Vancouver’s digital marketing industry has grown rapidly in the past decade, and finding the right marketing agency to handle your company’s needs can be an overwhelming task.
This guide will help you choose the best digital marketing agency in Vancouver that’s well-suited to your business, using these seven steps.
1) Who are you?
You need to figure out who your target audience is. Do you have a specific vertical or industry that you’re focusing on? Make sure you know exactly who it is you are targeting and why.
Once you know, it becomes much easier for your agency partners to understand what sort of messaging and digital marketing strategies will be effective with your customers.
Digital marketing agencies work best when they have a clear understanding of their target audience, so make sure that’s clear from day one.
What do you want?: Before you start looking for digital marketing services, take some time to think about what it is you want.
- What do you want to achieve by working with an agency?
- Do you just want some help developing your online presence and maybe implementing some basic campaigns?
- Or do you want an expert team that can handle all aspects of digital marketing strategy and execution?
Knowing what it is that you want will help guide your decision-making process as well as inform your discussions with potential candidates.
2) What are your needs?
Ask yourself what you need digital marketing services for. Do you need a website? Are you looking for branding and marketing collateral or do you want social media strategy?
Begin by defining your goals and needs. The clearer your definition, the easier it will be to narrow down your search.
If possible, look at existing projects as examples of what you’re looking for—it can save time if they fit with what you’re trying to achieve!
Research: Researching digital marketing agencies is an important step when choosing which one to work with. Look for agencies that have experience working with companies similar to yours (in terms of industry and size).
It’s also important to make sure they have experience working in your local market. Check out their online presence, portfolios, case studies, and testimonials from clients.
You should also check out reviews on sites like Yelp or Google Plus Local (if applicable) so you know what other people are saying about them.
3) How much time and resources do you have?
First, you need to figure out how much time and resources you can commit. This will help you determine how much work your new agency relationship can handle and will let them know that there’s a clear ceiling on your project.
For example, if you’re a restaurant owner with limited time and an already packed schedule, it might not make sense for your digital marketing company to plan complex email drip campaigns (which take weeks of planning) or build a mobile-responsive website from scratch (which takes months).
Depending on what level of involvement your business needs from a digital marketing agency in Vancouver, some consultation options are better than others.
4) Which criteria matter most?
All digital marketing companies should be skilled at online advertising and social media, but it’s also important that they understand your business so that they can effectively promote your products.
When searching for a digital marketing company, start by making a list of your criteria—then prioritize each one based on importance. For example, if you want an agency that specializes in organic search results, make sure that’s at the top of your list.
You can even include things like brand awareness and customer service as criteria; after all, great branding starts with excellent customer service.
Then, once you have a prioritized list, begin contacting digital agencies that fit what you’re looking for. At least half of them will tell you they specialize in what you need—but only one or two will know what they’re talking about.
The rest will just try to sell their services without providing any real value. To avoid wasting time with agencies that won’t help grow your business, do thorough research before contacting anyone and ask lots of questions during initial phone calls or meetings (such as: What is your experience working with small businesses?).
If an agency doesn’t seem interested in helping grow your company beyond selling services, find someone else who does! Title: 7 Tips for Choosing a Digital Marketing Agency That Will Grow Your Business
5) What does success look like for you?
Working with a digital marketing agency is an important decision, which is why you must find an agency that can help you achieve your goals.
So, before getting down to brass tacks on choosing a digital marketing agency, first consider what success means for you. Are you looking for cost-effective solutions to reach more of your target market?
Or are you seeking quality content that will help establish your brand in its niche? Some questions you might ask yourself include:
- How much revenue do I hope to generate through digital marketing initiatives?
- What channels do I want my online campaigns to run through?
- And how much are my company’s bottom line and reputation worth?
6) Can I see examples of your work?
Make sure that you’re asking digital agencies about specific projects they’ve worked on and how they were able to help their clients. It’s also important that you check references from past customers and be sure to ask questions such as:
Were they able to achieve their goals? Was it a successful project?
What did they like or dislike about working with your team?
Do you have a portfolio of projects where I can see examples of your work?
Don’t be afraid of asking for references, as long as you do it respectfully, it shows you’re serious. If an agency has any hesitation, maybe consider a different one. Remember: There are lots of great agencies out there so don’t settle if someone isn’t willing to talk openly and give detailed answers.
7) How will we communicate, follow up and measure success?
First, we’ll review your current digital efforts. We’ll then sit down with you and develop a plan of action: how will we communicate, follow up and measure success?
Once you’re happy with our suggestions, we can get started! Our goal is to grow your business – is that yours? We’d love to hear more about what you have in mind, so please feel free to reach out with any questions or thoughts.
(If you have a budget range in mind, let us know.) We are at your service – just send us an email and we’ll connect.