Whether you are an entrepreneur, start-up founder, or owner of a larger company, and whatever business you operate in, one thing is for sure: marketing is vital to your success. As the springboard for all your sales efforts (and, as a consequence, your income), marketing tools, strategies, and campaigns are a fundamental element to promote your products and services.
But it’s easier said than done. Not all companies have the required marketing know-how in-house, or can afford to hire a marketing team. Cue digital marketing agencies. Choosing digital marketing agencies requires understanding several factors and criteria.
Not sure what these are? No worries: read on, and we’ll reveal seven key elements to look for in a great digital marketing agency.
1. Industry Expertise (and Plenty of Experience, Too)
The first step to finding a great marketing agency to work with is making sure that they know your industry well. A digital marketer with specific industry know-how is an incredible asset, as it gives you the confidence that all your marketing strategies and campaigns are tailored to your specific business goals.
In a similar way, you’re also going to want to select a digital marketing agency that has been around for quite some time. Matching industry expertise with the right amount of experience is not an easy feat. It might take you a while before you come across “the one”, but the benefits you’ll reap from this choice will be well worth the wait.
2. Understanding of and Alignment with Your Business Strategies
Following up on what we have just explained, it’s important to add that your digital marketing agency of choice should have a genuine understanding of your business strategies, and be aligned with them.
Do they seem on board with your goals? Do they understand what your current challenges are, and do they have solid ways to overcome them through marketing? Are they going to be by your side in the long run?
Ask yourself (and them) all these questions, and go ahead only if the answers are satisfactory. Remember: you’re not looking for a mere producer of marketing content; you are looking for a real partner who is committed to the success of your business.
3. A Wide Range of Marketing Tools
A great digital marketing agency has good familiarity with a wide array of marketing tools. Both new advanced technologies, and more traditional (albeit effective) marketing methods, and approaches should be included in their offering.
4. A Good Dose of Creative Flair
What is marketing without creativity? When looking for your digital marketing agency, you should also consider that they will need to create some pretty awesome online content.
For this reason, you’ll want to work with someone who is creative, original, and imaginative. Creativity in digital marketing is just as important as strategy: only by combining the two will you be able to succeed.
5. Solid Reputation and Outstanding Customer Service
What’s one of the first things you do when you need to decide which restaurant to book for your birthday? Look at online customer reviews. If you do this for a birthday party, then why shouldn’t you do the same when it comes to something as crucial as the success of your company?
Reading genuine, honest, unfiltered customer reviews is the key to truly understanding what a digital marketing company is all about. Because you’ll want a partner more than just a vendor, you’ll need to ensure that they are as professional and experienced as they are personable and flexible.
Reputation is another crucial element when choosing the right digital marketing agency. Check their website to see whether they hold any specific certifications, if they have won prestigious awards, or have partnered with well-renowned companies.
6. Geographical Proximity to You
Did you think that in the digital age, it didn’t really matter where you are located, as long as you have a reliable internet connection? Well, you should think again. When it comes to hiring a digital marketing agency, geographical vicinity can be crucial to establishing a profitable, successful relationship.
Being close to where your company is based can make a lot of difference, as it can mean that your company may appeal to them more than companies located elsewhere. Arranging face-to-face visits and meetings, for example, is going to be a lot easier, and can help to strengthen the partnership that you are seeking to build.
7. Excellent Internal Digital Marketing
This is an interesting point that, however, many business owners tend to neglect. If you want to get a better feel for what a digital marketing agency can offer to your company, then you should look at what they do with their own digital marketing.
Be nosy and have a browse of their website and social channels. What do they look like to you? How do they engage with their audience, and what tone of voice do they use?
If you feel that there is a good alignment between their internal marketing and what you would like for your company, then you might have found a match.
Choosing Digital Marketing Agencies Is a Cinch with Our Guide
The process of choosing digital marketing agencies for your business can sound pretty daunting, but our guide can help. Just by keeping these seven criteria in mind, you will already be in the best possible position to secure a great marketing agency that can help your business thrive.
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