What do you need?
Profit, non-profit, individual, or artist trying to figure out what to put in your marketing materials?
The key to a successful strategic communication plan is to start with a Business Plan that includes a Marketing Plan that defines the needs, use and goals for both the long and short term of your project. While you might be successful without one, primarily by luck or timing, having a plan often makes the difference between struggling or getting off to a running start.
Small business owners, writers and artists all need a web site, but it is rare when that is all they need. I work primarily for small companies and non-profits with up to 30 employees that are usually started by people that went into business or created an organization by themselves. Much like myself, they started it because they were doing something they liked, fell into it, or were just compelled to try. By the time someone contacts me for help it is usually out of frustration. They call because they “need just (fill in the blank)”. Yet rarely is only a business card, web site, or logo enough.
Fact-Finding
When meeting with a new client, it is important to start out with a fact-finding session to see what they have in place, as well as to give them a broad picture of what they might need, and why (while reassuring them it doesn’t need to be done all at one time but can be grown into).
- WHO are you and what do you do?
- WHAT is the market you want to reach?
- WHERE is your territory?
Tools
What, if any, visual design tools are currently in place? How are they using them? Do they need training or help? Are they part of the routine or done only when sales are slow?
- Web site
- Logo & branding
- Email marketing
- Print materials
- Social media
- Blog
- Professional email accounts
- Event marketing
- Surveys
- Search engine optimization
- Free media
Copyright © 2025 · Creating Cohesive Visual Design by Terry Laslo
