Tech Affect » recession http://www.techaffect.com Affect Strategies' PR & Marketing Blog for Technology Companies Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:53:49 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Pointers for Your Marketing in ’09 http://www.techaffect.com/2009/01/05/pointers-for-your-marketing-in-09/ http://www.techaffect.com/2009/01/05/pointers-for-your-marketing-in-09/#comments Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:29:26 +0000 Yasmin Ben-Dror http://www.techaffect.com/2009/01/05/pointers-for-your-marketing-in-09/ Starting off the new year, here are some great reports from Marketing Sherpa for keeping afloat in these turbulent times. Take a read. There are some great pointers and new ideas:

– How To Defend Your Marketing Budget, Part II: Meeting Tips + Challenging Scenarios
– Special Report: Marketing During an Economic Downturn – New Data & Key Insights
– Special Report: Marketing During a Downturn, Part 2: 24 Real-Life Strategies Marketers Are Using to Handle the Slump
– New Research from Sherpa: 1,763 Marketers Reveal Top Strategies for Email in Economic Downturn

I hope they prove to be useful to you. Good Luck for ’09!

]]> http://www.techaffect.com/2009/01/05/pointers-for-your-marketing-in-09/feed/ 0 Are You Looking to Outsource Your Marketing & PR? http://www.techaffect.com/2008/10/17/are-you-looking-to-outsource-your-marketing-pr/ http://www.techaffect.com/2008/10/17/are-you-looking-to-outsource-your-marketing-pr/#comments Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:40:21 +0000 Yasmin Ben-Dror http://www.techaffect.com/2008/10/17/are-you-looking-to-outsource-your-marketing-pr/ I have recently been asked by different levels of executives, VPs to CEOs, from start-ups, small and mid size companies, about the pros of outsourcing their marketing and PR needs and what to look for when choosing a firm to work with.

I am sure the current financial turbulence has caused this question to resurface with intensity and be taken into careful consideration. But it is a questions that we get asked quite often.

As it happens, I subscribe to Laura Lake’s newsletter at About.com: Marketing and just this week she wrote about this very subject!

I could not have summed it up better. Read the full article, or here are some quick pointers on what outsourcing allows companies to gain:

- More focus on your core business
- No marketing ramp-up time and training
- Immediate service
- Fast program deployment
- More cost effective than employing full-time staff
- Draw on proven expertise and experience
- Get an external, unbiased perspective
- Expand and contract your marketing on an “as-needed” basis
- Exploit strong media relationships across industry publications

What to look for and how to choose an outsourcing marketing and PR firm?

- Look at their area of expertise
- Make sure they understand your needs, goals and objectives
- Check if they are updated in the latest trends and technology
- Ask for case studies and success stories with measurement and ROI
- Get client references
- Make sure they “get” your technology, products and market space

Last, but certainly not least: Make sure there is a synergy between you and the team you will be working with. Understand who will be heading the team and who are the team members. This is important as they become an “extension” of your company or marketing/PR department, with weekly if not daily calls, communication and interaction. You must feel comfortable with the relationship. This is the key to success and free flow of information.

Outsourcing certainly makes sense for some companies, but not for others. Do the research to find out if this is a viable option for you and your company. Speak to several companies to compare services to help you make a decision.
If you have any questions, shoot me an email or a comment.

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