If you’re like most growing businesses, then you understand that you need to be on the ball with your marketing efforts, but you might not have the time to handle it all yourself, nor the budget to expand a whole marketing department just yet. Marketing agencies are there to serve businesses with that precise problem but a little research will show you that there are a lot of them. So, how do you know which is the right marketing agency for you?
Test Their Marketing Knowledge
One of the things about marketing is that, while the principles behind knowing your audience, crafting a strong proposition, and finding a niche for your brand have always remained strong, the methods by which you do that are practically ever-changing. Companies market differently today than they did ten years ago and, in ten years, we will likely have new marketing approaches. For instance, things like link-building and content marketing have been growing increasingly important over certain traditional marketing methods. Take the time to find out whether your choice of marketing agency is keeping up with the changes in the industry, and whether or not they will be able to adapt your own marketing plans as your needs dictate.
Ensure They Have Experience in Your Sector
You want to make sure that the right marketing agency is up to date with the marketing methods and trends that can help you keep your campaign ever-relevant, that’s for sure. However, you also want to make sure that their services are more relevant to you. Agencies that specialise in working with clients in your field and sector are likely to bring a lot more industry knowledge about your customer base, and competitors, as well as the methods that drive clicks, conversions, and calls. For instance, an eCommerce marketing agency is a lot more likely to know about how to build an online funnel driving customers to the sales they’re more likely to make than someone who has never worked in eCommerce. Always stick to those who bring industry knowledge.
Take the Time to Meet Them
Of course, your choice of marketing agency might look good on paper, but you want to get an idea of what it’s going to be like to work with them on a regular basis. As such, take the time to have a sit-down with them and make sure that it’s not just their own marketing pitch to you. Come with a few questions prepared that you can ask them about not just their services, but about their working methods, how they collaborate with their clients, and how they respond to feedback and requests. There’s a certain degree of deference to expertise you need to accept, but you don’t want a marketing team that will stubbornly stick to their guns, regardless of your own wants.
Finding the right marketing agency might sound like picking a needle out of a haystack, initially, but once you start understanding what it is that you’re really looking for, the best answers tend to present themselves a little more clearly. The tips above should hopefully help you see that.
