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When You Need a Consultant, Not an Agency

There’s a moment many West Sussex businesses reach where they have someone running their Google Ads — an in-house marketer, a freelancer, or an agency — but they’re not confident the strategy is right. Spend is going out, clicks are coming in, but conversions are flat or the account hasn’t been touched in months.

That’s where an independent PPC consultant is useful. I’m Stevie Morris, a Google Ads specialist with 12 years of hands-on experience and over £2 million in ad spend managed directly. I’m Google Partner and Microsoft Ads certified. I work across the UK remotely and with businesses throughout West Sussex, including clients in Brighton and Hove, Crawley, Horsham, Worthing, Chichester and the surrounding areas.

What a PPC Consultant Engagement Can Cover

The West Sussex PPC Environment

West Sussex is not a simple local market. The county borders Greater London, Surrey, Hampshire and East Sussex, which means many advertisers here are competing in genuinely national or London-competitive auctions, not just local ones. Businesses in sectors like home improvements, financial services, professional services and ecommerce face CPCs that match or exceed central London rates.

This matters for strategy. A consultant who understands this market can help you decide where to compete aggressively, where to pull back, and how to structure campaigns so your budget goes where it generates real return — not just impressions and clicks.

I have particular depth in ecommerce and D2C, and in home services and trades — two sectors that are highly active across West Sussex.

Honest Enough to Tell You the Ads Are Fine

Not every business needs a full strategic overhaul. Sometimes the campaign is structurally sound and the problem is elsewhere — the landing page, the offer, the sales process. Part of the value of a genuinely independent consultant is being willing to say that. If your Google Ads are working well, I’ll tell you. I’d rather give you an honest hour than sell you a retainer you don’t need.

A Typical Consultancy Engagement

  1. Initial consultationWe talk through your current position, your goals, and what you’re trying to achieve. I ask the questions your current setup probably hasn’t answered.
  2. Account access and reviewI review your campaigns, tracking, structure and spend history. This gives me a factual basis for any recommendations I make.
  3. Strategy session or written findingsDepending on the scope we’ve agreed, I deliver either a live working session, a written strategic brief, or both.
  4. Ongoing or one-offSome clients want a one-off engagement. Others want ongoing senior input on a retained basis. Both are available — we agree scope before starting.

Certifications and Credibility

I hold current Google Partner and Microsoft Ads certifications. I’ve managed over £2 million in Google Ads spend directly across my freelance practice, and through Growth PPC — my associated specialist agency — I’ve been involved in over £20 million in managed spend, including a peak ROAS of 20.8x in ecommerce. These aren’t agency-level numbers pooled across a team; they’re the result of direct, senior-level work.

I work with businesses across the UK from my base, serving West Sussex clients remotely. Call me on 07410 907 104 or book a consultation below.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a consultant and an agency for Google Ads?

An agency typically handles full campaign management with a team structure. A consultant works at a strategic level — advising, reviewing, coaching, or working alongside your existing resource. The right choice depends on what you already have in place and what’s actually missing.

Can you work alongside my existing agency or in-house team in West Sussex?

Yes. A common engagement is where a business has an in-house marketer or junior agency running ads day-to-day, and wants senior strategic input on top. I can provide that layer without disrupting what’s already in place.

How do you charge for consultancy?

My anchor price is from £300/month for retained engagements. For one-off or project-based work, I’ll quote based on scope after our initial call. I don’t publish a fixed rate for every scenario because the work varies too much — get in touch and I’ll give you a tailored figure.

Do you understand the West Sussex market specifically?

Yes. West Sussex is in the London commuter belt, which means CPCs are significantly higher than a typical regional market. That affects bid strategy, budget allocation, keyword selection and where it’s worth competing at all. I factor this into any strategic recommendation.

I think my Google Ads are underperforming but I'm not sure. Can you help?

That’s one of the most common situations I work with. Book a consultation and I’ll look at your account and give you an honest assessment. If the account is the problem, I’ll tell you what’s wrong and what to do about it. If the issue is elsewhere, I’ll tell you that too.

Are you Google certified?

Yes — I hold current Google Partner and Microsoft Ads certifications, alongside 12 years of hands-on Google Ads experience. Certifications matter as a baseline, but the track record matters more.

Get a Senior PPC Opinion on Your West Sussex Campaigns

Book a consultation. We'll talk through where you are, what the data shows, and whether there's a better path forward. No obligation, no hard sell.

Call 07410 907 104 Book a consultation