How is this different from hiring a marketing agency?

Traditional agencies tend to focus on execution — running campaigns, creating content, managing ads. Bearhat Marketing provides leadership first. I help you decide what to do, why it matters, and how it fits together. I can also manage your existing suppliers or recommend new ones, but I'm not here to simply take orders. If you need someone to own the strategy and make sure marketing actually supports your business goals, that's where I come in.

Do I need to commit to ongoing work?

Not at all. You can start with a Marketing Audit or a Marketing Power Hour to get clarity without any long-term commitment. If you want more support after that, we can discuss a Marketing Direction Sprint or a Leadership Retainer — but there's no obligation. The goal is to help you take the next right step, not lock you into something that doesn't fit.

I'm based outside Warwickshire — can you still help?

Absolutely. Whilst I'm based near Coventry, I work with businesses across the UK. Most of my work is done remotely, with occasional in-person meetings where it makes sense. As long as you're looking for strategic marketing leadership (not daily hands-on support), location isn't a barrier.

What kind of businesses do you work with?

I work with owner-led businesses who've reached a point where marketing feels reactive, disconnected, or stuck. You might be doing £500k–£5m in revenue, don't have in-house marketing, and aren't ready to hire someone senior full-time. You want direction, not just more activity. If that sounds like you, we're probably a good fit.

Your Outsourced Marketing Director.

Senior Strategy. Real Results. No Full-Time Hire.

If your marketing feels busy but it’s not getting results, you’re not alone.

I’m Victoria Steele – an outsourced marketing director for owner-led businesses across the UK. I bring senior-level strategy, take ownership of the priorities, and make it happen. All without the cost or commitment of hiring someone full-time.

Based near Coventry. Working with businesses across Warwickshire, the Midlands, and the UK.

Sound familiar?

Most of the businesses I work with are doing marketing – posting on LinkedIn, running some ads, sending emails – but nothing feels properly joined up. Activity is happening, but it isn’t building anything.

You might recognise this:

If that’s where you are, Bearhat was built for you.

What does an outsourced marketing director actually do?

Think of me as your part-time Head of Marketing – without the full-time salary, employment risk, or six-month onboarding.

I come in, learn your business properly, and take ownership of your marketing in a way an agency never will. That means:

This is not a report that sits in a folder. This is someone who takes responsibility for your marketing and makes sure it works.

How I work with businesses

Marketing Director Retainer

I become your outsourced marketing director on an ongoing basis - owning strategy, managing suppliers, and driving execution month to month. This is the most comprehensive way to work together, and where clients see the biggest results.

Best for businesses ready to invest properly in marketing and who want a senior person taking ownership long-term.

Marketing Direction Sprint

A focused, time-limited engagement to set your marketing priorities, align everything to your business goals, and give you a clear plan to move forward. Ideal if you want direction without committing to an ongoing arrangement straight away.

Best for businesses who feel stuck and need clarity before they take action.

Marketing Audit

A senior-level review of your current marketing - what's working, what's wasting budget, and what to do about it. You'll receive a clear written report with prioritised recommendations.

Best for businesses that want an honest outside view before making decisions.

Marketing Power Hour

One focused session to get unstuck. Bring your questions, your challenges, or a specific decision you need help with - and leave with clear direction.

Best for business owners who want expert input without any commitment.

What happens when marketing finally has direction

Here’s what owner-led businesses say about working with an outsourced marketing director for the first time:

"We have been working with Bearhat Marketing for over three months now, and as a company that's never really "done" marketing in the past, it's been an eye-opener. The first step was to thoroughly reviewed the state of our (admittedly somewhat haphazard) approach to marketing in the past, along with a deep dive into the content and structure of our website. That, in turn, lead to actionable changes, clearly set out, well justified, and comprehensively explained, many of which have already been implemented, and the remainder of which are in the pipeline. It's been a boon to have someone come in with not just experience and expertise, but a completely fresh set of eyes. It's helped us look at our marketing efforts - whether through our own website, LinkedIn, email or otherwise - from a completely different, and much more objective, perspective."

"Vic has done far more than we expected and has made huge improvements to our website as well as our social media. The knowledge Vic has is amazing & that shows in her work. Vic has provided monthly reports on work she has completed as well as the stats from to show us the changes have been effective. We are so pleased we were recommended to use Vic."

"Victoria is just incredible at what she does. The work she produced and recommendations she offered were invaluable. No false promises or fluff, just really thorough workflows and strategy to help us nurture leads. Couldn't recommend more!"

I can't recommend Vic enough. She has always gone above and beyond to get our projects over the line and completed to the highest standard. She has an excellent attention to detail and endless patience when it come to understanding our vision. She is a joy to work with, thanks for all your support!

Who I've Worked With

Senior marketing experience. Without the agency price tag.

I’m Victoria Steele – founder of Bearhat Marketing and your outsourced marketing director.

After more than 12 years working in senior marketing roles across agencies and in-house teams, I started Bearhat because I kept seeing the same problem: growing businesses getting let down by agencies who executed without thinking, or consultants who planned without doing.

Bearhat is different. I take genuine ownership of my clients’ marketing – giving honest feedback, making data-led decisions, and always being clear about what’s working and what isn’t.

If you want someone who shows up, gets it done, and tells you the truth – let’s talk.

Not sure where to start?

That’s completely normal – most business owners I speak to haven’t worked with an outsourced marketing director before. Here’s how I’d suggest approaching it:

Book a Marketing Audit If you want an honest view of where your marketing stands right now
Start with a Marketing Direction Sprint If you’re ready to set a clear direction and create a plan
Book a Marketing Power Hour. If you have one specific question or challenge
Let’s talk about the retainer. If you’re ready to have someone take ownership of your marketing

There’s no obligation to commit to anything upfront. The first step is just a conversation.

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FAQs

What's the difference between an outsourced marketing director and a marketing agency?

A marketing agency typically focuses on executing specific tasks – running ads, creating content, managing social media. They do what they’re briefed to do. An outsourced marketing director does something different: they take responsibility for the whole picture. I decide what should be done, why, and how – then make sure it happens. That means setting strategy, managing any suppliers you use, and being accountable for performance. It’s the thinking and the doing, not just the doing.

What does a part-time marketing director cost compared to hiring in-house?

A full-time, experienced Marketing Director in the UK typically costs £60,000–£90,000 per year in salary alone – before employer NI, pension, benefits, recruitment fees, and onboarding time. Working with Bearhat gives you senior-level expertise at a fraction of that cost, with no employment risk and no lengthy hiring process. You can start with a one-off audit or power hour, and scale up from there.

Do I need to be based in Coventry or Warwickshire to work with you?

Not at all. I’m based near Coventry and work regularly with businesses across Warwickshire and the West Midlands – but most of my clients are spread across the UK. The majority of my work is done remotely, and it works just as well. If you’re local and prefer some face-to-face time, I’m happy to arrange that too.

What size of business do you typically work with?

I work with owner-led businesses who are past the early startup stage and are growing – typically £500k to £5m in annual revenue. They don’t have an in-house marketing team, and they’re not ready (or not willing) to hire a full-time senior marketer. They want direction, accountability, and results – not just more activity.

How quickly can we get started?

For one-off work like a Marketing Audit or Power Hour, usually within a week of enquiring. For retainer arrangements, I take on a limited number of clients at a time to ensure quality – so it’s worth getting in touch sooner rather than later to check availability. Alternatively you can add your name to the waitlist and I’ll contact you when a slot opens up.