How to Choose the Right Creative Agency

Launching a new business? Think you need a brand refresh? Planning a strategic marketing campaign? Or simply feel your current agency has grown dull and complacent?

Whatever your motive, you need some expert help. But with so many companies competing for your account, choosing the right agency becomes a challenge. Here are some tips to help you decide.

1. Have clear objectives

Before you even begin talking to agencies, decide what kind of services you require. Decide if you prefer a multi-location MNC or a creative studio; a small local startup or an agency with a national portfolio. If you want to go digital, pick an agency that has proven experience in that field. Decide you need a rebrand, and go for companies that deliver integrated branding services and have some satisfied clientele to their name. Whatever your primary need, define it and then team up with an agency that has experience in it. Setting clear goals will provide a good starting point for both parties.

2. Check out the agency's financial background and past record

If you're looking for some limited work, a smaller agency may serve you well. But if you need full-service support, then you need a bigger agency with multi-disciplinary skills and good resources to deliver efficiently and competently.

3. Don’t hire an agency, hire a partner

Marketing, communication, brand building - they all call for creativity and cooperation. So you need an agency with a culture that gels with yours. You need people who are collaborative, innovative and proactive. You need an agency who will take the time to listen to you, study your business and market, share research and analyses and work as a partner rather than a vendor. You need an agency who thinks long-term, and with whom you can build a relationship.

4. Location doesn’t matter too much

In today’s world of connectivity, physical distances don’t really matter. You can keep in touch from anywhere. So there’s no need to restrict yourself to a specific location. If you locate an agency with the skills, experience and culture that matches your check list, talk to them, even if they are located in another city.

5. Search beyond Google

While Google search is a good starting point when searching for a creative agency, it pays to ask around your network of business and personal contacts and see if anyone has any recommendations. Many small agencies grow by referrals, and may not feature on Google search so you may miss out on some good up-and-coming agencies.

You could also browse trade associations and directories.

If yours is a smaller company without a big marketing budget, a smaller creative agency can be a good fit. While you may want to hire a larger, prominent name, larger agencies charge more for their services and their fees may be more than you can afford. So, if your budget is limited but you need a comprehensive package, check out some smaller up-and-coming agencies.

6. Evaluate the agency’s proposal

Flashy videos and general PPTs are all well and good, but their proposal for you should be really good.

In fact, before sending a proposal, it’s important that the agency meets with you in person. An initial face-to-face meeting should be mandatory at the beginning of the process. After all, you will be spending a lot of money and time and will be working with them long-term. So your prospective agency should take the time and effort to meet you.

After the meeting, a proposal is expected. It should outline the price of services, but more than that, it should be a customized blueprint of the work they will complete for you. If you are getting a ballpark figure, or a proposal that isn’t customized to your company, ask yourself if they are truly invested in figuring out who you are and what you need.

7. Ensure the agency offers comprehensive, integrated services

Marketing involves different activities, so chances are that one project will be connected to another. A well-rounded agency should have a high level of expertise in all aspects of marketing.

They might be working specifically on your website, but do they understand how it will work together with your social media? They may be designing your Corporate Identity but can they use it creatively in your exhibition stand design? A good creative agency may have its own specialization but should be able to recommend or advise you on all the services you require – for more effective integration and ROI.

Conclusion

Are you looking for a creative agency? Why not consider Interics Designs? Interics Designs is a multidisciplinary design agency providing solutions for brand building. Whether it is marketing, brand building or digital design solutions, Interics is passionate about building relationships with clients and designing solutions that deliver results.

Interics Designs, a reputed brand strategy firm in India, provides a comprehensive Corporate Identity Programme starting with research & analyses and extending to the full gamut of services. It partners with clients and utilizes a multidisciplinary team to deliver Brand Evaluation and Research, Corporate/ Brand Positioning, Brand Architecture, Identity Design Creation, Corporate/ Brand Identity Launch & Standardization across media, Website Design, Corporate Identity Manual Creation (CIM), and office branding solutions.

It is an integrated design agency with expertise across advertising, digital marketing, exhibition stand design & build, event planning, spatial branding and more. In short, you need to look no further.