Who do you typically work with?
Typically I report to the President or CEO. I work closely with the entire executive team, key advisors, your marketing staff, and your vendors.
How do you charge for your services?
The goal is to be transparent in all respects. Projects are typically fixed-price – you’ll see a detailed estimate and will be billed in equal monthly invoices over the course of the project. The On-Demand VP of Marketing program specifies fees and hours per month and, again, you’ll receive monthly invoices. You can expect all expenses to be documented and passed through with no markup.
Tell me about the partners you work with.
We have an incredibly talented group of partners here in the State College area. Everyone from designers to social media experts to technology experts. In addition, several former employees from my old agency (Erickson Barnett) have gone on to do their own thing and I can bring them in as needed. I’m a big believer in choosing the right partner for the job and will certainly help you make the best selection.
Do you bill me for your partners work?
When working with partners, we can facilitate the relationship and manage the process. However, the financial relationship is between you and the partner. This lets you avoid the markup typically found when agencies bring in outside firms.
How can you help me without being an expert in my market?
Between the two of us, we bring extraordinary expertise. You know your products and services. I know what works in marketing and communications. We’ll work together to develop a better understanding of your customers and markets. Put it all together and we’ll develop a strategy that works.
How does this On-Demand VP of Marketing thing work?
It’s just like having your own VP of Marketing in-house, only as a contractor instead of an employee. No salary. No benefits. Just a simple fixed monthly fee. My job is to move your company forward from a marketing / communications perspective. I report to you directly and can serve as your interface to vendors (or employees for that matter). First and foremost, my allegiance is to your company and its ultimate success.
Can we really work remotely?
Technology is pretty incredible, but it doesn’t replace face-to-face. I’ll definitely need to be on site, especially at the beginning of our relationship. There’s no better way to understand your needs than to be in your space, meet your people, and see first-hand what you do. After that, technology will keep us connected.
What happened to Woody?
For those of you who knew me in my Erickson Barnett days, you know we had a 6 foot tall wooden mannequin named Woody Barnett who spent most of his time between the office coffee bar and the ping pong table outside our conference rooms. You’ll be glad to know he moved with us to State College and is doing well. In fact, here he is dressed up for baseball season.
