Have you ever come to the realization that you just don’t have the time or expertise to accomplish something and just need to hire an expert?
I did recently. The white vinyl siding on our house was dirty – gross me out dirty. Last summer, I tried washing it myself with some cleaning fluid and our garden hose. It wasn’t working.
This summer, my husband kindly offered to rent a power washer for me. But between work, kids, summer activities, traveling and vacations that wasn’t working either.
So last week I called a few power washing companies. One had an opening for Monday and I jumped at it. Monday came and so did the power washing expert. I ran out to a client meeting and when I came back, it was amazing. My house was sparkling white again!
The transformation was so worth what I paid and then some! I found myself thinking, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?!?”
Why it Makes Sense to Outsource Marketing
And so it goes with your marketing efforts. Sometimes you need help recharging or establishing your marketing efforts. Maybe you’re losing sales, the phone isn’t ringing or you just don’t know where to begin. Maybe you’re just busy running your business or doing what you do best. I’ve worked with clients experiencing all of these things.
Let’s face it, we all have to force ourselves to work on what doesn’t come naturally. Often we simply avoid it, which is when you need to ask yourself if it’s time to outsource specific functions (like power washing white vinyl siding). It’s OK if marketing isn’t your core strength. It’s mine and I can help.
Don’t take my word for it though. Consider Dr. Evan Polman’s research on this topic. In his Harvard Business Review article — Why It’s Easier to Make Decisions for Someone Else — the assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Business points out that people are bolder and more creative when coming up with solutions for someone else, and much more cautious when it comes to themselves.
“When we are brainstorming ideas to other people’s problems, we’re inspired; we have a free flow of ideas to spread out on the table without judgment, second-guessing, or overthinking.”
– Dr. Evan Polman, Why It’s Easier to Make Decisions for Someone Else
Bold. Creative. Inspired. Sounds like a good way to approach marketing.
By outsourcing marketing strategy and support, companies can benefit from an outside perspective, a recommended plan, and more creativity.
3 Tips to Help Hire the Right Expert
Just like I knew I needed help cleaning my siding, many small businesses recognize they could benefit from outside marketing support.
But where do you start?
- Do your homework. Search for marketing firms in your area and look at 3-5 of their websites. Read their blogs. Try to get a sense of who they are and if you think they’d be a good marketing partner.
- Schedule a meeting. You should talk with at least two marketing professionals to get a sense of who you click with.
- Come prepared. Think about your business strategy, growth objectives and barriers to success. Have a sense of what your most critical needs are, as well as a rough idea of what you can afford.
Keep in mind, you may not need a full-blown marketing agency. Often times, individual marketing consultancies can provide you with just the right amount of support to improve your marketing efforts and grow your business.
One of my clients found that having an in-house marketing coordinator on the payroll wasn’t right for him, and he didn’t get the level of service he needed from a larger marketing agency with medium and large business clients. Appeal Marketing gave him just the right amount of support to promote his small B2B business.
Don’t soldier on alone. With the right partner, you can more quickly improve your marketing efforts. You may even find yourself saying “Why didn’t I do this sooner?”
Interested in learning more? Contact Appeal Marketing for a free consultation today!