What is the importance of having an advert produced by an agency?

Question

What is the importance of having an advert produced by an agency?

Answer 1

Generally you get a higher quality ad produced.

However this is not always the case. They are getting a 15% mark-up on my side to place the ad with us. That is going to be passed on to you the end user.

Most agencys, esp smaller ones, do not really have the resources to place ads. They do not have the money to subscribe to the various reporting agencys to really parse the numbers for a buy. They shortcut this by going with what they perceive as the best place for your ad. Without the demographic information they are really buying blind. They mostly rely on the salespeople from the various medias to tell them the numbers. Obv this is going to produce slanted results.

In the end you are the person paying the freight. If you feel that your ad is very mundane or poorly done, you have the right to look elsewhere. Agency's outsource a great deal of what they do. They don't have any inside track to the best layout and design people. You can hire them just as easily.

In many cases the actual media can produce the ad for you at a much lower cost.

Now if time is a concern and you aren't creative you can find some very good work being done by agencys. Just be aware that this isn't rocket science.

Answer 2

Are you asking about having an ad campaign created or just having an ad laid out and placed?

The benefit of going to an agency is that there is a staff of experienced marketing professionals to help you develop a brand.... not just create an ad.   If you have a small budget -- just have a freelance graphic designer layout your ad and call whatever publications you want to place your ad in yourself.  

If you want to develop a brand and create a marketing plan to reach your target consumer -- if you have a large budget -- talk with an ad agency.