Identify your small business advertising needs before contacting Florida advertising agencies

Look at your current advertising plan and decide what you like and don't like about your past campaigns. Establish a budget and general timeline before hiring ad agencies in Florida.

I recommend: Consider South Florida advertising agencies like Caldwell Marketing & Advertising for photography, layout and web design. Think about companies like Jacksonville's Caraway Grammel Goldman to help you with outdoor advertising, direct mail and traditional print and broadcast ads.

Search for local Florida ad agency possibilities

Look for an agency that will work with your specific business. Ask colleagues which FL advertising agencies they recommend and start a list of about 6-10 agencies in your area you may want to contact.

I recommend: Review your list of advertising requirements and interview Florida advertising companies in your area. Ad Excellence in Hollywood and Shepherd in Jacksonville deal with Internet marketing and ads in your local area as well as statewide or even nationally.

Contact FL advertising agencies and arrange to meet with your top choices

Browse agency websites to see which share your creative views. Some Florida advertising agencies specialize in Spanish-speaking markets or in modern or traditional advertisements. Narrow your choices to about 3 to 8 agencies, based on your Internet findings and colleague suggestions.

I recommend: Mention the FL ad agencies' online portfolios and ask to see more current data and designs in your meeting. Ask agencies like Acropolis in Orlando and James Ross Advertising in Pompano Beach to explain what they can do for your company. You're hiring an agency, so you have the power, and prerogative, to be as picky as you need to be.

Choose the Florida ad agency you prefer and put an advertising plan into place

Make your decision after meeting with your top choices and looking at price quotes and portfolios. Discuss a specific plan and remind the team of your budget and timeline requirements. Advertising companies in Florida work with a variety of budgets and requests to give your small business the best service possible.

I recommend: Hire an advertising agency that other Florida businesses respect, but more importantly that you trust. Choose a firm like Duncan McCall in Pensacola to assist you through the whole process of brand identity and awareness to advanced marketing and website creation. Firms like Quenzel & Associates in Fort Myers work with concept development, media planning and market analysis.