Choosing a branding agency to work with is a big decision and there are a number of things you should consider when choosing the right one for your business, such as their portfolio, testimonials, and whether their expertise aligns with your branding goals.
Branding is an investment. It requires money, time and of course some risk. But it’s one of the smartest investments you can make for your business. That’s why knowing how to choose the right branding and design agency is so important.
There’s nothing more frustrating than going through the rigorous rebranding process only to have to do it all over again because you hired the wrong agency. This is why we’ve rounded up 5 of the most important steps to take when looking for your next branding agency, to ensure you avoid this situation.
Here are 5 steps to help you choose the right branding agency for your business:
- Clarify your goals and objectives
- Do your research
- Check out their portfolio of past work
- Make sure they’ve got experience & the right expertise
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions
1. Clarify your Goals and Objectives
First things first, before you start looking for the perfect branding and design agency, you must set out your goals and clarify your objectives.
Determine what you want to achieve when hiring a branding agency. That might be a revamped brand identity, increased brand awareness, improved customer engagement or to attract a whole new audience.
During this initial analysis of your goals, it’s also worth identifying any pain points or challenges that come to mind in your current branding and design efforts. Do you potentially have outdated imagery, inconsistent messaging, or a lack of unity across different channels? Clearly explain these challenges to potential agencies and see how well they’re able to understand and address them.
2. Do Your Research
Once you’ve set clear objectives, spend time researching and finding a range of different agencies that specialise in branding and graphic design services. You can start your search by looking online, asking friends, family or colleagues for recommendations.
Don’t be afraid to get quotes from several different branding agencies if you have to. This is your chance to see what they have to offer and how prices compare.
It’s a good idea to ask for a consultation with each agency so you can get a better understanding of what they offer and get a real feel for who you’ll be working with.Ensure they’re all offering the same branding services, and make sure you ask what comes with each option in case there are differences between agencies that aren’t obvious on their website or initial correspondence. For example, some agencies might offer unlimited revisions while others could charge extra.
Get in touch with a friendly member of the team for a consultation about how we can help you achieve your goals.
3. Check out Their Testimonials & Past Work
When investing your money into anything, whether it be a marketing agency, new phone model, or something so small as a T-shirt, it is always a good idea to check reviews and testimonials from previous clients or customers who’ve used the product or service.
This is because testimonials act as reviews and provide insights into real-life experiences of past clients, and hearing about the experiences of others who have worked with the branding and design agency will give you a more transparent understanding of what you can potentially expect, and how trustworthy they are.
In addition to testimonials, you’ll also want to look at their past work and portfolios.
How to Find Examples of Past Work
The majority of reputable branding agencies will have a portfolio/examples of their work that they’ve previously carried out. You can typically find these on an agency’s website, but you might sometimes have to request it.
When looking through their past work, pay close attention to the quality, their typical style, and whether they’ve successfully worked with clients in your industry or with similar goals.
This leads us nicely onto our next point…
4. Make Sure They’ve Got Experience & the Right Expertise
Agencies that have a good amount of experience under their belt and a proven track record of success are much more likely to produce the quality work expected of them, so when deciding between agencies, try and find out how long they’ve been in the industry for. You should also find out how much experience they’ve had with your industry – or at least similar ones.
You also want to work with an agency with the right expertise. There are a plethora of different types of marketing, branding and advertising agencies out there, each offering its own unique services.
Some agencies will specialise in social media content, while others focus on tv advertising or web development. By finding an agency with expertise in the specific areas that your business wants to focus on, you know they’ll be able to deliver the results you need and expect.
The best bet is finding a full-service design agency, like Creadigol Design, who offer a wide range of services to help you achieve your goals.
From brand strategy and identity design to UX/UI and web development, our team of bilingual designers, strategists, and developers are passionate about delivering world-class design solutions that are tailored to our clients needs. Get in touch and see how we can help!
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
Last but certainly not least, don’t be afraid to ask questions! This is your opportunity to find out everything you want and need to know about an agency before hiring them.
Try to get a sense of what else an agency might be able to do for you beyond just creating a logo or website design; these days, there are lots of.
Questions to Ask When Hiring a Branding Agency
To ensure you’re hiring a branding agency that’s the right fit for your objectives and business needs, you must ask the right questions. For example:
- What industries have you worked with in the past?
- Can I see some examples of past work?
- What is your team’s experience and expertise?
- What is your pricing structure?
- What is included in your services?
We hope this article helps when it comes to choosing the right branding and design agency for your next project. Ultimately, go with your gut feeling and who feels right. Choose the agency that you believe not only has the skills and expertise to deliver quality results but also one who shares your vision and understands your unique goals.
For more news and top tips, check out our branding and design blog.
We are Creadigol Design – a UK-based bilingual full-service design studio designed to transform your brand and help you stand out in a crowded marketplace. Contact our experts today and see how we can help your business.
Written by Kate, for Creadigol Design.
