To learn more about a potential marketing partner, it’s important to ask questions. However, it’s all about asking the right questions: ones that provide the most useful information. If you’ve ever attended a seminar about sales, you’ve probably heard about finding the client’s “pain” – the root cause. This is what this blog is all about. Here are some of the most common questions we receive, and how we turn good questions into great questions that lend useful insights into the industry of digital marketing.

Instead of Asking “Do You Have Experience in My Field?”

When it comes to talking to a marketing company, a binary question like this might seem simple, but it’s also closing doors. Depending on your industry, you might be in a fairly common field (i.e., American restaurants) or a very specialized field (i.e., carpet sales). When it comes down to it, the nuances of your particular field and niche within it can be learned (you did, and your employees did – right?). What you’re really curious about is if the marketing company can bring in customers and leads. So…

Ask “What Do You Know About How to Reach My Audience?”

This is a better, deeper, and more inviting question that encourages a great dialogue and mutual exploration.  Learn about the knowledge and tools your potential partner has to reach your audience. Is your company B2C? B2B? Are your services, products, or location meant for a specific demographic, and can the agency target them? These are the kind of questions that provide illuminating results.

Instead of Asking “What Does It Cost?”

We get it; the bottom line is a very important one for every business. But a simple number with a dollar sign in front of it isn’t going to give you the whole story because it doesn’t have necessary qualifying context to accompany it. If you’re just comparing two price points without knowing what goes into them, you won’t understand what goes into the higher one – or what sacrifices are present in the lower one. Instead…

Ask “What Factors into the Cost?”

Ask your potential partner to break it down. You might be surprised: what could seem like a straightforward process could actually have a lot of moving parts under the surface or a surprising lack thereof.  You won’t know until you ask.  For example: what could seem like simple posts to social media could also include response management, audience targeting, photo manipulation, reach research, and more.  This is where rich context is infinitely valuable.  Check out a quick rundown of costs to work with a digital agency in our blog: How Much Does It Cost to Work with a Marketing Agency?

Instead of Asking “How Long Will It Take?”

We rarely meet clients who want to take it slow. Many are simply interested in how long it takes, from the time they sign on the dotted line to getting their final result. However, the best projects are ones with ongoing timelines, client/partner collaborations, and micro goals. Because of all these interconnected pieces, collaborations, and back-and-forth on approval, selection, and content creation, maybe…

Ask “What are the Milestones in the Process, and How Can I Help?”

Regardless of what kind of plan you make with a marketing agency, there will be steps along the way from start to completion, often with the largest single hurdle being the client’s availability and involvement. So when you’re looking at a project, you want to have a sense of timeline and expectations.  Here are some popular questions we love to answer:

• When can I look at the first draft?
• What can I tell you about my company that can help?
• What content do you need from me?
• What do I need to approve, and when?
• How can I help you to help me?

It’s also important to know your own needs. Can you leave the project mostly automated, or will you be constantly providing edits, feedback, and requesting updates? This could alter end dates as the project changes due to your feedback and input.

Ready to put these questions to good use? Contact Vision Advertising. We’re a full-service marketing agency, specializing in internet marketing – from websites to social media and everything in-between. Contact us today to start the discussion and find out if partnering with a digital marketing agency is right for you.