Newcastle-based marketing agency The Marketing GP is celebrating its 13th birthday by offering one business the chance to win a complete marketing transformation worth up to $6,000.

The agency, which has spent over a decade helping Hunter region businesses mature their marketing presence, is marking its transition into the teenage years with a campaign that speaks to business owners facing their own awkward growth phase.
“Turning 13 feels appropriate because we remember our own awkward business phases all too well,” Founder Holly Martin said. “Our original website was definitely a little cringe-worthy when I look back – I think I used every website cliché possible. But that’s the whole point, marketing trends flex and wane over the years, as does the marketing sophistication of businesses.”

Having started The Marketing GP in 2021, Holly said the milestone has prompted reflection on how many local businesses mirror that same growth journey.

“We see so many established businesses still running on their startup branding: the logo their nephew designed, the website they built themselves at 2am, the complete absence of any real marketing strategy,” Holly continued.

“That’s ok, we’ve all got to start somewhere. But those businesses have well and truly outgrown that phase, their marketing just hasn’t caught up with their success.”

The 13th birthday campaign offers one business the choice between a premium logo package, an essentials website or a complete marketing strategy (each valued at up to $6,000).

The Marketing GP Co-owner Alyssa Brault said that the anniversary was a chance to help businesses recentre their marketing as a priority.

“We know that businesses investing in professional marketing consistently outperform those stuck in the DIY phase,” Alyssa said. “This competition is about identifying one business that’s ready to make that leap from adolescent to maturity.”
The campaign is designed to bring awareness to and help business owners who are experiencing the telltale signs of a marketing maturity crisis: embarrassment about handing out business cards, websites that look dated, or lack of clear marketing direction as their business grows.

“We’re looking for businesses that have survived the startup years, that are generating revenue, maybe hired staff, but their marketing still screams ‘I’m figuring this out as I go’,” Alyssa continued. “If you’re cringing at your current branding, you’re exactly who we want to hear from.”

Entries are accepted through the The Marketing GP website and participants are asked to share details about their ‘cringiest’ business moment to submit their entries.

IMAGE | L-R Sam Jeffress, Lauren Devine, Elle Nixon, Holly Martin, Alyssa Brault