Top Questions to Ask Your Marketing Agency
Choosing the right marketing agency can make or break your business’s success. Dramatic, we know, but true. Before committing to a collaboration, it’s crucial to ask the right questions to really get under their skin to ensure complete alignment with your commercial goals and objectives.
We’ve outlined 13 essential questions you should ask a prospective agency to help you make an informed decision and build a strong, lasting partnership. Let’s get into it…
Before Signing on the Dotted Line, Ask…
Agency-Focused Questions
1. What type of companies and industries do you have experience working with?
You want to ensure the agency you choose to partner with offers the services, expertise, and experience to effectively support your brand – with its finger firmly on the pulse of sector challenges and latest trends, keeping your business ahead of the curve.
2. Have you worked with a brand like ours before? If so, how did you support them, and what worked best?
Reviewing tried-and-tested testimonials and case studies can provide assurance that the team can deliver real results to your business.
3. Are you currently working with anyone else in our industry that might be considered a competitor?
Balancing sector experience with potential conflicts of interest can be tricky, especially when an agency works with your competitor(s). However, understanding how they create an “ethical wall” ensures projects can stay separate, providing you total peace of mind.
4. What are your core values?
Understanding the culture and ethos of the agency is paramount to ensuring complete alignment in values and mission. When you’re both singing off the same cultural hymn sheet, you know your way of working will be cohesive.
5. How long have you been in business?
While time doesn’t always equal success, an agency’s longevity can highlight resilience and perseverance, as well as unwavering strength and growth within a very competitive industry.
6. What makes your agency unique?
Learning about the agency’s niche, expertise, or key USPs can help you to determine if they’re the right fit to help you achieve your specific marketing goals.
People-Focused Questions
7. Do you have an expert team dedicated to delivering the services I need?
People are always at the very heart of an agency – and so, having the opportunity to get to know those who’ll be integral to your brand’s success, their credentials and specialisms is key.
8. How would you describe your agency’s culture?
Partnering with an external agency can be daunting, so it’s crucial to ensure their values and personality align with yours, and that their team feels like a natural extension of your own.
9. How will you communicate with me?
Communication is key. And so, the frequency and tempo of check-ins and catch-ups should be determined from the get-go, ensuring they coincide with your internal plans and deadlines too.
10. What is the process for addressing any challenges or issues?
Establishing who your dedicated contact is – and how you reach them – should be known early on, gifting you peace of mind that you have access to the team if you have a burning question, want to discuss a challenge, or raise an issue.
Strategy-Focused Questions
11. How is the project/relationship priced?
Price (and project) transparency should be a core objective – no one wants to be left susceptible to hidden costs, sneaky caveats and lengthy contracts.
12. What is required from us to kickstart the project?
Understand how involved you’ll need to be and what that looks like, as well as any deadlines. While your marketing objectives are, of course, a priority, you also have your day job, so it’s important to know how and when your input is needed.
13. How do you measure results and success?
Last but certainly not least, be sure to explain to the agency what success looks and feels like to you. And ensure the agency has a clear strategy for measuring and delivering those results.
Finding the Right Fit
Choosing the right marketing agency is a crucial decision for your business. By asking the right questions – and really digesting the responses – can ensure a strong partnership is built on clear communication, mutual understanding, and shared goals.
Take your time, do your research, and choose an agency that not only meets your needs but also aligns with your vision for growth. With the right team by your side, your marketing efforts will set you up for ultimate success.
Ready to take your marketing strategy to the next level? We’d love to grab a coffee and run through these questions, along with a few more, to see if Reech are the perfect fit for your business.
