4 Things Marketing Agencies Don't Want You to Know
You've seen the ads. They pop up all over the internet, offering to make your business "go viral" or turn it into "the next big thing."
They promise you success if you just give them a call and let them do all that hard work for you.
But do they really deliver?
Read on to learn more about why marketing agencies aren't ALWAYS worth your time—and money.
1. Agencies Say They're the Expert
Agencies often aren't the experts in their field, and they're not even doing the work you'll be paying for.
For example, agency executives are often not scrutinizing your image or marketing materials to ensure that you're presenting your brand or product in the best light possible—that’s what an actual marketing expert would be doing.
And many agencies have very little control over how much time is spent on each project because of their size and structure (and because there are often multiple clients).
So if you’re expecting someone who knows how to handle every aspect of your marketing strategy and design from start to finish, chances are pretty good that won't happen at just any marketing agency.
If YOU NEED to partner with a marketing agency because hiring someone in-house is not an option, then look for a boutique marketing agency that only serves a small number of clients. They are a diamond in the rough, but worth the effort to find. You'll either have a solopreneur that will become a part of your business, or a small team led by a marketing expert and trained to provide highly personalized marketing services.
2. Agencies Are Paid to Sell You Something You Don't Need
In a world where agencies are paid by the hour, project and month, they have an incentive to make sure the client is happy with the work they're doing. In other words, if you want something done right and you want it done fast, hire an agency.
When it comes down to it though; you don't need their services. You can do everything that agencies do yourself with some simple Google searches or YouTube tutorials (and maybe even LinkedIn). The better question is: Why would I pay for something I can do myself?
3. Agencies Charge Too Much and Too Little
The truth is that marketing agencies are in business to make money. They need a certain amount of revenue per month in order to pay their employees, rent office space, and provide the best service possible. Like anyone else you hire for a service, they aren't going to work for free or below cost just because you're new at this whole marketing thing.
However—and here's where it gets tricky—if you're not making any money from your website/blog/startup venture...it costs less to have a professional design it than if you choose instead to do it yourself in Wordpress or Blogger (which requires technical know-how).
In this case, unless your time has value on par with what an agency would charge for its services (and I'm guessing it doesn't), then paying someone else could actually be cheaper when all factors are considered.
4. Large Agencies Don't Get Results
Large agencies don't get results. If you've ever hired an agency, you know that they don't have the time or resources to focus on one client. When they do have time, it's usually because they're very small and need clients in order to pay their bills.
Large agency work isn't creative or innovative. Many agencies like to copy from what other agencies are doing than come up with new ideas of their own (they'll tell you "We're not creative!"). They think about what has worked for other clients so far and try replicating those tactics on your behalf—but that's not really being innovative, right?
Many of the larger agencies are also not strategic enough to help companies achieve their goals over time; they only care about getting paid next month. And when there aren't any fires burning anymore (i.e., results), then there won't be any money coming in either...
Conclusion
I know what you're thinking right now. You're probably thinking, "Who are you to tell me what I need?" Well think again, because I've been doing this for years and have seen firsthand how agencies can get in the way of your success.
If you want more information on how to avoid these common pitfalls and make better choices about your marketing, schedule a free consult with me! I'd love to share some tips with you on how to work with an agency or handle your own marketing efforts without one.