With so many Digital Marketing Agencies out there promising the sky, it’s always hard to trust and pick the right one.
In addition, there are so many sub-specialties with Digital Marketing, and there isn’t a definitive pricing structure.
There are some who charge incredibly low (that you think the sky is falling), and then there are others, that charge so high – that in many cases is MORE than the profit that some businesses are making.
While in most industries, making a decision based on the price of a product or service – often defines it’s quality, it’s NOT the case with Digital Marketing.
Digital Marketing is complex.
An agency that’s charging you a reasonably low price might as well produce great results for you, whereas an agency with an expensive price tag and a proven track record can end up leaving a BIG massive hole in your pocket.
So how do you really pick and choose the right Digital Marketing Agency?
That’s why I’ve compiled this list of 7 questions that every business owner must ask their Digital Marketing Agency before they hire one.
Q1 – What Kind Of Digital Marketing Approach Are They Going To Take?
This question will help you easily weed out companies that know what they are doing vs the companies that do not know what they are doing.
A genuine, experienced Digital Marketing Agency will ask you about your own business, your current and future business goals and the current performance of your marketing efforts – even before recommending something for you.
And even, when they do recommend – they’ll present a holistic strategy for you that will enable you to grow successfully.
Someone who doesn’t know what they are doing, on the other hand, will ask you or offer you, “Facebook Ads Package”, “Google Ads Package”, “SEO Package” or a “LinkedIn Package” without even thinking about what your business truly needs.
Q2 – Is Their Marketing Only Going To Be Paid, Purely SEO or A Mix Of Strategies?
In this present Digital Age, digital marketing methods can’t be implemented in isolation. A couple of years ago, a business could ONLY do SEO or purely do just Facebook Ads marketing and expect to have massive growth.
However, today, things have changed. In order to be successful with Digital Media, it’s important to focus on multi-channel marketing.
Prospects today discover you on Instagram, check your article out on LinkedIn and buy your product/service from a Facebook Ad.
So it’s important that the Digital Marketing agency that you’re working with – is offering a BLEND of these strategies and presenting that as an option for you too.
Q3 – What Strategy They Recommend For Your Business?
A good Digital Marketing agency will understand your present business position, your goals and will work with you to present a strategy that will enable you to grow further with a holistic plan.
If an agency is simply offering packages and asking you to choose one of them without walking you through or advising you based on your business goals, then they are merely a cookie cutter company.
Working with them will only get you cookie cutter results (which may or may not be great) depending on the competition in your industry and several other factors.
Q4 – What Is Their Speciality?
Everybody has their own specialities, and so is the case with Digital Marketing.
So when you work with a Digital Marketing agency, be sure to ask them what is their speciality?
It could be industry specific or a domain specific speciality. Having that speciality means they will have an edge over a few things than other companies.
But just because they have a speciality doesn’t mean that agencies will restrict themselves to one type of work or that they won’t be good at other things.
Q5 – What Impact Will This Have On My Bottom-Line?
A successful Digital Marketing Agency will give you a long-term strategy to make the most out of your Digital Marketing efforts.
There are some who will give you a smaller milestone based plan and a long-term plan so you can focus first on the milestone and then implement the long-term strategy.
Make sure you ask them what kind of impact will this have on your bottom-line in the long run.
A good agency owner will be able to explain and possibly predict a certain level of growth based on what trends he’s already seeing for you.
Q6 – Can You Give Me A Good Deal So I Work With You In The Long-Run?
Digital Marketing agencies thrive and run well with monthly retainers with clients.
It’s a lot easier to staff resources, bring in people and keep them on a payroll and run a well-oiled machine when they have clients that don’t leave and are paying them monthly.
That’s why when you’re signing a retainer, ask them for a good deal. In many cases, the agencies will be able to work out something for you.
Q7 – Who Have They Worked With In Similar Industries?
Be sure to ask this question so they can present you with some examples. However, this does NOT mean that an agency is bad.
Not all Digital Marketing agencies are established, and there are many industries in which Digital Marketing is barely even explored.
Therefore, expecting a track-record within your industry may be a tough ask, however, ask them the question so they can at least show relevant examples.
A good agency may not show their own, but they will at least show or point out what your competition has done well and hasn’t done well.
