https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights Practical insights on fractional marketing leadership, positioning, and growth for SMEs and startups (from fractional CMO Jo van Vuuren). en-GB Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-investors-actually-read/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-investors-actually-read/ Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT Dave Mitchell has led three funding rounds and sat on both sides of the table. A conversation about decks, models, and why raises really fail. Raising a roundInterview https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/this-site-was-built-with-ai/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/this-site-was-built-with-ai/ Sat, 12 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT I build websites with Claude, draft in it daily, and shipped this site with it. Here is the line between what the tools do and what you would be hiring. OpinionAI in marketing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-chatgpt-referrals-did-for-a-restaurant/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-chatgpt-referrals-did-for-a-restaurant/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT Thirty-four visitors, three bookings, and the best conversion rate of any channel on the site. One number from a Devon restaurant’s analytics, unpacked. RestaurantsGetting found https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/restaurant-branding/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/restaurant-branding/ Sat, 05 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT Restaurant branding is the position you hold against the place down the road, carried through everything a guest reads before they taste anything. RestaurantsBrand https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/restaurant-marketing-ideas/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/restaurant-marketing-ideas/ Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT Ten ideas an independent restaurant can run without an agency: ordered by what they return, with numbers from a restaurant that ran them. RestaurantsGetting found https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/restaurant-marketing-strategies/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/restaurant-marketing-strategies/ Sat, 29 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT A working strategy for an independent restaurant starts in the booking diary, fixes being found and booked, then builds each season before the searching starts. RestaurantsStrategy https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/gti-mobilise-2026-inside-a-winning-grant-bid/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/gti-mobilise-2026-inside-a-winning-grant-bid/ Wed, 19 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT A client of mine just won a place on the UK Government’s accelerator for automotive innovators. I was part of the team behind the application: here’s what it had to prove. Bid writingStrategy https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-does-a-bid-writer-actually-do/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-does-a-bid-writer-actually-do/ Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Bid writing looks like a writing job from the outside. It isn’t; it’s building the clearest, best-evidenced case for work that deserves to win. Bid writingStrategy https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/using-ai-in-marketing-safely-for-smes/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/using-ai-in-marketing-safely-for-smes/ Sat, 15 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT AI can do real work in a small marketing team. But only if you adopt it deliberately, with the guardrails a bigger company would take for granted. AIMarketing technologySME marketing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/when-does-a-business-need-a-fractional-cmo/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/when-does-a-business-need-a-fractional-cmo/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT The honest answer isn’t “always”. It’s a specific window: past the point where founder-led marketing is enough, and short of the point where a full-time CMO makes sense. Fractional CMOMarketing leadershipSME marketing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-is-a-fractional-cmo/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-is-a-fractional-cmo/ Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT A plain explanation of what a fractional CMO actually does, how the arrangement works day to day, and who tends to benefit most from one. Fractional CMOMarketing leadership https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/seo-vs-aeo-vs-geo/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/seo-vs-aeo-vs-geo/ Tue, 11 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Search, answer and generative engine optimisation are related but distinct disciplines, and confusing them leads to the wrong investment. SEOAEOGEO https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-is-bid-writing/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-is-bid-writing/ Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Bid writing is the discipline of building the clearest, best-evidenced case against a set of criteria, not simply writing well. Bid writing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/fractional-cmo-vs-marketing-agency/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/fractional-cmo-vs-marketing-agency/ Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT An agency executes within a channel; a fractional CMO owns the strategy and outcome above it, and often ends up briefing the agency too. Fractional CMOAgencies https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/how-much-should-a-small-business-spend-on-marketing/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/how-much-should-a-small-business-spend-on-marketing/ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT The honest answer is that it depends: budget should follow the strategy and the goal, not a percentage-of-revenue rule of thumb picked in advance. SME marketingBudgeting https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/sme-marketing-problems-arent-marketing-problems/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/sme-marketing-problems-arent-marketing-problems/ Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Before you spend more on ads, agencies or a new website, it’s worth checking whether the thing that’s broken is marketing at all. PositioningSME marketingStrategy https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/how-to-get-cited-by-ai-search/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/how-to-get-cited-by-ai-search/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 09:00:00 GMT Getting cited by AI answer engines comes down to a handful of practical habits (answering directly, structuring for extraction, being easy to trust) a business can start on this week. AEOGEOAI search https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-does-a-fractional-cmo-cost/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-does-a-fractional-cmo-cost/ Thu, 30 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT Why fractional CMO pricing varies so much, what actually drives the cost, and how it compares to hiring a full-time marketing director. Fractional CMOPricing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-is-generative-engine-optimisation/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-is-generative-engine-optimisation/ Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT Generative engine optimisation is the practice of getting a business accurately cited inside AI-written answers, not merely ranked in a list of links. GEOAI search https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/how-to-write-a-winning-bid/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/how-to-write-a-winning-bid/ Sun, 26 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT A practical, ordered method for turning tender and bid criteria into a response that scores well and reads as credible. Bid writing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/outsourced-marketing-vs-in-house/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/outsourced-marketing-vs-in-house/ Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT Cost, risk, speed, depth of knowledge and continuity pull in different directions: the right structure depends on which matters most now. Marketing leadershipSME marketing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/fractional-part-time-or-interim-marketing-leadership/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/fractional-part-time-or-interim-marketing-leadership/ Thu, 16 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT Fractional, interim and part-time marketing leadership solve different problems, and here is how to tell which one actually matches your situation. Fractional CMOMarketing leadership https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/grant-funding-applications-that-get-backed/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/grant-funding-applications-that-get-backed/ Sun, 12 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT What separates grant funding applications that get backed from those that do not, and how to build a case rather than fill in a form. Bid writingFunding https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/go-to-market-strategy-guide/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/go-to-market-strategy-guide/ Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT A go-to-market strategy is an ordered set of decisions (proposition, audience, channel and timing), not a list of launch tasks. Go-to-marketStartups https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/marketing-strategy-vs-marketing-plan/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/marketing-strategy-vs-marketing-plan/ Thu, 02 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMT Strategy is the set of choices about who you are for and where you will win; a plan is the calendar that follows. Strategy https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/is-ppc-worth-it-for-a-small-business/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/is-ppc-worth-it-for-a-small-business/ Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT PPC can bring in qualified leads fast, but only when the numbers, the intent, and the conversion path are actually in place. PPCPaid mediaSME marketing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-is-a-marketing-audit/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-is-a-marketing-audit/ Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT A marketing audit is a structured review of positioning, channels, spend and data, and it is only worth doing if it ends in decisions. Marketing auditStrategy https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/best-ai-marketing-tools-for-small-teams/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/best-ai-marketing-tools-for-small-teams/ Sat, 20 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT Most “AI marketing tools” lists are fiction dressed as advice: here is how to choose based on the bottleneck you actually have. AIMarketing technology https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-is-seo/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-is-seo/ Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT SEO means helping your website show up when people search on Google, and it rests on three simple things done well over time. SEOGetting found https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/social-media-marketing-for-small-businesses/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/social-media-marketing-for-small-businesses/ Tue, 16 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT Social media can bring in customers, but only if you choose the right platform, post consistently, and track what it actually delivers. Social mediaSME marketing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-is-brand-positioning/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-is-brand-positioning/ Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT Brand positioning is the clear reason a specific customer should choose you over every alternative, including doing nothing at all. BrandPositioning https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/how-to-rank-higher-on-google/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/how-to-rank-higher-on-google/ Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT Getting higher up Google is not about tricks: it is about answering customers clearly, building a fast site, and earning genuine mentions elsewhere. SEOGetting found https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/content-marketing-for-small-businesses/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/content-marketing-for-small-businesses/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT Content marketing means being genuinely useful to the people who might buy from you, not shouting about your business until someone listens. Content marketingSME marketing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/brand-vs-branding-vs-brand-identity/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/brand-vs-branding-vs-brand-identity/ Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT Brand, branding and brand identity get used interchangeably, but they mean different things, and mixing them up can waste your marketing budget. Brand https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/local-seo-for-small-businesses/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/local-seo-for-small-businesses/ Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT Local SEO means making sure nearby customers find you first, through your Google listing, reviews, and consistent details across the web. SEOLocal marketing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/does-email-marketing-still-work/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/does-email-marketing-still-work/ Tue, 02 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT Yes, email marketing still works for small businesses, because unlike social media, you own the list and no algorithm decides who sees it. Email marketingSME marketing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/how-to-stand-out-when-competitors-are-cheaper/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/how-to-stand-out-when-competitors-are-cheaper/ Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT When a rival undercuts you on price, the answer is not to match them: it is to compete on something they cannot easily offer. PositioningSME marketing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/seo-vs-google-ads/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/seo-vs-google-ads/ Fri, 29 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT How SEO and Google Ads each earn their keep, what they cost you in time or money, and which to start with. SEOPaid media https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/why-isnt-my-website-getting-leads/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/why-isnt-my-website-getting-leads/ Wed, 27 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT The handful of reasons small-business websites fail to bring in enquiries, and how to check which one applies to you. WebsiteConversion https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/how-to-market-a-startup-with-no-budget/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/how-to-market-a-startup-with-no-budget/ Mon, 25 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT Practical, no-cost ways to market a startup: a sharp proposition, one focused channel, real customer conversations, and earned attention over paid. StartupsSME marketing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/google-ads-for-beginners/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/google-ads-for-beginners/ Fri, 22 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT How Google Ads works, what it really costs, and the mistakes that waste beginners’ budgets. Paid mediaGoogle Ads https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-makes-a-good-small-business-website/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-makes-a-good-small-business-website/ Wed, 20 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT The best small-business websites aren’t the flashiest ones, they’re the clearest: easy to understand, quick to load, and simple to act on. Website https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-is-product-market-fit/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/what-is-product-market-fit/ Mon, 18 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT What product-market fit means in practice, the honest signs you have it, and why marketing cannot fake it. StartupsProduct-market fit https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/video-marketing-for-small-businesses/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/video-marketing-for-small-businesses/ Fri, 15 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT Why video marketing works for small businesses, how little budget it now needs, and where it earns its place in your plan. VideoSME marketing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/how-to-measure-if-your-marketing-is-working/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/how-to-measure-if-your-marketing-is-working/ Wed, 13 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT A short guide to judging your marketing by real business outcomes, such as enquiries and sales, rather than likes or followers. MeasurementSME marketing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/how-to-use-chatgpt-for-marketing/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/how-to-use-chatgpt-for-marketing/ Mon, 11 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT A practical look at how to use ChatGPT for marketing tasks, from first drafts to research, and where it still needs a human check. AIMarketing technology https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/marketing-metrics-that-matter-for-small-businesses/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/marketing-metrics-that-matter-for-small-businesses/ Wed, 06 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT The handful of marketing numbers a small business actually needs to track, why vanity metrics mislead, and how to keep measurement simple. MeasurementSME marketing https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/will-ai-replace-marketing-agencies/ https://www.jvvconsulting.com/insights/will-ai-replace-marketing-agencies/ Mon, 04 May 2026 09:00:00 GMT A level-headed answer to whether AI will replace marketing agencies, and what actually changes in how you buy marketing help. AIMarketing leadership