Why you should consider working with a marketing retainer.
I love working on one-off projects, being shown an issue and providing an effective solution with provable results.
I love the troubleshooting aspect of project work, and knowing that when the initial goal is reached, the business I’m working with finds themselves in a stronger position than before plus they have the tools to continue the progress, long after my contract is finished.
But what really lights me up is working with a business long-term. This is where I get real professional satisfaction, effectively becoming part of the team, working alongside permanent staff members and providing on-going support across multiple aspects of their digital marketing plan.
This is known as working on retainer.
Benefits for you
You’ll find that working with a freelancer such as myself, you’ll benefit in so many ways.
It’s a great approach for fixed-term projects, and ongoing support. In a business where there is no capacity for recruitment, maybe a gap in the current marketing resources, or even where there are no resources at all to cover the digital marketing aspect.
Maybe you have a fabulous marketing team, but you need the expertise and knowledge of a specific discipline, or someone with strategic oversight.
I can compliment your business with my expertise in digital marketing strategy and planning, social media support, website management and updates, email marketing, paid ads, content creation, marketing collateral, and more!
I can provide training for your team on all of the above, giving them the knowledge and confidence to grow your online presence and connection with customers.
I can attend meetings, discuss, and present the digital marketing plan.
I’ll be there to support you as part of your team, not just a contracted add-on. When I work with you and your business, for me it’s about far more than the project, the plan or the finished product. It’s the whole process and enabling your digital marketing plan to grow and succeed.
I bring my knowledge and experience, versatility and adaptability to every project I undertake. I have pride in everything I do, the better I get to know you and your business the more I am able to adapt to your way of working and help you achieve the goals you have set.
Coming in fresh to your business means I can bring new energy, a new perspective and motivation to push projects forward.
How does a retainer contract work?
When I work with retainer clients, the first thing I want to do is set a package of outcomes.
You need to know what you can expect from me in the period we agree to work together. This clarity and transparency is key to a successful and open working relationship.
We will work together to identify you business goal, and the issues that stand in your way of achieving it. This will be our guideline for moving forward throughout the period of the contract, bearing in mind of course, that businesses are constantly changing, I will in my role, flex to support these changes as much as possible.
You can contact me anytime, I won’t work set hours and days for your business, but I will respond as soon as possible to your queries whenever you send them through and will be available on a daily basis.
Every project is different, and requires different things, such as times of detailed attention, or a waiting period to see the success of a campaign.
You will always know how and when I will provide the next agreed deliverable. As a minimum, we will have a monthly meeting to discuss progress, issues and our next steps. You need to know the impact of the work I am completing and I need to know how best to support your business. These regular meetings will help us each focus on the right activities as we move forward.
Hints and tips for getting the most out of our retainer contract:
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DO – share information and insight. I need to see the bigger picture, you can never tell me too much! I take all the information you share with me and use it to identify opportunities for growth and improvement in your digital marketing strategy.
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DON’T – Keep me at arms length! I am not in competition with any permanent team members, I work to compliment whatever you already have in place and to do that I need to really understand your business. Nor am I a mind reader, communication between us is vital to achieve the very best out of our working relationship.
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DO – Invite me to team meetings and get-togethers. This is another super effective way for me to get to know you and your business, AND for you to get to know me too! The better we understand each other, the easier we can work together and achieve your goals! Plus I love a good natter, and a glass of wine, when business meetings are comfortable and easy the information flow is more natural too! I am happy to travel to you, wherever you are!
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DON’T – Bad mouth other freelancers. Of course, if a particular thing hasn’t worked in the past then I need to know, that’s important. But I won’t ever comment on another’s work.
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DO – Remember I am human too! Like any other member of your team, I need to know if I’m doing a good job and you are happy with the results you are seeing. This way I can refine what I do further and amplify the effect. Likewise, if there is something you’d prefer I did differently, then please tell me! Feedback is key!
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DON’T – Forget I have other clients. Many of the advantages you experience by taking me on as a retainer contract are possible because I have the same agreement in place with other clients. Believe me when I say I care about the success of your all – your success is my success too!
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DO – Be available for regular conversations – formal meetings are great but often the best insights come from those off the cuff chats.
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DON’T – Pay me late, or, even worse, not pay me at all!! This sounds like common sense but believe me I’ve seen it all! And I am not doing this just for the fun of it, no matter how much I care about my clients!
✓ DO – Read these testimonials from clients I’ve worked with
“Rosie brings a strong track record, a wealth of knowledge and experience, alongside the skills and attributes we needed to add to our team. Rosie has been able to digest and understand the brief and work quickly and effectively across the team to gain trust and ‘buy in’ at both strategic and operations levels, shaping and directing our digital marketing and campaigning efforts, to support us in working towards our KPI’s and leading indicators.”
- Jim Curran, Head of Skills - Strategy and Implementation
“We have been working with Rosie for the last 4 years. Her continued support and input has meant we can concentrate on what we do well, leaving her to look after our website and digital marketing needs which is helping our business grow.”
— Luke Reed, Total Renewable Solutions
If you’re interested in chatting more about the possibility of working with me on a retainer basis, then please get in touch. I do have capacity both for project work and ongoing contracts alike.
Let me show you how working with me will provide a strong, enduring solution to your digital marketing.