In this article:
Whether you’re a one-man team or you already have a marketing team in place, there are plenty of reasons to consider collaborating with a marketing agency. Often, organisations overlook the possibility of getting external advice and help until they are in a position to need it.
What might this look like in practice? You find yourself lacking marketing expertise and frantically searching for additional team members. Or, you lack the time to fully execute the marketing strategy you have outlined. Or you are simply not achieving the objectives you set out for.
Generally, there are many signs that you can be on the lookout for to recognise when it might be time to get an extra helping hand. In this article, we cover 9 signs it might be time to hire a marketing agency. Armed with this knowledge, you can be proactive in your decision-making process. Let’s jump right into it:
1. Marketing is not your expertise
It’s impossible for one person to be an expert in all areas of business. Furthermore, even within marketing, there are so many different areas that it’s very difficult for one person to keep up with it all.
If you have an in-house marketing department, you are already taking steps in the right direction. However, your marketing team may lack expertise in the area you need most. If, for example, your SEO is lacking, you may want to consider hiring SEO marketing specialists to assist you in your marketing efforts. In this scenario, you search for a marketing agency with complementary skills to your own.
2. Your marketing efforts are not paying off
You may have a marketing team with all the skills needed to execute the marketing strategy, however, you are not achieving the results you had hoped for. This may be a sign that a fresh pair of eyes is needed. Working with a marketing agency is an effective way to evaluate your current marketing efforts and marketing goals to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement. Many agencies offer audits of your marketing activities which can help you identify the areas in which you need the most support.
3. You want to be at the forefront of marketing developments
Marketing is a rapidly developing field, with new trends and approaches appearing almost daily. It can become a full-time job trying to keep up with industry developments. The easy solution is to join arms with a marketing agency. Agencies often have access to the latest tools and technologies that allow them to stay one step ahead in the marketing game.
Tip! Make sure to evaluate the expertise of the agency you are planning on hiring - if you need help doing so check out our list of questions to ask your marketing agency.
4. There’s simply no time left for marketing
This one mainly targets small business owners who often find themselves wearing many "hats" during the day. If you are rushing to get sales done and ensure your finances are in order, marketing can fall on the back burner.
This may indicate that you need some external help. In such cases, you should not spend additional time trying to recruit and train a marketer. Instead, you should collaborate with a good marketing agency that can jump in immediately and take the burden of marketing off your hands.
5. Your content is not useful or resonating with your audience
If you find yourself spending countless hours carefully crafting marketing content, but you’re not getting the response you hoped for it may be time to re-evaluate. It may be the case that you are not creating the content your target audience wants to see or finds useful. Or your content creation process may be lacking. In such cases, a marketing agency can help you re-evaluate your content strategy and create tailored content suited to the needs and wants of your ideal customer.
6. You are struggling to create a marketing team
You might be lacking the budget to create a full marketing team. Or you may be struggling to find the people with the right experience and culture fit for your organisation. Whichever may be the case, the fast and easy solution to this problem is collaborating with a marketing agency. This guarantees a team of diverse experts who can cover all your marketing needs (and it saves you time and money on training and onboarding costs).
7. Sales are stagnant or slowing
If you were experiencing a growth in sales that now seems to be slowing down (or has stopped) it may be time to take a closer look at your marketing.
Often, when sales momentum slows down it is a moment to ensure that your marketing activities are effectively reaching your target audience and bringing in new business. Marketing is not only about getting your brand out there, instead, the bottom line should be new business.
Therefore, the more people are aware of your brand and what you stand for, the easier it is for them to reach out to you once they require your services.
8. You are falling behind your competition
If you find yourself constantly one step behind your competition, upping your marketing game might help. Often, your competitors are already collaborating with agencies who help them stay ahead in the marketing game. This can make it extra difficult for your business to keep up with. In such cases, an advertising agency can give you the competitive edge you need to outshine your competition.
9. You are rapidly expanding your business
If you find yourself expanding your business, it may be effective to get input from a marketing agency. This can be in the case of entering a new market or expanding into new business areas. When starting something new and unfamiliar, it is always a good idea to get external input. Often, you can find a marketing agency specialised in the area related to your expansion, hence providing you with expert advice.
If you find yourself experiencing one or more of these scenarios, it may be time to consider hiring a marketing agency. And if you are now wondering which marketing agency would be a good choice, we have got you covered with our list of top 5 growth hacking agencies in Europe!
