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Working with Blake
What it's like to work with Blake
I'm Blake Hickey, a marketing consultant and fractional marketing director based in Jupiter, Florida. I work with law firms, medical and dental practices and technology companies, in Florida and remotely. Every project starts with a 15-minute call, and every engagement is written up and contracted through Hickey Media LLC.
Shopping around for marketing help? Here's how it usually goes with me. Every project is different and plans can change as we learn, but this is the typical shape.
Blake HickeyJupiter, Florida
How a project starts
From first hello to kickoff
Send me the details, or book 15 minutes
Email me what's going on, or grab a time on my calendar. Sometimes the email alone tells me whether I can help, which saves us both time.
A 15-minute first call
I keep it to 15 minutes, out of respect for your time and mine. That's usually enough to know whether I'm the right fit. On Zoom my camera is on, so you see who you'd be working with.
Goals, budget and a written proposal
If it's a fit, we talk through goals and budget. Then I write a proposal with the work, the timeline and the cost, priced around what you actually need, not a fixed package.
We go over it together
We review the proposal on a quick Zoom. You can tweak it, sign it, take time to think it over, or pass. All of those are fine.
Kickoff, drafts and delivery
Once you approve it, the work follows the proposal's deadlines and I keep you posted along the way. You see drafts early, we refine them together, and nothing goes live until you approve it. Final files come in the formats listed in your proposal.
For most projects, that's only a couple of conversations between hello and kickoff.
Why the first call is short
A straight answer in 15 minutes
During my own jaw surgery journey, I met with seven oral surgeons. The doctors I trusted most were the ones who told me when something wasn't for them and sent me to the right person. I run my calls the same way. If I'm not the right fit, I'll tell you and point you to someone who is.
Plans change as we go
We test, learn and adjust
Marketing rarely goes exactly to plan, so I break the work into small tests and put more behind what's working. You'll know what we're testing and why. If the scope changes, you get a new written price before any extra work.
What I think through before anything gets made
- Who it's for
- The offer
- Where it runs
- Phone or desktop
- Screen or print
- Size and length
- Your logo, colors and fonts
- The one action we want
First calls cover more than you'd think
The pieces should match
If you come in for a logo, I'll ask where it has to show up: your social profiles, Google Business Profile, business cards, letterhead, a brand guide so print matches online, maybe the truck. Other calls turn into a webinar, a podcast or a YouTube cleanup.
You decide what's in scope. Anything extra sits on its own line in the proposal, so you can say no to any of it.
What I do, and who I bring in
One person to call
I handle strategy, paid ads, graphic design and video production myself. I'm a marketer, not a web developer. I'll mock up what your website needs and work with your web team, or bring in development partners I work with, including Josh Titus and Tyler Lukey. Bigger projects get designers, videographers, editors and copywriters I trust. You still have one person to call.
Ways to work together
- Consulting usually starts with a 10-hour block. Some clients get what they need from that. Others move to recurring work on 6-month terms.
- Projects, like a video, a brand refresh or a campaign, are scoped and priced in the proposal.
- Monthly programs run month to month or on a term, your choice.
- Fractional marketing director roles are scoped on a call.
Current rates are on my pricing page.
What helps me get started
- Access to your ad accounts, website and CRM, if you have them.
- Your logo, brand files and any past ads or videos.
- Who approves the work. One person is plenty.
- What's worked before and what hasn't.
No ad account or web developer yet? That's fine. We'll set it up as part of the plan.
Questions people ask on the first call
Straight answers
Have you worked in my industry?
Most of my work is with law firms (business and family law most often), medical and dental practices, and technology companies. Since 2006 I've also done 500+ freelance projects across many industries. If yours is new to me, I'll say so.
Will this work?
Most campaigns follow patterns I've seen many times, and testing finds the rest. We start small, measure what matters to you, like calls, consultations or booked appointments, and put more behind what's working.
How much will it cost?
It depends on what you need. You get a written price in the proposal before any work starts, and my current rates are on the pricing page.
Is it compliant? Do I need my lawyer to review it?
I'm not a lawyer. I build law firm marketing with The Florida Bar's advertising rules in mind, and I host The Florida Bar Business Law Section's CLE series on lawyer advertising compliance. For dental practices, I follow Florida's dental advertising law. Your own attorney should make the final call, and some law firm ads need to be filed with The Florida Bar.
Can you work with my web team?
Yes. I'll map out and mock up what's needed and work alongside your team. If you don't have one, I can bring in the development partners I work with.
Will my team be able to keep it running?
That's the goal. I explain the why behind what we're doing as we go, and I hand over what your team needs to keep it running.
My ads aren't connected, or I don't have an ad account yet.
That's common. Setting up and connecting your accounts becomes part of the plan.
What people say about working with me
In their own words
"Blake built trust in his knowledge right away on our first phone call and we scheduled a Facebook Ads Manager consulting session 2 days later."
Chase GregoryLinkedIn recommendation, 2018. Consulting client
"... there is a real effort to transfer knowledge and the "why" behind what is being done. Information is treated as stuff you should know, not as trade secrets."
Steven WenigFacebook review
"Incredibly easy company to work with. Always very responsive and thorough from start to finish on every project. ..."
Andrew FausnightGoogle review, 2021
Next step
Start with an email or 15 minutes
Tell me what's going on. Email first if you like, or book 15 minutes by Zoom or phone. You'll leave knowing whether I'm the right fit and what I'd look at first.
