Bedford Avenue

Bedford Avenue Empowering businesses to set up profitable marketing strategies.
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I sometimes lose sleep thinking about AI.Sometimes my kids yell out from bed, scared and they can't sleep.“Of what?” I a...
16/04/2026

I sometimes lose sleep thinking about AI.

Sometimes my kids yell out from bed, scared and they can't sleep.
“Of what?” I ask.
“Lions.” (We own a dog that looks like one.)
“Ants.” (After I once showed them a zoomed-in photo an ant)
And sometimes, “monsters.” (Just because.)
I reassure them, pray with them, and they go back to sleep.

Then I feel like a fraud.
Because I lie awake thinking about the beast that is AI, wondering how to stay ahead, whether it will disrupt my business, how I need to pivot.

I had kids later in life, not because I didn’t want them, but because I feared childbirth.
I had a full-blown medical phobia. Blood tests required three nurses. Ask my year 8 science class…I once fainted in a Year eight rat dissection (wasn’t even watching), onto the hard ceramic tiles.
After a lot of support, counselling, and prayer, I decided to face it.
The outcome? Two beautiful kids.

Was it smooth sailing? Not quite.
There was a miscarriage, two ectopic pregnancies, near-death moments, grief, weekly blood tests, interventions, posterior labour, spinal taps, cannulas, two emergency C-sections…
All my worst fears.

Was it as bad as I imagined?
No! It was worse.
But the worst part?
The fear beforehand.
Far worse than the reality.

Which makes me think about AI, and everything else that feels uncertain right now.
It’s like a wave.
You can lie awake fearing it…
Or you can try to ride it.
(And if you’re like me, awkwardly bodyboard it.)
Sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes messy. But there’s normally something good on the other side (like a picnic with loved ones ion the shore).

So, do not worry about tomorrow, because today has enough worries of its own.

Even when you feel like David facing a giant, no armour, just a few stones...it’ll be ok.
We know how that story ends.

So maybe the answer isn’t to fear the wave.
It’s to ride it, together.
Because some things won’t be replaced:
Real conversations
Random thoughts
Human support
Picnics with loved ones

So whatdaya say? If you’ve come this far, want to catch up for coffee (or virtual coffee), & chat about childbirth, catching the Ai wave, marketing or to see how we can support each other’s business?

DM me! I’d love to chat with you.
Or visit me: bedfordavenue.com.au

Father’s Day. Grateful for these men who shape with quiet strength. One who took on teen-children, one who raised the be...
06/09/2025

Father’s Day. Grateful for these men who shape with quiet strength. One who took on teen-children, one who raised the best man, and that man for being that best man. Each of these men set the example of how to lead with faith, determination and consistency (a value I strive for in life and how I serve clients).

Jamie x 🌸

I've had more and more interest into my FCMO offering recently (woohoo!). I know I am biased, however for the right busi...
07/08/2025

I've had more and more interest into my FCMO offering recently (woohoo!). I know I am biased, however for the right business, it helps them keep up with the Joneses (or those bigger, fancier companies) at a reasonable cost.

A few weeks ago, I found the database for a University (a public database, I didn't hack in or anything), and I was shocked to see how many hundreds of roles and contacts there were for marketing roles.

Well, most of my clients don't have hundreds of marketing jobs and hundreds of thousands to spend on marketing. And still, in many ways, their marketing is good enough to keep up with the Joneses.

Could a Fractional CMO be the right fit for your business?
I've tried to explain and unpack this marketing model here:

https://www.bedfordavenue.com.au/post/the-rise-of-the-fractional-chief-executive-officer

✨ What a Fractional CMO actually does
✨ How you can access top-tier marketing strategy without the full-time hire
✨ The cost savings and efficiency this model offers
✨ Why this approach leads to sustainable business growth

👇 Click below to discover how a Fractional CMO can transform your business 👇

https://www.bedfordavenue.com.au/post/the-rise-of-the-fractional-chief-executive-officer

Like most small businesses I work with, a solid chunk of my work comes from referrals. 👭 A friend here, a colleague ther...
28/07/2025

Like most small businesses I work with, a solid chunk of my work comes from referrals. 👭 A friend here, a colleague there—it’s lovely, and it keeps the lights on.

But today? I got a referral… from ChatGPT. ChatGPT. Yes, ChatGPT. Normally, I'd reach out to someone who referred me to send them a big fat thank you with wine, flowers and sometimes a gift card. In this case, I guess I'll ChatGPT a thank you note and keep the wine for myself.

How about you? Do you want business referrals? Need them? Want more of them? I wrote this for you:

https://www.bedfordavenue.com.au/post/referrals

Love, Jamie xo
Your Marketing Strategist • Fractional CMO • Bedford Avenue Marketing
Ready to make referrals unstoppable? Please DM me.

Are you curious about your marketing options? Please book a FREE discovery call with me for this new financial year.No s...
07/07/2025

Are you curious about your marketing options?
Please book a FREE discovery call with me for this new financial year.
No strings attached.
I'm happy to help, and love seeing if I can help.

We can explore your:
- Marketing ROI (worried about what you're wasting?)
- Team structure
- Marketing options (particularly on a budget in this current climate!)
- Social Media (is it working for you?)
- Updating your Business & Marketing Strategy
- Time for a refresh? Website and branding

Book a chat with Jamie at:
www.bedfordavenue.com.au/contact

How do you feel about making mistakes? Are you a perfectionist? I used to be SO paranoid about making a typo, spelling o...
04/07/2025

How do you feel about making mistakes? Are you a perfectionist?

I used to be SO paranoid about making a typo, spelling or grammatical error. In general, everyday life, but also on social media, for the whole world to see was a whole other level of concern.

I'd spend so long proofreading my work. Worrying about making a mistake. Fretting about what the people would think if I did make a mistake. After all, I claim to be a communications specialist! I'd get others to proofread for me. I'd spend ages reading and re-reading. Then. I'd post. I'd wait with bated breath.

From time to time my mum would contact me to let me know, shock-horror, I'd make a mistake.
Oh no.
I'd drop whatever I was doing: writing a report, stirring a pot on the stove, feeding a baby...
I'd rush to the post to fix it, hoping no one except mum had seen my dirty little secret.
"Oh yeah, I saw that too." My husband would say.

Nowdays, when my mum messages me about a mistake, I shrug. Sometimes I fix it, sometimes I leave it.
I figure it's better for people to know they are reading an imperfect human's words vs Ai copy.

I know myself when I see a typo, it makes me feel better about my own typo-insecurities.
Plus, I'm proud of them for having a go and not fobbing their work over to Ai.
So thanks to Ai for making me care less about a few typos and being a bit prouder of my imperfect humanisms.

Written by Jamie. x

P.S. Spot the typos?

How easy is it to throw something wonderful into the too hard basket; before you even begin? Last weekend, I enjoyed an ...
02/07/2025

How easy is it to throw something wonderful into the too hard basket; before you even begin? Last weekend, I enjoyed an overnight trek with two of my oldest and dearest friends. The hardest part of the 22kms of rugged terrain was the preparation. Who is bringing what, what car will we take, sorting a meeting point, and the hardest part of all: finding a date to suit all of us! It only took a couple of k's for us to feel a world a way from the business of life. SO rewarding to get away - even for just a few days! I love a new adventure, I find it always rejuvenates me in all areas of my life: gives me perspective on where I want to spend my energy, and makes me thankful and more appreciative of the ones I didn't get to take with me.

What about you? Does a little break leave you feeling refreshed (despite all the effort!?). I know I'm guilty of saying no to little weekend breaks or walks; before I even entertain the thought. Let this be your reminder to get away! Campsites on the Great Ocean Walk (GOW) are currently half price (Parks Victoria website). I can recommend Blanket Bay campsite; absolutely stunning (fire drums; ocean as your backdrop; picture-perfect scenery); even the long drop toilets weren't so bad!

Book a one hour strategy session this month, and you'll receive two hours!These sessions are perfect for you if you're u...
30/06/2025

Book a one hour strategy session this month, and you'll receive two hours!

These sessions are perfect for you if you're uncertain about your marketing - where to start? Am I getting the best bang for my buck? Is my branding and messaging reaching my market?

With advice on any, or all areas of your marketing:

market strategy // social media // website // advertising // media //public relations //communications // content // paid ads // email campaigns // systems // team design and more!

Grab a cuppa (or wine!), bring your pain-points, your hopes and dreams and let’s work on achieving those business goals.

Online or in-person if in the Geelong area.

- You’ll leave with an actionable plan for your business
- How to get the best ROI from your marketing efforts
- A review of what you’re currently doing (or not doing)
- Generating ideas and strategies

Consultations led by Jamie Harcourt, founder of Bedford Avenue, a marketing strategist and lecturer, with two decades of marketing experience, dedicated to helping businesses flourish, even in a tough economic environment

Valid for bookings until 30 September, 2025 when booked in July 2025.

Book your one-hour consultation at:
bedfordavenue.com.au/contact

DM me with any questions.
Jamie xx

As I reflect the last few weeks, I'm so thankful for the clients and team I'm working with. I've always said "I'd be hap...
27/06/2025

As I reflect the last few weeks, I'm so thankful for the clients and team I'm working with.
I've always said "I'd be happy to clean toilets if I was in a fantastic team with a supportive boss."
I'm thankful I don't have to clean toilets for a living (I just do that in my spare time at home).

I'm super thankful I'm currently doing what I love, which, this week alone was:
- putting legs on a vision by writing up a marketing strategy
- bringing a dream to life with a new brand and a new website
- a deep dive into a well-established organisation, identifying areas for improvement and providing recommendations
- meeting with an old (the friendship's old, the friend is only a spring, middle-aged-chicken) and wonderful friend to help her with her marketing, who is forever inspiring me with her brilliance and dog with a bone attitude

I also get to do this with a team who I admire; where the lines of friendship and business are completely blurred (in the best possible way); who are there when business isn't a walk in the park and with clients who become friends and friends who become clients.

Truly, I have a bunch of some of the wisest people around me; who I get to learn so much from.

💌 If I can ever help you with your marketing; making your vision a reality, my inbox is always open!

Jamie xx

👩‍🎨 Designing or growing your marketing team can be exciting, but have you explored all the options? The Fractional Chie...
09/04/2025

👩‍🎨 Designing or growing your marketing team can be exciting, but have you explored all the options? The Fractional Chief Marketing Officer (FCMO) model, although new in Australia, is already popular in the UK and US. Its unique advantages for both businesses and FCMOs are clear: I get to apply my expertise flexibly while still enjoying precious moments like picking up my kids from school! Discover why the FCMO model is a win-win solution for marketing success.

If I can support you with your marketing, please reach out.
💌 DM me or visit www.bedfordavenue.com.au and book a call!

Jamie X 🌸

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Geelong, VIC
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