Digital marketing can be difficult, but consumers are increasingly looking for information online. A mobile optimized website has become as important as a company’s business license if it wants to survive beyond the first year. You may be looking for a marketing agency if marketing is not a strength in your team.
Where do you begin when looking for an advertising agency? What are the best questions you can ask a consultant in order to find out if they will be a good match for your brand or not? What to ask when you hire a digital agency. If you’re considering working with a digital marketing agency in Auckland, it’s important to know how to assess their fit for your business. Here are some of the most common (and least frequent) questions that I have encountered during my tenure as a Digital Market Consultant.
The Good:
“What kind of clients do you have?”
It’s a good question to start with. Who you choose to partner with as a business can have a huge impact on the success of your company. Is the agency familiar with your industry or niche? Great! If they do not have any direct experience, has the agency worked with clients in similar situations? It’s not likely that you will find an agency that specializes with clients that provide home valuations following a hurricane. However, it is possible to find an agency that has had great success working with home restoration companies after a fire or flood. It is important to note that the nature of this approach is similar across industries.
“What marketing strategy do you use for your industry?”
This is a good follow-up question that will help you determine if the person really knows your industry or goals. You know your company best. The answer to this should give you enough clarity to know if the person is really knowledgeable about what they are doing.
What is your team’s mission? What are the strengths of your group ?”
This is my favorite, because it gives both the consultant as well as the potential client an idea of the scope of the work. This is the perfect time to see if an agency can perform SEO, keyword research and provide a content strategy. A good agency will play to its strengths. This question will help you identify where your agency might be lacking or excelling.
“What kind of marketing do you engage in for your agency?”
It’s simple. Do you practice what you preach? The agencies should not (or will not) divulge specific campaign details unless they have been given permission. We don’t have to worry about breaking client trust when we talk about what our agency is doing.
The Bad:
A good digital agency will also vet their clients. Simply put, agencies should not want to work with anyone who calls. Our ideal client is based on past successes, expertise in different industries, company information like age, size and product. Here are some questions that may indicate a difficult agency-client relationship.
“I was just wondering what it would cost to market my business?”
And now, the silence. It is obvious that the caller hasn’t done any research. It is not expected that you are a marketing expert or know anything at all. A consultant will expect more information. You don’t tell me who you are or what you do. This tells me that you are only looking for the lowest price. The saying “you get what you paid for” is especially true for someone looking for bargains in marketing.
Start the conversation with anger.
We get it. Some agencies claim to be “online marketers” but deliver disappointing results, leaving you feeling scammed. The majority of agencies are proud of the results that they can achieve for your company and will take on more work if they feel confident. Before calling or submitting a form, research the agency online.
I need to know what this will look like before signing up.” Before I sign up, I want to see what it will look like .”
This isn’t a question that I hear when people decide to hire a digital agency. This is the question that some people ask before they even consider hiring an agency.
The agency should be able to provide you with case studies without asking for free work. You should be in a position to evaluate the agency using case study, without having to ask for free work. You’ll be paying for the customized campaigns month after month. You should therefore be able trust the work of this agency based on its proven effectiveness.
Would you ask a mechanic to replace your car shocks free of charge to test the ride before buying? You wouldn’t do that, because you might decide it’s not that good and want your old shocks. Your mechanic has lost 5 hours of work and $300 worth of parts. It doesn’t make any sense for an advertising agency to spend 10 hours on your marketing before signing a contract. Beware of agencies that overpromise and audits that are one size fits all.
