A strong Social Marketing RFP (request for proposal) is the first step you have to take before engaging a marketing firm in order to get a social media marketing campaign started. The marketing team you want to engage for your Social Marketing RFP needs some information about your company and your needs before they can actually present you with a proposal. By putting together a strong Social Marketing RFP, you can avoid confusion early on, and get the ball rolling quickly.

First and foremost, you should provide a clear overview of your company to get a a strong Social Marketing RFP. In order to craft a marketing strategy that suits your needs, the firm you are thinking about hiring will need to know about your company’s organizational history, products, business objectives, and any previous work your company has done with social marketing.

Next, you will need to provide an overview of the project. Describe in as much detail as possible which social media channels you would like to tap into, how social marketing fits into your overall marketing strategy, and what sort of measurable outcome you are looking for. It is also very important to provide a timeline in which you would like to start seeing results. If you are unclear about social marketing in any way, do not be surprised if the proposal they return to you includes different time tables than the ones you provided. If you are unfamiliar with social marketing, it is possible that things can take longer than you are expecting.

Be sure to identify your target audience in your Social Marketing RFP. Include any relevant demographic or psychographic information that the marketing firm might need. If you need some market research, be sure to point that out in your Social Marketing RFP.

Be clear about what sort of response you are expecting from the firm. Make sure they know whether you are expecting a hypothetical response, or a clear step by step break down of the marketing campaign they will create for you.

By including all of the important information you can in your Social Marketing RFP, you can ensure the firm you are dealing with will respond with a strong proposal. That way, you can spend less time negotiating terms, and more time getting down to business, and getting your marketing campaign up and running. Remember to be clear about your company and its needs. Be sure to clearly state your desired results, and what sort of response you are looking for from the firm, and you will get the proposal you are looking for in your Social Marketing RFP.