How to Choose the Right Content Marketing Agency for You

Content has become a huge part of business and marketing today. High-quality content can improve website traffic and place you high on search engine rankings. But creating quality content on a large scale is not easy. This is where content marketing agencies can help your brand.

A content marketing agency can assist business owners in creating and publishing quality content. They can generate leads, sell products, or increase business visibility. Some people mistakenly assume that a content agency will just produce content for them.

People don't realize the importance of the other services they offer. Agencies are in the business of producing and curating content. Their job is to help you create and optimize a high-performance content strategy.

Seven Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Content Marketing Agency

1. Have You Handled Businesses Like Ours Before?

The first thing you need to understand from an agency is if they've handled a business like yours. Ideally, they should have a roster of clients similar to your business. Ensure you clearly understand how they approach your business and vice versa. 

Here’s an example of a content marketing agency displaying their roster of clients:

2. What Would Be Your Budget For Our Engagement?

Budget is one of the more critical aspects of an engagement. The agency you're looking to hire needs to match your budget. Most companies have a bit of wiggle room when it comes to budgeting. If they're above your budget, ask them if they're willing to negotiate. 

Here’s an example of a content marketing agency displaying their prices, allowing clients to plan their budget:

Read: Tips to Build Local Engagement

3. What Tools Do You Use As Part Of Your Process?

Any content marketing agency needs to have a suite of tools to help them get results. Some companies are not very keen to divulge what they use. The truth is that they have no reason to keep it a secret. It would be better to opt for companies that share their tools with you. 

Here’s an example of a content marketing agency displaying the tool it uses:

4. Will You Share Details Of The Team Working With Us?

As tools, the team you work with is also important. As a customer, you need to know their experience, strengths, and weaknesses. It can help you estimate what you're going to get with them. Setting expectations becomes easier for your team. 

Here’s an example of a content marketing agency sharing details of its team members:

5. Do You Outsource Work From Your Agency?

Outsourcing has become one of the more important questions for agencies today. It can greatly compromise data security, resulting in information breaches. The severity of this depends on the leaked data. Ideally, an agency should get everything done in-house.

Here’s an example of a content marketing agency announcing that it has all the talent required to get everything done in-house:

Read: Things to Consider Before You Choose a Company to Outsource Your SEO

6. Could You Share Details Of Past Engagements With Us?

When dealing with an agency, they should be open to sharing performance with past clients. This acts as proof of their work, and they don't have any reason to keep it from you. It can give you important pointers about their capabilities.

Here’s an example of a content marketing agency sharing details of its past engagements with clients:

7. What Is Your Typical Turnaround Time, And How Do You Handle Feedback?

Getting a turnaround time from them helps you draw up estimates of your pipeline. Time means money, and you need a company that can deliver quick turnarounds.

Content Marketing Agency - FAQs

1. Is Content Important To My Business' SEO?

Content is very important for your business. If you don't have content for your site, you can lose customers and lose traffic to your site. 

Here’s an example of a content marketing agency displaying how quickly they can get back to inquiries:

2. Do I Need A Content Marketing Agency?

Yes, content marketing can become difficult to scale. It can take resources away from your core business. This results in lower performance. Hiring a content agency can help you get improved results. 

3. How To Choose The Best Content Marketing Agency?

There are several things to consider when you hire a content marketing agency. You need to understand their business and capabilities. Checking if they align with your budget is also critical.

4. Should I Opt For A Freelancer Or An Agency?

Opting for a freelancer might be cheaper but will be difficult to handle. There are limits to what they can offer for your business if you grow. An agency, meanwhile, can offer more headcount and much quicker turnarounds. 

Key Takeaways

• Understand everything you possibly can about an agency before you hire them.
• Discuss with potential agencies to create a better relationship. It can even lower your costs. 
• Ask them for proof of their performance when it comes to their clients. 
• Focus on business transparency - outsourcing is a red flag that needs to be looked at.