Hire the Best Strategy & Planning Freelancers in Illinois

***TOP RATED freelancer for Brand Development, Strategy, Product Marketing*** Brand building is my specialty, and I am ready to help YOU build your business. I am a highly skilled brand development, marketing, product and content strategist with over 20 years of experience in the consumer products and retail industries. Clients include Target, Kraft, Bel Brands, Slimfast, Redbox, Fortune 500, non-profit and start-up firms. +Top 5% marketing consultants in Chicago, IL +Featured Speaker at RSW Agency & Branding Conference +Marketing panelist in Kellogg Marketing Conference As a marketing leader, I have professionally managed and worked on some of the largest consumer brands in the world, including Windex, Glade, Pledge, Optimum Nutrition, Amino Energy, Think Thin protein bars, Kraft Philadelphia cream cheese, Baby Bel and Laughing Cow Cheese, Slim Fast, Weight Watchers, and more. I have also helped start-up brands and small businesses reach their next level of sales, build brand equity, gain new customers, and maximize their full potential. In marketing leadership roles, I’ve developed powerhouse brand identities. go-to-market strategies, new product and innovation strategies, market research, consumer insights, annual marketing plans and more. And I am ready to do the same for you! As a freelancer, I have developed brand strategies and consulted for some of the leading Fortune 500 companies, multiple innovative brands, and fast-growing startups. Work has included category and market analysis, product research, competitive analysis, SWOT analysis, consumer research, go-to-market development, business model development, new product development, building operational and co-manufacture capability, and more. In addition to my professional experience, I have an MBA in Marketing, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, a top business school. I am also a serial entrepreneur and have helped several Amazon and DTC E-commerce brands achieve sales and customer growth. I look forward to bringing my insights and expertise to your brand, new product launch, or development project!

I help specialty healthcare practices turn complex information into clear, patient-centered content that educates patients, builds trust, and supports practice growth. I bring nine years of healthcare experience, a B.S. in Health Communication, and more than three years of hands-on healthcare marketing experience. Before expanding into marketing, I worked in private podiatry practice, where I gained a firsthand understanding of the questions patients ask, the information providers need communicated clearly, and the role trust plays in someone’s decision to schedule an appointment. Today, I create healthcare marketing that is clear, approachable, and aligned with the patient experience. My work combines healthcare knowledge, communication strategy, and practical content execution, so clients do not have to spend hours explaining basic medical terminology or how a practice operates. I can support your practice with: • Healthcare content strategy and monthly campaign planning • Social media content for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google Business Profile • Patient education captions, carousels, and branded graphics • Email newsletters and patient communication campaigns • SEO-friendly healthcare blogs and website copy • Website, social media, messaging, and patient-journey audits My experience includes creating content for podiatry, urology, sexual health, women’s health, aesthetics, specialty medical practices, and health-focused nonprofit organizations. One of my strongest skills is translating medical or technical information into content that patients can understand and act on, without making it feel overly clinical, generic, or disconnected from their real concerns. Whether you need ongoing content support, a focused patient education campaign, healthcare copywriting, or an audit of your current marketing, I can help you create communication that supports both patient trust and business growth. If you’re looking for an independent healthcare marketing freelancer who understands both the clinical environment and the patient experience, send me a message to discuss your project.

ractional marketing leadership — Meta Ads, Google Ads, SEO, and full-funnel strategy. 10+ years scaling lead generation and ROAS for hospitality, F&B, and multi-location brands. Most growing businesses don't need a full-time CMO, and they don't need another freelancer running disconnected campaigns. They need someone who owns the marketing function end to end — strategy, channels, tracking, and reporting — for a fraction of the cost of a senior hire. That's what I do. I plug in as your marketing lead, build the infrastructure that's usually missing (conversion tracking, channel-level ROI attribution, performance dashboards), and run the channels that actually move revenue. Recent results include 8X ROAS on paid campaigns and 35% of total B2B leads generated through digital. What I own for clients: 🎯 Paid Social & Meta Ads — Facebook Ads, Instagram Ads, Meta Business Suite, campaign structure, creative testing, audience building, retargeting, Advantage+ 🔍 Search & PPC — Google Search Ads, Performance Max, keyword research, bid strategy, landing page optimization SEO — on-page, technical, and local SEO, Google Business Profile optimization, keyword and content strategy for multi-location brands Analytics & Tracking — Google Tag Manager, GA4, conversion tracking, attribution tracking Strategy & Promotions — marketing calendars, promotional and seasonal campaigns, budget allocation, funnel design, competitor analysis, go-to-market planning How fractional works with me: a set number of hours or days per month, agreed priorities each quarter, and a standing reporting rhythm so you always know what's working. Most engagements start with a 30-day audit and roadmap, then move to an ongoing retainer. Industries: restaurants, hotels, hospitality, F&B, retail, franchise and multi-location businesses, B2B services I work best with businesses that want repeatable systems and clear ownership — not one-off campaigns. Message me with your goals and current setup and I'll tell you honestly whether I'm the right fit.

Entrepreneur (0-IPO:NASDAQ), proven innovator (64 patents) and charismatic leader (CEO/CTO) who has founded venture backed companies in SaaS software and systems, telecommunications, Fintech, high speed electronics devices and energy harvesting. I specialize in helping early stage companies move from surviving to thriving. You have a good idea, a 1.0 product and your company is making progress but it is not clear how to get from where you are today to enough revenue to pay bills, hire the people you need and ramp growth. Ugh. Here are some recent wins: * I worked with a founder and CEO of a social media marketing company to triple revenue in 2025. * I helped the CEO of a startup fintech company get their mobile App from a lost cause to complete and launched in the market. * I prepared a consumer fintech App company for $1.5m series A funding, solving operations issues, providing proof points of customer acquisition costs and consumer demand in the App. I'm here to help. I have CEO and CTO experience and judgement in startups and will work closely with you to get organized, formulate a plan and execute successfully. I have walked in your shoes and know the business and emotional struggles. I have raised venture capital and took one of my companies public. I guarantee my work or you don't have to pay. We'll do what needs to be done to be successful: align your product with the market, establish key partnerships to bring in new revenue streams, prepare yourself for funding, locate funding partners and close on a round of investment, add discipline to the sales process and start meeting sales goals. I've earned my experience by founding companies, recruiting talent, raising capital, building products and exiting through IPO or sale. I'll help you manage any area of your business or transform it. I'm proven by my experience and will help you with everything from Agile delivery and technology issues to the company itself. I can advise you or you can put me in a problem location and we'll get it resolved. As a freelancer, I can work as an individual contributor and not only will I accomplish the mission, you'll get my good judgement, communication, positive attitude and leadership as a bonus. I know funds are tight but you need my kind of expertise. I will meet you where you are at and work out a way for you to afford my skills. bests, Pat Member of Upwork's elite "Expert-Vetted" top 1% team. ------------- Summary I am an experienced leader and innovator with a strong background in business revitalization, technology, and strategic growth. I specialize in aligning products and technology with market demands, driving business transformation, and establishing strategic partnerships. My expertise spans business strategy, software and hardware technology, investor relations, fund raising and intellectual property management. Key Roles and Achievements Businesses * Veteran Crowd Rewards, LLC: As a CTO/CISO, I led business strategy and product management, enhancing the company's valuation and securing $1.5M in funding. * RedWave Energy, Inc.: As CTO/Founder, I raised $20M+, led groundbreaking R&D, and built a valuable IP portfolio. * Apropos Technology: Founded the company, CEO/CTO, raised $25m in VC funding, leading it to a successful IPO and substantial growth (NASDAQ:APRS). Consulting * Unmatched Marketing: I worked closely with the CEO to expand and refocus product content tripling revenue. * Money Match App: Moving company to successful product launch and series A funding. Salvaged a struggling App development, shored up operations and brought on key talent. * Strategic Alliance Consulting, Inc.: I helped the CEO focus the company on cybersecurity, and transforming to a software company driving revenue growth and helping raise pre-seed funding round. * Trifin Labs: As a vSenior Project Manager, I revitalized distressed projects, leading to successful software delivery and business growth. Organizations Juna Amagara Ministries: Co-founder and Chairman of an organization to support AIDS orphans in Uganda, growing it to $450k/year recurring donations. Skills * Expert in software and tech company development, project management, product management, CEO and CTO leadership, and innovation (over 65 patents). * Proficient in sales, business analysis, intellectual property strategy, talent recruiting, fund raising and contract negotiations. Boards * Buttery AI - early stage AI platform innovation company. * Renmind - AI UI/UX innovation. * Harmoniq Insights - AI driven quant trading technology firm. Education * Master's in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Northwestern University. * Bachelor's in Astronomy from the University of Illinois. * PMP Certification Awards * Distinguished Award of Technical Merit - Bell Laboratories * R&D 100 Award 2018 * RedHerring Global 100 Award Winner 2018 * 65 Patents References: Available upon request.

Hey there, I'm Amanda! I'm a GenX/Millennial mix (hello, best of both worlds!) and a UGC fashion and beauty creator who knows how to keep things real, relatable, and results-driven. I create female-focused UGC video ads that don't just blend in, they stand out and convert. Portfolio here: ugcamandawilburn.com Where my content shines: TikTok Ads Instagram Reels Facebook Ads Amazon Listings YouTube Shorts What its like to work with me: Effortless, natural delivery Fast communication (I'm on it!) Professional vibes with a friendly twist Obsessed with the details so you don't have to be Need more than one video? I've got bundle deals that'll save you some coin when you order 3 or more. If you're ready for UGC that actually grabs attention (and keeps it), hit that message button and lets make something amazing for your brand!

Hello! My name is Erik aka Facebook Yoda, I am 4X-certified by Meta and I help businesses and agencies turn underperforming campaigns into predictable lead and sales systems. /// Meta Certified Digital Marketer /// Meta Certified Media Buying Professional /// Meta Certified Creative Strategy Professional /// Meta Certified Media Planning Professional /// Facebook & Instagram Ads Expert | Business Growth Strategist /// Campaign Optimization, Analytics & Lead Generation Specialist /// Ad Copy, Creative Strategy & Landing Page Optimization With 10,000+ hours of hands-on experience, I help businesses scale profitably through data-driven Facebook & Instagram advertising. Whether you need done-for-you campaign management or strategic one-on-one coaching, I provide clear direction, execution, and optimization backed by real-world results. I’ve trained extensively in digital marketing, media buying, social media strategy, and performance analytics—so you can be confident your ad spend is in expert hands. How I can help: ++ Facebook & Instagram Ads Consulting ++ Full Ad Account & Campaign Audits ++ Campaign Setup, Scaling & Ongoing Management ++ Landing Page & Funnel Optimization ++ Advanced Audience Targeting & Retargeting ++ Performance Analytics & Reporting ++ White Label Ads Management ⭐ 5.0 Star Client Rating Clients consistently highlight my structured approach, deep platform knowledge, and ability to explain complex strategies in a clear, actionable way. Here’s what my clients say: Rating is 5.0 out of 5. 5 Stars Mar 17, 2025 - Apr 8, 2025 "Erik Continues to be a major asset to our business. We are so lucky to have him as a freelancer for our Facebook/Instagram Ads! Rating is 5.0 out of 5. 5 Stars Apr 28, 2025 - May 5, 2025 "Erik really knows his stuff and is excellent at walking you through various processes related to running FB ads." Rating is 5.0 out of 5. 5 Stars Mar 4, 2025 - Mar 6, 2025 "Erik has a structured approach to setting up ad campaigns in Facebook and Instagram, supported by his experience. He helped me a lot with wrapping my head around what to do, provided detailed guidance on setting up the campaigns, and answered all questions I had." Rating is 5 out of 5. 5 Stars May 9, 2024 - May 16, 2024 "EXCEPTIONAL! I didn't stop taking notes because of ALL the wisdom Erik was sharing until he told me about all the resources he would be sending after our call. I am very grateful we found Erik and have access to his knowledge. If you're looking for guidance on Facebook Ads, this guy is a total expert!" Rating is 5 out of 5. 5 Stars Jan 12, 2025 - Jan 13, 2025 "Erik was fantastic to work with. I came to the call with a broad understanding of what I was trying to achieve and Erik helped me expertly craft a multi-faceted campaign to both test my creative assets and promote my product. 10/10 Highly recommend." If your Facebook or Instagram ads aren’t delivering the results you expect, let’s fix that. Message me today and let’s optimize your campaigns for growth. Available Monday–Saturday Erik G. | 4X-Certified by Meta PST: facebook ads, facebook marketing, facebook ads expert, facebook advertising, facebook marketing expert, facebook ads specialist, facebook advertising expert, facebook ads manager, facebook instagram ads, instagram ads, instagram advertising, instagram ad campaign, instagram ads expert, facebook and instagram ads, creative design, creative designer, facebook advertiser, facebook advert, facebook advertisement, facebook marketing advertising, facebook marketing digital, instagram marketing, instagram marketing specialist, instagram marketing expert, instagram, facebook, digital marketing, digital marketing expert, digital marketing manager, digital marketing consultant, marketing consultant, digital marketing strategist, digital marketing strategy, social media marketing, social media ads, social media ad, facebook consultant, facebook marketing consultant, social media marketing consultant, facebook ads consultant