As a business with a website, you need to work with a web marketing agency. Now comes the hard part: deciding which one. That decision is getting harder and harder to make for a number of reasons.
Separating an experienced web marketing agency from an amateur in his or her basement is becoming difficult. Geeks with some technical skills can create a web presence that makes them appear to be digital marketing players when they’re not. For businesses, that’s a problem. Getting involved with web marketing amateurs will end badly. Companies will have little or nothing to show for their investment.
With these thoughts in mind, let’s take a look at what you should be looking for in a web marketing agency.
5 Aspects of an Excellent Web Marketing Agency
A partnership with digital marketing experts needs to produce results… a return on investment. Any other result is unacceptable. Here’s what you want to see for a web marketing agency:
1. A Respectable, Abundant Portfolio of Clients
Experienced digital marketing firms should have a fat portfolio of credible work on display. A thin portfolio should be a red flag that a company may not be what they claim to be.
If they offer no portfolio at all, run the other way. Your digital and search engine marketing is too important to be trusted to what could turn out to be rank amateurs. Remember, however, that some expertise can’t really be represented in a portfolio. It’s hard to portfolio keyword and SEO strategies, for example.
2. Team Members Are Clearly Knowledgeable and Experienced
A web marketing agency may or may not be right for you. A big part of that determination is assessing the people you’re thinking about working with. Do they display industry knowledge? Are they present themselves as knowledgeable about important aspects of digital marketing such as content marketing, SEO, and PPC campaigns? Are they evasive about certain topics—meaning are they trying to bluff their way through something they know little about?
Sometimes, it’s also the little things that you want to look for. For example, do they appear to enjoy the challenges of digital marketing? Are they enthusiastic about it? If they seem like they’d rather be doing something else, maybe they should be. You’re 100% committed to your marketing. Make sure they are too.
3. The Web Marketing Agency Has a Good Reputation In Your Industry
First off, do they even have a reputation in your industry? You don’t have time to teach a web marketing agency about your industry. They need to come to the table with that knowledge under their belt already.
That reputation is evident in many ways. For example, others in your industry should know of them at the very least. When you go to industry conferences, they should be there. If they aren’t, that could be a signal that they aren’t as embedded in your industry as they claim.
Also, look for reviews of the company online. A lack of good reviews (or a lack of reviews at all) tells you a lot about a company. On the other hand, when you can find an abundance of glowing reviews, that’s a good indicator you’re dealing with a reputable web marketing agency.
4. Their Website Is Professional and Informative
A website says a lot about the company it represents. When you visit a digital marketing company’s website, it should tell you several things:
- They’re professional
- They know how to design a website
- Their content is compelling
- Their portfolio is impressive
After all, if they can’t make their own website look good, how on earth will they do a good job on yours?
5. Are They Making Promises That Are Too Good To Be True?
An excellent digital marketing plan can do a lot. However, it can’t work miracles. An excellent SEO and content marketing strategy can do amazing things, but there are obviously limits.
Listen to the claims a web marketing agency makes. Do they sound way too good to be true? If so, there’s a good chance they probably are. Listen closely to marketers who talk about realistic goals and promises.
Make the Right Choice When It Comes to a Web Marketing Agency
It’s easy to be taken in by a smile and a flashy website. Make sure you’re working with the best when you hire a web marketing agency. Dreamscape Marketing’s knowledgeable and experienced team can deliver transparent, ethical, and results-oriented digital marketing that achieves your objectives. Contact us today at 888.307.7304 and let’s discuss how we can take your digital marketing to the next level of success.