Choosing the right digital marketing agency is vital. If you pick a company that doesn’t specialise in the type of work you need help with, you may end up spending lots of money with no return.

That’s why we put together this guide: to offer you vital advice on how to choose a digital marketing agency.

Let’s dive in.

What Is A Digital Marketing Agency And What Do They Do?

Whether you’re new to the world of business or not, getting your brand out there can be overwhelming. While important, SEO (search engine optimisation), content creation, and designing a great website aren’t everybody’s strengths. That’s where a digital marketing agency comes in.

Designed to boost and build an audience for your business, a digital marketing agency will employ various strategies to achieve the above. A good agency will additionally develop a niche or mood for your brand to become associated with.

Not only will a marketing agency offer insights you may not have considered, but working with an agency can also help you manage your time better. The basics of running a business can take up most of the day. By bringing in marketing experts, you can focus on doing what you do best.

Each digital marketing agency is unique, and not all offer strategies that will lift your business off the ground. To save you from trawling through pages of research, we’ve compiled a list of what to look out for when searching.

The Factors To Consider When Choosing A Digital Marketing Agency

You may be wondering how to choose a digital marketing agency that works for you. When deciding which company to choose, you could do the following five things:

• Narrow down your goals and check compatibility.
• Look at reviews left by previous clients.
• Enquire about recent projects and the results from these projects.
• See if the agency is aware of current digital trends.
• Don’t get sucked in by grand promises.

If your head is spinning just looking at that checklist, don’t worry – each point is outlined in plenty of detail below.

Understand Your Goals And Check If The Agency Can Achieve Them

No matter if you’ve just started a business or are heading one that’s been around a while, always know what your goals are. These goals can be big or small, for now, or for the future.

While good advice in general, knowing your goals is especially important when it comes to knowing how to choose a digital marketing agency.

Once you know what you want to achieve with your business, you can discuss your plans with an agency and see if what they offer aligns with them. For example, if you want more media coverage, you may want to work with an agency that specialises in PR and journalism as opposed to social media.

Check Reviews And Testimonials

If you’re stuck on choosing between digital marketing agencies, search out former client reviews. Reviews left by businesses similar to yours are particularly useful, as you can see how their brand has grown since working with the agency.

Some companies fabricate their reviews. We recommend browsing social media and other channels such as round-up review websites to find genuine and truthful reviews. If there appear to be other positive and legitimate reviews, don’t be put off by a few negative reviews.

It’s very unlikely that all brands and businesses will be happy with an agency’s work, so a handful of mixed reviews are to be expected.

Ask To See Their Latest Projects And Results

Following on from this, don’t be afraid to ask the agency you’re thinking of working with about previous projects. Good marketing could manifest in proof of social media growth, better sales figures, or the public having increased knowledge of a brand.

The majority of digital marketing agencies will display their most successful projects and clients on their website, but others may not.

If you’re interested in an agency that fits into the latter category, politely request some details about their latest digital marketing projects. This will give you a clearer picture of whether the agency suits your needs.

Check If They’re Up To Date On The Latest Digital Trends

Some timeless marketing tactics used by agencies include blog posts, email newsletters, and SEO (search engine optimisation – this helps you show up on internet results pages).

However, newer digital trends such as podcasts and videos are on the rise. If a digital marketing agency doesn’t mention newer marketing tactics, it’s a potential indication that it doesn’t have its finger on the pulse of modern marketing.

Another marketing must to look out for is social media. Creating a social media presence for your brand is often vital, both for building a loyal target audience and attracting new clients. If there’s no mention of social media channels on an agency’s website or when you speak to them, you might want to look elsewhere.

Be Wary Of Over Promising

Promises can be good, but any agency that over-promises results is generally a red flag.

If a digital marketing agency tells you that your brand will be on the first page of Google results within a week or that your Instagram account will get ten thousand followers in the blink of an eye, take a step back.

Some agencies may even try to take advantage of you not knowing much about marketing strategies to push extra services. Even if they promise that these extras will give your business a boost, this isn’t guaranteed.

Keep your goals in mind at all times and don’t get swept up in promises. Healthy optimism is fine, but go with your gut feeling if you’re unsure about a certain strategy.

Get In Touch For Help With Digital Marketing

Billion Media offers numerous up-to-date digital marketing strategies that will assist in propelling your business into the limelight. Whether you’re looking to incorporate SEO, expand your brand’s reach, or feel like it’s time to update your website, we can help.

In addition to SEO and website design, Billion Media has a focus on photography, videography, and content creation. Plus, if you’re interested in utilising outreach to the press to make your brand known, we can do just that.

If you have questions, concerns, or just want a general chat about the best direction for your business, get in touch with our expert team. You can do this via filling in our contact form, emailing us at info@billionmedia.co.uk, or calling on 0151 272 0246.