Digital agency for associations: 7 selection criteria

Nonprofits today need an effective online presence to reach a wider audience and advance their cause. However, most nonprofits lack the skills or resources to manage their own digital marketing. In this article, we'll discuss what to consider when choosing a digital agency for nonprofits looking to expand online.

1. Understand the needs of your association

Before choosing a digital agency, it is important to understand your association's specific digital marketing needs. Do you need help with your website, SEO, social media, or online advertising? Once you have identified your needs, you can look for an agency that offers suitable services.

2. Agency experience

Experience is crucial when choosing a digital agency for nonprofits. It's important to choose an agency that has worked with nonprofits similar to yours and has experience in the nonprofit world. An experienced agency will have a better understanding of your digital marketing needs and will be able to help you achieve your goals. Also, make sure the agency you choose is an expert in Google Ad Grants if you plan to benefit from them.

3. Agency client portfolio

A strong portfolio can be an important indicator of a digital agency's experience and skills. Agencies often have a portfolio of projects they've completed for previous clients. Review the agency's portfolio to see if they've worked on projects similar to your nonprofit's and if they've achieved positive results for previous clients.

4. Agency strategy

It's important to understand a digital agency's strategy before choosing one. Ask the agency how it plans to help you achieve your communications goals and how it plans to measure results. A good agency will have a solid strategy for achieving your goals and ways to measure the effectiveness of its efforts. At Ads for Change, we work on this strategy free of charge for any nonprofit that approaches us to give it maximum visibility when collaborating.

5. Agency Communication

Communication is an important element in any professional relationship. It's important to choose a digital agency that communicates well and listens to your needs. The agency should be able to provide you with regular updates on progress and respond quickly to your questions or concerns. Make sure the agency you choose is available to respond quickly to your requests and can provide you with an appropriate level of support.

6. Agency Cost

Cost is an important consideration when choosing a digital agency. Rates can vary considerably from agency to agency, so it's important to find an agency that offers quality services at a price that fits your budget. Be careful not to fall into the trap of cheap services with a very low level of support; this could cost you more in lost revenue and wasted time. Make sure you understand the costs associated with the services offered by the agency, including recurring costs, particularly for website management. Costs based on results or performance can help reduce the risk of collaboration for your association.

7. References

The best way to judge an agency's effectiveness is to ask its clients directly. At Ads for Change, we publish a list of all our clients because we believe the truth comes from their own mouths. We support nonprofits with acquisition, SEO, content creation, and website development. We're also well connected with other specialized nonprofit service providers, so don't hesitate to book a slot to be redirected to the right person.