Annual Report Reimagined
50% Cost Reduction and 100% Distribution Achieved
The Communications Group collaborated with the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board to revamp their annual research report, implementing innovative strategies to cut costs, eliminate waste, and enhance distribution, ultimately achieving 100% coverage among qualified soybean producers.
History
The Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board (ASPB) invests heavily in annual soybean research through partnerships with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. This research is crucial to the soybean industry's growth and sustainability in Arkansas. ASPB approached The Communications Group to evaluate and improve their annual report process, which had historically seen low distribution and high costs due to inefficiencies.
The Challenge
ASPB’s annual report was distributed each year, but many copies went unused or recycled, leading to wasted resources and missed opportunities for engagement. Rising printing and postage costs further compounded the issue, limiting the board’s ability to effectively reach soybean producers. Additionally, the report’s content, while informative, lacked differentiation from previous years, reducing interest among its target audience.
The Solution
The Communications Group began by conducting a comprehensive audit of the annual report's production and distribution process. We identified inefficiencies and opportunities to enhance both cost-effectiveness and audience engagement. The report's content was streamlined to focus on actionable insights, supported by visually engaging elements that highlighted key research and its impact on Arkansas soybean producers. Recognizing the limitations of a print-only approach, we created a digital version of the report and distributed it across multiple channels, including ASPB's website, e-newsletters, and social media platforms.
To maximize the impact of physical copies, we prioritized distribution to high-value recipients—soybean producers managing 100 acres or more—ensuring that the most influential audience received tailored content. By reducing the print quantity to just 500 copies, we significantly cut costs without sacrificing reach. The savings from printing and postage were reallocated to enhance digital outreach efforts, allowing ASPB to extend their message to secondary audiences while eliminating waste. This strategy created a seamless blend of traditional and digital approaches, resulting in a more impactful and efficient way to share ASPB’s research and accomplishments.
The Results
The revamped plan proved successful. We met our goals by reducing the production budget by 50%, cutting out postage costs, and reaching a broader audience through digital distribution. We achieved 100% distribution to qualified soybean producers and eliminated waste by redistributing extra copies to secondary audiences. This approach provided more performance metrics and ensured no copies were thrown away or recycled, setting a sustainable model for future reports.
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