Are you starting a new business OR thinking about reworking your existing marketing strategy?
Whatever your need may be, finding a professional, and experienced creative design agency in London can help. But this can be a tough task. There are so many of them out there that the process of choosing one becomes too overwhelming and challenging. It is like finding a needle in a haystack.A mismatch not only results in the loss of money but also your valuable time.
It can also have a bad impact on your sales and damage your brand identity too!
If you are looking for a creative design agency for your business, then here are some tips that can help you choose the right one for the job.
1. Start with Clear Objectives
The first step in choosing a creative agency for your business is figuring out what you really want. Think about the services that you want from a creative agency.
Are you just a small creative studio or a big multinational?
Do you have a strong presence nationally or are you a small business running locally?
It is important to know what you are hiring an agency for before you start the hunt. If you are looking to launch a direct marketing campaign, look for an agency that has a similar experience. If you are thinking about rebranding your brand and visual identity, look for an agency with expertise in this field to avoid brand name mistakes as well as other mistakes which occur while rebranding of the brand.
Knowing what you want helps you choose a creative agency specialising in that field. Most of the creative agencies out there have their focus on certain things. If their niche resonates with your objectives, then you have found the perfect fit. Look for a match between your creative needs and the area of expertise of the creative agency. This will help you make the right choice.
2. Shortlist the Best Creative Digital Agencies in London
Once you have figured out what services you need, the next step is to shortlist some agencies that you think are fit for the job. You can ask around for recommendations from the people you trust. If someone you know has recently revamped their business and it is doing well, you can ask them about the creative agency they worked with.
Another way to make a list of prospective hires is to search for digital design agency in London online. A simple search on Google will give you a list of agencies that you can work with. However, don’t just rely on the search results. It is important to run background checks on these agencies before choosing one. You can also look for customer reviews about these agencies before you pick any of them.
You can also use social media sites such as LinkedIn to find the right creative agency for your business. There are many experienced agencies with their profiles on LinkedIn. You can contact them there and see how it goes.
Once you have a list of creative agencies, the next step is to look at their portfolio and previous work.
3. Look at Their Previous Work
You should never finalize a creative agency without looking at their portfolio. Look for an agency that has previously worked on projects of similar scale and kind in your industry. Look for proven excellence and results. Ask for the return on investment they can guarantee.
It is ideal to find a creative agency that has worked in your industry before or at least worked on projects similar to yours before. This will save you valuable time as you will not have to start from scratch with them. They will be aware of the industry’s best practices and you will also be able to learn a lot from them.
4. Evaluate the Agency
Now is the time to shortlist your list of prospective hires further. Discuss your objectives and services with creative agencies. A pro tip is to only keep those agencies in your list that offer brand design. Eliminate the ones that only focus on creating logos and designs (unless you only want these services). A creative agency offering brand design and revamp will cover most of the things you are looking for.
There are some key points you can use for the evaluation of the creative agencies on your list.
Size: A smaller creative agency can work for you if you only have some limited work. However, if you are looking for a full-service, then it is best to hire an agency that offers multi-disciplinary expertise.
Resources: It should also have enough resources to deliver work efficiently and on time.
Industry Experience: When you are hiring a creative agency, ask them for their portfolio, a list of their clients, and the resources they have. This will help you figure out if it is the right fit for your organisation or not.
Chemistry: Look for good chemistry and rapport during evaluation. This is especially important if you are looking for a long term relationship.
5. Consider Your Budget
Once you have evaluated all the creative agencies on your list, it is time to pick the one that suits your budget the best. Every business has a specific budget for their branding. Thus, it is important to choose a creative agency that offers the best services within your budget. Don’t get too excited by too low prices as the kind of work such agencies do is below par. Look for a perfect fit between your budget and the services the creative agency offers.
These were some simple tips to help you find the best creative agency for your business. Creative abilities, professionalism, project execution, cost, reviews, and portfolio are the most important things to consider when choosing a creative agency.
Richard Kearsey is a digital designer at Emerald Colour – a creative design agency in London that offers various services, like website design, animation, bespoke exhibition stand design, etc. He loves creativity and enjoys experimenting with various design techniques for both web and print. He also enjoys sharing his thought on the latest design trends and upcoming marketing ideas.