Let's work together

It starts by gathering your people.

The last time you needed to hire someone (a plumber, an acupuncturist, a builder, a coach) I'm willing to bet you ignored the AI slop and insta-ads, and either a) went to the person you knew would have a rec, or b) slung a message in the group chat - anyone know someone who can help me out with this?

In 2026 small business marketing doesn't mean a snazzy ad or a catchy slogan, and it's not really about your website.

Which is good news for small business owners.

If you deliver what you say you will, and do a good job, you don't need to spend a shit ton of money on marketing or try to pretend to be a bigger fish than you are.

Instead, you've got to know who your people are, what they're looking for, and how you can help them. Do that, and clients come from relationships rather than sales funnels. Marketing feels more like making friends than selling.

I'm a community strategist. I help coaches, practitioners and mission-led founders build the community and content that bring the right people to them, and keep them there by fostering genuine, meaningful connection.

I help you work out who you're talking to, what to say, and how to build something people want to belong to.

Community-First Content Session

For coaches and practitioners who want to grow their client community.

A practical two-hour session, one to one, online. Before we meet, you tell me what you want to walk away with, and I shape the session around that.

Together we'll:

• get clear on who your community really is, where they hang out, and what they're looking for
• map the content that will draw them in and build trust - from social to substacks
• work through practical exercises you can keep using to generate ideas and create long and short form content

You leave with a one-page plan, a month of content ideas, and the tools to keep generating more.

£150, 1:1

Community-First Workshop

For groups of coaches, practitioners or peers who want to learn together.

A two-hour group workshop, online or in person on how to get more clients with a community-based approach. Interactive, practical and tailored to the group's goals.

£450 for up to 12 people

Community Groundwork

For founders with a group that's lost its spark, or a community they're about to launch.

A three-week design sprint that gives you a community you can run without it taking over your life. I listen to you and your members, then design the foundations with you:

• purpose and principles: who it's for and why it exists
• voice: how you speak to your members, with sample posts
• rhythm: what happens each week and month, online and in person
• roles: what you do, what a host does, what members can lead
• a 30-day starter plan and simple signs it's working

Three live calls, five customer interviews you can also use as case studies, one clear playbook, and two weeks of support afterwards.

£1,000

Tending

For communities that are up and running and need a steady hand.

Monthly support for your community

From £250 a month

Why me

I've been building communities for over a decade, online and off. As part of Unifant, our local community festival, I've helped grow a volunter-led gathering to a vibrant sold out 500-person festival. I lead community at Velaia, an app and community for mothers, and in spring 2027 I'll be opening a wholefoods shop and community hub. Before that I spent 13 years in digital strategy for coaches, course creators and wellbeing organisations, most recently as Head of Digital.

I've seen what happens when people feel they belong: they become your biggest champions. I'd love to help you build that.

Let's talk

Not sure which fits? Book a free 30-minute call or email me at madeleine@madeleineforbes.co.uk and tell me what you'd like to walk away with.