Finding the right digital marketing agency can be hard work if you’re not sure what to look for. You might think that the most impressive-looking company will provide the best services, but that’s not always the case, so this guide will help you find the best digital marketing agency in Melbourne on your own terms. Keep these eight considerations in mind when choosing a digital marketing agency, and you’ll have the best chance of finding one that’s worth its salt!

1) What Kind of Relationship Are You Looking For?

If you’re looking for a one-off project, you can likely choose from hundreds of digital marketing agencies in your area. On the other hand, if you want to work with an agency on an ongoing basis, it’s worth putting some time into research so that you find someone whose services and experience fit your needs. There are myriad business questions to ask about before choosing: What kind of relationship do you want? Will your campaigns be local or global? Do you need multiple services (SEO, web design, etc.) or do they all fall under one category? How long will it take for them to start seeing results?

2) Do You Want Full Service or Not?

Deciding whether you want an all-inclusive service, or just some of your digital marketing handled by a third party is an important decision. If you decide to work with a full-service agency, keep in mind that you’ll be hiring one employee for each aspect of digital marketing. That could be one person for social media, another for SEO, etc.

3) What Kind of Budget Are You Working With?

The digital marketing world has no shortage of experts, but it does have its fair share of charlatans. If you find yourself with options, here are some questions you can ask potential vendors to screen them out: What’s your hourly rate? How long will it take for me to start seeing results? And what’s your success rate? You should also be able to see some examples of their work and even speak with customers they have worked with in the past.

4) What Kind of Experience Does The Agency Have?

Experience and expertise are paramount when choosing a digital marketing agency. Ask questions like: how long have they been in business? What kind of clients do they work with? How many clients do they have, and what is their client retention rate? Do they use innovative tactics? In addition, make sure you’re comfortable with your partner; if not, move on. But if all checks out, remember that success isn’t instant—it takes time for an agency to become familiar with your brand and its messaging.

5) How Large Is Their Reach?

A digital marketing agency with one or two employees may be great at creating content, but their reach won’t go far beyond your own network. Look for an agency that has some sort of presence on social media, blogs, and major industry publications—this will give you an idea of how much they can promote your business on a large scale.

6) What is their process?

The best digital marketing agencies will have a clear and coherent process they follow when working with clients. By studying their process, you can get an idea of how they operate, what projects they’ve worked on in the past, and if they’re likely to be a good fit for your needs. Ask them about: How they would go about designing your website or creating your online marketing campaign? What kind of relationship you can expect with their team? How often do you expect to speak with someone from their office?

7) Who will be working on your account?

There’s no point signing up with an agency if you’re not going to receive any support. It may take a few weeks for your account manager and a team of consultants to get up-to-speed on your business, but by then you should know who will be assigned to your account, and how often they’ll be in touch. Any worthwhile agency will offer face-to-face meetings with their team at least once every two months.

8) Will you get regular reports and updates on your accounts?

It’s important that you are kept in the loop on your account. You should be receiving regular emails, and you should be having regular meetings with your agency. If you aren’t, then it might be worth considering looking for a new agency. Most agencies provide their clients with weekly reports on how their social media campaigns are going and how their websites are performing in terms of hits, traffic, etc. and it is important that these emails arrive on time every week so you know what is happening with your marketing campaigns at all times. With regards to face-to-face meetings, if they do not happen regularly (once or twice per month) then there may be something wrong as well.

Conclusion

No two agencies are created equal, so you should take some time before making a final decision. Make sure you look at previous work, ask for references, and check out customer reviews. An agency that has done work in your industry or one that has experience with your target market is more likely to provide effective results. Remember, the Internet doesn’t just include websites; it also includes search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, and social media management.