From time to time, you’re likely to come across marketing projects that you or your internal staff just can’t tackle on your own. That’s usually a sign that it’s time to engage an expert.
Outsourcing to a marketing agency or design firm has many benefits, and it can save you money in the long run. It’s often more cost-effective – and results in better outcomes – to engage an agency with specific knowledge, experience, and technology at their disposal as opposed to trying to do it all yourself. An agency with the right tools and know-how can add a ton of value to your marketing efforts and increase your ROI.
Finding the right marketing partner may seem overwhelming if you don’t have a plan. Here’s a quick rundown on the steps to finding an agency and ensuring they’re the right fit for your project.
Seek out recommendations
Recommendations are worth their weight in gold, so reach out to your trusted friends, colleagues, and business peers — who do they use, and for what marketing needs? Chances are, if an agency is a good fit for others like you, they could work well for your needs, too.
Review websites thoroughly
Many agencies offer a wide range of marketing skills and services, like web design and SEO. Check the agency’s website for the capabilities you’re looking for now, as well as ones you might need in the future. Carefully review their online portfolio to see what type of clients they work with and the level of strategy and thinking that went into the work. This can give you some pretty good insights into their range, experience, and quality.
Write a brief and ask for a proposal (RFP)
When you think you’ve narrowed down your search to a few top candidates, you may choose to put together a formal request for proposal (RFP). This allows you to collect critical information related to your project and compare potential agency partners.
Although not required, RFPs allow you to receive multiple proposals for the same scope of work and compare them in an apples-to-apples way. If a proposal is submitted with errors, omissions, or other red flags, take those warnings seriously, as they tend to reveal shortcomings in attention to detail or the ability to collaborate easily. If proposals vary widely in cost, read carefully to make sure everyone’s bidding on the same scope of work. Some may present attractive pricing but compromise critical project components.
If you don’t want to go the formal route with an RFP, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone. Agency folks love to chat!
Make a list of questions and conduct interviews
Once you’ve narrowed down your top agency contenders, you may request an interview with each.. This is the time to get to know the people behind the agency, discuss the project in a little more depth, and learn more about how they go about doing their work.
Good luck in your search! As always, we’re here to chat about your next marketing adventure, so give us a call or shoot us an email.
