Finding the right digital marketing agency is like finding the right pair of shoes: you want something that looks good, feels comfortable and fits into your budget. But it’s also not just one purchase—it’s a long-term commitment. Your business has goals, and the right marketing agency can help you achieve them. Here are five key points to consider when making your choice.
Section 1: What is a “Digital Marketing Agency”?
A digital marketing agency is a company that handles the online marketing and online advertising needs of clients. They offer one or more of a variety of services, including:
-Online advertising management
-Social media marketing
-Search engine optimization (SEO) and content marketing
Most digital marketing agencies have a team of people who each specialize in their own area. For example, one person may focus on creating graphics for social media posts while another person may write the copy. Each team member can then work together to create an ad campaign that flows well, builds consistency, and speaks with one voice to the target audience.
Section 2: What is your budget?
The first step in finding the right marketing agency for you is to figure out how much you can afford to spend. Marketing is an investment, not a cost—but it’s still a pretty big investment. Start by determining your goals and needs, and then set a budget that reflects those priorities. In other words, don’t say “I want to spend $1,000 on Facebook ads.” Instead, ask yourself what your goals are for Facebook ads (increase brand awareness? Sell more products?) and what results you expect from that level of spending. From there, calculate how much you’d have to spend to reach those targets within a reasonable timeframe. The answers might surprise you!
You may also be wondering if it’s better to hire an agency on a pay-per-performance basis. While it’s tempting to think so since each party is only invested in the success of the campaign, this model puts all the financial risk on the agency and may cause them to cut corners or deliver subpar work. If you’re concerned about overspending because of incremental charges along the way, consider hiring an agency on a retainer basis instead—this way you’ll only pay for services rendered, but both parties will benefit from long-term collaboration and planning.
Section: 3. What services do you need?
Before you go shopping for a marketing agency, make sure you know what services you need. Do you just want help with SEO? Are you looking for someone to do your email marketing? Or do you need a company that can handle every aspect of your marketing? For example, if your biggest challenge is branding, then look for a brand management agency. If your biggest problem is website traffic and lead generation, then an SEO or SEM specialist will be able to help you best.
Think about it this way: A divorce lawyer wants to scoop up the people who Google about divorce advice – the timing is crucial. Whereas impulse purchases like bamboo toothbrushes, people purchase when they feel like it. Once you have identified the service(s) that your company needs, you can narrow down your list of potential agencies.
Section 4: Return on investment
Ultimately, you want to be sure the agency will prove itself a good investment. You should know how they measure and keep track of their performance, and they should be able to provide details on their success rate and any other specific metrics that are telling of their efficiency. You also want to know how they plan to adapt to your company’s unique needs, how they’ll respond if things don’t go according to plan, and what you can expect from them in terms of regular updates on their progress.
Some companies fall into the trap of picking an agency based on price alone. It can be tempting to choose the agency that offers you the lowest price quote, but this could end up being a major mistake—and cost you more money in the long run. Instead, look at how much return on investment you’ll receive from an agency’s services. Which company will help you generate more leads and convert those leads into sales and clients? Which one will help you grow your business?
Section: 5. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The more you ask, the better idea you’ll have of what the agency can do for your company, as well as what it’s like to work with them on a personal level. Take note of how they respond to your questions and how quickly they get back to you, as this will give you a good indication of their level of professionalism and customer service.
A good agency should be committed to providing you with the best service possible, so don’t hesitate to ask questions about the work they’ve done for other clients. Have they worked with your specific industry before? Do they have a history of success? Who will be working on your account? What kind of reporting and analytics will you receive? You’re paying for their services, so make sure you know exactly what you’re getting.
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We were recently voted one of the Top Digital Marketing Agencies by DesignRush.