How to Choose a Marketing Agency When You’ve Never Used One Before
If you have never worked with a marketing agency before, the process of choosing one can feel bewildering. There are a lot of them, they often say similar things, and it is hard to know who to trust when you have no frame of reference.
Start with what you actually need
Before you speak to anyone, be as clear as you can about what you are trying to achieve. Are you looking for help with a specific project, or do you need ongoing strategic support? A good agency should be able to help you work that out. If you find yourself talking to someone who jumps straight to selling you a package without asking about your business first, treat that as a warning sign.
What to look for
Senior access. You want to work with the people who are actually thinking about your business, not a junior account manager relaying messages. Ask directly who will be working on your account day to day.
Strategy before execution. Good agencies ask questions before they propose solutions. If someone jumps straight to a package before they know anything about your business, that tells you something.
Relevant experience. Have they worked with businesses like yours? Can they show you the work, and what happened as a result of it?
Questions worth asking
Who specifically will be working on my account, and how accessible are they? Can you show me examples of work for businesses similar to mine, and what were the results? How do you measure whether the work is succeeding? What does the first month actually look like? What happens if it is not working?
Red flags to watch for
Guaranteed results, especially with specific numbers or timeframes. Vague deliverables: “we will build your brand presence” is not a plan. Long lock-in contracts with no exit clause: a confident agency does not need to trap you. No curiosity about your business before proposing a solution.
If you’re a founder looking for a marketing partner to bring your brand to life, Blackline Originals could be for you. Drop us a line and we’d be happy to have a free discovery call to see if we’re the right fit for you and your business.
