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The REAL Cost of A Marketing Agency in 2022

So, You Want to Get Serious About Your Growth?

Bar none, almost every time we pitch to a client, the last slide of our presentation is the one that scares people the most. Yep, it’s the price tag slide. When hiring a New Jersey marketing agency, cost is one of, if not the most significant factor in the mind of the prospect. The other issue is that what a marketing agency costs does not have a very straightforward answer.

At DSM, our monthly retainers generally range from $8,000– $20,000 per month, but nailing down a specific cost hinges on a lot of variables. How much firepower do we need to bring to meet your goals? How much work does our creative team need to do? How many campaigns does our digital team need to set up? What is your target market and who are we going up against?

Digging Into What the Cost of Hiring a Marketing Agency in NJ Really Means

Unfortunately, hiring a marketing agency in New Jersey isn’t a “one price fits all” type of deal – and it shouldn’t be either. If you’ve read some of our other blogs,, you’ll know that your marketing strategy should be custom-tailored to your business and your goals. Any agency that’s sending out one price fits all solutions probably isn’t taking the time to understand your specific needs.

For example, the local landscaping or painting company looking to gain a few new customers might be less expensive, and take less time (we’ll cover why time is important later), than the pharmaceutical brand that is asking to market their portfolio to a national audience.

So first things first, what tactics does a marketing agency need to employ to reach your business goals?


Side note: Unsure of what your 
marketing goals should be, but know you need help? That’s perfectly normal, and we can help with that as well.

Determining the Cost of a Marketing Agency in NJ

We’ll be honest. If you want an agency that’s dedicated to the craft, has a solid process, and a genuine devotion YOUR success: it’s going to cost you. But it is worth it!

Like most things in this world, you get what you pay for. Here’s a more in-depth look into the cost of a marketing agency from NJ from both sides of the coin.

The Client’s Point of View

Clients want an agency that can really drive results and provide a great return on investment. 

In some cases, clients don’t have much input. They’re okay with not being involved in every single decision. Others really value collaboration and prefer being more hands-on. Neither is better than the other. It’s all preference, but both can be successful when partnering with a marketing agency in NJ.

However, remember two things:

  1. Time is money. Healthy communication is important. Marketing is fast-paced and poor communication can slow things down. 
  2. Trust is key. Have some faith in the agency you choose. It is essential that you understand that the agency becomes a part of your team once you sign the contract. 


We understand this can be confusing, so here’s a recent contract seeking the following from DSM; account service, strategy planning & execution, digital, content, and creative:

  • Monthly Hours: 40 hours
  • $250 Hourly rate
  • Monthly Retainer: $10,000
  • Ad Spend: $2,500/month paid media testing budget
  • Engagement Length: May 1, 2022 through April 30, 2023

 

The Marketing Agency’s Point of View

Now it’s our turn. We’re going to give you the DSM perspective because A) we rock & B) we’re full service. We offer you a dedicated marketing department that provides account services, strategy planning & execution, content creation, and creative services. It’s important to note not every client needs all of this so you can see why the “one-price-fits-all” model falls flat, fast. 

Regardless of who you are, one thing that doesn’t change is that you’re getting a team of people laser-focused on an integral part of your company’s growth. 

Let’s put something into perspective here. 

According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a single marketing director in New Jersey of a company size 0-50 employees is about $100,000. By hiring an agency like DSM, you can essentially get an entire department of marketing, design, and account management specialists for just about the same price.

How Do We Determine Our Costs?

If you’re working with a quality marketing agency, they should take the time to walk you through a discovery process. We do this to determine if we’re a good fit and to get exactly what you’re looking to accomplish in order. When you schedule a discovery call with us, we’ll ask questions like: 

  • What specific business goals are you looking to achieve? Is it a certain number of leads each month? Is there a particular revenue goal you’re trying to reach? 
  • What makes you better than your competitors? On the other hand, what makes your competitors better than you? 
  • Describe your ideal customer. Why do they need you? Where do they go to get a solution like yours?


These questions may sound particular and there’s a reason for that. They help us put together a custom marketing proposal designed to meet your specific business goals. Some of our clients just need help optimizing their Google Ad campaigns. Others need help taking their first leap into expertly targeted social media ads. A definitive marketing strategy has a robust mix of tactics in play simultaneously. PPC, SEO, paid social media, email marketing, print, traditional advertising… you get the point. But, with more moving parts to manage, costs tend to go up. 

Is it Worth Hiring a Digital Marketing Agency?

Hiring a marketing agency is a considerable investment. However, when you hire an agency, the team starts playing on your side of the net and will scratch tooth and nail to help your business grow!

At the end of the day, you should be looking for an agency that your gut tells you to trust; that has developed a great rapport with proven examples and strong results from past and present clients. At DSM, we firmly believe we check all these boxes and more. 

So, you’ve made it to the end of the article and likely still have questions, or have even more than when you started. If you’re interested, we’d love to talk with you. 

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Pick our Brain for free*

You’re paying good money to your marketing agency each month. Are you sure you’re getting your money’s worth? If you’re not 100% certain, it’s time to get a second opinion.

*This is free. A consultation with DSM costs nothing. We want your trust and we want your business. We aim to show you just how much better your marketing can be with a true set of experts at the controls. DSM does not utilize sleazy sales tactics or even salespeople. We only have experts that prove our value and get results.

We’re ready. Are you?