When you’re searching for an automotive advertising firm for your next campaign, there are many factors to consider, and at least as many agencies competing for your business. So, how do you narrow it down to find the one that’s right for you? While there is no guaranteed way to determine if an ad agency is a good fit for your auto dealership or dealer group, there are a few questions you can ask yourself that may help you figure out what are the most important qualities in an agency for your needs.

Some of the things you may want to think about when you’re looking at ad agencies include:

– Am I looking for a long-term relationship or a one-time deal? – Most of the time, establishing a long-term relationship with an advertising agency will serve you best because then they can learn about what makes your company unique and tailor the advertising to reflect your brand better. However, certain ad agencies are especially proficient at promoting auto events like tent sales, and they can be easily contracted to promote an upcoming event for your dealership. They may provide you with even better service than your existing agency, and contracting a new agency for a one-time event is also a good way to test the waters if you’re thinking of leaving your existing one.

– What is my budget? – Certain agencies may not accept work under a certain spend, while some may not be capable of handling extensive campaigns, so determining ahead of time what you’re looking to put into the campaign can help you decide which agencies are better suited to your needs.

– Am I open to trying new methods? – Some ad agencies specialize in creating new and effective methods of advertising, while others stick to traditional media. If you’re not comfortable with the idea of using newer methods, then you may not want to go with a young, experimental company.

– What advertising have I done in the past and how extensive have the campaigns been? – Make sure that the agency you hire is able to research your existing marketing and seamlessly integrate your new ad campaign into it.

– Am I going locally or do I want to target a larger area? – The agency you choose should have experience handling campaigns similar to yours, including those similar in geographic scope. If you’re running a nationwide or regional advertising effort, your agency needs to know the ins and outs of doing so, and if they have only previously done or solely specialize in smaller local campaigns, they may not be suited to your needs.

– What am I looking to achieve with my advertising? – While ultimately everyone’s goal with advertising is to increase revenue, consider the more subtle effects of advertising that you’re looking to achieve. For example, if you’ve always been known as a purveyor of fine luxury vehicles but you’re looking to highlight the value of your used inventory due to tough economic conditions, you may find that there is an agency with experience specifically in eco-friendly advertising.

These are just a few things to consider when choosing an automotive advertising firm to take care of your advertising needs. Whichever you choose, make sure that you are comfortable with the firm and its style of work. A true advertising effort should be a collaboration between you and your agency, not only a client/customer relationship.

Author Bio: Kara Alcamo, online content editor for Action Integrated Marketing: http://www.actionim.com

Category: Business
Keywords: Automotive Marketing Agency, Automotive Marketing, marketing