INSIGHTS

2019 has seen a surge in the use of video on social media platforms and it is now a focal point in many marketing strategies.

With smartphones and technology, it has never been easier to create cost-effective videos, and these are a great way of demonstrating a company’s story in an entertaining and engaging style.

When I returned from maternity leave after 9 months, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in the world of marketing, social media and digital marketing.

Apart from coming back to work and remembering how to write an email (to name but a few basic functions), I was apprehensive about the pace and would change be so great that it’s completely new and different. Would there be more social media platforms, would email marketing end, and would automation define everything?

Firms who invest in effective digital marketing such as social media, pay per click (PPC) and search engine optimisation (SEO) can often see great results within a relatively short space of time. Through easily trackable analytics, it is easy to see the actual impact of this increased marketing activity. In turn, brand awareness grows, the number of new enquiries increases and the business expands.  But what happens if you stop marketing because you're too busy?

A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page on your website could be the perfect solution to make information more accessible to your clients. No doubt the companies you buy from personally are the ones that meet your needs, are easy to deal with and offer a transparent service you can trust? Making key information readily available can save time and build trust.

“I’m too busy doing the day job!”  “I haven’t got time for networking!” People have different views on taking time out from fee earning to meet new prospects and build on business relationships. In this blog, we talk about the advantages of networking for your professional services firm.

Blogs and articles take time to research and craft, so why not maximise that effort by ‘repurposing’ them?  Repurposing doesn’t only apply to blogs or news articles, though.  Tweets or Facebook posts might feel more throwaway, but they don’t have to be.  And what do you do with client feedback, testimonials or slide decks and notes you may have spent hours putting together for a presentation?

At the inaugural North East Marketing Awards 2018, Cal Partners won the Agency of the Year (under 20 employees) category. The event took place on the evening of Thursday 18th October at The Biscuit Factory, Stoddart Street, Newcastle and was attended by marketing industry leaders from across the region. As well as being finalists for the Agency of the Year Category, Cal Partners' founder and director, Chris Lucarelli, was also a finalist in the Marketing Director of the Year category.

It is easy to underestimate the vital role social media plays in the recruitment process, particularly in professional services.  During our own recent experience of hiring a new member of the team, we were surprised by how many candidates, when asked why they applied for the role, responded by saying that they liked what our company was doing on social media.

The team at Cal Partners is celebrating being shortlisted as finalists for two categories at the North East Marketing Awards 2018.  Cal Partners are finalists in the Marketing Agency of the Year category, and founder, Chris Lucarelli has been nominated for Marketing Director of the Year category.

If no one person or department is leading the way, does ‘marketing’ get pushed aside because the day job and billing take priority?  Many professional services firms find that marketing activities become disjointed and ad hoc and people think they are a hassle and a waste of time.