Hello, I'm Marie Rocher

Inbound strategist who helps brands and businesses grow

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Who I Am

Marie Rocher | Certified Digital Marketer

I’m a certified digital and inbound marketing professional who helps brands create successful inbound marketing strategies to engage with their communities at all points in the funnel – to broaden brand awareness, build relationships and bring in revenue.

*Banner photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash

My Experience

My career journey over the last decade has been both unexpected and fascinating. Ten years ago, I couldn’t have envisaged doing what I do now for a living, as most of it hadn’t even come into being yet!

2009 – I left my job in book publishing for a career in the new field of digital publishing. During my time at a leading South African publishing house, I was responsible for commissioning titles; budget, project and people management; sub and copy editing; attending to legal obligations; and managing brand, marketing communications and publicity, including website and the newly emerging social media channels, TV, radio, print media and events. I was intimately involved in the launch of a new trade books imprint, particularly in developing a unique, relevant brand identity and an intensive brand awareness campaign at imprint level, as well as promotion at title level.

2010 – I joined a niche web development and publishing company, which afforded me a hands-on opportunity to combine my knack for writing with the new field of search engine optimisation. I worked in a super studio with a bunch of talented creatives, where I tackled long-form SEO articles and blog writing; short-form and micro-copy; content and social media strategies; content curation; copy editing; script writing; commissioning; analytics and reporting; market research; PPC; SEO and SMO. During this time, I also contributed as a freelance writer to some of South Africa’s leading glossy magazines, including The O Magazine (Oprah) and FAIRLADY, and was privileged to earn several cover features.

2016 – I spent the next 18 months as the senior digital marketing specialist at a digital marketing agency.Surviving in a fast-paced, pressured environment was made easier by the wonderful creative crew with whom I worked. Together, we tackled web development, eCommerce and digital marketing campaigns for diverse customers – from retail to industry, from solopreneurs to national brands, and B2B to B2C – all of which gave me valuable hands-on experience across a range of platforms, projects and people!

2017 – Next, I landed a marketing and media management gig at an energy company. Here, I bootstrapped an entire inbound marketing strategy via hands-on full-stack marketing, and co-ordinating a small team of marketing specialists and outside service providers. Before me, there was no established corporate identity or brand, no optimised website, no tracking, no social media, no inbound lead generation, no lead qualification, no press and no PR! Today, business comes to the company through fully optimised web and social channels, and the organisation is poised to take advantage of a fully mapped customer journey to acquire new clients and increase client retention.

2021 – After the pandemic pandemonium of 2020, it was time for a change of energy! Back to agency life for me, as I took up a position as senior strategist at an award-winning agency specialising in digital marketing solutions for SMEs. Here, I’m responsible for creating effective digital marketing strategies to grow clients’ brands and businesses, and in contributing to agency growth by driving client retention. Looking forward to bashing out some big picture thinking and getting those game plans going in a creative, enabling space!

My Driving Force

My Education

I’m a bit of nerd, with a flair for book learning!


HonsBA (Psychology)

BA cum laude (English, Psychology)

Diploma in Journalism (Creative Writing, Freelance Journalism)

Matric Exemption

My Certifications

I’m crazy about digital marketing – certifiable, in fact!


GOOGLE Fundamentals of Digital Marketing: ID 427 2UB L8k

GOOGLE Analytics: Expires May 2023

GOOGLE My Business

GOOGLE Ads Search Certification: ID 59011446 – Expires October 2021

Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification: ID 764ae025a544f1c87023e707ca10e67

My Values

I work according to a simple premise – to conduct myself in a manner befitting of a certified inbound/digital marketing professional. To this end, I do not make use of black hat marketing tactics nor unethical business practices that would call my craft into disrepute or question my personal integrity.

 

I’m passionate and principled, and work for the best interests of the brand, the project and its people – the only way to achieve true, long-term marketing success – through delivering honest, creative, responsible marketing solutions.


Authenticity

Integrity

Transparency

What I Do

As a deep-thinking strategic marketer, I draw on both my analytical and creative sides to craft strategies and tactical plans that work – drawing from research, data analysis, experience and a healthy dose of creative intuition.

 

As a tactical full-stack marketer, I leverage layers of the digital marketing stack and co-ordinate resources to facilitate acquisition (helping draw people in), consideration (helping them weigh up a brand, product or service offering) and conversion (prompting them to take an action, like signing up to a newsletter, sending an enquiry or ordering a product).

Inbound Marketing

Inbound Marketing

Brand experience
Customer experience optimisation
Customer journey optimisation
User experience optimisation

Disruptive outbound techniques have gone the way of the Dodo – extinct! We’re living in the age of the customer, and the organisations which will see success are the ones that put the customer at the centre of everything that they do.


Interested in shifting to customer-centricity? I can help!

Digital Marketing

Digital Marketing

Search engine optimisation
Search engine marketing
Social media marketing
Website development

Those pesky unsolicited marketing calls from unknown numbers – that’s interruptive marketing and it’s not cool. Thankfully, there are better ways to get people’s attention – through using the digital marketing stack.


Don’t know your social media from your search engine? I’ll show you how!

Content Marketing

Content Marketing

Blogging
Social media management
Email marketing
Lead magnets

The age of the consumer heralded the end of the broadcast era. With consumers spending increasing amounts of time online, it follows that digital marketing channels are where you need to be.


Content personalisation is where it’s at – let’s get your brand online!

Digital PR

Digital PR

Thought leadership
Online reputation management
Media monitoring
Media pitches

There’s only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about at all, said writer Oscar Wilde. All good and well, but it does require careful management.


Ready to take your online brand to the next level? Let’s enhance that brand chatter!

What they say about me

I believe that books are socially constructed. People and their stories are the fabric from which all books are created.  As author, I needed encouragement and a supportive space in which I could reflect and bounce ideas.  I thank Marie for her constructive suggestions, enthusiasm, and expertise in the creation of my book, Career? Sorted! Her assistance was invaluable.

Gloria Marsay, Psychologist, Author and Career Consultant

Marie Rocher
2020-07-29T14:43:35+02:00

Gloria Marsay, Psychologist, Author and Career Consultant

I believe that books are socially constructed. People and their stories are the fabric from which all books are created.  As author, I needed encouragement and a supportive space in which I could reflect and bounce ideas.  I thank Marie for her constructive suggestions, enthusiasm, and expertise in the creation of my book, Career? Sorted! Her assistance was invaluable.
Very rarely does one find creativity, tenacity and skill rolled into one! What a pleasure it was to have worked alongside someone who co-created the vision, defined the direction and then delivered something out-of-the-ordinary every single time.

Arabella Koopman, Publisher

Marie Rocher
2020-07-29T14:43:57+02:00

Arabella Koopman, Publisher

Very rarely does one find creativity, tenacity and skill rolled into one! What a pleasure it was to have worked alongside someone who co-created the vision, defined the direction and then delivered something out-of-the-ordinary every single time.
Marie Rocher writes regularly for FAIRLADY magazine – and we’ll keep her on board for as long as she’s willing to contribute. In a budget-conscious environment, we certainly don’t begrudge this spend! She is the consummate professional. Her articles are of exceptional quality: beautifully and tightly written, well researched, topical, relevant, perfectly structured. Her pitches are perfectly on point: she has clearly taken the time to understand our approach. And the final product never disappoints – the promise suggested in the pitch is fulfilled. Also, she delivers to her deadlines – or before. It’s no doubt obvious from the preceding comments that we’d give Marie an unqualified recommendation – even though we really wish we could keep her all to ourselves!

Anna Rich, Senior Editor: FAIRLADY Magazine

Marie Rocher
2020-07-29T14:44:26+02:00

Anna Rich, Senior Editor: FAIRLADY Magazine

Marie Rocher writes regularly for FAIRLADY magazine – and we’ll keep her on board for as long as she’s willing to contribute. In a budget-conscious environment, we certainly don’t begrudge this spend! She is the consummate professional. Her articles are of exceptional quality: beautifully and tightly written, well researched, topical, relevant, perfectly structured. Her pitches are perfectly on point: she has clearly taken the time to understand our approach. And the final product never disappoints – the promise suggested in the pitch is fulfilled. Also, she delivers to her deadlines – or before. It’s no doubt obvious from the preceding comments that we’d give Marie an unqualified recommendation – even though we really wish we could keep her all to ourselves!
Marie’s copy is always well researched, on time and within budget. We will definitely be back and would gladly recommend Marie to any of our clients.

Werner Van Dyk, Creative Natives

Marie Rocher
2020-07-22T09:24:45+02:00

Werner Van Dyk, Creative Natives

Marie’s copy is always well researched, on time and within budget. We will definitely be back and would gladly recommend Marie to any of our clients.
I found Marie's work to be thorough, thoughtful and expansive, and she made concerted efforts to publicise my work in as many avenues as possible. She has a broad range of skills, both written and verbal, and knows the writing market inside out; so much so that she is able to connect with people in places one often thinks may be almost impossible. She is well-read, as publicists and agents ought to be, and considerate in her dealings with people, putting her presence above those who slumber in thwarted uncertainty. Marie always has a plan...and her plan always works!

Rozena Maart, Fiction Author

Marie Rocher
2020-07-29T14:43:05+02:00

Rozena Maart, Fiction Author

I found Marie's work to be thorough, thoughtful and expansive, and she made concerted efforts to publicise my work in as many avenues as possible. She has a broad range of skills, both written and verbal, and knows the writing market inside out; so much so that she is able to connect with people in places one often thinks may be almost impossible. She is well-read, as publicists and agents ought to be, and considerate in her dealings with people, putting her presence above those who slumber in thwarted uncertainty. Marie always has a plan...and her plan always works!
Marie Rocher is an innovative copywriting expert – she successfully engages her target audience and renders texts of excellent quality, relevant content and current approach. She writes well, she writes on time, and she writes on budget.

George de Bruin, Medihelp Medical Scheme

Marie Rocher
2020-07-22T09:25:21+02:00

George de Bruin, Medihelp Medical Scheme

Marie Rocher is an innovative copywriting expert – she successfully engages her target audience and renders texts of excellent quality, relevant content and current approach. She writes well, she writes on time, and she writes on budget.
You succeeded in getting us interview time on Nancy Richard's Otherwise slot on SAfm in a week when the pressure for airtime was considerable. And then there is the Facebook group you set up for us...[that includes] in its reach the Rev. Mpho Tutu in Toronto, 340ml musician Paulo Chibango and theatre director Bruce Hostetler  in Portland, Oregon.

Robin Malan, Author and Chairperson, IBBY SA

Marie Rocher
2020-07-22T09:24:11+02:00

Robin Malan, Author and Chairperson, IBBY SA

You succeeded in getting us interview time on Nancy Richard's Otherwise slot on SAfm in a week when the pressure for airtime was considerable. And then there is the Facebook group you set up for us...[that includes] in its reach the Rev. Mpho Tutu in Toronto, 340ml musician Paulo Chibango and theatre director Bruce Hostetler  in Portland, Oregon.
Marie is one of those people with whom I love to work! She's professional, incredibly smart and takes on each project, whether 80 words or 800 words with the same amount of vigour and focus. Over the last few years, Marie has contributed hundreds of articles to our various web directories - the articles are always polished, well researched and written with SEO principles in mind, which makes my job so much easier. In addition, she regularly contributes ideas and offers her own suggestions about what to write, which I have found invaluable as a business owner (with no background in writing). In short, she gets stuck in!"

Louise Sanders, Limelight Websites

Marie Rocher
2020-07-22T09:21:15+02:00

Louise Sanders, Limelight Websites

Marie is one of those people with whom I love to work! She's professional, incredibly smart and takes on each project, whether 80 words or 800 words with the same amount of vigour and focus. Over the last few years, Marie has contributed hundreds of articles to our various web directories - the articles are always polished, well researched and written with SEO principles in mind, which makes my job so much easier. In addition, she regularly contributes ideas and offers her own suggestions about what to write, which I have found invaluable as a business owner (with no background in writing). In short, she gets stuck in!"
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Marie Rocher

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