How To Start A Marketing Agency in Kenya

Last updated on February 26th, 2023 at 01:46 pm

In this blog post,  we will discuss how to start a marketing agency in Kenya.

What is a marketing agency in Kenya?

This question has been asked many times and the answer will always depend on who’s asking. 

We could start by saying what marketing agencies aren’t, which would be an example of how to answer this question more simply. 

Marketing agencies are not: – Advertising companies – Public Relations firms – Direct mail specialists or any other type of firm that focuses primarily on one facet of marketing in isolation from all others. 

What they offer is expertise at implementing campaigns across multiple channels and providing insights into customer behavior when it comes to both current and prospective customers.

With that in mind, here is how to start a marketing agency in Kenya.

a) Choose your niche

Finding your niche is the first step to starting a marketing agency in Kenya.

What would you like to focus on? 

Do you have any specialties or skills in marketing that might be valuable for clients? 

If not – it’s time to explore! 

Some people choose one specific industry (such as healthcare), while others prefer several different industries, such as B-to-B service providers, retail stores, restaurants, etc.

The secret?

Do some research and find an area of marketing in Kenya where there are plenty of opportunities but not many agencies competing for those clients (i.e., pet care) then dive in head first!

How to find the best niche for your marketing agency in Kenya

In order to choose the best niche for your marketing agency in Kenya, you’ll want to think of what is most interesting and intriguing to you. 

What do you know about or feel passionate about? 

Do some research on industries that interest you – read through trade magazines, attend seminars in person or virtually (online), talk with people who work in this industry. 

Look at where these areas are going and decide from there.

b) Determine your target market

The second step to start a marketing agency in Kenya is determining your target market.

Once you’ve narrowed down your niche preference, it’s time to zone in on which country/region interests you the most!

Who are your prospective customers going to be? 

Will they be companies with high budgets looking for long-term contracts? 

Are they small businesses looking for shorter-term projects? 

Whatever group of potential customers you’re looking to reach, be sure to tailor your message and services accordingly.

How to find the right customers for your brand

The success of your marketing agency in Kenya will depend on who you serve.

Here is how to find the perfect customer;

• Target the right companies: If you’re a marketing agency in Kenya, it’s important to know your target market. 
• Understand their challenges: Once you identify your ideal customer and what they want from a campaign, it becomes easier to create an effective strategy for them.
• Establish relationships with clients or potential customers: Building these connections takes time but will ultimately lead to long-term success because of collaboration and mutual trust.

c) Build a client list

Building a potential client list is the third step to start a marketing agency in Kenya.

The first step in being successful is getting your name out there! 

Write up some potential leads, email them or call them – whatever it takes. 

Be persistent and try new methods if one doesn’t work for too long. 

Once they contact you about their marketing needs, ask what budget range they have in mind so that you can offer the most appropriate service option from the start – this will save time later on when working with clients who are not able to invest as much as others do!

d). Decide what type of marketing services you offer

Are you going to specialize in social media management or SEO in Kenya? 

Creating content? 

If so, how much time can each employee devote per week? 

Maintaining current clients while building new ones is key, as well as offering them different types of packages from which to choose. 

Establishing oneself online is vital – research where potential customers would go to find your agency in Kenya and make sure you’re there!

What services do marketing agencies in Kenya offer?

• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.
• Social media management and social media advertising.
• Web design and development.
• Website maintenance.
• Content marketing.
• Email marketing.
• Conversion rate optimization (CRO)

e). Begin building up your team

Everyone needs to have their own skillset as well as a complementary one.

This holds true from managing social media profiles all day long (which would require different skill sets than writing content) through to more general aspects such as customer service or graphic design. 

Just how many employees you need depends on the scale and scope of your agency, but generally, you’ll want to have a few people in each department.

f) Find office space

This may seem daunting at first, but don’t worry; thousands of small businesses started just like yours. 

You may be able to find a small brick-and-mortar office space or you can start your business in the cloud and work from home!

g). Create a budget

The financial aspect can be daunting, but don’t let it keep you from following your dreams. 

Start with what’s reasonable (remembering of course that this is just the beginning and expenses will increase over time). 

Then there are various ways to get started without spending all your money upfront – consult financing options like crowdfunding or other reputable sources such as family members, loan programs, etc.

h) Market yourself

Marketing your brand is the last step to start a marketing agency in Kenya.

Don’t forget about marketing yourself, too – this is where many entrepreneurs make their first mistake because they believe people will magically come knocking on their door. 

Marketing for an agency is different than other types of businesses since it revolves around personality and creativity but don’t let that intimidate you! 

There are still plenty of ways to advertise without breaking the bank such as using social media ads, posting flyers at local coffee shops and bars with high foot traffic, etcetera.

Here are some tips to help you prospect for your marketing agency in Kenya;

How to promote a marketing agency in Kenya

Now that you know how to start a marketing agency in Kenya, here are some strategies you can to market it;

Networking

Attend industry events to meet potential new clients and reconnect with old ones. Offer yourself as a resource for those in need of your expertise or services, but don’t push!

Public Relations

Get exposure by writing articles about current marketing trends or best practices related to the field that you are an expert in. 

Engage with other writers on their blogs so they’ll know who you are when someone needs content created.

Also, make sure to mention what company you work for if possible (it’s always better than being anonymous). 

This will create opportunities for collaborations either through guest blogging or sometimes even jobs from companies looking for experts like yours! 

Cold calling/emailing

Contact people you’ve met throughout your life –  friends, family members, former classmates.

And ask if they know of anyone who needs help with their marketing in Kenya. 

Create a list of local businesses that you can reach out to too.

Social media

Share your articles on social media sites in Kenya like Facebook or Twitter so it gets in front of people’s faces! 

Keep in mind though not to spam them by constantly posting the same content over and over again. 

Posting regularly is better than making sporadic posts about the new article every few weeks. 

WordPress blog/website

Start off by building a free wordpress site where you can post all sorts of things from tips for getting more clients to industry news updates (if applicable). 

This will create an easy way for potential customers to find you and it will also be easy for you to maintain.

Marketing

If your main goal is getting more clients, then marketing can help! There are many ways of doing this like SEO (search engine optimization), PPC advertising (pay per click), or social media ads. 

Recruiting freelancers/contractors

This may not apply if there isn’t a need for additional staff but sometimes the workload becomes too much so hiring freelance people might be necessary. 

It’s important to take into account their availability before reaching out as well as what they charge since they don’t do full-time work.

Strategy to grow a marketing agency in Kenya

Now that you know how to start a marketing agency in Kenya, use these strategies to grow fast;

– Content Creation

Writing blog posts for your website that offer great advice about specific marketing topics or write helpful guides for small businesses looking to promote their services on social platforms; creating infographics (visual representations) that summarize complex points and break them down into easily digestible chunks are also popular content formats – always include links back to your site when you share this content.

– Proudly display your work

Get active on social media and promote yourself! 

Share blog posts, infographics, videos, or other content that you’ve created to generate new leads for your agency and keep customers coming back for more valuable advice.

– Build a strong online presence

Google is the number one search engine in the world – so it’s imperative that you have an established website with fresh quality content which ranks well in searches if possible. 

The site should also be mobile-friendly and easy to navigate through. Social Media channels like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are invaluable resources as well; they help build relationships with potential clients by displaying qualities such as trustworthiness, authenticity & expertise.

– Create a marketing plan

This is your roadmap for success and should include how you’ll get leads, convert them to clients, retain those clients and measure your results. 

It’s important that the marketing plan aligns with what you do best while also highlighting areas where there may be opportunities or challenges in meeting client needs. 

– Find potential partners

Services like UpWork help agencies take small tasks off their plate without having to hire additional staff members which can significantly cut overhead costs as well as allow an agency owner to focus on better serving existing customers instead of spending time looking for new ones. 

Marketing firms are another great option – they’re experts at campaigns geared towards finding the right audience for any business and will provide the necessary tools needed such as landing pages and social media strategies.

– Create processes

Working with multiple clients that may be demanding the same services can become frustrating as there’s no way to set a protocol or system of how things are completed. 

When trying to find work from new sources, it’s important for agencies to offer competitive prices but also have guidelines in place – like specific deadlines or which tasks need approvals before moving onto the next project. 

– Plan out finances

While many people dream about running an agency without worrying about budgets, this is often not sustainable long term due to overhead costs and fees associated with marketing campaigns like Google Adwords or Facebook Ads.

Start by creating financial goals such as what kind of profit should be made over a certain period (a year, six months) and your net worth. 

– Get a mentor

A good way to get started is by finding someone who has already been in the industry for years or even decades. Ask these individuals questions about how they manage their finances, where they find clients, what kind of marketing strategies they use, etc. They will have valuable insight that could save an agency from making costly mistakes in the future. 

– Educate yourself on best practices

It’s also crucial to stay up to date with current trends such as social media advertising techniques and content creation methods like infographics so that agencies are knowledgeable when more sophisticated projects come along.”

What are the main challenges of starting a marketing agency in Kenya

• Finding qualified employees who understand your values. 
• Lack of understanding about what an agency does from potential clients or customers. So it’s important to create a strong online presence with engaging copy that they can find easily.
• Research where potential customers would go when looking for your services and make sure you’re there.
• A lack of funds available to invest in equipment and software required to run day-to-day operations. This may require taking out a business loan or seeking investors.

How to start an advertising company in Kenya

Starting an advertising company in Kenya can be a rewarding venture, but it requires careful planning and execution. Here are some general steps you can follow to start an advertising company in Kenya:

1. Conduct market research: Before you start an advertising company, it’s important to conduct market research to understand the local advertising industry, consumer behavior, and market trends. This will help you identify potential gaps in the market and determine your target market.
2. Create a business plan: A business plan is a roadmap that outlines your company’s goals, strategies, and financial projections. It should include information on your target market, competition, marketing strategies, and revenue streams.
3. Register your business: To operate legally in Kenya, you need to register your business with the relevant authorities. This includes registering your business name and obtaining necessary licenses and permits.
4. Hire a team: Your advertising company will need a team of professionals with expertise in different areas, including marketing, graphic design, copywriting, and media planning. Consider hiring experienced professionals or freelancers to build a strong team.
5. Build your portfolio: To attract clients, you need to build a strong portfolio that showcases your work and expertise. Consider offering pro-bono work or discounted rates to build your portfolio and gain experience.
6. Develop your marketing strategies: To market your advertising company, you need to develop effective marketing strategies that target your ideal clients. Consider using social media, email marketing, and networking events to promote your services.
7. Provide excellent customer service: Building a strong reputation for excellent customer service is crucial for the success of your advertising company. Ensure that you deliver high-quality work and provide timely and professional communication with your clients.

Starting an advertising company in Kenya requires hard work, dedication, and a strong understanding of the local market. With careful planning and execution, you can build a successful advertising company that helps businesses grow and achieve their marketing goals.