Promoting your company online is possibly be the most important marketing strategy in the last 5 years and will continue to be for at least another decade. In 2000, there were approximately 360 million internet users worldwide. In 2013, there will be an estimated 2.4 billion internet users! (www.internetworldstats.com)
You should consider hiring a website marketing company or advertising company to promote your business; however, the majority of business owners do not even know where to start! Hiring a specific staff person to do this marketing full time can be a good idea if your company has the resources and personnel for that. Otherwise, hire a qualified company to handle your inbound/outbound marketing. It can be very difficult to stay ahead of online marketing trends and strategies, but hiring a website marketing company can be very fruitful for your business.
Here are a few helpful tips when hiring a website marketing company:
1. Do NOT assume every agency has full staff training certifications!
When you look around at different website marketing companies, don’t assume that they are all qualified. There are some certifications that you should request before considering a contract.A long-term marketing campaign can be expensive and offset your remainder of your marketing budget. Doing this will tighten up on other strategies, so consider asking a supervisor for certifications on staff. Remember, much of e-marketing relies on precision skills and experience. More importantly, are staff of the agency going to seminars, training and regular classes for updates in the industry?
2. Do NOT assume every SEO agency is the same!
A good internet marketing agency can provide a list of current, past and prospective clients that they are currently or previously partnered with. Ask for phone numbers, names and check on previous clients’ experience with the company you are considering. Typically, if an SEO or website marketing company is happy to hand this information over, their reputation is positive and strong. A good SEO agency is not usually secretive about their portfolio and will always engage in marketing information.
3. Do NOT be afraid of long-term agreements!
The highest quality website marketing companies can offer returns that are well beyond the cost of the programs you will purchase for them. Internet marketing wouldn’t be worth it otherwise. The ROI won’t start and stop but should stay consistent for some time; in other words, your competitors are working very hard to improve their ranking. If you pull off the “racetrack” of internet marketing, be assured there are competitors out there that will inevitably catch up. You want a company that will keep your online initiatives consistent over time.
4. Do NOT consider your website marketing agency free to roam!
All vendors should be in partnership with your business! Be aware of the agencies that you typically won’t hear from for a few weeks or even months! Once you decide to move in the direction of partnership, be clear about which which markets you want to target. Explain to your website marketing agency the specific areas or markets in which your business can grow. Doing this will incorporate a growth strategy and will give your business a better gauge of how the company’s marketing efforts are paying off. Having clearly outlined goals is always a plus!
Are you interested in taking a look at a hands on web marketing guide? If so, click below to receive a comprehensive overview completely free. In it, you’ll find all sorts of helpful information from our staff based on years of experience in this field!
