You're here because you're looking to hire a digital marketing agency but need help figuring out where to start. Congratulations! We’re here to help you build a strong online presence and push your business towards growth and success. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to hire a digital marketing agency?
Step 1: Define Your Needs The initial step in getting digital marketing services or any other services is determining your company's specific needs. This includes several processes, such as outlining your goals, determining the agency type you want to work with, and setting your budget.
Outline Your Goals One of the most essential things to do when availing services of a digital marketing agency is to ensure that the company you choose aligns with your digital marketing goals. There are plenty of agencies, but not all of them will be suitable for your goals and strategies.
You must clearly articulate your marketing objectives, such as increasing website traffic, improving SEO, or boosting social media reach and engagement. Doing so will help you choose the right digital marketing ally. These are some of the questions you must ask yourself to outline your goals:
What do I want to benefit from this partnership? What are the expected results? When do I want to achieve this goal? How will I know you have achieved your goal? Determine The Agency Type The key features and services offered by digital marketing agencies differ from one another. Before embarking on your research, you need to decide what kind of agency you want to work with. More importantly, what kind of agency is best suited for your business?
Ask the following questions:
Do I want to work with a fully remote agency? Would I want to work with an agency located locally or abroad? Do I need a full-service or specialized digital marketing agency? Do I need a full-service agency, specialized firm, or in-house team? Set Your Budget Do you want the benefits of digital marketing without breaking the bank?
Then, set a budget and find agencies that fit your spending plan. Whether you're budget-conscious or have a little more to invest, having a clear number in mind will help you make informed decisions.
Step 2: Research and Shortlist After defining your digital marketing needs, you must begin your research journey and create a shortlist of agencies you might want to work with. This step requires three crucial procedures: service identification, research, and creation of a shortlist.
Identify Services Knowing what services you need will influence your decision to hire a digital marketing agency. Before exploring agency options, clearly define the services you need. This will help you eliminate agencies that don’t offer the solutions you are seeking. Also, it will clarify whether a full-service, specialized, or industry-specific agency is the best fit for your business.
Conduct Thorough Research When browsing the thousands of agencies online, don’t be afraid to research each potential marketing partner’s background.
During your search, also read client testimonials, reviews, and case studies. These don’t have to be on the agency’s website; you can check other third-party sites like Clutch , G2 , Google, and social media to see what past clients have to say. Past client experiences can speak volumes about an agency and lend unique insights that you may not find on their site.
Create a Shortlist This process involves narrowing down your digital marketing agency options based on your criteria.
Step 3: Consultation and Evaluation During this stage, you might ask plenty of questions about the services your potential digital marketing partner offers. You can schedule a consultation with each of them to clarify things and make your decision-making easier. Once you’ve consulted with the agencies on your shortlist, it’s time to review offers and pricing.
Schedule Consultations Asking questions can help you better understand who these agencies are, how they operate, and, more importantly, whether they’re a good fit for your business.
Consider these questions as you browse agencies and begin connecting with them:
What services do you offer? Have you worked with businesses in my industry before? What type of businesses do you typically work with? What marketing tools and resources do you use? How often do you communicate results to your clients? How do you stay up-to-date with the latest digital marketing tools and trends? Review Proposals The agencies should send you a detailed business proposal, service agreement, or request for proposal (RFP) with line-item costs. When evaluating a digital marketing agency’s proposal, consider factors such as their understanding of your business culture, their ability to communicate your brand’s message effectively, and their proposed marketing strategy.
Marketing companies use various pricing models, and it’s essential to know which is best for your business.
Here’s a brief overview of the most common pricing models from marketing agencies:
The hourly rates agency pricing model is best for ad-hoc tasks with an uncertain scope. For example, choose this model if the agency helps you moderate your social media pages. The project-based pricing model is ideal if you only have a few projects for the marketing company, such as redesigning a website. The retainer-based agency pricing model means you pay a recurring monthly fee for ongoing services. A good example of when you can opt for this pricing model is if the agency is doing your social media management, content strategy creation, publishing, or email marketing management. A mixed agency pricing model combines different pricing models. Choose this model if you have many projects for the agency. Once you’ve assessed the proposals and compared agencies, choose the one that best suits your requirements.
Step 4: Negotiate and Finalize In the final step, you should be ready to negotiate the offer and finalize your decision to hire a digital marketing agency.
Negotiate An Offer be ready to discuss pricing, deliverables, and timelines. Remember that in every contract, it is best to negotiate an offer, no matter how it looks promising. Don't just accept the first proposal you made. Instead, study the business proposal and contract and identify the areas you must clarify. Ask for clarification or changes, and use this opportunity to negotiate an agreement that you and the digital marketing agency agree on.
Before you sign the contract from the agency, double-check to ensure that all the changes and new terms of the agreement are reflected.
Finalize Contract Now, review and sign a mutually agreed-upon contract. When you decide not to work with an agency, respectful feedback is essential. Besides, maintaining a positive relationship with different agencies can be beneficial in the future.
Once you've chosen an agency, you must remain actively involved in the project. You can also review your decision and terminate the contract according to the agreed terms, if necessary.
