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You don’t have to know everything.

(And it’s better if you don’t!)

There can be a misperception among marketers that they have to have all of their ducks in a row before they reach out to a marketing/ad agency for assistance. Recently, we met with a marketing director who questioned whether he was contacting us too early because he didn’t have all of the answers yet on messaging and the objectives of his marketing plan.

The short answer is that it’s almost never too early. You don’t have to know everything before you reach out to a knowledgeable marketing partner. In fact, it’s better to maintain a curious outlook and an openness to discover new learnings in your work together.  Here are a few reasons why:

Not knowing doesn’t equate to added costs.

Not knowing doesn’t equate to added costs.

You might think having an agency partner walk you through a thorough discovery process will add unnecessary costs to your project. But it will likely save countless hours and dollars down the road by preventing misfires that don’t bring the desired results. Heading down the wrong path with your messaging, design or overall strategy is costly. People get frustrated and lose trust. It’s difficult to justify future marketing dollars when the last investment fell flat. Taking the time to flesh out the what, why, when and how with a good marketing partner will set you on the right course so you can solve short-term and long-term problems with the right tactics.

Not knowing doesn’t equate to added costs.

Not knowing doesn’t equate to added costs.

You might think having an agency partner walk you through a thorough discovery process will add unnecessary costs to your project. But it will likely save countless hours and dollars down the road by preventing misfires that don’t bring the desired results. Heading down the wrong path with your messaging, design or overall strategy is costly. People get frustrated and lose trust. It’s difficult to justify future marketing dollars when the last investment fell flat. Taking the time to flesh out the what, why, when and how with a good marketing partner will set you on the right course so you can solve short-term and long-term problems with the right tactics.

You may not see the forest through the trees

You may not see the forest through the trees.

An outside resource can see and connect dots that insiders might miss. Why? One of the biggest reasons is that a lot of companies get stuck in the “we’ve always done it this way” mindset. What worked two years ago might not be the best approach today. The differentiators that built your customer base might not be enough to keep those customers engaged today. A good marketing partner will help give your business a reality check so your approach stays relevant and effective.

You may not see the forest through the trees.

An outside resource can see and connect dots that insiders might miss. Why? One of the biggest reasons is that a lot of companies get stuck in the “we’ve always done it this way” mindset. What worked two years ago might not be the best approach today. The differentiators that built your customer base might not be enough to keep those customers engaged today. A good marketing partner will help give your business a reality check so your approach stays relevant and effective.

You may not see the forest through the trees
You may be overloading the baby album.

You may be overloading the baby album.

Some businesses are like new parents. They want to tell the world every fact about their company. And, we get it. Everything about your business is uniquely yours. But unlike a rosy cheeked two-month-old, your business’s fact sheet probably won’t get 100 heart emojis on Facebook or LinkedIn. Not everyone needs to know everything about your brand. They’re just looking for that one sliver of information that will change their life for the better. So, before you spend time hammering out a lot of internal details that may not be relevant to your brand story, call in the professionals.

You may be overloading the baby album.

You may be overloading the baby album.

Some businesses are like new parents. They want to tell the world every fact about their company. And, we get it. Everything about your business is uniquely yours. But unlike a rosy cheeked two-month-old, your business’s fact sheet probably won’t get 100 heart emojis on Facebook or LinkedIn. Not everyone needs to know everything about your brand. They’re just looking for that one sliver of information that will change their lives for the better. So, before you spend time hammering out a lot of internal details that may not be relevant to your brand story, call in the professionals.

Good things come to those who relax.

Good things come to those who relax.

Once you let go of the need to know everything, several positive things happen. First, it takes the pressure off. It can be a great relief realizing you don’t have to do everything on your own. And with that relief, the process becomes more enjoyable. And, when people are relaxed and enjoying the process, they tend to be more patient and open to exploration. Playing the long game takes time, but it’s the best way to get quality results.

Good things come to those who relax.

Once you let go of the need to know everything, several positive things happen. First, it takes the pressure off. It can be a great relief realizing you don’t have to do everything on your own. And with that relief, the process becomes more enjoyable. And, when people are relaxed and enjoying the process, they tend to be more patient and open to exploration. Playing the long game takes time, but it’s the best way to get quality results.

Good things come to those who relax.
One final thought: be vulnerable.

One final thought: be vulnerable.

Once you connect with a marketing partner, don’t hold back. They’re there to help you, not judge you. The more honest and vulnerable you are about what’s working and what’s not will only make the discovery process more effective and the results stronger. Put everything on the table, including the sacred cows of the company. Sometimes the things that are untouchable are causing structural damage that weakens everyone’s best efforts. A good marketing partner will want to understand the good and the bad. They’ll give you honest feedback and, more importantly, help you develop solutions that make your business stronger.

One final thought: be vulnerable.

One final thought: be vulnerable.

Once you connect with a marketing partner, don’t hold back. They’re there to help you, not judge you. The more honest and vulnerable you are about what’s working and what’s not will only make the discovery process more effective and the results stronger. Put everything on the table, including the sacred cows of the company. Sometimes the things that are untouchable are causing structural damage that weakens everyone’s best efforts. A good marketing partner will want to understand the good and the bad. They’ll give you honest feedback and, more importantly, help you develop solutions that make your business stronger.

It’s time to begin!

If you’ve been holding off working with a marketing partner until you know all of the answers, let that expectation go. We’ll meet you right where you are. It’s never too early to begin.    

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