If you own a small business, you're probably the CEO, the bookkeeper, the customer service department and, somewhere in there, the marketing team too. Marketing is usually the first thing to slide when life gets busy, and the hardest thing to restart.
That's exactly where a virtual marketing manager comes in.
What a virtual marketing manager does
A virtual marketing manager is an experienced marketer who runs your marketing like an in-house employee, without the full-time salary. Instead of hiring a team, you get one person who plans your strategy and makes sure it actually gets done.
Day to day, that can include:
- Building a marketing plan around your goals and your busy and slow seasons
- Managing your communications, from announcements to email newsletters
- Handling public relations, press releases and local media opportunities
- Planning local campaigns, events and community partnerships
- Coordinating your social media, Google Business Profile, SEO and ads
- Tracking what's working and reporting back each month
How it's different from a full-time hire or a big agency
A full-time marketing manager is a big investment once you add salary, benefits and tools. A large agency often passes your account between several people. A virtual marketing manager sits in between: senior-level strategy and hands-on execution, with one point of contact who knows your business inside and out.
Signs your business is ready for one
- Your marketing happens in bursts, then goes quiet for weeks
- You're paying for several freelancers and managing them all yourself
- You know you should be doing PR, email or local events but never get to it
- You want to grow, but you don't have a clear plan for how
How to get started
The best first step is a conversation about where your business is today and where you want it to go. From there, a plan can be built around your goals and budget. Learn more about virtual marketing management or book a free discovery call.