How to start working with a digital advertising agency Define your business goals and needs
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 3:33 am
In 2025, the first and most critical step in working with a digital agency is to clearly define your business goals and marketing needs. This is not as simple as "I need more sales", but to think deeply about specific, measurable results. For example, do you want to increase website traffic by 30% in the next six months? Or do you want to increase e-commerce conversions by 15%? Or do you want to build brand awareness in a specific new market? Detailing your goals will help the digital agency understand your expectations and develop a more targeted strategy accordingly. At the same time, you also need to evaluate your internal resources and capabilities to clarify which marketing tasks you want to outsource to the digital agency. For example, you may have an advantage in content creation, but lack expertise in search engine optimization (SEO) or paid advertising (PPC). Clearly defining these needs will not only help you screen the most suitable partners, but also ensure that both parties have a common understanding and expectations from the beginning of the cooperation, avoiding communication barriers or misunderstandings later.
Research and screen potential partners in depth After clarifying your needs, the next important step is to research and screen potential digital agencies in depth. In 2025, there are a huge number of companies in the digital marketing field, and the scope of their services is also varied. You can identify high-quality agencies through industry recommendations, online reviews (such as Google Reviews, G2, Clutch, etc.), specific database by industry case studies, and industry awards. Focus on companies that have a successful experience in your industry or have deep expertise in the service areas you are seeking (such as social media marketing, content marketing, search engine marketing, email marketing, programmatic advertising, etc.). At the same time, don't just look at their promotional materials, but dig into their past cases to understand how they solved problems similar to yours and what specific results they brought to their clients. In addition, consider whether the agency's culture and communication style match your company, as this will directly affect the efficiency of future cooperation.
Preliminary screening of 3-5 companies that best meet your requirements for subsequent detailed evaluation and communication. Prepare a comprehensive request for proposal (RFP) or brief Once you have screened several potential digital advertising companies, the next step is to prepare a comprehensive and clear request for proposal (RFP) or brief. In 2025, an RFP is more than just a list of questions. It’s a window into your business vision, challenges, and expectations for potential partners. The RFP should detail your business background, target market, target customers, specific marketing goals, budget range (even a rough range is very helpful), timeline, and a list of services you hope to receive. You can also ask specific questions such as how they will measure success, what their workflow is like, how they respond to change, and their team composition. A well-prepared RFP will not only help digital advertising companies better understand your needs and submit more targeted and valuable proposals, but also give you a standardized comparison basis when evaluating different proposals, so that you can make decisions more effectively.
Research and screen potential partners in depth After clarifying your needs, the next important step is to research and screen potential digital agencies in depth. In 2025, there are a huge number of companies in the digital marketing field, and the scope of their services is also varied. You can identify high-quality agencies through industry recommendations, online reviews (such as Google Reviews, G2, Clutch, etc.), specific database by industry case studies, and industry awards. Focus on companies that have a successful experience in your industry or have deep expertise in the service areas you are seeking (such as social media marketing, content marketing, search engine marketing, email marketing, programmatic advertising, etc.). At the same time, don't just look at their promotional materials, but dig into their past cases to understand how they solved problems similar to yours and what specific results they brought to their clients. In addition, consider whether the agency's culture and communication style match your company, as this will directly affect the efficiency of future cooperation.
Preliminary screening of 3-5 companies that best meet your requirements for subsequent detailed evaluation and communication. Prepare a comprehensive request for proposal (RFP) or brief Once you have screened several potential digital advertising companies, the next step is to prepare a comprehensive and clear request for proposal (RFP) or brief. In 2025, an RFP is more than just a list of questions. It’s a window into your business vision, challenges, and expectations for potential partners. The RFP should detail your business background, target market, target customers, specific marketing goals, budget range (even a rough range is very helpful), timeline, and a list of services you hope to receive. You can also ask specific questions such as how they will measure success, what their workflow is like, how they respond to change, and their team composition. A well-prepared RFP will not only help digital advertising companies better understand your needs and submit more targeted and valuable proposals, but also give you a standardized comparison basis when evaluating different proposals, so that you can make decisions more effectively.