EST 1980
Finding a digital agency nowadays is easy…but finding a creative digital agency?
That’s a bit more challenging. A creative digital agency not only knows the tactics to get your business exposure on the internet and social media, but also has the wherewithal to come up with the best foundational strategy before ever publishing a tweet.
When you're looking for a digital agency, you want to make sure they can deliver the results you need. But that's not all: You also need an agency that fits your brand and your style of working. The best agencies will help you reach your goals, but they'll also make you feel comfortable along the way.
Here are eight (8) things you should look for in a creative-focused agency.
They know your industry
While it may seem like a no-brainer, it’s important to ask about the agency’s experience with your industry. If they don't have any, their solution might be very different from what you want. For example, if you run a fashion brand and are looking for someone who has done similar projects before, finding out that they don't have any experience in this area can help you avoid wasting time and money on them.
They produce results.
Strong digital agencies have a proven track record of success. They have achieved measurable results for their clients and know how to do it again. A good digital agency will be able to show you results like:
- Increased
- Increased conversion rates
- Increased brand awareness
These are the types of results that matter in most cases. If your agency is not able to show you these kinds of results, then they may not be the right fit for your business.
They know how to build relationships.
This may seem obvious, but it's worth stressing: A good creative digital agency will have a solid understanding of your business goals and how those relate to their work. They should have an idea about the sort of work you do and the kind of clients you want to attract.
They should also be able to explain how their services will help achieve these goals in terms that are clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate.
When building this understanding with their clients, they can't afford to take shortcuts by being rushed or uninterested; they need patience and consistency in order to build trust between themselves and their clientele—trust which is especially important when dealing with sensitive matters like creating new brand identities or designing websites for businesses.
They're creative, but also strategic.
You may be wondering why it matters if an agency is only creative or strategic. As it turns out, you can't have one without the other. When a digital agency is both strategic and creative, they put together a plan that meets your specific needs—from strategy to execution to measurement—and gives you the best possible chance of success.
You'll know you've found such an agency when they use both creativity and strategy to build a successful campaign for you; not just one or the other. Your success depends on having a full picture of what's working and what isn't, which means knowing how each part of your campaign interacts with its environment:
- Who are we talking to?
- What kind of people do they like?
- What kind of content do they respond well to?
- And how much time do I have left before my project deadline?
When you work with a strategic, creative agency, they'll be able to answer those questions for you.
They'll know how to build an audience that's interested in what you have to say and how to reach them; they'll tell a story that's compelling enough to get people talking about it; they'll create content that works in every medium and format possible (including video); and finally, they'll measure everything so that you can see what's working and what isn't—and adjust accordingly.
They're detail-oriented.
There are a lot of details involved in building a website or digital experience. A good agency will do the little things right, and that's what you want to look for in an agency partner. They'll make sure the work is done right, they'll be able to help you with any questions you have, and they'll be able to explain the process and timeline so that you're confident about their abilities.
You should also look for an agency that provides a lot of value. They should have experience with your industry. You also want them to be up-to-date on the latest trends in digital marketing and web design so that they can help you stay competitive.
They have the right tools.
The digital agency you choose should be equipped with the to help you manage your content, understand your audience, and measure the success of your efforts. When you're deciding which agency to hire for a project, it's important to consider what kind of support they provide.
A strong creative digital agency will not only have expertise in creating beautiful websites and apps, but they should also have an arsenal of tools that help you manage your social media presence and automate some parts of your online marketing strategy so that you don't waste time unnecessarily.
A good example would be Marketing Platform which provides companies with all kinds of functionality including:
- Lead Scoring (so you can track leads throughout their lifecycle)
- Inbound Call Tracking (to see where calls are coming from)
- Social Media Management (so someone else isn't managing this for you)
You can't have inbound marketing without a powerful CRM to back it up!
Not 100% on what a CRM can do for your business? Watermark is offering free self-serve training videos to guide you on how a CRM can enhance your sales and marketing teams.
They can work with your content management system (CMS).
A content management system (CMS) is software that allows you to manage your website’s content. It can be as simple as allowing you to add text and images, or it can be powerful enough for you to build an entire website from scratch by uploading templates, adding content, and editing the code in between.
It’s important to know if the agency you are considering has experience with your CMS because some don’t. If they don’t, asking questions regarding their willingness to learn a new platform can help build trust that the agency will be able to successfully complete the project.
They have a robust reporting process.
A good reporting process is essential for any creative digital agency. You want to be able to see how well your campaign is doing and what you can do to improve it. A good reporting process will provide a few key things:
- A clear breakdown of your goals and objectives for the campaign
- An in-depth look at how well each goal was met, or not met
- A way for you to see where there are opportunities for improvement
A good reporting process will provide a few key things: A clear breakdown of your goals and objectives for the campaign An in-depth look at how well each goal was met, or not met A way for you to see where there are opportunities for improvement
The best agencies can help you reach your goals, and make you feel comfortable along the way.
The best agencies will help you reach your goals, and make you feel comfortable along the way.
The best creative digital agencies should be able to explain the process of creating a campaign to you. You should feel comfortable asking them questions, and they should be able to provide examples of their work that demonstrates their expertise in working with your type of clientele or industry.
Conclusion
We hope this guide helps you find the right digital agency for your business. Remember, there are many different types of agencies to choose from—and a creative agency might not be the most appropriate type for every project. But if you’re looking to build and grow your brand with an experienced team of professionals, hiring a creative digital agency can help you stay ahead of trends and competitors.
About Watermark:
As an marketing agency, we strive to captivate your audience and elevate your brand through Smart Design and Creative Solutions. We believe marketing is a collaborative effort, achieved by practicing agility and working cohesively with your team, not for it. Using data-driven solutions, we implement the best practices necessary to help your business exceed KPIs.
Take your marketing to the next level with a free assessment:
Ready to start the conversation? Speak with our senior digital consultant today.
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