategies and omnichannel marketing.
We provide a full suite of services, from developing your marketing strategy, objectives, and goals to creating an online presence, developing campaigns, and tracking performance.
We have a remote focus and can work with clients anywhere. As a business we focus on keeping our finger on the pulse, staying up to date with new developments to ensure we are on the front foot with technology and marketing angles.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of starting your own business?
Flexibility! I so appreciate being able to work anywhere, any time to get the best results for my clients while also being able to juggle life as a Mum and partner to a busy farmer! I’ve also loved meeting and working with amazing businesses in various industries and locations, from remote to international. Daily projects and challenges fill in my busy mind while my husband manages the farm and I am home alone.
What’s the best piece of business advice that you have ever received?
Get out of your own way and ‘on the other side of vulnerability is freedom’ Renee Brown Keep the flow in your business alive, and be prepared to open up, share, listen, and be exposed.
What do you think is the most significant barrier to female business owners?
Time and keeping yourself fueled up and balanced - time for family, time for running a household, time for me, and time for work. The balance of all the balls in the air! Time is precious, especially when you live regionally and often need to travel long hours in the car (thank goodness for podcasts!).
The bottom line is female entrepreneurs face various challenges in growing their businesses, but these hurdles aren’t insurmountable. With the right skills, mentors and resources, women can see their business ventures grow and thrive regardless of their industry.
What’s on the horizon for Marketing Directive in 2023?
My new colleague, Sophie Hansen, and I are planning projects I have had on the wish list for a while, as well as finding new office space. We'll be hosting Accountability Groups, and a business retreat - ‘Fuel Up Your Business’, to energise, inspire and motivate entrepreneurs.v
Location: WARREN | NSW
Website: marketingdirective.co
Instagram: marktingdirectiveco
Facebook: Marketing Directive
Photography: Nat Salloum