The role of any type of marketing is to achieve business growth through new customers and continues to be the biggest challenge facing businesses today.
A key decision business owners grapple with is whether to do the marketing themselves or get outside help? This is where deciding on a marketing strategy in tune with the business vision is pivotal and must be the primary consideration.
The appeal of a marketing agency is best summarised as:
- The belief that they will modernize and “reboot” your marketing strategy.
- They will help keep your costs down.
- In the long term, the investment will provide positive results.
- The business owners will have more time to run their business.
If we dig a little deeper though all marketing deliverables need business owner sign off especially if there are costs involved and central to this must be an effective strategic marketing plan, otherwise, the business owner will be time challenged and gain little benefit from the use of external resources of any description.
An agency would usually appoint an account manager and this individual would be responsible for all deliverables, usually having developed a strategy in tune with the skill sets of his/her available resource, which may not always be in line with the business owners’ marketing strategy. I am aware of a small number of SME’s who were looking for help in developing marketing campaigns, who were sold “new branding and websites” with the belief that this was what was holding them back. These types of tales usually arise due to the absence or exclusion of a detailed marketing plan.
It goes without saying, that central to any successful business is a well-crafted business plan out of which dovetails a marketing plan. This is created in line with the business owner’s vision and is the first point on the compass. A good marketing strategist will not only develop this strategy but also enable implementation. Implicit within this plan will be costs associated with every activity, complete transparency, and the project management of all marketing activities, to ensure delivery is made on time and within the budget.
Weekly interaction with the business owner is all that is required to check in on the impact of various activities, followed up by a monthly review and realignment of plans if necessary.
The rise of the internet and the explosion of social media networks have changed the way that companies reach their target prospects and communicate how they can help them solve their problems.
In days of yore, outbound marketing methods (such as yellow page advertisements, commercials, or print ads) were effective in drive customers to a business’s door. In this age of technology, consumers are all techno-savvy and armed with a battery of computers and mobile devices, expect real-time access to information so they can make buying decisions in the fewest keystrokes imaginable.
This means that businesses need to ensure that their messages are well executed and have easily accessible and “easy to find” websites online. Facilitating easier conversion from prospects to customers on the internet using an inbound marketing approach creates the perfect platform for converting visitors into leads.
Business Medics act as a project manager conduit and ensure business owners fulfill their marketing aspirations. Here is a list of activities that can be delivered following a Business Medics Strategy workshop through a well-developed network of professional strategic alliances. This negates the need for contacting agencies and offers significant savings on your marketing spend, leading to an enhanced ROI.
- Outline Marketing strategy
- Creating a marketing plan
- Website development and redesign
- Brand development and redesign
- Graphic design work
- SEO/keyword research
- Videography and Animation
- Photography
- Brochure development and production
- Content development
- Targeted email creation
- E-newsletters
- Social media marketing
- Paid advertising
- Metrics and data analysis
- Print marketing
- Event planning
For a free consultation from an expert strategist please contact us on 07904 185112
