I2I Expands Offerings – Helps Smaller Incentive Companies Compete

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb 14, 2010 -
The economic downturn hit many smaller incentive companies hard.  I2I now expands its traditional consulting services to assist smaller incentive companies design better programs and help with social media marketing without adding staff or increasing overhead.

Greenville, SC,  January 2009 – The economic downturn of 2009 has forced many larger incentive companies to go after business traditionally fulfilled by smaller companies.  These smaller companies are now competing against companies with deeper bench-strength.  I2I now offers these smaller companies access to expertise typically found only at the larger incentive players.

Initially I2I, an incentive and influence program design consultancy focused their program design expertise and analysis at those companies sponsoring the program – not the fulfillment providers.  However, incentive companies have been increasingly contacting I2I to help them compete with larger players, who, in order to capture more sales, are going after business traditionally left to the local and more focused incentive companies.

“We didn’t initially think that working directly with smaller incentive companies on the design of the program would be a big a part of our business,” says Paul Hebert, Managing Director of I2I, “ but we kept getting requests from companies who have read our blog and been exposed to the way we approach program design and analysis.  They needed our depth of experience and they couldn’t add staff.”

The economy has forced larger companies to do almost anything to drive revenue.  With client budgets shrinking and programs being cancelled, the big incentive companies are looking for sales anywhere.  And they are seeing them in smaller programs.  “The technology is getting better and the costs to support these programs are getting lower – allowing larger companies to fulfill the programs profitably” says Hebert.  “In the past these programs couldn’t generate enough profit to support the big company infrastructure, but in today’s economy, a little profit is better than none at all.”

I2I is now providing “outsourced” expertise on program analysis, program design, proposal design and proposal writing.  Smaller incentive companies get the same expertise their larger rivals have without hiring new employees and training them or trying to lure away expensive talent from the large companies.  

Branding Through Social Media

In addition to specific program design engagement, I2I is working with a variety of incentive companies to design and launch their initial social media strategy.  “We aren’t a focused social media consulting company” explains Hebert, “but we’ve been very, very successful in building the I2I brand through blogs, twitter and various other social media tools and incentive companies are asking us for help doing it for themselves.”  Many companies are confused with all the various ways social media can impact their business and I2I can help them craft their initial strategy, get started and begin to drive brand awareness through what was just recently considered non-traditional media.

“The incentive industry is pretty niche and not everything being hyped on the web applies to incentives companies.  Believe me; we’ve tried a lot of different things with varying success.”  Hebert goes on to say that “I2I can get you started, but if you stay in it long-term you’ll need a focused agency – but there’s no point paying their fees to just dip your toe in the water when you’re not sure if you really need to swim across the pool.”

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/10532267/1