How to Prepare for Your Next Marketing Meeting

John Nicol

Whether you're thinking of hiring a marketing agency to build your new website or you're already working with the perfect agency for your business, your marketing meetings are crucial for keeping everyone aligned and maintaining your brand's vision. At Hughes&Co, we understand that running your own business is challenging and time-consuming, so we've put together a few tips to help you make the most of your next marketing meeting and save you some precious time.

Do Your Homework

If this is your first meeting with your marketing agency, you may not have been assigned homework yet. It’s important to simply get to know your marketing agency before diving deep into your next steps. However, if you’ve met with your account manager previously, it's likely they’ve asked you to consider looking at websites you like before a web design meeting or to explore social media for styles that appeal to you. Walking in prepared for your next marketing meeting, whether it’s your first or your tenth, will help kickstart the discussion and maximize your time with the agency.

Come with Questions Written Down

Regardless of where you are in your marketing process, we always encourage clients to ask questions. Wondering what kind of work your marketing agency has done that’s similar to your business? They have that information. Would you like to see some other options for website design? Your marketing agency will only know this if you ask them to email you new samples. Communicating any questions or concerns is vital for your agency to understand your brand’s needs.

Writing these questions down ahead of time will ensure you walk away from your meeting with the answers you need to feel confident about your brand.

Know Your Brand Vision

If you're working on a rebrand or a web design and don’t have a complete vision for your brand yet, that’s okay. Take a few moments before your meeting to jot down words that describe how you want your brand to make people feel, or bring your business’s values and mission statement to the table. This preparation will help your agency's designers develop a concept that resonates with you and your clients. A little pre-meeting brainstorming can go a long way in preparing you for your next marketing discussion.

Share Your Business Goals

Your marketing agency is a wealth of knowledge, ready to lay out all the options when it comes to their services. However, they will only know the right solutions to offer your business if you share your goals. Writing down your business goals for the next 6, 12, and 24 months will help your agency craft a plan tailored to your business's needs. This is especially useful for business owners who are new to marketing and may be uncertain about different strategies and their potential outcomes.

Getting to know your brand, business goals, vision, and concerns enables your marketing agency to deliver the best results for you. Not only will this preparation help your agency develop a strong concept for your brand, but it will also lead to a more efficient meeting, giving you more time to discuss strategy or even wrap up early and continue with your busy day. If you've got your notes ready and you're looking to sit down and get to business, our team is just a click away.