Are marketing agencies worth it?

Marketing agencies have come under fire for exuberant pricing and dishonest practices in recent years. Is there still benefit to working with an agency?

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Why do agencies have such a poor reputation?

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As a new agency building relationships with the marketplace, we have come across a number of horror stories and negative connotations towards marketing agencies. Honestly, some agencies deserve that reputation because there has been a large amount of dishonesty in the marketplace, particularly in the realm of marketing technology applications such as paid advertisement, SEO and website design.

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Because of the newfound nature of these services, it has allowed some agencies to trick customers into lengthy contracts for services they don’t understand. All that said, marketing agencies can certainly help excel a businesses marketing and overall development but choosing the correct agency is critical.

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What should you look for in a marketing agency?

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When choosing a marketing agency to work with, it comes down to three key factors.

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Trust

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Trust is critical when working with an agency, particularly on the marketing applications you don’t fully understand. SEO is a key example of this, as many business owners do know understand what it is, and are subsequently sold subpar packages that do not deliver adequate outcomes. You need to be able to trust the agency you are working with, and some red flags to look out for are.

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• Lengthy contracts for seemingly “simple” service agreements. Ask yourself and the marketing agency you are looking to work with, why is it necessary to be locked into such a lengthy contract? 
• Not having a clear point of contact within the organisation to liaise with. If something is not up to your expectations, who can you contact to ensure a satisfactory result?
• Testimonials and social proof. Can they show or recommend business owners that are satisfied with their services? 

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Competency 

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The investments you make with a marketing agency can have huge upside to your business if well executed, but can also have the opposite effect if they are done poorly. When working with an agency, it is important to check they can actually deliver what they are selling you, and have hard proof of previous work. 

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Transparency 

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Is it clear what you are paying for, and what the resulting deliverables are? In order for both parties to reach a satisfactory agreement, they must both have a clear understanding of what service is actually being provided. Check your agreement to ensure that it clearly states the services and expectations, so there won’t be any confusion on the end result. 

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Overall, as long as you ensure you are working with the right marketing agency they can provide you with the tools to grow your business. 

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If you are looking for a trusted marketing agency, why not meet for a coffee and see what makes distinct unique?

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