8 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Marketing Partner

by Marielle Reussink

If you could outsource one aspect of your marketing right now what would it be?

Okay, now think about that a bit more. Do you feel like you’re unable to get the results you want on your own? Is it taking time and energy away from doing the things you really excel at and love to do? Is it something that could potentially pay for itself if you were to hire it out?

If you answered yes to any of these, it could really pay off to hire a marketing partner to help you.

Just about every business needs a bit of help at some point. Whether you’re just getting started and need help creating your brand, or you’re ready to scale up with a whole new strategy, tapping an expert in the field can be incredibly valuable. I recently shared my advice on how to use different marketing channels to achieve your goals, and one of the things that really stood out is that it’s next to impossible to do it all yourself.

Yet for many entrepreneurs, the decision to hire a consultant or partner can be difficult because not only are you making a financial investment, but you’re handing over responsibilities to someone outside your company. How do you know if they’ll live up to your expectations?

The best way to get the most out of your marketing partners is to ask the right questions from the get-go. Here are eight questions to ask before you sign any contract.

#1: Tell me about the process of working with you.

There is no right or wrong answer here, but the person you’re hiring should have a plan for how they will provide their services. Think about what fits best for your needs, working style, and schedule.

#2: How do you typically communicate with clients and how often?

You want to avoid having to chase down responses from your service provider, so make sure there are open lines of communication, and clearly laid out timelines.

#3: Can you explain the deliverables you will provide for the project?

There should be no surprises once you get started. So review the scope and make sure that there are no missing pieces that will have to be dealt with later on.

#4: What information or other assets will you need from me to get started?

Make sure that the partner you’re hiring will invest the time and effort necessary to get a really good understanding of your business before diving in. There should be a process to get to know your business in depth and they should be asking you to provide a range of inputs so they have everything to get started. This will require some legwork in the onboarding phase, but it will really pay off to establish a good foundation for the project.

#5: What time commitment do you expect to need from me throughout the project?

Just because you’re hiring someone to do a job doesn’t mean you can sit back and wait for the results to roll in. Find out what is required from you on an ongoing basis and make sure it feels sufficient to get the job done, without needing to spread yourself too thin.

#6: What happens after the project is complete?

Depending on the project, you may or may not need further help in future. For example, if you’re hiring someone to build a website, ask if they will provide training for you to update the site on your own, or if they will be available for ongoing support. You should also ask what happens if there is a problem down the road. Who will be responsible for fixing it?

#7: What will success look like?

While there are no guarantees in marketing, it’s nice to know what you’re working towards. The person you’re hiring may not be able to provide specific metrics and benchmarks before diving deep into your business and industry, but there should be a roadmap towards achieving your specific goals.

#8 Can you send relevant examples of your work?

One of the best ways to get to know a person’s work is to see it. Marketing is often a collaborative process, so it’s a good idea to ask what role or roles they filled on a given project, and how they worked with others.

These questions should help you get a sense of how the person or agency you’re hiring will fit with your business needs and with your personal style or preferences. Of course, there is one other consideration: budget.

If you’re hiring a big, well-known agency, they may have an impressive process, strong track record and a detailed plan for how they’ll get you results. However, if you feel your budget could be better spent elsewhere or your rockets are simply not deep enough, consider freelancers and smaller independent agencies. They can offer more flexible options at a range of price points to suit your needs, but of course quality and experience varies. This is where asking the right questions to vet your potential partners and spot the good ones will be really important.

If you’re searching for a marketing partner, we’d love to hear from you. Visit our Services page to learn more about what we do at The Emms.