by Geoff Noake | Mar 1, 2017 | Design, Marketing, Sales, Technical publications
As a small, specialist creative agency, we find ourselves doing a wide variety of work for different clients. For instance, in the last few days we have produced a diverse range of B2B work: Reprinted a series of technical datasheets for client in the offshore gas industry Written copy for a new brochure for a waste water treatment client Updated various website landing pages to measure advertising Attended the Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing Annual lecture on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in London. CMO of computer giant, IBM, explained how predictive data helps improve the targeting of ads online – just one of many areas where AI will speed up decision making Have written and broadcast two e-shots to B2B lists Pitched for one new client Created a hard-hitting new idea for a Charity Lots of other stuff too… There's something about the diversity of what we do that makes the business we work in so much fun. Can we help you too? If you could do with our help then give us a shout! A chat about your business and objectives costs...
by Geoff Noake | Feb 24, 2017 | Design, Marketing, Sales, Technical publications
I have just watched a seven minute film on YouTube called 'The amazing Hamleys experience', featuring a presenter called Geoff Ramm. It's well worth Googling. Because what he talks about works. Geoff talks about the power of Personalisation, Colour and Standing Out in your sales and marketing proposals. Some years ago, at an agency I worked for, I ran a tender application for the design and printing of an annual report for a major organisation. The value of the work was well into five figures. We created the designs. I researched and wrote the quote. We built in a decent margin on what was a tender involving a number of design agencies and printers. I put the original pitch document together in the way Geoff did. Microsoft Word. Portrait. A4. Customer logo. Centered client name. Testimonials, etc. But, in a price-driven tender, how could we stand out. Apart from our stunning creativity, of course! I changed the format of the document. Yes, I kept the portrait format. But made it A5 in size. I added glossy full colour covers. A wire bound spine. And clear film outer covers. A few days after delivering the tender I got the "you've won the business" call! In his film, Geoff says his success rate went up by 25% when he changed the format of his proposal documents. Watch the film and change the way you do things. It works! Start winning. PS: We once designed a sales brochure for an orthodontic manufacturer. On the cover was a full colour shot of a girl, beautiful smile, with a parrot on her shoulder. It...
by Geoff Noake | Dec 3, 2015 | AdPlace Marketing, Marketing, Sales
I recently made a short presentation to specialist contractors in the construction industry. The aim of the talk was to try to remove the 'mystery' of marketing and try to explain that it need not be a hugely expensive and impossible task, but something that can make a positive impact on your business. To keep things simple, let's start with what marketing isn't and kill a few of those misconceptions: • It doesn't have to be expensive • It's not about full colour advertising in trade media • It's not difficult • It's not something 'just big companies do', or something others do, but is not you. • It doesn't work! Marketing does work and when a little thought and strategy is applied to it, then it's very effective. Yes, it might take a little time and consideration, but doesn't anything that's worthwhile? Yes, marketing can make a positive impact on your business! What do you need to do? The first thing you can do is have a think about your customers. When did you last contact a customer, other than those you have a current project for? Do your customers know what it is that makes your business different? The chances are they don't so tell them. Customers pigeon-hole you based on what they know about you, so make sure they know all there is to know about you. Keep in touch with them – regularly. Is there something you do better, faster, more cheaply or quicker than your competition. Talk to your customers about themselves – make what you say about them and not about you. Whatever...
