Question 1

What is a content marketing agency?

Accepted Answer

A content marketing agency is an agency that creates, distributes, and promotes content for websites, blogs, social media, paid ads, and more.

Their content aims to improve every stage of the digital marketing funnel. It fuels SEO, increases brand awareness and recognition, engages target audiences, builds trust, and drives desired actions, such as sales or sign-ups. 72% of marketers say that content generates more conversions and increases leads.

The agency's team typically comprises project and account managers, content strategists, writers, editors, SEO experts, graphic designers, and other specialists.

Question 2

What does a content marketing agency do?

Accepted Answer

A content marketing agency helps businesses attract and engage customers by creating and sharing valuable content. It produces blog posts, videos, social media posts, and emails to inform, entertain, or solve problems for the audience.

Instead of directly selling products, the agency builds trust and relationships, making people more likely to choose the business when they need its products or services. It also uses search engine optimization (SEO) and social media marketing to make sure the content reaches the right people.

Typical services content marketing agencies provide include:

Content audit
Agency experts inspect and evaluate existing content on client’s websites, including homepages, landing pages, blogs, About Us pages, Terms & Conditions pages, and more. By identifying the site’s strengths and weaknesses, marketers can develop a strategy for improvement.
Content creation
To earn audiences' trust, content marketing agencies create, edit, and publish written and visual content that is SEO-optimized, authentic, reliable, and high-quality. The types of content they produce include blog posts, articles, videos, infographics, podcasts, social media posts, and more.
Content strategy
Content strategists craft a tailored strategy that focuses on the client’s target market and find the best methods to reach the right audience. They outline the goals, target audience (a.k.a. buyer persona), content types, distribution channels, and key performance indicators (KPIs) such as engagement, conversion, and reputation.
Content distribution
Agencies efficiently distribute and promote content through various digital channels, including websites, social media platforms, email newsletters, and third-party publications. As such, a content marketing agency may also specialize in email marketing or viral marketing.
SEO
Content marketing agencies may have SEO specialists onboard to help optimize and analyze web content, conduct keyword research, and boost website traffic.
Analytics and reporting
Monitoring content performance is a significant part of a content marketer’s job. They analyze the data, measure the success of their strategies, and regularly report on their findings.

Question 3

What are the best-performing content types that content marketing agencies can produce?

Accepted Answer

Some of the best-performing content types that marketers produce include:

Blog posts
A strong content marketing strategy includes well-optimized blog posts that incorporate relevant keywords and SEO best practices. It includes techniques to improve search engine rankings and attract organic traffic.
Infographics
Visually appealing infographics break down complex information into nugget-sized content in an easy-to-follow presentation. Content marketing agencies use them to support brand storytelling and boost shareability across digital platforms.
Videos
Video content makes information more digestible and engaging. Brands use videos to demonstrate product use, share customer testimonials, and tell a story or company background.
Case studies
Detailed project success stories highlight real-world applications of a product or service and demonstrate how it solves consumer pain points. A content marketing company publishes case studies to build your credibility and encourage your target audience to take action.
eBooks
A well-crafted eBook offers in-depth knowledge on a topic in exchange for audience engagement. Businesses use downloadable eBooks as lead magnets in content marketing and to position their brand as a market authority.

Question 4

How much should you pay for content marketing?

Accepted Answer

You should pay between $2,000 and $12,500 monthly for content marketing. The top 50 content marketing agencies on DesignRush charge an average of $112/hour.

Agencies in the U.S. usually charge from $50 to $275 per hour, while Eastern European firms are significantly cheaper, costing from $25 to $75 per hour.

The cost of content marketing services will differ from agency to agency and depends on the following factors:

Project scope
Number of content marketers involved
Type of content marketing services you need
Third-party charges, such as paid advertising
Agency reputation (e.g., awards, brand-name clients, and more)

Roughly 15% of content marketing companies on DesignRush accept projects with budgets under $1,000, making strategic content creation and marketing accessible to startups and niche brands. Meanwhile, 2% set a minimum budget of $50,000 for high-level content marketing, advanced audience analytics, and omnichannel storytelling.

Question 5

Why should I hire a content marketing agency?

Accepted Answer

You should hire a content marketing agency to ensure you have tailor-made, on-brand content that engages your audience and drives results across all your touchpoints. Hiring professionals to produce your content can offer several additional advantages, including:

Professional market research
These companies are experts in creating content that informs, engages, and brings customers closer to purchasing decisions. Before developing it, they research your audience’s behavior to choose the right content types and channels.
Resource savings
Content marketing requires significant time and effort, from research and content creation to distribution and analysis. By outsourcing these tasks to a content marketing agency, you can free up your internal team to focus on other core business activities.
Expertise and experience
Content marketing agencies typically have a team of industry writers and SEO professionals with specialized skills in content strategy, creation, distribution, and promotion.
Access to tools and technology
Content marketing agencies often have access to premium tools and software that can enhance content creation, distribution, and analytics.
Data-driven strategies
Many content marketing agencies rely on data and analytics to measure the performance of your content. This data-driven approach helps them refine strategies, optimize content, and identify what resonates best with your audience.
Scalability
Content marketing companies can handle projects of various sizes. Whether you need a one-off campaign or ongoing content support, they can scale their services to meet your requirements.
Fresh perspective
An external content marketing agency brings a fresh perspective to your strategies. It can provide new ideas, creative approaches, and insights from working with clients across diverse industries.
Industry knowledge
Content marketing agencies keep up with the latest industry trends and best practices, ensuring your content strategies remain relevant and effective.
Return on investment (ROI)
A content marketing agency helps you get more value for your money. It uses its expertise to create strategies that attract more customers and increase sales, giving you a better return on investment. The average ROI for every $1 spent on content marketing is $2.77.

Success Story

The following case study picked by our expert team showcases the tangible benefits of hiring a content marketing agency:

Challenge: CORE, a payments software company, faced an outdated website, low visibility, and poor engagement. Limited by a small design budget and lacking content marketing expertise, it needed to revamp its website while building a strong foundation in SEO and content marketing.
Solution: Big Leap's content marketing strategy involved creating service pages, an easily accessible resource library, targeted landing pages, and blogs — all optimized with strategically placed high-intent keywords and branded terms.
Results: Big Leap's SEO-driven content marketing initiatives yielded:
- 6,694 increase in keyword positions on Google
- 5,170% more website impressions
- 26% boost in organic traffic

Question 6

What are the top qualities of the best content marketing agencies?

Accepted Answer

While content marketing agencies may vary in branding, services, and workflow, the best ones share key qualities, including:

They understand their audience: A great agency conducts thorough market research and can clearly explain the strategy behind its content creation process.
They are data-driven: The best agencies rely on hard data to craft targeted campaigns and aren't afraid to pivot when needed for better results.
They prioritize quality over quantity: Consistency is important, but impactful, high-quality content is the key to long-term success. Leading agencies strike the right balance between both.
They excel at promotion: Creating great content isn’t enough — it must reach the right audience. Top agencies are experts in both content development and strategic promotion to maximize engagement and results.

Question 7

How do I choose a content marketing agency?

Accepted Answer

Choosing the right content marketing agency is crucial for the success of your marketing efforts. Here are some key steps to help you find the best fit for your business:

Define your content marketing goals
Determine what specific services you need, such as content strategy, content creation, SEO, or social media management.
Research relevant agencies
Look for content marketing agencies with experience working with businesses in your industry or niche. Ask for recommendations from colleagues, check online reviews, and browse reputable content marketing agency directories like DesignRush.
Assess content marketing expertise
Ensure that the agencies have expertise in the specific areas of content marketing that you require.
Budget and pricing
While cost is important, avoid choosing a content marketing company solely based on the lowest price. Focus on the value they provide and how their content marketing services can positively impact your business.
Review content marketing portfolio and case studies
Request samples of previous projects to get an idea of the quality, creativity, and content marketing results successfully achieved for other clients.
Ask about their content strategy approach
Discuss their content strategy approach and how they align content creation with your business goals. A good content marketing agency should have a well-defined process for developing and executing a content strategy.
Ask about reporting and analytics
Inquire about their reporting practices. The agency should provide regular performance reports and metrics to measure the success of its content marketing efforts.
Communication and collaboration
Ensure that the agency's communication style and workflow align with your expectations. Effective communication is crucial for a successful partnership.
Examine their online presence
A reputable content marketing agency should have a strong online presence, including an informative website, active social media profiles, and relevant content showcasing their expertise.
Engage in face-to-face interactions
Schedule meetings or calls with potential agencies to get to know their team, culture, and approach. This will help you determine if there's a good fit between your organizations.
Check client testimonials and references
Contact past or current agency clients for firsthand feedback on their experiences. Client testimonials and references can provide valuable insights into the agency's performance, communication, and reliability.
Shortlist candidates
Based on your research, narrow your list to five content marketing agencies. Reach out and express your intent to potentially partner with them. Send each a request for proposal (RFP).
Review proposals
The proposals submitted will provide information about the content marketing company’s skills and unique approach. These will also highlight their enthusiasm for researching and learning about your brand.
Arrange interviews
Get to know the shortlisted content marketing companies personally and discuss their proposals in more detail.
Make a final decision
After evaluating content marketing proposals and interviews, choose the agency partner that best meets your requirements and budget. It should also align with your work culture and ethics.

Need help finding the ideal content marketing partner? Go to DesignRush’s Marketplace and tell us more about your project. We’ll connect you with the most suitable companies based on your requirements — for free.

Question 8

What questions should I ask a content marketing company before hiring one?

Accepted Answer

The key questions to ask a potential content marketing agency partner include:

Its Relevant Background

How long have you been in the content marketing industry?
Do you have experience working with businesses in our industry?
What metrics do you use to measure the success of a content marketing campaign?
How do you stay updated with the latest content marketing trends and algorithm changes?
What certifications and content marketing affiliations do you have?
How do you ensure your content marketing strategies align with a company’s brand voice and messaging?

Its Services and Processes

What types of content marketing collaterals do you create?
What is your process for building a content marketing strategy unique to every client?
How do you conduct research and select content marketing topics?
How do you handle content marketing strategy approvals and revisions?
Are email marketing and newsletter development part of your content marketing services?
What is your usual turnaround time for content production?
What form of analytics and reporting on content marketing performance do you provide?
How do you ensure content remains evergreen and continues to drive results?

Relevant to Your Project

Can you create a content marketing calendar tailored to our business goals?
How do you incorporate my brand’s unique selling points into the content marketing strategies?
What KPIs do you recommend tracking for our content marketing campaigns?
What’s your approach to content marketing updates and enhancement?
How do you handle crisis management or negative feedback related to content?

Question 9

What are the best content marketing companies in the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

The best content marketing companies in the U.S. are:

Big Leap
- 4.8 stars on DesignRush (8 reviews)
- 4.8 stars on Google (73 reviews)
- Top clients: BambooHR, Avis, Pluralsight, Empire Today
Higher Visibility
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (19 reviews)
- 4.4 stars on Google (132 reviews)
- Top clients: Warner Bros., eBay, Caliber Collision, BBQGuys
fuze32 Marketing
- Top clients: Missouri Vein Care, Firepot Nomadic Teas, Hodges Roofing & Siding, Winter-Dent
Sitemap.io
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (10 reviews)
- Top clients: DeWalt, Rush Order Tees, CPO Outlets, Ring's End
Ignite Visibility
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (14 reviews)
- 4.5 stars on Google (55 reviews)
- Top clients: Door Dash, Tony Robbins, Wedding Wire, 5 Hour Energy

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