A creative agency doesn’t mean “design agency”, it is actually be one of many combinations depending on what they offer the clients. A creative agency has creativity of many things, and all of them have graphic design roles inside their structure, while others hire out. In most cases, graphic design is the main aspect of their services and in others it is an additional service.
As agencies offer various things, it’s always important to ask them what they specialized in, what they can do, and what they do not offer.
Creative agencies
Full Service Digital Agency
This type of marketing agency is one that manages all aspects of a company’s online presence and will offer their clients a full package of creative approach to their brand and campaigns. These include design course of action but will mostly focus on marketing and advertising. Services are:
- Ad Campaigns
- Strategic Planning
- TV Ads
- Social Media Management
- Content Creation
- Web Development
- Radio Commercials
- SEO
- Graphic Design
- Lead Nurturing
Digital Agency
A digital agency will focus on creating and designing products/services and platforms. They focus on the emerging technology and strategy and not much on advertising and marketing. Services are:
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Social Media Marketing
- Website Design and Development
- Lead Generation
- Email Marketing
- Account Based Marketing
- Marketing Automation
Design Agency
Design agencies concentrate mostly on graphic design for online and for print. Here they focus on looks of website. They might also combine with other types of agencies or have their own clients. A most of the time, a design agency will have in-house printing service.
Interactive Design Agency
They focus on web design and other technical and internet based development. Interaction works as visual confirmation resulting that an app reacts to user commands. UI/UX services provided as they design and develop apps, games.
Advertising Agency
These agencies are mainly boosted towards marketing and advertising strategies. They might or might not have a in house design team but it is common for advertising agencies to hire freelancers or get in touch with a design agency.
Branding Ad Agency
Branding agencies specialize in, obviously, in branding. They’ll usually go through thoroughly to better understand the competitive scenery and offer a range of services that include logo design, signage, creative identities, and brand name development.
Creative Ad Agency
These agencies focus on the design and graphics of a brand, but outsource the strategy and execution part to other marketing fellows. They usually excel in logo design, print marketing, billboards, letterheads, and business cards. This type of agencies are well suited for organizations who need to create a cohesive look and feel of their brand or who need to create some new marketing pledge.
Media Buying Ad Agency
Media buying ad agencies focus on media planning and buying, and they usually outfit their services to a specific channel. They identify a time frame, recommend a budget, and build markets for reaching the ideal audience.
Social Media Ad Agency
Social Media agencies focus on one and only one thing: Social Media. They are a team of content developers and ad optimizers that will reach out your social channels. They may focus on many media channels or be experts in a single channel, such as LinkedIn. Because of current social media algorithm changes that resulted in a drop off in organic reach, expect social media ad agencies will charge good for ad spend.
PR Ad Agency
Public relations (PR), agencies serve to improve and manage the public image of a company and its employees. PR agencies are often used for entrepreneur level companies and CEOs, focusing on getting the company or the CEO featured in the news, on organization’s websites, and in the community.
Inside the Creative Agency
The good way to know the inner workings of a creative agency is to analyze it’s two most important functions. Firstly, Face of the agency; the people that work with the client directly and the backend; Secondly, the ones that build, design and develop the projects for the clients. In some cases the line is very thin but it’s usually minimal.
