6 Tips to Find Your Ideal Marketing Agency

[et_pb_section bb_built="1" admin_label="section" _builder_version="3.0.72" module_class="blog-font"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" background_size="initial"][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text admin_label="Intro " background_layout="light" border_style="solid" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" background_size="initial" _builder_version="3.0.80" module_alignment="left"]Let's be real - ' marketing agency ' is a pretty broad term that entails a lot of different aspects, especially when you want to find the ideal marketing agency for you.In the simplest terms, your classic marketing agency is a business dedicated to creating, planning, and producing advertisements for clients. It's an ideal option for those organizations who may not have an internal marketing department or team. Here a few things that marketing agencies can do for your brand;

• Create, develop and distribute advertising campaigns across various forms of media (ie. digital and print)
• Market research
• Build, develop, and host websites
• Plan and host product launches & special events
• Plan and buy advertising/promoting space
• Monitor and produce content for social media platforms (ie. Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat)

Overall, making your brand and product look like the bomb.com it is.If you need help with any of the listed areas above, you're probably in the market for an agency - congrats! But how do you go about finding an agency vs. the ideal agency for your brand?[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src="https://heyorca.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/what-do-you-mean-.gif" show_in_lightbox="off" url_new_window="off" use_overlay="off" animation="off" sticky="off" align="center" force_fullwidth="off" always_center_on_mobile="on" use_border_color="off" border_color="#ffffff" border_style="solid" _builder_version="3.0.72" animation_direction="off" /][et_pb_text background_layout="light" border_style="solid" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" background_size="initial" _builder_version="3.0.80" module_alignment="left"]It's easier said than done - we hear you!

So here are 6 tips to help you find the ideal marketing agency

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1. Set goals

From the get-go, establish the goals you want to set for yourself from hiring an agency. Sure, it would be great to toss your spreadsheets, mockups, and copies over to someone else without thinking twice - I get it. But leaving your marketing agency without a compass of any sort won't get the results you want. Whether these goals be generating user-engagement, increasing sales, sharing product knowledge, or boosting brand awareness. Find to way to measure those goals, decide on a target, and let the marketing geniuses take it from there.Fine-tuning your end goals may also help you decide which kind of marketing agency you go with, as there are several kinds of agencies that fall under the umbrella term, marketing - like a creative, advertising, or even digital agency.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="consider workflows " background_layout="light" text_orientation="left" border_style="solid" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" background_size="initial" _builder_version="3.0.72" module_alignment="left"]

2. Consider workflows

How do they organize and prioritize tasks? What is their idea of a reasonable time allowance on a certain project? How do they communicate internally? All of these factors will contribute to how smooth and effective their workflow is - AKA how well they're going to make your brand look. Getting results externally means putting the work in, internally. Be open about your workflow as well - both you and the marketing agency should want to know more about each other. Would you buy someone a fancy dinner on a first date without really knowing them? No, of course not (unless that someone is me, then go right ahead.) You would invest time getting to know someone before buying them a steak - or in this case, hiring them.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="can you collaborate " background_layout="light" text_orientation="left" border_style="solid" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" background_size="initial" _builder_version="3.0.72" module_alignment="left"]

3. Can you collaborate?

Collaboration is the new black when it comes to creating content. Take influencer marketing - a win-win scenario for both parties while promoting products and engaging audiences. So why not collaborate with your agency? 75% of employees consider collaboration and teamwork as very important, and 86% of employees and executives blame lack of collaboration for workplace failures. Collaboration between agencies and clients/stakeholders gives way to open communication, which will ultimately lead to a smoother workflow. Furthermore, any agency that isn't transparent, to any extent, could be a bit risky.

Related Article : Agencies Exposed: How does your social media approval process stack up?

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4. Choose a budget, and then stick with it

Ensure that your team can agree on an appropriate budget early. There's a reason why brides are discouraged from trying on dresses that are above their budget. You might get swept away from those campaigns or content with all the bells and whistles, and all of a sudden your bank account is at an all-time low. Marketing is a creative industry, and while it's great for those creative juices to be flowing, you can't always say the same for your dollars. Don't be ashamed of your budget - your perfect agency will be able to make magic for your brand regardless.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="samples " background_layout="light" text_orientation="left" border_style="solid" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" background_size="initial" _builder_version="3.0.72" module_alignment="left"]

5. Request some samples

If online shopping has taught me anything, it's to not assume that the size chart online is 100% accurate. It usually results with something in my closet that is much too small and will never be shipped back, because, let's be real, I'm too lazy for that. Same thing goes for when scoping agencies - always request samples of their work. Even request a mock-up of campaigns or other content they could create for your brand. What has worked for the marketing agency in the past may not work now, so instead of crossing your fingers, hoping they'll make the best decision, it never hurts to look through their portfolio and articulate what you have in mind. Remember - we all know what happens when you assume.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="get some opinions " background_layout="light" text_orientation="left" border_style="solid" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" background_size="initial" _builder_version="3.0.72" module_alignment="left"]

6. Get some opinions

Ask your friends, family, colleagues, mentors - essentially anyone who knows anything about the agency. How did the agency measure results? How did the agency handle any unforeseen circumstances? Were there any discrepancies between what a client wanted, and what the agency delivered? Collecting a wide array of different opinions and experiences, both the positive and the negative can help paint a better picture of the agency - rather than the one the agency itself has painted for you. Not saying that you should be skeptical right off the bat, but you want the ammunition to make a well-informed decision.[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="outro " background_layout="light" text_orientation="left" border_style="solid" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" background_size="initial" _builder_version="3.0.72" module_alignment="left"]Considering the fact that marketing agencies seem to be popping up more a more like Starbucks does on every corner, a strong relationship with an agency may seem pointless. But if you want a rewarding partnership that drives innovative content and valuable results, do your homework and due diligence before investing in an agency. The marriage between a brand and the perfect marketing agency can create amazing things.

Here at HeyOrca, we're all about helping agencies

Want to spark some collaboration and easy client content reviews?

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[/et_pb_text][et_pb_code global_parent="6738" _builder_version="3.0.80"]<div id="hsformContainer2"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!--[if lte IE 8]><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><script charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript" src="//js.hsforms.net/forms/v2-legacy.js"></script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><![endif]--><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><script charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript" src="//js.hsforms.net/forms/v2.js"></script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --> hbspt.forms.create({ <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --> portalId: '596637',<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --> target: '#hsformContainer2',<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --> formId: '47463799-6377-48e8-b179-635f156dee3c'<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --> });<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --></script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --></div>[/et_pb_code][et_pb_cta global_parent="6738" title="The Ultimate Social Media Guide for Digital Agencies" button_url="https://try.heyorca.com/ultimate-social-media-guide/" url_new_window="on" button_text="Download now" use_background_color="on" background_color="rgba(255,255,255,0)" background_layout="dark" text_orientation="left" use_border_color="off" border_color="#ffffff" border_style="solid" custom_button="off" button_use_icon="default" button_icon_placement="right" button_on_hover="on" button_letter_spacing_hover="0" module_class="blog-font" disabled="on" disabled_on="on|on|on" _builder_version="3.0.80"]"In Crossing the Chasm, Geoffrey Moore defines a market as a group of individuals who can reference each other. Put another way, for every market there is a social media community waiting to be born."[/et_pb_cta][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]