Insight
Four marketing challenges for professional services firms
May 2024
A successful marketing strategy depends on how effectively you adapt it to the unique characteristics of a given sector. This is especially true for professional services firms. Because this sector offers services rather than tangible products, the challenge lies in demonstrating competence, transmitting expertise, addressing specific problems, and communicating in a clear and transparent manner. Consequently, several challenges emerge when developing marketing strategies for professional services firms. In this article we will explore four of these challenges and how you might overcome them.
Measuring key success metrics
The marketing department in a professional services firm will conduct numerous digital activities, most of which are measurable thanks to the metrics provided by various platforms. These metrics offer valuable insights that allow you to evaluate the performance of paid advertising, social media engagement, website traffic, email marketing and more.
However, organic actions in professional services, such as events and client relationships, are difficult to quantify precisely and can have a significant impact on a firm’s reputation. To address this challenge, you can use qualitative metrics such as client feedback and surveys to gauge experiences and intangible values. Qualitative indicators provide a valuable insight that complements traditional quantitative metrics.
Adapting a multi-channel environment
In a marketing strategy content creation plays a key role in connecting with your audience, but professional services firms operate in a multichannel environment where the audience is dispersed. Each of these channels has its own communication codes, and each audience expects different levels of interaction.
Adapting content to engage effectively across every channel is crucial, whether it’s websites, email marketing, or the various social media platforms where the dialogue must also shift. Marketeers need to identify the specific audience on each active platform and tailor content accordingly, shaping the speech based on that target’s expectations to enhance engagement.
Staying ahead with trending formats
Keeping up with the rapidly changing digital landscape and emerging formats and platforms demands constant adaptation. You need to monitor closely these trends so you stay relevant and engage effectively with the audience. A factor which plays a key role in online content trends today is creativity.
Professionalism is of utmost importance when delivering professional services, and some clients may expect a more traditional approach. Finding the right balance where creativity enhances rather than undermines professionalism involves understanding your audience’s expectations, aligning with your organisational goals, and making sure that creativity adds real value to your message.
Balancing educational & sales content
One of the most recurring topics when it comes to creating content is educational pieces, where experts address a specific topic related to the work carried out in professional services firms. Educational content can offer several advantages by:
• demonstrating a firm’s professionalism
• adding value to a platform when the content is shared
• attracting audiences and potential clients.
However, it can sometimes come across as too promotional. Striking the right balance between informative content that adds value to the audience and too much sales-oriented content is important. You can overcome this challenge by finding the right mix that resonates with your audience, offering valuable information while subtly promoting your services. Regularly measuring effectiveness, tracking feedback, and adjusting your content strategy can help maintain the delicate balance between providing value and driving sales.
In the dynamic landscape of professional services marketing, overcoming these challenges requires a strategic and adaptive approach. By incorporating qualitative metrics, tailoring content to diverse platforms, balancing creativity with professionalism, and finding the right mix of educational and promotional content, you can enhance your marketing strategy. Continual monitoring, feedback analysis, and adaptation are key to staying relevant and successful in the ever-evolving realm of professional services marketing.
About the authors
Anabel Salinas
Barcelona, Spain
Anabel is the Marketing Director at Russell Bedford Spain. She designs and develops the marketing and communications strategy for the Spanish member firms in the Russell Bedford network and is also responsible for the employer branding and events. Anabel holds a master’s degree in marketing and sales management from ESIC and an MBA from EAE Business School.
Alba Cruz
Barcelona, Spain
Alba is the Content Specialist at Russell Bedford Spain. With a background in journalism, she is responsible for developing the marketing strategy at the firm and leads on content creation and social media management. She joined Russell Bedford Spain in 2022 and has since helped drive the brand forward by creating value added articles, videos, webinars, and podcasts.