Having the best products or services isn’t enough for your business. The old adage that if you build something, customers will come is an exaggeration. You need to give consumers a reason to come.
Effective marketing campaigns can help your business reach consumers who fit your target demographic. However, you may not have the in-house talent to handle marketing at the level it needs to be to help your company achieve tangible results. If you’re running a small ship or operating on a shoestring budget, it might be hard to justify hiring marketing professionals and setting up a dedicated marketing department.
According to Indeed.com, the average salary for a marketing professional in the U.S. falls in the range of $70,000 to $80,000. Remember, that’s just the average. While entry positions start at approximately $45,000, the median pay for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers last year was $159,660. Considering the costs, your company might find it impossible to build a marketing department from the ground up.
But marketing is the lifeblood of any business, so you can’t skip this important process just because hiring dedicated workers might be pricey.
The good news is you have options if setting up an in-house marketing department isn’t realistic. One of them is to retain the services of a full-service marketing agency. Even so, one such provider isn’t necessarily as good as another.
Since you want to find the right fit for your business, here are three things to look for in a good service provider.
1. Proven Experience and Track Record
One way to figure out how well a full-service marketing company can help you is to see how they’ve helped other businesses previously. Focus on previous clients to ascertain whether or not the service provider is the right choice. Ask business owners you know and check online reviews.
Before signing the dotted line, vet the service provider’s experience and expertise. You can also ask for its portfolio to see for yourself.
A service provider worth hiring will be able to show you evidence of measurable results. You can also ask for client references and factor what these clients say into your decision-making process.
2. Range of Services Offered
Just because a marketing agency says it’s a full-service company doesn’t necessarily make it so. Some agencies offer a wider range of services than others, so you need to research to find out for yourself. You can usually get this information by checking them out online. That means visiting their websites and checking for yourself to see what they offer.
Service options can include digital advertising, content creation, search engine optimization, social media management, and more. You want to find a marketing agency that offers the services your company needs to launch effective marketing campaigns.
3. Industry Understanding and Strategic Thinking
The full-service marketing agency you hire should be a strategic partner. It’s not about handing them full control of your marketing department, letting them have free rein, and disengaging yourself from the process.
You need a service provider that will work for and with you. It should understand the sector your business operates within, comprehend the audience, and grasp the business objectives. You can get this sort of information by asking the right questions. The best service providers develop marketing campaigns specifically tailored to meet client needs, and they use research to make these strategies as impactful as possible.
Hiring a full-service marketing agency can be a game-changer — especially if you don’t have the capacity in-house to handle this important function. However, you must select the right strategic partner to achieve the best results. Take your time, ask the right questions, reflect on the responses, and choose the right full-service marketing agency for your business.
Photo by S O C I A L . C U T; Unsplash
