Chicago CMO on Strategic Marketing Revamps

Marketing is never set in stone. Many different things can happen that will require you to rethink your entire process. When you aren’t getting the results you want, it’s time to consider a marketing revamp.

Marketing revamps are a necessary part of successful marketing. After all, one approach won’t work forever, so going in a different direction is always a good idea.

You can hire a fractional CMO or consultant for a marketing revamp in Chicago. These marketing experts provide years of experience and knowledge to guide you through your marketing revamps.

Continue reading our guide below to learn more about the benefits of working with Chicago’s best fractional CMO services for a strategic marketing revamp.

…but before you read on, here’s Jason with a summary of what to expect when teaming up with a fractional CMO in Chicago:

What Is a Fractional CMO?

A fractional CMO is a marketing professional who oversees a company’s entire marketing efforts. Unlike a full-time CMO or in-house marketing team, FCMOs work only part-time or per project.

FCMOs are also more affordable since they aren’t entitled to full-time benefits and do not have the same associated costs of hiring full-time. The hourly rate of a fractional CMO may also vary depending on who you hire.

Marketing revamps are just one of a fractional CMO’s many areas of expertise. They have experience working in different fields fulfilling different responsibilities. No matter what industry you’re in or what kind of project you’re working on, an FCMO adapts its strategy to fit your exact needs.

Some of the daily duties of a fractional CMO include but are not limited to:

• Digital marketing
• Branding and identity
• Market research and analytics 
• Personalized marketing campaigns
• Email marketing
• Social media marketing
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Content marketing
• Pay-per-click advertising

Fractional CMO vs. CMO Consultant

If you are considering a marketing revamp, you can hire either a fractional CMO or a CMO consultant. Both provide a wealth of marketing knowledge and experience to growing companies, so it’s only a matter of which one is best for your current situation.

Fractional CMOs are more flexible and can take on many different roles while providing high-level guidance. On the other hand, digital-first CMO consultants are best for specialized services: They provide solutions to specific problems. While a marketing strategy consultant’s tasks may seem similar to those of a fractional CMO, there are notable differences. Yes, they might both delve into market research and campaign planning, those are more associated with a fractional CMO. 

It’s important to understand where your company currently stands. What are your current needs? Which type of expertise will you need to achieve your objectives?

CMO consultants usually work with their companies for a shorter period of time whereas fractional CMOs are typically there longer. 

When deciding which is best, consider the following:

• Time commitment
• Cultural fit
• Industry knowledge
• Flexibility
• Scope of involvement

And, of course, if you have questions, send them our way, and we’d be happy to answer them!

What Is a Marketing Revamp?

A marketing revamp is an improved or upgraded version of a specific marketing element in your business. Images, logos, websites, processes, content, and more can be revamped. The goal of a marketing revamp is to make continuous changes or updates that eventually lead to the desired goal.

There are many reasons why a marketing team may want to revamp their marketing plans. Some reasons to revamp your marketing efforts may include low conversion rates, low traffic, or poor sales.

After all, a marketing strategy isn’t a one-and-done thing; it needs constant monitoring and adjusting to achieve better and better results.

5 Marketing Revamp Strategies To Remember

There is no one set rule on how to approach marketing revamps. These can take shape in many ways, depending on what your objectives are.

If you want to successfully execute a revamping strategy, remember these strategies from a fractional CMO for marketing revamps in Chicago.

1. Change Company Branding

Your company’s branding is a great place to start your marketing revamp. Giving it a whole new look and conveying new (or updated messages) allows the company to start afresh and attract new audiences.

Coming up with a rebrand might include creating a brand new logo or refining the current one to better fit the business. Additionally, it also helps to revisit your brand’s mission and vision and see if they still align with your company’s goals and values.

All this comes together in that holistic change you’ve probably heard so much about while doom-scrolling on LinkedIn. A fresh brand identity can feel as good and as empowering as a RomCom makeover montage. Only instead of a stylist, you’re working with Chicago web design services. Your company is still you, but perhaps a bit more cohesive and a bit more palatable and exciting for both old and new customers.

2. Work With a Digital Marketing Agency

If you aren’t sure why your current marketing plans aren’t generating the results you want, you can consult the help of a digital marketing agency. An agency offers an objective set of eyes and gives suggestions and recommendations on how to revamp your marketing efforts.

Working with an outside agency also gives you fresh perspectives on your campaigns. You also have access to a wide network of resources and professionals who can offer further support and expert-level guidance.

You can also benefit from comprehensive and data-driven marketing strategies. Our team at Chicago digital marketing agency is second to none—we have marketing professionals with expertise in every digital field, like social media, email marketing, and content creation. We also have experts in the industry niches you need—FinTech, legal, nonprofit, and more.

Here’s how our Chicago digital marketing agency makes magic, by the way: 

3. Consider New Platforms

There’s nothing wrong with using traditional marketing methods, like billboards, radio ads, or TV commercials. However, if you’ve been using the same platforms for years, it could be time to try out a new style of marketing — and go truly digital. 

New platforms open up new possibilities. With the entire marketing industry going digital, now’s a good time to invest in these digital methods and platforms, such as PPC and social media.

• Chicago FCMO Tip: Tailor your content and campaigns to each platform. For example, if you’re thinking of promoting on Facebook or Instagram, visual storytelling may be a good way to maximize the platform. If you plan on making a high-scale video production, consider uploading it to your website or YouTube to let the audience learn more about your brand.

4. Reallocate Budget

Marketing campaigns end up unsuccessful because budgets and resources go into the wrong places. Carefully plan out your budget and prioritize the areas that lead to the highest return on investment.

For example, if you’re prioritizing customer acquisition, you would invest more into upgrading your lead generation research and conversion methods. Additionally, marketing revamps may also include reducing your budget, especially if you’re spending too much on areas that aren’t driving enough growth.

See how you can reduce the budget of some methods or see if any can be removed entirely. Lower expenses can make a big difference, freeing you up to invest more in value-adding initiatives.

5. Conduct a Website Audit

One of the best ways to revamp your marketing is to conduct a website audit. Doing so ensures that you continue to adhere to the search engine’s guidelines and that everything on your site stays relevant and updated for the audience.

A content audit is a good place to start. If you have blogs or articles on your site, review them all and see which ones are performing well and which aren’t. Among the poorer-performing ones, you can choose to remove them from the site, update the information, or rewrite them completely. Checking your website’s analytics is important as well.

Metrics like loading speed, uptime, downtime, etc., are all essential to a well-performing website. You can use handy website analytics tools like Google Analytics to monitor your site and see where to make the necessary changes. When doing a marketing revamp, it’s nearly impossible to avoid a deep dive into on-site and technical SEO. 

How Do You Know When You Need a Marketing Revamp?

A fractional CMO or consultant for marketing revamps in Chicago can help you determine when you need to upgrade your current efforts. Keep an eye out for the following signs.

Do You Have Stagnant or Decreasing Growth?

Marketing is all about achieving growth. If it’s been a really long time since a successful campaign or if you aren’t experiencing any (or much) growth, it would be wise to have a marketing revamp plan in place.

Stagnant or decreasing growth could be caused by several factors, including inefficient processes in place, failure to adapt to market conditions, or a misinterpretation of customer data.

Take the time to step back and re-examine your entire process. Conduct a thorough analysis of your campaigns and gather customer feedback, which will give you important insights into what can be improved. It would also be helpful to hire a fractional CMO or a digital consultant who can offer tips and guidance on how to approach your marketing revamp.

Are You Noting Changing Market Trends?

Markets and customer preferences change each day, and businesses must adapt and stay informed on emerging trends and patterns.

Staying flexible isn’t just about responding to changes after they’ve already happened; it’s also about identifying and anticipating changes early on and having a set plan on how to address them. After all, a good business is always prepared for anything!

You can start by gathering customer feedback as a way to gauge if their preferences have changed. A thorough SWOT analysis of your competitors would help you identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to your business.

It’s also important to make the most of data analytics tools to provide useful information on market trends and consumer behavior. These tools allow you to make accurate predictions about your consumers and make real-time adjustments. Depending on your needs, your Chicago FCmo for strategic marketing revamps might work with tools geared toward session replays, heatmaps, user testing, and analytics tracking (for web browser and mobile).

Do You End Up With a High Number of Unqualified Leads?

There’s no doubt that lead generation can make or break your company’s marketing. Having a high number of unqualified leads may be the result of an outdated marketing strategy.

One way to rethink your lead generation methods is to check if you’re hitting the right target market. Are your messages or outreach efforts targeted at the right customer profile? 

Otherwise, it may be ideal to gather even more data about your customers to help you create better-targeted messages. It’s always a good idea to invest in strong CRM software to help you get the job done. And if you need something custom, let’s go back to our makeover montage simile and work with a Chicago custom software development agency.

Interested in custom software development in Chicago? Here’s Jason with more:

Having a low conversion rate may also result from a poor marketing strategy. You may have a lot of leads, but if none of them are converting into paying customers, then a marketing revamp is necessary. Consider A/B testing different conversion strategies to see which works best. Gathering feedback is always helpful in understanding a lead’s preferences as well. 

How Often Should You Update Your Marketing Strategy?

The answer to when to update your marketing strategy varies from business to business. There are specific times and instances to revisit marketing plans, such as:

• At the end of a campaign: This is when you can monitor the results of your campaign. Identify what areas worked and where to improve next time.
• Quarterly: Revisiting and updating your marketing plans quarterly is a good way to stay updated on market trends and patterns. It also lets your team evaluate your marketing performance based on previous data.
• Annually: An annual review of your marketing plan allows you to prepare the following year, set new goals, and adjust your efforts based on the latest findings in market research. 

Revamp Your Marketing Efforts With a Chicago FCMO

Marketing revamps can be tricky and a lot of work, but there’s nothing wrong with asking for help! Here at Digital Authority Partners, we give you access to the best of Chicago’s digital agency services. 

Whether you need a fractional CMO or a CMO consultant, our experts are no strangers to marketing revamps. They have years of experience successfully transforming businesses in all industries, and yours could be next!

Feel free to give us a call, and we’ll be happy to give you a free consultation!

Sources:

Lead Generation in Digital Marketing | West Virginia University

Five Ways to Improve Your Site's Ranking (SEO) | Michigan Tech

A/B Testing Gets an Upgrade for the Digital Age | Stanford Graduate School of Business

What is a SWOT Analysis? (And When To Use It) | Business News Daily