Choosing the right digital marketing agency for your business can feel overwhelming. As a business owner, regardless of your company size or industry, you’re busy. While marketing may not be at the forefront of your mind, effective marketing can grow your business. With over 120,000 digital agencies in the United States alone, there’re plenty of digital marketing agencies that would love to collaborate with you. So how do you find the best fit? We’ve compiled a few questions business owners should navigate as they start looking for the perfect marketing partnership.
Why should I choose a local marketing agency?
Partnering with a local marketing agency has various benefits. Local marketing agencies are passionate about their community. This passion translates into a deep understanding of what community members want as consumers. With that, an agency that knows their community has strong relationships with surrounding businesses; expect to expand your network!
Local marketing agencies tend to have leaner teams in comparison to national marketing agencies. Working with a smaller marketing team can foster transparency and effective communication. You’ll have more opportunities to meet face to face and build relationships with each team member on your account.
How should I conduct my research?
Conducting research is an essential step in finding the right local digital marketing agency. A good starting point is viewing their portfolio. Usually, digital marketing agencies will display portfolio work on their website. During your initial research, look for project success within your industry. While sifting through portfolios, ask yourself, “does this agency have the ability to achieve my marketing needs?” If you believe they do, further your research by reviewing client testimonials and asking for references from businesses like yours.
A major red flag is a digital marketing company that doesn’t market their own business. An indicator of an agency’s ability to achieve project success is reflected in the work they do for their own organization. Throughout your research, review their website, blog and social media channels to see how often they’re updated.
Does their company culture align with mine?
So, your thorough research gives you the green light to partner with a local digital marketing agency. But does your company culture align with theirs? Often overlooked, this is a crucial component of the vetting process. It is not enough for an agency to be great on paper; you have to determine whether you will work well together. So how can you do this? Ask about their communication style; this is a benchmark of whether it will be a harmonious partnership.
Visit their website to review their mission statement and core values. Consider whether your values are in alignment with one another. You can also peek around their social media channels to get a feel for their team and office energy.
In conclusion
There are many factors to consider when searching for the right local digital marketing agency. With a surplus of agencies to choose from, you may feel like you have your work cut out. However, through proper research, you can form lasting partnerships and market your business successfully.
