You’ve narrowed your list down to a select few. Now it’s time to interview these potential advertising partners.
Lean toward open-ended questions to elicit more in-depth responses. Keep the questions concise and direct so as to avoid confusion. Short and sweet will also save you time when you compare answers before making your final decision. Remember, the end goal is to find an agency that is right for your needs. So where and how would you like to meet? These days, with all the communication mediums available, you can fire off questions to multiple agencies simultaneously via video, email, and phone or meet in person.
5 Questions to Ask When Interviewing an Ad Agency
- What’s your approach to advertising?
- Which services does your agency provide?
- Who will I work with, and how?
- How soon will I see results? Be wary of an agency that overpromises here.
- How much will it cost to advertise?
Find out which media a particular advertising agency specializes in and what creative strategies they prefer, are familiar with, and have experience in. Do they have any experience in other areas of marketing, such as public relations? What kind of experience do they have working with your type of business, and do they understand you and the competition in your field / industry?
Ask for an estimate and find out what is included in the contract / available to clients: tools, accessibility to resources, management, etc. Through a thorough consultation, you’ll know if they’re the right fit. In the end, everyone needs to be on the same page.
How Ad Agencies Charge For Their Work
Individual agencies will offer various ways to charge for their work. Some will bill hourly, an agreed-upon amount they keep track of to complete the job. Others will bill by project, proposing one lump sum based on the scope of the project and the resources needed to deliver the final product. Annual contracts are a more popular method with a fixed price often discounted vs. monthly payments. Long-term investment in your company and the relationship with the agency is vital for the partnership to work and be fruitful. Not just a month and done—it takes time.
Hire The Right Advertising Partner
Finding the right partner for your business is worth the work. Commit to an ad agency that understands your needs and will capitalize on your goals for mutual success. You should be provided with a dedicated rep who has experience in your local market and understands your local competition and what’s needed to move the needle. You want a partner, not an ordertaker, who cares about your business as much as they care about the reputation of their own.
When you have found the ad agency that understands your business goals, has the proper experience, and seamlessly works with you, it will be time to build a marketing strategy and allow them to do their job. They can take your business to the next level, help guide it to higher revenue and profitability, and introduce you to a new target audience in this wild world of marketing. Whether direct mail or digital, PR or traditional, having a genuinely compatible partner can be the door that beckons and the voice that calls and brings in customers.
