Next Level Marketing has created a new innovative service called Managed Marketing Services that are designed specifically for small and mid-sized business who do not have a marketing professional on staff but whose sales team would greatly benefit from consistent marketing activities. If this sounds like you, read on.
Uncertain economic times provide the perfect opportunity for you to take stock of your existing customers and to leverage those relationships in order to weather the downturn. Now is the time to access the fundamentals that drive your business; knowing your existing customers; acquiring new customers; connecting with customers in meaningful ways; and delivering the right solutions to meet customer needs. But do you have the time or staff to consistently reach out to your customers? We all agree that marketing activities are investments into the future revenues of the company, but with all the other commitments of your sales peoples’ time, it is often hard to provide the consistency in these activities that are required to be successful. What are your options then? Well you could hire a marketing professional but their salary, benefits, taxes and related costs may not be in the budget, especially when you realize that they will demand a marketing budget on top of this expenditure. You could do nothing and hope for the best. Or you could outsource some of these marketing activities to a third party. This is where Managed Marketing Service providers come in.
What are Managed Marketing Services?
Managed Marketing Services may be a new concept for most small and mid-sized businesses, but it stems from the age-old concept of outsourcing services. Managed Marketing Services are recurring services provided either on-site or remotely on a contractual basis. It is the day-to-day marketing related activities that keep the company in front of customers, prospects and referral source partners in a coordinated, effective and brand-supportive manner. A managed services provider (MSP), is typically a marketing services provider, who manages and assumes responsibility for providing a defined set of services to their customers either proactively or as they (not the customer) determine that the services are needed. The basic premise is that there are mundane marketing tasks either not being conducted by your company or that are being conducted by salespeople who should be prospecting instead. Outsourcing these marketing services to a Managed Marketing Services Provider lowers costs and frees up time for your sales people to work on closing more business.
What’s Typically Included?
A Managed Marketing Services program typically includes 1) marketing planning and coordination with sales team activities, 2) print communications such as newsletters and postcard solicitations, 3) electronic communications such as e-mail campaigns and blog support, and 4) social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Advertising and search engine optimization can also be included. As a Marketing Services Provider, Next Level takes the marketing load off you and helps you focus your energies back into the core business issues. We become your marketing team who THINKS and ACTS as YOUR integrated marketing partner. We help define and put your business strategy into marketing strategy and execute these actions of your behalf.
What are the Benefits?
The benefits of Managed Marketing Services include:
- Cost savings verses hiring an in-house marketing employee
- Improved consistency of marketing communications
- Better planning and control
- Predictable expenditures
- Wider variety of marketing skill-sets as a result of working with a MSP team of experts
- Access to other marketing services as needed.
How Does Pricing Work?
Most MSPs charge a small monthly fee on a 12 month contract with an ability to withdraw from the services if needed.
If you would like to learn more about Managed Marketing Services, give Brett Flickinger a call at 630-665-4440.
