Even as the third decade of the 21st century looms large on the horizon, the way that businesses operate has changed considerably. Indeed, the way that audiences engage with businesses globally has shifted dramatically due to the development of new technologies, the web, social media, and smart devices.
It is of course very easy for any business, especially those that have been operating for many years, to be swamped by all of these new approaches to marketing and branding. This challenge is why so many businesses are now turning to experienced third-party marketing agencies that have experience across a wide range of marketing strategies.
How Marketing Has Changed
It is now no longer good enough for a business to hang out a shingle and expect that customers will come walking through the door. Not only is there so much more competition but the way that people engage with businesses has also changed.
Not so long ago, it was new and novel to have a business website; however, apart from being an absolute necessity in today’s world, there are also a whole slew of other possibilities for business branding. Social media channels, for example, are a world unto themselves but present a real challenge to business leaders who simply don’t have the time or the resources to dedicate to them.
The fact is that in days gone by, advertising and branding was a much simpler exercise. Businesses only had a few channels from which to choose. These days, the web has levelled the marketing playing field and has opened up so many new channels for communication. In this sense, digital marketing is as much about the convergence of technologies as it is about mastering digitally-based communication.
Should You Use an Agency?
The simple fact is that businesses have so much on their plate that marketing and branding often gets left behind. There are usually so few resources available in house that an effective digital marketing and branding strategy is a challenge. This may be one reason why much of today’s digital marketing is being outsourced to experienced creative agencies.
Of course, hiring a creative agency in London or elsewhere means that business leaders can get on with the job of running their businesses more effectively. Hiring a creative agency also means the following:
- Reporting: Data is vital when it comes to a marketing strategy and a creative agency can provide feedback, statistics, and reports on how specific digital campaigns are travelling.
- Creativity: Modern agencies understand that to be successful, they need to apply creativity to every aspect of the digital branding and marketing strategy. This means a consistent tone when it comes to logos and branding, illustration and photographic work, web design, and copywriting.
- Expertise: The fact is that marketing in the 21st century is time- and skill- Hiring a creative agency provides access to expertise that most businesses simply do not have in house.
Business, branding, and marketing has changed significantly in only a few decades. Can your business afford not to investigate a new digital marketing strategy?