Content is a loaded topic. Have you thought about it lately? There is so much content out there! Social media content, video content, services content, sales content, web content; I could go on forever. All types of content lead back to the point that content is a form of communicating a topic or idea. We are all creating content almost every single day! Sometimes I find that we forget what the word actually means because we use it so often.
We’ve all been there. You know...when a potential client says “Thanks for your time but I’m going with the other person because they’re cheaper.” Anyone in the creative industry (and beyond) has heard this a time or two and had to fight an eye roll or hide their facial expression. While the price is always a factor in any purchase decision it shouldn’t be the ONLY factor. If you’re on the client end of a proposal review, consider the following 5 factors the next time you’re making your decision.
There are few things I love more than branding and digital marketing, except when they come together, of course! Last year, I joined Babe Crafted in February for a Tampa Bay Startup Week panel called “The Do’s and Don’ts of Your Digital Brand.” We discussed all the things including what you should and shouldn’t be doing online to make sure that your brand is unique, your message consistent, and your content relates to your audience. Since many of you don’t reside in the Tampa area, I decided to give you a summary of what I suggested to others starting out with their online strategy. Here are my expert do and don’t tips for your digital brand!
How often have you asked yourself a similar version of this question? More often than not, the answer is yes. When it comes to growing brand visibility, from Instagram to Tik Tok, the possibilities are quite endless to get in front of your target audience. Pinterest in particular can be a bit more time-consuming than Instagram or Facebook but with a few strategic hours and Tailwind, you can be driving higher traffic and increased sales.
I recently went to meet with a potential client and after some extensive conversation to find out how I could use social media to grow her business we got to the part of the conversation where we needed to discuss the budget. She shared with me that she had a very small budget to work with. After more conversation, it became obvious she had spent the majority of her allotted monies on a prior company who had over-promised and under-delivered. In addition, they were continuing to charge her for things she didn’t really need.
This kind of experience is unfortunately far too common and it’s not the first time I’ve experienced it and I’m certain it won't be the last. Choosing a marketing professional isn’t something that should be taken lightly and not everyone is a great fit for each other. When finding the professional that’s right for you there are a few things to consider.
Make sure to do your homework on each person you meet with or interview. Even if they are not consistently active, do they have social media accounts with a decent following? Does the content they’ve posted make sense? Do they have a presence on the channels they are claiming to have knowledge of? These are often good indicators of your professional knowledge on the industry.
Secondly, don’t feel pressured to make a decision after the first meeting. Once you receive your initial proposal take another meeting to ask questions or obtain more details about the services you will be receiving if anything remains unclear.
Meet with more than one company and compare pricing and services. Most proposals are confidential so you shouldn’t share information from the company to the company but you are allowed to know what will work best for you. Paying a high price for something doesn’t always mean great results and paying less for something doesn’t mean you’re getting poor service- quality versus quantity.
It comes down to knowing your own business and finding a professional who you think has a clear understanding of what your business wants, goals, and needs are. If you’re a small business with a very specific target market you may need to spend more than a business that has a broad demographic simply to make sure you’re properly reaching your clientele.
To schedule a meeting or phone call and discuss your businesses digital marketing needs email me at marketingwmel@gmail.com
