It started with a fence.

When we needed a new fence, we found a local builder who did everything right. He turned up when he said he would, took real pride in every post and panel, and left us with a fence we love. The kind of tradie you tell all your friends about.

After a few chats, I learned more about his business. Like most small business owners, he and his family were juggling everything: quoting, building, invoicing and, somewhere in between, trying to find time for marketing. They were doing their best with the time they had.

The more I heard, the more I wanted to help. That's just how I'm wired. When I meet good people doing great work, I want to do everything I can, with whatever resources they have, to make them as successful as possible. So I offered to do their marketing for free.

I started with an audit of where things stood and a few suggestions on how we could grow the business. Together we decided on a rebrand, and from there I set up the foundations: a Google Business Profile, social media pages and everything else they needed to hit the ground running.

Helping them sparked something. This was the marketing I love most: not chasing numbers for a big corporate, but helping a family business get the attention their work deserves.

After 14+ years in marketing, I've seen what the right marketing can do for big brands with big budgets. Small businesses deserve that same thinking, without the big price tag. That's why I started Mae Marketing: so great businesses don't miss out on work simply because marketing isn't their thing.