Marketing Consultants…What are they good for?

 I met a potential client the other day and I really hope we can bring on this account because it’s perfect for our group.  It has a true entrepreneurial story that we love: A business born of an idea and grown from the heart.    This meeting got me thinking about how consultants can help small businesses grow, how marketing is such an important part of a business plan but often neglected,    and how consultants are sometimes more like partners thank vendors …. Like many clients we have worked with, this group contacted us because they needed marketing direction, but as we discussed their situation, it became clear that they also needed assistance streamlining business objectives. We stand by our credo: DMG is your personal marketing department, and we work with many smaller businesses that don’t have an internal marketing department to speak of.  In this capacity, we tend to act as a business consultant with marketing expertise.  This has become a natural evolution of our role, as it’s important to understand a client’s full business model in order to improve and grow the company. 

The problem many companies face is finding the time to implement marketing strategies that they know need to be done.  As you can see from the graph, a marketing plan has many components.   You spend so much time doing the busy-ness of business rather than doing the business of marketing.  With so many options today, it is essential for businesses to focus on what they do best: sell a product or service.  

So, what does this mean for you when you decide you need marketing help?  It is important to think about what you really need.  Maybe all you want is graphic work or a new website, for example.  Like DMG, many marketing groups can provide that.  But maybe you need a partner, a coach who can help you formulate marketing plans and strategies. This is when you want a consultant who will:

·         Develop a marketing plan

·         Refine business plans

·         Analyze business operations

·         Create corporate identity

·         Devise marketing strategy and execute it tactically

Bottom line, think of your marketing consultant as your partner.  Maybe you want to start out with only collateral pieces.  But when you are ready, make sure your marketing consultant is equipped to offer you much more than that.  If you need us to be, we will be your partner and get down and dirty, so you can spend the bulk of your time building your business, doing what you love and making your dream a success!