4 Questions to Ask Your Advertising Agency

Are you planning to hire an advertising agency to promote your product or service? You'll need the services of a really good ad agency to ensure that you are able to connect with your customers. If you do not have sufficient visibility in the market then there is very little chance of being successful. As a musician you'll definitely need a good agency to ensure that potential customers know about your work.
The process of selecting an advertising agency is not necessarily an easy one. However, the following questions will help you decide whether a particular ad company is the right one for you:
1. What services will the company offer? Advertising agencies generally offer a whole range of services that include planning out a marketing campaign, producing print, radio and TV ads and also buying space in various media. Some companies insist that you use only them for all these services. In any case, it is never a good idea to use different companies because this will result in lack of continuity between the services offered.
2. How will fees be decided? Be sure to have a discussion upfront regarding how the company will charge you. Keep in mind that ad agencies are entitled to commission from the media in which your ads will appear. You should therefore not have to pay a lot of money for the services. Even so, you should read the fine print so that you don't have to deal with unexpected costs.
3. Will the company appoint a person to work on your advertising? Your relationship with your ad agency will generally be a very long term one. In fact, it is not a great idea to switch agencies often. You'll also need one person from the company to manage your account. This ensures that you get personalized service from the agency. You will also be able to count on this person to mobilize resources for you at very short notice, if and when necessary.
4. Does the company have good contacts in the media? Be sure to hire an advertising agency that can get you space on different media at short notice. The company should also be able to get you slots for your ads at very reasonable prices.
Once you hire a really good advertising agency, you will see a significant improvement in business. Everything depends on the company you finally select..

4 Things You Should Be Able To Expect From Your Advertising Company

As the owner or manager of a business, whether large or small, you'll need the help of a really good advertising company. Advertising is a very important field because it enables you to communicate information about your company's products and services to your target market. In fact, it is very difficult to survive in an increasingly competitive environment unless you promote your business correctly.
You'll need to select your advertising company with a great deal of care. In fact, you ought to be able to depend on your agency for the following:
- Detailed marketing solutions, and not just advertising: The term advertising agency is actually a misnomer. These companies should be able to help you promote your product across different channel and media. If all it does are create print, television or radio ads for you then you are being short changed. Your business will definitely suffer because of this.
- Dedication to increasing your profitability: A good advertising company is one that works towards increasing your profitability and not just creating ads that win awards. The company should make it its business to understand what your customers want so that it can advise you accordingly. As a matter of fact, the best ad companies consider themselves to be a part of the client's marketing team.
- Service at short notice: It is true that the best marketing and advertising campaigns are created when the agency is not rushed for time. Even so, there might be instances when you require urgent assistance from your agency. For instance, you might need brochures for a particular event that you have suddenly decided to participate in. Be sure to hire a company that can accommodate your requirements at very short notice so that you don't get caught on the wrong foot during times such as this.
- High quality ads that your customers can relate to: This is what it all boils down to. If the company cannot be depended upon for effective advertisements then should you really be dealing with it?
Your association with your advertising company is ideally a long-term one. This ensures that the agency understands your requirements and is able to offer you the desired level of service. You'll also be able to negotiate the best possible rates if you have a long term association with a particular agency. You therefore need to be very careful when selecting one to do business with.

A World Of Opportunities Out There

Running a home on a single salary these days can be quite tough. Even if you are one of those lucky households that does not have this problem, as a stay-at-home mom, there is more that you can do with your time and skills. When looking for a business idea, you first need to assess your skills and play them up.
If you have a way with words, then there is a whole world of freelance writing that you can look at. Set yourself up as a one-person business stop for PR writing, SEO writing, features, blogs and more. The online world of content constantly needs to be fed and if you are good, work will keep flowing your way.
If you have good baking skills, then there is a business idea right there. But remember it is not a new one. Work on an aspect of baking that is unique to your target market? How about getting into just savoury products? Or setting up a baking service that does everything in mini size - these could be great for parties, corporate meetings, high teas and the like. You could also specialize in cakes that have art work done in gum paste, fondant and even marzipan. The trick is to have something on offer that others don't.
For those stay at home mothers with a good sense of fashion, you could set up a style makeover business where people turn to you for a complete wardrobe makeover. You can easily do this online as well. You could also become a shopping assistant in the virtual world and help people choose outfits that are best for them.
If you are creative, then there are several school and corporate projects that could use your help. People can approach you to come up with a novel idea for a fancy dress competition or for a corporate giveaway. If you are able to create a network that can look into the creation of this requirement from start to finish, you are bound to have a large number of requests coming your way. These requirements can be for science projects, homecoming balls, sorority parties, proms, corporate exhibitions and more. There are several places where creativity can help a great deal.
And if you are a great cook, one who loves to try out cuisine from all over, you could start live video classes of your recipes. Though you may have to start out for free in the beginning, once the word spreads these classes can be limited and with a comfortable price tag.
There are several such businesses that you could indulge in for better use of your time and expertise.