What a year! As if starting an agency wasn't a challenge enough, layer on a pandemic and the downturn of our economy. I'm sure, just like me, many of you reading this are feeling the pinch and worry of the future. While I cannot guarantee your success, or give you the "secret sauce," perhaps I can share what we've learned while building our business.
What is the purpose of marketing agencies?
One of the first things I had to overcome while building this marketing agency is deciding what a marketing agency should be. In my experience, an agency was an expensive extension of your marketing team with out of the box ideas and talented designers & producers. I know many in the Dallas area that fit that exact description.
I'm not knocking on those leading agencies that have built their reputation on great ideas and incredible campaigns! I thought there was another way of creating a marketing agency that made marketing more accessible to the small to mid-level clients that can't afford to pay the top agency price point.
How digital marketing firms can help you achieve goals?
Whether you're working with a large digital marketing firm or a virtual marketing agency like ours, we believe that with the right strategy, you can achieve your goals using digital.
And if you're not entirely sold on this idea, think about your own online experience. When trying to make a purchasing decision, where do you go? Probably Google, but more and more people are going to social media and video sites like YouTube.
Digital marketing firms can help you achieve your goals by analyzing your data, competitive landscape, and creating a marketing strategy.
What goes into a fantastic marketing plan?
Speaking from experience, marketing a marketing agency is tough! We've had to take all of the advice and strategies we've built for our startup clients and get at it.
A fantastic marketing plan for ANY business is consist of these top 5 tips:
Using all your free marketing tools - we've got a blog post on this.
Creating an ironclad SEO strategy for your website. It's the building blocks of your identity online. Do the work and the research!
Owning your online reputation and working on building brand promoters.
Analyzing your website/campaign data to understand areas where you can make the journey better for the user.
Building loyalty by developing content that genuinely connects with the customer
It's all of these points that have help grow our traffic, conversion, leads and clients.
What are the top digital marketing services?
Most of our clients (just like you) have their own definition of what marketing is and what it's responsibilities are to their business. But just to set the record straight, marketing is anything consumer-facing. Everything from what they see on your website to the receipt they get when they've made a purchase.
“Your brand is a story unfolding across all customer touch points.” — Jonah Sachs, Author
Top 5 digital marketing services to include in your marketing plan:
Technical and Local Search Engine Optimization
Design and branding, inclusive of video and photography
Website development and content creation
Social media management and advertising
Digital media buying to broaden your reach
Being the best marketing agency
The best marketing partner will make sure the client fully understands their options and available strategies to meet their goals. With Axer Strategies, we build your marketing strategy by analyzing your data, goals, and competitive landscape. Then, with the help of our Axer Network we will find the right subject matter expert to execute your plan while we project manage from start to finish.
Top 3 Proven Marketing Strategies
Our clients span several niches that include the cyber security, government, legal and health & beauty industries. Although each of them are at different stages in their marketing development, I've learned that the number one thing they need to do is:
Grow your online authority.
Many business owners think that throwing up a website and social media handle will be enough. As if the old brick and mortar mentality of "build it and they will come" applied to the online space. With so many options online, it takes more than a slick website to persuade a user to perform a transaction with you.
You've got to grow your authority by creating unique content that gives value to the internet and your end user. And once you've got a flow of relevant content, your next challenge is building trust and one of the best ways you can do that is have good quality reviews. Visit our digital marketing tools page to run a free audit and know where you stand on this strategy.
Be where the people are.
When thinking of investing dollars into advertising, many of my clients ask me what the best way to approach this is. My thoughts are that you should invest in the marketing channels that are already working for you and if those haven't become apparent to you, then maybe you're not ready to be spending the big dollars. Instead, go back and get your organic conversions flowing, then invest in the one that is giving you the best return on your investment.
Tell your brand story.
I've seen that the best results come from when a business shares its uniquely authentic stories. When their social media posts are diversified with entertaining, informative, or moving content, we see brands go far beyond their expectations and goals.
Axer Strategies' Year End Review
Online is where everyone is turning for business. But it's not enough to just be online, you've got to contribute. And if you want customers to like you enough to make a purchase or sign a contract, you've got to make a connection through what you contribute anywhere online. So, make it count!
Click here find out why I started Axer Strategies & why you want us on your team.
Comments