FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Find below our most commonly asked questions. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send us a message.⇩
Do you offer ongoing marketing contracts or relationships?
Yes! First, all of our clients are on-going relationships, no matter if they are single project contracts or long term engagements. Nevertheless, we absolutely offer ongoing marketing contracts – usually our clients will hire us to be an extension of their internal team. We are their marketing department, which is where we love to be. We get to work with the internal team, really learn about the business and not only strategize about marketing, but execute it as well with our team of experts. It’s like having an entire marketing department, but you’re not paying for ten full time employees!
Is Branded a one-stop-shop for all of your marketing needs or does it specialize in one area?
We really are a full service agency. A single place to strategize and execute on all of your marketing needs. No matter if a client contracts with us for a single function (e.g. website or video production), they get the benefit of all of the services. We inevitably will discuss your strategy, your brand, your content, marketing channels, etc. That’s the value of having multiple functions within one agency.
What is Branded’s expertise and experience in marketing? Do you have a portfolio or samples of your past campaigns or client work?
We have a wide range of experience and expertise. We’ve worked with clients in pretty much every industry. And, if we haven’t worked in a client’s industry, we absolutely love learning new things! All of our team are experts in their specific field. So, you get Subject Matter Experts everywhere you turn. We have a number of case studies and previous work samples we are happy to share (as well as are shared within this website).
How will Branded measure the success and ROI of the marketing budget?
Measuring success and ROI depends on our clients’ individual goals and engagement. One client’s measurement of success can be vastly different from another client’s success metrics. We always go over “what does success look like” during the discovery phase of an engagement. We develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) with each client, and report on those regularly. Therefore, each client can measure if they’re getting value and a return on investment, as they see fit.
Who is responsible for creating the content that Branded provides? How much of the work will be outsourced?
We create all content (e.g. video, copywriting, photography, graphic design) in house with our internal team. We do not outsource our work to another agency or organization. We maintain a sphere of control, ensuring quality at a reasonable cost. Each of our team members are either a W2, 1099, or Joint Venture employee. We want all of our clients to get to know who they are working with and be comfortable with their team members.
How much involvement is required from the business?
We primarily work with one point of contact (POC) on the client side, but involve all decision makers. In familiarizing ourselves with your business, we will hold a discovery session with the POC. Later, we’ll host a kickoff meeting to familiarize the POC with our processes, milestones, and expectations. The POC and any decision makers will need to be ready to answer any questions along the way as well as provide timely review and/or approval at project milestones.
What planning and strategy exercises will be required to get the account team up to speed?
After an initial discovery meeting, we send our clients a brand questionnaire. This exercise guides you through thinking about your business’s image and how you want it portrayed to the public. In turn, it also helps to familiarize us with your business, the market, and your marketing priorities.
How frequently will we meet to discuss current and future initiatives?
We meet regularly with our clients to review our progress and assess performance. The frequency depends entirely on the goals that have been identified and the measures of success that we identify. We are always thinking about the “whole client”, and are happy to suggest and discuss future initiatives at any point in our relationship.
Why should I invest in outsourcing my marketing?
When you have a limited number of hours and multiple marketing functions to manage, outsourcing your digital marketing can help you reclaim your valuable time. Outsourcing gives you access to a diverse team with expert knowledge and tools that can offer a different perspective and suggest new ways of achieving your goals. It’s also easier to scale, so you can more easily market new product and service ranges. You might be surprised to hear that outsourced digital marketing can be more cost-effective than handling all your marketing activities in the long term. For these reasons, studies show that nearly 94% of businesses outsource some or all of their marketing.
What is your pricing model or how do you charge for services? What is included in the monthly retainer?
We have project-based and retainer-based pricing, depending on what services and features are agreed upon. Our services are highly customizable and are tailored to suit the individual goals that make the most sense for each of our clients. We will work with you to identify a scope, level of investment, and service that best fits our client’s individual needs.
Do you use a template for website design?
No, we do not use templates. Every website we build is custom designed and developed from the ground up. We can develop templates for our clients to use; for example to upload blog posts, or articles or new products on their store. However, we don’t use them to build a new website. Every client’s brand is different, goals are different, and therefore their website needs to be custom developed for their specific requirements.
How long does a website take?
The duration of a website development depends on a number of factors – size of the site, complexity of the site, feedback and availability of the client team, and more. Therefore, durations for a website project can be around 16 weeks or even only 8 weeks. At the beginning of the website project, the client is provided a tentative schedule and communicated throughout the duration of the project on timing. We don’t like surprising our clients (except if it’s a sweet surprise party or something fun where surprises are appropriate 😉) so our clients are ALWAYS in the loop. We have a well defined seven (7) phase process to develop a website. Each phase is signed off from the client before we move to the next phase. This ensures total communication, transparency and allows the client to LOVE the product at the end of the project.
How often do I need to update my business website?
Any business should review their website AND the goals of their website every every couple (2) of years. Tech moves fast, so keeping your site fresh helps your brand stay in the game. Plus, the goals of your website could change, and if that’s the case, it’s important to ensure that the site is built with those business goals in mind.
What platform do you build your websites on?
We primarily build websites in WordPress. We can also develop websites on other platforms like React or Shopify. WordPress is used by over 45% of all websites in the world, making it by far the most popular website platform. The flexibility, easy of use, and inherent search engine optimization (SEO) capabilities make it a great platform for business websites.
Do I really need social media for my business?
Social media is a great tool to reach your customers, gain valuable insights, and grow your brand. However, social media should be a tool in your marketing toolbox, not the only thing you use. The use of social media should align with your brand, and what your overall goals are of your marketing efforts. Businesses can use social media to promote content, engage with customers, generate leads, or collaborate with influencers.
How could email marketing benefit us?
Studies show that 99% of consumers check their email every day and it is by far the preferred way to receive updates from brands. Email marketing content can be highly personalized to your audience’s needs and encourages them to continue to interact, engage, and purchase from your brand. Feedback tools like email surveys can also give you insight into the customer experience. Email marketing is the only marketing channel where YOU have the control over your audience and can customize your message and delivery to all, or even some of them.
Why do I need digital marketing for my business?
In the fast-paced digital landscape of today, only having a website or only a Facebook page is no longer good enough. While your website serves as a crucial foundation for your online presence, it is just that – a starting point. To truly stand out and attract potential customers, or let your existing customers know more about you, it’s essential to actively promote your brand across various digital marketing channels.
Digital marketing is one of the best uses of your marketing dollars, from a rate of return perspective. Creating a dynamic and directed strategy for the “digital world”, where competition and customers extend beyond local borders, is imperative for most businesses.
By cultivating a strong online presence and implementing a well-defined digital marketing plan, businesses can unlock remarkable opportunities for growth and expansion. Digital marketing offers the potential for exponential business development and delivers returns that surpass those of traditional advertising methods.
What is the value of a logo that is designed by a professional?
Your business’s logo is the foundation of your brand identity. It should not only make a memorable first impression, it represents your entire organization. Many times, it is the first impression an outsider has of your organization. Future customers subconsciously create an expectation and perception of your business through this mark (and the rest of your brand). This all is taken into consideration when prospective clients/customers trust you with their business. It is true, almost anyone can design a basic logo with free software tools, but having a logo that is professionally designed by an artist with a branding mind means you’ll accomplish all of the above – and, nobody in the world will have one just like it.
What else should I consider in developing my company’s personality?
A logo is just the first important piece of developing your brand voice. Chances are, your favorite high-performing companies lean on the unique identity they’ve worked hard to cultivate, which in turn creates a consistent, memorable experience for their customers. A comprehensive and consistent set of brand assets (logo, colors, brand voice definition, fonts/typography, etc.) housed within a style guide enables that brand consistency for businesses. These tools and guidelines will help your team achieve a consistent brand and voice, establishing a unified presence for anyone who engages with the business. Think of a style guide as the lighthouse your team can rely on to safely execute how you want your company to be perceived.
Does content matter?
Content creation helps solidify your company’s reputation by establishing you as an authoritative subject matter source. Your content also educates and engages your customers. The more types of content you produce, the farther your reach into a potential customer base. It also solidifies your professionalism and can accentuate your brand.
How can the content that is created be used for my business?
Because custom content that we create can be used in many different ways for your business, it’s a very cost-efficient marketing tool. From the written word (think blog posts) to visual content (think graphic design or videos), the content that we work hard to perfect for your business is often evergreen and can be repurposed in many ways, including:
- Sharing on your social media channels
- Sending to your customers in an email blast
- Posting on your website
- Creating physical marketing materials like flyers and postcards
How can I engage my audience with content?
When we create content, our strategy revolves around making sure it’s relevant to the audience. If people don’t find value in what you’re sharing, they won’t read it or watch it. After we work with you to identify who the target audience should be, we try to make sure all content is relevant and valuable to that audience so they feel like they’re getting something out of reading or watching it.
What marketing should my business focus on? Where should we start?
Our team loves to be a resource to our clients, partners, and friends! We value building relationships and are happy to spend time with you to learn your business, hear about your challenges, and offer our suggestions. From there, we also offer full-service consulting to guide you through crafting and executing a marketing strategy that is tailored to your needs.
What if my business doesn’t have a marketing plan? How can you help?
Not a problem at all!! This is where we love to start working with businesses. We help by working with the business team to build and create their overall marketing strategy. That is created over time, after discovery and fact finding meetings so we can dive into your business and learn as much as we can. Through our proprietary 13 step process, we establish your specific marketing strategy designed for your business, with your goals, to boost your brand’s visibility and attract your target audience. We deliver you an actionable plan to start implementing immediately!
What does marketing consulting with Branded actually mean?
Our marketing consulting service is your ticket to unlocking the full potential of your business’s marketing efforts. We offer expert guidance tailored to your specific needs, covering everything from market research to branding, advertising, and digital strategies. With our help, you’ll refine your approach, identify areas for improvement, and develop customized strategies to achieve your marketing goals. We work together to optimize your marketing effectiveness and drive sustainable growth for your business in today’s dynamic marketplace.
