Outsourcing Marketing

[Alan]

I'm just wondering if this is feasible for a small businesses, that has up to know done all its own marketing efforts.

And if so what bands of cost apply for different levels.

In simple terms, I'm not good at it, probably more specifically coming up with the right content strategy and copy. I can handle the technical side if required, in terms of PPC, SEO, Analytics, building sites / landing pages, but I just don't have marketing writing skills.

Thoughts?

 

[ethical PR]

There are thousands of freelances, digital marketing, marketing, and PR companies and agencies out there so you can of course, outsource some or all of your marketing needs.

If you don't already have a marketing strategy - that should be your starting point for getting some expert help on. This will help you identify what sort of marketing activity and approach you should be investing in. You can then identify what sort of specific support you might want to outsource such as copywriting.

 

[Alan]

You are right of course, and probably where I fall down is the first steps of the strategy in terms of market & competitor analysis. Maybe I'm wrong, but outsourcing strategy sounds expensive if you are to do it well, as for a small business most of teh strategy is embedded knowldege so that has to be replicated.

Happy to hear otherwise.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Maybe I'm wrong, but outsourcing strategy sounds expensive if you are to do it well

Well, do you want it done well, or do you want it done cheap? Rarely can you have both.

But I get your issue with this. It's like me with cold calling, for a time I hated it (and I still don't like it), so I contracted the task out to a lady that was happy to cold call. It worked to an extent, because she did get my name into businesses, but rarely did I pick up any sales.

Now, I do cold calling and I am getting more sales, because I can make decision on something immediately, whereas the lady who I hired kept having to refer back to me on pricing, etc.

But I agree with @ethical PR, you need to have a proper marketing strategy in place to start with.

 

[Alan]

I don't disagree. And I do have a marketing strategy, and it is probably better than I could hope for than throwing it over the fence to a random freelancer, but it also is likley lacking in many areas.

The keyword you used there is 'proper' and that is the bit I'm interested in, what defines proper, maybe it needs a third party review.

 

[ethical PR]

Hi Alan

My advice would be to work with a freelance/smaller agency who are experienced in your sector and who understand how to reach your target demographic to help you review/update your strategy.

Typically your marketing strategy should cover the following

1. Measurable objectives
2. Target audience including key customer profiles
3. Brand proposition - who are you, what do you do, brand values, what are the benefits of doing business with you
4. Competitor research
5. SWOT analysis
6. Key messages
7. Strategic marketing approach - how are you going to reach your customers (what do you have in place at the moment, what do you need to have in place to achieve your marketing plan - website, brand, collateral etc)
8. Calendar of opportunities - what activities are you going to be carrying out over the next year (identified on a month by month basis)
9. Longer term priority area for marketing activity
10. Resources and budget (what can you do in-house, what expertise do you need to buy in, how much is your marketing plan going to cost you to implement)
1 1.. Measuring success (Against your measurable objectives


Does your marketing plan cover these areas?

I would suggest you find a marketing partner who can help develop your marketing strategy and also help you develop your own skills in these areas to really add value to your business.

Good luck

 

[AB-Leadgen]

I've heard lots of people say the same thing over the years and it always comes down to this: do what you enjoy. If you don't enjoy it, out-source it because you won't do a very good job.

 

[liams7]

Good marketing isn't cheap. Cheap marketing is rarely good.

 

[CreativeSeoCompanyBristol]

My input here is that both online and offline marketing still works very well today, whether in-house or outsourced.

It all depends on what you do and what you expect at the end of it, which comes down to the strategy you are happy with....that finally gives you the result you wanted.