10 Questions To Ask Before You Hire An Ad Agency

Finding an advertising agency can be an overwhelming task, especially if your company is facing several deadlines or a sales shortage. However, the following questions can help narrow down the search and find the right partner for you.

1. What is more important: creativity or short-term market share results?

Either way, it is the ad agencys job to plan and create an ad campaign. This is when the brainstorming and planning begins, while keeping in mind the clients goals. It is the ad agencys responsibility to push sales of products, services, or introduce new products into the market. It is important the chosen campaign reiterates the companys brand benefits.

Your new ad agency should attract new customers and keep in touch with old ones; this includes creating interesting slogans, attractive jingles, and attention grabbing body copy for ads.

Businesses should not be based solely on creativity, so be sure to ask about their marketing and promotional skills, among other things.

2. Do we need to find an agency with a media buying capability or will we handle that separately?

If you are looking for a company with media buying capability, check into their formula for doing so. How do they investigate particular outlets? What kind of experience do they have?

3. Do we want to pay our agency a flat fee or a percent of our budget?

Budget is another factor to consider. In the first meeting with the agency, it is wise to discuss finances. Depending on the budget your company is looking at, price could make or break the situation.

Turnaround time is also something to consider. Now is the time to get a list of the agencys former and current clients. How fast are they on projects? Are their add-on expenses later in the project? Are they worth their costs?

4. Is there a certain company we are after or is it a particular campaign?

Some agencies have areas of expertise. If you want a certain company to handle your advertising, be sure to research them thoroughly to ensure theyre going to accomplish your goals.

Maybe you already have an idea of the type of campaign that youre looking for. Either way, when looking for an advertising company, its important to keep an open mind, so you can see many different options for old and new campaign ideas.

5. Which medium do we want our agency to handle?

If you come into the search knowing what particular media you need handled, the battle is half over. However, you may have to consider other options. Depending on the campaigns the agency will cover, you might look into new vehicles such as Internet advertising, pay-per-click management, TV, radio, cable TV, magazines, newspapers, billboards, and other outdoor advertising. Of course, the agency may offer a media recommendation in their proposal.

6. Does it matter if the agency we choose is conveniently located?

This question can be answered by considering a few things. How big is your company? You want to deal with an ad agency that is proportional to your business. Consider your goals. If your company needs to create a network of other businesses in the area or learn more about them, you might want to choose a local company. If your company is based online, however, the options could be endless as far as location. Consider the best way to meetin person or over the phone? How well does the ad agency know your business or how well they are interested in knowing the business?

7. Do we need the agency to handle only current projects or new projects as well?

Keep in mind: customer loyalty is number one. Too many companies focus on new business rather than bolstering existing accounts. It costs more to acquire a new customer than it does to keep one. Always consider the ad agencys flexibility to accommodate existing or additional projects. Are they willing to do both old and new? Can they fit the needs of your current campaigns?

8. How important is it to have regular access to the head of the agency we choose?

Find out how the agency will be tracking the results of the marketing campaign they create. How often will you be advised? Online or offline, reports or both?

9. Do we want an agency with a certain philosophy or an agency that is willing to work with the philosophy of its clients?

The agency must understand your product and company. An ad agency begins by getting well acquainted with the clients goals, products, and target audience. This knowledge proves beneficial in planning and creating an effective ad campaign.

Ask yourself: does it understand our companys objectives? Does it address those objectives?

10. Who do we want to be in charge?

It is very important to know if you can work together with a potential ad agency. The better you understand each others goals, the easier it will be to work together and complete projects in a pleasant manner.

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