About Into The Woods Marketing
I’m Veronica, I work with B2B companies as a marketing mentor and on their marketing strategy.
My background
I have worked in marketing since the 00s, starting as sales and comms support, working my way up to head of marketing and now as a marketing consultant.
It feels like I have always worked in difficult economic conditions, having graduated into the credit crunch and then building my career through the public sector cuts of the 2010s, then Brexit and the pandemic. Tight budgets, limited resources and responding to a crisis are all part of my marketing DNA.
Before I knew about marketing, I wanted to be a journalist and I spent my school and university holidays working part time and doing newspaper internships. I studied English Language and Literature at the University of Leeds and after graduating, a temp job turned into a marketing support role.
Studying English was great for my copywriting skills but didn’t teach my anything about business. So, a few years into my career, I went on to study the Level 6 diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, where I learned all about marketing theory, planning and management.
I worked as an in-house marketer for 12 years in public sector tech, charity, environmental health and property. My roles spanned companies and teams of all sizes, in markets all around the world. I was (and still am) a generalist marketer, usually working across a number of divisions and managing their campaigns, collateral, events, communications and content.
During my time in-house, I received a lot of training in coaching and mentoring, and early in my business journey I completed an ILM Level 5 certificate in coaching and mentoring.
I love to share my marketing knowledge and experience; you’ll find my marketing, copy and PR insights on the blog, my career and business journey on Medium and my newsletter on Substack. I’ve taught courses through Alt Marketing School and I work with Girls in Marketing as a trainer and mentor.
Who I work with
I mostly work with small to medium businesses, startups, and businesses that are brand new to marketing, because this is where I can make the biggest impact as a consultant. Most of my clients are in B2B and SaaS, which are sectors that I know and love.
For many businesses, marketing support usually looks like an expensive consultant or a junior in-house hire. I am neither of these things.
I won’t work with you every day, because you don’t need it right now. I keep my client-base small, so you get my attention. And when you grow to the point where you need a full-time resource, I’ll help you make the transition. I will mentor your marketing team to help them get up and running.
Into The Woods Marketing is not a side hustle or a stepping stone. It’s my business, where I do my best work, giving you access to my marketing brain and my network in a way which is flexible and affordable. I’m very lucky that most of my work comes through existing contacts and recommendations.
I work in a lot of highly regulated sectors, so most of my work is confidential and under an NDA. If you want to work with me, chances are you work in similar industries and can understand this need for client privacy.
Into The Woods Marketing is fully insured through Policy Bee and I have a contract with each and every client, no matter the size of the project. It’s also a climate positive business through Ecologi, which means that my carbon footprint and travel is offset, and I have a company forest.
Marketing strategy
Having worked in several industries, with all kinds of products and services, I have marketed many weird and wonderful things. The approach, however, is always the same.
Everything starts with the customer, a marketing strategy and plan approached with precision. Campaigns are when we can get creative. When I meet a new client, we’ll talk about their business and brand before looking closer at their product/service and customers. We agree on goals and a plan of action based on how much of my support they need.
I’m hands-on when it comes to marketing, copywriting and PR. On some projects I will use the expertise of designers and developers to deliver the best result. I’ll always be honest if a freelancer with a different skill set or an agency with more capacity would be better suited to your needs.
Marketing mentor
I believe that every marketer should have a mentor. Somebody who is your sounding board, to push you when needed and listen when times are tough. I have benefitted enormously from having several mentors throughout my career. As a marketing mentor I work with early-mid career marketers who are following the same career path as my in-house career.
My mentoring approach is to coach and listen, encouraging my mentees to think independently. I openly share my own experiences as a marketer, including what has worked, hasn’t worked and what I’ve learnt along the way. Our mentoring relationship will focus on setting goals, exploring your options and setting a plan of action.
I work with businesses as a mentor for in-house marketers. I also offer a service for marketers to directly Ask Me Anything. And, I am a Girls in Marketing mentor, so if you’re a member, then you can book 1:1s with me through the platform.
The story of Into The Woods Marketing
Into The Woods started as an idea in 2015, prompted by the need for more freedom and flexibility, and fewer meetings and office politics. In 2016 I was offered an opportunity to work in e-commerce and gain experience in B2C marketing. I took the job and put Into The Woods on the back burner.
An eventful few years followed. I moved cities, I was made redundant and I bought a house as a renovation project. In 2019, I revisited the idea of going freelance, once more craving flexibility. I gave my three months’ notice at the start of 2020 and in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic, became a fully-fledged marketing consultant.
A bit more about me
I am British and Venezuelan and grew up near Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. I studied English Language and Literature at the University of Leeds and lived in Yorkshire for 12 years. In 2016, I moved to Nottingham.
I love travelling, reading and food. History and vintage design are also big passions of mine. I speak fluent Spanish, some Portuguese and many bits of other European languages.
Book me as a teacher, speaker or writer
I teach, speak and write about creative careers, freelancing, and marketing. If you need a marketing expert to run a workshop, contribute to a publication or be a guest on your podcast, then head over here to book me in.
Get in touch
If you would like to work with me, get in touch by email or find me on LinkedIn.
And if you’d like regular updates on how I’m growing this business and what I’m learning about marketing, then you would love my newsletter.