Maybe you have decided to build a new website or you are adding a new tactic to your marketing program, such as Pay-Per-Click campaigns or an email marketing program. Regardless of the reason, you need to find an agency. One of the most frequent questions I am asked is “Who do you know that can…?”

It’s not really that difficult to find a marketing agency. Many of them will actually find you. But finding the right agency is a different story. And with marketing being one of the most significant investments you can make in your business, it’s important to work with the right people. But how do you compare marketing agencies?

If you’re building a website, do you just ask to see other websites they built? That’s not a bad start, but how do you compare the things you cannot see, like programming code? Code efficiency is a big deal to Google. What’s behind the website, the programming that makes it work for your business, matters as much – if not more than – what you can see. Not all websites are created equally.

There are any number of questions that can – and should – be asked when looking for a marketing agency. When I am asked to recommend an agency to a business, I really try to make a good match. I have an advantage when it comes to choosing the right agency though. I am a consultant in the industry. But what if you don’t want my opinion? What if you’d rather just find an agency on your own?

Here are some questions you may want to ask so you can find the agency that is best for your needs:  

1. Is this type of marketing a main focus of the agency, or is it something that they just happen to offer?
2. Are there things you will not be able to do in the future without that (specific) marketing agency? In the case of a website, what do you own, and what is not yours?
3. Do they do all of the work in-house, or is it subcontracted?
4. How much experience do they have in this area of marketing?
5. What are their reviews like?
6. If they need industry experience or knowledge of your industry, do they have it?
7. What is their process for starting with a new client and/or project?
8. Once the project is complete, what type of support or training will they offer? If they are running campaigns for you, what type of reporting will you see? If there are issues, will there be any additional cost to fix them?
9. What access will you have to dashboards or metrics panels to monitor things?
10. What is their payment schedule like? Do they offer flexible payment options?

The trick is to ask questions that enable you to compare apples to apples. And asking questions will enable you to get a good sense of how well you will work together. When in doubt, go with your gut. Or call me and let me help you. There is no obligation (or fee) for that.