How to Find The Best Digital Agency

Outsourcing is a natural part of growth. It enables you to focus on your core competencies while letting experts do the rest of the work needed to keep your business competitive. But today there are more digital agencies out there than ever. How do you choose a good digital agency? More importantly, how do you ensure that agency is the best fit for you?

 

Five Questions to Ask When Interviewing Agencies:

1. What does your Digital Agency specialize in?

Not all digital agencies perform the same services or have the same level of expertise. A creative agency might offer everything from design services to digital marketing strategies to social media management. Some agencies only focus on the big picture, while others are best at dealing with the details. Unless you’re looking for website designers, be wary of agencies that only name design as a specialty.

While your website and ad campaigns should look appealing, your priority is conversion rate optimization. If you’re looking for a very specific service like PPC help, search for an equally specialized company like a web advertising agency. But if you require a range of services, keep a list of what you need and ensure the agencies you interview can meet all of those needs. 

 

2. How do you differentiate yourself from other agencies?

This is a simple question that all agencies should be well-equipped to answer. You want to know what makes this agency stand out from the crowd and decide whether that specialty is important or even compatible with your business.

Differentiation might range from a service specialty, an excellent track record, or a unique culture. Some companies brand themselves as being straightforward, brutally honest, and jargon-free. If you’ve had difficulty receiving clear communication from a past agency, this point may appeal to you.

 

3. Who have you worked with in the past?

When asking this question you want to learn whether the agency has worked with companies in your industry. Industry-specific experience increases the chance they’ll be able to understand and meet your needs. Having connections within your industry better equips an agency to perform services like digital discovery, brand analysis, and market research.

If an agency hasn’t worked within your industry, this doesn’t have to be a deal breaker. Experience gained in one industry can be beneficial to others. And if the company has a strong background in the type of service you need, this may outweigh the benefits of industry experience.

 

4. Will you be able to achieve my current and future goals?

Before you hire a digital agency, you should have an idea of what goals you’d like to achieve with this hire. Know the services you absolutely need, the ones you’d like to have if possible, and your budget for those services. Bring these to the table and ask your interviewee how feasible your goals are for the agency. Ask for details like time frame, level of collaboration, and the amount of work required from your end.

Don’t forget to consider the future. Consider the trajectory of your business and where you see yourself in one, five, or ten years. Will this agency help you lay the foundation not only for the immediate but future goals?

 

5. How do you measure success?

You never want to be in a situation where an agency believes they’ve completed their job, but you’re left unsatisfied. You and your agency should communicate frequently to keep clear on goals and needs.

To determine success, which metrics do they use? Traffic, followers, conversions, and sales all paint very different pictures of a marketing campaign. While measuring success should depend in part on your goals, learn up front what this agency considers successful.

 

Ask The Digital Experts at Creative MMS

Choosing a creative agency can feel overwhelming. But go in equipped with questions that target agency strengths, skill sets, and work style to get a clear picture and make the best choice for your business. If you have questions for our team of digital experts, take that next step and contact us at Creative MMS.