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What to Look Out for When Choosing an Online Marketing Agency

When a company hires an online marketing agency, they do so with the impression that the company will revitalize their online presence and increase their visibility. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. The wrong agency can actually tarnish your brand—and even your reputation—if things don’t go as planned.

How can you spot a good agency from a bad one? And how exactly can the wrong online marketing agency damage your business? Here’s what you need to look out for to make sure your next online marketing agency gets the results you expect.

They Don’t Position your Business for Long-term Growth
An online marketing agency that doesn’t consider the long-term growth and success of your business when molding your marketing plans is one you should avoid at all costs. Yes, they may realize short-term goals, such as improved SEO and social media marketing, but they won’t build a strong foundation for steady future growth. Make sure you ask what the long-term strategy is to gauge their level of understanding in producing sustainable results for your business over time.

They make offers that are too good to be true
“Your website will have the #1 SEO ranking” or “We’ll double your traffic in one week” seem too good to be true… because they are. Don’t fall for sales pitches that reach for the moon. These agencies just want you to jump on board before you can sign with someone else.

Online marketing takes time to establish an audience, let alone conversions and leads. A professional online marketing agency will be honest with you when considering your goals for a digital marketing campaign.

They have multiple bad reviews (or no reviews at all)
Do you make restaurant reservations or book a hotel without consulting reviews? Customer feedback is an essential factor in the potential quality of a service, and there’s no better way to get a glimpse of an agency’s expertise than by looking at their online reviews.

Positive reviews are a sign of professional experience and quality online marketing, while negative reviews may point to a rushed project, bad communication or unfulfilled promises.

If an online marketing agency has no reviews at all, it’s best to steer clear. Unless their portfolio is top-notch or they have industry experts vouching for the quality of their services, you should find an established agency instead.

They’re clearly spread too thin
An agency that’s juggling multiple clients from several different industries may seem highly capable of adding your business into the mix. However, they may be stretching their resources too thin, and therefore won’t be able to dedicate enough time to your business. This can result in a reduction of the overall quality and cause sub-par results. Look out for tell-tale signs of an under-resourced agency, such as a decline in communication halfway through the project, an unexplained halt in progress or a missed opportunity.

They’re not on social media
As the old saying goes, don’t trust an agency that ‘talks the talk’ without ‘walking the walk.’ An online marketing agency that doesn’t have an online presence is most likely not the best option if you’re planning on running a social media marketing campaign. Obviously, you’d like to see a proven track record of success within your own industry. However, a marketing agency that’s acing their own social media across all networking platforms is clearly well-versed in the art and a trustworthy applicant.

Social media presence is also a sign of customer engagement. It shows the dedication and time an agency is willing to spend on building and nurturing its community.

They’re surprisingly affordable
Cheap doesn’t always mean an online marketing agency is going to damage your business, but exceptional results usually come with a reasonable price tag. If it seems like an agency is giving you a great deal, they might have a short-term mentality towards each project. While a bargain can be beneficial in certain circumstances, such as when testing to see whether an agency can deliver on time or not, if the quality of the final result is poor, it’s your business that suffers the consequences.

Don’t leave your brand in the hands of an inexperienced agency
Your brand’s image and identity are imperative to your brand’s growth and success. With careful research, good communication, and an awareness of the problems mentioned in this article, you’ll be able to hire an online marketing agency that provides exceptional service.

Worried about an online marketing agency damaging your business? Looking for a reliable agency for your next project? Get in touch with us today.

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