Why A Free Consultation Is Not Enough To Build A 12 Month Marketing Plan
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2021 8:55 am
We're going to go with this local business because they're giving us a free consultation. This will give the same information as your marketing audit, and we don't have to spend $ 5,000. It's something that we sometimes hear in one form or another. Most brands understand that a marketing audit gives them a guide of what to do with the specifics and a personalized strategy. But sometimes a business owner or marketing manager is blinded by FREE . Hey, it happens to the best of us. shrug-gif Here is the question to ask yourself: Would you like to enter into a 12 month contract based on one hour or two hours of free consultation? It could end up costing thousands of dollars every month for four painful quarters. Or would you rather spend a fraction of that amount up front and be able to make an informed decision based on the data? Audit vs Consultation Let's be generous and say it's a two hour consultation. The agency spends an hour browsing your current website and social media, and they pull out their cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all suggestions on how your business can “market” in the modern marketplace. You could have had the same information from a self-assessment. On the flip side, a marketing audit that includes a team that includes marketers, a designer, and a growth strategist will take longer. Weekly meetings, conversations, research, strategy sessions and more will give you a much deeper insight into your past marketing, where you are now, and what future goals are right for your business. It takes longer and will cost money, but it does mean you've got a real take out that means something. It's an investment in the future, with quarterly goals and key results you can measure. Why do a marketing audit? Maybe you know your marketing needs a little work.
You might even be willing to leave it all Consumer Email List behind and ignore what you did or didn't do and look to the future. Wherever you are on your business growth journey, a marketing audit will help you understand your current location so you can navigate to success with the right map. A marketing audit will give you a strategy and tactics to help your business grow for the months and years to come. It will also help you make an informed decision about your future in the world of marketing. Perhaps you will work with the agency that performed your audit. Maybe you will hire someone to implement the findings. Maybe you will do both. The right marketing audit helps you avoid getting into a long-term relationship without knowing the partner on the other side. It's like dating before marriage. dating-gif “A free consultation is not enough to make decisions over 12 months. "- Jackie Pfriender, growth strategistWhat to expect in a marketing audit This audit should be a time consuming project. It is not a two hour experience. You will have a few meetings. Your agency will work on their side. You will have homework. It takes time and effort. If it's easy, it's probably not worth it. Once that's done and you've presented the results, you should walk away with a few things. This is not a complete or guaranteed list. Some audits may have more or include different takeaways, but here's a good idea to get you started. Website improvement tactics You should already understand that your website is your primary digital marketing foundation.
Social media is great, but a website is home. Before you create a social media based business page, which belongs to this platform, make sure that your business has a revenue generating website. Does your website allow the user to find what they are looking for? Does it influence conversions and tell a better story through relevant content rather than generic copy? A successful marketing audit will show you if your website is reducing friction, feeling human, and giving your users the experience they need to decide whether to do business with you or bounce off a competitor. The best marketing audit will take into account the elements of your brand, your voice, and your goals. Then it should come up with some suggestions for your website's next step, whether it's a slight refresh or a complete overhaul. Search engine optimization tools If you have a website that produces results, but no one can find it, what's the point? gif-useless You need to make sure that people can find your great website. This is why search engine optimization (SEO) is vital.
You might even be willing to leave it all Consumer Email List behind and ignore what you did or didn't do and look to the future. Wherever you are on your business growth journey, a marketing audit will help you understand your current location so you can navigate to success with the right map. A marketing audit will give you a strategy and tactics to help your business grow for the months and years to come. It will also help you make an informed decision about your future in the world of marketing. Perhaps you will work with the agency that performed your audit. Maybe you will hire someone to implement the findings. Maybe you will do both. The right marketing audit helps you avoid getting into a long-term relationship without knowing the partner on the other side. It's like dating before marriage. dating-gif “A free consultation is not enough to make decisions over 12 months. "- Jackie Pfriender, growth strategistWhat to expect in a marketing audit This audit should be a time consuming project. It is not a two hour experience. You will have a few meetings. Your agency will work on their side. You will have homework. It takes time and effort. If it's easy, it's probably not worth it. Once that's done and you've presented the results, you should walk away with a few things. This is not a complete or guaranteed list. Some audits may have more or include different takeaways, but here's a good idea to get you started. Website improvement tactics You should already understand that your website is your primary digital marketing foundation.
Social media is great, but a website is home. Before you create a social media based business page, which belongs to this platform, make sure that your business has a revenue generating website. Does your website allow the user to find what they are looking for? Does it influence conversions and tell a better story through relevant content rather than generic copy? A successful marketing audit will show you if your website is reducing friction, feeling human, and giving your users the experience they need to decide whether to do business with you or bounce off a competitor. The best marketing audit will take into account the elements of your brand, your voice, and your goals. Then it should come up with some suggestions for your website's next step, whether it's a slight refresh or a complete overhaul. Search engine optimization tools If you have a website that produces results, but no one can find it, what's the point? gif-useless You need to make sure that people can find your great website. This is why search engine optimization (SEO) is vital.