Choosing an inbound marketing agency can be stressful. Your decision could go one of two ways. You could pick an agency who is perfect in every single way, who meets your company’s unique requirements, and understands your business on a whole new level. Or, everything could go horribly wrong, and you end up with an agency who has no idea what they’re doing and can’t deliver the expected results. No pressure, right?
Before you make any commitments to an agency, you should learn everything you possibly can about the company, their inner workings, values, favorite color, etc. After all, you wouldn’t commit to a relationship before you get to know the person? Though, choosing a marketing agency is probably a little bit easier than dating…but you get the idea.
To help you find an agency that will actually follow through on their promises, we’ve put together a list of questions you should ask before you start working with any inbound marketing agency.
1) Are they well-known?
The first question you should ask a prospective agency - and yourself - is have you heard of them? Now, this doesn’t mean the agency has to be all over the news or something of a celebrity in the marketing world. Marketing agencies are a little more obscure nowadays, especially compared to what you’ve seen on Mad Men. But, you can learn more about the agency and their reputation by digging around on the web, social media, and reviews to see if they’re the right fit.
2) Who have they worked with previously?
When choosing an agency to represent you, it’s always a good idea to check out some of their previous work. If you’re a B2B company, and all of their clients have been B2C, you may want to keep looking. That’s not to say marketing agencies can’t adapt to the diverse needs of their clients, but you’ll sleep better knowing your agency has relevant experience. Our only caveat would be to watch out for agencies who specialize in one industry, as there’s always a potential for conflicts of interest.
3) Are they growing?
If an agency can’t even grow themselves, how are they going to help your business grow? When looking into any agency, you need to consider their own marketing efforts. Are they bringing in new business? And, on that note, are they bringing in clients they actually want or just anyone they can? If a marketing agency isn’t doing well, that’s a clear sign that their marketing strategy isn’t working, and that you should stay far, far away from them.
4) Do they have a strong digital presence?
Having a strong digital presence is vital to executing an effective marketing strategy. Before you decide on an inbound marketing agency, you should take a look at their website, social media, and other digital communications. Are you a fan of their design style? Are they blogging on a regular basis? Are they active on social media? Does their content revolve around themselves, or do they place their clients at the center of their marketing? How a company represents themselves can tell you a lot about how they will represent your company.
5) What services do they offer?
Are you looking for a one-stop shop for all your marketing needs or just one service in particular? Marketing agencies specialize in different areas, so it’s important that you consider what services your company needs before making a decision. Perhaps, your business is planning a redesign of your website. Or you could be looking to an agency for logo design, search engine optimization (SEO) or a social media strategy.
You want an agency that can grow with you. As your marketing budget increases and you pursue new business opportunities, your agency should be able to keep up with your evolving demands. When you work with an agency that is all-encompassing, your branding, web design, and content will all work together as a cohesive, seamless marketing campaign.
The inbound marketing agency you ultimately decide on all depends on the scope of your marketing needs, your industry, and your business objectives. If you do your research and really commit yourself to finding an agency that works for your company, it could be a match made in heaven. On the other hand, if you rush into an ill-conceived business relationship, well, we’re sure you’ve heard the horror stories.
