Series recap: Hiring a branding agency
When starting a branding project for your company, take into consideration the benefits an agency perspective can bring. If you’ve made the decision to move forward and start your search for an outside agency, finding the right fit for your company and project will be crucial.
We’ve designed our Hiring a branding agency series to help you navigate that process. Here, we’re providing a rundown of each post in the series to help guide your decision-making.
How an agency perspective can drive your projects forward
Hiring an agency is a big decision, especially for first-timers. There are many factors to consider including your company’s internal resources and specific branding project needs. When deciding if working with an agency is right for you, it’s helpful to understand the benefits to be gained.
Provides outside perspective
An agency perspective can help push the envelope and take ideas and projects further.
Expedites your work
Timing can be essential and agencies can provide dedicated resources to maintain deadlines and expectations.
Forces internal alignment
The right agency can become an extension of your team and promote internal alignment on conflicting input and creative ideas.
Brings expertise
With a wide range of knowledge and experience from across brands and industries, agencies can provide specialized expertise.
Educates clients
A good agency will take the time to talk through strategy, creative decisions, and how to make the most of your investment.
How to know if you need to hire an agency for
your branding project
Bringing in an agency can help take your branding project to the next level. There are many branding efforts that are a great fit for agency support, like starting from scratch or doing an overhaul. Here are a few telltale signs that you’d benefit from hiring a branding agency:
Your internal team lacks expertise
Even if you have a dedicated internal creative team, they may not be equipped to tackle large branding projects. It’s okay to need some help!
Brand projects seem daunting and fall last on the to-do list
An agency can help start and keep the ball rolling on branding efforts that often get pushed off or stall out.
You’re not sure where to start
You may have lots of creative ideas floating around but still don’t know which step to take first. Agencies can guide the process.
You’re getting pushback for pushing creative boundaries
Sometimes you need to take a risk with creative ideas but those often get the most pushback, even when they’re the right choice. Agencies can bring clarity to your options and push you in the right direction.
How to choose the right branding agency
Brand building is one of the most important investments you can make for your business. Once you’ve decided to hire a branding agency, choosing the right one for you comes with its own challenges. There are more options than ever and agency specialties and capabilities can vary widely. As you compare agencies, here’s what you should consider to help you get the most out of your investment:
First impressions
Schedule a call or an in-person meeting and ask lots of questions to get a sense of what it will be like to work with their team.
Chemistry
Everyone is looking for something a little different from an agency relationship so search for the qualities that are important to you – passion, collaboration, and transparency, to name a few.
Their work
The best measure of an agency’s expertise and abilities is their existing work. Check out their portfolio to see if they measure up to what you are looking for.
Agency size
There are pros and cons to working with large and small agencies. Assess your needs and find the agency size that can deliver them best.
Process
Branding projects can involve a ton of work and can sometimes take months to complete. Look for an agency that has a solid grip on the process and a strong project management style to keep everything running smoothly.
Cost
Of course your budget will be a deciding factor, but remember that branding is an investment in your company’s image with a long-term impact so it’s worth getting right the first time with the right agency.
Location
Decide your preferred working method. Your first instinct may be to look for a local agency but remote technology has opened up the ability to work with agencies all over the country, making it that much easier to find the right fit for you.
Recap Wrap-up
From understanding the benefits of working with a branding agency to finding the agency that’s right for you, the various factors and decisions can get a little overwhelming. Remember, you’re looking for an agency that can become an extension of your team and help take your brand to the next level. Being considerate and deliberate in your decision-making process will help you feel confident about the agency you choose to work with.
If hiring an agency seems like the right move for you, reach out to see how we can help.
