1. They start with strategy—sound, specific, and business-driven

A great partner doesn’t ask, “What do you want us to do?”
They ask, “What are you trying to achieve?”

It’s a small shift—but it changes everything.

Leading with strategy means they care about outcomes, not just deliverables. They think like a CMO, not a task-taker. Beware of firms that show you a pre-packaged plan before they’ve even asked your story. That checklist might make them efficient—but it likely makes you generic.

The best outsourcing partners build strategy around your business goals, market context, and internal capabilities—not just a list of tactics. In fact, companies with tightly aligned marketing strategy significantly outperform their peers in growth. (McKinsey & Company)

What to look for:
Are they asking about your goals, your audience, your positioning—or just your budget? Is strategy the centerpiece of their approach or an afterthought?

See our article What Is Marketing Outsourcing, Really? for more on how strategy-first outsourcing differs from services-only models.

2. They’re a real marketing outsourcing partner, built to move in sync

You don’t need a bunch of marketing do-it-alls.
You need a team of specialists—each doing what they do best—working together to help you grow.

That’s the difference between a stitched-together crew of freelancers and a real marketing team. The former might check boxes. The latter builds momentum.

A great outsourcing partner doesn’t just assign random talent to fill roles. They bring together senior-level experts—strategy, creative, content, and execution—who are aligned to your goals and coordinated through a single focal point. At Outmark, that’s your Marketing Integrator: the promoter and protector of your positioning, making connections across capabilities, and keeping everything and everyone aligned.

This kind of team isn’t cobbled together based on budget or availability—it’s intentionally built to deliver your marketing with rhythm, consistency, and clarity.

Teams that are aligned around shared goals and coordinated execution outperform those that work in silos. Alignment is the driving force behind effective campaign execution. — The CMO Magazine

That’s the kind of alignment you get when you work with a true marketing‑outsourcing partner — not a patchwork cast of freelancers, but a unified team of specialists playing in harmony.

What to look for:
Who’s actually doing the work—and do they know each other? Are you working with a group of coordinated pros or a rotating cast of one-trick ponies?

3. They bring inspired creative—not just good enough

Most marketing outsourcing companies say they do creative. But when you scroll through their work, are you in awe, or are you in meh?

Great creative isn’t just about looking polished. It’s about moving people—with ideas, visuals, and storytelling that actually connect. Creative should carry your strategy, not just decorate it. That’s why your outsourced team needs more than templates and freelancers. You need writers who get nuance, designers who understand context, and creative leads who push ideas—not pixels.

And because creative is subjective (and often where momentum dies), your partner should have a process that keeps it on track: from brief to concept to execution. They should bring fire and follow-through.

As Abbey Klaassen, Global Brand President at Dentsu Creative, put it in Forbes:

Creativity is the last fair advantage we have to unlock growth for brands. Without creativity, you get parity.

What to look for:
Ask to see their work—not just the best-of reel, but a range. Who’s doing it? Is the creative team involved early? And most importantly: does it make you feel something?

Want to see some of Outmark’s creative work? 

4. They take pride in managing your marketing

Most companies outsource because they don’t feel like they have control of their marketing. That means the partner they choose can’t drop the ball.

Mindful marketing management means having systems in place — not just good intentions. It means regular, proactive updates (not “status reports on request”). It means meetings with agendas and follow-ups. Monthly progress check-ins. Clear scope and budget tracking. Performance reporting that ties back to strategy — not just what’s easy to measure.

We believe greatness happens when you master the mundane — because putting in the work day in and day out is where trust is built and results take root.

Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. —Teddy Roosevelt

What to look for:
Are you getting updates, or doing the chasing? Do meetings have purpose and follow-through? Are lessons learned and built in — or just hoped for?

5. They make it easy

Marketing shouldn’t feel like another job.
You already have one.

The right marketing outsourcing partner brings structure without the stress — and clarity without the chaos. You shouldn’t have to chase updates, decipher jargon, or hold all the pieces in your head. Great partners anticipate needs, explain things in plain language, and make it feel like progress is always happening… because it is.

For example, one Outmarkian saying is, “batchin’ is bitchin’.” Why? Because when content, campaigns, and creative are batched, it’s easier to see the bigger picture. You don’t have to review one social post ten times — you review ten posts once. That saves energy, improves quality, and builds momentum.

No constant gear-switching. No creative fire drills. No guessing what’s next.

An article in AInvest sums it up well: “In an era of rapid technological disruption and shifting market dynamics, leadership clarity is not a luxury — it is a competitive necessity.”

That’s exactly what you need from your marketing outsourcing partner: clear, coordinated, momentum‑driven marketing that makes your life easier.

What to look for:
Are they simplifying your life or adding to your workload? Do you know what’s next without having to ask? Are they easy to work with — or just easy to ignore?

6. They inspire better

A great marketing partner doesn’t just check the boxes. They raise the bar.

They bring new ideas. They reframe your challenges. They push your thinking — in the right direction. It’s not about being louder. It’s about being sharper, smarter, and more aligned with what actually moves your business forward.

But when you and your teams are inspired, everything’s better. More velocity. More clarity. More fun.

That’s why the first words of our mission are “We’re on a mission to inspire…” and why we measure it in every client satisfaction survey. Inspiration shouldn’t only come by chance, nor should it be cultivated in a vacuum.

As James Cash Penney (yes, that JC Penney) put it:

Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.

What to look for:
Are you doing all the prompting? Or are they surprising you in the best way? Do you walk out of meetings with more clarity — or more homework?

7. They know your audience — and help you know them better

A strong marketing outsourcing partner doesn’t just “get up to speed.” They dig deeper.

They study your customer, category, competition, channels, culture, and challenges — and help you learn more about your own company in the process. The great ones learn what makes your customers tick and then help you understand them in ways you didn’t expect.

We’ve uncovered insights that have fundamentally shifted how some of our clients communicate — and even how they do business altogether. When you combine curiosity with expertise, you unlock what we call informed inspiration: the kind of clarity that uncovers meaningful differences and leads to messaging breakthroughs, more potent positioning, and real growth.

The faculty at Northwestern’s Medill School of Integrated Marketing Communications defined it perfectly:

Data is the key to understanding a) your customer’s needs, preferences and intentions, and b) how to create and optimize your marketing strategy and tactics.

What to look for:
Do they ask the second and third questions? Do they help you reveal what makes you stand out, then help you promote and protect your unique position? Are they challenging you with insights — or just waiting for instructions?

8. They push it — they push it real good

You don’t need a “yes” team. You need a team that makes you better.

A strong marketing partner doesn’t just nod and execute. They ask hard questions. They challenge fuzzy logic. They push back on ideas that might feel good but won’t actually move the needle. Not because they’re being difficult — but because they care about the outcome as much as you do.

It’s easy to say yes to every request. It’s harder (and braver) to speak up when something’s off — and to offer a better path forward.

As Harvard Business Review points out:

Too often, teams default to compliance or group-think, avoiding friction at the cost of innovation. The key to unlocking their full potential is fostering constructive dissent — the ability to challenge ideas respectfully and productively.

And when that pushback comes from senior talent — seasoned strategists, creative directors, or marketers who’ve been in the room before — it shows.

You’ll feel it in the quality of the thinking and the clarity of the results.

What to look for:
Do they always agree with you… or do they respectfully challenge you? Are you hearing “great idea” too often — or hearing insights that sharpen your thinking?

9. The right marketing outsourcing partner fits your culture

Great work doesn’t just come from talent. It comes from trust.
And trust starts with fit.

You’re trusting this partner with your brand — the voice, the visuals, the personality of your business. So if they don’t vibe with your values, style, or ways of working, it’s going to show (and slow things down).

The best partnerships click not just because the team is talented, but because the collaboration feels natural. There’s trust. There’s energy. There’s shared ownership. And when things get bumpy (they always do), culture fit is what keeps everyone moving forward.

At Outmark, we talk a lot about being “seriously smart, never stuffy.” It’s a reminder that we can bring sharp thinking and still be human. That blend isn’t for everyone — and that’s the point. Fit is a filter. If you’re forcing it, it’s not the right fit.

In our earliest conversations, we spend a lot of time listening — not pitching. We want to understand the client, the culture, and the way decisions get made before we ever send an estimate. If those early meetings feel like a transactional vendor selection process, we’re probably not the right partner. And that’s okay.

Above all, establishing trust is essential for impactful collaboration, as partners need to feel confident that everyone is committed to shared goals. —Fast Company

What to look for:
Are they asking thoughtful questions about your team and values? Are they bringing their whole selves to early conversations — or playing it safe? Does working with them feel energizing, or just… fine?

10. The best marketing outsourcing partner shows up, even when the goin’ gets tough

The big kickoff. The new campaign. The fresh creative concept. That stuff is easy to get excited about.

But real marketing is built on consistency — not just creativity.

There will be times when things shift. Feedback stings. Results lag. Priorities compete. That’s not a red flag — that’s just how real work works. What matters is how your partner responds.

The best teams don’t ghost when things get tough. They adapt. They own their part. They ask the right questions — not just for praise, but for progress.

That’s why your partner’s approach matters. Do they have a rhythm for checking in, adjusting, and moving forward? Are they set up for consistency — not just big launches, but the long haul?

As the Lean Enterprise Institute puts it:

Daily management creates a structured rhythm of accountability and visibility that keeps everyone focused on what matters most.

The right partner isn’t just present for the kickoff. They’re still there: steady, thoughtful, and accountable. They’re there when the work gets real.

What to look for:
Do they take feedback with curiosity, not defensiveness? Are they building momentum even when priorities shift? Can you trust them to show up when it matters most?

Marketing is hard. That’s why the right partner matters.

Let’s be honest: marketing has never been more overwhelming.

You’re navigating constant interruptions, competing priorities, and information overload. Estimates vary, but most agree the average person is exposed to between 4,000 and 10,000 marketing messages a day, every day. There are more than 11,000 martech tools in circulation. And there’s always a new platform, tactic, or “must-have” that promises to fix everything.

But there is no silver bullet.

Marketing is hard — and that’s what makes it meaningful. It requires curiosity. Consistency. Courage. The willingness to experiment, adapt, and try again. As Jimmy Dugan put it in A League of Their Own:

It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.

That’s why finding the right marketing outsourcing partner matters so much. Because with the right team by your side — one that brings strategy, execution, clarity, creativity, and inspiration — you can do hard things. And get better every time.

Discover 10 clear benefits of outsourced marketing—so you can scale faster, stress less, and stay focused on what matters most.

Outsourcing is a popular way to leverage expertise and reduce costs in many industries–including marketing. And as more companies look for ways to grow efficiently, the benefits of marketing outsourcing have become clearer than ever. The idea isn’t new: We’ve been in business since 1997, and decades ago, The Harvard Business Review validated our marketing outsourcing model, noting that smart companies were beginning to outsource not just creative tasks, but strategy, analytics, and operations too. And that shift hasn’t slowed down.

Here are Outmark’s Top 10 Benefits of Outsourced Marketing

1. The top benefit of marketing outsourcing? Cost savings. 

Outsourcing your marketing department isn’t just about spending less—it’s about spending smarter. This isn’t about offshore or onshore or a race to the bottom. Sure, you’ll save on salaries, benefits, tech, and overhead. But the real savings often show up in places people overlook: fewer false starts, less time chasing freelancers, and less wasted effort on marketing that doesn’t align with strategy. If this is something you’ve been considering, you’re not alone. Deloitte’s 2024 Global Outsourcing Survey reports that 80% of executives plan to maintain or increase their investment in third-party outsourcing, with front‑office capabilities like marketing and sales among the fastest‑growing categories.

2. Access to expertise from a full team (not just one hire)

Outsourcing marketing means you get access to a team of experts with the skills and experience necessary to create a successful marketing strategy. Instead of being limited by your team’s current skillset, you can tap into a pool of resources under one roof, saving the cost and time of training and retraining. Outmark stays ahead of the curve on trends and resources, so you don’t have to.

3. Scalability, on demand

Outsourced marketing is scalable, which means you can adjust your marketing efforts based on your business goals, and is one of the main advantages of marketing outsourcing. You can increase your marketing budget during peak times or reduce it during slower periods (or maybe the opposite)! If you’re ready to scale without building a larger team, knowing when to outsource your marketing is a strategic decision worth considering.

4. Focus on your business 

Outsourcing your marketing allows you to focus on your primary business activities. You can concentrate on what you do best while experts handle all things marketing. Fluff that pillow and flip it to the cool side. No more lying awake at night worrying about how you’re going to juggle it all.

5. Modern marketing tech, minus the tech tax

Here’s an often-overlooked benefit of marketing outsourcing: you stay current on the latest marketing tech without having to manage it all yourself. With tools evolving constantly, it’s tough to know what actually drives results—and what’s already outdated. Outsourced marketing partners do the research, vet the tools, and bring the right solutions to the table. That means less guesswork, fewer subscriptions, and more confidence that your marketing is running on what works now (not what worked two years ago). Check out our recommendations that include some of the best organizational tools for your business.

6. Flexibility you won’t find in-house, or with temps

Most in-house teams are built for stability, not agility. And temp support often creates more friction than momentum. This kind of built-in adaptability is one of the most overlooked benefits of marketing outsourcing—giving you on-demand access to the right expertise, without the drag of hiring cycles or scope creep. At Outmark, we help you build a flexible strategic plan that evolves as priorities shift—and then we execute that plan through your custom-built integrated marketing team. Whether you’re launching something new, changing focus, or responding to the unexpected, we move with you.

7. One team, one plan, fully integrated 

Some outsourced marketing firms offer a full range of services—from strategy through execution—so you’re not juggling vendors, personalities, or platforms. At Outmark, you get one integrated team, one point of contact, and one simple invoice. No timezone tangles. No seven-headed vendor monster. Just streamlined strategic marketing that works.

8. Professional marketing management

This is one of the often overlooked benefits of outsourced marketing: You’re not just offloading tasks—you’re elevating how marketing gets done. For example, at Outmark®, you have a dedicated Marketing Integrator who acts as your strategic lead and operational anchor. They align marketing to business goals, lead smart, focused meetings, and manage execution with clarity and consistency. It’s a level of coordination and accountability most companies struggle to maintain in-house—especially without adding headcount.

9. Faster time to market

When you outsource, you bypass the delays of hiring, onboarding, and internal wrangling. At Outmark®, we bring a ready-to-roll team, proven processes, and a bias toward action—so your campaigns launch sooner, your message hits faster, and you’re in-market while others are still in meetings. Marketing moves fast—and so do we.

10. Improved ROI

Your outsourced marketing company will help you maximize your ROI by developing and executing marketing strategies tailored to your SMART business goals. You can measure the results of your marketing efforts and make data-driven decisions to improve your return on investment.

The benefits of marketing outsourcing are clear

When you outsource your marketing, you’re not just offloading work—you’re upgrading how marketing works for your business. You get seasoned specialists working in sync, guided by strategy, and accountable for results. You get leadership without the hiring slog, tools without the tech tax, and flexibility without compromise. Most of all, you get time and mental space to focus on your business, knowing your marketing is in good hands. That’s the true advantage of outsourced marketing—it clears the way for smarter growth and better outcomes.

Wondering if marketing outsourcing makes sense for your org?

Let’s find out. No obligation, no jargon, just a smart conversation about what you need (and don’t).

Marketing outsourcing advantages include access to specialized talent, streamlined execution, and more time to focus on what your business does best.

What is vlogging?

Vlogging is a form of blogging that uses video as the primary medium. The name comes from the combo of video and blogging. It includes anything from personal vlogs, tutorials, product reviews, and more. The most common platforms are YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, with more platforms cropping up almost daily.

Why does it matter?

Not only is video content more engaging and memorable than text or image-based content, but according to a survey by HubSpot, 54% of consumers want to see even more video content from the brands they love. Combining video and blogging can help you stand out in a crowded marketplace. Don’t stress — even though the camera adds ten pounds, it can also add ten thousand followers.

Businesses incorporating vlogging into their marketing strategy are more likely to be noticed, remembered, and, ultimately, successful. For more information about the value of video marketing, check out our blog: Use video to add a new dimension to your marketing.

How can vlogging be used in marketing communications?

Vlogs can be used in several ways to communicate with your customers. For example:

1. Product reviews

This format allows you to deliver sincere and authentic product reviews, cultivating trust and bolstering your brand. Harness the power of user-generated content (UGC) by featuring videos from your customers. A 2023 study found that consumers see organic UGC as more trustworthy than creators, brand content, and more.

2. Tutorials

Vlogs allow you to provide authentic—look into my eyes—tutorials on how to use your product or service, which is a valuable way to educate your audience and show them the value of your products. A study by TechSmith found that 83% of people prefer video tutorials over text or audio.

3. Behind-the-scenes

Vlogs can provide a behind-the-scenes look at your business, showcasing your brand’s personality and building a connection with your audience. In a world where organic content is more trusted than any other type, consumers appreciate authenticity. Focus on being a little rough around the edges vs. shiny and polished.

Outsource Marketing’s vlogging services

No doubt, this is the future of brand communication. Businesses incorporating vlogging into their marketing plans are leading the pack in communications.

Outsource Marketing offers vlogging services that can help elevate your brand communication. Our team of experts can help create engaging, informative, and memorable vlogs. We use the latest technology and techniques to ensure your vlogs are of the highest quality.

Outmark^® builds unique digital marketing services like blogging, vlogging, and all the “_oggings.” We create an approach best suited to your audiences.

Go from good to great with data insights

Marketing analytics measures and analyzes marketing campaign data to improve their effectiveness. It involves collecting, analyzing, and reporting data from various sources, such as website traffic, social media engagement, and email marketing campaigns. By doing so, marketers can gain valuable insights into their audience’s behavior and preferences and adjust their strategies accordingly.

According to a report by McKinsey & Company, companies that make extensive use of customer analytics are more likely to outperform their competitors in both profitability and growth. Marketing analytics enables companies to make data-driven decisions rather than relying on guesswork or intuition.

Marketing analytics differentiates your business

In today’s highly competitive market, having a unique selling point is essential. Marketing analytics can help you differentiate your business from competitors by providing valuable insights into customer behavior. For example, you can use analytics to identify the channels that generate the most leads or the content that resonates with your audience.

Marketing analytics can also help you personalize your marketing messages to your customer’s preferences. By analyzing data on your customer’s past purchases and behavior, you can create targeted campaigns that are more likely to convert.

Which marketing analytics to monitor

There are several key metrics that you should monitor when it comes to marketing analytics. These include website traffic, conversion, bounce, and engagement rates. By monitoring these metrics, you can identify areas of your underperforming marketing campaigns and make adjustments to improve them.

We’ve identified eight Google Analytics metrics to analyze traffic in our blog, Key Google Analytics Metrics.

Outmark^® data analytics services

Outmark specializes in outsourced marketing services, including marketing analytics. Our team of data whisperers can help you gain valuable insights into your marketing campaigns and provide detailed reports on their effectiveness.

Effective social media strategies involve diving deep into your audiences and understanding what makes them tick. Then, take that knowledge and develop a unique plan that fits your audience’s needs while exemplifying and amplifying your brand voice.

Marketing analytics is no longer a niche field but an integral part of modern marketing strategies. We leverage the power of data to give you valuable insights into your audience’s behavior and preferences and help you adjust your strategies accordingly. So, seize the data and take your marketing from meh to let’s go!

If you’d like to gain additional insight into your website traffic, hit us up for a free consultation. Our digital marketing nerds would love a shot at analyzing your data — after all, it’s the perfect excuse for a new spreadsheet.

Check out all our outsourcing social media services below.

Outmark uses sophisticated data analytics techniques to help you understand your market and customers better.

If you want to take your business to the next level, bank on Outmark to put you in good standing.

Outmark^® streamlines marketing so you can concentrate on your core competencies.

This Get to Know Your Customer Day, take the time to nurture your customer relationships. Call us for expert advice and guidance on proactive customer engagement that sells.

Your holiday parties are over, the office decorations are packed up, and your “ugly sweaters” won’t see the light of day for the next eleven months. Out with the old and in with the new!

Your New Year’s resolution is to bring in “one hundred billion” customers with Austin Power’s winning smile and a dazzling marketing strategy.

You remember. It’s the same dang resolution you made last year. And the year before. And the year before that…

Tired of repeating the fruitless resolutions of years past? Where—-despite your efforts—-you didn’t get everything done you wanted? Like that marketing plan you’d hoped to lock down. And that marketing budget that became a punchline by June.

Well, don’t panic. It’s not too late to start your marketing planning. At Outmark®, we know annual marketing preparation is a daunting feat, but check it out; in this blog, we’ve laid out the steps to get you started on the right foot. Beginning in order of priority:

Reflect on the past

Think about your goals, wins, and challenges this past year and how you would address them now, with 20/20 hindsight. Turn those lessons learned into actionable insights and goal-setting for this coming year.

Map your goals – make ‘em smart

Draft strong yet achievable goals that deliver your organization’s positioning, mission, and strategic plan. Map your goals to achieve your desired outcomes. The most important thing is to make these SMART goals. Asana states, “Writing SMART goals is all about breaking down your objectives into smaller, more manageable components that are easy to track and achieve.” You can think of it this way:

• S: Specific. Make your goals clear, straightforward, and definitive.
• M: Measurable. Use benchmarks, track your progress, and adjust strategies as needed.
• A: Achievable. Goals need to be realistic, something you can reasonably execute.
• R: Relevant. This is the big picture—why is your goal crucial to the business?
• T: Timebound. Clearly state the start and end of the project/goal. If it’s a long-term effort, establish milestone timelines.

Define your strategies and tactics

Now, the fun stuff where you craft specific strategies and tactics to help you achieve each goal. But don’t settle for the first few ideas that come to mind. Our founder, Patrick Byers, often says, “It takes ten good ideas to come up with one great one,” so get creative and think outside the box. Maybe idea #7 of 10 puts you on first base, but pulling in parts of ideas #3 and #5 makes it a grand slam.

The point is to come up with more strategy options than you need, then distill them down to your best strategies. Next, create a strategic plan to help your customers get what they need, achieve success, and avoid potential distractions. What are the short-term and specific tasks that you need to implement to make your goals happen?

Measure your success

Next, determine the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and track your progress. Review them regularly and adjust as needed. These adjustments allow you to be creative for your customers and address unforeseen issues.

Set your budget and assemble your team

Decide how much of your annual budget you want to allocate to each strategy, and include your team in this calculation. What can your current team do well, and what can you outsource? Outsourcing your marketing is a great way to “leave it to the experts” so you can focus on what you do best. No matter how talented your team is, it’s tough for them to be as good at things they do a few times per year as a person who does the same thing daily.

When it comes to budgeting, you’re not limited to traditional approaches. Zero-based budgeting is a great option because you don’t need to start with baseline assumptions. You can and should reference what you’ve done in the past, but you need to start from your objectives and build from there.

By being selective about what you pay for, you can ensure that you’re allocating your budget effectively, achieving the results you’re looking for.

At the end of the day, the key is to stay focused on your goals and to be strategic about how you invest your resources. By doing so, you can maximize your marketing campaigns’ impact and succeed in today’s competitive market.
To understand the three types of marketing plans and the key elements for each, check out our blog Mystified by marketing planning? We lay it all out for you, from inspirational ideas to SWOT analysis to pricing strategy.

The list of growth trends forecasted for marketing in 2024 is staggering. From using AI to targeting Gen Z, it’s pretty easy to become overwhelmed by the choices, predictions, recommendations, and noise.

Outmark is on top of these trends, and we can help you grow – not (only) by what’s in vogue but also by our proven methodologies that work. We start by reviewing your goals and KPIs. Then, we target the customers you’ll be able to serve most profitably and search out the best ways to reach them. Next, we will assign you a custom-built marketing team that knows what they’re doing and works together seamlessly. Finally, we take your growth targets and bring them to life boldly.

We love statistics here, and this one’s a whopper: Studies show that businesses that use three or more channels for a marketing campaign can benefit from a 494% higher order rate than those that use a single-channel campaign. Say what? 494%?

Outmark’s business and marketing growth approach is based on rock-solid analysis. Our tactics include integrated marketing that pairs your brand with multiple channels and approaches, including communications strategy and execution, branding and design, content marketing, digital marketing, and promotional products.

Let’s get together, grab a coffee, and talk about your 2024 growth plan. We’re here to help.

This month, we asked our Marketing Integrators (MIs) to answer, “How do you make marketing easier for clients?”

First up, Andrea Moretsky, who’s been with Outmark for nearly a decade, finds that “Organizations often struggle with creating content planning strategies. The first thing I tell our clients is that you don’t throw (content) spaghetti at the wall and hope it gets traction. You need a game plan.”

She further explains, “A well-defined marketing strategy is essential for creating content that resonates with your audience.”

Businesses must have content that follows SEO best practices, targets specific personas, tells a story, and aligns with their brand and SMART goals. So, if your competitors have a structured content creation, promotion, and audience engagement approach, shouldn’t you? Yes, of course you should.

We’ve published a list of 10 ideas to simplify your marketing, sharing some of our top recommendations learned over the past 25 years.

Did you know that Merriam-Webster announced that 2023’s word of the year was “authentic”? And with good reason. While AI, bots, and other digital tools are becoming ubiquitous in marketing, the actual content being (mass) produced is causing people to pause.

The word “authentic” dominated their site searches and lookup volume this past year. While it’s a high-volume lookup most years, “authentic” saw a substantial increase in 2023, driven by stories and conversations about AI, celebrity culture, identity, and social media.

Free marketing tools such as Chat GPT, Mailchimp, and others can be useful but have limitations. According to The Manifest, only 50% of small businesses use marketing automation software like Mailchimp and Hubspot due to their limited features. These tools do not provide advanced segmentation and personalization.

To stand out, businesses need to be genuine and tailor content to target customers exactly where they are, giving them exactly what they need.

Likewise, social media management tools like Buffer and Hootsuite offer free plans, but a study by Capterra states that 63% of marketers wrestle with the complexity of these tools. Folks are disappointed by limited scheduling options and usability across multiple accounts.

Let’s be clear…Outmark’s not against free marketing tools. But they’re not the end-all-be-all. When automated marketing tools help streamline internal and external communications and improve productivity, they can make daily tasks more efficient and less complex.

Just be realistic about their place. We can look at a website or article and tell with 99% accuracy (made-up statistics) if the content is AI-generated. For now, anyway, content technology like ChatGPT spits the same keywords and phrasing over and over again. Definitely not an “authentic” reading experience.

We have some fave marketing tools that we’ve shared in the past. Check out some of the best organizational tools for your business.

Here’s our take: free marketing tools are a great starting point, but often don’t consider your customers’ needs. For a more authentic customer experience, let your strategies and goals define the tools you use. After all, a tailored marketing strategy executed faithfully is worth its weight in gold. Every customer wants to feel valued and unique.

A successful website reflects the heart of your brand. So, each of the following elements is required to drive conversions:

• A bold design

• Content that delights and informs

• Seamless user experience

• Well-designed lead magnet

Lacking a web presence, start-up Keel Financial Partners entrusted us with their website marketing strategy.

We developed their positioning and tagline, “Deeper by Design,” inspired by their values and commitment to building long-term client relationships.

After researching competitor sites, we designed Keel’s web pages with images of their team and clients to convey their commitment to a personal connection. We also created a streamlined user experience with the addition of external client portals, making it easy for them to access resources.

As an additional element of their overall marketing strategy, we developed and designed a brand launch campaign to inspire Keel’s clients to get excited about financial success.

Back to the word “authentic” in the previous section, we work with our clients to make their marketing strategy meaningful and values-based so they resonate deeply with their customers and prospects.

We know…swag-shmag. As a new employee, have you ever received company swag that was a total disappointment because it was a waste of money, lacked thoughtfulness, or was utterly useless? Yeah, we’ve been there. It’s lame.

Working remotely definitely has its perks—work in your PJs, let your cat sit on your computer monitor – you get the picture. But let’s face it, sometimes we miss the office vibe. One way to make it tangible is by sharing your brand with your team. Who doesn’t love cuddling up with a company snuggie or sweatshirt? Don’t we all need a baseball cap for those bad hair days?

Boost team spirit like a rock star

It’s pretty obvious four years post-COVID that we—as corporate America—need to focus more on giving love to new-hire remote employees. Why do we need to make a special effort? A recent survey by Upwork predicts 36.2 million workers, or 22% of Americans, will be working remotely by 2025. So, if you thought remote work was going away, think again.

One of the best ways to onboard remote workers is to give them company merchandise or swag so they feel more connected to the mission and values of their new employer. Additionally, wearing “team colors” gives remote workers a sense of connection with colleagues, making them feel like they’re part of the group.

According to a survey by Postal, work-from-home care packages and self-care gifts were among the top corporate gift ideas for employees, aside from gift cards and company swag.

Additionally, Ashley Priebe Brown, onboarding program manager at Zapier, says “For remote onboarding, I’d say connecting to community and culture is the most important [thing] to be intentional about.”

Onboarding experiences for new hires are exciting challenges. Giving new hires SWAG helps them feel connected since in-office cues for soaking in the company culture aren’t readily available.

Precision swag boosts brand loyalty

Your swag should be much more than cheap tchotchkes. It’s about putting your brand in the hands of your team so they know you’re thinking about them. Companies that slap a logo on a plastic pen and call it good are missing the point and the potential for positive impact. For more info about on-brand swag, check out our blog, Does your swag belong in the big leagues?

Employees want something useful and valuable. Something that says, “Hey there, even though we’re not in the office together, we want you to be comfortable, healthy, and supported.” An ergonomic keyboard, a video conferencing light, or a mug-warming plate. All of these say more than, “Here’s your company-branded sh*t—-enjoy.”

The Outmark approach to strategic swag

When we source swag for our clients, we take a holistic view of the company mission and how they want their employees to feel: excited, loyal, secure, and important. Our definition of swag is “Strategically We All Grow,” and our approach ensures a sense of unity and brand presence.

Check out our Swag page for information on how we can help you design world-class swag.

Let’s talk about something we can all relate to: complicated internal processes. We’ve all experienced it, right? But did you know that overcomplicated processes can hinder productivity and team morale?

According to a recent poll by Lucid, half of the respondents (45%) use five or more productivity applications at work, and 42% of workers find it frustrating to have too many tools at their disposal. Yikes!

In another survey, McKinsey reported that 40% of CEOs and their teams point to complex organizational structure as a cause of inefficiency, and a similar proportion cites unclear roles and responsibilities. “Deploying resources more effectively to where they matter the most promises substantial benefits, including improved organizational health, higher shareholder returns, and better and faster decisions.”

It’s not uncommon for organizations to grapple with overcomplicated internal processes. While often implemented to make things easier, processes can become an obstacle to efficiency if over-orchestrated. Don’t compromise productivity and a positive work environment for efficiency’s sake.

At Outmark, we believe in putting people first and avoiding confusing processes. It’s one of the reasons why we founded Outsourced Marketing back in 1997. It’s a strategic approach that simplifies your business marketing activities and allows your internal teams to focus on what they do best.

We encourage our clients to foster a people-before-process outlook. And that’s why we’re so excited about outsourced marketing. It’s a strategic way to simplify complex processes, streamline business marketing activities, and allow internal teams to concentrate on their core competencies.

For real, who doesn’t want to make their lives easier?

Get to Know Your Customers Day is on January 18th, 2023. Outmark is thrilled to celebrate this occasion because we’re so passionate about customer research and helping make the voice of the customer core to our client’s messaging. It also plays to our dedication to our clients, nurturing relationships, and showing appreciation for our client’s partnership and loyalty.

We’ve provided tips on how to make the most of this day for your customers, along with recommendations on keeping the momentum going throughout the year. From collecting customer feedback to creating personalized experiences, we cover it all. Read our blog post to learn more.

With careful planning and strategic marketing, we will help your business achieve its goals and grow beyond expectations. Let’s have fun, work together, and make 2024 a year of success and growth. Are you ready?