What Brand Marketers Really Look for in a Digital Agency

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What do brand marketers want from a digital agency? Here's what agency executives should consider before preparing their next pitch for business.

Be One Step Ahead of Us

Think three to four moves ahead like a good chess player. What are the latest advances in digital that might help us achieve our objectives better? What are some of the industry best practices – global – that we can get ideas from? You should always know this better than us.

Do What We Can't Do

Do not duplicate what we can do internally unless we request you to. Figure out what we're not good at (there's plenty!) and try to fill in those gaps. Bring resources that we don't have. Give us ideas that we may never think of.

Count the Leaves, But Do Not Miss the Woods for the Trees

Manage the details, details, and details to the micro-est extent possible. But always have the big picture in mind.

Don't Give Us Standard Stock-in-Trade Solutions

For example, when presenting us with a media buying plan, do not just give us a list of websites and networks and their standard rate cards. And don't just list out the standard advertising formats. We can get those ourselves with a few phone calls. Add value by negotiating with the sites on rates; and talk to them about special advertising formats that meet our needs better and help us stand out.

Think It Through

An idea is only good if it can be executed smoothly and profitably. Think through the steps and follow it up right till the end. We can't keep anything hanging in mid air.

Measure Everything

As a retailer we like to check returns on everything - be it in terms of sales, store traffic, brand recognition, or social media engagement - something concrete, something measurable. Help us put KPIs for all we do, measure constantly, and improve.

Integrate Always

Please give a thought to how we can integrate our various digital channels with each other, and with all other elements of our marketing mix. Ultimately, it is one brand, one voice, one customer at a time. And one marketing director and one marketing budget!

Master the Inside Outside

Understand our needs like an insider. Be an extension of our marketing team. But maintain an outsider's perspective and help us avoid gazing at our own navels.