Boutique (bo͞oˈtēk) – noun –
Any small, exclusive business offering customized service: “Our marketing is handled by a new Chicago-based boutique called Media Beyond.”
Media Beyond has done work for organizations of varying sizes, from small start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, and we have diverse, experienced talent all in one place with one mission: to turn your story into marketing results. This contrasts with multinational advertising and marketing behemoths where a multitude of people with different goals (and levels of accountability) piece together your campaign. With our processes, experience, and thoughtfulness we can get results for your audience of 5 or 5 million.
Although it may seem sexy to go with a global company, consider the following reasons why you may want to hire a boutique marketing communications agency.
1) (Better) Internal Communication
Everyone in our company communicates face-to-face all day, every day. Our creative and logistical problem-solving don’t have to wait for scheduled meetings. We feed off the energy of one another, the music we play, the meals we share. The result is good work, fast.
Where we have understanding, collaboration, and interplay, bigger shops have to contend with finite windows of interaction, turf wars, fragmented culture, and a lack of or illusion of intimacy. And that makes good work slow and expensive. We’re in this to try to improve ROI’s, right?
2) (Better) External Communication
We have one point of contact with our clients for maximum service. That’s not so unusual – but when that same person is managing your project and guiding the creative team, you’ll see results that haven’t been watered down through layers of bureaucracy. Allowing for an instant and accurate snap-shot of any step in the strategic implementation or along an active iteration cycle. Allowing for more accurate time tracking and metrics to help analyze the REAL value of your strategic marketing plan.
3) Lower Costs
As a boutique firm, we survive in the Venn cross-section of acumen and aptitude, producing nimble and effective campaigns and strategies targeted for your specific audience. A large, national organization not only has higher overhead and prices, but they may also be motivated to impress their superiors, or dazzle awards committees rather than affect your target audience. Some agencies assume creativity can be bought – and it can be – but when they’re playing with your money, they are more likely to spend big than work hard.
4) Flexibility
Our services always include analysis, and if metrics show the need to tweak a message or seize an opportunity, our leaner and meaner operation is able to mobilize or change gears without drama or cost overruns either with your guidance, or if you’d prefer, under our trustworthy autonomy.
The Boutique Life
A boutique agency like ours, with broad expertise concentrated under one roof, creates high quality, cost-effective work. Ideal for picking up overflow or expanding capabilities during a hiring freeze, working with us will give you a great return on your investment and introduce a potential long-term, reliable, go-to partner.
Is a Boutique for you? Do you handle most things ‘creative’ internally? We’d love the opportunity to learn from your experiences – that’s how us little guys do it – so please leave us a comment.
