Consultancy
Most people hesitate before hiring a consultant – me included. Why not just cut to the chase and employ the people who do the job rather than just talk about it?
Before I started Seadragon, I drew up a wish list with my MD’s hat on, listing what kind of approach I would want from a branding, marketing and PR consultancy:
- The creation of a strong brand that makes an impact and can become a leader in its sector.
- A marketing and communications budget that is an investment rather an expense.
- Staff shouting proudly about where they work, and becoming the company’s best brand ambassadors.
- A disciplined and structured approach.
- Research that identifies the company’s target market before the branding process begins.
- A carefully-defined budget that is adhered to.
- A strategy that works within that budget and is flexible enough to adapt to new market conditions as and when they arise.
- Discussing upfront what type of marketing and communications will generate the most ROI for the business before spending any money on materials or campaigns.
- Mindful consultants who learn about the business and treat its success as if it were their own company.
- An expert view on how internal systems can improve in-house communication and efficiency.
- Proactive advice on how money can be saved as well as spent wisely.
- Regular communication to ensure progress is going in the right direction.
- As few meetings as possible.
- Reassurance that I am in capable hands and that everything we agreed is being executed effectively without my input.
This wish list is why I started Seadragon.
Seadragon’s Consultancy Service is here to make communicating easier and join up every aspect of your business’s framework so the entire company speaks the same language and is working towards the same commercial objectives.
Having spent nearly two decades in media and business, I’ve learnt that a consultant who has ‘been there and done it’ knows exactly how to save time and make a budget work. Their knowledge, expertise, contacts and project management skills save a lot of hassle by offering numerous clever shortcuts.
Indeed, a consultant who knows the lie of the land is invaluable, especially in areas such as branding, marketing and PR – sectors typically considered to be expensive ‘black arts’ with a nebulous return on investment.
In my experience, most businesses underestimate how important it is to have a clearly defined brand that works hand-in-hand with marketing and PR to help build the business as one single operation. To this end, and to do away with the mystique of this fundamental part of a company’s success, I wanted to create a consultancy service that would offer a seamless branding, marketing and communications experience for every business – led by an MD and operated by staff who have been at the coalface and know where the pot-holes lie.
Call us for a free consultation on 0330 333 8188 or email caroline@seadragon.co.uk.