6 Tips When Hiring a Digital Marketing Agency
Digital technology has changed the way customers connect with businesses. A quick search on Google is all they need to find products or services they want to buy. This means business owners should not put online visibility as an afterthought but integrate it well into their overall marketing strategy. However, a strong online presence requires great planning and a well-executed strategy. This is where hiring a digital marketing agency becomes a viable option.
Agencies can lend their expertise to help businesses succeed online. They can provide you with the leverage to stay ahead of the competition and gain more customers.
The question is – how do you hire the right one?
Before you sign a contract and put your strategies into action, here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a digital marketing agency:
1. Know what types of services you need for your business.
Agencies can offer different services – SEO, paid advertising, social media, website development, graphic design, and content marketing. You may stumble upon an agency offering all these, but sometimes, they may only specialize in one digital marketing service.
Knowing what you need from an agency helps you evaluate if they are a good fit for your business. Do you need to boost your organic traffic? Are you planning to redesign your website? Do you need a comprehensive plan that involves every digital marketing discipline?
If you have an idea of what you are looking for from the get-go, it will be easier to align with digital marketing experts and focus on delivering results for your business.
2. Look at their track record.
This does not only mean looking at success stories. It also includes knowing the clients or industries they have worked with. It is best to hire a digital marketing agency that has experience working with businesses in your field. This is because they already have the industry knowledge to back up their strategies.
Hiring a digital marketing agency that has experience in your industry also makes it easier to develop campaigns specifically targeted to your audience. More importantly, they are likely to have an idea of the pain points of different businesses in your industry. This helps them develop a roadmap towards the goals you have set. They can share insights on what works and what doesn’t, then apply those to your brand.
3. See if they practice what they preach.
As a digital marketing agency, they should know how to apply the strategies they recommend to their own. This simply means that you should evaluate if they are as good as they say.
Do they appear on the first page of search results if you look for them online? Do they have updated social media profiles? What type of content are they publishing? Is it of good quality? Is their website appealing and has a good user experience?
If you answer yes to these questions, the agency is worth approaching and talking to about your marketing plans. But if their online presence is not as good as what they preach, you might want to consider looking for other agencies.
4. Look for an agency that promises realistic results.
If the results they claim are too good to be true, it most probably is the case. You may come across an agency promising you the moon and more, but do not be easily swayed by what they say upfront. Digital marketing strategies take time before results start happening.
Let’s use SEO as an example. The effects of optimizing your website do not appear overnight. It may take around three to six months before you start seeing the results of your efforts. This is because ranking a website involves different factors – quality links, good content, and great user experience, among others.
Do not hire an agency that promises quick results. This is especially true if you are in a highly competitive industry. The fiercer the competition, the longer it may take for you to see changes in your rankings. An agency telling you there is a shortcut to success might only overpromise and underdeliver in the end.
5. Find out more about their team.
Digital marketing agencies vary in size. Some will have a team composed of 10 members, while others will have a 100 or even more. Knowing the size of an agency can help you envision how they will handle your marketing campaigns.
Working with a small digital marketing agency can provide you with a more personalized approach. You can have a team that’s more hands-on when it comes to your projects. The downside is time – they may take longer to handle your campaigns due to limited manpower. Smaller agencies are your best choice if you are looking for the essentials such as SEO or social media.
On the other hand, hiring a large agency may give you access to more tools and experts who are equipped in handling a wide range of projects. Their skills can provide you with the edge to launch different marketing campaigns simultaneously.
6. Check if their pricing is fair and fits your budget.
This is probably one of the most important factors to consider. Some agencies may charge a higher rate than others. However, being more expensive does not always mean better services. Do a little research and ask them about the inclusions in their packages. This will give you an idea of if their pricing is fair.
Lower rates do not mean a better deal, as well. If their price is low, there may not have the complete services you need to launch your marketing campaigns.
Compare the pricing from different agencies and their packages. This can help you determine who is the better fit for your business and marketing budget.
Time to find digital marketing experts for your business
Make a quick checklist before you hire a digital marketing agency. Do they have the solutions you are looking for? Who are the clients they’ve worked with? Do their strategies speak for themselves? Do they have the skills and resources to deliver the results you are looking for? Use these guide questions to evaluate the agencies you will come across and see which of them ticks all the criteria you have set.
But you don’t have to look that far. Express Marketing is here to help you propel your brand towards online success. Contact us and let’s talk about your strategy!