Marketing outsourcing is the strategic delegation of a company’s marketing function to an integrated external partner who operates as its outsourced marketing department. It includes strategy, execution, budget oversight, measurement, and annual planning renewal — not just isolated marketing tasks.
Marketing outsourcing is an operating model
Marketing outsourcing is the intentional outsourcing of the entire marketing function — including strategic leadership, integrated execution, budget governance, performance measurement, and annual renewal — to an external partner who functions as part of the organization’s operating structure.
It replaces fragmented vendors and incremental hiring with structured integration and clear accountability. It is not simply about who does the work. It is about how marketing is governed, aligned, measured, and renewed.
It is not:
- Hiring a freelancer
- Retaining an agency for isolated campaigns
- Outsourcing design, digital, or content production
- Offshoring execution support
The difference is integration and accountability. In a true marketing outsourcing model, someone is responsible for ensuring all moving parts work together — not just that individual tasks get completed.
Founded in 1997, Outsource Marketing was among the early pioneers of this structural model — built on the belief that organizations could outsource marketing deliberately, not tactically.
Marketing outsourcing is not a vendor relationship. It is a growth operating model.
Why the term “marketing outsourcing” gets confused
The term “marketing outsourcing” is frequently misused because marketing itself has become dramatically more complex.
Today’s marketing ecosystem spans:
- Brand strategy
- Competitive positioning
- Content strategy and production
- SEO and organic search
- Paid media
- Marketing automation
- CRM integration
- Analytics and reporting
- Social media
- Video production
- Sales enablement
There are more disciplines than ever. As a result, there are more vendors than ever. And because each discipline can be outsourced individually, organizations often believe they are “outsourcing marketing” when they are outsourcing pieces of it.
Design.
SEO.
Paid media.
Email.
Video production.
Each of these can be valuable. However, selecting, managing, and integrating them is its own discipline. Without coordination, even strong tactical execution can produce inconsistent results.
Outsourcing marketing tasks transfers execution.
Outsourcing marketing transfers accountability for integration.
That distinction defines the marketing outsourcing model.
Who has trusted this model
When Intel outsourced significant portions of its marketing operations to Accenture, it generated substantial industry attention. The move demonstrated a broader truth: even large, sophisticated organizations recognize that marketing structure is a strategic lever.
Over the years, organizations including Microsoft, T-Mobile, Starbucks, Safeco, Farmers Insurance, and Paccar have trusted us with strategy, research, planning, and program leadership.
In many of these cases, these companies already had robust marketing departments. We were brought in as more horsepower — to provide strategic depth, disciplined planning, or execution support that helped internal teams move faster and implement ideas that otherwise would have remained on the whiteboard.
However, the marketing outsourcing model often delivers its greatest leverage within small to mid-market organizations. These organizations frequently lack the bandwidth or budget to hire a fully integrated team of specialists. They may have one or two talented marketers wearing multiple hats. They may have strong ideas but insufficient capacity.
Marketing outsourcing provides access to an integrated team without requiring the time and overhead of building one role at a time.
The three core pillars of marketing outsourcing
If marketing outsourcing is going to rest on three pillars, they must be structural. These are the three that matter most.
1. Marketing outsourcing is strategic
True marketing outsourcing begins with business objectives — not channels.
Before campaigns are launched, a sound marketing outsourcing model addresses:
- Market analysis
- Competitive positioning
- Buyer insight
- Growth priorities
- Budget allocation
Harvard Business Review has long documented the friction that occurs when sales and marketing operate without alignment: Ending the War Between Sales and Marketing – Harvard Business Review (opens in new tab)
Without shared objectives and a coordinated plan, marketing becomes reactive. A strategic marketing outsourcing partner ensures marketing is anchored in clear business outcomes and revisited annually and reviewed quarterly.
2. Marketing outsourcing is execution-responsible
Strategy without execution is theory. Execution without strategy is noise.
The marketing outsourcing model includes:
- Defined scopes of work
- Coordinated campaign deployment
- Budget oversight
- Performance dashboards
- Ongoing optimization
- Formal annual plan refresh
The Deloitte CMO Survey continues to highlight increasing accountability expectations for marketing leaders: The CMO Survey – Deloitte, Duke University, and the American Marketing Association (opens in new tab)
Execution-responsible marketing means someone owns outcomes — not just output. It means reporting is structured, metrics are agreed upon in advance, and performance is evaluated against business objectives rather than activity volume.
3. Marketing outsourcing is casting-responsible
Modern marketing requires depth across multiple disciplines. Few single hires can credibly deliver expertise in strategy, creative direction, digital execution, analytics, automation, and performance management simultaneously.
Marketing outsourcing assembles an integrated team under CMO-level oversight so expertise is applied where and when it is needed. Rather than hiring for potential capacity that may go underutilized, organizations deploy capability intentionally.
You are not paying for idle capacity.
You are deploying structured capability.
Benefits of marketing outsourcing
The benefits of marketing outsourcing extend beyond cost efficiency. When structured correctly, the marketing outsourcing model delivers:
- Integrated strategic planning that aligns marketing with revenue goals
- Access to multidisciplinary expertise without building full internal headcount
- Reduced vendor fragmentation and centralized coordination
- Structured reporting and performance accountability
- Budget discipline tied to strategic priorities
- Annual renewal cycles that prevent stagnation
Additionally, marketing outsourcing often increases momentum. Lean internal teams frequently generate strong ideas but lack implementation capacity. By augmenting internal talent with integrated support, organizations accelerate execution without sacrificing quality.
For a deeper exploration of the benefits of marketing outsourcing, see 10 Benefits of Marketing Outsourcing That Make Growth Easier
Marketing outsourcing vs hiring internally
When evaluating marketing outsourcing vs hiring internally, the decision should be thoughtful and grounded in organizational realities.
In a perfect world, organizations build strong internal marketing departments. Internal teams build institutional knowledge, understand culture deeply, and maintain day-to-day proximity to leadership.
We are strong supporters of capable internal marketing teams. In many engagements, internal marketers are the champions who bring us in. They often have strong strategic instincts and creative ideas but are stretched thin across too many responsibilities. Marketing outsourcing is frequently brought in not to replace strong marketers, but to implement and augment them.
There are circumstances where hiring internally makes complete sense. For example, if your organization produces high-volume, daily content, hiring a full-time in-house copywriter may pencil out. If video production volume justifies a dedicated videographer, building that capability internally can be strategic. If marketing operations workload consistently supports a full-time automation specialist, hiring may be the right move.
However, even in these scenarios, integration remains critical. Internal hires still require strategic direction, coordination, and performance governance.
Marketing outsourcing compresses the timeline to structural maturity by deploying:
- CMO-level strategy
- Integrated specialists
- Coordinated execution
- Built-in measurement infrastructure
If you’re wondering how to start thinking about budgeting for marketing outsourcing, see Can I Afford to Outsource My Marketing?
Marketing outsourcing vs agency: structural differences
Many agencies deliver excellent creative and campaign execution. The overlap in services between agencies and marketing outsourcing partners can be significant.
The distinction is not about capability.
It is about operating design.
Traditional agencies are typically structured around campaigns, deliverables, and account management. Their economic model is often tied to projects or retainers focused on specific initiatives.
Marketing outsourcing is structured around governance. It emphasizes annual strategic planning, budget architecture, cross-functional alignment, performance frameworks, and systematic renewal.
Agencies may optimize campaigns.
Marketing outsourcing optimizes the system those campaigns operate within.
This difference is subtle but important. Campaign excellence without structural integration can still result in inconsistent growth.
When evaluating a marketing outsourcing partner, we believe three elements must be present together: sound strategy, killer creative, and mindful management.
Sound strategy sets direction and defines success. Killer creative ensures the work earns attention and drives action. Mindful management governs the system — aligning budgets, coordinating disciplines, measuring outcomes, and refreshing the plan annually.
Each of these can exist independently in the marketplace. Strategic advisors may excel at planning. Creative agencies may produce exceptional work. Operational teams may manage projects efficiently. However, effective marketing outsourcing integrates all three within a single, accountable structure.
As you evaluate firms that position themselves as marketing outsourcing partners, consider whether they demonstrate depth across strategy, creative excellence, and governance — not just one or two. It is the integration of these three that makes marketing outsourcing effective.
If you are evaluating partners, here are the signs of a strong marketing outsourcing partner in “Top 10 Signs of a Great Marketing Outsourcing Partner”: Top 10 Signs of a Great Marketing Outsourcing Partner
Marketing structure comparison
| Model | What you typically get | Strengths | Limitations / Risks | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internal employee (in-house hire) | One dedicated marketing professional or small internal team embedded in the organization. | Deep institutional knowledge; daily proximity to leadership; long-term brand continuity. | Limited specialty depth; slower time-to-maturity; key-person risk; requires strong internal leadership to integrate disciplines. | Organizations that can justify full-time workload and have the bandwidth to build and manage a department intentionally. |
| Freelancers / contractors (tactical outsourcing) | Output in a specific discipline such as design, SEO, paid media, copywriting, or production. | Flexible; scalable; efficient for defined projects or contained needs. | Coordination burden stays internal; fragmented reporting; specialist bias (“if you’re a hammer, everything looks like a nail”); budget prioritization remains your responsibility. | Organizations with strong internal strategic direction and clearly defined tactical gaps. |
| Traditional agency | Creative and/or channel execution; campaigns; account management. | Strong production capacity; campaign expertise; creative depth (varies by firm). | Often campaign-centric rather than governance-centric; measurement may remain channel-specific; integration across disciplines may require internal oversight. | Companies with internal marketing leadership who need external campaign horsepower. |
| Fractional CMO | Part-time senior marketing leadership and executive-level strategic guidance. | Strategic clarity; alignment support; high-level decision-making expertise. | Execution must be sourced elsewhere; still requires vendor coordination and operational integration. | Organizations needing leadership direction before building or restructuring marketing capability. |
| Marketing outsourcing (outsourced marketing department) | Integrated strategy, multidisciplinary execution, budget governance, performance measurement, and structured annual renewal. | Centralized accountability; discipline-neutral budget allocation; coordinated system; faster structural maturity; reduced vendor fragmentation. | Requires shared operating rhythm, transparency, and commitment to structured planning. | Small to mid-market organizations or lean internal teams that need integrated capability without building full headcount. |
Marketing outsourcing vs. tactical outsourcing
Tactical outsourcing typically focuses on a single discipline or role. It might involve hiring a part-time digital specialist, engaging a freelance designer, or contracting a remote production team.
In these scenarios, the organization remains responsible for:
- Strategic direction
- Budget prioritization
- Cross-channel coordination
- Performance measurement
Tactical outsourcing can be effective for specific needs. However, as the number of tactical vendors increases, so does management complexity. Coordination becomes a hidden cost. Misalignment becomes more likely. Reporting becomes fragmented.
There is also a natural bias built into specialist relationships. When you hire a hammer, everything can start to look like a nail. SEO specialists will often recommend more SEO. Paid media teams will often recommend more media spend. Automation consultants will often recommend more automation. None of this is inherently wrong — but it does mean that prioritizing budget across disciplines becomes your responsibility.
Determining how to allocate marketing dollars across strategy, brand, content, media, technology, and retention is one of the hardest parts of marketing leadership. In a tactical outsourcing model, that burden sits squarely with you.
Marketing outsourcing is structured differently. Budget prioritization, cross-channel alignment, and performance trade-offs are hardwired into the model. Rather than each discipline advocating for its own expansion, the integrated team evaluates trade-offs against shared business objectives.
Rather than outsourcing isolated functions, organizations outsource the orchestration — and governance — of the marketing function itself.
The economic logic of the marketing outsourcing model
The economic logic of marketing outsourcing is not purely about cost reduction. It is about allocation efficiency and risk management.
Hiring internally creates fixed overhead — salaries, benefits, recruiting costs, and performance risk concentrated in specific individuals. If a key marketing hire leaves, capability gaps can appear quickly.
Layering agencies can create vendor complexity. Multiple retainers, separate reporting systems, and misaligned incentives may require additional management oversight.
Marketing outsourcing distributes capability across a coordinated team model. Risk is diversified across disciplines. Strategic oversight is built in. Budget allocation is reviewed against objectives.
Moreover, marketing outsourcing often shortens time to competence. Instead of building capacity one hire at a time, organizations deploy integrated capability immediately.
The objective is not lower cost at all costs.
The objective is deliberate allocation and structural clarity.
Why marketing outsourcing matters now
Marketing outsourcing is not a trend response. It is a structural response to structural change.
1. The buyer is more independent than ever
Buyers now complete a significant portion of their evaluation process before ever speaking with a salesperson. Google’s research and insights on modern B2B journeys highlight how much of the buying process now happens digitally and independently: B2B marketing: Connecting with new & existing business buyers – Google Business (opens in new tab)
This shift means marketing is no longer just about lead generation. It shapes perception, trust, credibility, and differentiation long before sales engagement. Fragmented marketing efforts struggle in this environment because inconsistency erodes confidence. Integrated marketing, governed strategically, compounds trust over time.
Marketing outsourcing provides a structured way to ensure positioning, messaging, content, and campaigns reinforce one another rather than compete for attention.
2. Trust is volatile — and harder to earn
Edelman’s Trust Barometer continues to document volatility in institutional trust across industries: Edelman Trust Barometer 2024 (opens in new tab)
In an environment where trust is fragile, inconsistent messaging or reactive marketing can do real damage. Brand equity is built through repetition, coherence, and disciplined communication. That requires governance.
Marketing outsourcing supports trust-building by centralizing strategic oversight. Rather than campaigns emerging from disconnected priorities, messaging is aligned to long-term positioning and business objectives.
3. AI accelerates output — not judgment
Generative AI and automation tools are reshaping marketing production. McKinsey has outlined the significant economic potential of generative AI across industries in its research on the next productivity frontier: The Economic Potential of Generative AI – McKinsey Global Institute (opens in new tab)
However, acceleration without integration creates noise. Tools amplify systems. If the underlying marketing system lacks clarity, governance, and prioritization, AI can increase volume without increasing effectiveness.
Marketing outsourcing does not compete with AI. It provides the strategic framework within which AI becomes productive rather than chaotic.
4. Retention and lifetime value still matter
Harvard Business Review has long emphasized the economic advantage of retaining the right customers in “The Value of Keeping the Right Customers”: The Value of Keeping the Right Customers – Harvard Business Review (opens in new tab)
Growth is not purely an acquisition challenge. It is an integration challenge. Acquisition, onboarding, retention, and expansion must work together.
Without structural coordination, marketing often optimizes for short-term activity rather than long-term value. Marketing outsourcing integrates acquisition and retention into a unified strategy rather than treating them as separate initiatives.
5. Complexity is now the default
The modern marketing environment includes more channels, more tools, more data, and more specialization than ever before. Each discipline can perform well in isolation. The challenge is orchestration.
As complexity increases, so does the need for integration.
Marketing outsourcing is one structural way organizations respond to this complexity — by deliberately centralizing governance, aligning priorities, and ensuring that marketing functions as a coordinated growth engine rather than a collection of disconnected activities.
Is marketing outsourcing worth it?
Marketing outsourcing is worth it when it frees leadership and internal teams to focus on their core competencies while knowing marketing is being handled in a way that is structured, integrated, and aligned to growth.
Its value is relative. If your team could lean fully into innovation, service delivery, client relationships, operations, or strategic growth initiatives — confident that marketing strategy, execution, and governance were handled deliberately and professionally — what would that be worth to the organization?
For companies where marketing has become reactive, under-resourced, or fragmented, marketing outsourcing often restores clarity and capacity at the same time. The return is not just financial. It is strategic focus, execution momentum, and confidence in how the brand shows up in the market.
How much does marketing outsourcing cost?
The cost of marketing outsourcing varies based on scope, complexity, and growth objectives. Most engagements are structured around a defined annual scope of work, typically following an initial assessment and planning phase.
For small- to mid-market organizations, marketing outsourcing engagements often begin in the mid-four-figure range per month and scale up depending on the depth of strategy, creative development, campaign volume, and leadership oversight required. More complex or execution-heavy programs require larger investments.
In practical terms, many organizations find they can deploy an integrated, fractional team of specialists — guided by senior marketing leadership — for an investment comparable to that of a full-time marketing hire. The exact level depends on how much execution, governance, and strategic depth is required.
However, effective marketing investment should not be based on industry averages or arbitrary percentage benchmarks alone. Strong marketing organizations increasingly think in terms of zero-based budgeting — starting with growth goals, revenue targets, and strategic priorities, then building the marketing investment required to support them.
The more useful question is not simply “What does it cost?” but “What do we need to support our growth objectives?”
If you’re wondering how to start thinking about budgeting for marketing outsourcing, see “Can I Afford to Outsource My Marketing?”: Can I Afford to Outsource My Marketing?
Is marketing outsourcing the same as hiring an agency?
No. Many agencies provide excellent creative and campaign execution. Marketing outsourcing differs in that it manages the marketing function itself — including planning cycles, budgeting frameworks, performance review processes, and annual strategic renewal.
What is the difference between a fractional CMO and marketing outsourcing?
A fractional CMO provides part-time strategic leadership. Marketing outsourcing combines CMO-level oversight with coordinated execution across multiple disciplines.
Is marketing outsourcing the same as marketing offshoring?
No. Marketing offshoring typically refers to relocating specific marketing tasks or production roles to lower-cost geographic regions. Marketing outsourcing refers to delegating the marketing function itself — including strategy, integration, governance, and measurement — regardless of geography. Offshoring focuses on cost efficiency. Marketing outsourcing focuses on structural integration and performance accountability.
Can marketing outsourcing replace an internal marketing team?
In some organizations, yes. In others, it supplements a lean internal team. The better question is not simply can it replace an internal team — but should it.
We’re often contacted when a company feels what we half-jokingly call “marketing bankruptcy” — the sense that efforts have stalled and it’s time to reset. Frequently, however, once we’re inside, we discover capable people already in place. They’re just operating inside a structure that hasn’t set marketing up to succeed. This is common in engineering-, product-, or sales-led organizations where marketing hasn’t historically been the primary focus.
In those situations, marketing outsourcing becomes part of the answer — providing structure, integration, and governance that allow existing talent to thrive. In others, where a fully resourced and well-integrated department already exists, outsourcing may serve as augmentation rather than replacement.
The right decision depends on structure, resources, and whether the goal is to rebuild, reinforce, or accelerate marketing performance.
What are the benefits of marketing outsourcing?
The benefits of marketing outsourcing include integrated strategic planning, coordinated execution across disciplines, centralized accountability, structured reporting, budget discipline, and formal annual renewal.
Over time, this structure reduces fragmentation, accelerates implementation, and improves alignment between marketing activity and business outcomes. Instead of managing disconnected vendors or incremental hires, organizations operate within a unified marketing system.
For a deeper breakdown of specific advantages, see “10 Reasons You Should Consider Marketing Outsourcing”: 10 Reasons You Should Consider Marketing Outsourcing
A final perspective on marketing outsourcing
Marketing outsourcing is not about delegation for its own sake. It is about structure.
Throughout this guide, we’ve defined marketing outsourcing as a growth operating model — one built on strategy, integrated execution, governance, and renewal. We’ve distinguished it from tactical outsourcing, agency relationships, and incremental hiring. We’ve explored its economic logic and why structural integration matters more in today’s complex marketing environment.
At its core, the decision is less about outsourcing and more about alignment.
Is marketing aligned to revenue? Is budget aligned to priorities? Are disciplines coordinated rather than competing? Is performance reviewed systematically rather than reactively?
Marketing outsourcing is one deliberate way organizations answer “yes” to those questions.
For some, building internally is the right path. For others, augmentation is the answer. And for many — especially those navigating growth, complexity, or reinvention — outsourcing the marketing function provides the structure required to move forward with clarity.
Marketing structure determines marketing performance.
Choose the structure that allows your marketing to be intentional, integrated, and accountable — and it will compound over time.
If you’re evaluating how to structure marketing for your next stage of growth, it’s a conversation worth having deliberately.
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]]>Your marketing strategy: Out with the old, in with the new
The traditional marketing landscape has undergone significant changes, and now, more than ever, businesses need to focus on targeted, data-driven approaches. Strategic marketing is the aligning of business objectives with consumer needs.
As we step into 2024, you have an opportunity to reevaluate your marketing strategies and set the stage for marketing success. To stay ahead of the competition in the upcoming year, businesses need to evaluate and update their marketing strategies regularly.
Since 1997, Outmark® has worked with organizations to define their strategic planning and strategies to better compete in today’s dynamic marketing landscape. By outsourcing your marketing to us, you can focus on other important areas of your business while we do what we do best: grow success for your brand. Let’s make 2024 a year of success and growth for your business.
With Outmark as your strategic partner, you can confidently navigate your marketing.
Need more evidence? Check out our blog, 10 reasons you should consider outsourcing your marketing.
Strategize for business growth: Outmark’s expert marketing planning
A well-crafted marketing plan is necessary for achieving sustainable business growth. As Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “Plans are nothing; planning is everything.” Outmark is an expert in marketing planning, and our proven approach works.
Starting with your goals, we’ll work with you to understand your KPIs to learn what’s worked in the past and what hasn’t. From there, we’ll create target customer personas to help position and message the customers you want to serve and the best ways to reach them.
Next, we put together a custom marketing team that specializes in the support you need and works together seamlessly to bring your vision to life.
When it comes to business growth, plans are useless. Planning is everything.
Let’s look at your 2024 marketing plan and ensure you’re set up for business growth. First things first:
Take a look back
Take time to reflect on 2023; evaluate your goals, accomplishments, and challenges. Note what strategies and tactics worked best for you. How did you overcome obstacles and the knowledge you’ve gained? Using your strengths and weaknesses, you’re ready to create a plan of action for the year ahead.
Map out your goals
To achieve success, you must map out your goals. Start by drafting realistic goals that align with your company’s positioning, mission, and strategic plan. Make sure they align with your division’s goals and desired outcomes. When you do this, you are laying the groundwork to develop strategies and tactics that will not go to waste while working towards your annual objectives.
Choose your strategies and tactics
To truly connect with your customers, you need to develop a way to meet them where they are but get them where they want to go. Identify your objectives and collect all relevant information to craft a plan to help your customers reach their goals.
Measure your success
It’s true: what gets measured, gets done. To start, determine your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track progress. It’s like using a fitness tracker to get real-time insights into your marketing health. Review your KPIs regularly and adjust them as needed. These adjustments allow you to be creative for your customers and address unforeseen issues.
Set your budget and assemble your team
Now that you’ve got your KPIs, decide how much of your annual budget you want to allocate to each strategy. Be sure to include your team in this calculation. Who will be responsible for executing each strategy? What can you outsource, and what do you need to keep in-house? Outsourcing your marketing is a great way to “leave it to the experts” so you can focus on your core competencies.
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.
Outsourced marketing with Outmark: Leave it to the experts so you can focus on your core business.
The post Eezy breezy: Outsource your 2024 marketing planning appeared first on Outsource Marketing.
]]>Remember when marketing was fun?
Moving beyond the pandemic, companies are increasing their marketing budgets significantly. And why wouldn’t they? It’s creative, it’s strategic, and it’s rewarding as sh*t.
It’s easy to get bogged down in the details that you no longer find it fun. Or maybe your marketing can’t gain traction due to staff turnover, a marketing person suffering from burnout, or just plain busyness. One thing is clear: you need some serious help.
Well, you’re in luck because marketing outsourcing is kind of our jam, and we’re here to tell you exactly why you need it. It’s time to put the fun back into marketing.
What the heck is marketing outsourcing anyway?
Marketing outsourcing takes place when you allow a single external resource or team to take on the responsibility of your marketing. This can include everything from research, analysis, and strategic planning, to the execution of creative content, PR, direct marketing, communications, digital tactics, and even print management.
Outsourcing offers access to an experienced team of marketing specialists that can be scaled to help you achieve your goals. Outsourced marketing firms can work in tandem with existing marketing staff, or with companies that have no marketing department.
Still not sure about it? Let’s break down the ten reasons why marketing outsourcing might be right for you.
1. You’re stretched too thin.
Picture this: it’s a brand new year, and the ideas are flowing. You’ve always wanted to grow your marketing platform, and now is the time. New year, new you, right? The months fly by, and “create a marketing plan” sinks deeper and deeper into that never-ending to-do list. Marketing ideas have never been the problem; you’ve just got sh*t to do!
Marketing outsourcing allows you to tap into an experienced team that can make your vision a reality while you stay focused on the nitty-gritty of growing your business.
2. You want an objective marketing partner.
Traditional marketing firms or specialized vendors are understandably biased toward their discipline. In contrast, marketing outsourcing companies put every channel on the table. Depending on your team’s capabilities and your business objectives, you may just want to outsource strategic planning and creative services and turn your focus on your internal strengths.
When you outsource your marketing, you gain access to an integrated team of experts who provide valuable outside perspectives to your business. And one thing’s for sure, a good outsourced marketing partner will identify the best strategies and tailor tactics for you based on your specific company goals.
3. Managing freelancers and agencies are hard.
Vetting, hiring, and overseeing freelance talent and agencies takes time and effort, which can hold up projects and bog you down in the minutiae. Along with this, trying to manage conflicting personalities who all have their own biases makes it almost impossible to keep everyone on the same page. All this back-and-forth often takes away from the bigger picture: helping your business grow.
Marketing outsourcing connects your entire team through one central point of contact. By working with one key contact, you’ll have more effective communication with your target audience which will save you time (and a big headache).
4. You have a marketing department of one (or zero).
Doing marketing well ain’t easy, and it’s difficult to consistently execute strategies when there are a million other things on your plate. If you’re trying to do it all by yourself, your marketing initiatives may have a hard time getting off the ground floor.
When you consider partnering with an integrated marketing team to plan and execute strategy, you open the door to fresh ideas that have the potential to expand your brand. Outsourcing any of your marketing is beneficial, but the more you outsource to one partner, the more efficient the process becomes. Imagine shared meetings across all projects, integrated campaigns instead of a’la carte projects, and everyone’s on the same page. Booyah.
5. Staff turnover has you playing catch-up.
Maintaining momentum is tough when you lose valued staff. Onboarding, training, and mentoring can set you back months. When you outsource your marketing, turnover is now their problem, not yours. Marketing outsourcing insulates your organization from all the time and costs associated with employee turnover.
6. You’re an ideas person.
You love focusing on the big-picture, but you’re stuck in the weeds. We get it. Turning your ambitious ideas into a reality requires significant time and resources that you may not have.
So when it comes to the design and development of your new website, a total rebrand initiative, or whatever it is you need to ramp up your business goals, consider hiring an outsourced marketing agency. It frees you up to focus less on the day-to-day details and more on your next big idea.
7. You need access to specialized expertise.
Even if you have a high-functioning staff, there are likely gaps in their knowledge that might lead you to consider marketing outsourcing. If you ask someone to do something they don’t typically do, by definition, you’ll have an amateur doing that work. If you want to explore social media, paid search, SEO, or mobile development, you don’t want to spin your wheels. Whatever the need, having a team that fills all the gaps makes all the difference.
8. You want a more predictable budget.
If you’ve been doing your marketing in fits and starts due to cashflow constraints, consider that some outsourced marketing agencies can standardize costs. This can be accomplished by spreading invoices over the term of the engagement even if projects happen only in specific months. Or, if your problem is that you want marketing expertise but can’t afford to hire an in-house team, outsourcing can provide the talent without the HR costs.
We know that marketing efforts as a whole can be unpredictable. Running Google Ads and boosting social posts can start to feel like a waste of time and money when you’re not seeing quick results.
Change your mindset and put your outsourced team in a position to set you up for success. How? By viewing marketing as an investment in your company’s growth and not a pesky expense.
9. You want strategic horsepower.
A good marketing outsourcing firm brings a hell of a lot of experience. The best part is… it’s all about you and your business goals.
So pay attention to their client list and review all their work examples to see if they’ll be a good fit. If their portfolio doesn’t inspire you, there’s little chance their work will, either. The right match will sharpen your strategy, take your brand to the next level, and ensure best practices, regardless of your industry.
10. Marketing can (and should) be fun.
With all the moving parts required for an effective strategy and streamlined execution, marketing can start to feel like a drag. But once you prioritize marketing and give those strategies a little TLC, you’re off to the races. With the right outsourced marketing partner, you can rediscover the creativity, ease, and, yes, fun of good marketing.
Wanna make marketing fun again? Give us a ring, and we’ll talk you through the ins and outs of partnering with a marketing outsourcing firm. Contact us at (800) 803-3229 or click here to get in touch.
The post 10 reasons you should consider marketing outsourcing appeared first on Outsource Marketing.
]]>Join in the giving with Outsource Marketing’s holiday tradition
Giving back is hardwired into our DNA at Outmark®, so during the holidays we share a little love (and a modest donation) to the causes near and dear to our hearts. Here are the organizations we’ve selected for “Doing Good December.” We hope they inspire you to do a little holiday giving of your own.
Abigail Quam – Center for Human Rights in Iran
Abigail chose this independent, nonprofit organization that fights to protect and promote the human rights of the people of Iran. Especially in light of the women’s rights movement and the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini and many others suffering under Iran’s tyrannical government, there is a call for political change.
Andrea Moretsky – Parkinson’s Foundation
Andrea selected the Parkinson’s Foundation because her mom was diagnosed with Parkinson’s several years ago. She saw her go from a healthy, active, and engaged to someone who struggled to participate in life. The things that brought her joy — taking long walks, watching her grandchildren’s sporting events, quilting, and traveling — were all taken from her. The Parkinson’s Foundation’s mission is to improve care and advance research toward a cure.
Britta Springer – World Resources Institute
People have been experiencing the growing effects of climate change for some time now, but lately, things have felt worse. So this year, Britta started changing one habit at a time to decrease her ecological footprint. She’s excited about The World Resources Institute’s work to tackle global challenges on climate change, renewable energy, deforestation, ocean health, water risk, sustainable cities, food systems, and more.
Jeanie Walker – Pacific Pug Rescue
With Jeanie’s three adorable senior pugs joining our video calls, it was easy to see why she picked this organization. Pacific Pug Rescue is dedicated to finding furever homes for abandoned, neglected, and surrendered pugs with an emphasis on seniors and the expensive medical care they desperately need.
Jen Kodosky – Athletes for Kids
As an engaged parent of two athletes, Jen wanted her donation to go to Athletes for Kids. This organization serves children in grades 1-12 with disabilities and special needs. Athletes for Kids match every child with a high school athlete to mentor them for one to three years. This program nurtures kindness, acceptance, and inclusion, one mentorship at a time.
Kayla Everett – Vibrant Palette Arts Center
As a graphic designer, Kayla has a love for the arts. Our donation to the Vibrant Palette Arts Center will help empower artists with disabilities, give them a platform to showcase their work, and nurture inclusion in Seattle’s art community.
Kayla Horton – Malala Fund
The Malala Fund advocates for girls’ rights to free, safe, quality education. Malala Yousafzai’s story is one of the first that really sparked Kayla’s interest in politics and activism growing up. She couldn’t grasp how education wasn’t a right for everyone until she dove deeper into her story. Kayla has donated to the Malala Fund every year since it began in 2013.
Lilly Stall – Camp Kesem
Lilly chose Camp Kesem because it is very near and dear to her heart. She was a counselor for two years at UC Santa Cruz, an experience that has greatly impacted her life. Kesem felt like a home away from home, where you were surrounded by driven and charismatic individuals who were not afraid to let their silly out with camp songs and messy Olympics. This student-led organization raises funds to provide children impacted by their parent’s cancer with a free week-long summer camp.
Lizzie Gow – National Down Syndrome Society
As an older sibling to someone with Down Syndrome, Lizzie saw at a young age how lacking general respect and resources were for people with Down Syndrome. Her brother Max is such a light in her life, so Lizzie wants to support the Down Syndrome community’s rights and quality of life. They deserve to pursue their own dreams and aspirations.
Miguel Mejias – The Animal Foundation
Miguel’s donation is going to The Animal Foundation. The organization’s mission to save the lives of healthy and treatable animals in Las Vegas valley is one that Miguel feels strongly about. Let’s help create a humane and compassionate world for animals of all shapes, sizes, and breeds.
Nick LaPolla – The Wounded Warrior Project
Nick wanted to donate to The Wounded Warrior Project because he is passionate about our Veterans getting the help they deserve after sacrificing more than we can imagine for us. Veterans need our help, and when you donate to this cause, 100% of the proceeds go directly to wounded veterans.
Olivia Shaw – Global Fund for Women
Olivia has always felt strongly about issues surrounding women and gender equality. She has been so inspired by women across the world who risk their lives just by speaking out and fighting for basic rights and freedoms. The Global Fund for Women backs local, women-led movements and grassroots organizations in 176 countries. They support efforts in climate justice, ending sexual and gender-based violence, education for girls, and workers’ rights.
Patrick Byers – Endometriosis Foundation of America
Patrick’s spouse has stage four Endometriosis, so he selected the Endometriosis Foundation of America. “Endo” is misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and severely underfunded: Although 1 in 10 U.S. women between ages 15 and 44 live with the condition, women suffer for years with severe, life-impacting pain and life-threatening complications before they find someone who knows anything about the disease. There are very few doctors that understand it, and fewer know how to help.
Rick Blythe – National Alliance on Mental Illness
Rick chose NAMI because of the resources, guidance, and assistance this organization provided when an adult family member experienced a serious mental health crisis. NAMI’s local support groups for families and their positive impact with state-level lobbying are making significant progress in addressing serious mental health issues.
Tricia Vowles – Alzheimer’s Association
Tricia chose to support the Alzheimer’s Association for Outmark’s “Doing Good December” in honor of her grandmother, who is an Alzheimer’s patient. Since her diagnosis, Tricia has experienced first-hand the effects of this disease on patients and families. This organization leads nationwide initiatives on Alzheimer’s care, support, and advocacy, and through their research, is working toward a world without Alzheimer’s or Dementia.
Rheana Hersey – Step by Step
As a mom of two little ones, Rheana wanted her donation to go to the mothers at the Step by Step program. Step by Step empowers mothers by providing help to women with high-risk pregnancies, giving them and their babies the best chance to thrive. Caring every step of the way, Step by Step continues to offer support and resources to mothers after birth to establish safe homes and secure futures for them and their children.
It’s fun to be good, and around this time of year, we’re reminded more than ever of the importance of doing good. Happy holidays from Outmark!
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]]>The post Five critical considerations for effective company branding appeared first on Outsource Marketing.
]]>As the legendary anchorman, Ron Burgundy once said, “I’m kind of a big deal. People know me. I’m very important.” You may ask yourself, what does this have to do with company branding? The answer is nothing and everything. The thing is, your company’s brand is a big deal. It’s much more than slapping a logo together and choosing a color palette. Your brand is important because it’s the identity and personality of your business.
In today’s digital age, branding is an even bigger deal than before because customers are interacting with your brand everywhere they turn or scroll online. Your website, social media, video content, radio promotions, print advertising, and more are all opportunities to build brand recognition and reputation with consumers. So yeah, it is kind of a big deal to get it right.
Create the brand identity
With a foundation of strategic positioning, your brand helps communicate who your company is and can help reinforce your competitive advantage.
On the one hand, you have brand assets like your name, logo, tagline, and design. While the logo may be your company’s face, other things identify your brand. Like a person, their face is the most recognizable, but it isn’t their only defining quality. If you look at a person from the back, you can see how they carry themselves, their walk, hair, and how they dress to understand what this person looks like without ever seeing their face.
On the other hand, you have the brand’s attributes that communicate its personality to the consumers. These characteristics include your credibility, emotional connection, brand awareness, and purchase motivation. All pieces of the puzzle must harmonize to create a solid brand identity that aligns with consumer behaviors, actions, and communications.
Tailor the brand experience
Now it’s time to find the method to the madness. The experience of your brand is how people will feel interacting with it. To get the most out of your company branding experience, everything you do should relate back to your target demographic. Ask yourself, with every touchpoint or marketing material created, how does it make your target audience feel in their gut?
For example, if you were starting a yoga studio, you would want your customer to feel calm and refreshed when they experience your brand. Take a moment to think of some of the businesses you frequent. What feeling do they give you, and do you think it impacts how you view their brand?
Outline the brand strategy
So you made it past the first two steps, and now it’s time to strategize. For a brand’s strategy to be great, you must polish up your most vital attributes and get them camera-ready.
A good brand strategy considers your:
- Communication
- Tone
- Depth
- Personality
- Differentiators
- Positioning
Remember, your brand is an expression of your business strategy, so you need an in-depth understanding of the consumer and your competition. When your strategy is well researched and consistent, showcasing your value propositions to the market has a higher success rate.
Communicate the brand value
Every great news anchor has a killer co-anchor, and the chemistry between your brand and its value propositions should follow suit. But how do you communicate your value propositions effectively? Everything hinges on answering, “why would a customer choose your business over the other options?” You can unlock your target market’s deciding factors from that question and tailor your messaging to be authentic. When your communication is original, it creates a connection with the consumer that resonates on a personal level.
For example, let’s say you’re opening a small coffee shop. A common mistake would be to see what large competitors are doing and try to compete with them. But you’re not Starbucks, and when people go to an independent coffee shop, they are looking for a change of pace. Sure, Starbucks has an extensive and ever-changing menu and is accessible everywhere.
But a small shop can perfect its menu, create eye-catching latte art, introduce specials on a whim, host events, sell items from local vendors, and maintain a more relaxed and comfortable space. If a customer walked into your shop and you were mirroring the Starbucks model, ugh, cue the disappointment. There are a million Starbucks locations out there. Your target market is looking for a new experience.
Keep your branding consistent
Once everything is ironed out with your company branding, you must ensure everyone handling your marketing and sales is on the same page. After all, what is the point of working so hard to create a brand and custom messaging if it isn’t used consistently?
Consider this. Is it McDonald’s without the golden arches? Is it Gatorade without the athletic sports commercials? Is it Apple without the Genius Bar? What makes your brand unique is what builds a relationship with consumers. Whether your brand makes customers feel safe, relaxed, motivated, or stylish, that feeling is why they come back repeatedly.
At Outsource Marketing, we view company branding projects like reporting a once-in-a-lifetime news story. We jump at the chance to bring the vision to life and guide it on the path to success. To learn more about our branding process, click here. Stay classy, folks. That was our last Anchorman joke; we promise.
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]]>The post How to leverage and understand the content ecosystem appeared first on Outsource Marketing.
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What is a content ecosystem?
Welcome to the jungle. In today’s digital metropolis, a never-ending content stream is flooding the internet. How much content are we talking about? Well, in 2021, 74 zettabytes of data were created. For context on how much data that is, one zettabyte is equal to 2 to the 70th power, also known as one sextillion bytes.
With so much content constantly being uploaded online, you may wonder, how can your business’s content stand out from the crowd? Well, that’s the beauty of a content ecosystem. A content ecosystem is organized content that works together to form a strategic network of assets to promote and support a customer’s journey. A content safari to the final destination to hit download, subscribe, add to cart, etc.
The elements of a content ecosystem
Just as every habitat requires several resources to thrive, five elements work together to form an effective content strategy. Let’s break down each one.
Content streams
A content stream is a collection of content that supports a particular stage of the buyer’s journey. When you build out an ecosystem, content streams are all linked together to create a unified experience for the customer.
Asset mixes
Asset mixes will inform the types of content you’ll group into your content streams. For example, your content stream could be on the benefits of buying sustainably-made shoes. Then, your asset mix would be Instagram ads, Google Search ads, a YouTube video, and a promoted blog. Like a jungle tree, you’ll want to branch out and craft content optimized for multiple platforms and situations to reach more potential customers.
Topic pillars
So how do you navigate through pages of content to organize your beautiful mess into mini-ecosystems of their own? That’s where topic pillars come in, swinging on a vine to save the day. Topic pillars are broad categories that can help your brand establish itself in the digital marketplace.
To play off of our sustainable footwear example, a topic pillar for that brand may be bamboo shoes. Then, this topic breaks into subtopics to support and align with everything under that brand’s umbrella regarding bamboo shoes. It could look something like this:
Main topic: Bamboo shoes
- Subtopic: FAQs about footwear made from bamboo
- Subtopic: A thought leadership article on bamboo footwear trends
- Subtopic: Details on the products that the brand produces with bamboo
- Subtopic: A video introducing the bamboo footwear styles that are coming out soon
Strategic links
Want to make it easy for your customer to swing from one tree to the next? That’s where strategic linking comes in. What links do you include in your content, and what purpose do they serve? When you add links to your content, it is usually via crosslinking, embedding, or a call-to-action. The two main reasons you add links to content are to strengthen your topic’s authority and to lead your customers through the buyer journey.
Content bursts
We’ve come to the last branch in the content ecosystem. Content bursts take all the moving parts and put them into practice by dynamically configuring your content into valuable nuggets of knowledge.
In short, a content burst is figuring out how to use the content streams you have to promote timely events, campaigns, etc. For the sustainable footwear company, a content burst may be grabbing content written about renewable resource brands to promote during Earth Day.
Growing your business’s content ecosystem
To grow your ecosystem from the ground up, you need to be aware of the factors that impact its direction. Every business must examine its industry, target audience, solutions, and goals. This strategic web of content you weave needs to support the goals you lay out for your business.
Whether you are reviewing existing content, starting from scratch, or it’s a hybrid approach, there are two guiding questions you and your team should be asking.
- Does our content guide our customers through every step of the buyer journey?
- Will this content help us support and achieve our customers’ goals?
The digital content world is bananas. Here’s the good news. We’re here to be your wilderness guide if you’re tired of monkeying around to get out of the deep Google search results jungle. Go ahead, drop us a vine, and swing into our inbox.
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]]>The post Understanding the groundwork behind email drip campaigns appeared first on Outsource Marketing.
]]>Before we dive into the specifics, let’s go back to the basics. Email drip campaigns are when you automatically send a timed sequence of emails to an audience that relies on the sender’s actions to carry out the process. It’s common for businesses to use this form of automated messaging to stay in touch with their customer base and provide a sense of personalization.
For example, a boutique clothing brand could create a drip campaign that hinges on a potential customer signing up for their newsletter. After they enter their email on the website, they might receive an automated welcome email paired with an incentive like 10% off their first order.
If they make their first purchase, an email could be scheduled a week later asking them to refer a friend for an additional discount. Now, let’s say the new customer didn’t refer a friend for a discount. The boutique could set their campaign to send a birthday gift email — offering the customer a gift or credit if they share their date of birth. As you can imagine, this cycle can go on and on, but it’s essential to know when to hold back. Nobody likes a spammy emailer.
The email marketing blueprint
So, how do you make sure you’re not an inbox spammer? Here are a few steps you can follow to help structure your next campaign.
- Identify your audience
- Be sure your audience is well-characterized
- Have one clear goal in mind for your campaign
- Think about how often you want to contact the audience on your list
- Map out the emails and triggers of your campaign
- Draft email copy all at once to keep consistent messaging and flow
- Regularly analyze your campaign post-launch for improvements
Design the perfect automated messaging
Now that you have your blueprint, it’s time to consider your message delivery. After all, it’s not what you say but how and when you say it. Timing and tone are KEY. Every awkward social fumble in history proves this theory to be true.
Which begs the question, how do you avoid email marketing faux pas? The best tool you can use in this situation is your gut. Consider what annoys you as a consumer, sparks your interest, converts you to be a customer, and causes you to unsubscribe. Between your intuition and market research, drafting the perfect automated messaging is just a few keystrokes away.
Build your email drip campaigns from the ground up
Did you skip to the end of the blog for a quick summary? Well, if there’s one takeaway it’s that every great campaign starts with a solid foundation. Hopefully, this gave you some direction to take your email marketing campaign from construction to fruition.
The world of email marketing can be overwhelming, but with the right crew behind you, any project is possible. At Outmark®, our team is passionate about helping you reach new consumers and grow your business. Take the next step and schedule a free consultation with us to learn more.
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]]>The post Best practices for building your sales qualified leads pipeline appeared first on Outsource Marketing.
]]>Alright, bro, so what are sales qualified leads anyway? Chillax, we’re about to break down the details. Sales qualified leads (SQLs) are prospective customers that have moved through a sales pipeline. These leads go from marketing qualified to sales qualified when they reach the point where your sales team can turn them into a new customer.
Of course, before this happens, you’ll need to figure out the sales funnel numbers. A typical targeted conversion rate is 2%. Start with the sales forecast or quotas and work backward. This will inform how large a prospective list to buy and the size of the marketing investment needed to achieve a healthy cost-per-lead. For example, it could take 100 marketing qualified leads to convert ten into sales qualified leads. Right on?
Finding your balance with the basic steps
Now that you know what a sales qualified lead is, it’s time to cover the basic steps in building a lead pipeline. You’ll need to nail down the items below before getting on your board and catching a wave.
- A prospective buyer list
- Your revenue targets
- A unified team sales process
- Colleague communication
- A solid value proposition
Carving the new prospect wave
Starting with your prospective buyer list, you’ll want to make sure your list fits your target demographic paired with a budget for the products or services you’re trying to sell — the more details on buyer personas that your list has, the better.
The items that should always be on your prospective list are:
- Names
- Contact info
- Company name
- Industry type
- Size of business
- Work title
- How contact was established
Cranking with the sales process
A good sales process should be straightforward and broken down into simple steps. There should be no confusion about what your sales team should be doing through each touchpoint. This is where a sales battle card can be extremely helpful because it keeps messaging across the sales team aligned and offers a way for the salesperson to nurture the lead, meeting the target where they are in the buyer’s journey. If your team already has a developed sales process, you’re one step ahead of the game.
Hangin’ loose with the right crowd
A great sales-qualified leads pipeline is a tool to help you fulfill your revenue goals. Once you know what your goals are, you’ll be able to map out the structure of your pipeline. For example, you’ll be able to calculate how many deals you need to add to your pipeline to meet your goals. Or the number of leads you’ll need at each stage.
Your sales pipeline should enhance both individual and teamwide tasks and lead management. Therefore, we recommend involving your sales team in the decision process as you develop your pipeline. The last thing you want is to work on a sales process and find out the people pitching it don’t resonate with your vision.
Getting qualified leads is not as “far out” as you think it is. Ready to surf the sales-qualified pipeline with Outmark? With the right processes in place, you can go from wiping out to snagging leads and making above and beyond your projected quotas. Click to schedule a free consultation.
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]]>The post This is not the page you’re looking for: Rethinking the 404 page appeared first on Outsource Marketing.
]]>Every Star Wars fan knows what today is. Today’s date has been coined “May the 4th be with you” in honor of the classic film franchise for the past several years. Much like a Jedi mind trick, there comes a time when users discover a URL and are led astray to a 404 page.
The dreaded 404 not found message.
Not quite the blue screen of death, but definitely unwelcome when you’re trying to find something on the Internet.
These aren’t the pages you are looking for — a 404 is a web page you typically receive when you land on a page that’s been deleted or removed. Move along.
From a marketing perspective, why should you care?
An error page is actually an opportunity for you to turn a negative into a positive. An inspired 404 improves usability, can reinforce your brand, and turns something unwelcome into an informative, even entertaining contact point at a time when a site visitor least expects it.
One of our favorite 404 pages is from Ready to Go Survival.
The Copy
“Oops! Looks like this page got lost in the Matrix. You take the blue pill, and the story ends, you end up on our homepage and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in wonderland, and I show you how deep your preps can go.”
This page’s design is complete with an image of Optimus Prime holding a blue and red pill, because why not go ALL IN?
Quite a contrast from your typical 404, eh?
Ready for more? Here are a few crowd faves we couldn’t help but share.
Pixar
Using the character Sadness from the movie Inside Out, Pixar highlighted the frustration we all feel when we end up at a dead end search.
Lego
Pulling inspiration from the Lego Movie, this error page is here to let you know even though you ended up on the wrong page, everything is still awesome.
Spotify
Referencing Kanye West’s album “808s and Heartbreak,” Spotify created a clever pun with a “404s and heartbreaks” page. We’re honestly mad we didn’t think of this one first.
Outsource Marketing
And here’s another favorite – the page you’ll land on if you have a typo or a dead page on our own website:
Creating 404 pages that more than make up for their errors
Sure great design and a sense of humor go a long way in crafting the perfect 404 page, but a few other pointers will help you and your site visitors get the most out of the experience.
So, first…
- Keep it simple. Excess copy or design elements can cloud your message’s delivery.
- Don’t go crazy with redirect options. Offer one to two options for users to move on from your error page.
- Think outside the box. Maybe linking back to the homepage isn’t your best move? Get creative and have a button that downloads an app, a link to a product page, or customer support. The possibilities are endless.
Looking to redirect your marketing efforts? At Outsource Marketing, we’re passionate about delivering results that stand out from the crowd. To schedule a free consultation with us, click here.
The post This is not the page you’re looking for: Rethinking the 404 page appeared first on Outsource Marketing.
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So, you’re putting in the time to craft and send emails to your segmented lists, but the response is less than enthusiastic? There, there, you’ve come to the right blog. Take a moment away from crying at your bounce rate percentages to dive into some email marketing best practices that just ‘click.’ That was an email joke. Alright, let’s get started.
Building a creditable email list
We have some good news and some bad news. Your emails may not be the problem. (That was the good news.) The bad news is that email marketing lists are often plagued with inactive, counterfeit, or disinterested email addresses. If you’re working with an email list that you feel needs a refresh, cleaning out that list is the first step.
If you’re starting your list from scratch or want to increase the volume of your subscribers, these email marketing best practices will help you build a list that isn’t ah…sketchy.
Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and a quality email list won’t be either. Here are a few great ways to capture engaged subscribers.
- Email sign-up forms
- Landing pages
- Social media
- Website pop-ups
- Giveaways and promotions
Don’t open the can of email spam
Unfortunately, email spam traps can wreak havoc on your email deliverability, campaign revenue, or worse, get you blocklisted. (And there are A LOT of different spam traps out there.) So, what is a spam email trap exactly? A spam trap may seem like a valid email address, but really it does not belong to anyone. It could be that this once valid email is now inactive, or you’ve received a fake address after buying shady contact lists, or there’s a typo in the address, making it unusable. These concealed menaces can be challenging to spot and undermine, making things even more complicated.
Regularly keep up with your subscriber acquisition and list management as an email marketing best practice to avoid spam traps. If you’re encountering unexplained negative email delivery results, your list may need to be gutted to identify hidden threats.
Email marketing best practice for content
Speaking of spam, one of the most common reasons marketers lose subscribers is over-sending emails to their inboxes. We’ve all been on the other side when companies send you multiple messages in a week or even in one day. Having a creative, straightforward, and purposeful messaging strategy needs to be mapped out before you start rapid-firing emails.
Here’s the scary thing. *screams* You could do all that and still not get a good response from your email list. Another element that needs to be present for a successful campaign is knowing your audience. Your content should reflect the interests, pain points, and solutions your demographic cares about. If you don’t feel that you have a good grasp of that, it’s time to A/B test content everywhere, create surveys, interview customers, ask for feedback on social media, and study online reviews to gain some insight.
Ready to go from the spam folder to favorites? At Outmark®, we understand how valuable communication with your customer base is, which is why we’re passionate about developing fun and effective email marketing strategies that help your business. To schedule a free consultation with us, click here.
The post Email marketing best practices that don’t cause you to unsubscribe appeared first on Outsource Marketing.
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