In this day and age, when anyone with a shingle and a dream can call themselves a digital marketer, it can be difficult to know what to look for in an agency partner. Having run digital marketing campaigns for the better part of the last 13 years, I’ve learned a few things. Here’s what I think you should look for in your next digital marketing agency…
Are they honest?
This is something I pride myself on, but it has cost me quite a lot of business over the years. I won’t take on a new client if the budget isn’t sufficient to make it work, and I’m happy to tell clients when they have a business model that is unsustainable. You want someone who will give you the straight skinny on what is really going on. You don’t want a yes-man for your next marketing partner.
Are they experienced?
In the digital agency world, there aren’t any products to sell. We don’t have a car that is faster than the other guy’s, or a phone that is flashier than the competition. We can’t wow you with tech specs, square footage, or 0 – 60 times. What we do have is experience and marketing acumen.
Is your marketing agency experienced in running the type of campaign that they are proposing? Have they worked with other companies in your industry before? You don’t want to be someone’s guinea pig when you’re footing the bill.
Are they local to you?
This one is tricky, because having a marketing agency in your area doesn’t necessarily make them any better than someone else. We work with clients that are located in states that we are not, and we do a great job for them. Many have been with us for 5 or more years.
But when it comes to local search, it’s always a benefit to know the area where your clients are located. An agency partner who is local to you will know the demographics of the metro area. They’re more likely to know who to market your company to and where to find them. It’s a not a requirement for success, but it does help.
Are they responsive?
I can’t tell you how many times a new client has commented on how much they appreciate our fast response times to calls and emails. For whatever reason, the norm in the digital marketing world seems to be that agencies are slow to respond and reticent to get on calls with clients.
I don’t know why that is, but that’s a red flag. If your agency partner isn’t making you a priority and answering your calls and emails quickly, find someone else.
The take away…
Finding a marketing partner to help grow your business can be daunting. There are a lot of clowns in the industry these days, and most of the clients we work with have been burned before. Hopefully this gives you an idea of what to look for in your next agency. If your current provider isn’t measuring up, give us a call at 877-924-1543 or email us at [email protected]. We can help your business to grow.
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