Recent Articles From EvanCarmichael.com http://www.evancarmichael.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/Marketing/3939/Tips-and-Techniques-for-Finding-the-Right-Ad-Agency.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Marketing/3939/Tips-and-Techniques-for-Finding-the-Right-Ad-Agency.html Creative agencies, whether they specialize in graphic design, advertising or web, are just what you would want them to be – creative. And that includes snappy presentations that can wow you with lots of bells and whistles. But a creative presentation won’t necessarily get you the partner who is best for your project. Selecting the wrong creative partner is a waste of money and time that can turn an exciting project into an exercise in frustration. Sure, you want a firm with outstanding creative skills. But you need an agency that bases their top-notch creative work on a solid foundation of strategy, knowledge and understanding of where your organization is trying to go. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Marketing/3939/DO-YOU-HAVE-A-MARKETING-PLAN-OR-MARKETING-MESS.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Marketing/3939/DO-YOU-HAVE-A-MARKETING-PLAN-OR-MARKETING-MESS.html Marketing plans are in short supply. Organizations spend big budget dollars on web sites, brochures, logos, DVD’s, sales materials and every marketing tool under the sun. And that doesn’t include marketing activities like conferences, trade shows, press events, meetings and seminars. But when it comes to actually planning for all that activity, it’s a different story. Most people think marketing plans are a good idea – they just aren’t sure how to get there. We also suspect there are a fair number of you who secretly wonder if you really need one. The truth is you can’t afford not to have a plan. It can – and should – be straightforward, results-oriented and easy to manage.