FAQs
Frequently asked questions.
Straight answers about who we work with, how we operate and what it’s like to partner with a marketing consultancy like Ervin & Smith.
Who we are.
What type of companies does Ervin & Smith work with?
We partner with growth-minded, mid-market companies – typically $10 million to $100+ million in revenue – across nearly every industry, including professional services, B2B, financial and agricultural sectors. Most are led by CEOs or leadership teams who need senior-level marketing clarity without hiring a full-time CMO.
Are you a full-service agency or marketing consultant?
We are a strategic marketing consultancy and growth partner. That means we lead with strategy and senior-level guidance, similar to a fractional CMO, but we can also support execution with brand, creative and media expertise. You get a partner that bridges strategy and execution, without the overhead of a traditional full-service agency model.
What makes Ervin & Smith a marketing consultancy, rather than an agency?
Our clients don’t hire us to “do marketing.” They hire us to define what marketing should do. We diagnose, align and operationalize marketing at the executive level — and then help teams deliver it.
Where is Ervin & Smith located? Do you only work with Omaha companies?
We are headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska and frequently work with leadership teams across the Midwest and throughout the U.S. While many clients find us when searching for a marketing consulting firm in Omaha or a strategic marketing agency in Nebraska, our engagements extend well beyond our region.
What industries do you specialize in?
We work across multiple industries, but we are especially experienced in B2B, insurance, financial services, technology, manufacturing, purpose-driven organizations and mid-market companies navigating growth or change. Because we think like the C-suite, our work is more about solving business problems than specializing in a single vertical.
What does it mean that Ervin & Smith is a Certified B Corporation?
Who we work with.
What size companies do you typically serve?
Most of our partnerships are with companies that range between $10M and $100M+ in revenue — often founder-led, private-equity backed or preparing for expansion. We also work with enterprise divisions and boards seeking outside clarity from seasoned advisors.
Do you work with companies that already have a marketing team?
Yes — most of our clients already have a marketing department. We complement these internal teams with strategic direction, executive guidance and systems that connect their efforts to business results. We help good teams become great by adding clarity and accountability.
Do you work with private-equity backed companies or family businesses?
Yes. We frequently help PE-backed or founder-led companies navigate leadership transitions, rebranding, and post-acquisition alignment — ensuring marketing matches the business’s next stage.
How do I know if Ervin & Smith is the right partner for my business?
If you’re leading a company and want to make marketing work like the rest of your business — with clarity, accountability and measurable impact — we’re likely a great fit. We work best when the stakes are high and clarity matters most.
What we do.
Do you offer branding and creative services?
Yes. We bring strategy to life through brand platforms, campaigns and messaging systems that move audiences and drive measurable results. We also offer media, public relations, social, content, partnerships and more.
Do you offer performance marketing or media buying?
Yes. Our team supports full-funnel media strategy, measurement and optimization for clients that need both strategy and execution. However, unlike media-focused digital agencies, we ensure media decisions ladder up to business goals, not just impressions or clicks.
Do you offer ongoing advisory or fractional CMO services?
Yes. Many of our clients retain us long-term as strategic advisors or fractional CMOs. We participate in leadership meetings, guide marketing direction and ensure the organization stays focused on the right priorities for growth.
What if my business doesn’t have a marketing strategy yet?
Perfect. That’s exactly where our consultancy model shines. We help companies build strong foundational strategies before investing in creative, media or technology. It prevents wasted spend and sets the organization up for sustainable growth.
How we work.
What should I expect when working with a marketing consultancy like Ervin & Smith?
Expect clarity, structure and senior-level guidance — not chaotic brainstorms or a list of disconnected tactics. We begin by aligning marketing to your business strategy, establishing priorities and defining clear success measures. You’ll always know why we’re doing something, how it supports your goals and what impact it’s meant to drive. We do not disappear for weeks or surprise you with creative “ta-da” moments. You get partnership, transparency and accountability at every step.
How does an engagement typically start?
Most begin with a Strategy Diagnostic — our structured assessment that evaluates marketing maturity, identifies blind spots and aligns leadership around a focused plan for growth. It’s where clarity starts.
What does a typical engagement cadence look like?
Most engagements follow a structured rhythm:
Week 1-4: Discovery, alignment and clarity (Strategy Diagnostic or GTM Reset)
Week 4-8: Planning, positioning and messaging
Ongoing: Activation, measurement and advisory check-ins
You’ll typically meet with our senior strategy team weekly or biweekly, with additional touchpoints for creative or channel execution.
How involved will our executive team need to be?
Enough to make the work meaningful, but not enough to feel burdensome. We guide the process, facilitate alignment, and bring frameworks that simplify decision-making. Your leadership team’s role is to provide context, make timely decisions and engage in the early strategic conversations. After that, we carry the work forward.
How does Ervin & Smith measure marketing ROI?
We connect the dots between effort and impact. That means setting up dashboards that translate marketing performance into business metrics — revenue growth, customer value, lead quality and cost efficiency — not just clicks and impressions.
How much of our time will the project require?
Less than you might think. We know CEOs and senior leaders are stretched. That’s why our process is built to extract what we need quickly and efficiently, then let you get back to running the business.
A typical engagement requires:
2-3 hours of leadership time during initial strategy alignment
1-2 hours per week of working time depending on scope
Quarterly leadership check-ins for ongoing advisory clients
What makes a consultancy engagement successful?
Three factors:
Clarity: Clear objectives and business goals from the start.
Access: Availability of key decision-makers during early phases.
Commitment: Willingness to focus marketing efforts on the priorities that will make the biggest impact.
When those are in place, results come quickly and consistently.
What tools or platforms do you use?
We are platform-agnostic and advisor-first. Our strategy is never built around a tool, but we work comfortably across HubSpot, Google Marketing Stack, GA4, media platforms, CRM systems and analytics tools to meet your team where they are.
Working with an agency.
Why do companies hire Ervin & Smith instead of a full-time CMO?
Because they need executive-level marketing leadership, not executive-level overhead. We embed senior advisors who work alongside your CEO and leadership team to align business goals with marketing outcomes. It’s access to decades of strategic experience at a fraction of the cost and commitment.
How much do marketing consulting engagements typically cost?
Our pricing reflects senior-level expertise and depends on the engagement type:
Strategy Diagnostic: project-based
GTM Reset™ / Brand Blueprint: scoped engagements
Fractional CMO Advisory: monthly retainer
Activation & Creative: variable depending on need
Because we serve as a strategic partner, not just vendors delivering assets, clients typically see ROI through improved clarity, better decision-making and more efficient marketing spend.
How quickly can we expect to see results?
Most clients experience clarity — the kind that informs better decisions — within the first 2-4 weeks. Meaningful marketing and business impact usually start to show within 60-90 days, depending on your sales cycle, channels and decision speed. Brand perception and bigger strategic moves take longer, but the goal is always the same: make each step measurable and worth the investment.
How is working with Ervin & Smith different from hiring a freelancer or small creative shop?
Freelancers and small studios often focus on production — logos, websites, content or campaigns. We focus on executive alignment, strategy, decision-making and measurement before anything is created. We serve as a fractional CMO, strategic advisor and execution partner, not a vendor. Our 40-year history and B Corp standards reinforce a level of professionalism and accountability that most creative shops aren’t built to offer.
How is Ervin & Smith different from other agencies?
We don’t sell ads or campaigns. We build clarity, systems and confidence for leadership teams. While many agencies stop at creative output, we start at business outcomes, connecting marketing decisions to revenue, customer value and long-term growth.
What if my company has been burned by agencies before?
Many of our clients come to us after disappointing agency experiences — unclear strategy, weak execution or lots of activity with little impact. We address those issues by:
Starting with clarity and alignment (not campaigns)
Setting expectations, goals and success metrics upfront
Providing direct access to senior strategists
Operating transparently with no hidden fees or surprises
Our goal is to restore trust in marketing by bringing discipline, honesty and measurable outcomes.
Will you replace our marketing team?
Not unless you need us to. Most clients keep their internal teams, we simply help them operate with more clarity, efficiency and confidence. We bring the strategy, leadership and frameworks while your team brings industry knowledge and boots-on-the-ground execution. Together, that’s what drives results.