Nine Reasons Why You Should Work with
an Agency… Plus One.

When it comes to building business, it seems we’re all looking for the newest, fastest and most effective way to get the job done. Inbound marketing, outbound marketing, marketing automation, SEO… You name it – we’ve researched it. The list of client conversion tools at our disposal goes on and on, and we’re implementing a few with good results. But even with the best tools in hand, there are some aspects of pitching new business that will inevitably require a more human touch.

This really occurred to me while I was making a call to a very promising client-to-be and found myself in an interesting exchange with their marketing director. She said that she needs help and wants to work with us, but had already started building an internal team. She needed to convince her executives and she needed some ammo. So, we put together a list of reasons as to why they should look beyond their own four walls and seek professional help… even if they had an internal team.

I’m sure that for many people who aren’t hip to the virtues of advertising and marketing, the whole thing could be misconstrued as a creative exercise. But what they aren’t getting is that it’s all about facing challenges, igniting growth, increasing earnings, and doing so with resources not currently available through in-house departments.

When it comes down to it, agencies are part of a highly specialized service industry and are held to high standards of accountability. A good working relationship with an agency not only yields outstanding creative results; it adds an entirely new dimension to in-house teams. When everything is working in synchronicity, the agency actually becomes an extension of the team albeit with a fresh external perspective and a can-do attitude when deadlines are looming on the horizon.

Here are Nine Reasons to Work with an Agency: 

Accountability
One of the most important aspects of working with an agency is accountability. Our reason for being is to help clients achieve their goals and find solutions to their biggest challenges. We thrive in deadline-driven environments and are held accountable for every product we produce. And we have to do this on time and on budget.

Reliability
As a service provider we are focused on delivering a high quality product every time – no matter how big or small the project may be. When we work closely together and become an extension of your team, we take on your challenges as though they were our own and see them through until they are completed.

Creativity
Agencies are made up of many different types of professionals, everything from planners and strategists to techies and, of course, creatives. All of these brains and personalities coalesce in our industry to bring new levels of creativity to our clients, solve problems and approach solutions in new and unexpected ways.

Access to Resources
When you work with a full-service agency, you have access to a multitude of resources that are not easily fulfilled in-house. This includes, audio and video studios, animation, photography, graphic design, marketing strategy, copywriting, public relations, media planning/buying and digital/social/web development. All are at your disposal to use whenever and wherever needed. I’d be hard pressed to name one client (former, current or otherwise) who has all of these skills under one roof. You see where this is going.

External Perspective on the Brand
One of the most valuable services an agency provides is to bring an external perspective to your brand. This means looking at your business as your customers do, seeing what they see and communicating that back in direct and concise ways. That outside perspective is both enlightening and incredibly important to our clients because it can help them break out of old habits, mindsets and ideals that may be holding them back from making meaningful progress and achieving growth. 

Business Focus and Growth
Many people mistakenly see marketing as a creative function, and therefore do not understand its value. This ideal is fundamentally flawed when you consider that the sole purpose of marketing is to build business. Our benchmark for success is inextricably tied to our clients’ goals, whether it is financial growth, increasing sales or swaying public opinion to better position them against the competition. Marketing is a business development function and advertising is its tool.

I’ll Say it Again… Extension of the Internal Team
Great agencies know how to integrate into client culture. We create symbiotic relationships and focus on your goals with the same intensity that you do – and that is a super valuable asset. Our purpose is to be your hands and feet, your creative thinker, your strategist and team player whenever and wherever you need it. We understand the end goal and will work to achieve it in a way that makes us all proud.

Turn Key Service
When you have a dependable agency that is ready to take on any project at a moment’s notice, the sky is the limit. Having the full arsenal of marketing services at your fingertips not only saves time; it opens your mind to new possibilities and new ways of working. You turn the key and we get to work… it’s that simple.

Cost Effectiveness
Many companies have internal marketing teams, but even they have agencies to help conceptualize, design and fulfill campaigns for them. Operationally, it might be more cost-effective to contract this highly specialized work out to professionals. We’re not employees, and therefore, are self-sufficient, self-sustaining and motivated to get the job done on time. This translates to reduced overhead and better creative outcomes. 

So, there’s actually one more important reason for working with an agency that deserves a place all its own, Transcreation.

Think of your business as you face the daily challenge of growing revenue and reaching new markets. Now think about how much the U.S. market has changed in the past few years and how the Hispanic demo presents an opportunity like you haven't seen in years.

Being from El Paso, we often hear from ex-pats living across the country who share stories of being tagged as that one person in the room who speaks Spanish… so hey, lets let him translate our website or let her write our next TV spot. Take it from us… this is not how you want to approach your Spanish-language marketing. It’s too important and very difficult to reel back if done poorly. And believe us, your Hispanic customer will see right through this. Work with a transcreation specialist, like CultureSpan, to bring a Hispanic perspective to your brand.

This is where CultureSpan Marketing can help your internal team like few agencies can. We’re all of the Nine Reasons wrapped in a bi-cultural vibe.