Interview with Taleh Karimov, Head of Sales Department of Marcom Marketing and Communication company:
Q: Is it easier to attract new customers under current market conditions or to work with the existing customers?
A: It is difficult to attract new customers today without having strong staff. Many companies have already started paying more attention to who they can work with. Traditional marketing tools do not attract today's companies any more. Customers are now seeking offers which are aimed at the target audience and which are supported by statistics. We, in turn, are trying to make substantiated proposals for companies interested in cooperating with us. As for the existing customers, we have not faced any difficulties yet. On the contrary, we continue to support them in every step they make in their lives.
Q: At what stage do you think the relationship between customer companies and marketing companies is in the market?
A: The current situation is even worse than it seems. Many agencies, whose activity is not regulated by the relevant agencies, have inflicted a heavy blow on the backbone of companies and continue to do so. It is difficult for us to rightly direct those companies after these blows and gain confidence. On the other hand, the lack of a marketing department or unawareness of those who carry out that work will make it even more difficult. As a company, we have repeatedly explained to companies that the path they are following is not going to bring any increase in sales, warning that this is not going to have a positive impact on the image of the brand and that the customer is not going to have loyalty to the brand.
In order not to aggravate the situation, every agency / company that works in this field and respects its image must accurately enlighten the opposite side. It is not right to pursue profits alone. The market is for all of us, and we need to work hard for the sustainability of the market and well-being of companies.
Q: Does it depend more on the customer company or the marketing company to produce a quality result?
A: This is a serious responsibility on both sides. Sometimes people who do not have experience are involved in the implementation of these projects, which results in problems between the parties. One of the difficulties in the business process is that the customer fails to explain to the customer what it really wants. In order to simplify this issue and to understand the client correctly, we, as Marcom Company, offer various brief forms to our customers. The customer fills the brief and then we check the correctness of that briefing and begin the appropriate work. At the end of each completed project, we make certain analyzes and improve the brief forms.
We have to admit that we most of the time avoid leaving our signature after the work and making it public. This is due to the fact that the customer's wishes are incompetent and do not meet market requirements. Companies should fully trust the company by explaining its philosophy when employing a marketing expert or having a marketing company do the work. Otherwise, the work will have a negative impact on the image of both parties.