Is Hiring a Digital Marketing Agency Worth It?

Overview

In today's digital age, things like online advertising, lead generation, and automated customer follow-ups have a seat at the board room meetings of practically every serious business on the planet.

On the one hand, digital marketing agencies exist to provide their clients with access to digital technology, services, and strategies that help them grow their businesses.

On the other, the market has never been more saturated with lousy, ineffective, do-nothing agencies that take advantage of big businesses and local businesses alike.

Businesses have every right to be skeptical of every internet marketing agency they come across, and they'd be stupid not to be.

With all this noise in the marketplace, it's natural for business owners to ask themselves:

• Is digital marketing worth it?
• Should I keep marketing in-house?
• Should I hire an outside digital marketing team?

The answer is to each of these questions is the not-so-exciting; it depends.

This article breaks down the ins and outs of what an agency does, what it means for your business, and how to make smarter decisions regarding your digital marketing needs.

If you're on the fence about whether or not to hire a digital agency, here are seven crucial things to know.

1. What is a marketing agency, and what do they do?

A marketing agency is a company that provides marketing services to other businesses. This can include anything from creating and executing marketing campaigns to providing consultations on how to best reach potential customers.

They also often provide additional services such as PR, web development, social media marketing, and local SEO.

Agencies can be an excellent solution for businesses that don't have the time or resources to devote to marketing internally. They can also be valuable for a brand ready to increase its visibility and reach a wider audience.

While you will find agencies that do amazing things offline, we live in a digital world. As a result, most agencies you speak to will be focused on digital strategy.

Remember that marketing agencies come in all shapes and sizes.

Some focus exclusively on digital marketing services.

Digital agencies focus on things like:

• Pay-per-click ads (for example, running Facebook and Google Ads)
• Search engine optimization/SEO (ranking higher on search engines like Google)
• Web development (building a new website)
• Lead generation (using online campaigns to help a company get leads)
• Email marketing
• Marketing automation (text and email follow-ups with your clients and prospects)
• and more

Other agencies are more focused on the content and brand strategy side of things.

A creative agency is going to focus more on things like:

• Social media marketing
• Content marketing and strategy
• Creative design
• Organic traffic
• Brand development
• and more

Some agencies are specialists and might only do very specific things

For example:

• An agency that specializes in e-commerce growth might only do web design and social media management for e-commerce brands
• A global creative agency might only work on logo and web design for large and mid-sized businesses.

Some agencies are generalists with a diverse portfolio of clients and capabilities

For example:

• A full-service agency might handle a business' entire digital marketing strategies along with all of the deliverables (web development, paid advertising, content marketing, email marketing, SEO efforts, etc.)

It's crucial to find an agency with a specialization or focus that matches your industry.

Here are a few examples:

• If you're a real estate company that needs help with your social media marketing, find an expert in social media marketing for real estate
• If you're a growing business that needs a better website, find an agency that specializes in web development
• If you have a new company that needs more website traffic, find a paid ad or SEO specialist
• If you need new customers, find an online marketing agency that understands the ins and outs of paid traffic

Once you understand your business objectives, an experienced marketing agency can serve as a strategic partner and build a custom strategy that aligns with your specific business goals.

2. What you should expect from a digital marketing agency?

When you partner with a digital marketing agency, you should expect a few things.

First, they should help you create a winning plan that meets your marketing goals. The agency should also help you track your progress and adjust your plan as needed.

Second, they should provide expertise and support in executing your marketing campaigns.

Third, they should provide consultation and advice on how to reach your target audience best. This includes which marketing channel (or channels) you should be focusing on.

Fourth, they should be able to provide a high level of service, support, and communication.

Finally, they should be able to show you results. The agency should be able to track and measure the success of your campaigns and demonstrate how they've helped grow your business.

Agree on KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) during the onboarding process so that you're both on the same page about what success means for your business.

Keep in mind that it might take some time for a digital agency to see results. They're not miracle workers, and you should expect it to take some time for them to achieve your desired outcomes.

However, you should see steady progress over time with a good agency and ultimately outstanding results.

3. In-house marketing team vs. marketing agency: which is better for your business?

When it comes to marketing, there are two main options: an in-house marketing team or a digital marketing agency. Both have their pros and cons, and which is better for your business depends on your specific needs.

An in-house marketing team is a team of marketing professionals who work for your company as employees. They typically handle all of the marketing for that company and work closely with other departments, such as sales and customer service, to ensure that all aspects of the marketing strategy align with its goals.

In-house marketing teams can be helpful for businesses that want more control over their marketing, have the time and resources to devote to marketing internally, or want to keep their marketing operations in-house. However, they can also be expensive and time-consuming to maintain. Additionally, they may not have the expertise or resources to handle all aspects of marketing.

A digital marketing agency is a company that provides marketing services to other businesses. They typically offer a wide range of services, from creating and executing marketing campaigns to consulting on how to best reach potential customers. Agencies can be helpful for businesses that don't have the time or resources to devote to marketing internally, want to increase their visibility and reach a wider audience, or need help developing a comprehensive marketing strategy.

There are pros and cons of having an in-house marketing team vs. a digital agency:

In-house marketing team

Pros:

• You have more control over the messaging and the campaigns
• You have more direct communication with the team
• You can use your team to do things like customer service, social media, and PR

Cons:

• It can be challenging to staff an excellent in-house marketing team
• It can be expensive to hire and maintain an in-house marketing team
• In-house marketing teams can become isolated from the rest of the company

Digital marketing agency

Pros:

• Agency employees have a lot of experience and expertise
• Agency employees are up to date on the latest marketing trends
• Agencies often have a wide range of services they offer

Cons:

• Agencies can be expensive
• Agencies can be challenging to work with
• It can be hard to find the right agency for your business

4. Reasons why you might not be seeing results from your current digital marketing agency

There are several reasons why you might not be seeing results from your current marketing agency. One possibility is that you're simply not using the right agency for your business. Not all agencies are created equal, and what works for one company might not work for another. Therefore, it's essential to do your research and find an agency specializing in your industry with a track record of success.

Another possibility is that you're not giving the agency enough time to see results. A successful marketing campaign takes time and effort, and it's unreasonable to expect immediate results from your agency. They need room to design and execute a plan that will work for your business.

You might also not be seeing results because you're not following the agency's recommendations. It's important to be open to their ideas and trust their expertise. If you're not willing to do this, then you're not taking advantage of what they have to offer.

Finally, it's possible that your current digital agency just isn't very good. This is why it's so important to do your research before hiring one and to read reviews from other clients. A good marketing agency will have a long list of happy clients who are willing to sing their praises.

In short, a digital marketing agency is worth it - but you need to find the right one for your business and be prepared to give them time to see results.

5. How to find a good online marketing agency

When it comes to finding a good digital marketing agency, there are a few key things you need to look for. The most important is that the agency is a good fit for your business.

They should understand your products and your target market, and they should be able to create campaigns that speak to those things. It would help if you also looked at their past work. Do they have a good track record? Ask for performance data for the last digital marketing campaign they ran in your industry.

You also have to consider the cost. Each digital marketing agency has its own pricing, and it's important that you find one that fits your budget. But just because an agency is cheaper doesn't mean it's bad--and just because an agency is more expensive doesn't mean it's the best. You need to weigh all of the factors before making a decision.

Finally, you should consider the time frame for results. No digital marketing agency can work miracles (no matter what they tell you!), so you should expect it to take some time for them to produce all the results you want to see. How long they think it will take them to achieve results should be something you discuss upfront.

Finding a good digital marketing agency can be a daunting task, but if you take your time and consider all of the factors, you're sure to find one that's perfect for your business.

6. How much does a digital marketing agency cost?

Hiring an internet marketing agency can be expensive, with prices ranging from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars per month.

When considering the price, it's important to remember that you get what you pay for. Cheap agencies often have poor quality work and can be difficult to work with. Expensive agencies might have better work, but they might not be the best fit for your business.

Before hiring an agency, it's important to do your research and find one that fits your budget. You should also consider the services you need and what type of agency would be best for your business.

There are a variety of agencies out there - ones that specialize in organic marketing strategies like search engine optimization (SEO) and content marketing and ones that focus on paid marketing strategies like pay-per-click ads and marketing automation.

You'll also have plenty of full-service, jack-of-all-trades companies as well.

It's crucial to find an agency that you're comfortable with, and that has a good track record. The right agency can be worth the investment, and it's something you can't ignore when looking to grow your business.

7. How to fire your marketing agency

Firing a digital marketing agency can be a tricky process. You need to make sure that you do it in a way that's respectful and professional. Here are a few tips for how to fire your marketing agency:

1. Make a list of the reasons why you're firing them. This will help you to be clear and concise when you talk to them.

2. Talk to your account managers in person or over the phone. Sending an email is not the best way to terminate a relationship with a marketing agency.

3. Be respectful and honest. Tell them why you're firing them and express your appreciation for their work up to this point.

4. Remember that this is a business decision, not a personal one. Don't let your emotions get in the way.

5. Thank them for their time and effort. Marketing agencies put a lot of work into your campaign, and it's important to express your gratitude before you part ways.

Firing a marketing agency can be difficult, but if you do it the right way, both sides can walk away with their heads held high.

8. Questions to ask potential agencies

Knowing what to ask goes a long way. This list of questions will help you sift through potential suitors and find the best possible match for your business:

• What services do you offer?
• Do you have experience in my industry?
• How long have you been in business?
• What is your pricing?
• Do you have case studies or references I can look at?
• What's your process for working with clients?
• How often will I hear from you?
• Can I speak to some of your current clients?

Agencies should be comfortable and transparent in answering these questions for you and your team. Having these discussions upfront can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

9. How a marketing agency can help your business

The right digital marketing company can be a game-changer for your business.

They can help you create and execute marketing campaigns, redesign your branding, develop relationships with customers, and track and analyze the results of your campaigns. They can also help you reach a wider audience and increase your visibility.

A good marketing agency will work with you to understand your business and your goals. They'll develop a plan of action and help you to implement it. They'll also track the results of your campaigns and make changes as needed, and know how to be cost-effective with your budget. This type of ongoing support is crucial for any business that wants to grow.

If you're looking to take your business to the next level, a digital marketing agency is a great investment. They can help you achieve your goals and grow your business.

So, is hiring an internet marketing agency worth it?

We might be biased here, but for us is a resounding "yes!"

Digital marketing is a critical component for experienced and growing brands alike, and it's worth investing in a full-service digital marketing agency to help you execute your campaigns from start to finish. An experienced agency can help you reach new customers, increase your visibility, and achieve your business goals.

Goldsmith Marketing is a full-service agency located in Seattle, WA. We specialize in paid advertising, brand strategy, lead generation, and web design. We believe that getting the right message in front of the right people at the right time will generate more leads and more business for your company.

Click here to book a 30-min intro call on my calendar. If you don't feel more confident in your marketing strategy, I'll send you a $50 gift card for wasting your time.

- Connor Goulding-Miles, Founder | Goldsmith Marketing