Marketing Archives - Page 9 of 18

Is the agency of record irrelevant in today’s marketing landscape?

Twenty years ago, most businesses outsourced their marketing capabilities to an agency of record: One single agency that provided the entire landscape of marketing services. At that time, there were only a handful of traditional marketing services that businesses needed their agency to provide, including branding, public relations, advertising, copy, and creative. Fast forward to today, and the marketing landscape has changed dramatically and exponentially. One indicator of this is how much the marketing technology landscape has grown. From 2011 to 2020, there was a 5,233% increase in the number of marketing technologies available, and these technologies spanned numerous subspecialties. Some of…

In-house marketing vs. agency or freelancer: What’s best for you?

There comes a time in every business’s lifecycle when it needs to invest in marketing to continue growing. Some of the most important decisions are when and who to hire to develop and manage your marketing programs. Your business has what seems like endless options: in-house marketing vs. agency, consultant, or freelancer. But these resources also vary in their seniority and experience in various functional areas (e.g., digital, content, analytics, traditional). Without strategic marketing leadership at the helm, it can feel impossible to make sense of all of the options available and which are the right resources for your business. In this…

When should my business hire a marketer, and who’s the right fit?

One of the most challenging business decisions a growing company faces is when the right time is to hire a marketer and build an internal marketing team. Many scenarios prompt this decision, but it often comes when the business reaches a critical growth point. (We often see this happen when the business generates between $5 million and $10 million in revenue.) The company may have been founder-led or sales-driven until this point, but its sales are plateauing. It realizes that to continue growing, it needs to invest in marketing more strategically. It no longer makes sense to have the founder…

How remote collaboration in marketing has changed — and why it’s here to stay

In a matter of days, the COVID-19 pandemic altered where marketing teams got their work done and how they collaborated with colleagues. Research suggests that the remote work environment is here to stay in some form, with less than one in five executives saying they want to return to the office as it was pre-pandemic. Employees are eager for hybrid office and remote options, but some executives express concern over the impacts these hybrid work environments could have on company culture. (more…)

Marketing budget allocation: Why there’s no silver bullet

At Authentic, we work primarily with small to mid-size growing businesses that have started to invest in marketing activities but aren’t sure if they are allocating resources in the best way to support their business growth goals. One of the most common questions we get from clients is, “How much should I spend on marketing?” It seems like a simple question, but unfortunately, the answer isn’t. The not-so-satisfying answer we often give to questions about marketing budget allocation is, “It depends.” (more…)

Marketing Technology — Your biggest headache or significant business driver?

Choosing and implementing marketing technology can be an overwhelming process. There are thousands of martech solutions on the market, making it challenging to determine which ones your business should invest in (and perhaps more importantly, which it shouldn’t). Without a strategic marketing plan or experienced leader, marketing technology decisions can be daunting. Too often, businesses end up committing random acts of marketing in their technology decisions. (more…)

Let’s get strategic — Leveraging social media to advance your business

It’s hard to believe that YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram were all launched less than 20 years ago. As consumers, we’ve quickly become accustomed to social media being the first place we turn to engage with the brands we love. Given how embedded social media is within consumers’ day-to-day lives, these channels have also become one of the best ways for brands to reach their audiences. But savvy brands aren’t just using social media to push out content. They’re using it to connect with customers to build, sustain — and sometimes — repair trust. Companies that use social media effectively take…

SANCTUARY members stay up to date on the latest martech and digital trends

On September 17th, the SANCTUARY community of marketing executives gathered virtually to talk all things digital. In the rapidly evolving space of digital marketing, it falls on marketers to keep up and keep track of new practices. The boom in martech options has made it challenging for marketers to evaluate and solve their technology needs - especially in the midst of a pandemic that has required rapid digital innovation. (more…)

Sales & Marketing Mix it Up: TCSW 2020 Cocktails&Closers

What better way to cap off day one of Twin Cities Startup Week than a happy hour conversation between Closers Media's Mickeli Bedore and Authentic's Jennifer Zick, moderated by Closers' Mixologist, Garrio Harrison. The debut event was hosted virtually on the TWCS Main Stage as the kickoff of Closer's newest show: Cocktails&Closers (a close cousin to the wildly popular and award-winning Coffee&Closers show). (more…)

Authentic on TCSW 2020 Main Stage: Trust Equity For Early-Stage Growth

Authentic's Founder and CEO, Jennifer Zick, was back at TCSW for her fourth year, this time kicking off Twin Cities Startup Week 2020 as the first presenter on the Main Stage. As the second largest startup event in the country, TCSW was all virtual this year, drawing attendees from well beyond the local metro region. (more…)

Category: Marketing