What Should I be Asking a Marketing Agency Before Hiring Them?

Hiring a marketing agency can be a bit daunting, especially when you don’t know how to properly assess whether they are going to be the right fit for you. To help ease the process we have given you a list of questions to get you started on your marketing partner hunt! With these questions in hand, you will be sure to find the perfect agency that fulfills your needs. 

Questions to ask potential marketing partners

1. What are your core capabilities? What do you specialise in?

Here you want to see that their skill sets line up with what you need. For example, if you are a whizz at organic content and this is one of their specialities, you need to make sure they can help in areas you lack (maybe that is Facebook ads for example). Also think about what direction you are heading in. Do you need a full service agency who can support you in a wide range of things, or a specialist agency who will do one thing and one thing only (but do that well). Are they experienced enough for your requirements?

2. What’s your company culture like?

Personality fit is important. You want to make sure that the agency you use is one you feel comfortable approaching to discuss anything you need (especially if you are having challenges in your business). Look for a team that understands your brand voice and ideal customers well. Learning about the company values can also help you to understand if your values align with the agency’s values and give you insight into the type of work they produce. 

3. What is your process for communicating with clients on progress and results? How do you measure results? How often will I receive updates? 

This helps you both understand expectations around services and makes sure they are willing to have an open and honest relationship with you about the numbers. Asking these questions will also give you an idea of how the agency measures results and if that aligns with your specific marketing goals. If you and your agency are not in agreement with what success looks like, you will not get the results you expect from your marketing agency. Look for an agency that communicates with their clients on a regular basis to ensure your getting the most out of your collaboration. 

4. How do you address issues that arise? What is your process for handling customers who want to cancel their engagement with you?

Understanding this helps you feel more confident in the team. Red flags would be if they want to lock you in for long term contracts (if they really believe in their ability to deliver, they won’t lock you for long periods as the results will speak for themselves), or if they don’t know how to answer this question! It’s important that your potential marketing agency is able to manage their clients effectively. Look for testimonials from previous/current clients to determine if they have a good rapport. 

5. How is your pricing structured?

Knowing how you will be billed and what is included in the contract, or what additional services are, is important. Transparency is key here, do they charge by the hour or do they have packages? It is important you understand what is and isn’t included in those costs. No one likes unexpected bills. 

6. What type of companies do you serve, and in what industries or markets? Who is your ideal client?

You can see if they have experience in your industry or similar industries and if they have the experience you need to achieve your marketing goals. Understanding their ideal client also helps you confirm if you are in the right place, talking to the right agency for where your business is at. 

7. What types of skills/how much experience do you or your team have?

There is no prerequisite to putting a website up and claiming to be a marketing expert. What experience do they have to back up the various areas of marketing they would be supporting you with. It is also important to ask about the team. You might chat with a great sales person with lots of experience, but the person who actually implements your work might have no experience at all. Be sure that you are getting a good idea as to who is actually being assigned to your project. If possible, look up the team on LinkedIn to see if their experience matches your needs!

8. Can you provide examples of previous work that demonstrates measurable results?

The proof is in the pudding right! A marketing agency should be able to give you some proof of their work. If they don’t have any examples, they may be new to the space. This then begs the question, do you want to be their guinea pig? Having examples of their work will help you to evaluate their experience and their ability to produce high quality work. 

Finding a marketing partner can be a bit of a tedious process, but it is important you properly consider all your options. By being equipped with the right questions to ask you will be sure to get a better idea of who is going to support you the best. I hope this article has helped you in your search for a marketing agency!

If you are interested in creating a marketing partnership with us, get in touch with us today! We would absolutely love to help you achieve your marketing goals and find a solution that best fits your business.