Define your objectives and goals

This will help you decide how much money, time and resources you want to spend on your marketing efforts.

Setting objectives will also aid you in determining which aspects of marketing are critical to your business. This will also provide the agency guidance in terms of budget and approach.

Ask for referrals

The simplest approach to navigate the murky waters of selecting the right marketing agency is to ask people you know for referrals.

After all, if they have first hand experience of using a marketing agency with positive results , it makes sense to follow their lead.

If you know someone who has worked with an agency in the past, ask them if they would mind giving you the details so that you can speak with them directly.

Do your research

The first step would be to browse marketing agencies websites. This will give you an idea of what they offer and their style. Familiarise yourself with the types of services they provide – including SEO, social media and PPC – so you know which areas best fit your needs.

If the agency is established, there should be some reviews for you to analyse the company’s results for others. Take note of the agency’s clients and what they have to say about their services. These can be found on Google, LinkedIn or other review sites.

Shortlist marketing agencies

It sounds obvious, but it’s always good to start with a list of agencies you’re thinking of approaching. Once you’ve got this list together, begin doing your research by checking out their websites and social media profiles to get an insight into the types of work they create. They should be able to show off their past projects and promote their expertise, so it’s worth paying attention to what they’re posting on social media.

Arrange agency meetings

Once you’ve gathered your shortlist, it’s time to begin the next stage of research by getting in touch for an introductory meeting with each agency. These meetings are a great way to get to know an agency, to find out how they work and to understand what they have to offer your business. They’ll also be able to advise you on their process of working, so it’s well worth asking all the necessary questions during this meeting.

Make a decision

After your initial meetings, you’ll be able to narrow down your list of potential agencies and figure out which ones are ideal for your company.

You may be in between a couple of options, where you’ll need to schedule a quick follow-up meeting to make a definitive choice.

The important thing is to not to rush your decision, make sure that it feels right for your business.

Once you’ve decided on which agency is right for your business, it’s time to enter start building your marketing strategy.

If you’ve chosen correctly, this relationship should help your business grow and be more successful than ever before.