A logo is probably the first impression you can have with a potential customer! We at Security Dealer Marketing feel that your company’s logo is truly the foundation of your company’s brand.
Think about it, when is the last time you’ve seen an ad that looked cheesy? Or you could tell that a professional was not used to create it? Probably just the other day, right? The same goes for your company’s brand when a potential customer is trying to decide who to run with! Brand we know is more than just a logo, but it begins there.
I get asked all the time when we’re about to start a new design for a website or when we’re designing some direct mail campaign “What do you think about our logo?” If you have to ask someone what they think about your company’s logo, chances are it’s not representing your company’s brand to the” T”, or worse yet you’re embarrassed of it.
Our co-founder Alex Chavez comes from a very heavily branding background and working with companies like Hard Rock Hotel & Ed Hardy is a stickler for great design and great brand! (And will more than likely tell you the REAL truth about your logo, whether you like the feedback or not and probably go into his mantra on the purple cow theory, which basically is all about making your brand stick out from your competitors. )
For this week we’d like to extend a welcome to all security dealers to ask away on our opinions and questions regarding your company’s logo, after all it’s the first thing potential customers see on a business card, a fax, your website, or an ad. And if it isn’t credible, professional, legible and standing out from your competition it might be time for an upgrade.
Below are some samples of new and redesigns of logos we have done in the past.
Let us help you reach your ultimate goals not just the immediate ones.
It’s been over 3 years since we decided to dedicate our marketing agency to this great industry and not a day goes by where we don’t learn new marketing challenges and solutions for security companies like yours.
Your goal may be to break into a new vertical such as critical infrastructure, healthcare or education. On the other hand it may be to control more market share, expand your service area or to grow into multiple locations. Many security companies nationwide share these same challenges and goals. And we are helping or have helped over 65 companies get closer to achieving them.
But the big question is how do we get there?
When speaking with a potential client I usually get asked how much is a website? What does it cost for a direct mail piece? To design an ad? When the actual question you should be asking is How can Security Dealer Marketing help me reach my goals or solve my long term challenges?
Putting some careful thought behind your biggest challenges and goals on where you’d like to be in 6 months and a year will allow us to put together a strategic marketing plan with the right messaging and implementation across the appropriate channels. On the other hand if you only hire us for a small piece of the overall goal it only puts a Band-Aid on the entire objective you are trying to achieve.
A good example of this is the many phone calls I get from security companies that have purchased ad space and want us to create their ad. Now don’t get me wrong we will make the most out of that ad with its messaging and design, but had we known prior to the ad purchase we may have suggested an alternative method to reach the same audience in a more cost effective way. Additionally, ad space in trade magazines is expensive, but what if we were to tell you from past experience that by placing ads within Facebook to a very targeted audience is not only less expensive on a cost per impression but can get you a better return on investment. You are able to place your ad right in front of an ideal prospect and create a captive audience ready to be sold on your services!
If penetrating a new city is your goal we have created numerous geo-landing pages that rank on page 1 for Google searches that will generate you in-bound leads to those targeted locations creating brand equity and more RMR before you even open your office! We have even seen great results from security companies that primarily generate most of their sales by the door-to-door model. By implementing a strategic plan and mailing to the areas the week before you canvas them results can increase by up to and additional 12%. These are small examples of proven marketing strategies we have executed and have many more!
So rather than calling us up to say “I need for you to design me and ad” tell us your goals, your challenges and what your security company’s vision is for the next year. Then allow us to put together a carefully thought out marketing campaign based off our experience and one that fits your budget.
Remember, it doesn’t cost you a penny to pickup the phone to tell me your company’s challenges and goals. However, it can cost you a fortune in time and money if you take a gamble on what you think is the best way to penetrate a new vertical or gain new residential accounts.
We are the only full-service marketing agency that has dedicated itself to the security industry, with over 65 clients nationwide that range from large integrators to residential security dealers we have the experience and track record to help your company succeed. We have been trusted by some of the industry’s largest names and have been trusted to be the marketing agency of choice by great partner programs such as PSA Security Network and Monitronics.
We encourage you to take the time to think of your company’s goals or challenges, then take the time challenge us to come up with the perfect marketing plan to get you on the fast track towards reaching them.
On the average Security Dealer Marketing will communicate with 8-12 security dealer’s everyday. From existing clients to new sales prospects and it seems like every time we connect in the beginning of our relationship 5 comments are always made.
Why do you care you might ask? Well because it might help answer a few questions you may have had about us.
So here they are in no particular order:
1. I wish I met you months ago!
This is mentioned to us a lot and most of the time its due to some web design company that does not know the industry creating a half-assed website that generates no leads and worst yet, a website that the client is embarrassed of.
2. My web designer won’t call me back! Can you help?
Another frequent question that is far too common. And the answer is maybe. Putting together a website is like putting together a house. Without the blueprints or without knowing what goes between the walls there is no way of really knowing until we dive into what you currently have, if you have anything at all.
3. What outside the box ideas for marketing can you help me with?
Most of the time when we hear this we’ll tell the client, before you start venturing into secondary stages of marketing lets see what you’re doing or not doing correctly. And 90% of the time the security dealer is not collecting emails from clients, does not have a proper referral program, is not doing an email marketing campaign, website is not setup correctly nor showing up on any type of local search. So what’s the point? Make sure you’re doing all the “foundational” marketing and doing them correctly before you start venturing into some crazy gorilla marketing campaign.
Chances are you’ll see a significant increase in your in-bound leads. How do we know you might ask? Because we handle multiple security dealer accounts nationwide!
4. Tell me what’s the difference between my local marketing agency and you guys?
REALLY? Lol, well in case our name does not say it all we specialize within this great industry and have become quite good at helping security dealers nationwide to improve their marketing.
We live, eat and sleep the security industry. Everything we offer is relative to what helps dealers to create more RMR, nothing less! So when we say Facebook is a huge waste of time in the security industry, there’s a reason.
5. My biggest problem is I just don’t have time! Can you help automate my marketing?
Yes! Security Dealer Marketing can help you in either 2 ways. We can act as your in-house marketing, know your goals, setting up a retainer, and implement all of the required actions to achieve them. With most cases we will create a 30, 60, 90 day marketing strategy and will keep in close communication with our client by having monthly phone conferences to report what happened last month. We’ll also discuss what will be adjusted for the current month. This helps by ensuring the right marketing activities are happening requiring just a couple of hours per month on your part.
Or, we can help with pieces of your marketing such as web design, print, direct mail, SEO, PPC and more. We even have been known to play nice with others, meaning working with your current existing marketing team to help improve your bottom line.
So there it is. Maybe this will help to answer any questions you may have had when discussing or thinking to pick up the phone and call us.
By now we hope we’re top of mind when it comes to hiring a marketing company to handle your needs. Because if we’re not when you call us in the coming months you’ll be kicking yourself like those referenced in comment #1 comment above.
