About Erika McInerney
Marketing and customer experience strategist for Australian small businesses, community organisations and place-based brands.
I’m Erika McInerney, founder of Mac&Ernie. From my base in Gippsland, I work with businesses and organisations across Australia to strengthen communication, improve customer experience and create marketing that builds trust, supports reputation and contributes to sustainable growth.
With 30 years’ experience across marketing, advertising, employer branding and customer experience, I bring strategic insight, practical judgement and a strong understanding of how businesses are experienced by customers, communities and the public.
A more thoughtful way to approach marketing
For me, marketing is about more than visibility.
It is about how your business is understood, the expectations you create, and whether the experience you offer lives up to what has been promised. That is where trust is built.
That is why my work often combines marketing, advertising, communication and customer experience, helping my clients make considered decisions about what they say, how they show up and how they want people to experience their business or services.
Why clients come to me
People usually come to me when something feels out of step.
Their marketing keeps them busy but it is not especially effective. Their messaging sounds fine on paper but does not quite reflect who they are. Their customer experience feels inconsistent. Their team is doing a lot, but without enough structure or confidence behind the work.
My role is to help make sense of that. I identify what matters, reduce unnecessary friction and help my clients focus on the decisions that improve communication, strengthen experience and support long-term growth.
Why this work matters
I started Mac&Ernie to offer marketing support that feels more thoughtful, more useful and more honest than a lot of what people are usually sold.
I don’t believe good businesses should have to become louder, more performative or more exhausting to run, in order to grow.
I believe in marketing that helps people understand you properly, customer experiences that make things easier for the people you serve, and communication that builds confidence over time.
That thinking sits behind my EASE Framework and shapes the way I approach strategy, training, policy work and brand development.
Who I work with
My clients include small businesses, community organisations, councils, chambers of commerce, member organisations and public-facing professionals who want experienced support with good judgement behind it.
Some need strategy. Some need workshops, coaching or advisory support. Some need brand development or social media policies. What they have in common is that they want communication that works better, decisions that feel more considered, and support that is relevant to their world.
Why place matters
I’m based in Gippsland, and that place-based perspective matters to how I work.
Regional, suburban and small-town businesses are often working with different conditions, different customer patterns and different reputational dynamics to larger metro brands. Relationships matter more. Word of mouth carries further. Community expectations are often higher. Growth is shaped as much by trust and consistency as it is by visibility.
That is why I do not default to generic advice. I look at what fits your audience, your resources and the place you operate in.
What you can expect from me
You can expect clear advice, thoughtful questions and recommendations you can actually use.
I’m known for helping people untangle complexity, communicate more effectively and make progress without adding unnecessary noise. Clients often tell me they feel calmer, more certain and better equipped once we start working together, and that matters to me.
Kind words from over 100 five-star reviews
“Erika’s social media training is
practical and clear.”
“Erika’s kindness and knowledge
are unmatched.”
“Mac&Ernie’s guidance has transformed our business.”
“Mac&Ernie’s strategies are
genuine and effective.”
“Erika boosted my social media confidence.”
“Erika’s expertise and partnership
are unparalleled.”
