Cereus Marketers’ Approach to Content-First Thinking: A New Path to Brand Growth

Most marketing strategies start with the question: how do we sell more? But the real question is: how do we create value before we ask for it?

Across the outdoor and wellness industries, brands are starting to recognize an often overlooked truth—attention isn’t just about visibility. It’s about resonance. As the algorithmic noise increases, the brands with the clearest and most consistent voices are more likely to make a lasting impact.

This is where a quiet shift is happening.

Instead of building marketing plans around platforms, trends, or even products, more founders are re-centering around something more sustainable: content with intention. Not just content that performs, but content that aligns, builds trust, and evolves with the business.

It’s a different kind of growth mindset. One that prioritizes depth over shortcuts, clarity over noise, and long-term systems over quick fixes.

This “content-first” philosophy is gaining traction, and the team at Cereus Marketers has been at the forefront of shaping what it looks like in practice. Their approach isn’t about louder campaigns. It’s about smarter ecosystems—where every piece of content is part of a larger, measurable, story-driven strategy.

Rewriting the Marketing Playbook—One Campaign at a Time

Led by marketing veterans Mikayla Stannard and Whitney Cleland, Cereus Marketers is helping purpose-driven founders think differently about how they grow. The duo brings global campaign experience (from Disney to Diageo) and translates that firepower into tailored, plug-in marketing departments for brands that are ready to scale—but want to avoid burnout.

Their secret weapon? A Content-First Strategy that connects every marketing effort to a business outcome, without sacrificing creativity. 61% of marketers say they don’t have a documented content strategy. Yet companies with a documented strategy are significantly more likely to report marketing success. (Source: Content Marketing Institute, 2024)

This approach isn’t just a trend. It’s built on a proven structure:

• Strategic Insight: Brand foundation, voice clarity, and content guidelines rooted in long-term relevance.

• Channel Planning: Unified execution across digital, social, email, paid, partnerships, and more—so no asset goes underutilized.

• Creative Execution: Campaigns that resonate and convert—think 90x ROI on email, 963% eCommerce growth, and 1M+ views on TikTok Live content.

But perhaps the most innovative element of their model is how adaptable it is. While many brands struggle to keep up with algorithm changes and platform trends, Cereus builds frameworks that remain effective regardless of what’s trending. “We don’t believe in marketing for marketing’s sake,” says Mikayla. “We build with intention. Our clients don’t just grow—they evolve.”

Why Founders Are Craving Strategy Over Noise

Cereus is more than a service provider—it’s a strategic partner. Their clients, often founders themselves, are looking for more than just clicks. They want clarity. That means aligning marketing with business goals from day one, whether launching a loyalty program or building an omnichannel campaign from scratch.

Their work has contributed to:

• A notable increase in total sales by over 130% YoY

• A significant rise in social engagement by over 700%

• A consistent boost in website traffic by 222% MoM

• Restructuring entire CRM systems, leading to a substantial ROI of 57x-90x

And while the results speak for themselves, what clients appreciate most is how everything aligns.

“Cereus embedded seamlessly into our team,” said the founder of Legendary Organics, Michael Allen. “It didn’t feel like outsourcing—it felt like leveling up.”

Growth at all costs isn’t the goal. Cereus is about growing with purpose—making brands stronger, not just larger.

Their background in the outdoor and wellness industries means they understand what it takes to build trust with consumers who value authenticity. They’ve run experiential campaigns that elevate women in sports, crafted content for climbing gyms and cheer programs, and transformed underperforming loyalty programs into thriving customer ecosystems.

They call themselves fractional CMOs, but what they deliver is far more than strategy—it’s momentum with meaning.

A New Kind of Marketing Partner

So, what should today’s business leaders really be focusing on?

According to Cereus, it’s not just the next trend. It’s the health of your message. The alignment of your systems. The story your customers believe before they decide to buy.

That’s why more founders are choosing marketing partners who know how to drive both performance and perspective. “Let’s grow,” they say, “but let’s grow with intention.”