Uncomfortable Marketing

A couple recent of projects we've worked on have been interesting in the sense of "why have we been asked to help?". It's a common issue too, a client commissions an agency to do what they are comfortable with, understand and essentially, could do themselves. Now, we realise that there are issues of time, staffing etc which means that often, work is outsourced. This is fine, understandable and makes sense. However, employing an expert to carry out work you could do yourself doesn't make as much sense.

It actually seems that a lot of organisations commission work they could do themselves to remain comfortable in understanding the process, often remaining completely oblivious to whether the process has achieved it's objectives. Does it matter if Andy Murray understands the science of how a tennis racquet is made? No, it matters that he knows how to use it to win tennis matches.


And so, when you commission an expert to do something, make sure you let them do it, as long as it achieves your goals and objectives. After all, it's unlikely that they will be able to advise and strengthen any day to day operational work that you carry out?

This may seem like a little bit of a rant. It really isn't! Just an observation to help people invest in outsourcing more efficiently. If you're uncomfortable with not understanding certain processes and ideas, that's fine. Because the person that is running it, probably isn't!

January Blues or Blossoms

January 21st, the most depressing day of the year, so we're told each year on January 21st (no wonder it's depressing!).

January as a whole has traditionally been a harder month for businesses. Christmas hangovers, cash flow suffering, staff moving on to pursue new avenues....and it's always so cold! However, this year, 2013 sees a slight change in mood.

We're 5 years on from the start of the meaty end of the 'credit crunch' (haven't heard that for a little while) and there seems to be a positive feel around. Yes, there are still the big name losses, HMV and Blockbuster spring to mind. These are more born out of a change in purchasing habits (iTunes and film streaming etc) than people purely having less. As technology evolves, unfortunately for some so do the ways we do things.

There are plenty of stats to show that those that invested in their marketing during the recession of the early 90's were more likely to be stronger coming out of it. It seems some organisations are adopting the same logic this time round. New branding, clever marketing requests and the general need to be 'out there' giving the right messages to the right people seem to be much more prevalent this year than in the previous few. We, as a creative marketing, branding and design agency are really benefitting from this and are lucky enough to be working on some very interesting projects, both in the public sector and private sector.

So, while some of the big hitters feel the blues as technology makes them obsolete, there is plenty of evidence of other organisations moving with the times and spending wisely to keep themselves relevant. Blues and Blossoms (cheesy I know but we needed a title!)

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