Benefits of Hiring a Marketing Agency (And 7 Things to Look for in One)
Staying on top of your company's digital marketing can be challenging. From managing your social media presence to optimizing your search engine rankings,...
Staying on top of your company’s digital marketing can be challenging. From managing your social media presence to optimizing your search engine rankings, you can easily spend hours upon hours each week on your brand’s online marketing.
If you’re ready to free up some of that valuable time to focus on other aspects of growing your business, then it may be time to hire a professional marketing agency. Specifically, a marketing agency can handle every aspect of your digital marketing—ranging from social media and search engine marketing to content marketing, web design, and everything in between.
Still, not all marketing agencies are created equal. By having a better understanding of the benefits of hiring a digital marketing agency and what to look for when choosing one to trust with your business, you can make your decision with confidence.
Why hire a digital marketing agency, anyway? There are many benefits of hiring a digital marketing agency, starting with the fact that doing so can free up a great deal of time for you and your employees. Take a minute to consider how many hours per week you’re currently spending on things like:
Now, think about the other important aspects of your business you could focus on if you could free up that time. You can do exactly that by hiring a digital marketing agency!
Meanwhile, because you’ll be working with a team of experienced professionals, you can rest assured that your business marketing will yield the results you want. Whether you’re looking to spread awareness of your brand, boost your search engine rankings, or grow your social media following—a marketing agency can do just that (and for cheaper than you might think).
So, now that you have a better idea of the benefits of hiring a marketing agency, what should you be looking for when you hire one?
Ideally, the agency you end up hiring will have plenty of experience in your specific industry. After all, different marketing strategies may be more effective in some sectors and less effective in others. A marketing agency that has experience working with other businesses within your industry will be better suited to help you grow and make the most of your marketing budget.
The world of digital marketing is constantly growing and changing, with new strategies and methods coming about on a constant basis. The right digital marketing agency for your brand stays on top of these changes and adapts its services/strategies to remain effective.
When exploring your options for a digital marketing agency, don’t hesitate to ask them what steps they are taking to stay on top of changes in online marketing. If they can’t provide a satisfactory response, they may be “stuck in the past” using outdated marketing strategies that won’t help your brand.
Communication is one of the most important aspects of choosing a digital marketing agency. If you have questions or concerns about your brand’s marketing along the way, you should be able to get in touch with a marketing professional quickly and reliably. Likewise, you should work with a digital marketing agency that will frequently send you reports and other correspondence so you can see exactly how your marketing strategies are performing and paying off.
If an agency takes a long time to get back with your inquiry or doesn’t seem to have strong communication, it’s probably time to move on.
Not all marketing agencies offer the same services, so make a list of what you need and then check to ensure that the agency you’re considering offers all of those services. Some common examples of digital marketing services to look for may include:
Ideally, the right digital marketing agency will not only say they have experience working in your industry; they’ll be able to prove it with portfolios and/or testimonials from past/current clients. Many digital marketing agencies will post their portfolios on their websites so that you can get a better feel for the type of work they’ve done in the past. Consider asking them directly if you don’t see a portfolio or any testimonials on an agency’s site.
Nobody wants to deal with surprise fees or unclear pricing when working with a digital marketing agency. Make sure that all pricing and fees are transparent and up-front before you sign any contract. Keep in mind that different agencies may follow different pricing models, so you’ll want to make sure you understand what you’ll be paying up-front and what additional fees you may incur along the way (such as management fees or extra costs for buying online ad space).
You can tell a lot about a digital marketing agency from its online presence. Do they rank among the tops of search engine pages? Do they have a solid social media following? Is the content on their blog up-to-date? Make sure a digital marketing agency is “practicing what they preach” before you decide to trust them with your own marketing needs.
Choosing the right digital marketing agency for your business can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. By knowing what to look for (as well as which “red flags” to avoid), you can confidently select an agency to help grow your business.
At Strategic Growth Advisors, we’re proud to offer a wide range of digital marketing services to suit your needs, with specific experience across several industries. Contact us today to schedule a consultation or find out more about us!
We don’t just want to build you a custom Growth Strategy, we want to give you resources for the everyday. Read our blog for fresh ideas and insights on business growth and development.