If you’re currently in the market for a new online marketing firm, you probably already have a few options in mind. Now all that’s left to do is choose the right one for your business.
How to choose the right digital marketing agency
Below are 9 tips that will make evaluating potential online marketing agencies a breeze.
- Evaluate their portfolio. In the same way that a patient would review a doctor’s before and after photos of previous patients, you need to review the work that an agency as done for their past clients. Most firms will already have a portfolio available on their website but if not, simply request a few examples of past work. Compare their work to the results that you’re looking to achieve to decide if it’s a good fit.
- Look at their client base. It’s always better to choose a firm that has worked with practices that are similar to yours. Ask about their past and existing clients to find out if they have experience with your specialty.
- Review client search engine rankings. While many firms will claim that they’ve improved their clients’ online rankings, it doesn’t hurt to do a bit of your own research. If their clients are currently ranking well, consider it a big plus point.
- Look at their online presence. If you truly want to choose the right digital marketing firm, such as marketing specialists for plastic surgeons, Azuri Group, have a look at their own online presence as this will say a lot about their experience and capabilities. Remember, no firm can get you to the top of Google overnight, that’s simply black hat SEO.
- Check social media. Every online marketing firm should have a social media presence. Have a look at the platforms that they’re active on and whether they’re actually engaging with their audience. To be successful on social media, brands need to go beyond simply maintaining a page so have a look at how they’re currently conducting themselves on social media to get an idea of how they manage client accounts.
- Do they have a blog? Successful marketing agencies will not only have a blog but update it regularly too. Their blog posts should also be engaging, informative and position them as authorities in their sector. If it’s a blog you would want to read, consider it a plus point.
- Read through any reviews or case studies. Find out what clients are saying about a digital marketing agency before you approach them. Most reputable agencies will have client reviews and case studies on their websites and you should be able to find a few reviews on Google too.
- Meet with the team you will be working with. Meet the people you will actually be working with before you sign any contracts. This way you can make sure it will be a good match.
- Ask for a tailored plan. Get the marketing agency to explain how they apply their various services to your practice to ensure that they will be able to offer you a customised strategy. You can even ask to see examples of the results of similar strategies.
Along with the above tips, it’s also a good idea to check whether you will own everything the agency does for you. If you won’t, it’s best to choose someone else.
When it comes to choosing an agency, keep your unique goals and budget in mind and definitely don’t let them use marketing jargon to fool you into signing a contract.
