Finding the ideal digital agency for you isn’t always the easiest thing in the world, not with so many to choose from. The agency can take a lot of the hard work out of your hands, so it makes sense to spend a little time researching them.
How do you find the right agency for you? Here a 4 small tips that should help your decision-making process.
- One – The agency needs to really understand you and what you are all about. If their strategy looks like pre-prepared meal, don’t eat it. There needs to be a genuine meeting of minds, and an in-depth understanding of your objectives – nobody else’s.
When talking to them, it should be apparent they understand your business and the personality and attitude of your branding. There also needs to be an understanding of your target audience, or there may not be much point in discussing strategy at all. The digital agency you choose should be quick on their feet and able to change direction if required. This level of flexibility is paramount for success.
- Two – Do they have demonstrable experience with companies like yours? Unless you want your company to play guinea pig, you need to be shown evidence that this isn’t their first rodeo. Ask for testimonials, scan their client list.
Can you see a body of work or preferably several pieces? Another thing to consider is scalability. Can they operate on a scale that will work for you, and can they shift gears if required to do so?
There is nothing wrong with wanting to see evidence of capability, so don’t be afraid to ask.
- Three – Do they have the required skill sets? This may sound obvious, but it’s important nonetheless. Many agencies specialise in specific areas, while others claim across board expertise. While they may indeed be proficient in all areas, it is likely that they will actually do their best work in 2 or 3.
Going back to the portfolio, or case studies, review them very carefully. You need to be sure that their expertise and experience is in line with your requirements and expectations. Also, how much of what they do is actually done by them? Are certain services outsourced or is everything handled inhouse? Make sure that you know what you are getting and from whom.
- Four – Will they be prepared to work with you a project-by-project basis? There’s no need to put all of your efforts into just one digital agency. Working with more than one can also help you to measure the effectiveness of their campaigns when compared with someone else.
Try them out first too, which means keeping an eye out for down payments and retainers. There’s nothing with that business model, but it can make your final choice that little harder if you can’t test them out first.
Hopefully, this will make finding the perfect agency that little bit easier. The most important thing for you to remember, is that you shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions. If you aren’t sure about something, nobody will snarl if you fire off a quick email or telephone call.