Hiring a branding agency can be a daunting task. There are so many things to consider, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the process.
However, no matter your size or budget, hiring the right branding agency will be one of the best decisions you make for your business.
Hiring an agency is like hiring an employee – you want someone who shares your values and vision for where your company is headed.
This means that when it comes to finding the right branding partner, there are several things you need to look at before making an informed decision about which agencies are suitable for you.
Related: Does My Small Business Need a Brand Identity?
Follow these steps when hiring a branding agency
- Research your options – freelancers or agencies?
- Find a company that is a good fit – Do you feel personally aligned with their values?
- Make sure they can handle your scale – Is the project too large for a small team?
- Check out their portfolio – Do you align with their style?
- Discuss your budget and project timeline with them—and get a plan of action from them, too!
Why hire a branding agency?
It would be best if you had someone who understands your business goals, target audience and industry. To accomplish this, A branding agency will help with the following:
Marketing strategy
Branding agencies know how to strategically plan out your entire marketing campaign from start to finish.
They can develop a system to help grow your brand and increase revenue for years.
Visual identity
Creating a memorable brand takes more than just picking a logo, colours and fonts.
Branding consultants must investigate what works in different industries regarding colour palettes, typography, and the natural feeling and emotion of the brand.
Brand strategy will help your company to be unique and recognizable in the marketplace.
Related: 7 Reasons to Hire a Designer for Your Business
How to choose the best branding agency
When choosing an agency, one must look at their portfolio and experience. Your branding agency should have a clear understanding of what you need as an organization, and they should be able to display that in their work.
Ensure your potential brand consultants are asking the right questions.
A brand consultant should ask about your vision and goals for your company. When a branding company approaches a rebranding project, they need to gather a lot of information about the company culture, audience and how they want to be perceived in the market.
Make sure they can handle your scale
Check their client list. Is anyone in their portfolio similar to you or with the same audience demographics as yours? If so, talk to them about their experience working with this branding agency.
This will give you insight into how well they understand brands similar to yours and what past results they’ve achieved for them. If not, ask for references from other clients who have hired them before.
Related: How a Local Business Can Use a Website to Grow
Discuss your budget and project timeline
A good agency should be able to give you a ballpark figure on how long the project will take and the overall cost. The best way to get an accurate estimate is to talk with someone at the agency who has had experience working with companies like yours.
If not, ask them how long they have been in business, how many projects they’ve completed and what kind of clientele they work with regularly.
If your budget or timeline is too tight for them, consider whether you should look for another partner for this project.
Of course, some redesigns take longer than others—it depends on what needs doing, who’s doing it and where things are going wrong—but generally speaking, if you’re working with intelligent people in this field, there shouldn’t be any major surprises along the way either way!
Related: How to Create a Brand Strategy
Get a set plan of action
When you’re looking for a branding agency, they should have a plan of action that is clear and concise. You should know what you’re getting into, and you should be able to communicate easily with your team about it.
This is especially important if you’re a small business and don’t have the resources for a big project like this.
Make sure your brand strategy is laid out so everyone can see where they fit in, their responsibilities, and how long things will take.
Conclusion
Branding agencies are here to help you, so don’t be afraid to ask for advice. They have the experience and knowledge to make your business grow.
