How we’re helping our clients get the most value out of working with us
In today’s challenging economic landscape, businesses are rethinking their marketing strategies. In fact, I wasn’t all that surprised when I saw a recent Gartner survey that revealed marketing budgets have fallen 15% on average in 2024.
As the owner of Sublime Designs Media, I’ve seen firsthand how clients are navigating budget cuts, as many have come to me to inquire about how we can work together to elevate their marketing efforts without the overhead of an in-house employee.
Since this question seems to universally be top of mind, I wanted to share several scenarios in which it makes good business sense to hire an outside strategic partner to extend your marketing team:
Scenario 1: Marketing team as a service
Sometimes, it’s as simple as needing added capacity. Whether you’re a startup with no marketing team or just one or two people, there’s a lot to be done, and often a single person (think: fractional CMO) isn’t enough. Sublime can come in and become an extension of your team, providing senior strategic advisory and the support to execute it (from design to web to content) so you can stand up a full program before you have a full team in place.
Scenario 2: Tackling strategic projects
Many companies struggle to carve out time for essential strategic projects amid the demands of daily operations. Whether it’s rebranding or reimagining your website, these larger initiatives are an important step in evolving your messaging. For example, when we worked with Splunk we tackled some of its most pressing marketing challenges, from evolving its corporate message to creating a more customer-centric, data-driven web strategy designed to improve brand consistency and create a streamlined customer journey to increase demand.
Scenario 3: Crafting compelling messaging
Every year, companies need to refresh their messaging, but finding the right expertise internally can be challenging. Often, we step in as outside storytellers, helping to develop a new messaging framework and first call deck. We’ve honed our skills in creating decks that not only communicate value but also resonate with your target audience. After crafting the messaging, we can assist in rolling it out across your organization, ensuring everyone is aligned and ready to sell.
Scenario 4: A trusted marketing partner for executives
For VPs or leaders starting a new role, you are naturally energized to make things happen. Bringing in a strategic marketing partner like Sublime can not only provide an objective view of your current operations, helping to identify gaps and opportunities, but we’ll also help you shine in the process. We have extensive experience consulting on everything from organizational structures to strategic initiatives. Acting as a sounding board, we offer best practices from our diverse clientele, providing invaluable insights that can make the onboarding process smoother.
Scenario 5: Sales enablement and support
Creating a compelling pitch is what wins big deals, and our team is equipped to help. We specialize in customizing pitches for significant opportunities, ensuring they meet the unique needs of each client. One of our clients has relied on us to create and tailor decks for major sales initiatives, allowing their team to present with confidence and clarity.
Scenario 6: Adding a creative touch
When launching a new product or planning an event, having a strategic creative partner can make all the difference. We assist in branding initiatives, swag design, and overall campaign strategies to ensure your event or product launch is memorable and aligned with your brand identity.
Scenario 7: Customer listening
Understanding your customers’ needs is the first step in shaping your messaging and go-to-market strategy. Setting up a customer advisory board or conducting a listening tour can provide critical insights. As an outside party, we can facilitate these interviews to garner unbiased feedback, helping you refine your approach. Our goal is to not only conduct these interviews but also ensure the insights gained are actionable across your organization.
At Sublime, we aim to be your trusted strategic partner for high-level marketing expertise. By collaborating with us, you gain access to strategic leadership and a dedicated team without the need for full-time hires. This partnership not only extends your team’s capabilities but also provides the outside perspective necessary to drive growth and innovation. We also might just make you shine in your leadership role.
If you’d like to talk more about how to maximize your marketing investment and achieve your business goals, please email [email protected].