Launch of a new company specializing in [digital] marketing for small and medium-sized businesses
The digitization of marketing in small and medium-sized businesses is becoming crucial
Adopting data-driven marketing means equipping your business with the tools to increase revenue by up to 20% and reduce costs by up to 30%. However, according to a recent Boston Consulting Group study of 200 international companies, only 2% of companies have reached the most advanced level of digital maturity. The potential remains immense for the 98% of companies that fall into the first three phases of digital maturity.
But what is the situation like for Belgian family-owned businesses and/or SMEs?
This topic was covered in the December 12, 2019, issue of *Trends*, and it’s clear that these companies are still a long way from having begun a digital transformation of their marketing.
Fortunately, there are a few exceptions among Belgian SMEs that have been investing in digital marketing for several years, and if you analyze their numbers, the results speak for themselves!
As Thierry Castagne (Agoria) so aptly put it in an article in *L’Echo*—which, incidentally, dates back to March 22, 2018—regarding companies in the industrial sector, “The adage ‘to live happily, live hidden’ all too often still holds true. Building the factories of the future (Industry 4.0) is not just a matter of know-how, but also of getting the word out.”
The reality is that many small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) do not have an in-house marketing manager to implement projects designed to boost
sales or respond quickly to changes in customer behavior.
Either they are unable to find someone with experience in digital marketing who understands the unique challenges of SMEs, or they do not need a full-time employee.
In-house talent to boost your marketing and sales
The new initiative is geared toward small and medium-sized businesses (primarily B2B) and involves assigning a consultant specializing in [digital] marketing to work on-site at the company’s offices.
Their mission? To manage all customer acquisition channels, increase visibility, and raise brand awareness for the rising stars that make up our economic fabric.
"Your part-time in-house [digital] marketing manager for small and medium-sized businesses"
Digital marketing has become essential, and the crisis we’re currently facing demonstrates this once again. Having someone on staff who is well-versed in all aspects of marketing in 2020—including strategy, marketing, and digital—is a significant asset. Not only will this person have a better understanding of your products and services and how your business operates, but they can also serve as a liaison with external partners (such as web and/or communications agencies).
The brand, “Maia Consulting”
Just like the Ariane rocket, make sure you have an internal booster to implement your [digital] marketing strategy and propel your products and/or services into the business world.
A bit of history:
Because of her plan to help Theseus avoid getting lost in the Labyrinth, Ariadne gave her name to the “Ariadne’s thread”—a guiding thread, both literally (in scuba diving) and figuratively (see, for example, breadcrumb trails in web design). Also in reference to this myth, the European rocket bears her name. (Wikipedia)
To help small and medium-sized businesses navigate all these new marketing techniques, Maia Consulting provides in-house support to boost their online visibility and accelerate the recovery of their businesses, which have been hit hard by the coronavirus.
About the Founder
As a co-founder of Universem, Simon-Pierre Breuls has helped build and grow the company for over 10 years. He is delighted with how far the company has come, and the adventure is far from over for Universem. Thanks to its market positioning and the quality of its team, Universem has many promising years of growth ahead.
Simon-Pierre Breuls, a Digital Wallonia Champion, also participated in the Digital Council.
Why launch this new project?
For the past two years, Universem’s strategy and positioning have focused on large-scale projects that require specialized expertise and advanced project management. The reality is that many small and medium-sized businesses no longer meet these new criteria, either due to a lack of digital maturity or an insufficient marketing budget.
Simon-Pierre enjoys creating, developing, and sharing—and in doing so, tapping into the untapped potential in the SMB market that Universem hasn’t covered, a gap he hopes to fill. The idea of launching this in-house [digital] marketing consulting concept for SMBs originated a few years ago, and now is the right time to launch Maia Consulting.
Specifically, as a co-founder of Universem, he remains a member of the board. He is stepping back from day-to-day operations to devote himself to this new venture, with the unconditional support of his longtime partners Hubert de Cartier and Sébastien François.
“Aim for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”
Norman Vincent Peale