Simply having a presence in the digital world today is not enough!

It is necessary to constantly adapt, follow trends, and listen to the wishes and needs of consumers.

You will probably agree that this is not such an easy task if you do not have professionals by your side who work on it every day.

That is why there are digital marketing agencies, from their own specialized fields, which will provide you with the best solutions for proper positioning.

The advantages of hiring a digital marketing agency are numerous, but you are surely wondering:

• how to choose the right one?

After all, you are the one paying for the services and you want to see a return on investment as soon as possible. So, keep reading, because we have focused on tips on how to choose the right digital marketing agency.

#1 Set your own goals before choosing

You will notice that at the very beginning, much more depends on you as the future client.

It is necessary for you, as a company, business, or individual, to:

• set your own goals;
• know why you want to hire an agency;
• determine a budget;
• know your strengths and weaknesses in a very competitive market.

If you do not have a clear internal business plan, agencies will find it much harder to articulate your wishes, and it will take much more time and money to actually achieve something.

Before you schedule a meeting with marketers, think about whether you want to focus on brand visibility, increase conversions, grow your social media presence, or all of the above.

Once you answer these and similar questions for yourself, agencies will find it much easier to achieve your goal!

#2 Agencies are specialized – find the right one

After establishing your internal business plan, the second step is to research the many agencies on the market.

If you did not know this already, digital marketing is an extremely broad field, which is why the market contains a variety of agency types.

This naturally leads, especially with smaller agencies, to a focus on specific niches. This does not mean that smaller agencies are worse or larger ones are better – the distinction often comes down to criteria such as the number of employees, company resources, initial capital, and so on.

In the digital marketing space, you will find agencies specialized in different areas, such as:

• SEO optimization;
• graphic design;
• programming;
• Google advertising;
• social media.

As you can see, some agencies offer all of these and many other services. It is also common for agencies to outsource certain services to partner firms, which often proves to be more cost-effective, with clients being quite satisfied.

#3 Research your final choices in detail

You have determined your internal plan and identified several agencies whose business profiles should meet your needs. Now it is time to research their methods in greater depth.

Here is what you can do in this regard:

• Research the agency’s portfolio – before you start working with anyone, make sure to inquire about their previous projects. This can usually be done through the agency’s website. Look for a section listing current and past clients, and try to find out in which fields they have collaborated.
• Ask about service costs – feel free to contact the agency’s account department to inquire about pricing. Clearly state your goals and needs, and you will soon receive a response with price estimates. The exact details are usually finalized in a meeting.
• Check the agency’s reputation – although there are more and more agencies on the market, news about their performance spreads quickly within the marketing community. Make a few calls, ask friends, or join industry groups on social media.
• Contact current clients – the best option is always a recommendation. Chances are you already know people who can share their experiences regarding whether the agency’s work was worth the investment.

A good reputation travels far – a bad one even farther. You will not have much trouble gathering valid information and critiques about the work of digital marketing agencies.

#4 Avoid those who promise everything from the start

The growing presence of many companies in the digital space and the large number of digital marketing agencies helping them become more prominent is a clear sign of a booming industry in recent years.

Because of this, especially regarding visibility, positioning, and campaign success, unrealistic promises are a risk. Talking about specific numbers and results is a slippery slope – only true professionals can do so responsibly.

Do not hire someone who promises you the moon in your first meeting. Instead, choose agencies whose professionals will listen to your needs and, based on that, create a realistic and tailored strategy.

#5 Ask as many questions as possible!

Before signing a final contract, take the opportunity to ask as many questions as you can. Your advantage will be obtaining a wealth of information important for the future course of cooperation and potential opportunities.

Here are some questions we often receive from our future clients:

• How much can I rely on you? – sometimes clients expect that, since they paid for a service, they can call their account manager in the middle of the night. In reality, that is not the case, so it is best to establish clear availability rules.
• What can I expect over 3, 6, or 12 months? – clients want their investment to pay off quickly, and that is perfectly fine. Therefore, as a future client, you should at least receive a rough plan of expected results for a given time frame.
• How do you measure results? – as a client, you will certainly want to understand the methods used to measure success, so you know exactly what to expect. You will not want to have results simply handed to you without explanation. A serious agency will provide insight into how success metrics are tracked and reported.

These are just some examples of questions we receive, and they may inspire you to create your own list of meaningful questions when hiring an agency. If you have any questions, contact us.