How to Save Money on Online Marketing Companies
If you want to hire a marketing agency but, at the same time, have a shoestring budget, then you are not alone. So many people are in the same position as you are right now, but there are things you can do to ensure you get the best result out of every decision you make. This guide will help you save money when hiring your agency while ensuring you get the best result out of your campaign.
Know what You'd Like to Accomplish
Imagine going to a car dealership and saying that you have an excellent credit score and want a new car. You may tell them that you don't care what model it is or what make it is either. All you want is to drive a new car off the lot. If you do this, there is a high chance that the salesperson will suggest you buy the most expensive car on the lot. This happens quite a lot in the world of marketing. Clients want to market their company and have a reasonable budget, but they do not have any goals in mind.
If you're going to weed out some of the more expensive marketing companies or companies trying to take advantage of you, you must do your homework. You have to write out a plan, and you also need to be as prepared as possible. If you can do this with a clear vision, you can ensure that you always know what you are paying for.
Learn about the Services
Is the marketing agency genuinely going to be a one-stop shop for all your needs? Or do they happen to specialize in one or two services? When it comes to PPC or SEO, you probably want a dedicated expert working with you. A lot of knowledge and skill is involved in setting up a good program. Other times, you may conclude that the marketing firm will offer you a number of services because they can feed off the same skill sets. Sometimes, if a company cannot give you a certain service, there is a high chance that they have a partner who can. If you can do your homework, ensure you find and trust who they are working with, and never assume that you will be in good hands.
Research Previous Clients
If you work in the HVAC business, do not hire a marketing agency that works with restaurants. The marketing firm you choose to work with must have a great deal of experience regarding your industry and company size. Look at the site and see the previous clients they have worked with so you can make the best decision possible. Check them out on Yelp or Google to see if they have had a good experience with the company. If you can do this, you will soon find that things work out for you and that you can save a lot of money.
Set Expectations
Sometimes it's helpful to hire a marketing firm as they can handle tasks you do not want to deal with yourself. Other times, you should be involved with every single step of the process. Both approaches are fine, but at the end of the day, you still need to let your marketing firm know how accessible you will be so that they can plan out their timeframe and resources.
If you have too high of expectations, you may be paying over the odds for a service that delivers results beyond what you need. You may want more traffic, but do you need 1000 new leads per week? Do you have the capacity to handle this many sales? If not, this indicates that you are throwing money down the drain. By setting your expectations, you can save a lot of money.
Get to Know the Team
It would be best if you got to know the team you will be working with. If you know your personalities do not match up, you could have some issues further down the line. You will need more success to change your gut feeling, so try and ask some cultural fit questions before you hire them. After all, jumping from company to company is one of the best ways to throw your money away, so be mindful of this and always ensure that you are doing what you can to find the right fit from the get-go.
Read the Contract
If you want to hire the right company, then you must read the contract carefully. A professional marketing company will always give you a contract, and they will also give you an idea of the scope of work that they will be working on. In proposals, you may find that there are some legal terms too.
This will include the length of the contract, what happens if you want to cancel and if there are any expenses you may have to pay too. Be sure that you read through all of these terms, as they will end up being legally binding when the time comes for you to sign. If you sign up for twelve months and decide that the company is not for you after three months, you may have to pay for the full year regardless. This can burn a real hole in your pocket, so try and be mindful of this if you can.
Of course, when you come to us, you can feel completely confident knowing that you are in good hands and that you always have someone who knows what they are doing. We always offer a professional service with transparent pricing too.