Working with a marketing agency is meant to be a partnership that benefits both parties, but as time goes by, things may not work out as hoped and desired results may not appear. Even when this happens, some people have difficulty making changes. They may think that if they give it a bit more time, everything will fall into place, or they may wish to avoid the perceived hassle of making a change. If a business owner has been working with a particular agency for a long time, they may also feel a sense of loyalty that makes them hesitant to switch to a new partner.
If you have a sense that things are not progressing as they should be, or if other red flags have popped up to make you question whether the agency you have is the right one for you, it may be time to make a change. Here are some reasons why it might be time to switch your marketing agency.
Lack of Communication
Communication is a vital part of every relationship, whether personal or business. Without good communication, there can be misunderstandings, missed opportunities, and other issues. This can manifest in several ways. There may be times when your agency partner is difficult to reach, or worse, seems to be actively avoiding you. This lack of contact is highly problematic and is not something that should be tolerated. Other times, there may be communication, but it is difficult to understand.
If the agency that you are currently working with is lacking in communication, unclear with their explanations, or does not provide the information that you need in a regular and timely manner, you are not receiving the service you deserve.
Lack of Reporting
Closely related to proper communication, your agency should be providing you with reports on which of their strategies are working, which are not, and which ones can be adjusted. Their reports should also offer clear insight into the work they are doing, how they are meeting their contractual obligations, your return on investment, and more.
Lack of Knowledge Regarding Your Industry
To properly assist you in reaching your goals, your agency needs to have a good understanding of your business and industry, as well as your customers. They use this information to develop and optimize a solid strategy.
If they don’t take the time to develop a good understanding of your target audience, they won’t be able to engage with them in a way that brings you the best possible results. When this happens, you are paying for sub-par work.
Their Strategies Are Problematic
To succeed in your goals, you need to have a well-thought-out strategy, but perhaps the strategy proposed by your agency is problematic for you. It may be that it doesn’t align with your objectives or your company’s culture, or it might be that when it is presented to you, it just does not make sense.
There are many moving parts involved in building a winning strategy, such as your goals and success metrics, but also the timeline and the tactics they wish to employ. Their strategy should be clear to you and easy to understand. Your agency also needs to be adaptable. If the strategy they are employing is not showing results, or if it is unacceptable to you for some other reason, they need to be able to make the necessary changes. If the agency is not able to adjust and compensate for issues with their strategy, or worse, they hardly seem to have a strategy at all, then it’s time to look elsewhere.
They Consistently Miss Their Goals
Even the best agencies will have the occasional misstep. Not every strategy will work and sometimes adjustments need to be made, but if your agency is consistently failing to meet their goals, or if they are promising more than they can deliver, this is an issue that you can’t afford to ignore.
Is this a result of strategies not working as anticipated, or is the agency demonstrating unreliability by missing deadlines and not completing the work they have agreed to do? Whatever the cause, if the agency cannot provide the results promised and expected, there is no way to justify keeping them around.
It’s Time to Switch
If your current marketing agency is displaying any of the red flags above, you should know that you can not only solve all your problems but also get the results you have been looking for. Working with Marwick provides you with the service and results that you want and deserve, and there has never been a better time than right now to make a switch.
Working with the right marketing agency will propel your business to new heights. Marwick has the experience and expertise to get you where you want to be. We take your business seriously and work hard to surpass your expectations. Contact us today so that you can switch, save, and grow!
LinkedIn
12/09/2022
Christian is a British-born entrepreneur and founder of Marwick. For over 19 years, Christian has successfully helped businesses excel in digital marketing. Founded in 2012, Marwick has grown from a start-up to the 11th Fastest Growing Company in Canada in 2020 and expanded into the UK in 2019.