As with all businesses, contracts are part and parcel of many marketing agencies whether its agreements with their clients or their contractors. Even for simple marketing gigs, a contract is necessary to ensure that boundaries are observed, and trust is assured.
Not all marketing agency contracts are complex documents with hundreds of pages that require lawyers. Some contracts are straightforward. Some marketing contracts are entered informally via a telephone conversation or a series of emails!
As a marketing consultant, you will enter into contracts from time to time with clients. When entering into a simple marketing contract, some cautions need to be observed if you are to have a smooth relationship with your clients.
Most of these issues relate to transparency and content of the marketing contract instead of the form or organization. This doesn't mean that the marketing contract shouldn't be well structured. However, even the best-structured marketing contract can come full of vague clauses will make the future business a nightmare.
The importance, potential risk, value and complexity of the project will determine how many clauses your marketing contract will have.
First of all:
But at the same time:
It is also essential to make sure that terms of engagement are clear. Even for a simple marketing contract, you will need to know when the agreement comes into force, and when each party can end the engagement earlier than expected.
Please make sure that no party has the option of terminating the marketing contract just because they can. This can cause considerable losses concerning time and resources you have invested to meet that client's needs. This clause is best put in writing so that there is a reference point in case disagreements arise later on and one party wants to terminate the contract.
A simple marketing contract allows you to enter into a non-complex marketing project that doesn't require too many details except the expression of consent by the client. However, as simple as it is, the content may save you from a headache down the road.