How to Choose an Ad Agency That's Right for You
If you find yourself needing some advertising and marketing for your service or product but do not know how to choose an ad agency that fits your needs, you can follow these simple guidelines.
Step one: Check your yellow pages or do a simple online search and come up with a list of agencies that you may be interested in. Ten to fourteen agencies should be enough initially.
Step two: Research these agencies. Doing your homework before hiring an agency is essential. Do an internet search to find past customer experiences so you know what you are getting into. Make sure to check with the Better Business Bureau to view past complaints. Another important thing to look for when you are determining if an agency is the right fit for you is to see if they specialize in a specific kind of marketing that does not fit your product or service. If you see that an agency is already signed on with a competitor, you can cross these off your list since they normally will not work with two competitors.
Step three: Now that you have your list narrowed down some, it is time to market yourself to them. You need to come up with a well thought out request for more information about the agency while outlining your product, service or company. Be sure to consult with everyone on your end that are involved in this product or service.
Step four: At this point, you will want to contact the agencies that you are interested in. Tell them your name, and about your company. Let them know that you are interested in using their advertising services and make sure that you talk to the right person to establish your reputation with the agency.
Step five: Prepare and schedule some presentations for the remaining agencies on your list. During these presentations, you and your associates will have a chance to sit down with these people and get a feel for each other. This is a great chance to evaluate the agency first hand and for them to evaluate yourself and your company.
Step six: Once you have met with the agencies on your final list, it is time to choose the right one for you. Meet with your associates and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each agency. Consider carefully because this will be the agency that may make or break you.
Step seven: Call each agency that you met with and either accept or reject them. Be kind about it and let them know your reasons. It is also very important to thank them for their time and effort.
Now that you know how to choose an ad agency that will help you to become a success, go out there and get one!
