As a marketing consultant, it’s obvious that I’m going to suggest companies outsource and I’m clearly not ‘unbiased’(!), but after 21 years of doing marketing for businesses, I know there are often very practical and sound reasons to outsource some or all of your marketing needs.

But is it the right choice for your company? Here are 4 reasons to consider outsourced marketing:

1. To cut costs or better manage your budget

I’m not suggesting you get rid of your in-house marketing team if you have one! However, if you don’t have an in-house team, you’ve been forced to cut staff or you can’t afford additional employees right now, you might benefit from outsourcing. By using an outside marketing firm, you get the talent, expertise and skills you need while avoiding the expenses that come with hiring a new employee.

For smaller businesses that could never afford an in-house marketing person, going outside for ad-hoc marketing projects, or even just some marketing guidance every now and then, can be a great use of limited marketing budgets.

2. To reduce the stress of your in-house marketing team

Today’s marketing teams have a lot on their plates. From social media, eshots, content writing, Google AdWords and SEO, an in-house team can struggle to keep up with all of the changes. In the rush to keep up with everything, deadlines can get missed, skills training can lapse and projects can get pushed aside.

An outside marketing agency can take over some of the day-to-day tasks – or assist with overall planning and strategy – so your in-house team has time to explore new ideas, get additional training and get things back on schedule.

3. To gain a fresh perspective

No one understands your business better than you do, right? You know exactly what, how, when and why you do what you do. But do you really know what attracts your customers?

When you work with a professional marketing consultant, you get a fresh, outside perspective. Marketing consultants know how to attract and convert buyers, and can offer valuable insights about unique selling propositions (USPs) you may not have considered. A good marketing consultant will work with you – AND keep you focused on your plans and goals.

4. Get a better idea of what’s working (and what’s not)

How’s your marketing working for you? Is your website bringing in more traffic than in the past? How do most of your customers find you? What were the results of your last online promotion? You need to know the answers to these questions.

A good marketing consultant will provide reports that show you what’s being spent where, what’s bringing in new customers and what needs work. In addition, they’ll provide insight into how your marketing is affecting your bottom line.

Think outsourcing might be a good choice for your business? Contact Breathe Marketing to discuss how we can help.  

If you have a marketing team in-house that already does a good job of bringing in leads, that’s great. But if you don’t, and you feel you need some outside help, what should you look for?

Before you interview any marketing consultant, ask yourself these questions:

• Have you identified your target market? What type of customer are you trying to attract?
• Do you have a business plan in place?
• What sets your business apart from your competitors? Why should a customer choose your company instead of someone else?
• What marketing efforts have worked well for you in the past?
• Do you know how much it currently costs you to acquire a new customer?
• Do you have a marketing budget in place?
• Are you looking to tackle a single project (such as building a website) or are you looking for a long-term partnership?

Knowing the answers to these questions before you meet with and hire a consultant will guide your conversation and help you find the right match. If you’re clear about what your expectations and needs are, you’ll be more likely to achieve your goals and grow your business.

What to look for

First, look for a consultant who will sit down with you to learn and ask questions about your business goals and needs. Someone who has a marketing plan in mind before understanding your target market and your business is probably going to waste your time and money!  Watch out for ‘off-the-shelf’ solutions.

Here are some other questions to ask a potential consultant: 

• Is there a portfolio of previous work you can review in print or online?
• Can he/she give you some names of clients as references? (Note: Be sure to take the time to actually contact a few of these people to ask about their experience!)
• What are the firm’s areas of expertise? Is he/she familiar with the latest marketing trends?
• How would the billing and payment process work?
• When and how often will he/she provide reporting and results from marketing campaigns?
• Can he/she provide you with a range of marketing options and corresponding prices?
• Does the firm have enough time to devote to your project(s) and deadline(s) right now?

Want to find out if Breathe Marketing is the right fit for your marketing needs? Contact us today to arrange a time to talk.