Happy Valentine's Day!

Are your marketing programs producing results you love? If you've lost the love for your marketing company, the passion for your team has faded or if you're unattached, don't lose heart. In the holiday spirit, I'm sharing tips to finding a marketing company You'll Love:

* Superficiality. Don't get blinded by over-rated rankings and "top" or "hottest"
agency labels. Agency awards don't always translate into the clients' goals.

* Limit the lineup. "Long Lists" risk alienating agency jewels that avoid "cattle calls" and pitch selectively.

* Money Matters. Establish a budget range upfront. Any program can be scaled and without parameters you could end up with sticker shock.

* Commitment. What's the agency's client-relationship history? Do they have lots of long-term clients or mostly project quickies?

* Chemistry clicks. It makes or breaks relationships. What is the agency's turnover rate? Meet the daily team; it's all about inner compatibility.

* Manage Expectations. What's considered a successful relationship? Establish mutual goals to ensure priorities align and you're on the same page.

* Size Matters. It's easy to get sold on (and then lost in) a big shop. Will you be a priority client, or just keep folks busy and be another phone number?

Smart planning and vetting will help you find an agency you'll love for the long-term. Contact Smarti to get the full article.