Why A Digital Marketing Agency Is Your Greatest Ally

Every digital marketing agency is unique. That’s why it’s important to do some research and team-up with the right agency that can help transform your business. Maybe you need to start afresh with a new website. Or perhaps you’re looking to expand your reach through online ads and have no clue where to start. No matter the need, a digital agency can be your company’s greatest ally.

What do digital marketing agencies do?

Most digital marketing agencies offer a wide variety of services including:

• Website design – Create a beautiful, easily navigable website for your users.
• Branding – Turn your business into a well-crafted brand your customers can trust.
• E-Commerce – Build an online store and reach customers all over the world.
• Digital Advertising – Showcase your products or services on search engines and social media.
• Lead Generation – Increase phone calls and form fills on your website.
• Reputation Management – Build up your online reviews and direct unhappy customers back to you, not Google or Yelp!
• Content Marketing – Start a blog, launch an email campaign, or add insightful information to your individual webpages.
• SEO – Climb Google’s organic search rankings and make it easier for users to find your business.
• Business Automation – Organize your customers, analyze lead quality and craft automated responses to make your job much, much simpler.
• And much more!

During your initial consultation, it’s important to be open about your business objectives and pain points. The right agency will make this process as simple as possible. At Xponent21, we start with an in-depth interview, where we dive into every aspect of your business. This helps us understand everything about you – from your core company values to your sales process. Then, we move on to the fun part: crafting your unique digital strategy.

What it looks like day-to-day

After the proposal is signed, you’re paired with an account strategist who serves as a stand-in member of your team. Their job is to craft and implement digital strategies that connect with your target audience and increase your company’s profitability. Agencies are not meant to compete with any member of your team. Our job is to come alongside marketing directors and business owners to offer fresh perspectives and game-changing initiatives.

For example, Xponent21 partners with one of the largest realty companies on the Virginia Peninsula. Over the past three years, we’ve worked closely with the company’s EVP and marketing director to carry out their digital marketing initiatives. This what they have to say about our relationship:

“I’ve worked with this team for several years and continue to be impressed with every project they do for us. Their team also understands the true meaning of loyalty and treat their clients extremely well. The service is personalized and response times are quick. They just get it!”

At the beginning of each month, your account strategist will give you a call to go over your Metrics Report for the previous month. In this report, we lay out how many leads you captured, as well as your average conversion rate, click through rate, and other key performance indicators. Then, we’ll talk through new initiatives to see if we can improve our metrics for the upcoming month.

What are the benefits of working with a digital marketing agency?

There are numerous advantages to working with a digital agency. But we find that our clients benefit most from three things:

• Industry experience
• Fresh perspectives and new ideas
• Cutting costs and saving time by outsourcing individual projects

Industry experience

When working with an agency, you have access to the latest digital marketing strategies, design trends, and industry insights. Agencies serve a wide variety of clients and have access to large amounts of data, so we understand what works best for each company.

Fresh perspectives and new ideas

Biochemist Albert von Szent-Gyorgy once said, “Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen, and thinking what no one has thought.” Creativity is vital, but even the most inventive minds need a fresh perspective. Agencies serve as a partner and an integral member of your team. But agencies can also act as a neutral third party between you and your brand to give valuable insight from the outside looking in.

Cutting overhead costs

A study conducted by Workfront found that 80 percent of in-house marketers feel overloaded and understaffed. Sound familiar? Many companies are choosing to outsource certain projects or marketing objectives. This can save you time and money because you’re only contracting out work when necessary and you don’t have the additional overheads costs associated with an employee.

We do find that almost half of our projects turn into retainer clients. So, outsourcing to an agency may blossom into a full-blown relationship. You’ve been warned.

What to look for in a digital agency

• Expertise in the digital initiatives you need
• Their current client base
• Openness to questions and challenges

Expertise

It doesn’t take long to notice when someone is an expert in something. It also doesn’t take long to notice when someone isn’t an expert. An agency’s job is to listen to your needs and craft a comprehensive strategy that works for your unique business objectives. Don’t settle for an agency that wants to put you in a box and offer cookie cutter solutions. Seek out digital marketing professionals who will work to fully understand your brand and take your company to new heights.

Client base

Ask the agency about the current clients and industries they serve. Some agencies serve a wide variety of clients and have experience with multiple industries. For example, we serve a variety of 3M window film dealers, and you might say we know way too much about window tinting. But our clients in the window film industry understand that we have key, foundational knowledge about their industry. We know what works and what doesn’t, but we also understand that every client is unique and should be treated as such.

Open to questions and challenges

Don’t be afraid to ask questions like, “How does your company measure the success of a campaign or strategy? What is my role in this relationship? How well can you work within my budget? Are there fees for late content?” The right digital agency will be open to any questions you have and work their hardest to find the best solutions for your business.

Maybe you’re like some of our clients who were initially skeptical of working with a digital marketing agency. Perhaps you’re wondering if it’s worth the investment and if it will actually bring more business. Ask your prospective agency if they’re open to connecting you with one (or more) of their current clients. This way, you can hear testimonials first hand and get a feel for the relationship you may have with the agency. We encourage you to put your prospects to the test, so you can confidently move forward with the right agency for your company.

If you’re looking for assistance with digital marketing, Xponent21 is ready to lend a hand. Our team specializes in web design, digital advertising, content marketing, and much more. We’ve partnered with a wide variety of businesses to revitalize, and even kickstart, their digital marketing initiatives. To learn more about our services, visit xponent21.com or give us a call at (888) 978-4918.