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As a local marketing agency in Vancouver, we might be biased in saying that Vancouver is one of the most creative cities in Canada. Our reasoning is simple: we have the most inspiring playground! From the mountains and fresh ocean air to the wilderness, in the form of majestic Stanley Park, right in the middle of the city, inspiration is everywhere. This might be why so many talented marketers and designers simply gravitate to Vancouver from all over the province and from all across Canada.
If you are a business owner or manager in Vancouver, you most likely want to find a marketing agency that is also located in Vancouver, to help you with your marketing needs. We totally support that! Working with a Vancouver-based marketing agency will ensure that you share an understanding of your target audience and the overall competitive landscape of the city—especially if you operate a location-based business. For instance, if you need help with marketing for a medical office or digital marketing for a law firm it definitely makes sense to work with someone who is local.
So, how do you find the best local marketing agency in Vancouver?
Here are a few questions to consider when looking for your next marketing partner.
1. Whose values resonate with yours?
We recommend starting with this one because it could be a deal-breaker. It may not be apparent in the beginning, but if you are looking for a long-term marketing partnership—someone who will help you to grow and evolve (which is the only way, really!)—then start by reading through the prospect’s “About Us” page to ensure that you share values. Consider how they represent themselves on social media and what they write about on their blog. Take your time to understand them from what you see online (and not only from what they write in their marketing proposal). This doesn’t have to be a time-consuming exercise. Begin by looking through their website to get a feel for whether you resonate with who they are, and then dig into other aspects of their culture after you get the proposal.
2. Who has a history in the industry? Do they understand business?
Unfortunately, digital marketing gets a bad reputation sometimes. Some companies will use underhanded practices only to get ahead—we don’t know any of them, by the way. All we will say is this: do your homework. Make sure you are hiring a company that has been in business for a while versus someone who doesn’t have any experience. The truth is that anyone with a website and an Instagram account can call themselves a marketing expert these days. It all goes back to your expectations in developing a marketing relationship: are you looking for something serious or a plus one for your brother’s wedding? If you are looking for a vendor who will help you to organize your marketing processes and strategies and then execute them, go for someone who has done the same for themselves. And the only way to learn how business works is to actually be in it – in all its “glory”, and that takes a few trials and errors that come with experience.
3. Who has a versatile portfolio?
Don’t be afraid of hiring someone who is not specialized in your industry, or doesn’t have experience particular to your space. This is actually a good thing! A good marketer is not someone who only thinks like a good marketer; a good marketer is someone who is able to think like an everyday customer.
If your prospective digital marketing agency doesn’t have any experience in your industry, this also means that they will not have any preconceived notions as to how your marketing should look or feel. And this is the best gift you can give your business: someone who thinks fresh! You’ll want to choose a marketing agency who takes your experience and wealth of knowledge and articulates it to your desired target audience. We want to say that this will work like magic, but it won’t. It’s the experience, an entrepreneurial mindset and courageous teamwork that creates the magic.
A good marketer is not someone who thinks like a good marketer, a good marketer is someone who can think like an everyday customer.
What do you think? What do you look for in a marketing agency? Do share with us on Instagram by commenting on the last photo, or stop by our marketing agency in Vancouver. We always have chocolate!