Why start with an assessment?

Have you ever started working with a personal trainer? What are the first few things they ask you?

1) What are your goals
2) What is your reason/ motivation?
3) What resources are you willing to commit? (time, money)

After a line of questioning similar to the one above, they will generally move into scheduling your physical assessment. Right? They're not just going to give you the workout program they gave the guy who trained before you; the trainer is going to customize it to fit your unique body and health situation.

Think about this exact scenario, but instead of it being your body you want to get healthy - insert your company that you want to grow. It's the exact same process, isn't it?

Any marketing partner or ad agency in Indianapolis or elsewhere should begin with your goals and objectives. And, in order to understand scope and size - your resource limitations need to be known as well. Everyone has time and money constraints.

Then, they need to understand your unique situation through an assessment. Assessments help marketing partners better be able to track return on marketing investment, to ensure marketing integration and proper prioritization of marketing communications implementation.

So, next time you bring in a new partner or begin planning for 2010 - be sure you have a thorough understanding of the environment you're working within.