When you need help creating content, finding a reputable content services agency can be a daunting task. You are looking for top quality work from well-experienced resources, all within your budget. You are looking for someone who prioritizes the needs of your company above anything else. That’s why working with a content services agency is the same as working with a good partner. A good content services agency is a partner that is:
- Trustworthy
- Reliable
- Dependable
- Easy to work with
- Adaptable to your needs
Like finding a golden needle in a haystack, locating this type of agency can be time consuming. Here are some things to look for when you search for the royalty of agency partners.
Recognize Reputation
The first place to look for a great agency is your network. Who do you know that owns a content services agency? No one? That’s okay. Who do you know that has worked with an agency? Perhaps another group in your company has had great success with a particular vendor.
Perhaps you belong to a group of colleagues in your industry who you can go to for help. The best way to find an awesome content services agency is to engage a company that is considered awesome by the people you most trust and respect. That way, the awesome goes around and comes around.
Look for Longevity
Another thing you want to look for in an exceptional agency is longevity. Has the company withstood the test of time? How many recessions has it survived? Has it been around long enough to have “been there, done that?”
I can tell you that the content services agency space is both crowded and empty. Years ago, when I started Content Rules, I had many competitors – other small agencies who were competing for the same customers. Three decades and a pandemic later, small companies in the contract content development space are harder to find. There are only a handful of us left.
Several things contributed to the reduction of agencies serving this space. First, the very large consulting firms conquered many large customers. These firms don’t specialize in great content creators. Some specialize in IT infrastructure and “throw in” things like writing as a side project. Others specialize in other types of consulting. However, the ultra-large consulting firms have ultra-large contracts. They tend to become the vendor of choice because they are big, they are often already engaged at your company, and their girth allows them to provide deeply discounted pricing.
Second, many of the smaller content creation agencies did not survive the great recession back in the 2000s and 2010s. As corporations tightened their budget belts, lots of smaller companies could not stay in business.
Third, as more large companies send more work offshore, there are fewer opportunities for US-based contractors. Fewer jobs to fill means fewer small businesses to fill them.
The content development agencies who remain are the ones who survived it all. Usually, they survived because of their earned and proven reputation. Longevity and reputation are soulmates.
Determine Depth of Pool and Experience
An exceptional agency has a vast pool of contractors who have a lot of experience. The pool of people is deep and the knowledge that the contractors bring to each project is equally deep. Look for an agency that has a solid base of people who have the experience you need for your project.
Review References
Like anyone that you hire, you should get references for your agency. The agency should be able to supply you with several customers for you to speak with. When you speak with the references, be sure to ask questions:
- Is the agency easy to work with?
- Do you trust them?
- How are the contract resources they provide?
- Did you have any issues with your project? If so, how did the agency make corrections and satisfy your needs?
Keep in mind that not every project goes according to plan. We are working with people, not machines. And people make mistakes. Even experienced people who have the best intentions make mistakes. It’s not the mistake that matters. What matters is how the agency handles the issue and fixes the problem. How an agency addresses glitches exposes their core values.
Do You Click?
The final thing to look for in an agency is the click factor. The click factor is about how well you interact on a personal level with the people at the agency. Do they “get you?” Do you feel confident that they understand what you need – perhaps even better than you do? Does the advice they provide resonate with you?
Do you feel comfortable with what they say? Like any good relationship, you need to be able to speak freely with the agency and feel that they are listening to you. Sometimes, you can tell right away. Sometimes, it takes a few interactions. Be patient, but look for the magic. Clicking with the people at the agency will give you comfort and peace of mind.
You’ll know that they always have your best interests at heart. Once you have found your golden needle in a haystack, you may wonder what the next steps are to engage with the content services agency. To learn the steps to engage your perfect agency, download the Guide to Success Outsourcing so you can start contracting for the win.
Val is on the Advisory Board for the Technical Communications Program at the University of North Texas. When not working with customers or students, Val can be found sitting behind her sewing machine working on her latest quilt. She also makes a mean hummus.
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