There are many digital marketing agencies out there. Finding an agency to promote and grow an ecommerce business or brand can definitely be a good idea, but finding the right ecommerce marketing agency can seem like a bit of a search. How do you know which agency to choose? Will working with a marketing agency truly streamline things? It’s important to know what to look for in an ecommerce advertising agency, since your choice of a marketing agency can make all the difference. Want to know where to start? In this guide, you can learn the steps to take in order to find the right ecommerce marketing agency for your business or brand.
First, Decide What You Want from a Digital Marketing Agency
Each client-agency relationship is unique with its own set of goals and expected outcomes. Before you start shopping for agencies, have a good idea of what it is that you want to achieve by hiring a digital marketing agency. Make a list of what a successful partnership with a marketing agency will look like for you. Are you looking for more traffic? More engagement? Greater customer retention? And how much more? If a 30% increase in monthly traffic is a goal, or if you want to grow your social media audience and double your engagement rate, bring these figures to the table. If you want to run ads and get creative, consumer-friendly content, add that to your list. And if you simply want to increase sales, a marketing agency can help you get there. But there will be ideal ways to get there for each brand or business and a good agency should understand your needs and springboard from there.
Next, Set Up Your Ecommerce Marketing Budget
Having this planned out before meeting with agencies is also a good idea. Decide on a marketing budget that works for you. A good agency won’t overcharge, and they won’t be suspiciously inexpensive either — they will, however, be able to work with any reasonable marketing budget and be affordable for you. Get an idea of fair rates and average marketing costs and know what you’re willing to spend. Then, when you meet with agencies, discuss your budget along with your goals, and see that an agency prioritizes ROI, putting your advertising dollars where they will be most effective.
Start Checking Out Agencies
Now you can start searching for ecommerce marketing agencies. Look up a few agencies and get a feel for what they’re about. In some ways, finding an advertising agency isn’t that different from finding an employee or contractor. You’ll want to be confident that they can handle the job, that they’ll be a good fit. They’ll need to have the right kind of experience. And the agency you choose should have an understanding of how to advertise within your industry or niche.
Compare Agencies’ Skills
There are a few skills you’ll want any agency to have. Remember, digital marketing means digital — there is a specific skill set that online marketers need, and tools and tactics that must be employed for best results. An ecommerce marketing agency you’re thinking of hiring should be able to:
- Manage ads on all of the popular ad platforms. You have what’s called a target audience — the people you want to reach, and others like them. You can find them through their likes, interests, hobbies, location, age range, and other defining attributes. And you can reach them on the most popular online platforms, with the right ads, courtesy of the right ecommerce marketing agency. A good agency will know where your ads will be most viewed and where interaction will be greatest (on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, TikTok, Pinterest, etc.), and will be able to manage Google Ads campaigns, social media ads, affiliate and influencer ads, and more.
- Use the latest technologies, tools, and practices. From social media trends to SEO strategies, website updates and upgrades, content, and design — there are a lot of parts to a customized ecommerce marketing plan. An agency should be able to implement a campaign and keep it running smoothly using the top industry practices and relevant technology. An ecommerce agency should be able to use the latest and most effective advertising strategies, ramp up your social media presence, and optimize your website or store if it needs it, all with the goal of a greater conversion rate and a better customer experience.
- Communicate, communicate, communicate. Communication is a skill you don’t want to forget about when looking for an agency. When looking for an agency, find out how they communicate with their clients. While most clients don’t require a daily check-in from their marketing agency, they do want regular communication and timely updates. A good ecommerce marketing agency will understand this and will outline how — and how often — they contact their clients. You’ll also want to look for an agency that provides regular reporting on ad results, letting you know what’s working and what may need to be changed.
Look at Agency Work, Clients, and Reviews
Before signing up with a marketing agency, you might want to get a better idea of the kind of work they do. Check out some previous work the agency has done or ask to see some of their current ad campaigns. Look at their current and former clients and read some reviews. This can give you an idea of what working with an agency may be like, the type of ads and content you can expect, and can help you decide if an ecommerce marketing agency is right for you.
Finally, Choose the Best Marketing Agency for Your Ecommerce Brand or Store
If you’ve got your goals and budget down, you know what digital advertising skills are required in an agency, and you know how to look for good work and a solid reputation, then you’re ready to find the right digital marketing agency for your ecommerce business or brand. If you’re looking for an agency that has a great track record on all of the above, and more — check out Experience Advertising, Inc. Founded in 2007, this digital agency has helped ecommerce businesses of all sizes meet their growth goals. Learn more about this award-winning marketing agency and then contact Experience Advertising, Inc. to talk about getting the ecommerce advertising you need.
