Running a small business is a lot of work. From staying on top of the market to fulfilling customer needs to running the back office and of course, prioritizing customer service, there is often more to manage than what just one person has time to do.
For example, where does your marketing and advertising fit into all of that stuff on your to-do list? And perhaps another question—do you even have the time to market and advertise your business to your target audience? For many small business owners, the answer is a big, resounding, NO.
That’s why so many small business owners turn to agencies to help them with these efforts. Many entrepreneurs will freely admit that while they might be great at certain aspects of their business, they’re just not marketers. So, working with a full-service marketing and advertising agency can take a big weight off their shoulders. But how do you find the right one? We’ve got the answers.
Key Offerings from Full-Service Marketing and Advertising Agencies
Let’s start by talking about the marketing and advertising landscape as a whole. How we reach customers today is so different than it was even twenty or thirty years ago. Today, consumers live online, spending about six hours and 35 minutes there each day. And social media? That’s a biggie, as active users can easily spend 144 minutes engaging with their social platforms. Each day. That’s a lot of time. And so, small business owners need to be where these people are if they want to reach them and convince them to buy their product or service.
But traditional channels are far from dead, too. Direct mail, email, signage, and a great street presence. It’s all important. A full-service marketing and advertising agency can help you prioritize where to spend your marketing dollars to get the biggest bang for your buck.
Here are just some of the things you can expect when you work with an agency such as LAMA. Yes, we’re literally a full-service marketing and advertising agency.
Strategic Planning and Consulting
A full-service marketing and advertising agency offers strategic planning and consulting to help small businesses establish a strong foothold in their market. This process typically starts with in-depth market research and competitive analysis to understand the landscape.
Based on the findings, the agency will craft a comprehensive marketing plan tailored to the business's goals, providing a clear roadmap for success. This plan includes brand positioning and strategy development to make sure the business communicates its unique value to its target audience.
Branding and Creative Services
Branding is a non-negotiable for any business looking to make a memorable impression. Agencies like LAMA offer branding services from logo design to full brand identity creation. This includes developing brand guidelines that prioritize consistency across all marketing materials.
Creative services also cover the creation of campaign concepts, where both graphic design and copywriting work together to bring your brand to life. Whether you need fresh visuals or messaging that speaks to your audience, a full-service agency can handle it all.
Digital Marketing Services
As we implied earlier, having an online presence is non-negotiable. A full-service agency offers digital marketing services, including website design and development. The focus is on creating websites that are not only optimized but also user-friendly, keeping the experience intuitive for visitors.
Search engine optimization (SEO) services are also provided, so that your site ranks well on search engines through on-page and off-page tactics. And for small businesses, local SEO is particularly important in helping you reach your nearby customers.
Social Media Strategy
Small businesses need a solid social media presence with so many consumers spending hours on social media platforms each day—144 minutes. A full-service marketing agency will help you develop a social media strategy tailored to your business goals. This includes content creation, account management, and paid social advertising to increase visibility.
Content Marketing Strategy
Content is still king, and a full-service marketing agency can help you make the most of it. This includes creating a blogging strategy that positions your business as an authority in your industry and sending regular email campaigns to nurture leads. Content distribution also plays a big part in making sure your message reaches the right people at the right time.
Advertising Services
In addition to digital marketing, a full-service agency provides advertising services. This includes pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, display ads, remarketing, and social media ads. These ads are optimized to fit your budget while maximizing impact. The agency will work with you to integrate these advertising efforts with your overall conversion goals.
Analytics and Reporting
A super impactful benefit of working with a full-service marketing agency is ongoing analytics and reporting. The agency tracks the performance of your campaigns and provides detailed reports to show how well your marketing efforts are working.
These insights are valuable for understanding what’s working and where adjustments may be needed. Based on data, the agency can offer recommendations for optimizing campaigns.
Direct Mail Services
While digital marketing gets a lot of attention, direct mail remains a powerful way to reach potential customers. A full-service agency will help you design and print direct mail campaigns that align with your business goals. They also conduct AB testing to measure which versions of your mail pieces resonate best with your audience.
Benefits of Working with a Full-Service Marketing Agency for Small Businesses, Startups, or Individuals
You were probably just reading about all those capabilities that come with agencies such as LAMA, and now you’re saying, YES, I need that! And of course you do. Not only will you have access to those services and capabilities, you’ll also reap the reward from all of the following benefits.
- Consistent Branding Across All Channels: Working with a full-service agency helps maintain a unified message across social media, digital platforms, and traditional marketing channels. This consistency strengthens your brand’s presence and makes it easily recognizable to your audience.
- Cost and Time Efficiency: Having one agency manage all your marketing needs reduces time spent coordinating with multiple vendors. Plus, bundling various services, like digital marketing, social media, and content creation, often leads to savings compared to working with separate providers for each task.
- Access to a Diverse Skill Set: A full-service agency brings experts from web development and SEO to creative services and social media strategy. This means you get professional-grade work across all marketing areas without the need to hire and manage individual specialists.
- Scalability and Adaptability: As your business changes, a full-service agency can easily adjust its services to meet your current needs. Whether scaling up during a product launch or dialing back during slower periods, you have the flexibility to make changes as needed.
Ready to Shift that Marketing and Advertising Off Your Plate?
As a small business owner, you need to focus on the bottom line. And one of the best ways to move that bottom line into the black is to make sure your marketing and advertising efforts are effective and reaching your target audience. A full-service marketing and advertising agency can help you achieve that goal.
So, if you are interested in some or all of the services we shared above, it’s time to reach out to LAMA. Contact us today to learn more or get started.