Ever put all your energy (and a good chunk of your budget) into designing a new product line—only to wonder how on earth you’ll get the word out?
That’s when you call a manufacturing marketing agency for help. Problem is, there are so many marketing agencies out there. It can be hard to tell who really understands your industry and who’s just throwing trendy buzzwords around.
Not every marketing agency will understand the nuances of brand reputation, compliance, or the marketing messages that work well in the home product manufacturing sector—especially in a B2B setting.
So before you sign any contracts, there are a few questions worth asking to separate the true manufacturing experts from the marketing generalists. We’ve got 6 of them down below to help save you a ton of headaches—and a ton of cash—down the line.
Question 01
What Experience Do You Have Marketing Home Products?
There’s a world of difference between marketing a kids’ clothing brand and marketing stone countertops or custom-built entry doors.
Home product manufacturing can mean managing direct-to-consumer selling alongside channel partnerships and specialized B2B relationships. That’s not something every marketing agency has sunk their teeth into.
Ask for a Discovery Call
Make sure you set aside at least 15 minutes for a discovery call. You’ll learn more in a quick chat about how they approach manufacturing marketing for home products than by reading a general pitch deck. Trust your instincts—you’ll know if they “get” your world.
Ask for Case Studies or Examples
To gauge if an agency really understands marketing in the home products space, ask for specific examples or case studies.
You’ll want to see if they’ve developed marketing materials that speak to homebuyers, interior designers, or contractors. If they’ve worked with other industrial and manufacturing companies in your niche, that’s a big plus.
Question 02
Do You Integrate a Marketing & Sales Platform?
Great marketing generates leads; awesome marketing guides those leads all the way to a handshake (or a final checkout).
Whether you’re dealing with big industrial companies or local contractors, the path from first click to closed sale can get complicated. That’s why an integrated marketing approach is key.
Assess What Platforms They Use (If Any)
A lot of industrial and manufacturing operations rely on robust systems to manage orders and track projects. Your marketing partner should offer something similar for your leads.
For example, see if they offer a platform that collects leads from marketing channels and automates follow-up with potential buyers. If they do, your sales team will thank you—things go more smoothly when everyone’s working from the same playbook.
Or, even better, maybe they have a powerful CRM or an all-in-one system that ties lead generation, email marketing campaigns, accounting, and contact management together—like our Atmosphere platform.
The point is to see if they handle the entire funnel, or just the front end.
Question 03
Who Owns the Marketing Assets?
You’d be surprised how often manufacturing companies discover, halfway through a project, that they don’t actually own their website or the ad accounts they paid for.
It’s a nasty surprise that can hit you hardest if you ever decide to switch manufacturing marketing agencies.
See Who Will Own What Assets
Any decent manufacturing marketing agency should be okay handing over design files, ad accounts, and web content to you. After all, you’re footing the bill for their marketing services, right?
Still, there can be misunderstandings. Some marketing agencies keep tight control for so-called “quality” reasons, but you want reassurance that your brand is 100% yours.
Get Asset Ownership in Writing
Now, it’s normal to pay a final invoice before an agency transfers everything to you. Just make sure that arrangement is in writing from day one. It’ll save you stress, money, and a mountain of frustration if things don’t work out down the road.
Question 04
What’s Your Marketing Process?
Ever felt uneasy watching an agency throw random digital marketing tactics at your brand just to “see what sticks”? That’s the exact opposite of a well-defined process.
The best manufacturing marketing partners will start with discovery—asking about your product lines, pain points, and the unique aspects of your manufacturing space—before they propose any big ideas.
What a Typical Marketing Process Looks Like:
- Discovery — They get all the info they need about your brand strategy, your target audience, and what’s going on in your side of the manufacturing industry.
- Strategy — This is where they come up with a well-thought-out marketing strategy—covering everything from digital strategies like PPC or content marketing, to how they’ll handle your SEO services or inbound marketing strategy.
- Execution — They set up revenue-focused marketing programs, lead funnels, and track digital marketing performance. They might even do blog writing or manage social channels, depending on your needs.
- Review & Optimization — The best agencies regularly review metrics, sometimes tweaking your marketing messages or pivoting your approach to accelerate growth.
Ask if the agency offers any named processes—like our Velocity Marketing Action Plan. That shows they’ve done this enough times to create a proven roadmap, rather than winging it with each new manufacturing client.
Tip Wanna know the secret ingredient to a winning furniture marketing strategy? It’s right here in our article: The Secret Ingredient to a Winning Furniture Marketing Strategy.
Question 05
How Do You Handle Communication & Reporting?
In the manufacturing sector, time is money. You probably don’t have months to wait and see if a campaign is actually working.
That’s why consistent updates are really important. Your chosen industrial marketing agency should keep you in the loop with real metrics—like how your digital marketing strategy is affecting lead flow, or which ads generated the most clicks this quarter.
Ask Who Your Account Manager Will Be
Communication is also about who you’ll talk to. Will you have an account manager who understands your brand as well as your in-house sales team does? Or will you get bounced around from one person to the next?
Ask about Dashboards or Scheduled Calls
You’ll want clarity on whether you’re getting weekly or monthly reporting. The more integrated they are into your routine, the easier it is to pivot or fix problems fast.
Question 06
Should I Pay for an Audit Before Committing?
Think of an audit like test-driving a car before you buy. A small up-front cost can help determine whether an agency really knows the ins and outs of manufacturing marketing in your vertical.
Some agencies will run a health check that looks at your website, your digital marketing funnels, your brand positioning, and your content marketing approach. This process can reveal hidden roadblocks, like underperforming marketing messages or poor lead tracking.
Compare Different Audits
During an audit, watch how each marketing agency frames your strengths and weaknesses. Do they brush off big issues or offer strategic marketing solutions? You’re looking for a partner for the long haul, so see how they handle short-term projects first.
Another perk? By comparing audits from 2-3 different agencies, you can see if they’re all identifying the same bottlenecks. If multiple experts say your brand needs stronger SEO services, they’re probably right.
Start with a Smaller Project
If you’re still not sure who to go with, consider starting small. Many marketing agency partners offer quick audits or short-term engagements.
These let you see how they approach your manufacturing business, handle lead generation, and align with your sales team. If the vibe and results feel right, you can expand from there.
Your next step…
Find Your Perfect Manufacturing Marketing Partner.
When you find a manufacturing marketing agency that hits the mark on all 6 questions—and maybe even impresses you during an initial call—chances are good they’ll help your manufacturing ecosystem grow for years to come.
Why not see if that partner is closer than you think?
Test the waters with Perk Brands by booking a Path to Velocity Plan.
- Strategy Call: We’ll take a look at what’s working, what’s not, and where the biggest opportunities are for your business.
- Personalized Plan: Full of real insights and straightforward next steps to get your marketing working without the guesswork.
- Clear Path: We’ll meet again to review your personalized Path to Velocity report and answer questions so you know what actions to take.
Call (844) 502-9800 or book a quick call to learn more.