As a business owner, you already know the importance of having a strong marketing strategy and digital presence. A lack of expertise in the field can both prevent your business from thriving, and cause you to waste valuable time and money trying to figure it all out.
For many companies, they look to outsource this part of their business to a professional digital marketing company. But just because someone says they are a professional in the field does not mean they are the right fit for your business. To help you avoid hiring the wrong company, there are some things you should know before starting your search.
10 Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Hired My Digital Marketing Company
Before you commit to hiring a digital marketing company, it is important to consider the mistakes others have made to help you prevent repeating them.
Not Having Clear Goals Already
You need to have an idea of what you want for your company and from your digital marketing company before hiring them. Relying on a company to tell you everything is not the best approach – not only are you completely reliant on them, it also means you don’t have an idea of what you want to achieve either.
Figure out what you want your end goals to be and then find someone who can help you get there.
Not Doing Your Research
Researching potential companies, their previous work and reviews from their clients are necessary. You cannot merely rely on the word of a company, but instead let their work speak for themselves.
If you are looking at someone relatively inexperienced, or someone who does not have referrals, they might not be suitable candidates to handle such an important aspect of your company.
Not Asking Them Questions
Asking questions is going to be a must because it allows you to get more details on their business plan. You’ll also get to know how they handle impromptu questions. Pitches are prepared for, but your questions will put them on the spot, making it easier to see their true expertise.
Relying Solely on The Pitch
The pitch from a company will always be them putting their best foot forward and trying to win your business. Most companies would have rehearsed their pitch and likely used it on their other customers.
Focus on your questions and research, think deeper and make sure you truly understand what their pitch is about. Navigate past all the shiny promises and complicated jargon and try to get to the core of whether they have real results and expertise to help you.
Not Having Them Provide A Plan
The best way to see if a company is going to be right for you is to have them provide a plan on how they would handle your business’s digital marketing. A reputable company should have an outline, timeline and goals for your business to show just how they would take on the task of building your brand online.
Trusting Their Secret Formula for Success
Many companies will boast that they have figured out a secret formula for a successful digital marketing campaign. There is no magic formula that will make your business a guaranteed success. Be cautious when they start promising the world and run if it seems too good to be true!
Putting Too Much Emphasis on Their Location
It may be nice to visit the company in person, but there is no requirement for your digital marketing company to be local. You can easily hire and work with businesses from all around the world, thanks to technology that still allows for seamless communication.
Not Having A Clear Budget
You need to know before you start your search for a digital marketing company just how much you are willing to spend. By knowing what your budget is, you know how much you can spend on hiring the company.
This also clearly lets them know just how much they have to work with. This will avoid any confusion, hidden costs, or unexpected charges.
Not Going with A Full-Service Agency
You don’t want to have to hire a bunch of different companies to handle all the different areas of your marketing strategy. Look for companies that will be able to handle everything from SEO services to social media posts, making sure all areas are covered. This will make it easier to keep track of what is going on and guarantee everyone is on the same page.
Going with The Cheapest Option
It is important to be smart with your finances and avoid overspending. But simply going with the cheapest option isn’t a good way to guarantee getting quality work for your money. You get what you pay for, and hiring someone who offers to save you a large amount of money can end up being a waste of money.
In Summary
Don’t end up with a sub-par company that will not help you build and better your business. Learn from these common mistakes and avoid having those same issues yourself. This will help you be better prepared on your search for the right digital marketing agency and keep your business going in the right direction. Give us a call today to see how we can help you!
Stephan Boehringer is the CEO of Get The Clicks, a web marketing company. Stephan has over 20 years of experience in the field of web marketing, and has been a speaker and consultant for many years. Stephan is passionate about web marketing and helping their clients be the best they can be.
Stephan Boehringer graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services.
