Important Questions to Ask a Digital Marketing Agency Before Hiring Them

As a marketer, you know the importance of digital marketing. But if you’re like most marketers, you don’t have all the time in the world to manage projects and execute your strategy.

Designing a successful marketing strategy nowadays is not just about creative design but also about knowing and understanding digital technology. It’s vital to hire an agency that specializes in both creativity and technical know-how.

One of the most critical steps in evaluating a digital marketing agency is understanding how they approach your business and what their creative process looks like.

Partnering with a Marketing Agency

You may be struggling to take your business to the next level despite your efforts to start a blog (and updating it regularly), maintain a consistent social presence, and offer excellent customer service.

If your goal is growth and sustainability, it’s time for you to evaluate digital marketing agencies that could provide your organization with expertise in website development, SEO/SEM optimization, content creation, email marketing, and customer relationship management.

Questions to Ask When Evaluating a Digital Marketing Agency

1. What is Your Process for Evaluating a New Client’s Needs and Goals?

Sure, you want to see results, and that’s probably the first question you may ask. But you need to dig a little deeper and ask questions about the process for evaluating your needs and goals.

They’ll probably give you generic answers and avoid offering any specific examples of how they evaluate new clients and their needs. If this is the case, then you might want to look elsewhere.

2. How Do You Measure Success? What Metrics Should I Be Looking at to See Whether My Campaign Works?

You should be able to measure ROI and achieve your marketing goals. The best way to go about this is through analytics. The digital marketing agency should have key performance indicators (KPIs) in place to measure your success at achieving goals with different tactics.

This will leave a lasting impact through your marketing efforts. Here are some KPIs that should be covered by a marketing agency:

• Subscriber rate
• Traffic distribution
• Leads generated
• Average pages per session

3. What Are the Track Records for Businesses Like Mine?

Any reputable digital marketing agency will want to show you that they understand everything from analytics and social media to SEO and email campaigns. Don’t be afraid to ask them whether they’ve worked on any projects that are similar to yours.

If your company mainly revolves around content marketing, for example, make sure that the agency has proven experience generating content that brings results for likeminded clients.

A general rule of thumb is to search for agencies that specialize in a specific industry and see whether they have experience with companies like yours.

You want to make sure the agency has a strong understanding of your business and can execute strategies that are made for you. Another thing you’ll want to consider is an agency that will deliver results in a way that clicks with your audience.

4. What’s the Pricing?

Price is a huge factor to consider when choosing an agency. Different agencies have different tiers of pricing to accommodate different budgets and needs.

One price may be better suited for small businesses while another might work better with enterprise clients, so do your research to find what will best fit your company’s goals and finances.

Also, find out whether there will be any additional costs associated with their services (i.e., monthly retainer fees) or hidden fees (i.e., hourly rates) that you will be required to pay.

5. What Are the Agency’s Credentials?

Accreditation and certificates are a must-have for any agency. Carry due diligence for any company you’re considering working with because this will be your business’s reputation on the line.

Make sure that the agency you choose has been established and in business long enough to stay afloat and is accredited with major industry bodies.

Last but not least, check out their portfolio, find client reviews, and ask for testimonials to see what others have said about them in the past.

This will help you determine whether the marketing agency delivers what they are promising. If they exaggerate their results, you might not get a clear picture of what to expect in the long run.

Working with the right digital marketing agency like Digital Engage can take your business to another level. Call us at (423) 397-2467 and let us take the load off your back. We have the experience and technical know-how to help your brand stand out from the crowd.