Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, personal referrals are welcome, provided it is a genuine introduction to a business that could benefit from Soto Group’s services. You cannot refer yourself or someone acting purely to generate a commission without a legitimate need, but genuine introductions are encouraged.

Yes, but you must seek prior approval before running any paid advertisements promoting the Referral Program. This is to ensure that all promotions align with Soto Group’s brand positioning and standards. We are happy to collaborate with you to create compliant campaigns if needed.

We accept the typical payment methods such as:

  • Direct Deposit / Bank Transfer
  • International Bank Transfer / ACH Payments
  • Debit Card Payment
  • Credit Card Payments (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Diners)

Subscription Plans:

  • For monthly services like:
    • Marketing Retainers
    • Website Maintenance Plans
    • Website Security Plans
    • Graphic Design Retainers

Payment Plans:

  • For brand or website projects over $10,000
    • 6 or 12 month payment plans are available for clients who can demonstrate they are a small to medium enterprise.

Our payment plans are catered for businesses who understand the value of investing in their brand but may not have planned for the investment in their forecast, and need to prioritise operational costs. Rather than delay your brand or creative project we can customise a payment plan that supports your business growth.

Tracking your brand’s value involves evaluating both its tangible financial worth and intangible assets. One method is through brand valuation, there are different ways of valuing a brand such as cost-based, market-based, and income-based methods. These techniques help quantify the financial value of your brand by considering factors such as the cost of creating or replacing the brand, comparable transactions, and future earnings projections.

Financial performance indicators, including revenue growth, profit margins, and return on investment (ROI), offer insights into the actual financial value your brand contributes to overall business performance. By analysing these metrics, you can better understand how your brand impacts profitability and return on investment.

Assessing customer lifetime value (CLV) provides insights into the long-term value of your brand. CLV estimates the total revenue generated by a customer throughout their relationship with your brand, accounting for factors such as repeat purchases and brand loyalty. This metric helps you assess the impact of brand loyalty and customer retention on overall brand value.

When we work with brands we often conduct brand equity surveys and brand health tracking studies to offer insights into consumer perceptions, attitudes, and preferences toward your brand. These studies measure brand awareness, associations, loyalty, and overall brand strength, providing valuable insights into the intangible aspects of brand value.

Staying informed about market trends, competitor activities, and consumer preferences through ongoing market research is crucial for tracking your brand’s value. Understanding market dynamics and consumer behaviour helps you adapt your brand strategy to maintain its relevance and value in the marketplace.

We are often retained to track and monitor brand value as part of the ongoing creative services and marketing retainers we offer. If you are looking to increase your brand value as part of an exit strategy get in touch and we can discuss the best options for your current stage of business.

No, there is no minimum payout threshold. Commissions are paid according to the agreed terms, regardless of the size of the project you have referred. Whether it is a small website project or a comprehensive brand strategy engagement, you will receive your commission in full once payment has been received from the client.

For project-based work, referral commissions are paid within 5 business days after Soto Group has received full payment from the referred client. If you refer a client who engages us for ongoing services, such as a monthly retainer, you will receive commission payments monthly for up to six consecutive months. Payments are made efficiently via direct transfer, and all payment records are visible in your referral dashboard.

As long as the referral uses your unique link or you have made a clear introduction that can be confirmed, and they become a client within the 90-day window, you will still be eligible for commission. If significant time has passed, providing supporting information, such as introduction emails, can help validate the referral

The cost of developing a new brand varies greatly depending on the project’s scale, required deliverables, and specific needs. Factors we consider are things like:

  • Do you have a preferred brand name, or will we need to undertake a brand naming process including a brand name workshop
  • Will we need to conduct market research? How much market research have you already performed that we can utilise? The more you understand your market, the easier it is to ideate your new brand
  • Who are your competitors – if we are building a brand to take on Coca Cola, significant time and design hours go into reaching the optimal visual design as well as brand positioning. However, if you are a startup business and are not looking to take out the biggest player in your industry, the costs can scale down.
  • The number of brand assets or sub brands we need to consider.
  • And many other factors

A new brand development with Soto Group on average ranges from $7,500 – $60,000.

When you have your discovery call with one of our team members we will talk about your budget, and your goals, and work out what can be achieved.

If you are looking to create a new brand but your budget does not fit into the range above, you should definitely still get in touch. We have relationships with a number of design partners and freelancers who may be able to support your budget.

Yes, we provide a range of marketing resources to make promoting the program easy and professional. You will have access to email templates, banner images, social media copy, and more. These materials are designed to help you present Soto Group’s services confidently to your network.

No, there is no minimum level of activity required to maintain your participation. You can refer at your own pace, based on your network, opportunities, and availability. Whether you refer one client or twenty, you are welcome in the program.

When developing a new brand we consider many factors, and the best brands are formed from a thorough understanding of your market, your industry and most importantly your perfect customer. So it can be difficult to give a definitive timeframe, however the following can be used as a guide:

Small Brand Projects
1-3 Months from brand workshop to full creative delivery

Established Brand / Rebrand Projects
3-12 Months from research phase through to final rebrand / debrand plan

We have worked to tight deadlines and government funding program milestones in the past, so if you have specific deadlines for your project make sure you let our team know in your discovery call so we can make sure we map out the best solution for you.

Yes. Once your application to the Referral Program is approved, you will be able to find your unique, personalised referral link in the portal. You can use this link across your channels – including email, social media, direct messages, or even within your website content – to introduce Soto Group to your network. This link ensures all referrals are tracked and attributed accurately to you.

Soto Group are a full service creative agency delivering impactful brands, websites and marketing strategies.

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