Lead generation is the lifeblood of every Brokerage's and Agent's business. Typically at small scale you can depend on your own sphere to help you grow your business. But SOI doesn't scale as you grow. Sometimes you feel the need to leverage outside sources to help you augment your efforts. But there are so many of them, so how do you pick one that truly deserves your business. What are things to consider and ask agencies to provide so you can make the best decision for your business.

I've compiled 7 things you should consider when meeting a marketing agency and evaluating if they are a good fit for you

1. Experience and expertise: You could ask the agency to provide a portfolio of their past work and client testimonials, as well as information about their team's credentials. If you are working with a company that's a black box, don't know how they generate leads, and if they cannot comprehensively explain their process, you should walk away. Knowing the team behind lead generation, where they get the leads from, what's their definition of leads etc. is critical to knowing if you can have a good experience working with the leads.

2. Customized solutions: Every team is different and their needs are unique. A cookie cutter approach to lead generation is the wrong way of growing your business. Ask the agency to present a tailored marketing plan that addresses your specific needs and goals. The agency should have a vested interest in understanding how you follow up and close deals. Different leads need different kind of service. Matching your super power to the leads needs are what will give you maximum success.

3. Strong communication: Ask for the agency to provide examples of their communication style and to outline their process for providing updates and reporting on their marketing efforts. Not just the views generated on running an ad or how much was spent. Sustained and transparent effort on how the week was, what the next week would project to be and how that would translate to success.

4. Cost-effectiveness: Transparent pricing model. Knowing how much money is spent on ads vs. management fee, outlining the value that their services will provide in terms of lead generation etc. should be well defined. At the end of the day, there should be a clear data presented on the return on investment (ROI) that you can expect from their marketing efforts.

5. Results-oriented approach: You instantly know when dealing with agencies what their goal is and how you can hold each other accountable. Marketing agencies can generate leads and provide other follow up services, but they cannot close the deal for you. So it's a concerted effort and dance between the two of you to achieve results. Look for which of their clients produce closings, what do those clients do to get the results and see if you can picture yourself in their shoes. Knowing an average conversion rate from leads generated does not automatically translate to results for you.

6. Flexibility and adaptability: Along the journey - your needs change. You realize you have certain weaknesses that you didn't realize existed before. The strategies to lead generate and grow businesses change over time and does the agency work with you to meet your evolving needs and changing market conditions? Run different kind of ads, focus on different market, change platforms, change budget etc. ?

7. Customer Service: Excellent customer service can be a sign of an agency that is professional, reliable, and committed to delivering high-quality services. If the agency values its clients and takes customer service seriously, it is likely that they will also be diligent and thorough in their work. If the agency is responsive and open to your needs and concerns, you will be able to work together more effectively and achieve your goals.

Selecting a marketing agency for lead generation is a crucial decision for any business. By considering factors such as the agency's experience and expertise, their approach to lead generation, and their fit with your business goals and values, you can make an informed choice that will help you achieve your lead generation goals effectively and efficiently. Don't forget to also evaluate the agency's customer service, as good customer service can be a key factor in your satisfaction with the agency and the success of your partnership. By following these guidelines, you can find the right marketing agency for your business and take your lead generation efforts to the next level.