Let's talk

Fractional Marketing Director  •  SA & UK

A marketing
director,
without the
full-time hire.

Senior marketing leadership for small businesses and SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), from a South African marketing strategist with 15+ years building and growing brands. One person plans your marketing, leads the work and reports results in rands or pounds.

  • More of the right enquiries
  • Lower cost per new customer
  • Money back on what you spend
Let's talk Calculate your marketing spend
A calm, minimal desk with an open silver laptop, a notebook, a phone and a green ceramic mug, by a window with a soft view of Cape Town
Google Analytics Certified badge Google Ads Search Certified badge

Google certifiedGoogle Ads and Google Analytics

15+ yearsbuilding and growing brands

Trusted byG+D, Introstat, ActSol and more

“Nikki is a highly skilled marketer, and one of the best I have worked with.”

Chief Technology Officer

Who we help

Marketing help for where your business is right now.

Small businesses

Growing a small business

You built it yourself, and you like it that way. Now you need a steady stream of the right customers. We'll help you get found on Google, turn your website into a source of enquiries, and spend your marketing budget where it counts.

Let's talk

Established SMEs

Scaling an established SME

You've got a proven business and a good team. The next stage needs a clear plan. We bring senior marketing strategy that ties to your revenue goals, without the cost of a full-time marketing director.

Plan your next stage

Our services

Marketing services for small businesses and SMEs.

Social media ads

Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn ads that bring in enquiries, with the cost of each one tracked.

See how it works

SEO, AEO and GEO

Get found on Google, in Google’s AI answers and in tools like ChatGPT.

See how it works

Website design and build

A clear, fast website, planned and written to turn visitors into enquiries.

See how it works

Website optimisation

Turn your website into a stronger lead-generating tool.

See how it works

Content creation

Strategic content that builds your brand and connects with the right people.

See how it works

AI-powered growth marketing

Find, win and keep more customers, with your own AI tools set up to do the heavy lifting.

See how it works

Marketing strategy for SMEs

A clear, practical marketing plan built around your business and your goals.

See how it works
A woman with a blonde bob, seen from behind, thinking at her desk in a green chair

A more focused approach

A clear
marketing plan
for real growth.

No jargon. Just honest advice and a practical marketing plan tailored for small businesses and SMEs. We help you focus, prioritise and take action, so you can get better results and do more of what you love.

Let's talk
  1. Clarity
  2. Strategy
  3. Action
  4. Growth

How we work

The Solas Path. Four steps from unclear to growing.

Solas means light. Each step makes the next one easier to see, so you always know what we're doing, why, and what it should bring back.

  1. Clarity.

    We look at your business, your customers and your numbers: where enquiries come from, what they cost and what's getting in the way.

    You getA free 30-minute consultation and a short summary of what we found.

  2. Strategy.

    We choose the customers to win first, the message that will reach them, the channels and the budget.

    You getA written plan, a fixed quote and two or three numbers we agree to track.

  3. Action.

    We launch in short cycles. Nikki leads the work and brings in trusted specialists when a project needs them.

    You getThe work live, with plain-language updates along the way.

  4. Growth.

    We keep what brings customers in, cut what doesn't and put more behind what works.

    You getA report in rands or pounds, and the next steps.

One person who owns the plan.

A full-time marketing director is a big cost for a growing business. With Solas you get the same senior thinking for the hours you need. Nikki sets the strategy and leads the work, so you deal with one person and one plan, not a string of suppliers.

Let's talk

No surprises

  • Fixed quote.Agreed before any work starts. No hidden extras.
  • No long contracts.Stay because it's working, not because you're locked in.
  • Numbers we agree on.Two or three measures, tracked from day one.
  • Plain language.No jargon. If a term matters, we explain it.

Work

Selected work.

Brand launches, websites and campaigns for South African and international companies, from global technology groups to owner-run businesses.

  • Giesecke+Devrient (G+D)

    Launching Cash4.Africa, a new commercial entry point for G+D's German currency technology in African markets, plus sales brochures for G+D's cash handling and sustainability offers.

    What we did: Brand identity, website and e-commerce platform, marketing collateral, copywriting, LinkedIn and Twitter campaign, search advertising, video

    cash4.africa
    Brand launch

  • ActSol, a Radical Waters brand

    Creating the ActSol LS+ brand for a disinfectant used by suppliers to Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Danone, and launching ActSol Air. The brand supported a period in which sales grew and three new exclusive bottlers were appointed in KwaZulu-Natal, Cape Town and Limpopo.

    What we did: Logo and corporate identity, website, product labelling, corporate and marketing video, social media

    actsol.co.za
    Brand creation

  • Introstat

    Auditing the online presence of a leading IT supplier and HP solutions partner, then designing and building its MyHP online store. Introstat now runs a fully integrated supplier and vendor platform that streamlines online sales and procurement.

    What we did: Website and e-commerce review, online store build and launch, social media campaign, brand refresh, sales collateral

    introstat.co.za
    Digital and e-commerce

  • Dr Mervin Messias, Trust Specialist

    Positioning one of South Africa's leading trust specialists and his vision for a "Trust Revolution", making a technical service clear and approachable online.

    What we did: SEO and website review, search advertising, technical copywriting, brochures, LinkedIn and Facebook campaign

    Professional services

  • Radical Waters

    Radio interviews with experts in the hygiene industry during the Covid-19 outbreak.

    What we did: Public relations, media interviews

    radicalwaters.com
    Public relations

  • The Goddess Factor

    Radio advertisements for the brand.

    What we did: Scripting and radio advertising

    thegoddessfactor.co.za
    Radio advertising
Swipe to see more
Services delivered Digital strategyBrand identityRebrandingSEOGoogle AdsCopywritingGraphic designWebsite developmentE-commerceSocial mediaVideoPublic relations
Nikki Wilson, founder of Solas Creative, marketing strategist in Cape Town

Nikki WilsonFounder and marketing strategist, Solas Creative

About Solas Creative

Experience from building and scaling businesses, applied to yours.

I'm Nikki Wilson, the founder of Solas Creative. For more than 15 years I've helped build and grow brands and companies in South Africa and internationally, starting in marketing and moving through VP Marketing to COO. I've built brands from the ground up, grown them in local and international markets, and run the operations behind that growth.

So I understand both sides of your business: winning the right customers, and making sure the business can deliver when they arrive. If you're a small business owner, that means practical steps that bring in work without taking over your week. If you're running an SME ready for its next stage, it means a growth plan from someone who has done it, at a fraction of the cost of a full-time marketing director.

  • 15+ yearsbuilding and growing brands, locally and internationally
  • From marketing to COOI've led the marketing and run the whole operation
  • Google certifiedGoogle Ads and Google Analytics
  • Cape Town basedworking with businesses across South Africa, and remotely in the UK

Smart tools, used sensibly. We use AI where it saves you time and money, like faster content, sharper ad testing and clearer reporting. You get the benefit without having to become an expert yourself.

“Nikki is a creative, out of the box thinker who gets things done… She has a gift for making complex creative concepts easy to understand, and clients always respond well to her.”

Artist & Senior DesignerJohannesburg · worked with Nikki for over ten years
Let's talk

What people say about working with Nikki

“Nikki is a highly skilled marketer, and one of the best I have worked with.”

Chief Technology OfficerWater technology group · worked with Nikki for over 15 years

“She has a forthright approach to problem solving; she is generous with her time and is happy to share her expertise.”

Managing DirectorLabour relations consultancy, Johannesburg · worked with Nikki since 2012

“Nikki has a strong work ethic… She possesses leadership and management skills and strategic vision.”

Finance DirectorWorked with Nikki on the executive team for 13 years

Request a quote

A clear quote, built around your business.

Every business is different, so there's no one-size price list. We start with a free conversation, then send you a fixed quote for exactly what you need. You know the full cost before any work starts.

  1. Free 30-minute consultationTell us where your business is now, where you want it to be, and what's getting in the way.
  2. A written proposal and fixed quoteA clear plan of what we'll do, what it costs and what you can expect back. No hidden extras.
  3. Numbers we agree to trackEnquiries, cost per new customer, revenue from marketing: two or three measures, so you can see what your spend brings back.

We quote on

  • Marketing strategy workshops
  • Monthly strategic support
  • Google Ads setup and management
  • Social media ads (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn)
  • SEO, AEO and GEO
  • Website design and build
  • Website audits and optimisation
  • Content creation
  • AI-powered growth marketing
  • AI integration plans
  • Reporting and ad hoc projects
Request a quote No long contracts. No obligation.

CampaignSolas Frameworks · Oct to Nov 2026

The faces behind SA business

Five South African business owners, five problems that hold growth back, and where I’d start with each. A new face every Tuesday.

Meet the five Personas for your business

Insights

Practical guides for growing your business.

Practical guides on getting found, winning customers and planning growth, written for small businesses and SMEs.

New articles every month. All insights

Questions

Straight answers before you get in touch.

Can't see your question? Ask it in the form below and Nikki Wilson will reply personally.

Do you work with small businesses, or only bigger companies?

Both. Solas Creative works with owner-run small businesses, from one-person and home-based businesses to established companies, and with SMEs of up to around 100 people that are planning their next stage of growth.

How much does Solas Creative cost?

Every quote is tailored to your business, so there's no fixed price list. Start with a free 30-minute consultation. Afterwards you'll receive a written proposal with a fixed quote, so you know the full cost before any work starts.

Every plan tracks a few clear numbers, like enquiries and cost per new customer, so you can see what your spend brings back.

Is Google Ads worth it for a small business in South Africa?

Google Ads is usually worth it when people actively search for what you offer, such as a plumber, a physio or a B2B supplier. You set the budget, pay only when someone clicks, and can track exactly which enquiries came from your ads. We start small, measure results in rands, and tell you honestly if it isn't paying off.

What is a fractional marketing director?

A fractional marketing director is a senior marketer who works with your business part-time, for set days or hours each month, instead of as a full-time employee. It gives a growing SME senior strategy and direction for its team at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.

Will I be locked into a long contract?

No. You can start with a free conversation, a single workshop or a few hours of support, and continue only if it's working for you.

Do you use AI in your marketing work?

Yes, where it helps. AI speeds up content drafts, ad testing and reporting, which saves you time and money. Every piece of work is still planned, checked and shaped by an experienced marketer, so it fits your business and sounds like you.

Where is Solas Creative based?

Solas Creative is based in Cape Town, South Africa. We meet Western Cape clients in person, work online with businesses across South Africa, and work remotely with businesses in the UK.

Do you work with businesses in the UK?

Yes. We work remotely with small businesses and SMEs in the UK. South Africa is one hour ahead of the UK in summer and two hours ahead in winter, so our working days overlap and you can reach us during your normal office hours. Meetings run on Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet, and quotes can be given in pounds.

Nikki Wilson, founder of Solas Creative, at her desk ready for a free marketing consultation

Contact

Let's talk about your business.

Book a free 30-minute consultation or request a quote. Tell us where your business is now and where you'd like it to be, and we'll come back with a practical first step and a clear, fixed quote.

By sending this form, you agree that Solas Creative may use your details to respond to your enquiry, as set out in our privacy policy. We never sell or share your information.

WhatsApp