Are you contemplating the merits of hiring a marketing agency? If so, then before committing you ought to consider their answers to eight crucial inquiries.
Despite their ubiquity in today’s business landscape, there are still some reservations surrounding the efficacy of outsourcing. In an effort to reduce costs and expedite growth, many companies have embraced this strategy with varying degrees of success; however, one major advantage that agencies possess is their ability to offer on-demand services which can help address issues such as talent shortages or inflexible deadlines without compromising quality standards within your organization.
For those who have yet to make the plunge into agency hiring, here are a few essential questions that should be addressed prior to any decision being made.
1. What are your client portfolios?
Without any hesitation, the most effective method of assessing a prospective enterprise’s suitability is ascertaining its track record. If a consultancy boasts an illustrious portfolio of clients that boast accolades such as awards and acclaim, they’re likely worth investing in.
When selecting firms to represent your enterprise, you must be able to understand what kind of success stories they possess. Are there any recent or current ones? After all, each successive accomplishment should help provide evidence for why those who have worked with them in the past chose to do so again!
James Ewen, Founder of SEOtagg says that he always sends over an interactive portfolio to potential clients. This way potential clients can see the history and success of the agency before making the decision to go with them.
2. How many clients do you currently have?
With marketing agencies, the more clients you can bring to an account – or acquire new accounts for your company – the better. For instance, if you have ten clients on an accounting firm’s roster – even if all of them are small businesses who need a specialist like that one-time tax bill – it could be advantageous to use those resources in tandem with other firms’ team rather than solely rely upon yourself.
On the flip side, if you lack clients and are just starting out your business, then having numerous agencies to choose from can expedite your entry into the industry.
3. Do you specialize in a certain niche market?
Are you a specialist in a specific niche market, such as private school marketing? If so, that could make all the difference when it comes to your bottom line.
Don’t underestimate the power of focusing one’s efforts on a particular segment of consumers. With the right plan in place, you can create highly effective marketing campaigns that yield amazing results!
4. Can you provide me with a sample campaign?
To be sure that you’re hiring a marketing agency that can adequately meet your needs and expectations, it’s essential to assess their portfolio of work. This is where scrutinizing samples and campaigns comes into play!
Don’t just provide an outline of your business; rather, provide a sample of your business’ campaign goals. For example if you want to expand your client base or increase sales: these are just two examples of what could be useful metrics for an effective analysis!
5. Do you offer any extras of value to your clients?
Marketing agencies can offer their clients a variety of helpful benefits. One common offering is the opportunity to partner with an agency in order to access additional tools or applications; this could be anything from access to additional software (like NapoleonCat) or data analytics as well as social media management services, pitch deck creation tools, and video creation services.
The value provided by marketing agencies can vary, depending on their present clientele. They could offer premium services such as personalized market research, targeted advertisements and industry-specific content creation; all which can prove beneficial for any business’ expansion efforts!
6. Do you offer any guarantees or speak with any third-party agencies?
If the answer is yes, this can be a potential weakness in your plan. Make sure to scrutinize their arrangement with each firm carefully before closing any deal. While it may seem like an inexpensive solution initially, there could be hidden costs in-between – and failing to account for these could prove costly!
In addition to this, you should also inquire about any guarantees or service fulfillment policies that accompany their agreement. At times these agreements apply only to the duration of the contract itself; however, others periodicals may require periodic updates or alterations if certain circumstances arise – such as budget constraints forcing one party to shorten their commitment.
7. How much do you charge per hour?
When it comes to marketing agencies, costs can vary greatly; and it is important to consider your needs before making a decision. The fees charged for services will depend on the scope of work undertaken – ranging from fixed fees for particular jobs like social media campaigns or website updates; all the way up to hourly rates for more complex tasks such as customer acquisition efforts that may require more effort from your team.
Before you settle on an agency’s rate, consider how much time it is going to take them to complete the work; this should provide you with a sense of how much per hour they are charging.
8. When can you get started?
When it comes to marketing, there are no quick fixes. It requires time, patience and commitment – all of which you must allocate in order to reap tangible results.
Make sure that the team has sufficient time to dedicate towards your project and communicate this clearly during the hiring process. If they don’t, you may find yourself overburdened by deadlines and simply unable to commence any meaningful work!
Conclusion
Be sure to inquire about your prospective agency’s marketing strategy, their experience with comparable clients and whether their track record suggests they can provide what you need.
Every marketing agency will have its own distinct flavor, so it’s essential that you assess whether this one aligns with your needs before making an investment in them.
