The relationship between companies and marketing agencies is getting shorter day by day. According to a study by the Bedford Group, the average length of these relationships has dropped from 7.2 years in 1984 to less than three years today.
As the marketing environment has become vast and complex, few agencies now offer the full range of services sought by businesses. The need for expertise forces them to call multiple agencies, but it becomes difficult to bring them together on a common goal.
The solution may lie in freelancers. It is easier to assemble and manage a team of freelancers than a group of agencies. However, how do you know when it’s time to leave your marketing agency and hire a freelancer? Here are 6 signs that never fail!
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1. Lack of Cooperation
Whatever type of agency you work with, it’s essential to be on the same page about the nature of your relationship. Both parties must have a clear vision of the goal or outcome they wish to achieve. They should feel free to contribute their own ideas and not go it alone without letting the other know what is going on.
Here are some signs that your cooperation with your agency may be bad:
- poorly defined responsibilities
- Poor alignment between achievement of objectives and achievement of mission
- No emotional connection with your agency and the team that takes care of your projects
Freelance’s missions are clearly defined from the very beginning of the collaboration. As you have a single interlocutor, a relationship is necessarily created between you and him, which facilitates exchange and improves cooperation.
2. Lack of credibility
Failure to meet deadlines is a significant sign of agency unreliability, and has consequences for your business. If you notice delays, irregularities in the quality of work or difficulties in contacting the team, it is time to change the provider.
Freelancers get paid on the job. Typically, he or she ensures the quality of their work to benefit from recommendations, or additional assignments. If the agency often requires a long-term commitment, the freelance worker provides a trial phase that secures your decision.
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3. Continuous Staff Turnover
Marketing is a field known for its high turnover, with young creatives moving from agency to agency in search of clients and big salaries. However, constantly changing your contacts can hinder the growth of your business.
Each newcomer must take his or her points, which sometimes punishes the service.
With a freelancer, the risk of turnover is almost non-existent. If he wants to end the collaboration, he usually allows you to find and train a replacement so as not to lose liquidity.
4. Consequences that do not comply with rates
Your marketing agency must have the objectives to fulfill for your return on investment to be positive. That’s why it’s important to regularly take stock and ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you know clearly what services you are billed for?
- Do you know what results came from these services?
- What are the key performance indicators to be monitored and how do they relate to your objectives?
- What are the solid financial returns made by your agency?
If you don’t get an exact answer, despite several reminders, it’s time to switch partners.
5. You Feel Like You’ve Passed Your Agency
Remember, this is a partnership. The real value of working with a marketing agency lies in its ability to bring in new ideas, spot trends, and support you in decision making.
As your business grows and your needs change, you may feel like your marketing partner is not growing with you. You may find that his ideas are limited or that his strategy does not take advantage of new market opportunities.
If so, it’s time to find an enlightened partner with modern expertise, in line with your and your customers’ values.
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6. To hear less or not to hear
Does your marketing agency take your ideas and expectations into account? Or conversely, do you feel that you are not being listened to, that your emails or calls are being filtered?
To benefit from this cooperation, it is essential that both sides are open to each other’s views. You should feel comfortable sharing your views with the agency. If there is no exchange, you run the risk of missing out on great innovations.
The marketing agency is not required to accept all of your suggestions, but they should be able to explain their disapproval. Don’t forget to make a counter-proposal to learn how to integrate your idea into the strategy.
Again, it’s easier to talk and listen with a freelancer as the bond closes. So he will be more receptive to your offers.
Do you recognize one or more of these signs? It’s time to post an ad on Codeur.com to find a new partner ready to help you reach your goals!