In the United States alone, there are more than 13,000 marketing agencies. So with so many options to choose from, you want to make sure you’re picking a good one.
But this can be easier said than done.
For this reason, we’ve created this guide outlining the 5 things you should know before hiring marketing firms. This way, you’ll be sure that you’re making the best choice.
Know Your Goals
Before you start talking with any agency, start by deciding on your goals. Think about this. If you go to a realtor and say, “I want to buy a house but I have no idea about my budget, where I want to live, or if I want a condo, townhome, or stand-alone home.”
When this is the case, the realtor is going to have a really hard time helping you find what you want because you’re not even sure. And it’s easy to get a bad deal when you’re not educated.
Instead, it’s best to go in with a plan. And the same philosophy applies to working with a marketing agency.
Do you want to generate more leads for your salespeople to contact? Do you want to increase brand awareness in certain markets? Are you looking to sell more products on your e-commerce website?
Start by thinking about your goals. This way, you’ll enter discussions well-prepared.
Learn About Their Services
Next, as you’re talking with marketing firms, find out about their services. Marketing is a field with lots variety. There are tons of different tactics out there, and not every agency will have expertise in every area.
These areas include:
- SEO
- Content Marketing
- Website Design
- Print Marketing
- PPC
- Brand Development
- Facebook Advertising
- Web Development
- Organic Social Media Marketing
- Display Advertising
- Affiliate Marketing
And this is just a sampling.
So as you’re looking for a marketing firm, decide if you want someone who can do it all or who specializes in a few areas.
In today’s ever-changing technological world, it’s often best to go with an agency who is more focused. They’ll be more up-to-date on the latest trends.
But also keep in mind that if an agency doesn’t specialize in one of your areas, they may have partners who do.
Find out Who Will Be Doing the Work
Next, ask about the agency’s employees. You should find out who exactly is going to be fulfilling your requests.
Often, you’ll meet with the CEO or other senior leaders during the sales process. At the end of this, they’ll hand you off to an account manager. And then other people in the company will actually fulfill your requests.
Before you sign a contract, you should find out who exactly will be working on your account. Are they experienced? Have they worked with similar types of brands in the past?
The last thing you want is for them to send your projects to low-quality temp workers who don’t have any digital marketing experience.
By doing some extra research, you can ensure that you’re getting great workers on your campaigns at a company like Simply Marketing.
Research Their Previous Work
When you buy something online, how do you know if you’re purchasing a high-quality product? Most people in these moments look at reviews from previous buyers.
These reviews can give you honest opinions from third parties who have no reason to lie. And with enough good reviews, you can feel more confident in your purchase.
The same principle applies when searching for a marketing firm to work with. However, in this case, you should examine their previous work.
Ask them to see the work they’ve done for clients in the past. Often, their website will feature a portfolio where you can look at the work they’ve done. This is especially relevant if they’re going to be helping you with graphic design, branding, or web development.
Another thing you should do to vet an agency? Ask them for successful results from their past campaigns.
For example, if you’re wanting them to run Facebook ads for you, ask for details about previous campaigns they’ve ran and what the results were. This could include questions like:
- What was the cost per lead?
- What was the engagement like?
- How much revenue was generated?
You can also read reviews online on sites like Google, Facebook, and Yelp. This will help you get a clearer picture of their past work.
Make Sure You Get Along with Them
Lastly, as you’re looking for marketing firms, make sure you get along with their employees. Although they’re not going to be full-time employees at your business, you’re going to have to work with them a lot.
If they’re hard to get along with, the process is not going to go smoothly. Are they super arrogant? Do they not listen well?
These are red flags that you should pay attention to.
Look for people who communicate clearly, are flexible, and are generally kind. This will make the entire working relationship much better.
Choosing Between Marketing Firms
There you have it: the 5 things you should know when hiring marketing firms. Now that you’ve read through these ideas, it’s time to put them to use.
Think about your marketing goals and then find agencies that have expertise in those areas. Next, set up some preliminary meetings to establish relationships.
And in no time, you’ll find a firm that’s a great choice.
Want to learn more about business and marketing? Check out our blog for additional tips.
