In today’s feature interview, we will be hearing from Janelle Page, founder and CEO of KickFire Marketing. Janelle has been the architect of successful and strategic, laser beam focused marketing campaigns for businesses large and small for over a decade. Janelle is a highly sought after marketing consultant and popular speaker. She travels around the nation teaching marketing bootcamps to business owners and is regularly featured in industry magazines and the press for her business acumen and marketing expertise.
Jane Tabachnick: What are the most common questions your prospects ask?
Janelle Page: Aside from “How much is this gonna cost?” the most common question is “How soon will I get results?”. The answer, of course, varies on how soon they get started, the tools used in the campaign, and the plan set in the blueprint. Some tactical results are immediate, some are part of the long term strategy. Each marketing campaign has to be tailored to fit the needs and goals of each individual business owner. To ensure that happens, I work with my clients to plan and execute a customized marketing solution, rather than a less-effective “one-size fits all” product.
Jane Tabachnick: Tell me about how this process works?
Janelle Page: My clients complete our KickFire Fire Marshall’s Inspection Report. This questionnaire gives me a concise picture of the clients’ key variables. I can also determine which of those three scenarios they’re currently in so I’ll know what kind of foundation we have to build on. From there we’re able to establish clear, attainable goals for each toll and the overall marketing campaign. The result is a detailed blueprint with clearly defined strategies and quantifiable goals.
Jane Tabachnick: What about companies that still want to go it alone? What “Do It Yourself” solutions might these business owners try?
Janelle Page: Before all else, the business owner needs to determine the specific outcomes they want their marketing campaign to achieve. It could be an increase in traffic to their website, increased fans on their social media channels, etc. They need to have a clear understanding of the function of each marketing tool they have at their disposal. Then they can begin to formulate a strategy for each tactic, which should contribute to the established outcomes. That will give them the foundation for a self-made blue print. However, in my experience, integration and execution is where do-it-yourselfers tend to struggle.
Jane Tabachnick: In what ways do they struggle?
Janelle Page: They understand that marketing media and campaigns are segmented, but some lack the overall vision to see how those segments weave together into a beautiful tapestry of capabilities so they don’t come close to reaching their potential. The marketing plans fall short, they go into panic mode and start scaling back on everything, and they give up on the whole plan. They end up falling into the “marketing doesn’t work” camp.
Jane Tabachnick: Why would working with a marketing strategist, like you, greatly improve their chances for success?
A: I’m an expert in integrated marketing, but I know very little about car repair. If my car engine breaks down I can buy a book on car repair, I can buy the auto parts and tools and I can try to fix it myself. I may be able to get the engine started again, I may not. Or I can bring my car to a professional mechanic who knows all the ins and outs of cars. I can choose one that’s received rave reviews and has made car repair his or her life’s passion. There might be some simple maintenance I can do on my own, but if my car isn’t starting, or if it needs significant work done then I’m going to save time, money and frustration by bringing my car to the experts.
And that’s how it is with effective marketing. Most business owners are not marketers. And they don’t know what they don’t know. There are people like me and my colleagues in the industry who live for and love marketing. We can’t get enough of it. We work with companies that range from mom & pop shops, to large corporations day in and day out. We help them grow their business and help them get the most bang for their marketing buck. Business owners spend their time focusing on the latest trends and developments in their vertical.
They don’t always have the time or resources to stay abreast of every innovation in marketing. That’s what a reputable marketing strategist does for them. We stay abreast of a rapidly evolving industry. We track all the Google algorithm changes, we attend industry conferences, we read articles and do trial and error marketing for ourselves, so we know what works and what doesn’t. Successful business owners know they can’t run all every part of the business themselves. They hire skilled laborers to build the product, accountants to handle the finances, and sales people to move the products. It’s only logical that they hire marketing experts to handle their business development, as well.
About Janelle Page
Janelle is the founder and CEO of KickFire Marketing and has been the architect of successful and strategic, laser beam focused marketing campaigns for businesses large and small for over a decade. Janelle is a highly sought after marketing consultant and popular speaker. She travels nationwide teaching marketing bootcamps to business owners and is regularly featured in industry magazines and the press for her business acumen and marketing expertise. Visit http://www.kick-fire.com to learn more about working with a marketing expert.
