The virtual marketing communications department

Every small- and medium-sized company has a problem when it comes to marketing communications. On the one hand, you need to make the most of your limited budget. On the other, you don't really have the workload or the money to justify either using a full-service agency or hiring the internal staff.

A lot of companies hand the job over to someone in the company who does it "in their spare time". Almost invariably, that person doesn't have the experience to do the job justice - and they don't have the spare time either. Other companies take on a business graduate, on the basis that it won't cost them a lot of money but they get someone who is reasonably good. The problem is that the graduate learns to do the job on your time: and, if they have any ambition, they leave when they've gained enough experience to do it properly.

I have the solution. For 12 years I occupied senior marketing positions with a number of companies, and for the following 22 years I ran a business-to-business agency. So I know marketing communications from both sides, and I know how to get the job done.

I can plan and negotiate media, create and produce ads, write and distribute press releases, develop brochures, technical leaflets and other print, devise direct marketing schemes, handle exhibition stands, and build websites. I can source, manage and motivate designers, photographers and other creatives, and I can buy print. I don't do it all myself, of course: I call in specialists to help me, giving you the 'virtual marcoms department'.

I become your marketing communications manager - or director, or consultant, or whoever. We meet regularly, according to your needs, and we deal with communications policy in a professional and planned way. I'm always there on the end of the phone, and you give my name and contact details to people when they want to talk about marketing communications issues.

When someone wants to sell you ad space, you refer them to me. If you have a new product or an interesting application, I write the press story. If you need a new corporate identity, some sales literature, an e-marketing campaign, I handle it. If you want advice, a sounding board, you talk to me.

From your point of view, you only pay for what you need - no addition to your head count, no contribution to agency overheads. Best of all, you get the benefits of real experience in making your budget work harder, go further.

If you'd like to have a chat about setting up a virtual marketing communications department, click the links for my contact details or for answers to FAQs.