10 Best Strategic Planning Freelancers to Improve Your Marketing Campaigns
Hiring a strategic planning freelance marketer brings a wealth of experience and industry knowledge to your business table.
Updated March 13, 2024.
When it comes to business marketing, without proper research and planning, you risk wasting valuable time, resources, and budget on ineffective campaigns that fail to resonate with your target audience. This is where the expertise of a strategic planning freelance marketer becomes invaluable.
Effective marketing campaigns require a deep understanding of your target market, their preferences, pain points, and behavior patterns. Thorough research and analysis are essential to gain these insights, enabling you and your business to craft messages and campaigns that truly speak to your audience.
Our picks for the best strategic planning freelancers
1. Matthew T. - Best overall
2. Justin S. - Best for new and innovative marketing channels
3. Itzett R. - Best for customer acquisition marketing strategies
4. Hisham K. - Best for online marketing strategies in eCommerce
5. Howard S. - Best for collaboration with eCommerce brands
6. Bing H. - Best for focusing on user acquisition and retention
7. Murtaza A. - Best for strong digital marketing strategies and techniques
8. Kathryn L. - Best for email marketing and ad campaigns
9. Tony H. - Best for high-budget targeted marketing
10. Shreyas S. - Best for display and paid social ad strategies
What is a strategic planning freelancer?
A strategic planning freelancer is an expert at identifying long and short-term goals for a business, as well as the strategies and tactics needed to accomplish these goals. Most times, strategic planners are at the confluence of strategy, analysis, and problem-solving.
They create the roadmap for a business to reach its desired outcomes by considering the current environment - and assessing the likelihood of positive change under the influence of specific strategies and tactics.
1
Matthew T.
Expert strategic planning freelancer
Experience
8+ years
Country
London
Industry focus
Travel | Home & garden | Style & fashion | Food & drink
Brief overview
Matthew is a holistic digital marketing specialist freelancer working remotely as an SEO and PPC consultant to help businesses maximize their online reach.
Specialties
- SEO
- Google Ads
- Bing Ads
- PPC
Why hire Matthew?
Matthew is a skilled marketer who is able to dedicate himself to helping your business growth and scalability, in various industries and over a dynamic range of channels.
2
Justin S.
Pro strategic planning marketer
Experience
8+ years
Country
USA
Industry focus
Health & wellness | Pets | Sports, outdoors & fitness | Beauty | Style & fashion
Brief overview
A seasoned digital marketing expert, Justin specializes in strategizing and executing projects from conception to completion.
Specialties
- Taboola
- Outbrain
- Social ads
- Affiliate marketing
- Marketing strategy
- Google Shopping
Why hire Justin?
Justin's forte lies in building marketing channels from the ground up, while his test-and-learn approach also enables companies to scale existing initiatives, propelling brand growth to new heights.
With a positive and professional demeanor, Justin dedicates ample time to truly understanding pain points and key performance indicators, ensuring his efforts align seamlessly with clients' objectives.
3
Itzett R.
Freelance strategic planning marketer
Experience
9+ years
Country
USA
Industry focus
Technology
Brief overview
Itzett is a Digital Marketing Director with an impressive nine-year marketing and customer acquisition strategy track record. Her expertise spans startups in Austin, Texas, as well as late-stage ventures in New York City.
Specialties
- Search ads
- Social ads
- Google Shopping
- Taboola
- SMM
- Marketing strategy
Why hire Itzett?
Itzett excels in collaborating with founders and serving as a strategic thought partner for marketing teams, particularly those aiming to scale their operations. With a deep-rooted passion for brands championing sustainability and wellness, she brings a unique perspective and a keen understanding of these dynamic industries.
4
Hisham K.
Marketer and strategic planning guru
Experience
10+ years
Country
Australia
Industry focus
Beauty | Style & fashion | Health & wellness | Professional services | Nonprofit & government
Brief overview
Hisham has been working with eCommerce brands for 10+ years and also operates a number of his own eCommerce brands. He's a Google Ads, Facebook Ads, CRO & Strategy expert.
Specialties
- Google Ads
- Google Shopping
- eCommerce
- Facebook Ads
- YouTube Ads
Why hire Hisham?
Hisham excels in comprehending both digital and business solutions. He frequently collaborates with clients to develop diverse solutions to address overarching business challenges affecting their growth. In roles such as Principal Consultant for marketing teams, he takes the lead in steering their strategies to successful outcomes.
5
Howard S.
Transformative strategic planning freelancer
Experience
16+ years
Country
UK
Industry focus
Pets | Beauty | Healthy & wellness | Sports, outdoors & fitness
Brief overview
Howard has been immersed in online marketing since 2008 and has dedicated the past six years to serving as a full-time media buyer and marketing consultant. His primary expertise lies in collaborating with eCommerce brands to efficiently acquire new customers through profitable means, utilizing paid advertising channels.
Specialties
- Facebook Ads
- Google Ads
- Google Shopping
- Tracking and implementation
- YouTube Ads
- Instagram Ads
Why hire Howard?
Howard initially focused on driving customer acquisition through paid ads, primarily on Google and Facebook. He also played a crucial role in crafting a comprehensive digital marketing strategy, incorporating elements such as email marketing, content marketing, influencer outreach, and conversion rate optimization.
Moreover, he contributed to setting up and optimizing Amazon product pages and PPC campaigns, resulting in a remarkable 100% increase in sales within three months.
6
Bing H.
Marketing and strategic planning pro
Experience
10+ years
Country
USA
Industry focus
Technology | Beauty | Automotive | Home & garden | Sports, outdoors & fitness | Food & drink
Brief overview
Bing boasts over 10 years of growth marketing experience, dedicated to helping clients drive sales and retention.
Passionate about growth strategies, Bing leverages data analytics to inform marketing directions and develop creative campaigns.
Specialties
- CRO
- Marketing strategy
- Tracking and implementation
- CMO
- Google Ads
- Bing Ads
Why hire Bing?
Bing's key specialties include user acquisition and retention, paid search optimization, SEO, conversion rate optimization, web and product analytics, marketing automation (email), and content marketing. This is a winning recipe for advertising success.
7
Murtaza A.
Specialist strategic planning marketer
Experience
15+ years
Country
USA
Industry focus
Beauty | Technology | Food & drink| Style & fashion | Health & wellness
Brief overview
Murtaza is a commercially astute and innovative marketer, specializing in disruptive and digital marketing strategies.
Specialties
- Search ads
- Social ads
- CMO
- Marketing strategy
- Amazon marketing
- Google Shopping
Why hire Murtaza?
Murtaza is highly adept at leading business-critical projects through their full lifecycle, ensuring timely and cost-effective delivery in line with established objectives.
Recognized as a credible and hands-on leader, Murtaza has demonstrated a proven ability to control million-pound budgets with finesse. His expertise lies in driving transformative marketing initiatives that challenge industry norms and propel businesses toward success.
8
Kathryn L.
Innovative freelance strategic planner
Experience
10+ years
Country
USA
Industry focus
Professional services | Nonprofit & government
Brief overview
For over a decade, Kathryn has been instrumental in crafting data-driven strategic consulting and marketing solutions for political campaigns, nonprofits, and corporations across the United States.
Specialties
- Marketing strategy
- Public relations
- Email marketing
- Content
- Google Ads
Why hire Kathryn?
Kathryn's extensive background includes overseeing numerous successful polling and data initiatives, alongside a myriad of earned and digital media endeavors.
These efforts encompass a spectrum of activities, from managing email campaigns and social media programs to executing advertising campaigns with remarkable success.
9
Tony H.
Growth-focused strategic planning pro
Experience
8+ years
Country
USA
Industry focus
Art & entertainment | Food & drink | Home & garden
Brief overview
Tony is a certified Google advertiser with a wealth of experience in pay-per-click advertising and SEO.
Specialties
- Google Ads
- Google Shopping
- YouTube Ads
- PPC
- SEO
- Freelance marketing and consulting
Why hire Tony?
Overseeing a diverse portfolio, Tony has effectively managed over 60 clients, from start-ups to national businesses, entrepreneurs, and personal brands.
Tony's expertise spans various contexts, having worked in both agency and freelance consulting capacities. He is adept at managing budgets of all sizes, ranging from as modest as $200 per month to exceeding $9 million per month.
10
Shreyas S.
Marketing solutions and strategic planning expert
Experience
9+ years
Country
Germany
Industry focus
Automotive | Finance | Health & wellness | Technology | Travel | Food & drink | Education
Brief overview
Shreyas is a well-versed Digital Marketer with over 9 years of extensive experience in the realm of display and paid social advertising.
Specialties
- Marketing strategy
- Facebook Ads
- Google Ads
- Google Shopping
- Instagram Ads
- LinkedIn Ads
- YouTube Ads
- Bing Ads
Why hire Shreyas?
Shreyas' areas of specialization encompass a diverse array of platforms and channels, including Facebook Ads, Google Marketing Platform, App Install campaigns, App Store Optimization (ASO), Programmatic advertising, Snap Ads, and Apple Search Ads.
With an in-depth understanding of these digital marketing avenues, Shreyas brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to drive successful campaigns and deliver measurable results for clients across various industries.
What does a strategic planning specialist do?
A strategic planning specialist's main job is finding growth opportunities - especially for long-term goals, but only partially so. They will:
- Assess your company's current situation from an operational and strategic performance standpoint
- Develop strategic plans to help your business achieve its goals
- Drive performance management
- Keep an eye on industry changes and market movements
- Adjust strategies in light of market and industry research
How much does a strategic planning freelancer cost?
Strategic planning freelancers have much experience - and a proven track record of success. As such, the services of a strategic planning consultant won't be cheap, as their input can influence the overall business strategy, your marketing campaigns, and the direction of your entire organization. Rates vary depending on the scope and duration of the project but could range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per month, depending on how much time they put into working with you.
7 Mistakes to avoid when hiring a strategic planning expert
Looking to hire a strategic planning expert? Make sure you avoid these mistakes:
Not ensuring alignment with the company vision
A strategic planner should ensure that the plans they develop align with your company's mission and values and the current environment.
Not considering different perspectives
A good strategist considers different perspectives, including stakeholders, customers, and even competitors, to think through a strategy.
Not focusing on the long-term
Strategic planning isn't just about short-term gains; it requires looking at the bigger picture. So, if you're looking for someone who can deliver quick results, you might want to look for a different type of professional service (e.g., growth marketing.)
Not adjusting strategies based on data and feedback
A successful strategist can adjust their plans in light of data, feedback, and market shifts. Make sure the strategist you hire can do this. A good strategy doesn't work in a void - it changes and shifts to adapt to changing parameters.
Not providing enough resources
A good strategist needs the right resources to make their plans a reality. Ensure you provide them with the team, budget, and other resources they need to do their job right.
Not looking for a track record
Many people can market themselves as "strategic planners," especially if they have some experience in a given industry. However, that doesn't make them experts. Look at their track record of success, and hire someone with a proven history of delivering results.
Not measuring performance
Building strategies is one thing - but if you build them and don't know if they're working, they're just mere words on paper. Make sure to measure performance against the strategies and adjust accordingly.
Questions to ask when hiring a freelance strategic planner
- Have you ever worked with business owners at the beginning of their journey?
- How do you align business objectives to business planning and project scope?
- How do you determine what the right target audience is for a business?
- ...And how do you communicate to that target audience?
- Have you ever created a complete business plan?
- Can you tell us more about one of your most exciting projects?
- Can you tell us of an instance where you had a very satisfied client whose business goals were met with your help?
- Have you ever developed a marketing strategy?
- Which social media platform is best for our business, in your opinion?
- Have you ever created a sales strategy?
- How do you align growth plans with financial business plans?
- What happens if you consider a client's business goals are unrealistic?
- What is your favorite business model, and why?
- What is your favorite success business story and why?
- What do you understand by "long-term business success"?
- Are there any situations where you would sacrifice long-term business success for short-term gains?
- Do you handle any other current projects in our niche?
- Are you familiar with Agile Project Management - and if yes, how would you use it to achieve strategic plans?
- What is one of the most amazing projects you've ever worked on - and what were the results your work yielded for your client?
How to hire a strategic planning manager
Keen to hire a strategic planning manager for your company? Here's how to do it:
Decide on your goals
The first step is to decide on your goals. Think about the long-term strategy you want your business to pursue and what you need to achieve it.
Write a job description
Once you have your goals, create an effective job description that outlines what you're looking for and what experience the successful candidate should have. Be sure to include information on what you can offer as well, as this will help you attract better-quality candidates.
Ask your network
Want to skip posting jobs on freelance platforms and job boards and dealing with hundreds of applications you don't have time to sift through? Asking your network can help you reveal potential candidates you wouldn't have considered.
Hire a vetted strategic planning freelancer without fuss
If you need a fast track to hiring a strategic planning freelancer with an actual track record of success, Mayple is your best bet. We work with experienced strategists ready to pick up your project and deliver actual results. Plus, we'll match you with someone familiar with your industry - and in a matter of days! Contact us, and let's chat about your future strategic planning consultant.
FAQs
What is a freelance strategist?
A freelance strategist consultant helps clients create business strategies. Many freelance strategy consultants help clients grow their businesses at a general level, but some may consult on specific aspects of a business (e.g., marketing, sales, product development, etc.)
How much do consultants charge for strategic planning?
Different consultants will charge different price points for strategic planning. Generally, you can expect to pay starting with $5,800 per month if you want to work with someone full-time. If you want to work with a project-based consultant, they might charge you between $10,000 and $35,000, depending on the specific scope of the project.
What are the 5 steps in strategic planning?
The 5 steps in strategic planning are: defining your vision, assessing your current situation, determining your priorities and objectives, defining your responsibilities, and measuring and evaluating results.
What is the role of a strategist?
The main role of a strategist is to formulate and implement business strategy. This includes setting goals, determining the right tactics to use to achieve those goals, and mobilizing all the necessary resources to execute those tactics.
What are the skills of a strategic planner?
The main skills of a strategic planner include market research, trend and industry research, critical thinking, analytical skills, good communication, and solid business growth knowledge.
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