Did you know there are more than 13,000 marketing agencies in the United States? With so many options to choose from, how can you make sure that you’re working with a reliable and experienced firm?
In order to make this happen, it’s important that you ask the right questions. But this can be easier said than done.
For this reason, we’ve created this guide outlining the top 6 marketing questions you should ask before hiring a digital agency. Check them out below.
Can You Help Us Reach Our Goals?
With any project you start, it’s important that you begin by establishing goals. The same thing applies to working with an agency. What do you want to get out of your relationship with a digital agency?
Think about your business goals. Are you looking to increase leads generated by forms on your site? Do you want to give your brand a creative refresh?
Perhaps you want to sell more e-commerce products. Or maybe you’re trying to spread awareness about your brand in certain geographic areas.
Go into your preliminary meeting with a clear idea of your goals. This will make the experience better for you and the agency.
What Services Do You Offer?
Digital marketing is a big field with lots of different tactics available for use. With so many different tactics, not every agency will be an expert in every area. And that’s okay.
Think about where you want to focus and then you’ll be able to decide which marketing tactics will work best for you.
These digital marketing tactics could include any of the following:
- Web Design
- Organic Social Media Strategy
- SEO
- Web Development
- Facebook Advertising
- Traditional Advertising (Billboards & Print)
- Content Marketing
- PPC
And these are just the beginning. Depending on your goals and budget, different tactics will work better for different businesses.
So as you’re on the hunt for a digital agency, decide if you want a company that can do it all or if you prefer to have a firm that is more specialized.
In most cases, it’s a good idea to go with an agency that’s more focused. They’ll have a deeper portfolio of experience and know the latest trends.
Can We See Your Previous Work?
Say you’re looking for an agency to help you develop a brand new website. How can you know if you’ll be happy with the finished product?
While there’s always a bit of uncertainty, something that can help you a lot is to ask about their previous work. Often, agencies will have a section on their site dedicated to their portfolio.
Here you’ll be able to do a deep-dive into their past work. This will help you get an idea of their project quality, attention to detail, and overall design style.
If they don’t have a robust portfolio section, don’t be afraid to ask them to see some examples. You’re entering into a partnership and you should make sure you trust your partner.
This is one of the most essential marketing questions to ask.
Who Will Be Working on Our Account?
During the sales process, you’ll often meet with company executives and high-level management. This is great because they can give you an educated look into the company as a whole. And they want to do whatever they can to earn your work as a client.
But throughout this process, also make sure to ask who will actually be working on your account day-to-day.
After your contract is signed, you’ll usually be assigned an account manager. And then other people on their team will actually fulfill your requests.
Don’t be afraid to ask about these employees. Do they have experience in your areas of need? Have they worked on similar projects in the past?
With more than 1.5 billion websites on the internet, you want a high functioning site to stand out from the crowd. The last thing you want is low-qualified temporary freelance workers designing your site.
When you work with EAM Solutions Online, you can rest easy knowing that a team of qualified professionals will be fulfilling your requests.
How Will Our Working Relationship Be?
Another important thing to consider: you need to get along with your marketing agency’s employees. You’re essentially hiring additional team members, even if they don’t work in-house.
As you’re going through the research process, notice how you work with their employees. Are they good listeners? Do they build you up?
Are they flexible? Are they arrogant?
As you pay attention to these personality traits, you’ll have a better chance of success in working with them.
Also, ask about deliverables. How often will they present you with results and how will they deliver information? Knowing this will help you both be on the same page.
How Can We Trust You?
Lastly, you should look for an agency that’s trustworthy. A good place to start is to do your own research on the company and its employees.
Then, ask them directly about their company philosophies and how they go about their work. Do they use ethical marketing tactics?
Another tip: check out their reviews online. Look at their Google My Business profile, their Facebook account, and perhaps Yelp to find out what previous clients say about them. This will give you an honest look into their reputation from third party sources.
EAM Solutions Online Rating with the Better Business Bureau
Last but not least, once you’ve spoken with the agency about this topic, you could also see if you have professional contacts that have worked with that company previously. These thoughts from a trusted source can be very insightful as well.
Asking the Right Marketing Questions: Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve read all about the marketing questions you should ask when finding a marketing agency, what’s next? It’s time to put these ideas to good use.
As you’re interviewing potential agencies, don’t be afraid to use these questions in your process. It will make for a better partnership in the long run, resulting in better end results.
Looking for a reliable agency to take your marketing to the next level? Contact us today. We’re here to help.
With experience in business and digital design, he enjoys helping organizations address their online marketing challenges.
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