If you use a marketing agency or advertising agency, you should ask: what have they done for me lately? In the best sense, an agency gives you access to a range of marketing professionals, with knowledge that spans everything from strategy to tactics (think: digital advertising, web design and development, videography and motion graphics, photography, social media, content marketing and more).

But are they really helping you communicate your brand and move the needle? We’ve compiled four questions to consider to help you evaluate: Is my marketing agency giving me the value I deserve?

Does your marketing agency ask questions that set the course for strategic direction?

A successful marketing strategy starts with a partnership. An agency relationship should be collaborative.

With the right information, your marketing agency can tailor a strategy that gets you where you want to go. Your agency shouldn’t be an order taker, nor should it be telling you what to do without insider knowledge only you can provide. After all, your brand value proposition is unique.

You need to stake out your place in the market, determine your value proposition and promote your brand. What makes you stand out? What makes your customers or clients choose you? Your marketing tactics will build on that.

At WRL, we’re the marketing experts but you’re the expert about your business. We get to know you and understand your business so we can make strategic recommendations that make sense for you. It’s why, on average, our clients have been with us for more than a decade. That’s an unusual statistic, and we’re proud of it.

Does your marketing agency measure outcomes?

Advertising is creative but the results can be less subjective. Digital advertising offers more concrete data to help inform your marketing spend. Knowing where to invest your money, if your target audience is responding and more is possible. Your agency should be giving you the data behind the decisions.

At WRL, we want you to achieve the best ROI possible by optimizing your online marketing campaigns. We have all the tools: SEO, PPC, social media, content marketing and more.

Read about our success with AWP Safety. We used digital advertising tactics such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google Ads, display ads, Hulu and YouTube to reach their target audiences to boost brand awareness and conversions.

Does your marketing agency offer clear and frequent communication?

Getting regular updates on projects and work in progress? If not, you might want to reevaluate your agency’s commitment to your success.

Good communication is key to an effective working relationship, and your agency should provide regular updates, so you always feel like you’re in the loop.

At WRL, we want to dive in, learn your business and become a true partner. We serve clients across many different industries and specialties, and we make communication a cornerstone of our working relationship. WRL has more than 220 clients across 22 states and several countries. We can help you too.

Is your marketing agency bringing you fresh ideas?

Maybe you haven’t tried video, but social posts and websites that contain video are more likely to get your audience’s attention. Could your website use an update? Are you regularly adding new content to your site? Are you missing opportunities related to media relations, digital advertising or social media? Have you considered drone videography? What about the benefits of motion graphics to help tell your story or show larger, more complex products?

At WRL, we have services that work together to tell your story, and we have a team with the knowledge base to use them to your advantage. We are a creative group, and bringing new ideas to the table is what we do!

Looking for a marketing agency for a true partnership?

If you’re ready to create a strategic marketing plan, redesign your website, shake up your marketing with new ideas, video, motion graphics or 3D, content marketing and more, talk to WRL. We’re an experienced marketing agency (70 years, going strong).

Let’s talk about how we can help you set goals to increase sales and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage.