How to Select the Right Advertising Agency for Your Business

Most businesses aren’t in the business of advertising. Even when if you think you can hack it, this is an area that is best handled by the experts. Just as you might outsource other functions of your business, it makes sense to delegate advertising to an agency that is experienced in advertising strategy, implementation—and most importantly, success!  

Deciding on the right advertising agency is critical for the success of your advertising efforts, and for getting the most out of your investment. You want a partner, one that will work with you and one that will also challenge you to expand how you think about your business and your advertising strategy; one that is able to communicate with your audiences today, while keeping an eye on your business’s needs in future; and one that knows your business and theirs inside-out.

With so many advertising agencies out there, how can you know which one will be right for you? Here are some helpful ways to sort through the mix.

Is the agency advertising their services?

How can you trust an agency with advertising your business if they aren’t advertising (or advertising well) for themselves? It’s simple: You can’t. That’s why you need to do a little upfront research. When you search on Google, is the company popping up within the first few results, or at least showing up on the first page? Have you seen their advertising on billboards, in magazines, or through other digital ads? Are their social media platforms up-to-date—or do they even have a social media presence? If they’re not demonstrating how they stand out, they probably won’t help your business stand out either.

Is the agency able to help you expand your business or mindset?

You don’t want to work with an agency that encourages you to only stay the course. For your company to grow and remain competitive, you have to consider new opportunities in your advertising strategy—and eventually you’ll want to branch out into expanding other areas like offering new products or services, or reaching out to new audiences and markets, and so much more. You need a partner who can help you visualize a successful future and put you on the path to achieve new goals.

Does the agency share your values?

The most productive and beneficial partnerships happen when an agency and a client share similar values. And, this is also where dollars and cents come in. The advertising agency you’re considering has to respect your budget and offer affordable solutions. If they’re offering you sky-high solutions that are completely unaffordable or stretch you to the limit without offering a convincing ROI, they’re probably not the right partner for you.  

Make sure you’re asking the right questions.

Here are a few questions that can help you gain insight into the agency’s approach to advertising, so you can determine if it’s right for you.

• What does advertising mean to you and why is it important?
• What is your process?
• How will you support me in differentiating my business from my competitors?
• What is your experience in my industry? Are you involved in advertising for any of my competitors?
• Who will be working with me, and can I see examples of their work?
• How will you work and communicate with me?
• How do you measure progress and success?
• What’s my projected return on investment?

These are just a few ways to help narrow down advertising agencies that will work for you—and with you. Above all, it’s important to choose an agency that will do the best job based on your needs, so you can be confident you’ll get a strong return on your investment.

That’s where C-leveled comes in. We’re proud of a dedicated team that is focused on fulfilling every client need and achieving success for every single client. When it comes to generating business, driving revenue, and building long-standing relationships, we’re kind of experts.

For more advertising tips and insider knowledge, check out our free e-book to make sure you have all your advertising bases covered. And contact us anytime to discuss advertising questions and best practices, or to talk about how we can work together to achieve your goals.