Small Business Inquiry/Focus Group Questions

NicoleC

1) As a small business owner what circumstances would motivate you to hire someone to: coordinate special events; create or update your business website; prepare mailing lists; prepare direct mailing campaigns for your business; conduct research; write press releases; coordinate media buys; and/or create a marketing plan customized to your businesses goals, objectives and mission statement?2) As a small business, what do you believe would be a reasonable, affordable price to pay for such services?
3) What objections would you have to outsourcing one or all of the above services?
 

InactiveMember

With respect to event planning ... I have no objection to outsourcing... and list assembly... I have no objection to outsourcing... media buys... I have no objections. Provided the firm or firms in question are well-credentialed or reasonably experienced or both.
But outsourced marketing is another story.
Marketing requires an in-depth understanding of competitive strategy, communication, strategy in general, the market environment, the current business environment, design fundamentals, branding, psychology, etc.
If the web sites, brochures, and in-person pitches are any indication, most marketing consultants know absolutely nothing about marketing. They think "marketing = bag of tactics", never mind whether the industry in question is having a great or terrible year.
The near total incompetence demonstrated by most marketing consultants would be my objection to any sort of outsourced marketing.

NicoleC

Craig: LOL!  Thank you I needed a good laugh. 
Craig & Cookiemonster, thank you for your posts.  They contain the brutally honest feedback I was hoping to find here! Please keep it coming.
 

NicoleC

I am hoping to obtain an objective end user view of outsourcing marketing services to combine with some formal market research.  At present, I coordinate my own events; write my own press releases; create my own direct mail peices; conduct my own research; write my own marketing plans; and engage in many low-cost marketing tactics in an effort to grow my own business.  Although what I do feels natural to me, there are a number of people from within my industry who pay assistants and/or services to do what I do on my own because they don`t know how to do it themselves.  
Not only am I seeing an untapped market in my industry; but I was recently approached by someone I have known for years. They have asked me to market their business.  They told me they have watched me market my business; the programs at my previous employer; and my ex`s business which is the same as theirs.  Granted the economic times were much better when I marketed my ex`s business; and marketing his business wasn`t difficult as he provided quality work at affordable rates.  Plus his competition didn`t market themselves well so it wasn`t difficult to get a foot in the door, prove value of service and triple his business three years in a row.  Bottom line, I am gathering data to help me make some informed decisions in the near future.

NicoleC

If opportunity were to knock any louder it wouldn`t need a mega phone.  However, opportunity isn`t equivalent to vision, preparation or market demand. There are many factors to consider such as: competition; competitive advantage; talent pool for subcontracting work to; demand for services; local economy; etc.   With the help of feedback, formal research, interviews of inhouse marketers and a written business plan this preliminary evaluation should provide sufficient information to make an informed decision.
 

NicoleC

Craig,
Based on my preliminary research it doesn`t appear that anyone in my area is targeting the market segment I am interested in.  On the contrary their websites appears to be geared toward established large companys or speciality niches (life sciences, bio med technologies, etc.)  
I would love to help average people  reach potentials they never thought possible.  Although I probably would not turn down some Madison Avenue bucks, pragmatically I am prepared to be content with a very modest income which covers both my overhead & living expenses.  NicoleC2007-6-19 1:40:44