More businesses are seeing a benefit from online marketing, as more and more customers are acquired through various online and social media marketing channels. With our instant gratification society, as technology advances, consumers and business people demand the ability to have up to the minute results and reporting. It is more important than ever to stay on top of the marketing for your business.
While businesses understand that they need to market, there is still a large gap in their knowledge of what is effective, and how they should go about getting this marketing completed. Business owners generally understand that exposure for their business increases sales and raises their bottom line, but beyond that there is still a disconnect between where to spend the money and how to track results.
Local Marketing Company v Marketing Agency
With experience in both the agency and local marketing company sides, there are obvious positives and negatives to both. Today I will explore a few of the differences between these two types of marketing entities to help you make a decision about which one might be best for your business.
Let’s Start With Greenbacks
A smaller local marketing company is more likely to be more cost effective, detailing your costs for individual services and showing you where your ROI “sweetspot” is, keeping your budget in mind. If money is of little concern to you, then a marketing agency might be the way to go. Marketing agencies tend to have much higher overhead, and therefore less of your marketing dollar will likely make it to your campaign, and their minimums tend to be much higher than your local agency.
It’s All About Who You Know
Marketing agencies may have smaller satellite offices in your city, town, or village, but typically those offices are filled with sales guys and not the actual marketers. The sales guy will likely do little past the point of sale, and therefore the only benefit to you is that you were able to meet them face to face to sign on the dotted line. A local marketing company is generally comprised of individuals that live in or near your direct market. Their understanding of the market is much greater, and depending on how long they have been established they are far more likely to be able to assist you in grassroots, geo-sensitive, and direct marketing tactics a marketing agency could never achieve.
Accountability & Personal Attention
A local marketing company is more likely to schedule time directly with you, periodically, to review and develop strategies for marketing efforts. You are more likely to feel as though your wants and needs are taken into consideration and your personal touch shines through your marketing channels. With a marketing agency, you are less likely to interact with the actual marketers, and instead are speaking to a customer service representative that sends your requests to a marketer or marketing director. Much like playing telephone, by the time it actually reaches the marketer, your message has been diluted. This typically results in a more generic message that doesn’t blend your special character through.
Why I Choose a Small Local Marketing Company?
As mentioned earlier in this article, I have experience as a director of a marketing agency, and obviously I have decided to create a small local marketing company. My number one reason for doing this is to allow business owners, like you, to have more control over their marketing. At Hunter Marketing Group we will work with you on your budget rather than if you were to go with one of those bigger guys who tell you what your budget is going to be and then spends it. We understand that in today’s economy time is money. That is why at Hunter Marketing Group, you won’t have to wait long periods of time to speak to someone. With a local marketing company, you don’t have to worry about being a number or just another file. You are a person and your success is our success. We know who you are as a person and treat you that way.
Hunter Marketing Group provides all of our clients with custom services, similar to what a marketing agency does, but we never make you pay for something you don’t need or use. We learn about your business in detail and will find the perfect marketing solution for your Las Vegas business.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and to start your 2015 marketing off with a bang!
