- September 20, 2023
- 3 minute read
If you were looking to move home, you would draw up a list of essential components that the new house would need. You wouldn’t view a two-bedroom city apartment if you had a family of four and a dog, and the same requirements are needed when you are shopping around for a new marketing agency.
We’ve put together a short guide on what to consider if you are looking for an agency.
When should you use an agency?
The short answer is when you need help with some aspect of your marketing that you don’t have the time or skills to complete. It could be something simple, like a leaflet design, or something more elaborate like the rebranding of your company website.
Create a strategy
The first step is to establish a strategy that gives you an understanding of the marketing channels and actions you’d like to take. Failing to create a strategy is risky. You may be steered into an activity or campaign that your chosen agency feels most comfortable with, rather than the activities that will be most effective for you.
Within this strategy be clear on who your customers are, your business’s key messages and overall goals. Once you have an agency on board you can save time, by having these questions already answered, and your agency can focus on its primary task: providing outstanding marketing services.
Review past work
Take a look at the work that the agency showcases. Do you like it? Do you think it works? Also, is the team working with businesses like yours in the relevant sector? For example, if they are presenting work that they did for a technology company, and you are a food and drink brand, then it may not be the right fit for you.
Invest time exploring the agency’s website and social media platforms to get a feel of who they work with, and if the results are what you want to achieve.
Be clear with your budget
Confirming from the get-go how much you have to spend will keep the brief and work on target. It will also rule out any larger agencies who would charge more, and this saves all parties a great deal of time and effort in the long run. Also, ask about hidden costs. Administration charges, subscriptions and expenses could all eat into your budget if there hasn’t been complete transparency at the start of the contract.
Make sure you like the team
Ensuring your agency has all the capabilities you need is crucial, but you have to work with them, so the chemistry needs to be good. Do you like the team and the ethos of the agency? Is there a cultural fit between the agency and your business? Do they understand your approach and have enthusiasm?
Sourcing and working with a marketing agency can take enormous research, but if done correctly, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks and will put you on the path to creative success.
Good luck with your search, and if you’d like to know if Resolution Design could be the agency for you please drop us a line.
