You’re facing some version of these problems. Maybe it’s just one. Maybe it’s all of them:
- Your strategic plan is 30 pages long and nobody’s actually using it
- Your brand’s last update was in 2015 and it shows
- Your marketing is stuck in neutral because you don’t have bandwidth or expertise
- Your employees don’t care and you’re not sure how to fix it
You know something needs to change. But finding help to solve these problems is harder than it sounds. How do you know what you’re actually getting from a potential partner? Will they listen to your unique situation or just run you through a generic playbook? Will they lock you into a three-year contract that feels good on day one and terrible on day 200?
It’s hard to know. And that uncertainty stops a lot of organizations from taking the first step.
So, what should you expect when working with On The Mark Strategies? Here are three things.
1. Policies better for you than they are for us.
You won’t find long-term contracts here (typically a year is the max length). You can leave if it’s not working (with just a 60-day notice). That’s not great for our business…locking you in for years is guaranteed revenue. But we sat in your seat. We worked with service providers who made us feel trapped. You don’t deserve that. You deserve better.
Practically, that means if we’re not delivering value, you’re not stuck. That puts pressure on us to actually be good at what we do. It means we can’t coast on a partnership. Your business is constantly earned. That’s less comfortable for us, but it puts you first…and that matters more.
2. Well-defined processes with room for customization.
Proven processes define solutions here. Strategic planning follows a simple three-phase structure. Brand development has a clear roadmap. Marketing programs follow a consistent framework. This matters because you’re not paying us to figure out how to do our job – you’re paying us to deliver results based on processes refined through experience.
But your situation isn’t generic. Every organization is unique (like a thumbprint) and warrants customized approaches. In strategic planning sessions, key topics revolve around your unique business challenges. In brand development, you build a brand identity that’s distinctly yours rather than a template with your logo slapped on it. In sales and service training, you actually name, develop and own your journey map. It’s not an off-the-shelf solution.
The processes give you structure and consistency. The customization gives you relevance and ownership.
3. Chat and interact with folks you actually like.
This matters more than most people admit (just read about how powerful work friends are). You’re going to spend time with your service provider. You’re going to be in meetings together, discussing strategy, making decisions. You need to actually like the people you work alongside.
That’s not a small thing. It’s the difference between feeling energized after a planning session and feeling drained. It’s the difference between looking forward to conversations and dreading them. Don’t settle for someone you “tolerate.” You should enjoy the ride. Fun and results can, in fact, go hand in hand.
Get a Partner Who Gets You
Your organization deserves more than generic solutions and long-term contracts that trap you. It deserves a partner who puts your needs first, has proven processes but customizes to your reality and is easy to work with.
That’s what you get when you work with On The Mark Strategies.
Ready to explore what that looks like for your organization? Book a free consultation and let’s talk about what’s possible.
Frequently Asked Questions About Working With On The Mark Strategies
Q: What are the common problems organizations face that On The Mark Strategies helps solve?
A: Organizations commonly face four main problems: (1) Strategic plans that are too long or overly complicated and aren’t actually used by the team, (2) Outdated branding that doesn’t reflect the current organization or market, (3) Lack of bandwidth or internal expertise to execute marketing effectively and (4) Employee disengagement and unclear organizational direction. On The Mark Strategies provides solutions specifically designed to address these challenges through strategic planning, branding, marketing and member/employee experience services.
Q: Does On The Mark Strategies require long-term contracts?
A: No. On The Mark Strategies does not require long-term contracts. Clients can leave if the partnership isn’t working effectively. This policy prioritizes the client’s needs and flexibility over the service provider’s guaranteed revenue. The team has sat in the client’s seat and experienced the frustration of being trapped by contracts. Without long-term lock-in, they have to earn your business every single month by delivering genuine value.
Q: How does On The Mark Strategies balance proven processes with client customization?
A: On The Mark Strategies uses well-defined, proven processes (typically 3-4 phases) as the foundation, which gives clients structure and consistency without paying for someone to figure out how to do their job. However, significant customization occurs within these frameworks based on each client’s unique situation. For example, in strategic planning sessions, key topics are customized around your specific business challenges. In brand development, clients build distinctive brand identity rather than using generic templates. This ensures you get both proven methodology and personalized relevance.
Q: Why is the client relationship important to On The Mark Strategies?
A: On The Mark Strategies recognizes that clients will spend significant time with their service provider in meetings and strategic discussions. The team believes you deserve to actually like and feel comfortable with the people you’re working with. Good relationships lead to energized planning sessions and positive outcomes, while poor relationships create dread and disengagement. This is why genuine relationships and compatibility are prioritized, not treated as secondary concerns.
Q: What should organizations expect from their first engagement with On The Mark Strategies?
A: Organizations should expect a partnership that is structured and process-driven but customized to your unique situation. You should expect to work with people you genuinely like and trust. You should expect proven methodologies that have been refined through experience. And importantly, you should expect flexibility – the relationship is built on value delivery rather than long-term contract obligations. There’s no three-year lock-in, only the commitment to deliver results.
