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1. HOW LONG DOES
THE AGENCY SELCTION PROCESS TAKE?
Smarti’s efficient process typically takes
under 4 weeks from kick off to final decision
and hire of an agency partner. Client and
agency schedule availability and other factors
may shorten or delay the process.
2. HOW DO YOU GET
PAID?
For an Agency Shortlist, Smarti charges a set-up
fee to dedicate resources and cover any expenses
in the searching and vetting process. We get
paid a commission fee from the agency that
wins the business. Performance based, we don’t
make any money unless the client successfully hires an agency.
We also provide fee-based consulting services on project basis for businesses seeking
help with RFP development, agency vetting and more complex agency searches.
In that situation, we do not receive any compensation from agencies.
3. DO AGENCIES
PAY TO PARTICIPATE IN REVIEWS?
No! Any agency is eligible to participate
in the review process. Smarti has a proprietary
database that is free for agencies to register
their basic information. Smarti does not require
agencies to “subscribe” or pay any fees to
be considered in searches.
4. WHY DO I NEED
HELP? IT’S EASY TO FIND
AN AGENCY.
Sure, you can throw a rock and hit an agency. And everyone knows someone
But finding the right partner ideally suited to your particular situation,
budget and culture is not so simple.
A time-intensive process, and you can spend
weeks or even months of valuable time meeting talented but ultimately not-just-right firms.
Smarti saves you time and can identify targeted
agency matches from a much larger, qualified
pool than you could ever produce on your own.
The agency landscape can also be confusing. To
attract clients, many agencies claim to be
“integrated”, “full service" and profess to
do “everything”. There’s a big difference
between capabilities and expertise. Smarti
uncovers what an agency does best, what they
outsource, how much their smallest, average
and largest clients spend with them. We know
what type of account is a good fit for an
agency and make right-sized “matches.”
The agency world is constantly changing. Agencies
win and lose clients and personnel, which can change
their composition and how viable a match they are for your business.
An agency a year ago may look very different
today! (Trust us!) We keep a pulse and continually
re-vet agencies to make sure they are qualified
for your needs right now.
5. HOW IS SMARTI
DIFFERENT?
We won’t waste your time, the agency’s time
or our own! Other agency selection services
still require you to sift through hundreds
of unqualified agencies that all claim to
do same thing, which can squander your time
and resources. Smarti does all the legwork,
offers impartial analysis and provides a short-list
of agencies perfectly suited to your initiative.
Hands-on, Smarti’s CEO, Michele Harris personally
meets and interviews every agency before they
are ever introduced to you. And Smarti provides
agency snapshots detailing relevant client
experience specifically tailored to your situation,
so you’ll know why it’s a must-meet.
6. HOW DOES IT
WORK?
We delve into your business, develop a Brief,
define the Agency Criteria and importantly, get your team
on the same page. Then we map the Criteria
through Smarti’s database, across capabilities,
expertise, industry and target experience,
size, location, culture, budgets and other
specified criteria. Marketing matchmakers,
we also apply softer skills and try to match
personalities and culture, too. We narrow
down from a few hundred to a few dozen to
eventually arrive at a short-list uniquely qualified and tailored to your particular business needs.
We provide snapshots of the agencies, outlining
relevant experience.
With your approval of the Brief and Shortlist, we brief the agencies and coordinate the meetings - typically held all in one day -
and buffer communications as appropriate.
After the
pitch meetings, we work with you to develop
an RFP to make a decision, and encourage on-site
agency visits to get a sense of their team
and culture.
We facilitate the process without
getting in the way, and ensure agencies get
what they need to provide a proposal and you
get what you need to make a good decision.
7. IS IT CONFIDENTIAL?
Yes. Only the finalists invited to pitch are
informed, and no information is shared without
your consent.
8. DO YOU HAVE
EXPERIENCE IN MY INDUSTRY?
Smarti works with clients across all industries.
More importantly, we know the agencies that
specialize in your industry. Smarti’s database
of over 1,000 agencies segments by industry,
along with other data points, such as location,
size, marketing expertise and budgets, so
we can tailor our search to your needs. We
know who you need to know.
9. DO YOU GUARANTEE
WE WILL BE HAPPY WITH OUR AGENCY SELECTION?
Yes! In over 14 years of business, we have
rarely ever had to go beyond the initial Agency
Shortlist. However, if for some reason you
were not thrilled with the three agencies,
we would continue to find you agency. Our
success is tied to yours; we don’t make any
money unless you fall in love and hire an
agency! Check out the testimonials
from clients.
10. WE HAVEN’T
DEFINED OUR AGENCY CRITERIA, SHOULD WE BEGIN
ANYWAY?
Yes. Smarti’s seasoned marketing experts will
help you determine what type of services you
need and the right type of agency for your
particular situation.
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