More agencies have cropped up as more businesses seek digital marketing services. It’s now easier than ever to find a digital marketing agency.
Suppose you want to find an SEO expert. It only takes a quick Google search to find several companies near you.
This is good news for your business, as it gives you more options to choose from. But, it also means finding a high-quality agency in a crowded market can take more work.
So, how do you ensure you’re hiring the right digital marketing agency for your company? Here’s a guide with eight detailed tips to help you make an informed decision.
1. Define Your Digital Marketing Goals
Before you start your search for a digital marketing agency, you must set clear goals. Defined goals serve as the bedrock for building a clear vision that you can transform into a practical marketing blueprint.
In digital marketing, goals can help you determine which strategy to choose. If you want to boost sales in the short term, you may need help improving your email marketing strategy. Goals can also be the foundation for defining performance expectations with your agency.
Digital marketing goals, like any other goal, must be SMART. SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.
How to Set SMART Digital Marketing Goals
- Define what you want to achieve being as specific as possible
- Identify metrics that will help you track your success (For example, you could track website traffic, leads generated, or sales conversions)
- Consider your budget, resources, and timeline (If your goals are too ambitious, you may set yourself up for failure)
- Align marketing goals with business goals (Make sure your digital marketing goals support your business strategy)
- Define when you want to achieve your goals (Set deadlines for yourself so that you stay on track)
Here are some examples of SMART digital marketing goals:
- Increase website traffic by 20% in the next quarter
- Generate 100 new leads per month
- Increase sales by 10% in the next year
- Improve brand awareness by 5% in the next six months
- Launch a new product successfully and generate $1 million in sales in the first year
2. Set a Budget for Hiring a Digital Marketing Agency
Digital marketing services come with various price tags. So it’s important to have a budget. On average, hiring a digital marketing company can cost anywhere from $20 to $200 per hour.
Of course, rates can vary based on factors like the scope of work and the level of experience needed. So, it’s essential to consider your budget carefully. Determine what you want to achieve through digital marketing before hiring.
Ensure you’re getting the most value for your investment. Focus on return on your investment (ROI) and long-term gains. View your marketing costs as an investment rather than an expense.
Ask your agency to tailor services to your business. A top digital marketing agency offers various marketing services and packages. As such, it allows you to customize your approach based on budget constraints.
You may also focus your budget on specific channels and strategies to save costs. Not all digital marketing channels and strategies are equally expensive. For instance, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising may need a larger budget than content marketing.
While cost is a crucial factor, it’s important to consider the value of each service. A higher-priced agency may offer a proven track record, which can translate into better results.
3. Consider the Range of Digital Marketing Services Provided
Digital marketing encompasses a variety of services and strategies tailored to enhance your online presence. As you search for a digital marketing agency, seek out one that offers the exact services you need.
Common digital marketing services include:
- Web design
- Graphic design
- Content Creation
- Email Marketing
- Google Business Marketing
- Social Media Management
- Video Production
- Photography
- Reputation Management
If you’re starting out, you might enjoy partnering with an all-around digital marketing agency. This type of agency offers a one-stop solution for your online marketing efforts. It allows you to work with one company, which can be both cost-effective and convenient.
If your business has been operational and you’re seeking a new agency, specialized services may be a priority. Established agencies often have the expertise to provide niche-specific solutions.
Opting for an agency that offers many services can also contribute to consistent branding. In cases where you need several services, collaboration within an agency can lead to seamless integration.
4. Check for Reviews and Testimonials
Once you’ve narrowed down a list of companies that seem like a good fit, conduct thorough research. A simple but effective way to do this is by looking at reviews and testimonials.
Reviews can give you a clear picture of how professional and trustworthy your agency is. Usually, people tend to go for businesses with good ratings and positive feedback.
Take a look at your agency’s website to see if they have a section for reviews. Pay special attention to video testimonials. Videos can show genuine emotions and give you a better sense of what others have experienced.
5. Ask for References
Asking for references is a powerful method to gain valuable insights into an agency’s performance and reputation. Seeking references is as good as asking other clients about their experience with the agency’s services. This allows you to get a sense of your agency’s track record, reliability, and quality of work.
When contacting references, consider asking specific questions about their experiences. Inquire about the agency’s communication style, timeliness in delivering results, and overall satisfaction with the services provided. Also, ask if there were any challenges or issues encountered and how the agency handled them.
Remember to request diverse references to get a well-rounded view of the agency’s capabilities. This might include clients with different project scopes, industries, or business sizes.
Remember that a reputable agency should be more than willing to provide references. If an agency is hesitant or unwilling to share references, it may raise a red flag.
6. Look for Specialized Industry Knowledge
To make sure you get the most out of your investment, choose a marketing company that understands your specific field well. Niche expertise gives your agency a big advantage, especially when it comes to creating a custom digital marketing plan.
A “niche” here means the specific market your business serves. This could focus on a particular product, a specific group of customers, a certain area, or a location. For example, a dental clinic in Colorado might find it more helpful to work with a medical marketing expert who knows the field in that area rather than a general digital marketing agency.
When an agency knows your industry, they can create marketing strategies that connect with your audience. They can use their knowledge of what’s happening in the industry, what your customers like, and who your competitors are to devise plans that are just right for you.
Plus, a marketing company with niche experience is more likely to offer solutions that fit your field’s unique challenges and opportunities. This means your marketing efforts will not only be on point but also stand out in a crowded market.
7. Check Your Digital Marketing Agencies Portfolio
Portfolios speak volumes in digital marketing hiring. Whether you’re considering an SEO specialist, web designer, or email marketer, having tangible evidence of their work and its impact is crucial.
A portfolio showcases the projects your agency has completed and allows you to assess the quality and creativity of their work. It’s a tangible representation of their skills and capabilities in action. This is especially important in a field where the actual output is highly visual and results-driven.
Additionally, portfolios provide insight into the diversity of their experience. You can see if they’ve worked with businesses or industries like yours and if they’ve tackled projects of varying scales and complexities.
Looking at the results achieved is equally important. Metrics like increased website traffic, higher search engine rankings, engagement rates, or conversion numbers are all valuable indicators of their effectiveness.
Focus on more than just the aesthetics when evaluating portfolios. Pay attention to the strategy behind their work.
How did they approach the project? What was their thought process? This gives you a sense of their problem-solving skills and ability to align their work with your objectives.
8. Discuss Strategies and Tactics
Every business is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Ensure you discuss your project to enable the agency to customize your strategy. That way, you can be sure that the tactics employed align with your business model.
Effective digital marketing often requires a balanced allocation of resources across various channels. After discussing your strategies, you can collaboratively determine where to use your budget for the best ROI.
Open communication establishes a feedback loop, which is essential for fine-tuning strategies over time. Regular discussions allow for evaluating performance metrics and identifying what’s working. This allows for implementing the necessary adjustments for improved results.
Ready to Hire a Digital Marketing Agency?
Conducting research is important when you want to get the most out of your marketing efforts. Picking the right digital marketing agency helps improve your marketing and make more sales.
If you’re in Colorado and need digital marketing help, you’re in the right place. Contact us to learn more about what we can do for your marketing and how we can help you do even better.
