Frequently asked questions · MacInnis Marketing
Quick answers, plain English.
Everything people ask before working together: how a marketing system that runs itself works, what AI will and won't do, what it costs, and where to start.
How a marketing system that runs itself works.
What is a marketing system that runs itself?
It's your content, emails, follow-up and reporting set up to run on AI and automation, guided by a clear strategy. The system carries the repetitive output. Your marketer reads the data, spots what's working and makes the decisions. It doesn't run without people. It runs without people doing every task by hand.
Do I need a marketing manager to work with you?
No. The system is built around whoever steers your marketing: a marketing manager, a coordinator, or you. If you do have a marketer, the aim is to give them their thinking time back.
Will AI make my marketing sound generic?
Not if it's set up properly. The system is trained on your brand voice, your services and your real customer questions, and a person approves anything your customers will see. I talk about this in the podcast episode Will AI make my business feel less personal?
Which AI tools do you use?
Whatever fits your business. That includes Claude, Microsoft 365 Copilot with SharePoint, and the AI already built into platforms like HubSpot, Klaviyo and Canva. We start with the tools you already pay for before recommending anything new.
What happens to my data and my accounts?
The work happens inside your own accounts, with your permissions. AI assistants are set up to read only the documents you approve, and nothing is sent to customers without a person signing off. We agree what the system can and can't touch before anything is built.
What it costs, and where to start.
What is the AI Opportunity Audit, and what does it cost?
The AI Opportunity Audit is free. It's a conversation about where your marketing is losing time and where AI could realistically take on the repetitive work. If you want the full picture, the Deep Dive AI Audit is a 90-minute working session with a tailored AI Opportunity Map and starter prompts, for $595 + GST.
How much does it cost to work with you?
Monthly marketing support starts from $500 per month, depending on scope. System builds are quoted once we know what your business actually needs, usually after the audit. Quotes are transparent, with no hidden costs. See the packages.
How do I get started?
Book a free AI Opportunity Audit, email dan@macinnismarketing.com.au or call 0400 507 037. You'll usually hear back within one business day.
What working with MacInnis Marketing is like.
What services do you offer?
Marketing strategy, customer journey mapping, and the systems that run on them: AI workspaces, Copilot and SharePoint hubs, CRM and email automation, content, social, websites and lead tools, plus training so your team can run it. See all services.
What makes you different?
Strategy comes before tools, and people come before technology. You get 25 years of senior marketing thinking, a system built around your customers rather than a tool, and a team that understands and owns what's been built. Human-centred, clear and reliable.
What's it like to work with you?
Collaborative, honest and straightforward. You'll get senior thinking directly from me, not a hand-off to a junior team, and clear next steps after every session.
Do you only work with Melbourne businesses?
No. MacInnis Marketing is Melbourne-based and works with businesses Australia-wide, in person or over Zoom.
The questions small businesses ask most.
What does a marketing consultant actually do for a small business?
A marketing consultant brings structure, clarity and accountability to your marketing: clarifying your positioning and target market, building a marketing plan, auditing what's working, improving lead generation and aligning your messaging across channels. The focus is better decisions, not more activity.
Do I need a marketing plan if I'm already getting leads?
Yes. Many businesses grow despite their marketing, not because of it. A plan makes lead quality better, revenue more predictable and growth sustainable. It's also what a marketing system needs to run on.
How much should a small business spend on marketing?
It depends on your stage, your margins and how fast you want to grow. How the money is split matters more than the total: strategy, lead generation and keeping the customers you already have all need a share. A system that takes on the repetitive work also means more of your budget goes to thinking and less to hours spent producing.
Start free. Go deeper when you're ready.
AI Opportunity Audit
A conversation about where your marketing is losing time, where AI could realistically take on the repetitive work, and whether working together makes sense.
Book a Free AI Opportunity AuditDeep Dive AI Audit
A one-off 90-minute working session that maps your marketing workflow in detail, with a tailored AI Opportunity Map, a starter prompt pack and clear follow-up recommendations.
Book a Deep Dive AI AuditAsk it in person. The first conversation is free.
Book a free AI Opportunity Audit and we'll talk through where your marketing is losing time, and what would actually move things for you. Or email me and you'll usually hear back within one business day.