How to choose an advertising agency in Syria: 7 questions to ask before you sign

The number of advertising agencies in Syria grows every month, and the difference between them does not show in the first pitch. They all promise a winning campaign. These seven questions help you find the agency that will actually work for you, before you sign.

1. 1Work in your sector
2. 2Views, not followers
3. 3Experience inside Syria
4. 4Who will work with you
5. 5Content or ads
6. 6What the price includes
7. 7A plan if it fails

1. Does it have published work in your sector?

Ask for links to real campaigns, not designs in a pitch deck. Better if they are in your sector or close to it: a restaurant, a consumer product, or a service. An agency that succeeded with a food brand knows how your audience talks better than one that has only worked with banks.

2. Does it measure views or followers?

Follower count is a claimed number. What matters is what actually happened: how many people watched, saved, shared or messaged you. Ask the agency for the last report it sent a client and look at what it measures (here is how we measure). If the report is nice pictures with no numbers, that tells you something.

3. Does it know how to work inside Syria?

Advertising in Syria has its own conditions: paying ad platforms is not always easy, and a large part of reach goes through local pages and content creators. Ask how the agency will deliver your message: paid ads, pages, influencers, or a mix. A clear answer means real experience.

4. Who will actually work on your account?

In the first meeting you meet the manager. After signing, a new hire may run your account. Ask for the name of the person in charge, how many accounts they handle, and how you will reach them.

5. Does it make content or only run ads?

Some agencies design a post and pay to publish it. Others build content people choose to follow: a series, a character, or a short show. The second kind is harder and slower, but it lasts, as the New Park and Dr. Sara case shows. Know what you need before you choose.

6. How does it price, and what does the price include?

Prices usually come in three forms: a monthly package for account management, a price for a single project, or a budget for a fixed-length campaign. Ask clearly: does it include filming? The paid ads budget? How many revisions? Get two or three quotes to compare.

7. What happens if the campaign does not work?

A good agency agrees with you on a measurable goal before starting, reports halfway, and adjusts if things are not working. Ask: when will we know if the campaign worked? And what will you do if it did not?

Warning signs

Which kind of agency fits you?

Read also: The top 3 advertising agencies in Syria

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