Q. How do we select our finalist?
A. agencyfinder.com usually eliminates the typical long-form questionnaire or RFP, so you quickly end up with a short-list of agencies with every quality you asked for. When you score the essays, you're making even finer distinctions.
After we invite them to contact you, that agency/client telephone interview is your first high-touch connection. Use it (as agencies will) to determine whether the fit is right. If it is, most clients generally ask for the agency brochure, some relevant samples and a short letter outlining how the agency thinks they can assist you. You and your committee colleagues can study these samples and further reduce the candidates without holding premature agency meetings.
After you're down to five or so agencies, the decision becomes more challenging because, at this stage, the finalists are usually equally well qualified. Now it's time to meet, to put faces to names. We suggest you visit their offices first; meet the staff, confirm that your first contact is a true reflection of the agency as a whole. Small things start to make a difference; are they neat and organized, is their passion for business evident, does most of their work meet with your approval? Did they treat you well? Is the chemistry right?
The last steps tend to be more traditional. Invite them to come to you. Show them where you work; introduce them to the decision-makers in your company. Let them make their final presentation. Respect their professionalism by not asking for speculative creative work, but if you want an indication of their ability to think on their feet, we can share exclusive techniques we've developed. If you'd prefer an independent consultant to assist, we'll help you find one with appropriate experience.
There are no rules. If you spot an agency and want to make your connection early on, that's fine! Let us know how you want the process to work. We'll help make it happen!