Marketing Reset: Why Sussex Businesses Sometimes Need a Fresh Start

If you’re running a business, you’ve probably felt this at some point: Marketing is happening, but results aren’t. Campaigns are being delivered, but growth feels flat. Your team is working hard, but you’re not sure it’s working smart.

This is what I call “marketing drift.” And when it happens, throwing more money, tools, or agencies at the problem rarely fixes it.

Sometimes, what’s needed is a reset - a chance to step back, review what’s working (and what isn’t), and chart a smarter way forward.

Why Marketing Gets Off Track

From years of working with SMEs and scaling businesses across Sussex and beyond, I see the same problems come up again and again:

1. Too much activity, not enough strategy - teams are busy producing content, running ads, and updating websites - but there’s no clear thread connecting it all to business goals.

2. Disjointed systems and tools - CRM, automation, reporting, and CMS don’t always talk to each other, making it hard to track performance or scale effectively.

3. Mixed messages - different channels say different things. The brand feels inconsistent, which confuses customers and weakens trust.

4. Shifting markets - what worked two years ago may not work today. Buyers, competitors, and cultural expectations change fast.

According to Gartner, nearly 70% of CMOs say they lack confidence in their team’s ability to execute marketing strategy effectively. It’s no wonder many companies end up stuck in cycles of activity without results.

What a Marketing Reset Looks Like

A proper reset isn’t about scrapping everything and starting from zero. It’s about reconnecting marketing with business outcomes.

Here’s what I do when I run a Fresh Start session for Sussex businesses:

• Audit the current state → review team structure, tools, and campaigns.

• Identify bottlenecks → what’s slowing growth, wasting budget, or blocking results.

• Re-focus priorities → cut noise, double down on what drives leads, pipeline, and retention.

• Reset the roadmap → create a practical action plan the team can actually deliver.

Think of it as clearing the clutter so your marketing engine runs smoother, faster, and with less wasted fuel.

Why a Local Consultant Helps

Working with a marketing consultant based in Sussex brings two advantages:

1. Local understanding - whether you’re in Brighton, Crawley, Worthing, or Chichester, the business landscape has its quirks. Local markets, networks, and opportunities matter.

2. External perspective - sometimes you’re just too close to the day-to-day to see what’s broken. A fresh pair of eyes can uncover the simple fixes that make the biggest difference.

As McKinsey found in their 2022 Growth Report, companies that regularly reset their marketing strategy outperform peers by 20-30% in revenue growth.

Signs You Might Need a Reset

Ask yourself:

• Is our marketing delivering consistent, predictable results?

• Do sales and marketing agree on what a good lead looks like?

• Can we clearly connect activity to revenue impact?

• Are we confident we’re spending budget in the right places?

If the answer to any of these is no, a reset could help.

Marketing drift is common - but it’s not permanent. The fastest route to growth isn’t always “doing more marketing.” It’s taking a step back, fixing the foundations, and making sure every campaign, tool, and channel is pulling in the same direction.

That’s what a Marketing Reset does. And maybe I can help...