How to choose the best digital marketing agency for your business

Written by Lynsey Campbell

So you know you need digital marketing, but you’re not sure where to start. No matter your business, no matter your industry, digital marketing is a crucial part of the success of your business. But with so many agencies promising results, how do you know which is the right digital marketing agency for your business? Choosing the best digital marketing agency can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the industry and what to research – you might not even be sure if hiring an agency is the best choice for you. To help make things a little easier for you, we’ve created this guide to help business owners make an informed decision when it comes to finding a suitable digital marketing agency partner. We’ll be sharing what to look for in a digital agency, the key factors to consider, and helping you determine whether an agency is the right fit for your needs.

Understanding your digital marketing options.

It’s true what they say, “the world’s your oyster”, but no one wants to shuck a full tray before finding out they’re allergic to shellfish. Picking the right digital marketing partner for your business is a bit like that. So before you sign any contracts, it’s important to research all the options out there – it’s not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing.

Hiring an in-house specialist

Perfect for: businesses with ongoing digital marketing needs and the budget to bring on a full-time employee.
The drawback: requires additional cost for salaries, overheads and software licenses.

Working with freelancers

Perfect for: businesses requiring a cost-effective solution for specific tasks like PPC management, design or copywriting.
The drawback: may lack consistency or a sense of unified presence across all marketing channels.

Partnering with a digital marketing agency

Perfect for: businesses that need a full-service approach, with guidance and support for all aspects of digital marketing
The drawback: can be more expensive than the likes of a singular freelancer with more limited expertise.

Things to consider when choosing a digital marketing agency.

Not all agencies are created equal.

Some choose their niche and stick to that – be it in client type or services offered – whilst others offer a full-service approach to consolidate multiple marketing efforts. There’s not really a right or wrong for your business – it’s more important to consider your digital marketing goals and pick the digital agency that’s going to help you reach these.

To help, we’ve broken down some important factors to consider when evaluating potential agencies and their marketing services:

Agency's capabilities

Arguably the most important thing to consider – does the agency you’re considering actually deliver the digital marketing services you’re looking for?

Many digital marketing agencies have a focus, with some solely offering their clients search engine optimization (SEO), lead generation or paid search, whilst others offer a full range of services to deliver an omnichannel marketing strategy for your business.

Industry expertise and experience

Does the agency have previous clients in your industry? Do they have experience in reaching your target audience with marketing campaigns that delivered results?

Most marketing agencies with relevant experience will be a safe bet to partner with, as they’ll already have an understanding of your market, your audience and the challenges you face in your industry.

This isn’t to say you should discredit a digital marketing agency without niche experience in your field. They may be the needle in the haystack that you’re looking for to deliver fresh ideas and a new perspective for building your brand online.

Proven track record

The best digital marketing agencies will have results they can share based on different marketing strategies and previous clients they’ve worked with.

Keep an eye out for latest projects and case studies, successful campaigns, and any signs that the agency met their project goals. A digital marketing agency’s past client successes are a strong indication of the business goals they can help you reach.

Transparency and communication

The right digital marketing agency for your business should be able to provide clear reporting on what their marketing strategies are delivering for you.

Whether you want to increase online sales, generate leads or increase organic visibility in search results, the right agency should share realistic expectations with you. Prioritising open communication with clients is crucial to creating a long-term successful partnership between your business and your digital agency.

Flexibility

The digital marketing services you’re looking for will likely change over time as you learn what your business needs to succeed online.

With this in mind, the digital marketing agency you choose should have a clear understanding of how your strategy will grow and adapt over time, and how they can adapt their services to ensure maximum impact for your company.

When is hiring a digital marketing agency the right choice?

Every company needs marketing, but not every company needs a marketing agency. So when do you make the call?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, it might be time to start choosing a digital marketing agency that fits your needs.

Do you need a comprehensive marketing strategy, but don’t have in-house expertise?
Do you want a team of specialists to work on your marketing campaigns, rather than one person with a limited skillset?
Do you need to define goals for a consistent presence across multiple digital channels?
Do you want scalable solutions and additional services that will grow with your company?
Do you value strategic input and valuable insights that go over and above simply execution?

The Scoot difference.

At Scoot Digital, we appreciate that picking the right digital marketing agency is about more than just services – it’s about picking a partner that will make you feel confident in your marketing efforts. The best agency should make working together a collaborative project, helping you keep key stakeholders informed of your successes throughout each campaign.

Direct access to agency experts

We don’t have any middlemen when it comes to our marketing partners. You’ll work directly with the specialists handling your campaign, meaning if you need more detail on key points or just need to ask a question or two, all you have to do is pick up the phone or send a quick email.

Collaborative approach

We pride ourselves on our partnerships and ensure that our clients are actively involved at each step of their campaign, from conception to delivery. We work collaboratively to make sure your business goals are the focus of every decision we make.

Bespoke marketing strategies

Everything we do is tailored to your industry and target audience – you’ll find no cookie-cutter marketing solutions here. We aren’t swayed or influenced by the moves of different marketing agencies. We deliver strategies and results that are totally bespoke to you.

Streamlined services

We might not be the biggest digital marketing agency in the world, but what we may lack in size we more than make up for in success. Whether you require content creation, email marketing or social media posts, our expertise and hands-on approach allow us to deliver results in a digital world.

Choosing a digital marketing agency: final thoughts.

So, there you have it. Picking the right digital marketing agency for your business is a big decision, so if you’re still researching different marketing agencies and other businesses, you’re likely going about things the right way. Take the time, ask the right questions and ensure you take everything into consideration – case studies, experience, budget and processes.

If you’re picking up what we’re putting down and Scoot sounds like the right kind of agency for your approach, get in touch for a no-strings chat. No pressure, just a conversation about your digital marketing objectives, be those increased revenue or website traffic, and we’ll let you know how we can help.

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