Hiring a Content Marketing Agency? Ask These 9 Questions!

If you’re looking to outsource your content marketing, it’s important to do your research and find an agency that will fit your needs. Not all agencies are created equal, so it’s important to ask the right questions and get a sense of what each agency can offer you. Here are 9 questions to help you get started.

What is a Content Marketing Agency? 

A content marketing agency is a company that specializes in producing and distributing content for clients. This can include creating blog posts, videos, e-books, and other digital media. A content marketing agency can help you build an audience and reach new customers online.¹ 

Some content marketing agencies are specialized in particular industries, while others are generalists. Content marketing agencies typically work with multiple platforms and publishers on the internet such as news sites, magazines, and blogs,  but can also work with other media outlets.

Who Needs a Content Marketing Agency? 

Almost every company needs to take advantage of content marketing in order to stay relevant today. Many businesses are overcrowded online, which makes it difficult for new customers to find them without the help of an agency or marketing consultant.² A content marketing agency can help you grow your brand and reach more people than ever before both online and offline. 

What is the Difference Between an Advertising Agency and a Content Marketing Agency? 

A content marketing agency does not typically deal with advertising campaigns like an advertising agency does. An advertising agency usually focuses on ads that appear on television, radio, billboards, newspapers, magazines, or digital channels like Facebook or Google Adwords. While these types of agencies can help develop and launch a content marketing strategy, they generally do not manage it.³

A content marketing agency has the expertise to create engaging content that will be shared online through social media and other outlets. They can also measure the success of your campaign to show how many people visited your website or downloaded your app as a result of these activities.

An advertising agency works with you on an ad campaign, which may include creating the advertisement itself, getting it placed in various channels, and measuring how effective it is. A content marketing agency will advise you on what type of information to share and provide tools for sharing this information on various channels.⁴ So while both types of agencies focus on gaining attention and generating interest for their client’s products or services, your company can choose which one best fits its needs. 

10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Content Marketing Agency

If you’re looking to hire a content marketing agency, it’s important to ask them questions before signing any contracts. A good content marketing agency can help your business grow, but you need to make sure they are the right fit for your company. Below are some questions you should ask before hiring a content marketing agency.

Do You Perform SEO?

There are many different ways to approach SEO, and the best way to do it often depends on the specific situation and website. However, one common approach for SEO is to work with a content marketing agency. Content marketing agencies specialize in creating high-quality content that can help improve your website’s SEO. 

They can also help you come up with strategies for getting your content seen by more people online. If you’re considering working with a content marketing agency, here are some things you should know about their performance in SEO.

2 Ways Content Marketing Agencies Approach SEO

Although content marketing agencies can’t give you all the answers when it comes to how to approach SEO, they generally have some experience with this area. If you work with an agency, they’ll either come up with their own strategy for approaching SEO or follow one of the common approaches used by most SEO experts today.⁵

One popular approach is called inbound marketing. To use this approach, companies need to know what kinds of products and services people are searching for online. They also need to know where these potential customers are hanging out online (forums, social media sites, etc.). Blogging is another important part of inbound marketing because blogs are usually read at a higher rate than other types of websites on the Internet.

In SEO, the goal is to create quality content that meets demand, as well as reach out to others who might be interested in your product or service. Most strategies start with creating a blog and then adding related articles through content marketing.⁶ Other common approaches include organic search engine optimization, which Google describes as “the art of making their web pages rank higher in search results,” guest blogging on another site, using outreach campaigns to build relationships with influencers, and social media campaigns. 

The Buzzfeed-style approach is also being used by companies selling products or services online. This approach is also characterized by a low barrier to entry. In order to get started, all you need is a smartphone and a great sense of what will go viral. The term “viral” comes from the concept of viruses that spread rapidly among humans. Viral media content spreads quickly because it appeals to people’s emotions and narcissism, two qualities deeply rooted in our psyches.

How Will You Help Our Business?

Many businesses find themselves struggling to create quality content that engages their target audiences. Fortunately, there are many content marketing agencies that can help businesses develop and execute successful content marketing strategies. By working with an agency, businesses can get the expert help they need to reach their desired audience and achieve their business goals.

Content marketing agencies can help businesses by creating and distributing engaging content that attracts and retains customers. By developing a content strategy and creating quality content, agencies can help businesses achieve their marketing goals. Additionally, agencies can help businesses measure the success of their content marketing campaigns and make necessary adjustments to improve performance. Ultimately, content marketing agencies are an invaluable resource for businesses looking to create successful content marketing programs.

What Results Can We Expect?

When businesses decide to invest in content marketing, there are many different agencies they could turn to for help. But what results can companies expect from working with a content marketing agency? 

When it comes to content marketing, many businesses struggle to create content that is both engaging and effective. This is where a content marketing agency can help. A good agency will be able to produce quality content that helps you achieve your business goals.  

Even if your company is doing well with content marketing, an agency can help you improve and grow. They will be able to come up with new strategies and fresh ideas that keep your readers interested. At the same time, an agency can save you work as they can take care of many of the tasks involved in content production such as writing articles and editing copy.

How Do You Report On Results? 

When it comes to content marketing, agencies have to report on results in order to show their value and effectiveness. However, this can be a challenge, especially when the measurement is complex. By understanding how to effectively report on your results, you can demonstrate the value of your agency’s services and help clients make informed decisions about their content marketing strategy.

What Types Of Content Do You Create?

When it comes to content marketing, there are a few different types of content that agencies can produce. The most common are blog posts, social media posts, and emails. However, agencies can also create video content and ebooks. By understanding the different types of content that agencies create, you can better determine which type would be the best fit for your business.

Creating blog posts and social media updates is the most common type of content an agency will create. By optimizing specific keywords, agencies can help clients become more visible to search engines like Google and Bing.⁷

Agencies that produce video content tend to specialize in eCommerce or branding videos. For example, they may create a short video about how their clients’ products are made, or they might produce a brand overview for their client’s websites. Video production is something you want to look for if your company sells a product directly to consumers rather than businesses.

Ebooks are another type of content marketing agency often created for companies. It can cover a number of different topics within your industry or niche market – from best practices to advice on common problems –  and can be presented in a number of formats. Ebooks are often given away for free, sometimes to help with branding and lead generation, while others have a specific goal or call to action.

Different agencies will have different specialties and strengths. While some may excel at creating long-form content like ebooks and white papers, they may not do as well when it comes to shorter forms of content like infographics or quizzes. Find the right agency that has proven experience in your industry or the type of content you need to be created.

What Will It Cost? 

When it comes to content marketing, many businesses find themselves in a difficult position. They know that they need to produce high-quality content on a consistent basis, but they don’t have the time or resources to do it themselves. That’s where hiring a content marketing agency can be beneficial. But what will it cost? 

The answer to that question largely depends on what needs to be created. Are you looking for blog posts, ebooks, webinars, or infographics? Additionally, it will depend on how fast you want the content created as well as the agency’s experience with your particular industry. As a general rule of thumb, however, businesses can expect to pay anywhere from $5-10 per 100 words for blog posts and white papers. Ebooks tend to be around double that cost depending on their length while webinars are priced at about $500-1000 per presentation/slide deck.

Infographics are very inexpensive when compared to other forms of content due to their simple nature, but there is also less opportunity for creativity. A handful of research will need to go into this, which results in findings.  There’s also a greater chance of going over the word count since infographics are meant to be visual and more information-heavy. In general, this falls between $20-30 per infographic ($500 max).

Finally, videos get pretty pricey depending on their purpose or length. If it’s just for presentation purposes you can keep the budget under $100 if it’s a one-off project while custom videos can cost anywhere from $500-$1000+ per minute of footage.

How frequently are we going to be meeting together? 

If you’re working with a content marketing agency, it’s important to establish how often you should meet with them. Your agency can help you create a content strategy and publish high-quality content, but you’ll need to be meeting regularly to ensure that your strategy is on track. 

What is the right length for our contract? 

When it comes to finding the right content marketing agency, it’s important to make sure that the contract is a good fit for both parties. A contract that’s too short might not give the agency enough time to do their job properly, while a contract that’s too long could end up being costly for the client. 

Determining the length of a contract with a content marketing agency can be tricky. You don’t want to sign up for too long of a contract and be locked in, but you also don’t want to sign up for too short of a contract and not have enough time to see results. So, what is the right length for a contract with a content marketing agency?

A good length for a contract with a content marketing agency is somewhere around six months. This gives the agency enough time to create some great material while still being short enough that you’re not locked in if the relationship doesn’t work out.

The first half or so of a contract is dedicated to discovery and planning, which means that you’ll likely be wasting your money if you decide to cancel as soon as those activities are complete. However, after a certain point in time, the agency will have worked on enough projects for you to make an informed decision about whether or not it’s right for you.

Six months is also a good length for a contract because it gives the company a chance to prove its value and be paid accordingly without locking you into something that might not work out long-term. It’s also important that each party has the opportunity to move forward with or without another at this time. If things aren’t going well, then both parties can walk away from the relationship with relatively minimal losses. In fact, no one really loses anything at all, which is exactly what makes hiring a content marketing agency beneficial. 

How is your agency keeping up with SEO changes? 

It seems like every time you turn around, there are new changes to SEO that content marketing agencies need to keep up with. The thing is, implementing these changes can be tricky – it’s not always easy to know what will and won’t work. That’s where experienced SEO professionals come in – they can help your agency stay ahead of the curve and continue delivering great results for your clients. The landscape of SEO is always changing, and content marketing agencies need to keep up with the latest changes in order to provide the best services to their clients.⁸ 

That’s why asking this question to your potential content marketing agency is important. You and your company need to make sure that they are at the forefront of all things SEO. 

Summary

When it comes to content marketing, you can’t afford to take any chances. If you’re looking to outsource your content marketing efforts, it’s essential to work with an agency that understands the importance of quality and engaging content. 

Content marketing agencies can be a great asset to businesses of all sizes. By creating and sharing engaging content, these agencies can help you reach new customers and grow your brand. However, not all agencies are created equal. It’s important to do your research before hiring one to make sure you get the best possible results. 

Asking the right questions is essential in finding an agency that will fit your needs and help you achieve your desired results. By taking the time to ask these questions and choosing wisely, you can ensure that you get the most out of your content marketing efforts.