Some business owners aren’t aware of just how important the right marketing campaign is to their bottom line. They might leave it to chance or think they can learn all they need to know by reading a couple of articles. The truth is, though, that a poorly planned strategy can cost you thousands of dollars and make little impact if you don’t know what you’re doing. Not only that, but you could be spending valuable time on this project that you could be spending on the tasks you excel at. However, as important as it is to hire a marketing agency, hiring one that does low-quality work can be a useless endeavor. This article is your go-to guide for finding a Fresno marketing agency to best fit your needs.
Do your research
You wouldn’t believe how many people without the qualifications call themselves digital marketers. Freelancers and entrepreneurs know it’s a lucrative and growing field, so they often jump into the business without much training. And while marketing is something that can be self-taught, not everyone has the knack or expertise to do it right. Make sure that when you hire an agency, the employees have the experience and numbers to back up their claims. Take the time to read the company’s online reviews. Contact some of the businesses they claimed to have helped. But don’t just settle for positive comments; ask to see their numbers. In other words, if you talk to their customers, ask them how much money the agency helped them make and how many new customers they got as a result of those campaigns.
Interview them
Treat the hiring process just like a job interview. In other words, the agency you hire should mesh well with you, understand your goals, and have the right experience. You also want to hire an agency aligned with similar values. Some people out there use shady practices, and you need to know exactly what they do to attract customers. For example, some marketers use black hat SEO (search engine optimization). This just refers to a number of digital marketing tactics that are less than honest. It might include misleading links or falsified analytics data, to name a couple.
If the agencies you’re talking to are local Fresno companies, it’s best to set up meetings right in their offices. That way, you can get a feel for how they operate and how big the agency is. But if you’re dealing with an online company, schedule a phone meeting, asking them to set aside 30 to 45 minutes to discuss your exact needs and expectations. If they refuse to meet with you over the phone or in person, it could be a red flag that they’re either not fully vested in this part of the business or they’re not who they say they are.
Consider their prices
The marketing firm you hire should be willing to negotiate on pricing. This is because every business has different needs in this area. However, be careful about agencies that offer the lowest prices. If that’s their only way to compete, they might not be as good at what they do as the others.
If you do happen to find the best marketing agency for your business and feel they’re out of your price range, don’t be afraid to speak up. Many times, they can take out a service or two in the beginning and reduce the price. Then, after you’ve made a little money from their marketing dollars, you can add those services back in. Do realize you will have to allocate part of your budget for marketing. It’s possibly the most important part of launching your new business.
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