Do you feel exhausted juggling daily responsibilities with content production for various media?
The Inbound Marketing Agency Checklist
If you don’t have the bandwidth or knowledge internally to execute inbound marketing campaigns, blogging, social media and reporting, a talented inbound marketing agency may be the solution. While many agencies specialize in inbound marketing, it’s important to be selective to ensure the agency is a strategic and cultural match with your team. When you do your research, go through the checklist below to select a successful inbound marketing agency.
1. Is the inbound marketing agency dedicated to education?
Education is an important part of inbound marketing. Find out whether the agency team has been trained and certified in inbound marketing. If the agency partners with HubSpot, check if all employees have gone through the certification programs. In addition, your contact person should also be willing to teach your internal team on the inbound methodology and best practices for the various services. Some agencies offer strategic inbound workshops to kick-start a campaign.
2. Does the agency offer the right services for your business?
Be clear about what you are looking for in an agency and see if the core services of the agency match those needs. A full-circle content marketing strategy requires much more than just writing. In addition to inbound marketing content creation, it is important that the agency knows SEO and analytics. Optimizing digital content is crucial for the awareness stage, and you won’t know whether a campaign is working without measuring strategies.
Content doesn't have to be solely written copy. If your inbound strategy calls for video and other digital media, check to see if the agency offers these services or if you would need to seek a second partner.
3. Is the ultimate focus on end results?
Once you have an initial meeting with the agency, pay attention to what questions you will be asked about your business. Do they ask about your current challenges? Are they interested in both your short-term and long-term goals? An inbound marketing agency should care and adapt to the client’s objectives.
4. Does the agency’s online presence support their best practices?
The website and published content of an inbound marketing agency should meet inbound best practices. Check the agency’s listed social media accounts to make sure they are still active and consistent with main services and values. The agency blog should have relevant content on inbound marketing and publish at least two posts a week.
5. What are the success stories?
Look for client testimonials and case studies on the agency’s website. If none are listed, ask for some examples sent to you directly. This will let you determine whether your company’s size and industry fits the agency’s experience. Furthermore, look for statistics that show impact and results, and whether they match the initial goal of the client.
Share Your Experience
Partnering with the right inbound marketing agency will take some research, understanding of inbound marketing and trust with the agency’s team. Once you have selected the best fit for your company’s unique challenges, an inbound marketing agency will save you time and help achieve your business goals.
Of course this checklist doesn't cover every aspect of a successful agency. What did I miss? Continue the checklist in the comments below!
