Contact Me
Book a FREE 30-minute consultation call to see if we are a good fit
Friendly, straightforward advice
Small business content specialist
Cost-effective marketing services

Not sure if you need a content & copywriter?
I get it! Marketing your small business can be challenging. But I am here to help however I can, whether it's content marketing advice, ongoing services, or a one-off copywriting project.
As a small business owner, I understand your struggles. So, if you want someone who will move heaven and earth to help grow your customer base, then push send.
Contact Details:
Call: Maree Gately + 64 272 0042
Email: maree@spreadtheword.nz
Hours:
Monday-Friday, 9 am - 5 pm
Reach out any time—let's face it, my phone's never far away!
Service region:
I am Kapiti-based but work with small businesses across New Zealand. Open to overseas enquiries.
Need Some Social Proof?
Visit my portfolio here or testimonials on the Home & About pages.

Call Me
+64 21 272 0042

Kapiti-Based
I know a lot of great cafes!

Email Me
maree@spreadtheword.nz
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a copywriter & a content writer?
Firstly, a content writer creates long-form content like blogs, white papers, or social media captions. Here, the intent is to inform, establish trust, and build brand loyalty and relationships with your ideal customers. The reason? People buy off people they like and where their values and interests align.
On the other hand, copywriting is like advertising aimed at selling to your target audience. The writing should be clear and concise, with a specific agenda and call to action. The art of copywriting is to write customer-focused copy and not get bogged down by endless features. Your goal is to promote benefits and how they resolve your customer's pain points.
Ultimately, a copywriter's job is to convey WIIFM (what's in it for me) to the customer and why they should use you. That's why website copy is pivotal and a wise investment.
Why is a Google Business Profile so important for my business?
This free Google tool is one of the most essential tools in your marketing strategy if you rely on local customers to earn revenue. A Google Business Profile (business listing) influences how you appear in local searches. By ensuring your NAP matches your website (Name, Address and Phone) and key information is updated (holiday hours, etc), you're telling Google that you are a credible source of information.
In addition, regular updates using keyword-rich content is another way to improve your ranking. The goal is to appear on the Local Pack—that box where three businesses show up. Why? Because statistics show that people are more likely to contact those who appear on the list.
Finally, your business listing is where customers find social proof through Google Reviews. Even a bad review is an opportunity to show potential customers how you handle yourself professionally.
What's a Website WOF?
Much like a WOF on your car, this website audit is a physical check of your website. Why? Let's say you rank higher than many competitors, yet the phone still doesn't ring as much as you'd like. Perhaps your website gets clicks but not conversions.
This is where a Website WOF is helpful. Here, I review your overall design aesthetics, structure (how information is laid out), content (what's written on your website - is it customer-focused?), on-page SEO, and navigation (is it user-friendly?). I flag key weaknesses and offer solutions to consider and implement, some of which I can help you with.
Do I need an On-Page SEO Audit? There are free tools to do this.
Yes, there are many free tools for running an SEO audit. I use a paid tool to complete my analysis. There are many options our there, including Semrush, Ahrefs, SE Ranking and Moz.
The benefit of using someone who understands on-page SEO is that I can also explain any areas you don't understand and offer solutions, like writing effective page titles, meta descriptions, H1 tags, image alt text and revised website copy. This written material is crucial because it influences website visitors' purchasing decisions.
Can you design my logo for me?
Yes, Canva is the main graphic design tool I use. A logo created on Canva Pro cannot always be trademarked, so I may not be your best choice if that is your plan. Canva is an excellent tool that gives me the flexibility to select from thousands of elements, upload images and also create unique logos using the tracer app.
As a writer and lover of all things font and stylised, I lean towards the more minimalist logo designs. If you are unsure if I am a good fit, reach out - I don't bite, and we can quickly decide if I am the right person for the job.
Sign Up Today
Because you want to beat your competitors, right?