What to Consider When Hiring a Digital Marketing Agency in the Pacific Northwest

It seems that every you look there’s a new digital marketing agency popping up. The need for help with marketing your business online is growing rapidly and you might be wondering just how to choose the right digital marketing agency for your business needs. Hopefully, this list will help you sift through your prospects and lead you down the path to a quality agency that can help you grow.

Look for an agency with industry experience.

Consider hiring a marketing agency with experience working in your industry. They can provide strategic input and expertise to help you craft more effective marketing campaigns.

If you find an agency that has experience in your industry, ask them if they have had success on a conversion goal that’s similar to yours. For example, if you’re a non-profit organization looking to launch a new fundraising campaign, has the agency ever built a similar campaign? If so, what results did they see?

A strong background in your industry means the agency can not only help you build an effective marketing campaign but can also provide insight from past campaigns that had limited success.

Do they offer a free consultation?

When searching for a digital marketing agency in the pacific northwest, it is a good idea to connect with an agency that is willing to sit down and have a conversation about your struggles and goals. This can give you valuable insight into how they work as an agency and ultimately get a good feeling for how you will work together.

Do they hold themselves accountable?

Let’s be honest, not every campaign is a home run. It happens even to the best of us. During your initial consultation, it is a good idea to ask the agency about a campaign that ended with less than stellar results. How they answer this question could provide a glimpse into the level of communication and transparency they provide.

What results are they promising?

Here’s a potential red flag for anyone looking for a digital marketing agency. If they’re promising you results beyond your wildest dreams or the top result for the most competitive keyword in your industry, hold on to your wallet. While we all dream of over-the-top success in every campaign we build, no agency has a crystal ball.

Effectively managing client expectations is something every good agency does. I always say to under-promise and over-deliver.

Where is the agency located?

We all like to think that in today’s world, agency location doesn’t matter. I would actually disagree with that. We prefer to work with clients that operate in the Pacific Northwest or at least in our own time zone. This alleviates quite a few headaches with timing and communication. Whenever possible searching for agencies close to home first can yield better results and then expanding to a larger area if you aren’t having any luck.

Is their pricing fair and transparent?

This might be last on the list, but it is a very important thing to consider. Be sure to ask for a clear explanation of any agency’s pricing structure. Make sure to ask specifically for any monthly retainers, hourly rates for each service, and any commissions on money spent on advertising. This will help avoid any surprises and friction during your relationship.

Hopefully, this list will help you get started on your journey to finding the right digital marketing agency for your needs. Don’t be afraid to interview several agencies before picking one that aligns with your business goals. And always, be sure to hold them accountable if results aren’t creating a positive return on investment.