These fees are in effect as of February 18, 2002.
To be effective, a marketing plan must be carried out on a regular, consistent basis. By using my services on retainer, you ensure that customers are constantly reminded to use you and not a competitor. I save you time and help you make money. A key element to the success of any plan is followup, an aspect that most business owners never have time to do. I will ensure that releases and other forms of publicity are received and keep in contact with the media until they are placed.
RETAINER SCHEDULE
After discussing what your needs are and coming up with a plan, I will prepare a quote based on how much time I estimate will be needed to accomplish your goals. The retainer fee reflects a 20% discount over the per-hour fee. The minimum amount of time to qualify for retainer is four hours per month or 48 hours per year. (Some months may require more hours than others, you are not required to use four hours each month.) If you prefer, you can determine how much you want to spend per month and a program can be designed based on your budget.
Although packages are customized to the client's needs, below are some sample packages of services for your consideration.
PACKAGE A
$400 a month
Services include reviewing all relevant industry magazines on a monthly basis for free publicity opportunities such as special product sections, directories, etc. In the case of a directory, I will ensure that the client has the correct form to fill out and keep nagging until it is in.
I will send out one press release per month to targeted publications and do follow-up calls to ensure the press release was received and to find out when it will be published.
Relevant magazines will be reviewed for interview opportunities and an interview will be set up for an upcoming feature story when applicable.
I also will look for opportunities for a company representative to be used as a source for articles in trade magazines. I will monitor upcoming stories and promote the company as a source of information in all relevant upcoming articles. I also will offer the use of company photos and samples be used to illustrate articles in exchange for credit.
PACKAGE B
$1,200 a month
Press Releases. Services include all those listed above in Package A.
Direct Mail. This involves writing and assisting in producing one direct mail piece per month. Examples include fliers, postcards, letters of introduction, etc.
Web content. On a monthly basis, I will review your Web site, make suggestions for additional content, and assist in producing that content. Assistance also can be provided in preparing regular monthly updates as determined by the client.
Catalog. If you are producing an annual catalog or perhaps a special flier for an upcoming trade show, I can assist in writing the copy or proofing copy written in-house.
Newsletter. A one-page monthly e-mailed newsletter can alert your customers to special offers, newly released products, and give them marketing tips on how to sell more of your products.
STANDARD HOURLY FEE: $125
For one-time projects or other instances where a long-term arrangement is not feasible, I charge a per-hour rate. This covers all standard professional services as listed on the menu. Per-project quotes are based on the estimated number of hours needed to complete an assignment. When producing press releases, follow-up phone calls are included to make sure the release was received and find out when it is scheduled to run at no extra charge.
