Combatting the Great Resignation: Tips for Marketing and Communications Teams

In the most recent employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4.3 million Americans quit their job in August 2021. This is a record-high rate, with the most people quitting their jobs in the south and Midwest regions of the country. Known as the “Great Resignation” and sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, the way in which people work has changed forever. Work-life balance is more important than ever, and remote work has become commonplace among many employers. And if you don’t offer either of these, your turnover rate has most likely increased.

What can employers do to combat the “Great Resignation?” From identifying the root causes of why employees are leaving to implementing a targeted retention campaign, Harvard Business Review has some great advice for employers. In the meantime, if you are short on staff, how are you able to continue to get the marketing and communications results you need and meet deadlines? Whether you’re in the midst of facing staff changes or trying to do more with less, consider outsourcing.

Outsourcing to a qualified team or individual can result in high impact at a lower cost – both for short- and long-term outcomes. By outsourcing, I don’t mean to a staffing agency. You should outsource to a diverse team with broad and deep experience across all communications needs. By outsourcing work, you can move your organization forward in a cost-efficient and impactful way. For example, in working with the Chartwell Agency team you will gain a strategic communications leader, an art department, a content developer, and a social media and public relations expert all for less than if you hired one person internally to try to do all that work.

And outsourcing allows you the flexibility to structure the work that needs to get done. Need help developing a strategic marketing and communications plan for the new fiscal year? Outsource it. Looking for a graphic designer to develop social media ads and update the graphics on your website? Outsource it. Need a communications strategist to develop all your marketing and communications content? Outsource it.

Tips for researching marketing and communications firms

To help you get started, below are some things to look for when researching marketing and communications firms that can provide support during times of transition.

• A well-designed website. Websites serve as your virtual front door and can differentiate a good marketing agency from a great one. Marketers understand the importance of a well-designed and easy to navigate website. If you come across a marketing agency that has an outdated website or appears to be low quality, move on.
• Active social media channels. Another way to separate good marketing agencies from the great ones is to look at their social media accounts. Do you see regular posts? Are they using video? Is the content engaging? If you said no to any of these, move on.
• Access to case studies and a client list. Access to case studies and a list of clients can give you a deeper understanding of the quality of work and the companies and industries they work with.
• Experienced (and fun) team members. An experienced team is a given. But is the agency a good cultural fit? Choosing an agency that aligns with your company culture is just as important as their experience and quality of work.
• Provides the services you are seeking. Agencies that provide integrated marketing and communications, also known as a full-service marketing agency, provide greater ROI and less project management time compared to a firm that doesn’t offer all the services you need.

At Chartwell, we have served as a marketing and communications resource for many organizations during times of transition, times of growth, and in many cases, ultimately became agency of record. If you need marketing and communications support, download our interim support slick for more information or contact us today.