If you’re thinking of working with a marketing agency but you’re unsure where to start then don’t worry, you have definitely come to the right place. Whether you’re working on a one-off project or you want to hire them on a long term basis, you need to ensure you’re doing all you can to find the right agency for you. Luckily, there are lots of questions you can yourself to ensure you’re making the right decision. From setting yourself a budget to meeting them in person, the more thorough you are the better. With that in mind, here are 9 things to consider before working with a marketing agency:
Is It A One-Off Project or Long-Term Solution?
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One of the first things you need to consider when it comes to hiring a marketing agency to work with your business is whether or not you’re going to be hiring them for a one-off project, or whether you’re looking for a long-term solution. If you’re unsure and you want to test how much a marketing agency will benefit your business, you might want to consider bringing them on for a temporary period of time, to begin with. From there, you will be able to determine whether or not they’re a great match and whether or not it is a great use of your marketing budget. For a guide to hiring a marketing agency for a one-off project, you can visit this site here.
What Is Your Overall Budget?
Once you know how long you’re going to be hiring your marketing agency for, you can think about your budget. Marketing budgets can be incredibly tight and if you’re not budgeting properly, chances are you’re going to struggle when it comes to ROI. If you’re unsure, you may want to reach out to a number of different agencies, asking them to provide case studies based on return on investment. If they’re worth it, you’ll know right away.
Do You Need Them To Be Local?
Although it isn’t essential, you may want to consider hiring a marketing agency that is local. Not only does this mean you’ll be able to attend meetings with them on a regular basis but it means if something was to go wrong, they’re close by should you need to visit them. If you’re a local business, hiring a local agency is a great way to ensure you’re working with people that know the area well.
If you’re not concerned about the location of your integrated marketing agency, the upside is that you have lots more choice. Whether this means better quality service, you need to decide.
What Specific Services Do They Need To Offer?
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Another important thing to consider when it comes to hiring a marketing agency is the services they need to offer. Although a lot of agencies will offer the same services, it might be worth looking at what they specialise in. If you’re looking to run campaigns with bloggers and influencers, for example, you’re going to want to look for agencies that specialise in influencer marketing. If you’re looking for a range of skills and services, you may want to choose an agency that doesn’t have a speciality.
Do They Need To Have Particular Experience?
Similar to the above, you also need to think about whether or not the agency you choose needs to have any particular experience. From working with small businesses to creating international campaigns, you need to be sure you’re finding the agency that is right for you. If it helps, you may want to consider asking to see a section of their portfolio, especially if it’s not listed on their website. For a guide to running an international marketing campaign, you can visit this site here.
How Will You Be Creating Your Shortlist?
Once you start to get into the finer details, you need to think about how you’re going to be creating your shortlist. Whether you’re narrowing down your choices based on location or you’re choosing those with the best experience, you need to choose two or three agencies that you think will potentially be great partners for your business. Although it will be difficult to narrow them down, it will be much easier to make your final decision once you do.
Do You Need To Meet Them In Person First?
Another important thing to consider is whether or not you want to meet your shortlisted agencies in person first. Having a good working relationship with your agency is incredibly important and if you’re not meeting in person, chances are you’re not going to get a true feel of how well you’ll work together. Whether you head to their offices or you call them in for a meeting, meeting your shortlisted agencies in person should be a top priority.
If you’re meeting all of your shortlisted agencies, you need to be sure you have a structure to the meetings. From asking them the same questions to allowing them the time to discuss their experience, you need to ensure each agency is given the same chance.
Will They Be Helping You Put Together A Brief?
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Once you have hired the perfect agency for your business, you need to think about whether or not they’re going to be helping you put together your project brief. Although you may have a rough idea of what it is you want to do as a business, they will definitely be able to help you fine-tine the project.
How Will You Measure Results?
Finally, you need to think about how you’re going to measure your results. Whether that means measuring the increase in sales or looking at your social media follower growth, this needs to be clear from the start of your working-relationship.
Are you thinking of working with a marketing agency? What do you need to consider to ensure you’re finding the right agency for you? Did we miss anything? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.