About Dave Bowden
Strategic Marketing Consultant & Founder of Through To Communications
I help organizations of all sizes refine their message, reach more people and
get more from their marketing.
The marketer other marketing firms call for communications strategy and expertise
I’ve spent the past 15 years helping everyone from publicly traded companies to small nonprofits clarify their positioning, sharpen their messaging and craft marketing that (actually) moves the needle.
Whether working in-house, on my own, or in conjunction with my talented partners, I specialize in helping leadership and marketing teams cut through complexity and turn their communications into a focused, effective driver of growth.
The TL;DR version? I help you get through to your target audience.
My Marketing Philosophy
Clarify. Compel. Convert.
I’ve built an incredibly rewarding (and occasionally award-winning) marketing career by crafting campaigns that people understand, engage with and, dare I say, even enjoy.
In my experience, marketers often can’t resist muddling their communications with melodious fluff or AI slop that may sound smart(ish), but fails to resonate with actual human beings.
But with all due apologies to teddy bears and cotton candy, I hate fluff. (And don’t even get me started on slop.)
As a former journalist, I specialize in understanding my target audience and helping my clients create strategies, campaigns and collateral that not only connect with people, but compel them to take action:
To buy your product, use your service, visit your website, sign up for your email list, Vote for Pedro, or engage in whatever activity would most benefit you.
Learn More About My Approach →Clarify. Compel. Convert. It’s my mantra and my guiding light. (But only because “Help ambitious companies find their voice, sharpen their story and stop wasting money on directionless marketing” was too much of a mouthful.)
“A consummate professional and simply fantastic to work with”
Professional Experience
Spanning agencies, in-house leadership roles and independent consulting, my career sits at the intersection of marketing strategy, messaging and execution.
15+ years in marketing, communications and content strategy
Wide range of past clients, ranging from large, publicly traded companies to small non-profits and solopreneurs
With Key Gordon: 9 years as fractional Digital Strategist & Marketing Consultant, providing digital marketing and communications strategy, copywriting, search and AI visibility, email marketing, UX/UI and more to a wide range of clients
With Think Thirty Three: 7 years as fractional Marketing Director and Director of Digital Strategy, helping clients clarify their communications, define their positioning and align their marketing around clear strategic objectives
Created and built a successful content platform in the highly competitive men’s lifestyle niche from the ground up, leveraging deep knowledge of SEO, content strategy, audience growth and monetization to amass more than 5 million readers and 11,000+ subscribers
Senior marketing and content roles at luxury travel company Butterfield & Robinson, leading content strategy initiatives and winning multiple awards for creative marketing
Early career foundation in journalism and editorial, honing the ability to distill complex ideas into clear, compelling communication that resonates with real people
Why Work with Me?
Because you don’t need more marketing activity, you need more marketing results.
And that requires experience, discernment and a proven track record of marketing success.
Strategy before execution
I don’t jump straight to tactics. I help you understand what you’re trying to say, who you’re saying it to and why it matters, so every decision that follows is grounded in a clear strategic foundation.
Clear thinking, clearly communicated
With a background in journalism and years spent refining complex ideas, I bring a level of clarity that cuts through noise, making your marketing easier to understand and act on.
Alignment with strategy & goals
From positioning and messaging to SEO, content, websites and conversion strategy, I understand how all the pieces fit together, and how to make them work as a cohesive whole.
A partner, not a vendor
I work closely with leadership and marketing teams as a strategic advisor, helping diagnose problems, challenge assumptions and guide decisions, not just execute tasks.
Focused on outcomes, not output
The goal isn’t more content, it’s better performance. That means reaching the right people, resonating with them and driving meaningful results.
“An asset to any company”
Butterfield & Robinson Luxury Travel
My Values
They inform everything I do, providing the standard that I strive to achieve, and the example that I hope to set for my sons.
Clarity
See the big picture.
Quality
Do your very best.
Integrity
Act with honour.
Action
Do it now.
Personal Life
When not obsessing over marketing and communications, I can usually be found spending quality time with my wonderful wife Michelle and our two amazing sons, indulging in a hoppy craft beer, or sobbing over the woeful state of Toronto’s sports teams.
Book a No-Charge Consultation
Ready to make your marketing more effective? Book a free, 30-minute consultation.
