Services offered
When you’re trying to choose a digital marketing company to work with, the services offered are probably at the forefront of your mind. You may already know that you need help with SEO and developing a content strategy, or you may have a new website and really need some guidance on which specific marketing activities you actually need to succeed online.
The best digital agencies out there offer a wide variety of services. They don’t pick and choose — rather, the best companies (like those at the top of our list) know how important it is to be up-to-date on every marketing strategy out there. They understand that the Internet is always changing, and that to succeed, you need to form a comprehensive marketing strategy that is both current and flexible. Great marketing firms don’t just pick and choose services to offer to their clients. Instead, they invest their time and resources in continued learning, and ensuring that their employees are the best they can be at SEO, social media, content strategy, and so on.
Below, we’ve listed crucial services that you should look for when searching for your new digital marketing partner.
Important Marketing Services
Website Design: If you’re planning to create a new website, or think that it’s time for a redesign, search for companies that offer website design services. Most companies will have a portfolio showing the designs they’ve created for clients, so you can see for yourself what kinds of designs they have produced in the past.
Some companies lean toward very modern, clean, bold designs that rely on large graphics, while others prefer the traditional, usable route that may be more appropriate for business or government websites.
Website Development: Depending on your needs, you may want to seek out a company that has a history of website development. This can range from simple tasks like the installation or customization of a content marketing system (CMS) to the development of a custom program or tool that runs on your site.
The best digital marketing firms out there will surely have some development experience, and will be willing to send you links to client sites so you can see for yourself what they are capable of.
SEO: Search engine optimization is a hot topic in the marketing industry, and with good reason. Due to all the competition online for popular terms and phrases, it’s become increasingly difficult to show up in search engine results. SEO methods will ensure that the content of your site, the links pointing to it, and the quality of your keywords are all where they need to be to encourage higher rankings.
Look for a digital marketing agency that has a deep understanding of SEO, and provides detailed information on the methods they use to improve your website’s performance and appearance in search results.
Content Strategy: Content is extremely important for your website. Whether you need copywriting to promote and explain your product or service, the creation of news articles and press releases, or a strong content marketing plan that involves a regularly updated blog, you’ll need to seek out a marketing company with strong content creation knowledge and skills.
If you want a good idea of the quality of content you’ll receive from an agency as a client, just look at their own blog or content! The best marketing agencies will have stellar grammar, a regularly updated blog, and pages full of valuable information and ideas.
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram, and other social media networks have become important parts of any online marketing strategy. These platforms allow engagement with customers, enable faster customer service options, and even offer additional ways to advertise (like with Promoted Tweets and Facebook Ads).
Most agencies will offer some kind of social media setup package, but you may want to look for a company that can monitor your presence online and jump in to help post updates or respond to comments as needed.
In 2014, the best digital marketing companies won’t just say they offer these services — they’ll explain what they are, why they matter to their clients, and how they can make a real, lasting impact on your business goals. Avoid companies that make simple lists of what they offer, or create “thin” content pages about their services that offer little value to you. Search for companies that are open about their methods, and aren’t afraid to explain why their services are so important.