If you’re a business owner, do you advertise, or do you think advertising is a huge expense with uncertain results? Perhaps you’ve heard stories of companies grossly overpaying for a cheaply made TV commercial which only ran one time at 3 a.m. Of course, you don’t want the same thing to happen to you. Do you depend on word-of-mouth as your advertising medium of choice, and then find yourself wondering why your business isn’t doing better?
If a business hasn’t previously advertised, it may seem like hiring an agency is something only a large company can afford. In fact, just the opposite is true. No matter what size your business may be, hiring an advertising agency may be the smartest investment you’ll ever make. It’s the least expensive way to promote your business, while yielding the most results.
There are some options available to companies when it comes to advertising:
- Hire and staff an in-house advertising department
- Hire independent contractors
- Hire an advertising agency
In-house advertising can be a great thing, if you’re in a financial position to add several professionals to your payroll, which not many companies can afford.
Independent contractors may be one-trick ponies. A great graphic designer isn’t going to be able to write copy, a great copywriter isn’t going to able to overhaul your website, and a great web developer isn’t going to know how to plan your grand opening. There’s a reason they’re called independent contractors.
A full-service advertising agency will offer a coordinated, cohesive plan consisting of social media; web design, development, and management; search engine optimization; event planning; public relations; print, broadcast and outdoor media; community relations; and crisis management, all working together to achieve your goals.
McFadden/Gavender can be your one-stop resource. We’ll give you the constant attention of an in-house agency, the up-to-the-minute technical knowledge of independent contractors, and the amalgamated talents of our creative, eclectic staff.
If you still think you can’t afford to advertise, envision where you want your company to be in five years. Then ask yourself how you plan on getting there, and whether you can afford not to advertise.
