Working with an experienced advertising agency is like hiring a master chef to cater your event. Sure, we can whip up something great on the fly, but give us the right ingredients, and we’ll serve you a masterpiece. To make sure your campaigns hit the ground running, here are seven things we want to know before we even pop open our laptops.
1. What’s the End Game?
Every campaign has a purpose. Are you trying to boost sales by 30% in Q4? Increase brand awareness for a new product? Generate leads for a high-ticket service? Knowing your goals upfront helps us tailor strategies that work.
Example: You’re launching a sustainable skincare line. If your primary goal is brand awareness, we’ll focus on reach and engagement metrics. If sales are the target, we’ll lean into conversion-based campaigns with laser-focused targeting.
Pro Tip: Be as specific as possible. “We want more sales” is too vague. “We want to sell 1,000 units of our new serum within six weeks” gives us something to work with.
2. Who Are We Talking To?
Understanding your audience is non-negotiable. Age, gender, interests, buying habits, pain points—we want it all.
Example: Targeting “working moms in their 30s who shop for organic products” requires a completely different tone, imagery, and ad placement than targeting “tech-savvy Gen Z gamers.”
Pro Tip: If you have personas or existing audience data, hand it over. If not, we can help you define your audience—but it’s faster and more accurate with your input.
3. What’s Worked (and Flopped) Before?
Don’t make us reinvent the wheel if you’ve already got insights. Share past campaigns—the good, the bad, and the downright embarrassing. Knowing what resonated and what tanked helps us hit the sweet spot faster.
Example: You tried influencer marketing, and while it drove traffic, it didn’t convert. Maybe the messaging was off, or the influencers weren’t a fit. We’ll analyze the why and tweak the approach.
Pro Tip: Transparency is key here. Sharing your missteps doesn’t make you look bad; it makes us more effective.
4. What’s Your Brand’s Personality?
Is your brand witty and playful, or are you all about professionalism and trust? Your tone of voice, values, and visual identity need to shine consistently across all ads.
Example: A luxury real estate brand’s campaign will look vastly different from a funky taco truck’s. One demands sleek visuals and refined copy, while the other thrives on bold colors and cheeky captions.
Pro Tip: If you don’t have a brand guideline, now’s the time to create one. We can help with that too.
5. What’s the Budget? (Seriously, Don’t Be Shy)
Talking numbers early isn’t awkward; it’s essential. Your budget shapes everything—from campaign scope to ad platforms and creative production.
Example: With $5,000, we might focus on a killer social media campaign. With $50,000, we can add video production, influencer partnerships, and a multi-platform strategy.
Pro Tip: Be honest about your limits. We’re pros at making budgets work, but we can’t do that if we’re guessing.
6. Any Skeletons in the Closet?
Is there a controversial past campaign we should avoid referencing? Are there industry regulations we need to follow? Transparency upfront avoids PR nightmares later.
Example: If your company had a backlash over a poorly worded tweet, we’ll steer clear of similar language. Or if you’re in an industry like finance or healthcare, compliance guidelines will shape the creative.
Pro Tip: Sharing this info isn’t about dredging up old drama—it’s about protecting your brand.
7. What’s the Timeline?
We’re good, but we’re not magicians. If your campaign needs to launch by next week, say so upfront. If we have a realistic timeline, we’ll deliver better results.
Example: Need a holiday campaign ready by Black Friday? We’ll prioritize quick-turn creative. Got a six-month runway? We can build a comprehensive strategy with A/B testing and optimizations.
Pro Tip: Factor in approval processes on your end. Waiting two weeks for sign-off can throw off the entire schedule.
Let’s Create Something Amazing Together
Partnering with an experienced advertising agency like Ambient Array means more than just running ads. It means crafting campaigns that resonate, convert, and deliver results. Give us the inside scoop on these seven areas, and we’ll make your marketing dollars work harder than ever.
Ready to talk? Let’s get your next campaign started. Contact Ambient Array today to see what we can create together.