Frequently Asked Questions
Business First | What sets Element Three apart?
"Our Business First approach. For instance, you may come to us and say you need a new web site. That may turn out to be the best answer to your business issues. However, to make sure that you’re using your resources against the biggest opportunity, we’ll first look at your business objectives, the context in which your business lives and the opportunities and barriers that exist for your success. Then we’ll recommend and implement the best strategies and tactics to meet your goals."
Business First | How do we get started?
"We like to sit down with you and get to know you and your goals, challenges and opportunities. This way, we can learn how best to work with you and your team. We can do this via phone, webinar or a face to face meeting."
Business First | Do I have to work with you on all three elements (brand development, marketing strategy, creative execution)?
"Clients often come to us with a clear identity in place or an excellent marketing plan already developed. Our purpose is not to make you start from scratch; we work well with others on your internal or external team to pull in the parts that aren’t yet in place. Our preference is to be involved in all three elements because we have learned that a consistent, integrated strategic approach throughout the three elements can create the biggest impact on your bottom line. If we are responsible for all three elements, we can be held more accountable for the results you see in your business."
Business First | Who’s going to work on my account?
"The people you meet with will be the people you work with. You can meet our entire team quickly right
here."
Business First | How do you get paid for your services?
"Typically we are paid on either a project fee basis or a monthly retainer based on a pre-specified amount of work. We will always submit a scope of work proposal to you – including a timeline and expected investment – before we begin work on your behalf. If the parameters of the project change, we will submit a revised scope of work proposal to you before proceeding. That way you know what to expect."
Brand | How do I get an outside perspective on my brand?
"Element Three’s proprietary Brand Chemistry Process helps you get a clear view of the internal and external perceptions of your brand so that you can make decisions based on a more complete perspective. First, we’ll spend several hours with key members of your team in a Brand Discovery Session learning about your dreams, goals, strengths and weaknesses. For many clients, it is valuable to go to the next step: Deep Dive Sessions with your customers. In these intense sessions, key audience lookalikes experience your brand and capture their memories and responses verbally and visually. Finally, we look for alignment and for potential disconnects between these two perspectives, coming back to you with recommendations on how to strengthen your brand internally and externally."
Business First | What are the three elements?
"Element Three is about business. Specifically your business and how to grow it. We are a brand development firm and a marketing strategy firm focused on integrating
business insights, brand strategy and creative execution to measurably advance your business
objectives. The three elements are:
Brand Development: This step helps organizations identify their foundation of truth. It's important to identify who you are, what you do better than others and work to very clearly articulate your brand message and competitive advantage in a concise manner.
Marketing Strategy: Once an organization knows what they have to offer the market, they must decide how to focus the resources available to them (time and money) to accomplish meaningful business objectives. Marketing Strategies help companies combine what they have with a customer base that needs/wants the available products and services.
Creative Execution: Lastly, the fun part - Creative Execution. The third element brings the brand positioning strategy and marketing strategy to life through words, images, colors, fonts, logos and textures. It's about igniting passion in your target audience."
Creative | What creative tactics can Element Three provide their clients?
"If you have a specific request, please call for more detailed information – but as a guide, here is a list of creative deliverables we have developed for our clients.
- Printed sales literature
- Brochures
- Packaging design (and sourcing)
- Flash video
- Flash banner and online ads
- Websites
- Landing pages
- Campaign development
- Postcards
- Tradeshow booths
- Catalog design and layout
- HTML email design and campaign development
- Product brochures
- Posters
- Point of purchase display design
- Long form brochures/ magazines
- Direct mail campaigns
- Brand identity (logo / usage guides)
- Business stationery and forms
- Promotional items
- Signage
- Sell sheets
- Annual reports
- Product videos
- Contest development and support
"
Marketing | What strategic marketing services does Element Three provide?
"Each marketing plan we write for our clients seems to be a bit different, reflecting the needs, lifecycle and size of the organization. However, as a point of reference, here are the different strategic marketing service areas in which we have worked for our clients. For more detailed information, contact us.
- Social media planning
- Comprehensive, strategic marketing planning – tightly integrated with defined business planning
- Primary audience research
- Secondary audience research
- Focus group research
- Media planning and buying
- Regional public relations planning
"
Creative | Does Element Three outsource any functions of the creative process?
"Element Three is a full-service agency with a few exceptions. We have elected to outsource the programming of our client websites for a variety of reasons. First, it allows us to be flexible in the technologies we can offer – whether our clients need a $10,000 or a $150,000 site to support their business needs. Additionally, this allows us to have multiple projects going on simultaneously and to manage our fixed overhead costs – resulting in more competitive pricing and hourly rates for our clients. All design, strategy and content development for websites is completed in-house.
Film, video and sound production, printing and illustration are other creative functions that we outsource. For every area where we have elected to outsource, we have identified reliable, talented partners in these areas whom we can call upon as needed. This way, we carry less overhead and offer you a more reasonable cost for the services you need more often from us."