Do you think your business is in the need of digital marketing services but you just don't know where to begin?
Depending on what type of business you have, there are several approaches you can take. Some businesses are better off using content marketing and SEO, while others make more sales from advertising on social media. Picking the right digital services depends on your needs and audience. It also depends on your budget, expectations, and what type of digital marketing agencies you would like to work with.
Before you start spending money on your marketing strategy, read our 5 step guide on how to make the big decision.
Digital Marketing Services Goals
First, ask yourself the following: What does my business need? Is it more traffic, more views, or more leads? The answer to these questions will help you pick a digital marketing service that will accompany your team for years to come.
A study ran by Daniel Burstein shows what kind of advertising is least liked by consumers. Print ads and TV ads seem to be the most disliked.
Do not rush the decision of picking an agency to take care of your digital marketing needs. Before you start your search for digital marketing services, you must determine why you need them in the first place. Are you planning to expand your company into new territories? Or maybe you are putting together a plan to accelerate growth.
Before you make the jump, answer the following questions:
- How much time and financial resources are you willing to invest?
- What skills does your team already possess?
- Do you find it easier to work with smaller agencies or bigger ones?
Leaving these questions unanswered often leads to disorganized and confusing demands. Furthermore, you might miss out using resources within your company to your advantage.
Make a Definitive List of Services Your Company Needs
You should tailor the list of services you need according to your buyers' interactions with your brand.
Are you selling clothes? If so, then blogging and social media marketing could be the right combo for you.
Are you a services provider? Then you should focus your efforts on content marketing and email marketing.
Do you think your business needs a holistic approach to marketing? Make a clear list of the digital marketing services you need and why you need them.
Website design and development is big for your online presence. But if you already have someone in your team taking care of that aspect, then there is no use in putting it on your list.
Make sure you analyze your team before sending your list of requirements to a digital marketing agency. It's easy to forget about a team member that has skills beyond his or her job qualifications. Ask members of your team how they can help with your marketing efforts.
Before picking digital marketing services for your business, ask yourself what kind of goals you want to accomplish. The most common goals in digital marketing are:
- Brand awareness
- Lead generation
- More traffic
- More sales
- More app downloads
- More subscribers
- Increased engagement on social media platforms
General vs Specialized Digital Marketing Services
It's important to know that some agencies are specialized while other have a holistic approach. For example, let's take an agency that primarily offers content marketing services. Even if they also offer email marketing, their strong point is content marketing. If the missing piece of your digital marketing puzzle is email marketing, pick an agency that specializes in email marketing services.
The right email strategy increased the sales of a bootstrapped startup by 262% during the holidays.
Don't automatically dismiss agencies like the one in the example above. However, keep in mind that your goals should align with the agency's strongest points.
When selecting a digital marketing agency, you should also take a look at their approach. Some agencies take a creative approach, whereas others follow a more traditional one, using proven tactics. The latter also tend to focus on a single niche. Meanwhile, creative agencies are more flexible.
Are You Searching for Clients All Over the World or Locally?
Your marketing decisions should reflect the location of your buyers. Some agencies have a global reach, whereas others have a local reach. A local agency is usually more involved in the local community. This usually translates into more opportunities to reach both online and offline clients. Agencies with a global reach usually provide only digital oriented solutions for their customers.
Big Agencies vs Boutique Agencies
They are a few advantages and disadvantages for each type of agency. Usually, the bigger the agency, the more experienced the staff is. But sometimes this can lead to issues with communication. It takes time for the message to get across, for emails to get answered. Additionally, you may never speak directly with a creative director. You might get their assistant.
Boutique agencies are usually less experienced but more eager to make a name in the market. This could make the communication process easier. According to Forbes, when it comes to advertising agencies, small agencies are actually a better choice. The partnership is more intimate, and you won’t have to talk with secretaries or assistants. With smaller agencies, you will likely speak directly to team members.
Wrapping Up
Deciding what type of digital marketing services you need isn’t easy.
You need to take a good look at your team, analyze what skills they have and what skills they lack. Most importantly, what kind of skills your business needs for your team to thrive.
There are a few things you should keep in mind before picking an agency and the services they offer. What kind of product or service do you have? Does your ideal buyer spend a lot of their free time on social media?
Knowing who is your ideal buyer persona has the potential to lift sales leads by 124%.
Can you help your potential client with some actionable advice on your blog?
Consider the size of an agency and how it impacts the services they provide. Would you rather have a larger team take care of your marketing efforts, or do you enjoy communicating directly with a smaller team?
