All businesses need to market their business in order to succeed. So where do you start? We’ve answered some of the most common questions about working with a marketing agency, and why it will be beneficial to your business.
What is a marketing agency and what do they do?
A marketing agency’s purpose is to work with you to help you grow your business. In today’s world, there are so many things you should be doing to market your business. You need a logo and a defined brand. You need a website that’s mobile-friendly and easy to find and use. You need a social media presence and to engage with your customers and potential customers. You should also be sending emails to keep customers in the loop and provide them with offers, inviting them to come back for more. The list goes on, and this is why working with a marketing agency can be so beneficial – because we handle all of these tasks for you, while you handle your business.
What are the different types of marketers you can work with?
There are many different options out there today to help with your marketing. There are large marketing agencies and smaller marketing agencies, and there are also individuals working as freelancers to assist with marketing objectives. A larger marketing agency is typically going to cost the most money, which is why they most likely work with larger companies. Smaller marketing agencies typically have experience at a larger marketing agency and have decided to utilize that experience to work with and help smaller businesses on a more personal level. There are also individuals working as freelancers. Freelancers can be cheaper than working with an agency, however, they usually aren’t able to provide every marketing service necessary for most businesses.
Why not just hire a freelancer?
There are pros and cons to working with an agency versus a freelancer. A freelancer will most likely cost less money (sometimes they don’t though). A freelancer does not work for a company; they work for themselves and usually have a more specialized set of skills. They might be a developer, a designer, or a copywriter – but they typically do not have a full range of services available. A freelancer will commonly offer all of the same services and outsource any work that they don’t specialize in. If you work with a freelancer on something that is not their specialty, they may end up needing to outsource the work to someone that you don’t know or do not have communication with. This very often delays projects and makes timelines unreliable – as tasks get held up on a third party not involved in the contract between your business and the original freelancer. This means you may need to hire multiple freelancers, which adds points of contact and can be difficult to manage. They may be great for short-term, small projects, but often offer more barebones services that don’t complete your long-term goals. Freelancers also might not be available when you need them, and they can be hard to replace if the relationship ends up not working out. Last, freelancers usually do not have all of the certifications and qualifications that a marketing agency’s team members will have.
What’s the difference between in-house marketing vs. outsourcing?
Some businesses do their own marketing in-house. While this can be a cost-effective approach, there is a lot to keep up with. In today’s online world, marketing strategies and techniques are constantly changing, growing, and evolving. It is very unlikely that a business owner has all of the tools and expertise that a marketing agency can offer. A marketing agency should be an extension of your brand – they want to listen to your ideas, goals, and objectives and then bring the work to life. This allows you to put 100% of your time into the business, while a marketing agency can handle your online presence and brand exposure. Working with a marketing agency brings you peace of mind as they will continue to make sure your brand is known, found by customers, and optimized so that your business can succeed.
Is there more value provided from a marketing agency?
Your priority is your business, while a marketing agency’s priority is effectively marketing your business to reach your goals. Working with a marketing agency provides value in many ways. They have the tools needed to help with marketing your business, such as certain computer programs, software, and access to online platforms. They have also gone through education, training, and have become certified in this type of work. Marketing agencies often provide greater value than a freelancer because you’re not relying on one person – you have a team of certified marketing professionals working with you.
It’s so expensive, why should I work with an agency?
Think of it like hiring an electrician to install new lighting. Do you think you might be able to figure out how to do it? Or maybe you have a friend who offers some suggestions that might work. You could do some research online and watch a few videos too. Do you have to go out and buy some expensive tools that may or may not do the trick? Or maybe you know someone who can do it for cheaper – they might get those lights working, but you don’t actually have any idea if it’s done right, or if there will be issues later. An electrician saves you the headache and this is what they specialize in.
Marketing agencies are made up of teams of people who have been doing this for years; they typically have experience with a wide range of clients and have the knowledge, experience, and training to come up with a successful plan just for you. They are certified Google advertisers, they subconsciously analyze every website they see, and every ad they come across. A marketing agency is an extension of your business and they are here to help you promote everything you’ve worked so hard to build.
New Moon Strategy is a small full-service digital marketing agency working with businesses of all shapes and sizes to help grow your business. Find us on Facebook and LinkedIn or contact us to see how we can help you grow your business!