One of our aims at Sprout is to educate business owners. Our blog isn’t about selling, it’s about helping you make the best possible decisions as you market your company.

With that said, this article is meant to guide business owners who are looking for marketing help. Maybe you’re just starting a company and need some promotion. Maybe you run an established company and you’re looking to take your marketing into the twenty-first century.

Whatever the case, we’ve put together a top five list of things to look for when you’re hiring a marketing company. Let’s have a look...

1) Their team.

They have an available, reliable staff, and a clear system in place for getting in touch with them. They should have a strong focus not only on customer satisfaction, but on employee betterment. This can be seen in the form of their continuous desire to educate their staff and create an enriching work environment. Quite simply, if the marketing company seems to take care of their people and function like a harmonious team, they’ll carry those efforts into the services they provide for you.

Insider tip: Want to get a feel for a marketing company’s flavor and community? Check out their social media presence. Social platforms are the places where they’ll share their collective company voice, as well as photos of staff and events they’re involved in. If they’re local, stop by in-person! Meet their team and check out their digs. This will give you a firsthand glimpse at their company culture.

2) Their creative.

This is a hundred-dollar-word that means anything they produce. Graphics, print material, visual content, websites, photography, the written word, all of the above. Marketing teams should prioritize design and creativity in a big way. They’ll invest in a team who has creative training, talent, and above all, vision. Before you buy, check out the work they’ve done for a variety of industries. Ask for a portfolio of their best stuff. This will give you a better idea of what you can expect for yourself.

Insider tip: A good way to see how well they’ll market you is by how well they market themselves. Check out the design of their website. Does it have a good-looking blog? Keep an eye out for their email and social media campaigns, and judge for yourself whether or not they’ll do great creative work for you.

3) Their interest in you.

The marketing company you choose should take an interest in you, both personally and corporately. Part of promoting your organization involves knowing what you do--not only in the day to day, but in the bigger picture. They should be eager to learn your industry, your culture, and your experience with marketing to that point. Once they get to know your flavor, they should very quickly begin delighting you with material that makes sense for you.

Insider tip: In your early dealings with the company, did you feel they were listening and interested? Did they have suggestions about the best marketing options for you? Before or after you chat with them, make sure to check out their reviews. Customers will often share how they felt about their interactions with the company.

4) Their innovation.

The right kind of marketing company is always improving. They will place a high priority on keeping up with the times and investing in the right resources and technology for your needs. Their understanding of SEO, blogging, social media, website design strategies, and print media should be cutting-edge, not just common knowledge. They should have strategies concerning what works in digital and print marketing, and why. They should be able to explain the best options for your specific needs.

Insider tip: Ask for a printed or electronic summary of their services. They should be able to answer your questions simply, and their pricing and payment options should be as clear as can be. Find out as much as you can about what they offer. If the way they talk about their work seems sloppy, hasty, or repetitive, this can be a red flag.

5) Their savvy.

Great marketing companies will invest in efficient technology. They’ll know more than a thing or two about the best ways to market your brand. They’ll give you a breakdown of options, they’ll work within your budget, and they’ll generally make you feel like you’re not their first customer. Ask them what platforms they use for their marketing, then go and look them up. They should have a strong grip on digital technology, apps, and the ways that marketing works in 2018.

Insider tip: Don’t get discouraged in your search! It will take a little work on your end to find the right team for you. The bottom line is this: Strong marketing doesn’t happen overnight, but it does get stronger with time. Don’t be afraid of doing your homework. Plenty of businesses fail to shop around for the right marketing team, and they end up roped into a pricey contract with a mass corporation who doesn’t have their success in mind. When you find the right marketing team, you’ll be glad you took your time.

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