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Working with an agency usually isn't cheap. That’s why most new businesses don’t even consider agencies an option -- there's this perception that working with an agency is reserved for big brands. But this isn’t the case. For a start, agencies come in all shapes and sizes; some position themselves as an ecommerce digital marketing agency, while others specialise in working with startups and/or small businesses.
Before you rule out partnering with an agency, if I were you, I would consider that your partnership could be an investment rather than an expense. It basically is. Ultimately, creative agencies exist to make money for their clients, regardless of budget, size or reputation. So even if your business is in its infancy, here’s why working with a creative agency could be the best investment you ever make.
Mentorship
If you're a startup, you're probably new to this. Meanwhile, established agencies have walked the path you are currently taking, and agency owners have experienced scaling a business like yours before -- that's why working closely with an agency owner gives you access to all the knowledge they have picked up along the way, and this advice can be golden when trying to find your way in the business world.
This is where working with a smaller agency can be more beneficial than working with a multinational or global agency. It's more straightforward. You’re far more likely to have conversations with the people at the top of the business and the owners of the company, in contrast with a global agency, where you’ll likely be in contact with an account manager who doesn’t have the same business experience as the person/people who founded the company. So sometimes smaller is better.
Your Own Team
It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to put your own team together from day one. If you do, it’s likely to consist of a few employees with limited experience, but working with an agency gives you your own team without the hassle and financial cost of building your own workforce. Most agencies prefer to see themselves as an extension of your own team, meaning that there should be no issues in terms of motivation and communication. They slot right in.
It can also save you money. While you’ll still obviously have to pay to work with an agency, it does remove the cost of hiring, training and rewarding people who are employed by you. It also frees you up to focus on the tasks that you’re good at instead of spending time posting job advertisements and interviewing potential candidates.
Penetration
The first 12 months of a new business’s life is crucial. If you fail to establish yourself, then there’s probably a good chance that your brand won’t even survive the first year. With that said, I firmly believe that this is the time when you need to disrupt the market and get your brand name out there. So investing in marketing is a must.
A creative agency will be able to assist when it comes to penetrating the market; with so much competition for attention online today, creative content and strategic targeting are critical, and if you don’t have any experience in these areas, then hiring the help of experts could prove to be an investment that pays you back ten times over in terms of establishing brand awareness and building trust. Both things that a new business lacks.
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to see why most new businesses don’t even consider working with an agency. After all, this is the time to keep costs low and avoid taking unnecessary risks, but as I mentioned earlier, partnering with an agency could, in fact, be an investment rather than a risk. If you do decide to work with a creative agency, make sure you carry out some thorough research and speak to multiple agencies to determine which one works best for your business and your objectives. Hopefully, you'll find the. perfect match for you.
