*Knock Knock*
Hi! Do you have a business idea or a product at your disposal that is ready to take over the world? You have worked countless hours on it, conducted the requisite research, and are sure that this particular idea/product will dominate the market for years to come. Congratulation! But, our question is – how will you amplify its existence to the public as compared to its competitors in the same space?
The Indian ad market’s value will be nearly $11 Billion in 2022, a 22% growth from 2021. Clearly, advertising agencies in India are utilizing this space to help companies progress and thrive. But, how does one even choose which agency is the ideal agency for their needs and budget?
Choosing the right marketing agency for your enterprise can be confusing! There are many agencies with different specializations and experiences vying for your attention. Unfortunately, there is no magical answer to your marketing inquiries and challenges. You may need to try a few different trade-offs before extrapolating what you do or don’t want in an agency. Ultimately, choosing the right agency means setting realistic expectations and working closely with the agency team that has the appropriate skills and agility to help you achieve your goal at the right time and on a fixed budget.
In this article, let’s delve into the nitty gritty details to help you make a more informed choice for your business.
Different Types of Agencies
- Creative Agency
Great design can speak for itself. A creative agency’s core philosophy is guided by presenting aesthetic designs for all the work that they do. Building a brand from the ground with the power of design. For example, attracting customers by curating attractive and creative packaging. Businesses rely on design experts and strategists at such creative agencies to bring their ideas to life.
- Advertising Agency
An advertising agency is typically responsible for creating campaigns for products and services that leave a lasting impression on consumers. They are dedicated to planning, designing, conceptualizing, and creating multiple layered marketing campaigns for various channels, from television, press, and radio to the internet.
With the shift from traditional media to digital media consumption – agencies’ evolution has been significant. Today, most agencies offer businesses an even broader range of media options, from programmatic buys to social media and, for some, even on-site experiential placements. Regardless, an advertising agency helps businesses strategically plan when and where to advertise so they can promptly reach their target market.
- PR Agency
Public Relations agencies promote businesses and companies through paid earned media. What is earned media? Earned media entails the publicity garnered through promotions efforts. A PR agency comes under the umbrella of a branding agency.
Tips To Keep In Mind While Choosing
- Define your essential marketing requirements
What is your target audience? Who are your competitors, and what are you doing differently? Where do you stand in the market, and who are you as a company? Do you have an in-house marketing team, or would you require the services of every single segment of the marketing collateral needed to broadcast your brand’s message? Is your team capable of handling a higher volume of leads generated through marketing efforts?
All such questions need to be answered before you look to acquire the services of an advertising agency. They will help you narrow down the options based on the resources at your disposal.
- Keep your budget at the forefront
Before the pitches to get your account come in from the aforementioned agencies, you need to have a detailed breakdown of your budget. Once again, you would need to answer questions from yourself, such as what is your total marketing budget. Are you looking to spend money on paid media or solely want to advertise on social media? What are the areas of risk you as the company look to avoid?
- What are your KPIs
Setting KPIs is crucial when working with an agency as it sets expectations and demands accountability. So before you go to that meeting with the potential agency team, consider providing them with the details for the expected outcome. Do you have a target number of leads per month? At what price? Is there a detailed sales figure you want to achieve? Know your goals, but also make sure your investment matches the objective you want to achieve. Both parties can agree on the level of agility and engagement for the duration of the partnership.
- Culture of the agency
How an agency functions and operates is of utmost importance in terms of the prerequisites for hiring them. They need to have a culture where ideas thrive, and free-flowing information traverses seamlessly. The best way to judge an agency’s culture is via its culture video. For example:
- The agency’s experience and creativity
How well versed are they at researching industries and the market space? How many years of experience do they have in their own field? Have they handled clients such as you before? What does their track record look like? Do they do a similar level of work across verticals? How creatively inclined is their team? Are they sector agnostic?
It’s pretty simple, to be honest – why would you want to put the fate of your brand into the hands of an agency that doesn’t meet ANY of these requirements?
And Therefore…
The world is changing rapidly, making brands evolve and adapt to stay ahead of the curve. Whether it is having a kickass social media presence or an inquisitive TVC, advertisements occupy a good chunk of the digital content.
A marketing study shows that if you generate $1 million a year, you should be spending roughly $50,000 on marketing. That’s a 5% sales revenue rule. How are you looking to separate yourself from the crowd?
We are Buffalo Soldiers – an advertising agency in India, and we are well versed in all aspects of marketing and branding. The track record we possess is unparalleled as we are an award-winning full-service creative agency. The array of clients we serve ranges from IT to NGOs to FinTech to Education and so on. It is a matter of pride for us when we say that we are sector agnostic and our ensemble of working professionals has a knack for getting things done – to reap the maximum reward.
Buffalo Soldiers offers a free consultation. Our team will help you curate a marketing plan and explain how we will deploy our strategy to take your brand to the next level.
