If you’re a Toronto business looking for an advertising/marketing agency, it can be overwhelming just to know where to begin. There are a lot of things to consider before you hire a Toronto advertising agency, but here are our top 5 things to look for:

1. REPUTATION 

At Toronto Creatives, we get 90% of our business from referrals and word-of-mouth advertising. So when we get a new email from a potential client it’s really exciting! It’s also assuring when a potential new client mentions a current or recent client that had recommended them. So definitely take word-of-mouth from a reputable source seriously.

Other people’s experience will often give you an idea of the kind of company you’re considering working with. 

Customer testimonials are an effective online method for gauging how an agency actually works with their clients.

Whether it’s a Google / Facebook review or a word-of-mouth recommendation, see what others are saying about a firm before signing a contract.

2. SERVICE

If you’re looking for a Toronto advertising agency, most will offer a free consultation to better understand your marketing and advertising needs. This introductory meeting is a great time to see how well you and the agency mesh. Do they seem genuine? Would you trust them with your advertising efforts? Questions like these will help you determine what advertising firm is best for your business.

At Toronto Creatives, we offer clients a complimentary intake with every new project to get a better sense of our clients, who they are at the core, what their goals are and how they operate. You know your business better than we do – once we know the core elements of your business we can help you determine your best strategy to move forward. 

3. WORK 

A reputable agency will have the work to back up any claims they make. If you come across an agency’s website that boasts web design services but doesn’t show a single example of their web design work, how can you know if they actually offer high-quality web work?

While it’s not critical to have an example of every specific thing you need from an advertising firm, seeing proof and a sense of style is critical in selecting an advertising group.

An agency with no work samples to speak of is a major red flag!

4. WEBSITE 

If there’s anyone who should have a good website, it’s a Toronto advertising agency. After all, they should be experts at the thing they’re trying to sell you… Here are some things to check for in an agency’s website:

• Responsiveness (does the site adjust to fit your phone, tablet, etc.?)
• Social media integration – more than just links. Ask yourself: Does my website share content? Does my website connect to Facebook/Google marketing?
• Offers and promotions
• Blog
• An inviting and engaging design

An agency without a website is another major red-flag!

5. FAIR PRICING

As a Toronto advertising agency, we’re all too familiar with losing potential clients to a firm that can do the work for less. Just remember the old adage that you get what you pay for. Do some research to find out industry standards, and if it seems too good (i.e. cheap) to be good, it probably is. 

There are a lot of options in the Toronto advertising agency world, which is why it’s important to have set criteria during the hiring process. An agency will be an integral part of growing and promoting your business, so make sure it’s a group you can trust and enjoy working with!

Our pricing isn’t cheap, but it’s certainly not as expensive a major ad agency – for more on Boutique Ad Firms vs. Big Ad Firms click here!

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