How Do I Choose a Restaurant Marketing Agency?

Hiring a restaurant marketing agency may probably be the last thing on your mind, especially if you have a limited budget for marketing. Most restaurant owners would think of DIYs when it comes to digital marketing. 

However, if you’ve decided that digital marketing would make up a huge part of growing your business, then hiring a restaurant marketing agency might be the most practical solution for you. 

A restaurant marketing agency is an agency that specializes in devising strategies to attract new customers, building an online community presence, establishing a restaurant’s identity and reputation, and preserving and protecting that reputation. 

Why Do You Need A Restaurant Marketing Agency? 

It Saves You Money

This might come as a surprise but getting a marketing agency specialized in the restaurant business would actually save you money. 

If you do the marketing yourself, you would have to analyze data on your own, evaluate the performance of your business, and pay for all the costs of digital marketing tools and software you would use. You would also need to come up with your designs and text, both for online and offline promotions. If you add the costs of all these, not to mention the time and effort you would spend, then it would be much more practical to just hire a restaurant marketing agency.

With an agency, you only have to pay for the entire project and they will carry out all the processes, step by step. 

It Saves You Time

Creating an effective marketing plan would take time as it involves brainstorming ideas, making creative and catchy phrases and designs, and tying them up all together for your online and offline marketing. For most owners, incorporating all these works is a struggle and may even take a much longer time. 

These processes would require experience and expertise which an agency would be able to offer you.  

It Saves You From More Mistakes

You might be able to successfully craft your own advertisement and execute your marketing plan, but it might not be as good and as effective as the work of a marketing agency. As they are experts in this field, they are well-practiced and their plans are tested and proven to have positive results. Simply put, they make fewer mistakes than a novice. 

What To Consider When Choosing a Restaurant Marketing Agency? 

Choosing the right agency can be quite tricky if you don’t know what to look for. Fret no further! Here are the most important factors you need to consider when choosing a restaurant marketing agency: 

1. Portfolio and Experience

The first thing that you would want to look at is the agency’s portfolio. Ask for examples of their previous clients which may be similar to your business. Of course, you want to make sure that this agency is specialized in the restaurant business and they have successfully implemented marketing solutions. 

2. Marketing Agency’s Reputation and Presence 

When a marketing agency promises to give you a high level of influence and strong community presence, that agency must be the example of the service it sells. Do they have a strong social media presence? Is their website known to others? Are there good reviews about them? 

It’s easy to trust a company whose own image speaks for the products and services they provide. 

3. Marketing Agency Team 

Once you know what kind of marketing services you would need,  you must get to know the people behind the potential agency providing it. Do these people have skills in web design and development? Do they have people who are specialized in managing social networks? Do they focus on SEO and SEM? 

If you would need these kinds of services, then the agency should have a team that’s knowledgeable in these areas. You can ask clarifying questions to understand who will be assigned to your business in case you hire them.

4. Payment Flexibility 

In any kind of transaction, the ease of payment is a striking factor. Find an agency that would adapt to your payment methods. 

5. Alignment of Marketing Perception

Before you finally decide if you’re contracting with an agency, make sure to set an appointment with them. During the meeting, you have to observe how they get along with you and your team. Your personalities must jive together as you will be working with each other for some time. You will meet with them on a weekly or monthly basis, so you have to feel comfortable with each other. 

In the meeting, notice if the agency is proactive or not through the proposals they have prepared, how they speak to you, and their marketing perception. You would want to partner with an agency whose ideas and work ethic align with yours. 

With the above considerations, we hope you find the restaurant marketing agency that’s the right fit for you! 

References:

https://www.tetradmarketing.com/why-hire-an-restaurant-advertising-agency-for-your-restaurant-or-business/
https://idorestaurantmarketing.com/what-you-do-today-can-improve-all-your-tomorrows/ https://blogs.constantcontact.com/hire-a-marketing-firm/