Finding a digital marketing agency becomes easy once you know which factors to use to judge them. Offering insights into the same, here are a few of them:
- Proven Track Record
Who would you go for success, the established ones or failures? Of course, you must get information or enquire about previous clients and their impact on numbers. Go through their portfolio to analyze their strategies, approach, vision and thought processes. Their case studies, website designs and similar content are certain to offer insights into desirable marketing agencies.
- Strong Industry Reputation
In a time when you can’t even trust your knowledge, how would you trust a digital marketing agency? A strong industry reputation can be your answer. It comes with exhibiting dedication, hard work and success-driven results. This trait can help you to trust the ideology and team of the agency and the quality of their work. Going through the client testimonials, awards, recognitions, and other insights into their track records assists in evaluating them.
- Comprehensive Service Offering
You would definitely not use multiple agencies to handle different aspects of digital marketing. An agency that offers comprehensive services avoids conflicting ideologies over different contents. Further, a single-time explanation of your ideas helps everyone get on the same page. The comprehensive services will include content marketing, SEO, PPC, social media management, email marketing and other digital marketing content.
- Expertise and Experience
Every expert was once a fresher. Their journey with the passing years helped them gain perspective and viewpoint, making them an expert. It is largely responsible for their successful and efficient deliveries. However, your aim is not to look for only certain years of experience or expertise.
Rather, dwell on the specifics. Are they experts in exactly that domain where your company’s weak point lies? That’s the key question to getting efficient returns on your investment. They should have a strategic approach with the ability to utilize the trends and technical knowledge best.
- Customization and Personalization
"The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do."
In the crowd of the digital world, how do you differentiate yourself? Well, that’s not your, but your digital marketing agency’s problem. Begin by knowing if they even have a superficial idea or strategy for meeting your requirements. Your ultimate aim here is to identify their ability to customize. You will have to get familiar with them over their observational capabilities. Their ability to meet your unique requirements or specific business goals will set them apart.
Question them on their strategy framed for you. Cross-check if they include both your short-term and long-term goals. Wonder if they are capable of adhering to your values and existing reputation. You will have your answer!
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- Transparency and Communication
“Transparency is the new objectivity” – makes sense!
Every business has one common goal – increased sales and better ROI. A trustworthy digital marketing agency follows the mantra of transparent billing so that its clients know, understand and acknowledge what they are paying for. This maintains the trust relationship and assures them that they are investing in the right place.
Further, they must be open to smooth and comfortable communication. Hence, it is essential to meet the entire team of an online marketing agency. The reason behind their success is their team, which comprises professionals with years of experience and knowledge. Moreover, since they will be the prime force behind the available results, their being on the same page, collaboration, and responsibility will help them execute tasks effectively. The presence of the trait of effective interaction removes communication gaps and helps clear up the doubts and queries that may arise. It also helps you exchange ideas based on the norms and requirements.
- Data Driven-Approach
Numbers matter a lot! Be it sales, marketing or analytics.
A reliable marketing agency will focus on comprehensive and real-time data collection followed by the usage of advanced analytical tools for insights. They will stick to effective report and chart preparation, campaign performance reports, transparent KPIs and other important metrics. Their strategies, approaches and workflow will have a logical relationship with data. Insights into the data will help marketers plan targeted campaigns while also helping to understand the customers and clients.
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- Creativity and Innovation
"Creativity without strategy is called 'art.' Creativity with strategy is called 'advertising.'" - Jef I. Richards
The audience respects and appreciates creativity. It is the direct route to their social media feed, shares and minds. Thus, an ideal digital marketing agency will always offer creativity and innovation in its content. Are they able to attract you or their followers? View their engagements and then trust their team.
Regardless of your belief in minimalism or maximalism, the key to being pleasurable is through aesthetics. Does the marketing agency have quality designers on their teams to offer a unique approach? Do they deliver aesthetically pleasing content? If yes, further ensure that the aesthetics are as per the target audience. The idea of beauty in certain aspects is different between teenagers and elders. Go forward if they fulfill the criteria.
- Adaptability and Flexibility
The last quality you want in a digital marketing agency is a conservative nature. Being a dynamic field, ensure that the agency is up-to-date with trends. They know how to pitch you into the trend before it becomes common. It should act timely and swiftly while getting hold of your needs and values.
The traits are essential to ensure the optimal utilization of resources while contributing to effective risk management. They help mitigate the risks through flexibility in plans. Further, they also offer a competitive edge, leading your business to the top.
- Strong Online Presence
Will you hire an agency to manage your social media handles even if they don’t have their profiles updated yet? Probably not! Well, the same logic must be applied when you are looking for their other services – be it email marketing or search engine marketing.
Promoting someone else’s business comes with the knowledge of promoting your brand. Make sure to check the online presence of your preferred digital marketing agency – their website must be updated. It should have high search engine results and decent followers on social media platforms.
- Ethical Practices
"Good ethics is good business." – Right?
While it helps build trust and reputation, following ethical practices states about agencies’ compliance with laws and regulations. They will offer 100% efficiency and the best possible results on your investments. The agency's focus will be on offering long-term results that enhance your reputation. The ethical approach is also likely to enhance customer loyalty. Additionally, meeting targets under deadlines and understanding clients’ requirements are part of their usual work ethics.
- Results-Oriented
“Ideas without execution are hallucinations” – a worthy saying!
If your selected marketing agency comes up with great ideas, strategies, and stories but executes none of them, it is a big waste of time for you and them as well.
Hire an agency that not only thrives on words but also turns them into recognizable actions to meet the targets. They know your best interests and, thus, are supposed to do whatever it takes to make the project a hit.
Further, the ability to provide results should not vanish or downgrade during times of uncertainties and difficulties. They should exhibit problem-solving as well. It is one of the necessary traits to possess. Projects might not always go smoothly, but if the marketing agency is solution-oriented, they will know how to deal with the glitches. They will be quick enough to recognize the errors, rectify them and deliver the work on time.
- Excellent Customer Support
A customer-centric agency that prioritizes your needs, understands your requirements and respects your inconveniences and needs is worth the choice. It will include the easy availability of team members, knowledgeable staff, empathy and the transparent and swift resolution of your queries. The availability of multi-channel support and follow-up is another way for them to exhibit excellent customer support. You can recognize such agencies through their communication, the number of repeat customers, testimonials and feedback.
- Long-Term Partnership Focus
After being transparent to the agency about your requirements and explaining each detail of the company’s vision, you will not want to start it all over again for another project. As important as it is for you to stick to one agency, it is for them as well. But how would you judge if they are worth the long-term partnership or not?
Simply look at the trend in their quality of performance in past projects. Besides, also judge whether their result shows a strategic and long-term approach for your business or not. Their striving for improvement with each project, adaptability to your needs, and transparent communication are some of the markers of a worthy digital marketing agency.
Wrapping up
Digital marketing is completely changing the term ‘marketing.’ With everything going digital, if you are also prepared to take your marketing strategies to the next level to get desired results, you are strongly recommended to get a digital marketing agency on board. But before hiring one, make sure that they possess all the traits mentioned above. This will not only help you make the right choice but also provide long-lasting and effective results.
Common Questions About Digital Marketing
Q1. What is SEO?
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the process of enhancing visibility on search engines such as Google and Microsoft. It allows the content, web pages, and websites to be visible early or in the top results when the user searches.
Q2. What is the difference between branding and digital marketing?
The difference is evident in their names. Branding refers to a long-term process of building a brand. It includes setting up its recognition through name, logo and identity. It is followed by consistent quality delivery to build trust. Digital marketing is the technique to reach a maximum number of individuals and turn them into customers.
Q3. State some digital marketing tools and reporting tools.
Digital marketing tools include Ahrefs, Moz and others. On the other hand, digital marketing reporting tools include Google Analytics and ReportGarden.
Q4. How often should one update digital marketing strategy?
It is essential to review the performance regularly. Further, change the strategy in times of poor performance or high dynamicity in online trends or presence.
Q5. How much of my budget should I allocate for digital marketing?
It mainly varies based on the company’s online presence and future goals. However, typically, businesses can allot around 7 to 10% of their revenue on marketing.
