
Jim Tome Webmarketing
About
With over 30 years in marketing, advertising, public relations, event planning, and promotion industries, I bring a unique perspective and experience to my clients and their projects. While I can do "one-off" projects like a website, email marketing campaign, press release, or advertising need, my true value comes from familiarity with how all media and strategies work together. If you're looking for someone creative, strategic, capable, and experienced, I'm your guy.
First, I have to like who I work with. That's critically important. Then, I want the projects I work on to be interesting. Sure, sometimes there are things that seem trivial, minor, or maybe better not done (and you can bet I will challenge you there). To me, I like really getting immersed in a client's business and seeing what all I can do to help them out. I've gone in a lot of directions (once, I had to create a whole in-house training program on customer marketing for a dental office as their staff kept saying things they shouldn't!), and have really enjoyed almost every aspect of marketing, advertising, PR, and event planning and promotion.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Well, I'm big into planning and communication. I can't stress those enough. I like to know all of the project parameters, what might grow out of it, and how it fits into an overall strategy. Maybe that's a little overkill, but I've been around the block in the past 30 years and know that a "larger conversation" will always save time, money, and effort in the long run. That might not be something other providers can offer, but it's just the way I do business. You can expect a lot of constant communication, especially up front. I don't consider a project done until you are completely satisfied.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
My "school" education is a degree in finance, which, long ago, I used to manage the financial aspects of regional communication equipment projects. Why is that important? I like thinking of every aspect of a project, not just the part I may be working on. Planning, deadlines, and how one small project fits into an overall strategy are important to me. As far as direct training or experience, over 30 years, I've worked at two trade publications as the layout/design person (and print production manager), I've worked at five advertising agencies from small 2- or 3-person shops to managing a department of a dozen designers and production people. I'm largely self-taught, but that shouldn't scare you. My portfolio is a heck of a lot broader and more creative than most graphic designers, marketers, and advertising specialists.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your services? If so, please share the details here.
As I said, I like to talk about the project first. Sure, the simple aspects that you might be directly looking for, but also how it might fit into a larger strategy. My pricing is based on hours I estimate a project will take to complete. I'm pretty good at estimating, having worked on just about every sized project in almost every media in the past decades.
How did you get started in this business?
When I was working at Motorola (a much, much bigger company back a couple of decades ago), I kept seeing a need for marketing, advertising, and graphic design that was needed by various departments and divisions. Their own in-house staff was too busy for most smaller projects, so I started filling in. Soon, I was given larger and larger projects because of my creativity and ability to work fast. From there, I started working at one advertising agency after another, took some time to work also in publishing and PR, and from there launched my own agency almost a decade ago. Today, I've scaled back to have some more personal time, but I am aching to work with people I like on projects that are fun and fulfilling.
What types of customers have you worked with?
You name it, I've probably worked with them! Here's the "short list" of industries I am pretty familiar with:
Automobiles & Transportation
Consumer Electronics
Food & Drug Packaging
Fraternal Organizations & Clubs
Local Government & Facilities
Healthcare
Horticulture & Gardening
Hospitality
Industrial Manufacturing
Museums & Destinations
Non-Profits
Real Estate & Development
Recreation & Travel
Service Industries
Sports Team
Trade Associations
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I'm guessing you mean a project-type event. Okay, here's one: I had a client was a pretty big automobile repair business, especially in the area. While he did a lot of the typical coupon advertising most service industries as this do, he wanted to have an event at his business (they just moved into a larger facility and renovated it). I worked with the client to create a series of Sunday seminars for women that taught them about automobiles: buying new and used, car care, driving in dangerous conditions, maintenance, dealing with car repairs, etc. Since it happened in the winter (when he was slow), we fashioned the venue and the event (including promotions, study material, giveaways, etc.) with a sort of Great Northern Cabin feel. A lot of plaid, comfort food, and laid back attitudes. It was a huge success -- his service work took a huge leap forward during a time of the year when things are slow.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a pro in your area of expertise?
Do your research and don't shop on price. There's a lot of competition and many levels of creativity, experience, and ability. Make sure you like who you are working with and that they take a "big picture" approach, even if your project is small. If I don't like you or your project, I'm not going to be enthusiastic nor look to do more for you outside of the parameters of the initial project. You want a provider who is going to make your job easier, save you money in the long run, and improve your business.
What questions should customers think through before talking to pros about their needs?
A lot of the time, I have a new customer say "I just need this or that." The word "just" is a red flag for me as it shows you aren't thinking about a bigger strategy or that you have minimized the project you are presenting me. Don't be afraid to ask about experience, past projects, and how this job would play into a larger picture. I would want you to challenge me and have the trust that I can help you not only with this project, but others to come, even years down the line. You should see if the person you will be working with could be considered a good friend at some point, so ask questions along those lines. You should be looking for a partner here. Otherwise, don't waste my -- and your -- time.