Let’s face it, there are decent marketing agencies all over the place. Before the internet you would only really have a certain amount of choices, but now there are many choices all around you (in fact there are probably some marketing pitches sitting unopened in your email or Facebook messages). Sometimes it isn’t always about finding the most popular company, or a company that looks the best. In fact, finding a marketing agency that fits your business is one of the most important factors in the success or your online marketing efforts.
Let’s take a step back.
What does “finding the right marketing agency” mean for you? If you are a business owner and you don’t know the answer to this question, I strongly urge you to sit down and figure it out. Here are some questions to help you get started:
- Do you want to rank well?
- Are you interested in dealing with professional corporations with offices?
- Do you mind having someone younger working on your website as long as they show results?
- Are you more focused on Social Media or organic search?
- Is the way that the agency treats you most important of all?
These are just some questions that every business owner that’s considering hiring a firm should consider.
Once you have solidified your answer, one question remains – how can you find the right marketing agency for your business?
How Did You Hear About Them?
Since a marketing agency is going to be working on bringing traffic to your website, it’s important to ask yourself how you heard about them. Was it through a friend? If so, you might want to see how their website is doing in the rankings.
Did you hear of this agency from a paid ad? If the ad was something that attracted you that means that particular company has something that you would want for your own business.
How Are They Doing In Rankings?
A simple test that you should consider is opening up a private window (or an incognito window) and simply doing a search for their firm. I don’t mean typing in their actual business name, I mean typing in something that they might try to rank for.
For example, if you are in Rhode Island, it would be a good idea to type in [a city name], Rhode Island Marketing Firm. If the firm you are researching aren’t on the first page, you might want to reconsider.
Give them a test call
This test works well because you can get a sense of what the firm’s customer service like. When they answered your phone, were they helpful? Rude? Pushy? Maybe your call didn’t even go through. The point is, you can learn a lot from a firm’s business style based on how they interact with you.
Always check Yelp, Google+, Facebook, and more for reviews
Don’t hesitate to go on a review website and read what past clients had to say about the firm you’re researching. Some people may argue this and say that a lot of reviews are fake or that competitors post negative reviews for no reason, and although this can be true oftentimes it’s not. Either way, it doesn’t hurt to take a look at the company’s reviews in order to get a feel for what you are in for.
The most important thing to remember is that choosing a firm “just because” can end up wasting you money, time, and it can increase your stress levels. Simply take the time to research all of the marketing firms in your area, remember the steps above, and you will find someone who can take your online business to the next level.
Speaking of which, if you live in the Tacoma, Gig Harbor, Seattle, or Bellevue areas and are looking for a firm that will actually bring you results, we would be happy to oblige. Simply contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
