Choosing The Best Marketing Agency in Grand Rapids For Your Business

Are you looking to dial in your Grand Rapids, Michigan, business’s marketing? You’re in the right place. This week on the blog, I’ve put together a comprehensive guide to building a marketing system that actually works. Notice how I called it a system? That’s because marketing isn’t a one-and-done thing. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. Instead, you need a robust, dynamic, and intentional system that runs monthly, generating awareness, authority, leads, and conversions—all based on your business objectives.

Here’s how to assemble your winning system.

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Understanding the Full Picture of Potential Solutions

Brand, web, content, social, ads, CRM, warm outreach, cold outreach—there are a lot of moving parts to marketing.

To get the results you’re looking for, you need to zoom out and see the full picture. If you’re standing too close to the painting, you won’t see the entire work of art. The same applies to marketing.

Here are the key areas you need to account for:

1. Brand – Bring clarity to your business by defining your values, ideal customers, market positioning, and voice. This sets the foundation for everything else.
2. Website – Your home base. All roads should lead back here.
3. Photo & Video Content – The fuel that powers your marketing engine, used across almost every channel.
4. Social Media – More important than ever. It’s your online reputation.
5. Graphic Design – Consistently using your brand identity to create on-brand visuals.
6. Advertising – Amplify awareness and generate leads.
7. Warm Outreach – Stay in touch with people who already know your business.
8. Cold Outreach – Establish connections with potential customers who don’t know you yet.
9. CRM – Keep your contacts, leads, and deals organized.

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These are the core areas you need systems for. One social media post or email campaign won’t change your business overnight. But a consistent, monthly system will.

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Right People, Right Seats

Think of each of these marketing areas as a seat that needs to be filled. Right now, they’re all open. The goal is to get the right person in each seat.

Start by evaluating your existing team (including yourself). If you already have a team member who can thrive in one of these areas, great—assign them that seat.

Next, consider where you (the business owner or operator) bring the most value. As small business owners, we often wear all the hats. But that’s a temporary solution. Long-term success comes from elevating and delegating so you can focus on your high-impact areas. Spending time in the wrong seat is one of the most expensive opportunity-cost mistakes you can make.

At Launch Kit, I personally love writing, so I’ve kept myself in the warm outreach seat. Every Thursday, I write articles that get turned into blog posts and email newsletters. I enjoy it, and it aligns with Launch Kit’s goals, so I’m happy to stay in this role for now. Everything else? I’ve delegated to my team—and it’s been the most gratifying move I’ve made.

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Now, Fill Your Open Seats

Now that you’ve assessed your team’s strengths, which seats are still open? These are the services you’ll need to hire for.

You have three options:

1. Hire a full-stack marketing agency – Agencies like Launch Kit offer all these services under one roof.
2. Work with multiple single-service firms – For example, a separate website designer, video production company, etc.
3. Hire individual freelancers – The best if you only need one specific role filled.

If you only need one seat filled, a great freelancer can integrate well into your team.

If you need two or more seats filled, a full-stack agency is the better move. Agencies have established systems that can be applied to your business right away.

For one-time projects, like a high-production video commercial, a single-service firm can be a good choice. Your marketing agency can stay focused on its strengths while an external team handles the specialized project.

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How to Evaluate a Marketing Agency in Grand Rapids

At this point, you know what roles need to be filled and what type of provider (agency, freelancer, or firm) is the best fit. Now, it’s time to evaluate your options.

1. Workflow & Systems

Marketing is an infinite game. You don’t “finish” marketing—it’s ongoing. McDonald’s still runs ads even though everyone already knows who they are. Being a runner is an infinite game, while a specific race is a finite game.

So, when evaluating agencies, ask: What’s their monthly workflow? How do they manage all the moving parts?

At Launch Kit, we use ClickUp to organize everything—web, social, ads, content—all in one place. This keeps timelines, action items, and communication transparent. If a marketing agency only communicates via email or phone, that’s a red flag. Without a proper workflow system, things will get messy.

2. Pricing

How much does a marketing agency cost in Grand Rapids, Michigan?

It depends on how they bill for their services. Small businesses tend to see the most success with agencies that offer flat-rate, transparent pricing—no surprises.

For startups scaling rapidly with venture capital, a performance-based growth partner might be a good fit. But for small businesses looking for steady, reliable growth over the next 10 years, flat-rate pricing is the way to go.

Also, ask: Who is actually doing the work? If an agency can’t clearly communicate who’s in each role, they’re likely outsourcing overseas or using subcontracted freelancers. I’d avoid agencies that can’t tell you exactly who is managing your marketing.

3. Monthly Cadence

Going to the gym once does nothing. Going three times a week for a year is what makes the difference.

Marketing works the same way. Consistency is everything.

Here’s how we structure things at Launch Kit:

• The first week of each month – 25-minute Google Meet call to review business updates. We send analytics and an agenda ahead of time so we’re prepared and efficient with everyone's time.
• Photo & video content – Created once, twice, or three times per month, depending on your plan.
• Social media – Posting 8–20 times per month, depending on your plan.
• Website updates – Made in real-time based on discussions in our monthly meetings.
• Ad campaigns – Monitored and adjusted monthly.

This ensures continuous learning, progress, and improvement.

4. Local vs. Remote

If you’re a West Michigan business that serves local customers, work with a local marketing agency in Grand Rapids. Photo and video content, in particular, can’t be created from afar. A local team can spend time on the ground, getting to know your business’s unique story.

If you only need brand strategy, website design, or graphic design, a remote team can work. But for social media, ads, and content creation? You’ll get far better results with a local partner.

5. Their Ideal Work

Some agencies say they serve local businesses but are actually trying to land big national clients. If you’re a local business, avoid agencies like this—they’ll drop you the second they get a bigger fish.

Ask them: Who is your ideal client? What’s your dream project?

If they say Nike or Red Bull, they’re not the right fit for a small business in Grand Rapids. Look for an agency that is genuinely excited to work with businesses like yours.

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Conclusion

A well-run marketing system is the gift that keeps on giving. By getting the right people in the right seats, establishing a workflow, and maintaining a monthly cadence, you’ll build an engine that continuously strengthens your brand.

If you’re a West Michigan business that needs two or more of the marketing seats filled, Launch Kit is your ideal partner. We’re here to help you build the business of your dreams. Let’s share your story.