Are you looking to get help with your content marketing? In our ongoing series, our CMI contributors are helping you find the right help for your content marketing efforts. Over the last two weeks, they have answered these questions:
- “Which parts of the content marketing process are best to outsource (e.g. strategy, process, content production, distribution, and measurement, etc?)”
- “When would I hire a marketing agency versus a consultant for content marketing?”
This week, our contributors share their insights on what to look for when hiring an agency for content marketing – so you know you’re hiring the right one. Next week, our contributors will help you understand what to look for when hiring a consultant.
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– Heidi Cohen (@heidicohen) |
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And since it’s an “agency,” make sure it offers you the advantage of a good synergy of skills and experience among the agency’s principals. Make sure they can make a strong ROI case for the strategies and tactics they recommend. Make sure you have a good, focused top-level analytics report in place with which to gauge the agency’s results. – Scott Frangos (@webfadds) |
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![]() However, there are two less obvious, but equally important, considerations when evaluating Content Marketing agencies:First, there’s your need to find an agency with the patience, compassion and resources necessary to be your trusted “trail guide” to a marketing communications approach that is rapidly evolving.Second, there’s your need to learn how to be the right client for this evolving breed of creative agency. Success is a two way street! For more about how to be a successful client, please see: How to be a Successful Content Marketing Client.- Russell Sparkman (@fusionspark) |
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Anyone can cite a few client names, but in order to find a good agency-client fit, you need to ask these types of how questions to make sure your vision matches the agency’s vision. – Mike Sweeney (@mjsweeney) |
Summary
There are a number of things to consider when hiring an agency for content marketing:
- Do they have a track record of success?
- Do they specialize in your industry?
- Are they using content marketing themselves?
- Do they ask the right kind of questions?
- Can they provide you with ongoing reports to track your efforts?
- Is it a good personality fit?
- Does their vision match your vision?
- Are they willing to be your “trail guide” as you learn about content marketing?
As Joe mentioned, you can download this very simple spreadsheet to help you choose the right agency.
What else would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments section below.