Friday, September 12, 2014

Tips On Starting An Advertising Agency

Qualified advertising agency employees are creative problem solvers.


Seasoned advertising professionals have years of agency experience to rely on as they embark on starting advertising agencies of their own. Advertising agencies provide for-profit and non-profit businesses with professional services to help them promote their brands and attract clients through a variety of advertising media. These agencies do everything from market research and account planning to brainstorm television commercial concepts and craft copy.


Write a Business Plan


As with any business, starting an advertising agency requires proper planning which includes writing a concise business plan to outline how the agency will operate, be financed and marketed. The business plan sets the foundation for the advertising agency and looks ahead by exploring sales projections and ideas for growth.


Select an Industry or Niche


Advertising agencies can be designed to help businesses in a specific industries, like technology, or focus on serving niche markets, like young Latino women. A specialized agency offers clients a team of researchers, copywriters, designers and account planners with experience in a specific industry or niche as a way to create a unique selling proposition for their agency. They are well-versed in the niche or industry and understand what it takes to capture the attention of the desired audience.


Identify Services


All advertising agencies aren't full-service firms offering all advertising related services to clients. Some specialize in media buying, while others specialize in interactive campaigns that involve online advertising strategies and tactics. Agencies offering specialized services are able to employ staff who have individualized skills that contribute to the agencies overall mission.


Hire Qualified Creative Staff


Select employees who have knowledge, skills and experience acquired through working at advertising agencies or in the marketing and advertising departments of corporations, non-profits and small businesses. Advertising agencies employ art directors, graphic designers, web designers, copywriters, account planners and research managers to help them take their campaigns from concept to execution.


Advertising agency staff generally have degrees in business, marketing, advertising, public relations, design, English or mass communications.


Determine Payment Terms


Decide how clients will pay for your advertising agency services. Some advertising agencies charge clients hourly rates and have their employees keep track of billable hours for each client. Another option is to charge on a per project basis. For long-term clients who receive assistance from an agency monthly, an ideal payment term is to set up a retainer where there client pays a set amount of money per month based on an agreed upon monthly workload measured by hours or projects.

Tags: advertising agencies, account planners, Advertising agencies, advertising agency, help them, marketing advertising