What Is A Marketing Agency

what is a marketing agency vs marketing firm

I'm quite certain that many of us try and search, “what is a marketing agency". And clearly, we are never able to find a definite answer. When you realize this is happening to you, then it is time to take a step back. It is finally time to look at what a marketing agency actually is. Oftentimes this important step is not given a second thought. Because of this, you will see a ton of industry professional writers that go straight into the agency’s role and responsibilities. However, they actually neglect to define and develop the business entity itself. There is so much value in understanding just what a marketing agency is. So, let’s jump right in. 

Marketing Agencies, Explained 

A marketing agency is a company that specializes in a wide range of services. These services mean to assist clients in achieving their marketing and brand value goals. You can think of marketing agencies as hubs of efficiency. They also work with technology, and creative thought. Basically, these groups of “agents”, are typically individuals with a range of valuable marketing and communications expertise. This is what each marketing agency will consist of. 

Marketing Agents 

Although operating under the same company name, these agents tend to be highly independent in their workflow. And it's clear that most agents have their own set of clients, goals, and capabilities. It's important to realize that all of these things will contribute to the overall success of the marketing agency. However, their independence has a limit. That's because marketing agencies all have a set of protocols, standards, and quality checks. These are all set in place. This is because these companies actually expect their agents to stick to these guidelines. We find this to be especially true while conducting business independently. And because of this, there is zero-tolerance for rogue, unsanctioned behavior. It's important to understand that this is necessary for the protection of the marketing agency. Not to mention, their client’s reputation. Furthermore it is put in place to discourage unethical or ineffective marketing practices. 

Marketing Agency Types 

I want to help you understand that there are many types of marketing agencies. More importantly, they are actually overarching categories that you are probably familiar with. These categories are full-service, specialized, and traditional marketing. 

So, the definition of a marketing agency actually changes depending on the category. This rings true when a firm specializes in its structure and the types of services they offer clients. For instance, you will find that some marketing agencies exclusively specialize in service categories like SEO (search engine optimization). This is actually quite different from a full-service Internet marketing agency that will offer SEO, content marketing, social media advertising, and many more services to their clients. They generally provide these in cost- effective service bundles. 

It's important to realize that traditional marketing services focus more on PR, print advertising, television and radio, and general brand management. That said, you must choose which definition of marketing is right for your business. To do this, you will review factors such as your budget, needs, and ultimate business goals. As long as you keep those things in mind, you will eventually find the right agency for you. 

Marketing Firm vs. Marketing Agency 

Now I know you must be wondering, what’s the difference between a marketing firm and a marketing agency. Well, there happens to be a couple of things: 

1. It's definitely true that a lot of people use the two terms interchangeably. This is what actually makes it very confusing. To fix this, there has to be a definite advancement in the way we present the two. This is why smaller companies take on the task of offering communication and marketing services. In spite of this, both words of firm and agency have gotten extremely muddled. It's because of this that the need for companies to portray themselves as titans of their industry must be enforced. 

2. So, we must realize that they are actually not the same. Agencies typically have a broader range of services to offer to their clients for fulfilling their marketing needs. Firms, on the other hand, tend to specialize in just one area. It's also important to realize that agents within agencies have a level of independence that isn’t seen inside of firms. This is because they have their own clients to service. However, firms tend to adopt a model where multiple employees work under one company. 

Marketing Agency Vs. Firm 

Agencies can be superior to firms in many ways. A firm is actually a small group of specialists. They have a limit on the services that they can provide. It also holds strong meaning when it comes to traditional marketing. This would mean for instance, “PR firms”. That will actually circle right back to limitations. This is due to somewhat dated and expensive marketing tactics. That includes things like television and print. 

We must remember that a marketing agency is a strategic partner with value. And that value is found when we engage the audience. That level of engagement will maximize the return on the investment that the company who chooses to use a marketing agency puts in. Research actually shows that we achieve this best being innovative in terms of technology. This includes things such as multi-channel content marketing. Furthermore, it includes automation, SEO, and various other services. You will also find that full-service Internet marketing agencies provide this. 

Recap: What A Marketing Agency Is 

So, I truly want you to understand that an agency is a strategic partner. The design of a marketing agency is to assist clients with succeeding in their marketing and communications. After all, this is the reason in which they made the decision to hire the agency in the first place. These objectives can be key parts of larger company goals. This is definitely the case when increasing product line awareness and sales. It can also increase employee morale and brand reputation. 

So, you can also think of a marketing agency as an industry leader. This is a leader who works alongside clients to decide what is the most effective method. This would be for things like content and even the delivery method for engaging their target audience(s). 

The Marketing Agency will help any business discover and transform the reader into a valuable customer. And it accomplishes this at the right price. We offer a diverse range of services that are designed to maximize your marketing investments. This includes multi- channel marketing, automation, and advanced reporting. It's important to understand that when you use our data-driven approach, we will be able to discover a deeper understanding of your prime customer. And because of this, we will create content that truly resonates with them. 

Larry Alton is a blogger and passionate writer at Managerteams.com. He loves cooking and is fond of travelling.

Official Bootstrap Business Blog Newest Posts From Mike Schiemer Partners And News Outlets