How do you choose the digital agency that best suits you?

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How do you choose the digital agency that best suits you?

Digital Growth
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Discover the 10 key considerations

The decision is made: your company is teaming up with a digital agency that will breathe new life into your online presence.

But how do you select the partner that best suits your company, its culture, and your objectives? Choosing a digital agency is not a decision to be taken lightly. Below, you’ll find 10 considerations that can help you in selecting a digital agency. Use these as a checklist for each candidate and then compare the results.

1. Does the agency adequately align with your business and objectives?

An agency that understands your exact needs and goals and integrates them fully into their approach is invaluable. For example, analyze whether the agency is willing to use the same parameters and KPIs that you use internally.

Also, take a look at the objectives the agency proposes. Are they realistic and achievable from the perspective of your business?

2. How transparent is the agency about its approach and data sharing?

As a client, you want results, but clear communication with the agency is equally important. So, ask how the agency shares campaigns, data, and decisions. Is there a common platform? How do the briefings work? How are the budgets allocated across the actions?

3. What are the agency’s specializations?

Some agencies have a particular focus or specialty that they frequently recommend to their clients, such as SEO, paid advertising, content marketing, or social media. By reviewing the cases presented, you can often identify a recurring theme or the areas of emphasis the agency focuses on.

4. Does the digital agency share its knowledge with the client?

Be cautious of agencies that try too hard to become indispensable, as they may not add extra value to your business. You’ll quickly notice if an agency is willing to share knowledge. Do they offer workshops? Share tips on online tools? Explain how the results were achieved? An agency that delivers results is a good partner, but an agency that also shares its knowledge with the client is an even better partner.

5. What do the agency’s website and social media look like?

You can often deduce the values and style of an agency from its website and social media profiles. Be sure to check the following sections (if they exist):

  • Cases: In which sectors has the agency already been active? What were the approaches and results?
  • Services: Is there any essential service that you may or may not find?
  • Client reviews: What do others say about the agency? (Check the review page on Facebook)

6. What is the size of the digital agency?

A large agency doesn’t necessarily achieve bigger results. The success of a collaboration depends more on the chemistry between the client and the agency than on the number of floors and departments.

A larger agency may offer more in-house services, but a more hierarchical structure often leads to less flexibility and slower follow-up. If you want personalized service with team members who can quickly and flexibly adapt, seizing opportunities as they arise, then choose a small or medium-sized agency.

7. Does the agency engage in online marketing themselves, and how?

Also, pay attention to how the agency manages its own online marketing. Be cautious of an agency that loudly advocates for clients to advertise on Google but has never spent a cent on Google Ads themselves. An agency that engages in online marketing keeps a pulse on new techniques and developments in the field, ensuring they remain up to date with the latest trends and strategies.

8. Does the agency invest enough in itself?

Choose an agency that doesn’t just focus on executing strategies and tasks for clients. Look at what the agency does to stand out. Do they have a blog? Do they share content via their own channels? Do they participate in competitions? Have they won any awards or prizes? Is the agency a member of digital networks like Google Partner?

9. How much experience does the agency have with clients in your sector?

An agency that has been handling online communication for large IT companies for years will have to make a significant shift if they’re tasked with marketing a local shoe store online. The language, industry-specific jargon, hierarchy, and target audience – every sector has its own nuances. If the agency already has experience with clients in your sector, that’s definitely a plus.

10. What are the rates of the digital agency?

… how cheap or expensive is the agency? But more importantly, what are the possible pricing structures? Do you prefer working on a project basis, with a fixed price, or with a set number of hours?