How to Best Hire a Marketing Firm in Pittsburgh

Are you feeling overwhelmed, out of ideas and eager to boost business growth? If so, it’s time to consider hiring a marketing firm.

A lot of businesses, however, find the hiring process intimidating, especially in a city like Pittsburgh where there is no shortage of selections.

Here’s how to best hire a marketing firm in Pittsburgh:

1.) Explore Your Needs

With so many choices, it’s important for you as an organization to discover your needs before entering the search process. This will help you narrow down your selection based on your individual needs.

For instance, if your social media platforms require an overhaul then you’ll have more success with a firm that has a track record of specializing in the digital realm. If you’re in need of inbound marketing then don’t look at companies that strictly handle public relations projects.

This may sound like common sense, but you’d be amazed how many businesses neglect to do this. You have to understand that not all marketing firms are the same–each has something unique to offer, and if they don’t then you probably don’t want them.

Don’t waste your time exploring companies that don’t even come close to offering services that will fulfill your needs.

2.) Evaluate Their Clients

This addresses two concerns.

Pricing

Need a general idea of how much a marketing firm may cost? Take a look at their clientele. If you spot twenty, extremely high-profile clients then you can probably assume that they work with higher budgets. This isn’t a full-proof method though, so make sure you inquire first about pricing before writing the firm off, especially if you think they’re interesting.

Specialties

Curious what they specialize in? Their clientele may also reveal this. It’s usually pretty apparent at first glance who they’re used to providing work for. First glance may reveal a lot of a particular industry or a general variety. Again, this isn’t full proof, so be sure to inquire if you find them interesting.

3.) Take a Magnifying Glass to their Site

A marketing firm’s website will tell you a lot about them.

Not only will it reveal what we’ve already discussed, but it will also give you a basic understanding of their quality, style, their history, their team and their overall approach.

I know that some people may hate me for saying this, but if I was personally looking for a marketing firm, I most likely wouldn’t select one with a shoddy website. Like I said, a website says a lot about a company. You have to ask yourself, “What if their website reflects the quality of their work?” I think it most definitely does for better or for worse.

4.) Set Up a Consultation

Finally, it’s extremely beneficial to set up a consultation.

Whether you’ve just about made up your mind, or have a dilemma about who to pick, it’s helpful to meet the people behind the marketing firm. They will, after all, be responsible for your brand’s reputation. So make sure you believe in them and can picture yourself working with them.