Published by Mancuso Media
Oct 10, 2016 5:02:24 PM / by Elizabeth Miljan
You’ve worked hard to build your business into a success, and now you’re so busy you can’t seem to manage everything yourself. Marketing your business may be at the bottom of the totem pole on your long list of to-do’s. Or perhaps you’re working with an outside marketing agency already, but aren’t receiving the results or services you need. In either case, it may be time to hire a new marketing agency. But how do you go about finding the right agency fit for your company? Below, we outline some tips for how to choose the right San Diego, CA marketing agency.
Determining the Right Fit
Do your research. Look at each potential marketing agency’s capabilities, past experience, and current client list by perusing their website and social media profiles:
- Do they have experience in your industry or do they pursue education that allows them to be a good fit for your business?
- Does the type of work they produce look like it could fit your brand?
- Do they offer all of the services you think you need (and maybe some you think you don’t, but someday might)? Are they flexible and able to do full-service work if that’s what you need, or just the services you want if that is what you need?
- Do they integrate well with your team, acting as part of your company?
- Are they a good fit for your size business?
- Do they have the experience to navigate through the complexity of both the traditional and digital marketing landscapes?
- Do they stay up-to-date on industry trends, ensuring your marketing will never be behind the times?
- Are they conveniently located? In today’s digital world where you can connect with someone across the world in an instant, does it matter if they aren’t located right in your own backyard?
You don’t need to understand everything the agency does – that’s their job after all! – but you do need to feel confident in their competence to do the job for you with flying colors.
Ear to the Ground
What are their past and present clients saying about them? Do they have mostly positive online reviews? Things to check:
- Their Own Advertising: If they can’t do a good job marketing themselves, why would you think they could do better for you?
- The BBB: Are they accredited? Do they have serious complaints against them?
- Online Reviews: Yelp and Google are great, but see if they have been mentioned on local or industry directories.
- References: Potential agencies will only point you to references they trust to say great things about them, but you can still glean information with the right questions. Ask them what was more difficult about working with the agency than they expected, or if there were any ground rules they set before entering the relationship that made things go more smoothly.
Doing your homework now can help you avoid nasty surprises later and reassure stakeholders that you’ve made the right choice in selecting your marketing agency.
Culture Clash
You may be hiring an outside agency, but you still want them to work like a well-oiled cog in the machine that is your company. It’s important for the marketing agency to be a seamless fit with your business. For that to happen, there needs to be an alignment of company culture between your company and theirs. To find out if you’ll mesh:
- Check Their Social Media Accounts: This is their digital company persona they put forth for the world to see. Does it mirror how you would like your marketing agency to be?
- Ask About the Agency’s Company Structure: Are they siloed into different departments, or do they work cross-collaboratively? Which setup is most beneficial and comfortable to you?
- Talk to HR: What is the employee turnover rate? A high rate of turnover could indicate a culture problem.
- Glassdoor.com: Get the inside scoop on what current and past employees have to say about the agency. These reviews are to be taken with a grain of salt, but could shed light on internal pros and cons of the agency.
If you’re a laid-back brand, you may not want a super buttoned-up, high-pressure, sales tactics oriented agency out there representing you, and vice versa. Find an agency that jives with your vibe and you’ll both be happier for it!
There are certainly other elements to consider when you’re choosing an outside marketing agency, such as price. However, price should not be the only deciding factor. Make sure the agency you are considering checks out in all of the above areas first and then consider price in order to find the right marketing agency in San Diego for you. Quality can come at a higher rate, but in the end your business will thank you!
If you’re searching for a marketing agency, try Mancuso Media on for size with a free 30 minute marketing consultation! We’ll dive deep into your business goals and how our agency can best help you achieve them.
