RA Marketing & Creative Group, Designer of the Exclusively Series®

Advertising, Marketing, and Design

Many sole proprietors, non-profits and small-tomedium sized businesses can’t afford to keep a dedicated creative director and marketing team on staff. But does that mean the marketing needs of these groups, businesses and individuals are no less significant than those of major corporations or large charitable foundations?

“We understand the financial constraints of the customers we represent and know how to turn tight budgets into optimum results,” says Maryland native and founder of RA Marketing & Creative Group, Colleen Cryan. “Whether our clients seek help with developing name recognition, product placement or branding elements, they only pay for the services they receive and need.” By eliminating extra expenses, RA is able to bring cohesion between a business’s or organization’s mission and the public’s perception of it.

“If a client has a need and is excited about what they do, we’ll gladly jump in. Marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming or overly expensive to be effective.”

Colleen describes the root of RA’s growth as a combination of her passion for life and her skilled creative services. A firm believer that the most innovative and enjoyable work is not accomplished while seated behind a desk, it was while perched atop a peaceful mountain in Juayua, El Salvador, and working on an ad campaign for a client, that Colleen had an epiphany, “Being immersed in life feeds my inspiration and centers my perspective,” says Colleen, “That philosophy is what enables me to ensure success for RA clients.”

Balancing a love for her daughter, travel and adventure with her clever business sense, Colleen uses a network of trusted and established vendors and colleagues, building teams based on the requirements of each client and presenting everything from traditional to cutting-edge ideas.

Maintaining close relationships with its clients allows RA to focus on developing message consistency throughout their marketing efforts—from corporate identity, to public relations and media planning, and to design and advertising. RA clients appreciate the feel of having an engaged, in-house team where support is just a phone call or email away. “We become an extension of the client with a vested interest because their success is a shared effort,” notes Ms. Cryan.

“We help clients realize who and what they are as a company, in other words, their brand,” says Ms. Cryan, who adds that building a marketing plan and following it makes smart business sense. “If a client wants something completely out of the scope of the plan, we review the concept and either incorporate it or hold off until the budget allows,” she says.

In terms of the tangibles RA provides, many of the company’s endeavors relate to providing marketing, promotional and design services from complete business packages to single promotional items. RA can design and facilitate a business’s logo, tagline, stationery, advertising, website, print material—media kit, postcards, magazines—as well as e-mail “blast” messages and giveaway “swag” items—pens, shirts, and bumper stickers to name a few. In addition, RA manages events, such as meetings, fundraisers and parties, taking care of everything from securing the venue to hiring the caterer and designing the invitations.

“If a client has a need and is excited about what they do, we’ll gladly jump in,” says Ms. Cryan. “Marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming or overly expensive to be effective.”

RA Marketing & Creative Group
451 Broadwater Road
Arnold, MD 21012
410-507-5338

www.ramarketingncreative.com

Pictured: Colleen Cryan
Photography: Steve Buchanan