Choosing to partner with a digital marketing agency is a big decision that involves a variety of moving parts, which is why business owners should take special consideration when making this decision. We sat down with the CEO and Director of Marketing here at ThinkBIG Marketing, Lawrence Trujillo, to discuss what these special considerations are.
Q: Thank you for joining us in this conversation, Lawrence. First of all, what is a marketing agency? What differentiates a marketing agency from other types of marketing organizations?
A: Our marketing agency is composed of a team of individuals who specialize in a range of areas, such as website design, search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, digital advertising, e-commerce, Google Profiles, and more. Other organizations can be smaller with one or two-person operations, in which these individuals try to manage all aspects of design and marketing on their own.
Q: What are important factors to look for when hiring a digital marketing agency?
A: Important factors you should look for include:
- Size of their team: A team of one or two people may not be able to manage a project that includes a full website redesign, copywriting, and social media management. Consider if the agency’s team is large enough and experienced enough to support your project and business.
- Design experience of the agency: The agency should have a full portfolio available for your review. It’s helpful to thoroughly inspect the designs the agency is capable of producing. Has the agency designed for businesses in a variety of industries? Does the agency create designs that feel current and fresh?
- SEO strategies for website copywriting: There are more than a billion websites in the world, and SEO helps individuals find the products and services they are looking for. We know that SEO is a vital aspect of a successful website, which is why ThinkBIG Marketing specializes in SEO copywriting for businesses. This continues to be a key factor for indexing and website performance.
- Availability of key contacts: It is important to regularly contact the agency for reports on current campaigns, provide feedback on website design and SEO copywriting, and more. Verify the agency is easy to connect with and properly listens to your questions or concerns.
- Whether or not content is created in-house: It can be common practice for a marketing agency to have a third-party create website content. The source for the content has a great impact on the quality and tone for the final text. Some agencies request the content to come from the client. This can be a challenge when a client is focused on their business and not on writing the text for a website.
Stay tuned for the second part of this blog, which will discuss more information about which digital marketing services business owners should consider for their business, red flags to watch out for when looking for a marketing agency, and how to work with a marketing agency after you have hired them.