Search engine optimization, personalized web content, customer-focused branding, listening to the “voice of the customer” through social media – these are all buzz words and hot topics in today’s world of marketing.  Your business is living in a time where new ideas, strategies, features, and technologies are being developed each and every day. It’s so hard to keep up with all the changes without getting bogged down or overwhelmed. That’s where your marketing firm can help!  When choosing a marketing company make sure these items are on your check list:

  1. Collaboration is key.  When you start a new project with a marketing firm, you don’t want them throwing your goals and ideas out the window and going in a completely different direction without considering your own plans.  Make sure your chosen firm listens well, is knowledgeable, and offers suggestions and solutions without overriding your needs.  
  2. Project management means good communication.  When we say “project management,” we’re not talking about setting a timeline and getting back to you when our part is finished.  Ideally, your project manager should feel more like a coach and teacher. When a project is managed properly, it means your marketing team works with you side by side during each step of the process.  Don’t expect them to hold your hand the whole time, but do expect that they will answer questions promptly, tell you where the project stands, and make sure you know what needs to be done next to keep the whole project on track. 
  3. Let us be your trusted guide.  Look for a marketing team that is confident, helps you understand everything, and doesn’t talk down to you.  They should exude a feeling of “Yep, we know what we’re doing.” Realize that it’s impossible that they know everything, but they should know the right questions to ask and where to go for answers.  As the Brits like to say, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” Their work should speak for itself – whether the end product is a website, identity materials, SEO or social media recommendations.
  4. Make sure they “teach you to fish.” Don’t let your marketing firm hand you a spanking new website without teaching you about what to do with it after launch. The great thing about your digital marketing initiatives is they can CHANGE all the time. Look for a marketing firm that will teach you about search engine optimization, Google Analytics, and content management. Then you’ll have the knowledge to improve your marketing materials and keep bringing in the big fish.
  5. Something your target audience LOVES:  Ultimately, you are paying for an SEO strategy, a new website, or new branding materials that will boost contact and communication with your target market. Hopefully, all this communication will lead to happy customers – existing and new.  Your marketing efforts should help customers relate to you in an emotional way that encourages them to trust you. Ask customers for feedback, and make adjustments based on their needs.  When your customers LOVE your marketing efforts, you can see and feel the LOVE in new sales and positive feedback.  And you gotta love that!
Be Sociable, Share!