Louisiana advertising agencies work with you to choose the right types of promotions for your particular product or service. Firms use strategies in advertising, marketing, public relations, graphic design and website development to create a customized campaign for your business.

Full-service advertising agencies in Louisiana are your "one stop shop" for promotion assistance. Use the ad agency's experienced and diverse staff for projects like PR pieces, trade show exhibits, sales training materials, media planning and buying and website design.

Before hiring a LA advertising agency:

1. Establish a realistic budget. Louisiana advertising firms can be expensive so plan ahead to avoid funding issues.

2. List your current ad plan qualities, focusing on what you like and don't like about the plan.

3. Look closely at your competitors. Choose a Louisiana ad agency that can fight for your share of the market.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Identify your promotions needs before contacting ad agencies in Louisiana

Critique your previous forms of advertising. Make a list of the services you want to use again but be open to new suggestions from professional Louisiana advertising agencies.

I recommend: Consider agencies like Calzone with locations in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and New Orleans and Peter Mayer Advertising in New Orleans, which offer logo creation, brochure design and traditional print and broadcast advertisements.

Search for advertising companies in Louisiana communities near your business

Look in your area for full-service advertising agencies. In Louisiana, most of the agencies will be centered in the larger cities like Baton Rouge and New Orleans. However, search throughout the state for talented agencies focusing on copywriting and editing, video production and anything else you need for your campaign.

I recommend: Make a list of about 12 -- no more than 20 -- local Louisiana ad firms. Look for agencies such as Prejean LoBue and Graham Group in Lafayette for services in television, radio and print ads as well as packaging and collateral.

Contact Louisiana advertising firms to set up meetings

Browse agency websites to view online portfolios and service lists. Begin to narrow your list to a more manageable 6 to 10 agencies using the information you find online and from colleague friends who have worked with the agencies before. Contact your top choices and set up meetings to evaluate the firms, their suggestions and their creative staff.

I recommend: Ask to see updated portfolios and price lists from all advertising-marketing companies. Louisiana agencies like Stun Design & Advertising in Baton Rouge and Hess Marketing in Shreveport allow you to see samples of their advertisements, graphic design projects and website designs online.

Choose a Louisiana full-service ad agency and implement your new plan

Listen to the company presentations and choose the best advertising firm Louisiana has to offer your business. Finalize a budget, set a deadline and begin working immediately to finalize your promotions plan and put it into action.

I recommend: Review the presentations and hire the most qualified full-service advertising firm. Louisiana agencies like Keating Magee in New Orleans and 2121 Design in Baton Rouge work with your small business to mix your advertising campaign with a public relations campaign to boost brand awareness and customer loyalty.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Continue to use other forms of free advertising such as word-of-mouth, a MySpace or Facebook page and business partnerships to complement the work your LA advertising firm is doing.