Small Business Solutions: Hiring a Digital Marketing Agency

It’s no secret that a successful marketing campaign is a quick way to increase brand awareness for a small business. The problem is that developing a profitable online marketing strategy requires a lot of trial and error supported by data analysis. Which can unfortunately turn into a major waste of money if not executed properly. To avoid any headache from the beginning, hire a digital marketing agency that has the experience needed to maximize clicks and limit your ad spend. A professionally guided marketing strategy should give you measurable results to make the investment worthwhile.

Affordable marketing options can be a viable small business solution if you know upfront that what you’re getting is worth the price tag. There are a lot of agencies that will happily take your money while providing subpar results to just churn a profit. As a general rule of thumb, if it seems too good to be true, it generally is. Read up on how to select the right marketing agency for you, comprehending the services, and the benefits that can be attained if executed properly.

How to Hire the Best Online Marketing Agency

The “best” anything will always be a subjective choice, so when you go to hire a digital marketing agency, look for consistency. Review websites are available for a reason; to display honest feedback from real customers. It’s a great opportunity to learn about past customer experiences and you’ll also get a chance to see which agencies respond to their reviewers. A marketing agency should prioritize its own reputation management, right?

Take your top candidates and check out their websites, if you haven’t already. Most will have a portfolio of past marketing campaigns which should give you an idea of their capabilities. If there is no prior work visible on their site, that could be a red flag. You shouldn’t have to fill out a form to receive any examples, as they may just be trying to capture your contact information. And if you do like their work, reach out to confirm exactly what services they offer before you hire them.

Understanding Digital Marketing Services

So what does web marketing for a small business encompass exactly? Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising with Google Ads and/or Microsoft Advertising, social media marketing and email campaigns are some aspects that we’ll touch on. Not understanding exactly what marketing efforts you’re paying for can be a big challenge for small businesses. Research is key to getting the most for your money.

Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising

Anybody can sign up for Google Ads and start throwing money at targeted keywords. But what does that even mean? Well, the benefit of PPC advertising is that you get to choose exactly what specific words you want to bid on and where they will appear in Google search results. 

Though Bing search engine only makes up 5% of searches, utilizing Microsoft Advertising (formerly Bing Ads) might still be worth the effort. At the very least, the argument can be made that clients are being lost with a “Google only” plan of action.

Do you want to reach every potential customer? If that’s the case, then it makes sense to work with an agency that can incorporate Microsoft Advertising into your digital marketing strategy. If they already offer Google Ads, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Importance of Social Media Marketing

It’s obvious that social media is one of the most effective digital marketing options in this day and age. This makes it crucial to have a strong presence with a defined voice that your audience can relate to. Providing a consistent approach to content will keep your brand relevant in a world with virtually no attention span. 

Social media is one of the most glaring examples of extensive trial and error when it comes to marketing. An experienced agency will know the best time to post on Instagram which can dramatically increase your engagement. Capturing the right timing is only a piece of the puzzle though. The posts need to be naturally engaging with captivating photos or artwork, otherwise, it doesn’t matter what time it goes live.

Advertising with an Email Marketing Agency

One of the longest-running styles of online marketing that is still relevant today would be email marketing. This is the practice of sending targeted blasts to a list of curated email addresses to drive traffic to a website or promote an offer. You can easily keep a specific group of your audience engaged by segmenting data. Getting this granular means sending different artwork based on location or gender for example.

A full-service digital marketing agency ought to have data-supported research on how they can optimize email campaigns. Getting ultra detailed with segmentation will help increase conversion by serving up content that your customer base is more likely to interact with. Pairing an intriguing subject line with appealing information is critical to increasing open and click-through rates.

Benefits of Web-Based Marketing

When you’re ready to increase brand visibility, there is no question you could benefit from the hire of a digital marketing agency. The potential for quick growth likely outweighs the financial risk if you find the right company to work with. And with a solid understanding of the various digital advertising aspects, that decision should be easier than before.

Increased Audience Reach

Consider the long-term value that growing your audience can provide. An increase in possible clients, more advocates for your brand and a higher likelihood of creating content that will be eye-catching to at least one person.

Detailed Reporting with Google Analytics

A huge advantage to website marketing is the in-depth data that can be used to gauge success. It’s easy to pivot from a failing strategy quicker than via conventional marketing efforts. There is a whole lot of information available in Google Analytics, which can be overwhelming if you’re not a statistician or just very familiar with the intricacies of the platform. Don’t let this knowledge go to waste.

Time to Hire a Digital Marketing Agency

It’s a natural progression that as your business grows, you hit a plateau and it seems like there is no more room for growth. That’s when it’s time to hire a digital marketing agency to keep trending upward. Celador Media is well versed in this arena and can take you to the next level by optimizing your digital advertising blueprint.