If you have been in business for more than two days, you will understand that to make money, you need to have customers.
For you to get customers, people are going to need to know who you are and what you can do for them, though, right?
So how are you going to get people to know who you are and what you can do for them?
Are you going to stand outside and scream from the top of your lungs that you sell the best office chair in the world with the most amazing lumbar support and padding your butt won’t want to leave?
Or will you print off 1000 flyers that showcase your new butt magnet of a chair, then hand them out to everyone and everything you see moving in the streets to see later that your masterpiece of an ad piled up in the trash or being dragged off by the wind?
Sounds lovely!
But in all seriousness, what can you do?
Getting your message to people who want to hear it and have a desire for your valuable product might have been a lot tougher in the past.
However, the internet has blessed us all with the opportunity to target specific people who have an interest in your exact product.
You can do it cheaper than traditional marketing and even see the actual results your marketing efforts are producing……….in real-time (as it’s happening).
How? Great question!
The answer is by implementing digital marketing and or partnering with a digital marketing agency specializing in getting results online for your business.
Today, we will be taking an aerial view of the digital marketing landscape and everything you need to know when partnering with a digital marketing agency.
Table Of Contents
What Is A Digital Marketing Agency?
Types Of Digital Marketing Agencies
Pros & Cons Of Partnering With A Digital Agency
Why Do You Need A Digital Marketing Agency?
What To Look For In Your Digital Marketing Agency
Questions To Ask While Interviewing Digital Agencies
How Do You Know You Found The Right Digital Agency?
What Is Digital Marketing?
Digital marketing is the act of utilizing the internet, social media, mobile devices, search engines, along with many other methods, to promote your business to potential customers.
A good rule of thumb when it comes to knowing if something is digital marketing would be that if it allows you to get your message across to people anywhere globally and scale beyond your geographical location, it’s digital marketing.
Here is a rundown of all the different types of digital marketing:
- Search Engine Marketing
- Pay Per Click (PPC
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Social Media Marketing (SMM)
- Email Marketing
- Audio Marketing
- Video Marketing
- Mobile Marketing
- Influencer Marketing
- Content Marketing
Check out our article on the types of digital marketing for more in-depth information about all of the different forms out there for you to utilize in your own business.
What Is A Digital Marketing Agency?
As a business owner, you get dragged in every which way, all day long. You have to wear many hats at the same time, like managing your website, keeping track of inventory, talking with distributors, bringing in customers, fulfilling orders, customer service, and the lists could keep going on and on forever.
The problem is that when we spend so much time being pulled in every direction, it’s tough to dedicate the proper attention and be great at any one of these activities.
Many variables come with marketing your business online, and if you don’t already know what you are doing, it can cost you valuable time and money when done the wrong way.
A digital marketing agency is a company that specializes in taking care of strategizing, implementing, and optimizing digital marketing efforts for other businesses just like yours.
They will come in and take the stress of managing your entire marketing campaign off your shoulders, all while getting more customers through your doors or onto your website.
You may be thinking to yourself, “Nah, it sounds good and all, but I think I can do it all myself,” which is excellent.
However, what you aren’t taking into account is the learning curve you have to go through by doing it all on your own.
The learning curve not only costs you time but actual money from trial and error.
Agencies know how to get you results at a more rapid pace and with increased efficiency.
It would be best if you strived to be aware of the process and what an agency will be doing for you because your time is better suited in other facets of your business that you are already great at.
The Types Of Digital Marketing Agencies To Be Aware Of
You will run into a few different models out there, along with your search for finding the right agency to partner with.
The different types of marketing agencies are:
Social Media Marketing Agency (SMMA)
This model says it all in the name. A social media marketing agency specializes in marketing businesses on social media platforms like Facebook, and Instagram, to name a few.
Upon interviewing these agencies, it can be valuable to ask which social media platform they manage the most and see the best results.
Every platform has its own set of user demographics, and the one they are the strongest in may not be an excellent fit for your business needs.
These agencies are comprised of either just the business owner or a small team.
The general role you can expect of a social media marketing agency to fill would be creating/optimizing your advertising campaigns, optimizing your business page, and creating value-packed content people want to interact with.
Search engine optimization Agency (SEO)
Search engine optimization agencies understand the ins and outs of getting your website to show up on search results on places like Google and Bing.
SEO agencies also help you stay up to date and compliant with all the updates and changes in the algorithm that google or bing will affect your rankings.
Pay Per Click Agency (PPC)
Spending money on search engines when you don’t know what you are doing can be costly and time-consuming!
PPC agencies specialize in creating profitable advertising campaigns, optimizing for results, and spending your money more effectively.
They primarily advertise in search engines for search terms or keywords that your potential customers are searching for.
Content Marketing Agency
Content marketing sums up the act of creating online material (videos, blogs, social media, and images) for the chance that it will lead to higher website traffic and more sales for your business.
Content marketing agencies are responsible for planning, creating, and sharing original content valuable to your customer base.
The content produced does a few things for your brand, such as creating trust, conveying expertise, and educating people who may be looking to buy what you have to offer.
Website Design Agency
Like the name says, website design agencies do just that….. Design websites.
A great looking website that is easy to navigate makes a huge difference.
When it comes to your website, it’s all about the customer experience and usability, which is precisely where these agencies shine the brightest.
Along with designing awesome websites, they also incorporate a little bit of SEO and PPC into their offered services toolbag.
Email Marketing Agency
Did you know that email marketing is currently still one of the most profitable forms of digital marketing?
Believe it or not, you can usually see an average ROI of $42 for every $1 spent on email marketing.
Email marketing helps you out with a few crucial things, such as building trust and loyalty with your customers, increasing conversion rates, and spreading brand awareness.
An email marketing agency helps you build up your email subscribers list and sending out emails to everyone that wants to hear from you.
Image Source: Orbelo
Public Relations and Influencer Marketing Agency
This type of agency does two main things:
1. Manages how the public sees your brand and how you communicate with them on places online.
2. They help connect you with influencers who can share your brand with their audiences who might be interested in what you offer.
They are a combined role that ultimately helps you look good in front of the people who already follow you and get you in front of more people.
Think of this as the equivalent of buying a front of the line pass at Disney land or any other theme park.
Full-Service Digital Marketing Agency
Full-service digital marketing agencies have dedicated specialists under one roof to take care of all the things listed above.
If you require multiple services at once and would like to do it all through one company, this is the best route for you.
Working with a full-service agency simplifies the process of partner with a digital marketing agency due to only having to work with one company for everything.
Not only that, they usually have more resources for you to utilize as your business continues to grow and expand.
The Pros And Cons Of Partnering With A Digital Marketing Agency
Prior to determining whether you would like to partner with a digital marketing agency to handle all of your marketing needs, let’s go over everything from the great things to the straight-up ugly truths no one will tell you.
Pros
- It saves you time and helps relieve your workload on things you aren’t great at.
- Increased ROI potential due to expertise and knowledge
- You get to choose what services you would like done for you.
- Good digital agencies already have the best software and tools you will need for optimizing your campaigns. (It’s all included in the fees agreed upon).
- They can provide you with a different and fresh perspective on how to best market your business.
- Digital agencies stay up to date with all the latest trends on the internet for you; including algorithm changes in search engines, new policies on social media, and understanding what people are talking about or want to hear.
Cons
- Some Digital agencies may lack knowledge about your particular industry
- Getting familiar with your industry and the ideal customer takes time
- If you partner with a digital marketing agency that is small but has a lot of other clients, you will not be as much of a priority to them
- Digital agencies tend to cost more than freelancers or other independent contractors due to their reputation for results and their knowledge regarding your industry.
Transparency and trust are vital when you are partnering with an agency.
If you feel as if the organization doesn’t understand you and your industry (with proof of results to back it up), then follow your gut until you have zero doubts in your mind that they will be able to meet your needs.
Check out our hand-selected digital marketing specialists that are indeed masters of their craft who understand your industry and how to get the results you are looking for.
Why Do You Need A Digital Marketing Agency?
Every business owner has a unique situation, so there is no such thing as a one size fits all for whether you should partner with a digital marketing agency.
However, if you are witnessing any of these symptoms, then you should highly consider leaping to work with a specialist:
You don’t enjoy marketing
Look, it’s not for everyone.
If you dread marketing for your business and see it as a burden and something you consistently put off, it’s time to get it off your plate.
No one said you need to be a mast at everything.
You get leads, but after talking to them, they are always unqualified
A vital sign that your marketing efforts point in the wrong direction is when you get nothing but unqualified people on the phone who are not a good fit for your services.
This is not very pleasant of an experience!
You are literally watching your marketing budget disappear down the drain and waste valuable time.
You lack the marketing skills needed.
Digital marketing is paired with a steep learning curve that most entrepreneurs aren’t looking to climb.
Don’t beat yourself up over not being a marketing genius, and focus on what you are already good at!
There are people out there who eat, sleep and breathe the skills necessary to get your results.
There isn’t enough time in the day for you to get your marketing done.
As a business owner, you are doing everything yourself and continuously performing a balancing act between every daily task you have.
I get it. You are already working so much as it is, so why would you even consider throwing marketing in the mix?
After all, marketing takes time to strategize, implement your strategy, and optimize to get better results.
However, Offloading this task to an agency (a group of people who spend every day and all day focusing on getting you the best results possible through marketing) gives you peace of mind knowing your marketing is taken care of.
And you will have more time to allocate to another part of your business simultaneously.
Sales are slow or stagnant.
If you have done your market research correctly and know there is a need or want for your product, but you see sales are still slow, lousy marketing is likely to blame.
Consider sitting down for a free consultation with a few agencies to get some feedback on what you are doing and see what can be done.
It would be best to walk away from the conversation with a good feel for how your marketing efforts are performing and how you can best improve.
Plus, based on the feedback you get and how the conversation feels, you will have a clear vision of who is the right agency to partner with and whom you feel comfortable with.
What You Should Look For In Your Digital Marketing Agency
Finding the right agency is kind of like dating.
You need to talk with a few of them and see if there is a spark between you before getting serious and committing to one person.
Not every agency is the same. Some will treat you better than others.
Before you go out and start searching for the “one,” here are some general guidelines when it comes to knowing if an agency is partner material:
- Do they have proven results within your industry?
- What results are they promising?
- Do you feel as if the person you spoke with connected with you?
- Do they practice what they preach?
- What services do they offer?
- Do their values align with yours?
- How big is the digital agency?
- Does their pricing seem fair for the service they offer?
- Who else do they work with?
- How was your experience with talking to everyone?
- Did they have a clean up to date website?
Just take some time to make the right decision here.
There is nothing worse than getting into a partnership with an agency that doesn’t have your best interests at heart.
What Questions Should You Ask Digital Marketing Agencies While Interviewing?
Coming up with the right questions on the spot can seem daunting.
If you forget to cover some essential bases before signing contracts, someone will get their feelings hurt due to unmet expectations, and I can guarantee it won’t be the agency.
Go into your consultations prepared to ask questions and listen intently to make sure the answers are on the same page as you are.
Here are some questions I recommend bringing with you:
- How many clients do you work with regularly?
- Who are some of their previous clients?
- How do they measure success?
- What service do they offer?
- What work is done in house?
- What services do they outsource to?
- Who is the person you will be talking to and working with regularly?
- What tools do they actively use to fulfill services?
- How frequently can you expect updates on digital marketing progress?
- How long is their contract?
- What is included in their contract?
- How long does it usually take them to see results?
- What is their process for building audience personas?
- What metrics can you expect to be reported back to you?
- Can they show you a sample buyer’s journey from another client?
- How will they decide which marketing channels are best to use for your business?
- What social media platforms do they specialize in?
- What have their typical client results been?
If you get any answers from these questions that make you feel uneasy or it seems like they are lying, keep searching until you find your perfect match who connects with you and seems transparent.
How Do You Know You Have Found The Right Digital Marketing Agency?
How do you know when you have found the one?
Trust me… you’ll know when you have made a genuine connection with a digital agency.
When you get off of the call with someone who cares about your success as much as you do, you will feel relaxed and excited at the same time.
As you see everything line up perfectly to the point where it doesn’t make sense not to do business together, that’s when you know you have found the “one.”
After all, you are trying to find someone you want to be in a long-term partnership with.
Here are some pointers for knowing when you find the right partner:
- They make their clients look good
- After looking at the other clients they work with and their websites, you are impressed with the work done.
- You were impressed with the results they have gotten their other clients
- You feel like the agency you are talking with complements your strengths and fills the gaps you lack expertise.
- They are transparent with you about how they plan to get your business results and a timeline they follow.
- They have answered your questions correctly and leave you feeling confident in their abilities.
- Their results speak for themselves
- They are easy to talk to and get ahold of.
- You don’t feel like you need to shower after the phone call due to being slimmed with needy sales tactics.
Not everyone will be an excellent match for what you do, but the goal here is to connect with one agency who is.
What Is It Like To Partner With A Digital Marketing Agency?
Depending on if you followed this guide before deciding which agency to partner with, you will get two different experiences.
- After working with an agency for a few months, you feel it’s almost too easy to work with them because everything clicks in the right places. You always get the updates you want, and whenever you call to talk or ask questions, your go-to specialist is always there, eager to help you. Whenever you get off of the phone, you feel even more confident in their ability to help you take your business to the next level.
Or it could look something like this:
- You have been working with your digital agency partner for a few months, and it seems as if everything you were promised in the initial meeting was a lie, or they were not completely transparent with you. Every time you try to talk with them to get updates, either no one is there to talk, or you get the runaround about how results are right around the corner, and hopefully, next month will turn around. After hanging up the call, you feel angry and cheated, so you begin the process all over again of searching for the right partner, wasting even more time.
If you don’t want to end up in boat number 2, please, please, please, make sure all of your needs are met, and you look forward to partnering with their company.
Please stick to the points we covered today to help guide you in the right direction.
Conclusion
Discovering the right digital marketing agency to partner with can seem a little daunting if you don’t know precisely what you are looking for.
The main thing to take away from this article is that you need to feel confident in your decision and whom you end up partnering with.
Ask plenty of questions and don’t settle for an agency if you don’t feel like they have your best interests in mind, or they seem like they aren’t being fully transparent with you and hiding stuff.
If you want to learn more about the digital marketing services we can help you with, click the button “our services” button below or above in the top menu bar!
If you learned something from this article and think someone else could benefit from it, please send it their way to prevent them from making the mistake of partnering with the wrong digital agency.
Thank you for sticking around with me to the end, and I hope you have a wonderful day!
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