Outsourcing Marketing Activities
When businesses ask us which marketing activities they should outsource, there are four that come top of our list:
- Branding
- Logo design
- Website design
- SEO
In this blog we look at why certain marketing activities are best handed over to an outsider, and consider the business benefits of doing so.
1. Branding
Branding is a great opportunity to revisit the core values of a business. But when it comes to translating those values into a design the discussion can become overly subjective and unproductive. Once you’ve decided on the values you wish to promote in your branding, hand over the design task to professionals. They’ll offer you a range of options to decide from, and it will take a fraction of the time.
Branding isn’t just about design. Once you’ve decided on the ‘look and feel’ of your marketing materials, it will need to be applied to all your brand assets: website, social media, print materials, business cards, banners, resources. A branding professional will provide you with all the materials you need as a matter of course, including a ‘brand book’ which includes a style guide.
2. Logo
This always feels personal for businesses, and when things feel personal, rational decision-making can go out of the window. As with any other aspect of branding, a logo starts out with discussions around values but these need to be time-limited. Then the design should be handed over to a professional who will take your ideas and create an eye-catching, memorable design.
An outsourced logo designer will present you with a range of designs, with a brief accompanying explanation. Many businesses we work with find it quite useful to have maybe five or six options to choose from, and revisions limited to two or three rounds. These boundaries focus the discussion, and maintain a reasonable time frame for production of a final product.
3. Website Design
Very few businesses are now tempted to create their own websites as the results rarely match a professional design. There are, however, plenty of businesses that hand over their website design to freelancers offering what looks like bargain prices. If you’re shopping around for a bargain, it’s important to check that your website not only looks good, but is also responsive and secure.
Outsourcing website design to an agency that specialises in marketing may cost you more, but it guarantees a site that will provide a great online experience for visitors, on any device, and be trustworthy when it comes to doing business. Sites that meet these criteria will automatically achieve a better ranking in the search engines.
4. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
Unless you have an SEO specialist in-house, this is a no-brainer when it comes to outsourcing. Search Engine Optimisation is carried out across all your marketing resources, with the sole aim of raising your ranking in the major search engines. The higher your ranking, the more visitors to your website, which means more conversions.
An SEO professional will research the high volume keywords appropriate to your business, analyse your competitors’ SEO, find key differentiators to promote your offering, and optimise all your brand assets. They’ll monitor the results, and revise their SEO activities accordingly.
About Outsource Your Marketing
Outsource Your Marketing offers specialist services to businesses that are looking for ways to free up their time. If you’re considering outsourcing marketing activities, we’ll provide ongoing care and attention for all your brand assets, ensuring they offer the return on investment that you require.
