Branding is one of the most significant undertakings a business can commit to boost their audience engagement and take a step towards growth. This is an opinion shared by most market leaders. 77% of B2B marketing leaders say branding is critical to growth.
Consistent brand presentation can increase revenues by up to 23%, according to Forbes. Undoubtedly, branding is something worth investing in. You might have come to this decision already and are excited to hire a brand agency to work with experts on this vital task.
Leaving such a significant part of your business to a third party can be a daunting task. But you can quickly tell which agencies are going to do wonders for your image. All you need to do is ask the right questions and find out as much as you can about the agency you are considering.
Here are the questions you should ask before choosing a brand agency.
Why Do You Want to Work With My Brand?
Branding should be about values and messaging. The generations with the most significant spending power in 2020 look for authenticity in the brands they engage with. That’s why your mission and values must shine through in your branding. Whatever branding agency you choose should be able to recognize what makes your brand special.
Listen carefully to the responses to this question and ask yourself if the answer resonates with you. Do they have that connection to your mission? Do they have a firm grasp on your image and personality?
How Does Research Factor Into Your Branding Process?
The best branding efforts are based on thorough market research. This is because your branding needs to communicate the desires of your specific audience and meet their needs and expectations. It is also crucial that your brand is set apart from others through distinct visual design and messaging. To make sure of this, the brand agency of your choosing should dedicate time to carefully researching your market and competitors.
Ask how they conduct research and allow the agency to give you insight into this process to make sure their approach is thorough and thoughtful!
Have You Worked on Projects Similar to Ours Before?
As with any contractor, you should always ask for references and examples of previous projects. This will allow the brand agency to demonstrate that they have been capable of similar projects in the past and can deliver quality work. It can also show you how their approach has worked for similar brands before. If you like what you see, you can be secure in your decision to proceed.
How Far Into the Branding Process Will You Accompany Us?
Different agencies focus on different parts of the branding process. Some will be with you throughout it all, while others might develop a beautiful identity and strategy but will abandon you as you go to launch it.
This is fine if you have the right internal team to pick up the thread from there. But if not, you want to make sure that the branding agency can help you throughout the launch and make sure implementation goes as intended. This could include brand training, launch strategies and measurement of success. Think about your needs and check if the agency will meet them.
How Will Your Branding Approach Help Us Grow?
Whatever your goals, they are likely linked to growth, revenue, outreach, or perception. Define your objectives, and then check if the brand agency actually has a plan for achieving them. This is an excellent question to illustrate whether the agency understands the goals of your brand and knows how their branding approach can move you towards them.
After all, branding is about much more than just looks and perception. Your brand should work for your business in quantifiable and actionable ways. Choose a brand agency that takes a practical approach and understands what their own processes can achieve.
Work With a Brand Agency That Shares Your Vision
Branding is a task that should be intimate and close to your business. Herein lie your visions for the future of your business. Determining the right branding strategy early on can give you grounds to build and grow on. It is often the foundation upon which customers perceive you and form their loyalties. When you choose a brand agency to help you with this critical aspect of your business, make sure to ask them the right questions to evaluate a good fit.
Remember, a brand agency should share your vision and understand what you stand for and hope to achieve. ZAK agency is a brand strategy agency in London that can help you achieve your business goals through agile and creative branding. See what we’ve worked on in the past, or get in touch to have a chat about how we can help you solidify your brand.
