First and foremost, top digital agencies will listen to you carefully and figure out what your main goals are in working with them. This is typically accomplished via a form, meeting, or both! Once the agency hears you out, they should handpick the services that would be most beneficial to you. A less-than-stellar agency will have cookie-cutter packages that include everything but the kitchen sink. The best digital marketers will create custom packages, even if they're a bit smaller, to tailor them exactly to your needs. How can you be sure that your package is well thought out? Do a bit of research on your own into the platforms to have a vague idea of what they're good for. You can also ask the agency to explain why they chose those platforms/services. If they can't give you detailed answers, it's probably because they don't have a real answer to give you! If that's the case, it's time to find a new agency!
In addition to making sure that your package was made for you specifically, you also want to take a look at the services the agency offers in general. Are they well-versed across the digital sphere, or do they only know how to handle the basic platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter? You don't want to work with people who claim to be professionals only to end up having no idea what's happening. There's so much more to digital marketing than social media. You deserve to work with a company that knows how to handle ads, SEO, web development, digital optimization, blog writing, and more! Top digital marketing agencies have experience working in a huge variety of online platforms. The more experience they have, the more opportunities you'll have to get services that can boost your business! For example, if you're a hospitality company, you want to find an agency who's worked with TripAdvisor, HomeAdvisor, Yelp, and other hospitality-specific websites. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to find a "special agency," just a well-established and reputable one!
Nothing helps you feel more confident than seeing that the company you're working with has seen success in the past! The top digital marketing agencies will all have portfolios readily available for potential clients to see. Many will post them right on their website! They typically include stats from past advertising campaigns, website examples, content examples, increase in sales numbers, etc. Some digital agencies will show you portfolios upon request. They may have them created for each industry so that all the information is relevant for you! Remember; past successes include awards the agency's won too! You'll want to pay attention to how recent the awards were won. Much like peer reviewed articles, as time goes on, the information becomes less relevant. It's much more impressive to see awards given every year than it is to see one award from ten years ago. As you would imagine, any company that gets awards will flash them around! If you aren't seeing accolades, they probably aren't there!
Is your agency constantly giving you the run-around, or are they open to talk whenever you need it? The former is a problem in all circumstances. You wouldn't stay friends with someone who constantly lied to you or withheld information would you? Then why would you work with a digital agency that did?! Transparency is key in trust building. You're handing over control of your brand (as well as a good sum of money) to your agency, you should be able to know what's going on with it! The top digital marketing agencies will always be happy to share information with you regarding your ad spend, new ideas, creative, etc. If you are being left on read and can never seem to get answers, then it's time to find a new agency!
Lastly, you should be more than just a client to your digital team. Agencies who have hundreds of clients and a small team can't possibly take the time they need to to really understand your brand. You shouldn't just be Client 152, you're a brand with a name and a person with a name. If your team is constantly missing the mark for branding or failing to meet your expectations, it's time to have a chat with them. Obviously, an agency will have multiple clients at one time. It's their responsibility, however, to ensure that they don't bite off more than they can chew. If they are bringing in a ton of clients, that means they only want your money, they don't truly care about helping you to succeed. Your account manager should know your account inside and out, and should know you on a more personal level. Working with an agency is a relationship, and if it's only superficial, it won't last. You don't have to settle for an agency that doesn't really care if you grow or not, so don't be afraid to hunt around for a better fit!
Do you see these five things in your digital marketing agency? You should! We believe that all clients deserve the best treatment and service possible. If you're ready to switch to an agency that will work not just with you, but for you, check out BusySeed! Our team has helped to grow over 300 brands across many industries! We can customize a package to help you reach your goals. Call us today to get started, and check out our website for past successes and accolades! Call (888) 353-1484.
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