There are lots of marketing firms out there, but how do you find the best one? Keep reading to learn how to find the best marketing firm for your business.

Let’s face it.  Not all marketing firms are created equally and it’s difficult to decide on the best marketing firm for your business.   You’ve got gigantic major market firms with a powerhouse staff all the way down to sole proprietors or one/two person shops.  You don’t want to put your faith and money in the wrong marketing agency, just to find out they actually have a terrible track record, they’re unable to meet your business’s specific needs, or they just aren’t a good fit for your type of business.

 

Searching for the best marketing firm can seem like a daunting task because you know that if you sign on the dotted line with the wrong agency, your business is on the line. 

Your business needs to hire an excellent marketing agency that will represent your business and its core values – not just one that’s in it for the paychecks. 

Keep reading to find the top 5 necessities when searching for the best marketing firm for your business.

1. Get To Know The People In The Agency

You wouldn’t have a surgeon perform heart surgery without making sure he’s reputable, capable, and knows what he’s doing. And the same goes for hiring a National Marketing Company or even a local Tacoma or Seattle Marketing Agency. 

The first step in getting to know the agency should always be to go to their website. This is a crucial first step to gather information before you actually speak to anyone from the marketing firm. 

Any top marketing firm is going to have a portfolio on their website with real examples of their work. Make sure you look through that with a fine-tooth-comb and assess the quality of the work. Also, check out any testimonials and make sure they are legitimate. 

And, delve into their social media accounts to get a feel for who they are as a company and perhaps who the individuals are on in the marketing team.   How often do the post to their blog?  Is the content they’re producing of high quality and engaging?

2. Do Your Homework To Find The Best Marketing Firm

With a sea of marketing firms, it can be challenging to find the best one. Which is why it’s critical to find out if their strengths and abilities align with your needs as a business. 

Aside from looking at their website, you’ll want to devour any review you can find online about this company or view the consistency of their work between social and their website.

Actions speak louder than words. So dig into their past with other clients, and you’ll get a feel if this marketing firm is the right one for you. 

You can use the marketing agency’s social media accounts to find reviews from past clients. While some social media accounts can delete negative reviews, on Twitter, you can’t. You can’t delete tweets that other people have put on your profile. 

This is handy when you’re looking for reviews on marketing firms and you’re coming up empty. 

The bottom line: You need to do your homework and research meticulously before you consider hiring a marketing firm. 

3. Know Exactly What You’re Looking For In a Marketing Firm

A digital marketing agency can offer a vast variety of different services. So it’s important to establish exactly what your needs are, and know what to look for in a marketing firm. 

Here are a few services some digital marketing firms will offer:

    • Website development and website design
    • Content Marketing and inbound marketing
    • Marketing Strategies
    • Video & Motion Graphics Creation
  • SEO (Search engine optimization)

Many marketing agencies will have certain areas of specialty. You must know your individual needs so you can see if they match up with the marketing company you are vetting. 

These are just a few services marketing firms may offer.   It’s incredibly important to nail down exactly what you’re looking for before you even think about contacting the marketing firm. 

4. Make Sure Their Practices Are Up To Date

The digital marketing world is forever changing and evolving.   You need to make sure the agency you decide to go with is up to date with all the latest practices, trends, and methods. 

When you’re looking for the best marketing firm, they must have a mobile responsive website – so look for that right away. 

If they have a blog, this is another good sign that it may be a top contender.  Read some of the articles on their blog and note the dates.  Are they consistently providing great content?  Are any of their blogs being shared?  Can you find them when you search for their name or services on Google?

Basically, if they are spouting out all this wonderful stuff, but you’re not seeing them practice what they preach – this could be a red flag. 

5. Speak To Them And Ask Them Your Questions

Now that you’ve vetted the marketing firm on social media, take a look at their website portfolio.  Nail down exactly what you need from them.  Consider what they do best and if it aligns with your needs.  If so, it’s time to contact them.

How they communicate when you reach out to them, will tell you loads about how communicative they’ll be if you decide to work together. 

There are a number of things you will want to ask them.

    1.  Ask about things like their client roster
    1.  Ask about their processes
  1. Request a sample weekly or monthly report card

It’s vital to ask these types of things up front, so you know what to expect.

Most marketing firms will explain their processes with you, but if not – be sure to ask. 

Another thing to ask when you finally do contact them is whether they have any case studies. Request to see case studies, and if you do – request long-term case studies. 

It’s recommended to request long-term case studies. The proof is in the pudding. 

But, just because a marketing agency doesn’t have extensive case studies, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hire them either. It’s just as important as looking at their portfolio – both will give you great insight into the companies abilities. 

Wrapping It Up

What’s the best marketing firm? Well, everyone has different needs and most firms offer unique services or specialities.  So it’s crucial to look at all of those factors before making a decision. 

Ultimately, you need to find a marketing company that you can trust, and you know will enhance your business and take it to the next level.   You should always decide exactly what your individual needs are first off, so you know what to look and ask for. 

Then, vet them by checking out their website, their online reviews, social media accounts.  Try to get to know the members of the firm, as well as the company – as best you can.

Always do your research and note anything that looks out of place. Once you’ve done that, you can look at making sure their practices are up to date and their services align with your objectives.  Finally, you’ll want to pepper them with questions. Get to know them a bit better. Find out if they have a decent portfolio, client rosters, or even case studies. 

It may seem like a lot of work, but it’ll be well worth it in the end.  When you end up with the best marketing firm that transforms your business, you’ll be glad you put in the effort.