It?? a Match! How Screening an Ad Agency is Like Dating

Choosing a digital marketing agency is a lot like dating: you get to know them, ask them questions, and see whether you fit each other. Similarly, finding the right ad agency is checking for “green flags” and “red flags.”

What should you look for in an Ad Agency?

Their portfolio covers various projects.

A portfolio can give you a glimpse of an agency’s past projects. A great digital marketing agency will always be more than willing to show you their portfolio. Check their website, if available. What services do they have? Have they handled a brand like yours in the past? Research their clients’ campaigns, including their marketing outputs.

They have great team members.

Your chosen marketing agency’s team should be proactive. The suggestions they give should match your goals, they should see the value you give to customers, and they genuinely want to help your company succeed. They tell your brand’s stories, and build interest so people will be more eager to learn about your brand.

Firms benefit from a good marketing strategy, especially if it’s by a team of experts. Execution takes careful planning with research-backed strategies. When you have concerns about your campaign, they give you honest answers and make sure to explain the data to help you make better decisions for your online business.

They have a good company reputation.

Check for reviews on the web. Are their clients happy with the agency's performance? What are their strengths and weaknesses in their services?

You can also Interview their previous clients. They can give you a hint at how an agency provides digital marketing services, even their relationship management.

Did they end their relationship with the agency on good terms? Savvy marketers let their work speak for themselves through clients. They aren’t afraid to show you their performance in previous campaigns, as well as what they’ve learned in taking up the projects.

You share the same values.

What does your company stand for? Are you and the marketing company on the same page? Working with a digital agency that shares your beliefs is crucial in building your brand. Because of this, they can communicate your message to your target audience through the best ways that fit your brand’s identity.

The agency serves as an extension of your company. So, it is vital to choose an agency with the same values and culture as you, as much as checking the quality of their work.

They set SMART goals.

A campaign’s objectives serve as the basis of the project’s overall placing. Creating an effective digital marketing strategy involves strategic planning, setting “SMART” objectives:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Realistic
• Time-bound

The right agency is optimistic, yet is also honest. They tell you what's happening and what you both can do moving forward. While they strive hard to exceed expectations, they still ensure that they commit to realistic goals. How do they measure the success or failure of a campaign? Do their Key Performance Indicators (KPI) clearly measure your campaign’s progress? Getting the right results and insights can help you know where to improve and how you can grow from there.

If an agency makes promises that are too good to be true, then it most likely is. Any digital marketer claiming they can fast-track your route to the top of Google’s search results, for example, is unaware that Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is both a long-term and short-term approach. Apart from inserting commonly-searched keywords, it also involves creating relevant content that will keep users on the site for longer periods of time.

It's hard to find the right marketing agency. But as long as you look for these things in a marketing agency, you're on the right track. These things will serve as a guide so that you'll select a reputable digital marketing agency in the Philippines that would give you a fruitful and productive relationship. So, find 'The One' now!

Sources: beanstalkmarketing.co.uk, neilpatel.com, fiftyfiveandfive.com, cardinaldigital.com, forbes.com

image sources: geralt from Pixabay, Nick Youngson from The Blue Diamond Gallery, mohamed hassan from PxHere, mohamed mahmoud hassan from PublicDomainPictures.net, Jernej Furman from Flickr