Nineteen! Old enough to know better, young enough to still get excited about a good strategy session and a cracking brand story.

When I set the business up all those years ago, marketing looked very different. I was onsite with clients most days, laptops were heavier, social media was… well… barely a thing, and “remote working” usually meant answering emails from the kitchen table after hours.

Fast forward nearly two decades and a lot has changed, both in marketing and in how I work, but interestingly, not everything.

From Onsite Every Day to Fully Remote (With a Change of Scenery)

For many years, Marketing Doris was very hands-on and very onsite. I was embedded in client teams, working closely with businesses day in, day out, and that closeness shaped how I still work today.

Then came Covid.

Like many businesses, I had to adapt quickly. What started as a necessity turned into an unexpected opportunity. I transitioned to a fully remote role, proving (to myself as much as anyone else) that great marketing doesn’t rely on being in the same room, it relies on trust, clarity and collaboration.

That shift also gave me something else: the freedom to relocate from Cheshire to West Yorkshire. A big life move that simply wouldn’t have been possible in the early years of the business, and one I’m incredibly grateful for.

Same clients. Same standards. New view out of the window.

 

How Marketing Has Changed… and How It Hasn’t

Marketing today is faster, noisier and far more digital than it was 19 years ago.

We’ve gone from:

• brochures and print deadlines to
• social media algorithms and real-time analytics

From:

• “we’ll review that next quarter” to
  
• “can we jump on a quick call this afternoon?”

But here’s the thing - the principles of marketing haven’t changed at all.

• Understanding your audience.
• Clear messaging.
• Consistency.
• Trust.
• Building relationships, not just campaigns.

The tools evolve. The platforms change. The shiny new things come and go.

But good marketing is still about saying the right thing, to the right people, at the right time.

And it always will be.

 

The Best Bit? The People.

Nineteen years in business brings a lot of highlights, but the biggest one, without question, is the people.

I’m incredibly proud of the clients I’ve worked with over the years, across so many different industry sectors. From small businesses finding their feet to established organisations ready to grow, evolve or reposition.

I’m equally proud of the business associates and partners I’ve collaborated with graphic designers, developers, copywriters, business coaches, photographers, accountants, recruiters… the list goes on. Marketing is never a solo sport, and the best work always comes from strong collaboration.

And then there’s the bonus I never planned for but value hugely, the friendships. Some of the people I’ve worked with over the years are now firmly in the “proper friends” category, and that’s something I don’t take lightly.

 

Looking Ahead (Because I’m Not Done Yet)

At 19, Marketing Doris isn’t about looking backwards, it’s about taking everything learned over nearly two decades and using it to support businesses better.

• Smarter strategies.
• Clearer thinking.
• Less noise, more impact.

So here’s to the past 19 years; the lessons, the shifts, the growth, and to whatever comes next.

Thank you to everyone who’s been part of the journey so far.

Let’s see what the next chapter brings