Hiring a new marketing agency is an investment in time and resources.
Hiring a marketing agency
Experienced marketing agencies offer a fresh perspective and can give clients insight into specific customers, products and business. Marketing agencies can remain focused on strategy, creative, etc., while not getting bogged down with business matters. They also provide expertise and support to in-house teams that are working at or above their capacity.
Specialty marketing agencies add value
In some cases, even when a company has one or more marketing agencies in its network, it may bring in a specialty firm that can help target a specific demographic, such as the Millennial or youth market. A specialty agency can successfully execute a certain type of program proficiently and develop relevant assets. The right agency working within its area of expertise should be able to execute fresh, exciting work with creativity and efficiency.
Marketing agency hiring process
Once the decision to hire a marketing agency is made, the following are valuable steps in the agency hiring process.
Request For Proposal
Request For Proposal (RFP)
A good first step is for the company to identify and document its needs. Doing this gives a prospective agency insight into the company’s goals. It can also help stakeholders within the company’s organization align on key elements of the program and prevent unmet expectations later. The approach to documenting your needs can vary from listing a few key points written in an email to a detailed Request for Proposal.
A good RFP will outline the following:
- Business and brand background and positioning
- Summary of desired work and objectives (include any special expectations and considerations)
- Details on targeted consumers (and customers and/or distribution and retail systems if appropriate)
- Budget
- Timelines for responding to the brief and for the program
Some clients prefer not to provide budget information, however a budget is necessary in guiding the agency to develop feasible solutions to the company’s marketing challenges. Agencies will spend a great deal of time and energy responding to an RFP, therefore potential clients should be clear with the agency about the following:
- If an agency may not be hired as a result of the process
- If funding has not been approved for the agency’s proposed projects
Research
Research Potential Agencies
There are a few ways to research potential agencies. You might network within your organization or research trade publications. When you identify a potential candidate, you should have an initial phone interview with the agency to discuss your project and the agency’s capabilities.
As you conduct this interview, consider the following:
- Does the agency really do the things you’re looking for or are they just saying, “we can do everything”?
- Can the agency provide examples of past work (done in the last three years) that is relevant to your needs?
- Does the agency have other clients that you think can serve as a reference point for your own needs/goals?
- Is there chemistry and personality fit?
- Does the agency have a formal system to manage work and update clients on progress?
- How does the agency staff client accounts?
- How does the agency bill for services?
RFP Discussion
Provide the RFP
When selecting agencies to respond to the Request for Proposal, be available to discuss it with each agency. Remember, the more details you communicate about your project, the more likely the proposals will fit your needs. Give each agency a reasonable RFP due date of at least two weeks.
Evaluation
Evaluate the Agency Proposals
Plan to review agency proposals in-person or via phone conference, allowing the agency to present the proposal and not just email it to you to read. Criteria for evaluating proposals should be identified in advance and consistently applied to each agency. This typically includes agency expertise, topline concepts, ability to execute, how the program will be measured, budget analysis and other factors specific to the project.
Hiring
Hiring
Hiring the agency typically involves signing a service agreement, agreeing on a payment schedule and having a kick-off meeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Fuse different from other marketing agencies?
Fuse focuses on teen and young adult consumers. Fuse presents a client’s message in an authentic voice that is critical in connecting with young consumers.
How does Fuse work with new clients?
A relationship with a new client typically starts with a phone call or a meeting between one of Fuse’s Partners or Directors and a prospective client. This initial meeting is to determine if the client’s objectives and Fuse’s experience are a match.
The information that Fuse seeks to determine if there’s a fit includes:
- Background information on the client’s specific project and goals
- Details on a project budget
- Timeline of the program
Fuse will then develop a proposal and present it to the prospective client to provide its services.
Does Fuse respond to RFPs (Request For Proposals)?
Fuse will respond to an RFP if the agency’s Partners and Directors feel that the project is a good fit and after the agency has met the prospective client in person or by phone. Please either submit your RFP here or via email: rfp@fusemarketing.com
How does Fuse determine a project’s costs and its agency fees?
Fuse develops fees based on the projected number of agency hours dedicated to a project or group of projects. Agency fees include the cost of agency staff compensation, overhead and an agency profit margin. In addition to fees, project expenses are estimated in advance and billed to our clients. In most cases, project expenses are billed at cost.
Is Fuse a local, regional, or national agency?
Fuse works mainly in the U.S, but also executes programs in Europe, South America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
My company has one or more agencies at our disposal. Why would I need Fuse?
Most of Fuse’s clients are national and global brands that work with several agencies. Our exclusive focus is on marketing services targeting teens and young adults, which provides clients and their agency roster with added expertise and value when talking to younger consumers. Fuse often collaborates with other agencies.
Marketing Terms and Definitions
Focus Groups
Focus groups are a method of research in which individuals are asked their views on products, advertising, or their experiences in order to gather insights about their attitudes and behaviors.
Similar Terms: Market research
Digital Survey
A digital survey is a research tool used to gather and measure consumer insights via the internet.
Similar Terms: Online survey
Brand Positioning
Brand positioning is part of a brand’s strategy in which it strives to inhabit a specific position in the minds of consumers relative to its competitors.
Similar Terms: Branding, product positioning
Marketing Plan
A marketing plan is a document that outlines the strategy and tactics to meet business objectives.
Similar Terms: Business plan
Grassroots Marketing
Often using nontraditional advertising and marketing methods, grassroots marketing targets precise audiences by appealing to their interests.
Similar Terms: Word of mouth, niche marketing
Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing uses key leaders in a consumer segment to amplify a brand’s message to a larger audience.
Similar Terms: Brand ambassadors
Partnership Marketing
Partnership marketing is based on two companies which share common consumers, joining forces to reach those consumers in a unique way.
Similar Terms: Co-marketing
Community Management
Community management is a brand’s effort to build strong relationships with its social media fans and followers by demonstrating value to those community members.
Similar Terms: Online customer service
Social Media Promotions
Social media promotions are contests and other programs used to grow a brand’s social media following or increase its community engagement.
Similar Terms: Online sweepstakes
Social Media Advertising
Social media advertising utilizes the demographic information and targeting capabilities (geotargeting, behavioral, etc.) of social media sites to reach specific consumer groups.
Similar Terms: Online advertising, social media marketing
Sponsorship Activation
Sponsorship activation is a brand’s plan to utilize the sponsorship assets they have purchased to maximize awareness, grow sales, or achieve some other business objective.
Similar Terms: Sponsorship execution
Event Experience Design
Event experience design is the development of a brand’s physical “footprint” that will provide consumers with a memorable experience while they engage with the brand.
Similar Terms: Event presence, sponsor presence
Mobile Marketing Tour
Mobile marketing tours are a form of experiential marketing that typically use custom vehicles to access consumers in markets across a wide geographic area.
Similar Terms: Promotional tours, pop-up stores
Promotional Products
Promotional products are branded items companies give to consumers for free usually to increase awareness, motivate them to purchase a product, or as a gift with a purchase they have already made.
Similar Terms: Premiums, swag
Guerrilla Marketing
Guerilla marketing is the implementation of non-traditional, unconventional, and low-cost marketing tactics.
Similar Terms: Viral marketing, buzz marketing
Paid Media
Paid media, particularly relative to digital media, is media a brand pays for to reach consumers on a large scale. It includes Google AdWords, search and display advertising, SEO and PPC campaigns, social media platform advertising and promoted posts, and more.
Similar Terms: Earned media, owned media
Earned Media
Earned media includes publicity gained through a brand’s marketing and promotional efforts other than advertising. Relative to digital media, earned media is usually content picked up by other sites, mentions, shares, reposts, reviews, or recommendations.
Similar Terms: Free media, owned media
Content
Content is information used or created by a brand to attract and retain its customers. Brands strive to make their content relevant, interesting, entertaining whether it’s in the form of text, images, video or audio.
Similar Terms: Content marketing
Graphic Design
Graphic design is the visual communication that combines images and words to convey a brand’s marketing message to consumers.
Similar Terms: Art direction, design
Art Direction
Art direction is the unification of the overall visual appearance of a brand – from visual elements, style, messages, and concepts – all leading to a design that supports a brand’s positioning.
Similar Terms: Graphic design
Visual Identity
A visual identity includes a logo, wordmark, color palette, typeface, and other elements that combined create a consistent visual brand representation.
Similar Terms: Branding, design
Package Design
Package design is creating the visual outer design of a product a consumer purchases at retail.
Similar Terms: Branding, graphic design
Copywriting
Copywriting is writing for a range of advertising, marketing and promotional tactics.
Similar Terms: Advertising
Print Collateral
Print collateral includes any marketing and promotional items such as business cards, letterhead, brochures, fliers, postcards, signage, and more.
Similar Terms: Collateral design