Services
Whether you need to define your brand positioning, disrupt the category or engage a tricky audience, there’s a solution for you at The Word Smithy.
STRATEGY
Strategic thinking that builds brands, drives campaigns, and creates meaningful connections.
- Brand strategy
- Positioning strategy
- Creative campaign strategy
- Communication strategy
- Content and messaging strategy
- Social media strategy
WRITING
Words that work – from social posts to white papers, websites to thought leadership.
- Websites
- LinkedIn profiles and posts
- Emailers and newsletters
- SEO
- Social media content
- Long-form content
- Thought leadership
- White papers and reports
SPEAKING, TEACHING & FACILITATING
Helping teams solve problems collaboratively to creating bespoke IP for companies and organisations.
- Speech writing
- Keynote speaking
- Workshop facilitation
- Educational material creation
- Playbooks and internal training manual development
- Lecturing
How I Work
My approach is collaborative, strategic, and focused on delivering tangible value.
Discovery & Briefing
We start with a conversation to understand your business, your audience, your challenges, and your goals. I’ll ask questions, review materials, and immerse myself in your world.
Research & Strategy
I dive deep into research—analyzing competitors, understanding your audience, exploring your market—to build a solid strategic foundation for the work ahead.
Concept & Development
Whether it’s a messaging framework or campaign concept, I develop ideas that are strategically sound, creatively compelling, and commercially viable.
Refinement & Delivery
I work collaboratively through feedback rounds to refine the work until it’s exactly right, then deliver in the format you need—ready to implement.
Support & Optimization
The relationship doesn’t end at delivery. I’m available for questions, tweaks, and ongoing support as you bring the work to life.
Industry Experience
20+ years working across diverse sectors gives me the versatility to understand your unique challenges.
Automotive
Local and global strategy, communications strategy, brand building, internal communication, aftersales, passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles.
Brands included: Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Land Rover, Jeep
Tech
Specialised fintech researcher, writer and interviewer with deep experience on global brands and highly technical subject matter
Brands included: Pleo, Enfuce, DXC Technology, Naehas, Nymbus, Marstone, Payfast
FMCG
Two decades of experience working across food and beverages, infant nutrition, personal care, beauty, laundry and household products, pet care and pharmaceuticals.
Brands included: Nestle, Unilever, Pepsi-Co, Tiger Brands, Twizza
B2B
Deep, ongoing work on blue-chip clients for business-to-business marketing, internal communications and organisational strategy
Brands included: Standard Bank, Sanlam, Santam, NOA, Vivo Energy, Glacier
Financial Services
Rich experience across top FSPs both locally and internationally for content development strategy and creative campaign strategy.
Brands included: Visa, Sanlam, Santam, Absa, Glacier
Luxury
A specialized interest and commitment to research, strategy and writing over a decade for luxury and ultra-premium brands across categories.
Brands included: Mercedes-Benz, Shimanksy, Arabella Sheraton, Distell Luxury Brand Stable
Alcohol
15 years’ experience leading strategy and workshops for local and international liquor and beer brands with multiple awards and thought-leadership publications.
Brands included: Distell (now Heineken) SA Wines, SAB
Personal Branding
Committed and on-going relationship and brand building for personal brands across channel selection, tone and manner, ghost writing and content development.
Brands included: Margaret Hartigan, Megan Carvill, assorted professionals across LinkedIn.
What Clients Say
“Emily has an incredible ability to distill complex strategic thinking into clear, compelling narratives. Her work on our brand positioning gave us the clarity and confidence to take our business to the next level.”
“Working with Emily is a masterclass in copywriting. She doesn’t just write words—she crafts experiences that resonate with audiences and drive real business results.”
Let’s discuss your project
Whether you need strategic direction or compelling copy, I’d love to hear about your challenges and explore how I can help.