Friday, January 31, 2014

On Outsourcing: Marketing


A lot of buzz has surrounded the subject of outsourcing, especially since the recession. 

Should I hire to fill that need, or can it be done just as well (if not better) out of house?

For so many savvy companies, marketing is a popular and growing area for outsourcing.  In fact, the number of companies partnering with agencies and firms to handle their marketing is growing quickly (source: Mashable).  When you consider the annual median pay for advertising, promotions and marketing managers is over $115,000 annually (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics), and even entry level marketing positions are filled for around $35k per year plus benefits.  That leaves a lot of room for negotiating a comfortable retainer with a reputable agency or firm.   

Besides hiring marketing and advertising representation in-house, the other alternative I’ve found most common is management or ownership taking on the promotions, branding, advertising, design, web, strategy and creative (etc., etc.).  I’ll express my feelings on that with a conversation I had with one of my clients. 

As we were laying out the advertising campaign mix and creative just before launch, I asked my client what he thought.  He grinned and answered:

I would never have known this could be done so neatly and effectively.  Before I hired Fresh Form, I wore this hat, I met with all the reps and listened to their sales pitches, a.k.a. ‘recommendations,’ from which I had no idea how to choose, or what to believe.  But with everything else going on in my business, I gave marketing 50% of my effort at best.  That’s all I could give.”

Is that you? 

Maybe it’s time to take a fresh look at your marketing, promotions, brand image, website and advertising.  The target representing your marketing is a moving one.  Don’t wait to get the help you need, because the hassle of hiring is not your only, or best option anymore.

To your success moving forward in business!

-D. Bauer

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