9 Questions to Ask a Creative Agency You're Considering for Retainer

Make sure you’re asking your potential agency these nine questions:

1. What skills does your team have? What types of marketing assets can the creative agency offer you? Is there room to grow if you decide to embark on new campaigns in the future? If the agency lacks a video or animation department and that’s one of your content goals, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

2. Have you worked with companies like ours before? You want to make sure the creative team working on your content has experience working in your industry, so you’re getting the most accurate and effective content. At the same time, you don’t want them to be leading the content for your biggest competitor. 

3. Will we have one dedicated team member, or multiple? Ask questions about the team that will be handling your content. You’ll likely have a content manager who’s in charge of your content needs and deliveries, but will they be the only one creating the content, or will others be involved? What skills do these other team members have? You want to make sure you’re not being passed off to any number of employees within a short period of time.

4. Is any work outsourced? Some creative agencies outsource certain aspects of their work. Ask which types of work are outsourced and how that process works. How does the agency ensure that the content meets your standards and stays cohesive?

5. What’s included in our monthly retainer? After discussing your needs with the agency, ask them to outline everything they’ll deliver on a monthly basis and discuss how these items work to meet your goals. Set clear expectations so there are no surprises.

6. How much will this cost? You want to make sure the agency you’re hiring on retainer is compatible with your monthly budget. If their prices are higher than the others you’ve contemplated, is the cost worth it, or should you find an alternative?

7. When and how will assets be delivered each month? Does the agency you’re hiring use a particular project management software to share files? Is that compatible with your system and process? When can you expect deliverables each month?

8. Can you help us with performance tracking? Will the creative agency help you track and monitor marketing performance on the assets they create, or does that fall on you? If they do, make sure you discuss KPIs and how those align with your goals.

9. How often will we be in contact? How will meetings work? Your advertising campaign needs and goals won’t stay the same forever, and neither will your brand. How will you communicate any changes to the agency? Will you require regular meetings to ensure you’re staying on track? Make sure you’re on the same page regarding communication.

Are you interested in bolstering your marketing strategy with the help of a creative agency on retainer? Say hello to the Spin Creative team!

About Us

Spin Creative is a video production company and creative agency helping marketers create winning video and creative strategies that engage, inspire and activate targeted audiences. Spin is headquartered in Seattle with offices in San Francisco and London, serving brands around the globe.