No matter what size your business is part of what you do involves hiring vendors for outside marketing services. You can’t put everyone on staff; it isn’t feasible on so many levels. There are certain jobs that you don’t need full time, but you do need their expertise. You want vendors who you can trust to take the load off, which means if their a nightmare to manage you chose wrong. Don’t make that mistake again.

Part 1

1. Write down the marketing pain the vendor solves.
2. Add what you get out of the pain being resolved.
3. Plus, what that is worth to you. (put a number to it $)

Part 2

1. Outline what you expect that vendor to do for you.
2. Decide what you are willing to pay.
3. Create a RFP (request for proposal).

Part 3

1. Research the various vendor solutions available.
2. Search credibility using BBB or Ripoff Report.
3. Send your RFP to 4 vendors (with a response deadline).

Part 4

1. Review proposals.
2. Setup meetings with your top 2.
3. Interview and ask lots of questions (come prepared).

Part 5

1. Sleep on it.
2. Go over your what your process uncovered carefully.
3. Negotiate details (specifics matter).

Part 6

1. Make a decision.
2. Establish vendor success goals.
3. Trust their role, but evaluate regularly (manage to expectations).

These are just the basics. The more important the required vendor support is the more due diligence you should do. Taking the time, energy and effort to hire the right vendor is well worth it. Besides, a bad decision can haunt you for much longer.

When you find that partner in your business that optimizes your abilities to reach your objectives, there is nothing quite like it. With the good selection process in place your confidence in your decision grows and translates to trust in your vendor. That trust allows you to put your focus on the other aspects of your business where it is needed most. Hiring marketing vendors with the right stuff is a win-win.