The Best Questions To Ask Your Marketing Agency

August 4, 2017

The road of agency-client partnerships is fraught with challenges. Since communication alone paves the way to shared happiness, here are a few questions to get the ball rolling in the right direction when talking with your current or prospective agency.

1. What is the best way to reach you?

Knowing how to reach each other creates clear lines of communication between agencies and clients. While your agency’s account manager may more easily be reached on his cellphone, its art director may be reached faster by email. Make sure to provide details about your business’s general schedule, availability and preferences also, as well as the information for all persons your agency needs to contact. Additionally, both parties should inform each other about vacations, when their offices are closed or any other happenings that could affect communication.

2. What results can I expect from your agency?

Define what results look like to your business, and listen to how your agency defines results as well. Whether you’d like a weekly status update of all outstanding projects and funds spent, or a quarterly report detailing overall results, make sure you and your agency are on the same page. Most agencies are all-too-happy to showcase the benefits you’re reaping from their marketing!

3. How long does a typical project take from start to finish?

Time tables on a project may change for a variety of reasons, including waiting for approvals or unexpected challenges. However, an agency’s response to this question can frequently reveal any differences between your business’s expectations and the agency’s expectation. The reply also provides insight into the overall process of how your agency schedules, handles and manages projects, and how they respond to last-minute client requests.

4. How much notice do you need when placing an ad, creating a brochure, developing a new website, etc.?

In the ever-changing marketing world, it’s tempting to jump on the bandwagon of last-minute projects. Typically, though, it’s best to know how much notice to give your agency to ensure best results. Getting ahead of the game can easily be accomplished by scheduling a monthly call or planning session. These meetings offer the chance to walk through upcoming projects and establish an approval process for each one.

5. Will you teach me, and will you allow us to teach you?

The truth is, we need each other. Agencies need to learn about your company, its goals and desires. In the same part, you need to learn from us. It’s easy for an agency to provide a summary report of our actions, but it’s far more rewarding to walk through reports, strategies and plans with our clients so our relationship evolves into a true partnership.

Like any relationship, the client-agency one can be fulfilling, helpful and efficient. However, it takes the hard work of communication between both parties to transform the often-rocky road into a smooth ride. Ready to get to know us? Contact us here: freshcreativeinc.com/contact.

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