Choosing the right digital marketing agency is vital if you want to ensure that you get the best return possible and believe me, I have done my fair share in investing in digital marketing for my company! When you invest in marketing, you expect to get something in return which is not always the case. Here are 5 tips for choosing a digital marketing company that will produce results for your company.
While these are all tips I recommend, this post has been sponsored.
Make Sure Your Style Doesn’t Clash with Theirs
Your style and branding should be unique to you or your company. The same can be said of most digital marketing agencies. In some cases however, that can lead to issues. For example, if you want to focus on organic search instead of ads, as 7 out of 10 searchers focus on organic results and ignore sponsored results, you should be with an agency that specializes in that type of digital marketing or at least has proven results.
A larger agency, or an agency backed by a company offering white label digital marketing, may be more adaptable. However, if you have multiple projects with vastly different audiences you may need a more extensive, more varied and experienced organization.
Review Sample Plans – Not Just Client Outcomes
While case studies of results are essential to review and may look more appealing, see if an agency offers a sample of what it’s like working with them. What process do they use to research your brand and your needs? How much of your time will it take and what does the ongoing work relationship going to look like?
Getting a feel for these processes will help you know what goal-setting will be like. It should be easy to tell if the digital marketing agency you are considering makes and fulfills realistic promises to their customers. From there, you should ask for some measure of how long it will take as well as the benefit it will bring. The biggest hurdle I have ran in to has been that the outcome and plan sounds amazing but the timeline is unrealistic for the budget and goal I am trying to meet.
Do They Offer Services You Can Grow Into?
Speaking of benefits, any digital marketing agency should be able to give you some idea on next steps once the growth and budget increases. It is also important to request reports and understand the numbers. Empty numbers without a concrete explanation of what they’ll do for you, your company, or next steps are a red flag.
Once you have a few initial digital marketing company candidates that seem knowledgeable, you should assess their service offering on services your business may need in the future. It’s easier to coordinate with one full-service agency than many smaller individuals or groups. Even if you don’t need a given service now, the potential of needing a service in the future makes a digital marketing company more ideal for long term partnership. This strategy works both ways. If the marketing firm knows that growth will result in the addition of services being added to your contract, they will have more motivation for results.
Are You Working With Someone You Can Trust?
85% of job applicants lie on their resume. As a business and potential employer, you know you have to be cautious. Not every digital marketing agency is upfront about what they are capable of- or they over-inflate what they think they can deliver. Research is vital to verify any numbers you are given. References should also be checked. Make sure they have experience marketing in your specific industry.
Secure all Data and Resources Produced Throughout the Partnership
A digital marketing agency is more than just consultancy and SEO. In many cases, they will produce, manage, and store your content for social media accounts. They will also probably track and analyze customer feedback and data which can be a lot of information. You want to make sure that, for the sake of your business and your customers, this crucial, strategic information is secure.
Have you ever worked with a digital marketing firm? If so, what are your recommendations?
