Live Marketing Direct see the future of successfully increasing profit margins for many businesses will be merging their sales and marketing departments. As many business continually look of ways to cut costs as they emerge from the recent recession an emerging trend is aligning sales and marketing practices. Live Marketing Direct have heard of many business internal teams go head to head over this suggestion, the marketing department’s argument is that they are the ones who come up with the creation, communication, and delivering of a brand, message, product or service.

To which the sales team replies, “you can have as much marketing and branding as you want but if there is nobody to pick up the phone, make the sales call, or close the deal, then you are just throwing money away”

It’s the classic chicken and the egg scenario. Live Marketing Direct Managing Director Tom Harris says “I can see both sides of the argument. I started in sales so I might be a little biased, however I can see that the future for many companies will be merging the two together, in a bid to create more effective campaigns that not only raise awareness but increase overall profit too.”

Live Marketing Direct suggest as the market becomes more and more competitive teams need to be working together, not competing against each other. For both teams to work best together there needs to be a positive relationship between Sales and Marketing departments. The Marketers can give valuable insights to help the Sales force generate the best quality leads. In tern the Sales department can provide the Marketing department with direct feedback on what consumer think, and help them refine the message and improve the way that message is delivered to the consumer.
Managing Director of Live Marketing Direct, Tom Harris says “This traditional cycle can be tenuous at the best of times. At the worst of times, failure to communicate can be fatal to the success of a new product launch or campaign developed. I believe the future will see these two coming together, a single and unified team coming up with the marketing and then following through with the sales.”

Live Marketing Direct has a very strong philosophy, ‘if you are not doing it, then you cannot teach it, let alone be the decision maker’. Tom Harris, Live Marketing Direct’s Managing Director says “it keeps people honest, imagine how successful marketers would be if they actually went out and heard what the average consumer thinks about them rather than predicting it in the board room. Or if the marketing strategy was planned by the sales team because they know exactly whose going to go for a particular product”
“This is what gives Live Marketing Direct and edge; we handle every aspect from conceptualisation, right through to sales internally with a single force. This allows for valuable insights at every level of a campaign to ensure we get the most for our clients.”
Live Marketing Direct predict more corporations alongside small business merge their sales and marketing teams to ensure profit margins are increased.

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Live Marketing Direct is a sales and Marketing Company based in London.

http://www.journalism.co.uk/press-releases/live-marketing-direct-say-the-future-is-merging-sales-and-marketing-into-a-unified-role/s66/a547816/

Live Marketing Direct suggest marketing as a whole is becoming more complex than ever before with digital or online marketing, relationship marketing and green marketing just to name a few. These are all areas that a few years ago were unheard of, couple this with the rise of social media, for many small to medium business, this can be all too much to handle internally.

Many companies can not afford to take on staff for these new marketing roles. As a result of this increasingly complex field, 2012 will see a rise in outsourcing these roles to companies who are experts in their area. Managing director of Live Marketing Direct, Tom Harris says “budgets are getting tighter for many of our clients and they need to know that money is going to generate a return on investment. This can sometimes mean looking for an expert.”

With so many tools at their disposal to reach out to customers, somebody seeking solutions can find the vast array of options overwhelming. Email campaigns, social media and mobile applications are just some of the many ways a company can try to differentiate their brand.  Live Marketing Direct have seen an increase in small to medium businesses not knowing where to start and reaching out for help.

This is where outsourcing comes in, being able to palm off complicated or time consuming tasks to qualified experts not only ensures the job gets done right, but frees a company to focus on it’s core business

Live Marketing Direct say a mistake many companies make is trying to handle their marketing campaigns themselves with no prior knowledge in the area costing valuable man hours.  The unseen issue is that without a clear defined marketing strategy it will not yield the desired result. Too many companies are throwing money and hours away and not seeing a result with their marketing.

Managing director, Tom Harris, of Live Marketing Direct says, “reading a book on marketing does not make you an expert, it will take thousands of hours worth of effort to master a particular area.. I am perfectly comfortable to admit I am not an expert in particular areas but I will happily pick up the phone to somebody who can get the job done. It is unrealistic to try to know everything about everything, I believe in picking one area to focus on and working on it until it’s perfect… Or as close as you can get!”

Live Marketing Direct is an outsourced sales and marketing company based in London Bridge. As outsourcing becomes a critical aspect of a marketing strategy, knowing who to trust is crucial. Live Marketing Direct has been specialising in face to face outsourcing for national clients for the last two years. Tom Harris, Managing Director of Live Marketing Direct says, “people are bombarded with social media, emails, connected on their phone 24 hours a day… Some people really just want to be able to talk to somebody face to face.”

Live Marketing Direct know that outgrowing and out performing competitors this year will revolve around providing high quality results. A growing list of companies will be looking to outsource their customer acquisition to a business that can add a personal touch and experience.
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http://www.journalism.co.uk/press-releases/live-marketing-direct-explain-outsourcing-as-the-new-marketing-trend-in-2012/s66/a547265/

Live Marketing Direct say as the sales and marketing industry moves into 2012 there are going to be some significant trends that will separate the wheat from the chaffe.

Live Marketing Direct Managing Director, Tom Harris says, “A critical area of the sales is not only the acquisition of new leads, customers, or contracts… it is also the quality of those leads, customers and contracts. Too many companies are running their sales forces based on numbers which do not reflect the bottom line. I was always taught to look at profit margins, not the number of sales coming through the door. This forces you to look at how effective the sales process is because it doesn’t matter how many customers you might be generating if they are not making an impact on your bottom line.”

Sales Process Effectiveness is the way in which a company handles a sale or transaction from the point of contact with a customer to the point when it generates a profit for themselves or their client. Live Marketing Direct Managing Director, Tom Harris when asked about this concept said, “There are so many ways companies are letting profits slip through their fingers. It could be a lead generator recording the ‘sales lead’ details incorrectly. The lead is a person who wanted to buy what you are selling, but are denied that chance because the sale was not completed due to a combination of human error and complacency. In today’s world of globalisation and companies tightening their belts on surplus spending, you cannot afford to let paying customers slip through your fingers.”

Tom Harris, managing director of Live Marketing Direct says, “Our sales force work hard to be the best at what they do, and we take pride in getting the best kind of results for our clients. It makes no sense to me that we would not put as much effort in completing the full sales cycle to make sure that all the hard work our lead generators do, gets actualised. On the flip side our clients know that when Live Marketing Direct is involved they are not letting any opportunities slip though their fingers. We have multiple checks put in place to ensure leads generated make it to the client in such a manner they can be sure it will bolster their net profit.”

Live Marketing Direct believes that in 2012 sales and marketing, especially that of an outsourced nature will become more and more specialised. This is also known as sales force verticalisation, but many companies could increase results and profits from more stringent and diligent back end processing.

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http://www.journalism.co.uk/press-releases/live-marketing-direct-2012-sales-trend—sales-process-effectiveness/s66/a547347/

Live Marketing Direct, an outsourced sales firm based in London Bridge have recognized a trend in the way a personal brand is associated with a corporate brand. Many argue whether a personal brand of personnel strengthen or weaken the corporate brand they work within.  Reports suggest up to 78% of people judge a company based on the CEO’s actions or reviews in the media.

People no longer purely look at a brands reputation based on information fed to them through newspapers or public relations on a daily basis. Customers conduct their own research and make decisions with freedom and choice never found before.

Live Marketing Direct Managing Director, Tom Harris says, “Now days people want to make up their own minds on a product or service. Companies can not treat customers poorly and expect to get away with it. With the arrival of the web 2.0 the regular Joe has more power than ever before. As we all know bad news travels far quicker than good news and companies can not afford even one piece of negative feedback.”

Tom Harris of Live Marketing Direct goes on to say “People have more ways to voice their opinion than ever before with blogs, forums and social media, companies who do not respect their customers will suffer.”

It’s not just a corporate or business brand reputations customers look into now, the personal branding of key personnel has become a growing trend and it is critical that companies consider this avenue when monitoring their online and offline brand reputation.

Live Marketing Direct, Tom Harris says, “it is of the upmost importance to me that anybody who comes into contact with a member of Live Marketing Direct walks away with a pleasant experience. Whether it is contact with and Independent Sales Advisor, administration team or myself! A negative experience can have unknown repercussions long term and I will take constructive measures to prevent this from happening.”

Live Marketing Direct’s MD, Tom Harris says, “The philosophy of Live Marketing Direct has always been quality over quantity.” Tom Harris says. “We have some very exciting plans for growth through 2012, none of it will matter unless we strike a balance between results and a continued effort to bring the highest possible quality.”

A corporate brand is comprised of many smaller personal brands, as it is individuals inside the company who represent and reflect the over arching image. Ensuring these are in line with corporate identity should be a part of any businesses quality tests, and a important focus as that quality becomes more and more public.

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http://www.journalism.co.uk/press-releases/live-marketing-direct-upcoming-trend-personal-brand-vs-corporate-brand/s66/a547141/

With so many people looking for work it has become essential for jobseekers to realise the importance of their online persona. Donata Huggins, features writer at City AM states, “Googling yourself isn’t narcissistic these days, it’s essential when you are looking for a job”. According to a survey carried by Microsoft, 70 per cent of Human Resources (HR) professionals have rejected potential candidates because of their online information. Most commonly, negative impressions are found on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, where images and statuses from the last weekend’s antics and information are on display; generally not the sort of information a potential employer is excited about. However, there is a simple way to try and avoid such a situation by ensuring privacy settings are switched on. Tom Harris, Managing Director of Live Marketing Direct Ltd comments, “It’s a competitive market out there with unemployment rates remaining high. I’ve personally never been the biggest fan of social networking sites such as Facebook …I’m not particularly interested in what my friends ate for lunch and don’t particularly want the world knowing what I’m doing! However, I know the internet can also do wonders for an individual if it is used effectively.”

A similar survey held by Microsoft also showed some positive responses, with 86 per cent of Human Resources professionals stating that good online information could also work in a potential candidates favour. Established networks such as LinkedIn are an ideal way to improve an individual’s online persona, as it is essentially like an online CV stating your current and previous experiences, skills and interests. Tom Harris, Managing Director of Live Marketing Direct Ltd states, “I am a great fan of the LinkedIn website. I think it is a great way to promote yourself online as a professional and serious individual.”

The internet nowadays has such a powerful presence that it is not to be overlooked, both for individuals in and out of the work place. With more and more employers using the internet as a tool to try and establish a greater understanding of their current and potential employees, it is essential for individuals to keep any information updated on the internet as clean and professional as possible to avoid any future misfortunes.

Live Marketing Direct, an outsourced direct sales and marketing company based in Central London, opened their doors in January 2010 due to an increase in clients looking to outsource their customer acquisition needs for a more effective, personal and results driven approach.

An entrepreneur is defined as a person who has possession of a new enterprise, venture or idea and is accountable for the inherent risks and the outcome. According to Schumpeter, an entrepreneur characteristically innovates, introduces new technologies, increases efficiency, productivity, or generates new products or services. An entrepreneur acts as a catalyst for economic change and research indicates that entrepreneurs are highly creative individuals who imagine new solutions by generating opportunities for profit or reward. Peter Jones, the former BBC dragon supports the views of Schumpeter stating, “If we had a thriving economy, the speed we’d come out of the downturn would be transformational, but our culture does not encourage it. We need to get serious about inspiring young people to set up businesses.”

Live Marketing Direct Ltd actively encourages creativity and individuality, therefore valuing communication and levels of ambition over just grades and education. Tom Harris, Managing Director of Live Marketing Direct states, “Britain is definitely lagging behind in terms of entrepreneurial spirit, with only 5.8 per cent of our population engaged in the process of starting a business, compared to China’s 19 per cent. I’m sure like many young people I was never quite sure what I wanted to be when I was ‘older’. At school it seemed everyone wanted to be a doctor, teacher, lawyer or policeman; there was no embracing of the entrepreneurial spirit! What I did know however, was that whatever I did, I wanted to be successful and wanted to be my own boss”.

Make Money, Make a Difference: Backing Britain’s Future, a new report from Enterprise UK reveals that 53% of young people do not feel they are encouraged at school to be entrepreneurial. One in four admits they get most of their knowledge about business from popular television programmes such as Dragons’ Den. With 20 per cent of recent graduates struggling to find work, it seems more essential than ever that Peter Jones’ charity Enterprise UK has launched the Tenner Tycoon campaign. This campaign gives small groups of school children £10 a month to turn it into profit; the way that many famous entrepreneurs such as Peter Jones himself started.

The common belief that a single pathway from school to university is the only way to get a good job no longer holds true. With a bold one in five young people saying that they would rather invest in starting a business than going to university, hopefully this energy can be effectively put to use and ultimately create endless new jobs.

Live Marketing Direct, an outsourced direct sales and marketing company based in Central London, opened their doors in January 2010 due to an increase in clients looking to outsource their customer acquisition needs for a more effective, personal and results driven approach.

When embarking on a new career path Managing Director Tom of Live Marketing, a London based outsource sales and marketing agency, stresses that regardless of your educational background or professional qualifications and experiences “losing preconceptions and keeping an open mind is paramount.”

Year after year, thousands of undergraduates come to the end of their educational degrees raring to go and ready to launch themselves in the professional realm! Nevertheless more commonly than not, knowing what career is right for them is very much at the forefront of their minds and at times an area of worry and concern.

New career paths are not a concern solely for new graduates however, many individuals like Tom once did himself with years of experience in a particular field seek an entirely new career path altogether. According to Tom MD at Live Marketing, individuals with a good attitude, those that are self motivated, driven and with an outgoing personality, are destined for career success!

It is not unusual for people to ask and at times worry about “what career is the right one?”. Whether you are a new graduate, an experienced professional or someone looking for a career change, Tom believes there needs to be a good match between your personality and your chosen career, after all “finding the right job to match your personality can have a significant impact on whether you find your work fulfilling”. Those striving for success in sales and marketing must have confidence, have an excellent work ethic, and be prepared to outwork everyone. Tom leads Live Marketing with the undeterred attitude that “just because you don’t understand something, doesn’t mean you won’t understand in the future.”

Mary Portas, more commonly known for helping businesses maximise profits has now switched sides, championing the customer, to get larger businesses and stores to put their customers first. She believes that Britain is cowering under a cloud of bad customer service and that we’ve never had it this bad! In a country overwhelmed by large chain stores and
businesses it was inevitable that maintaining great customer service wasn’t going to be easy.

The Managing Director of Live Marketing Direct strongly agrees with the views of Mary Portas, stating, “Great customer service is definitely a significant factor in any business looking to grow. It should be every company’s goal to ensure that each customer feels more satisfied and appreciated when they leave their store than they did when they entered.”

The success of smaller businesses is largely due to the great level of customer service offered, greatly because it can be well monitored and assessed. The Managing Director of Live Marketing Direct personally believes that his great success achieved in 2010 was greatly because of the extensive effort that went into providing this service for his clients.

However, with the opening of a new location and ambitious expansion goals for the year; the question remains, can they still uphold these high standards, or will they follow the trend of other ill-prepared businesses?

Live is quietly confident, “when I started out as a door to door salesman many years ago, I quickly understood that you had to follow the Prime Directive.” “Make sure you leave everybody feeling better than when you found them”, “That’s the simplest measure of great customer service, do people feel better after speaking to you or worse?”

Live Marketing Direct, an outsourced direct sales and marketing company based in London Bridge, opened their doors in January 2010 due high demand for quality customer service and acquisition without sacrificing, personal and results driven approach.

Live Marketing believes their customer service can get them head and shoulders above the rest.

Live Marketing Direct has recently expanded in London Bridge operations to open up the latest market in the large coastal resort town Bournemouth. Bournemouth’s great location on the south coast of England has been proven as not just a great location for tourists, but with businesses also.

Employment in the service sector is 10 per cent higher than the average employment throughout Great Britain. Moreover, a survey in 2007 by First Direct Bank, found Bournemouth to be the happiest place in Britain with 82% of people questioned saying they were happy with their life!

For Live Marketing Direct this will be their first time having a permanent location outside of the busy city of London. The new market was opened on the 31st of January 2011.

CEO and Managing Director, Tom Harris was quoted as saying, “This is the first of many markets to be opened over 2011. I am very confident we will do well. This growth reflects the pride and trust we place in people, and the confidence we place in our abilities!”

Due to increased demand for the high quality customer acquisitions, further UK expansion is imminent for Tom Harris and the Live Marketing Direct team. In their first year in business they amassed over fifteen thousand new customers for their client in the charity sector alone. “Yes, last year was pretty good in terms of customer acquisition, however the next phase of the company is moving into new markets around the UK”

By the end of 2011, Tom Harris intends to expand Live Marketing Direct to 11 locations throughout the UK (Plymouth, Brighton, Bristol, Oxford, Birmingham, Liverpool, Peterborough, Newcastle and Leeds).

Tom Harris is very excited when he gets near a map of the UK, “In every city, or “market”, we open up, there is potential to work with multiple clients. This will cut down overheads and allow more profits”. More importantly, Tom Harris says, “It will create opportunities for the people within the company to develop and progress, even step in to client facing roles.”

Live Marketing Direct, an outsourced direct sales and marketing company based in London Bridge, opened their doors in January 2010 due to high demand clients looking to outsource their customer acquisition needs for a more effective, personal and results driven approach.

You will no doubt agree with Live Marketing Direct that social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter and internet dating services such as Eharmony have moved a large portion of human interaction into the virtual realm. And even if you chose not to sign up to these computer based interactions, chances are a quick trip to the local supermarket will have you come face to screen with an electronic self-service checkout.

As people are bombarded from all angles by mass media at home, work and everywhere in between, and social media on computers and phones, many are finding it increasingly difficult to unplug, let alone speak to a friendly face. For many people this transition from personal to mechanised is frustrating rather than time saving and, as computerised interactions become virtually impossible to avoid, most feel as though they have entered a virtual nightmare. Direct marketing and sales company, Live Marketing Direct, has chosen to maintain a fully human staff. This allows them to uphold a high level of personal contact with clients and customers and tailor their services to individual needs better than an automated answering machine.

Tom Harris, CEO and managing director of Live Marketing Direct knows how valuable a friendly face can be for companies wishing to find new customers, “It is very easy for companies to lose touch with their customer base as they continue to grow. We represent clients and handle customer acquisition with the aim to ensure a positive personal interaction is experienced with every customer gained. It’s how we prefer to do business and our clients appreciate it, the results speak for themselves.”