Over 60% of small businesses use digital marketing to gain consumers and drive sales. In case you have doubts about the power of digital marketing, here are some facts that will knock your socks off. 49% of companies say that organic search brings them the best marketing ROI. Email marketing is best for small businesses as it brings the highest ROI [Source: Website].
But the question that often crosses my mind is how can I choose the right marketing agency? There are a few simple pointers that you need to keep an eye on before selecting & signing off any deal. After all, digital marketing takes time to show its effect, and you need to set aside a dedicated budget for it.
Now, let’s see those pointers up close. We will start with your needs and follow up with the next.
What Do You Want To Achieve With A Small Business Marketing Agency? Aka Your Goal.
What kind of digital marketing service you are looking for? In case you aren’t aware, here are some of the services offered by small business marketing companies.
- Website development & maintenance
- Social media profile creation & maintenance
- Content marketing
- On-page, Off-page & technical SEO
- Email marketing
- PPC or paid media advertising
- Graphic media posts
- Short/ Long format video creation & editing
There can be more or less depending on which agency you hire. That’s why it is recommended to do thorough research before hiring any small business marketing company. You don’t necessarily need all of them.
So, when discussing with your digital marketing partner, tell them your specific needs and ask them to customize the plan accordingly. After all, you won’t want to pay for services that you don’t need.
What’s Your Budget? Your Wiliness To Spend.
This is extremely important. As a small brand, you can’t shell out excessive cash on marketing your product. You would need to maintain inventory, pay salaries, pay rent, research your product, etc. Not to mention, there are other operational costs as well. So, defining a budget will really be helpful.
A reasonable budget will be 7% to 10% of your gross revenue. However, according to Salesforce, B2C should spend 15% of their revenue. Don’t be alarmed. You can set your own budget if you don’t find this helpful. You can contact Genuinely Digital for reasonable digital marketing pricing.
Do Small Business Marketing Company That You Have Chosen Has Enough Experience?
Check your marketing agency’s previous work portfolio. See for the quality of service that they have provided in the past. Please have a look at the social media pages they handle. You can look at the number of followers, total visitors on posts, customer engagement, etc., to be sure that you are hiring the right company.
While we are on the topic of the marketing firm, you must ask about the cost of services & compare them with others who are present in the same market. To avoid any future surprises & stress, ensure you have thoroughly enquired about all charges and there is no hidden cost. Genuinely Digital is one of the most reliable & transparent agencies to handle your digital marketing.
Could you have a look at their market reputation? For this, you can get in touch with their previous clients. In case you can’t, look at previous work done & access them on its basis. Remember to check their customer service. Is the excellent & sweet talk only till they get the deal, or do they provide quality service & act with courtesy?
Does Small Business Marketing Agency Have Skilled People?
Since you won’t be hiring a big firm that charges tons, that does not mean you will settle down for less. Ask your marketing firm for their team profile. Have they hired developers, graphic designers, content analysts, and SEO experts, or are they going to outsource it to a third party?
If they have a team, it is very likely they are dedicated to work & grow. Does the marketing company have prior knowledge of your field? Have they worked on projects related to your industry before? If yes, what is their success rate? All these queries are crucial.
At Genuinely Digital, we approach every problem in a creative manner. We are dead set to finish our project on time as we promise and deliver the best positive result. Our team has an excellent bond and strong combination, which helps sort out the problem sooner.
An excellent small business marketing company will save you time and help you learn the technical aspects of your business thoroughly. They will act like a remote part of your central team. Since you won’t be hiring, you will save a lot of money, which you can use in inventories or product research. Meanwhile, it is advisable that you keep track of your project & reports.
Have You Read Previous Reviews and Feedback?
You must read previous reviews as they set a benchmark for small business marketing company’s profiles. If you can, try to connect with their previous clients to understand their working environment & ethics.
Meanwhile, if you are doing research, remember to ask some crucial questions to them. You can ask the following –
- What was their previous project?
- What is your marketing agency’s USP? How are they different from others?
- Can they show some sample projects that are live and working?
- Do they have a dedicated team, or do they outsource their work to freelancers?
- How much time does it take to complete a project?
- What can you expect in the window of 60 days?
- Do they have a refund policy?
- Are they available 24×7? If not, what’s the best time to contact?
- Were the clients satisfied with their work?
- Did they take extra time to complete the job?
- What are their after-website development services?
- Do you have to pay extra for managing the website, or is it included in the monthly marketing charges?
- Are there any hidden charges?
- How is their social media handle? Look into the comment section for public interactions.
- Who do you need to contact to make changes?
You can add more questions if you want. Before hiring a small business marketing agency, you must do all the research & inquiry. It will help you get a rough idea of monthly charges & working policies. Don’t make decisions in a rush. Do your planning first. Take your time & negotiate to land the best deal. If you can, meet their team.
Thrive Your Marketing With Genuinely Digital
At Genuinely Digital, we understand & value both your money & time. That’s why we have our best team available at your disposal to create a result-driven digital marketing strategy for your business. Once our marketing experts take charge of your digital marketing, you will surely see a boost in your leads, sales, and revenue.