Choosing a partner agency is extremely important. Essentially you are choosing a group of people that will become an extension of your existing team. There are several things that you need to consider when choosing an agency and we are going to mention just a few. Make sure to download the content at then end of this blog to see a comprehensive set of questions you should ask an agency before hiring.
Can you "trust" them?
What are people saying about them? Do your research to make sure you can trust them. What exactly does trust mean in this situation? It means they have happy customers that have experienced success (depending on their definition of success). It means that they absolutely practice what they preach and believe what they promote. This can mean everything from the way the way they do business themselves to software that they recommend.
Are you compatible?
It is important to choose an agency that you like and it also helps if you have similar work cultures. If you are working with an agency that has a truly integrated approach then you most likely will meet with account managers or at least communicate with them very often. Remember you need to view them as an extension of your team. They do not have to be EXACTLY like your company but you do want them to not only understand your industry and what outcome you desire, but you also need to have compatible visions.
Cost and analytics
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for pricing when it comes to the cost of your marketing efforts. There will be different goals and different strategies that your agency should help you reach. This means that cost will vary depending on how involved they are, how much time is spent, and what resources are used. With that being said, you can measure your version of success and estimate your ROI by using analytics. Don't allow an agency to be vague when speaking about numbers. Make sure they have tools and systems in place to back it up with reposts, graphs, and statistics. With the heavy digital and technology centered marketing strategies that exist today it is absolutely vital that you engage with an agency that puts emphasis on the importance of analytics.
So What?
Hiring a marketing agency can be a major turning point for your marketing activities. The need to hire for a position may be eliminated by going with a group of people who have varied experience and, as an added benefit, eliminates your out-of-pocket costs for training or health insurance. These are only three very broad things to consider when you are making a decision between agencies or thinking about using one in the future. The content offer below details an extensive list of questions to print out and bring to your next discussion with a potential marketing agency partner.
Are you ready to consider Stratagon for your marketing agency? Give us a call, shoot us an email, or click here to fill out a form and we will reach out to you.
In the meantime, check out this E-book that has everything you need to know (or ask) when hiring a marketing agency.
Bonus: there is a handy checklist on the last page!