For startups and small businesses, in-house marketing and advertising is a solid first step. But as your organization grows, partnering with an ad agency can bring in greater ROI while allowing you to focus on your core competencies.
Once you’ve decided to look for a partner in your marketing and advertising efforts, it’s important to remember that not all agencies are created equal. Additionally, a wonderful partner for one business might not mesh well with another.
It’s an important but tough decision, so we’ve put together this list as food for thought. If you’re unsure of what to look for in an ad agency, consider these points:
- Do they have demonstrated success with businesses like mine? Any respectable ad agency can show you their success stories and accomplishments. However, businesses come in all shapes and sizes. If an ad agency has little experience with your industry or businesses of your size, it may be best to look elsewhere.
- Are they full-service? When you’re first partnering with an ad agency, full-service may not seem like a big issue — especially if you’re not interested in their entire range of services. However, this doesn’t account for growth and modifications in your marketing and advertising needs. If you partner with a full-service agency, you can count on strong, consistent messaging across all mediums. Additionally, you can expand to use additional services without having to rely on different partners.
- Are they compatible with my organization? Joining forces with an ad agency presents a unique opportunity to substantially grow your business. However, the potential can be limited if there is tension, discord, or a culture clash between the two organizations. To ensure the greatest chance of success, look for an organization with similar values and objectives in mind. One tip is to observe how they treat their employees: it may be an indicator of how they treat other people in general.
- Do they blend creativity with vision? Many businesses are immediately “wowed” by the creativity of an ad agency. However, it’s important to keep in mind that creativity by itself doesn’t bring in ROI. For success, an ad agency has to pair their creativity with a vision for addressing a client’s needs and achieving results. That vision can only be honed by years of experience in the industry. Ask about what strategies an ad agency has in mind for strengthening your brand.
PGN Agency has an extensive track record of bringing our clients returns on their marketing and advertising campaigns. If you would like to learn how PGN can come up with creative marketing solutions to drive YOUR business’s growth, feel free to contact us directly at 248-414-6860. One of our friendly team members will help assess your needs, and put together a game plan for success!