Marketing has evolved, and not necessarily for the better. Modern marketing teams face the challenge of fixing broken systems, grappling with unhelpful data, and constantly chasing the latest tools without a solid strategy in place. Enter Seventh Bear, a groundbreaking marketing consultancy focused on freeing teams from mundane tasks and empowering them to create bold, transformative ideas that drive business success.

Officially launching on January 2, 2025, Seventh Bear is the evolution of The Content Advisory (TCA), a renowned content strategy consultancy led by industry experts Robert Rose and Cathy McKnight. The new consultancy builds on TCA's legacy while addressing the broader challenges modern marketing teams face.

1. The Need for a New Approach to Marketing

   • Modern marketing teams often find themselves bogged down with fixing outdated systems and dealing with misleading analytics.
   • Technology, especially AI, is often seen as a shiny new toy that’s difficult to use effectively, creating more complexity rather than solving problems.
   • Seventh Bear aims to free teams from this cycle, focusing on creative strategy and the execution of game-changing ideas.

2. The Vision of Robert Rose and Cathy McKnight

   • Robert Rose, the founder of Seventh Bear and Chief Strategy Advisor to the Content Marketing Institute (CMI), shared his thoughts on marketing’s current crisis.
   • He emphasized that marketing teams are too often stuck fixing broken systems when they should be focusing on innovation and creativity.
   • Cathy McKnight, co-founder, highlighted the importance of mastering repeatable systems that foster creativity, as big ideas don’t occur by chance.

3. Seventh Bear's Continued Partnership with CMI

   • Seventh Bear remains the primary marketing consulting partner for the Content Marketing Institute (CMI), signaling their ongoing commitment to advancing the marketing industry.
   • This relationship strengthens Seventh Bear’s position as a thought leader and trusted partner in the marketing landscape.

4. The Meaning Behind the Name “Seventh Bear”

   • The name Seventh Bear symbolizes wisdom and direction. In numerology, seven represents wisdom, while the bear constellation (the Big Dipper) points to the North Star, a symbol of purpose and guidance.
   • Seventh Bear's mission is to guide marketing teams towards their own North Star, providing practical strategies and creative collaboration that help them thrive in a complex, ever-changing world.

Seventh Bear is poised to lead the next generation of marketing consultancies by helping teams move beyond managing mundane tasks and embracing creativity and strategic thinking. With its foundation in content strategy and a forward-thinking approach to modern marketing challenges, Seventh Bear will empower teams to create impactful, game-changing ideas that drive success.