Amelia Fenner-Prowle
Helping Small and Medium Businesses Achieve Their Full Marketing Potential | Digital Marketing Expert
How To Choose a Digital Marketing Agency
So you’ve started a business, and you need some help with your marketing.
Simple, you think. I’ll find myself an agency.
There’s no shortage of marketing agencies, especially in The Big Smoke, which The Good Marketer calls home. But while this may seem like a good thing, the recent increase in the number of digital agencies makes choosing one pretty tricky. And that’s why we’re here to guide you through how to choose a digital marketing agency. Remember, when it comes to agencies – no two are the same!
SEO, Paid Social, PPC – every agency has its speciality. So, when you’re choosing a digital agency in London – or anywhere else for that matter – you might be wondering what to look for in a digital marketing agency.
First, you need to consider your business’s marketing needs.
If you’re a service-based business, you’ll need an agency that knows lead generation. If e-commerce is your poison, look for social media marketers. Do you see where we’re heading with this?
SEO, graphic design, content strategy, and social media – agencies differ in their specialisms, and if you want the best for your business, you might need to spend a little time searching for the right one. Some companies find their perfect match immediately; others have to kiss a few frogs first.
But trust us when you find it – that’s when the magic happens.
So, which agencies would be best for your business’s individual needs? How do you go about choosing a digital agency? We’ve narrowed it down to eight agencies for areas that are the most frequently searched for.
If You're Looking For A Marketing Agency Dedicated To Small Businesses
Although it’s predictable for us to recommend ourselves in the small business marketing space, we have the results to back it up, and our search results speak for themselves.
If you’re not sure what to look for in a digital marketing agency, we suggest starting with somewhere with credibility and social proof. As a highly recommended agency by Google and over 100 online reviews from our clients, which awarded us a rating of 4.8 stars, it’s clear that we make our clients happy.
At The Good Marketer, we pride ourselves on being a one-stop shop for small businesses that need a helping hand in producing effective digital marketing content.This includes:
- Organic social media posting
- Paid social media campaigns (across a variety of channels)
- Google Ads (pay-per-click advertising)
- Search engine optimisation
- Website development
- Content advertising
- Email marketing
Ultimately, we aim to increase revenue and scale small-to-medium-sized businesses in the eCommerce and service industries. We’ve seen our clients reach new heights because of our work, which is incredibly rewarding for all parties. We helped The House Outfit gain a 175% increase in revenue with our Paid Media efforts and increased sign-ups for online and in-person Spanish classes by 577% for Battersea Spanish. For a well-rounded service conducted by a team of industry experts, we’re an excellent choice for those looking to grow their business.
If You’re Looking For E-Commerce Advertising
Obviously, this is us, again (sorry!). We pride ourselves on saying we are one of the best eCommerce agencies for small and medium-sized businesses.
We are partnered with Facebook, Google, SEMRush and Klaviyo, making us one of the top agencies across these platforms. We pride ourselves on partnering with these platforms but don’t stop there. To ensure results and that we meet our client’s business goals, we offer:
- SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)
- PPC (Paid Search)
- Organic Social Media
- Paid Social Media
- Email Marketing
- Website Builds & Development
- Content Marketing
- Video Content
- Branding & Logo Design
- Digital Strategy
Our broad range of services provides our clients with a dedicated account manager who knows and understands your business’s goals. Our passion is to support you, and we are obsessed with our client’s success. So, when you’re wondering how to find a good marketing agency, remember to consider the level of service you want and find an agency that’s got a track record of doing just that.
If You're Looking For A Digital PR Agency
Rise at Seven is a leading search-first agency working across the UK & US. These guys have worked with brands like Nasty Gal, Monzo, Tougher Mud and more to help them facilitate search demand across a host of search engines and platforms through top-scale content, digital PR, CRO and UX. So if you’re wondering how to choose the right marketing agency for search marketing and Digital PR, this is the agency for you.
If You're Looking For A Creative Agency
Don’t Panic is your go-to if you’re choosing a digital agency that specialises in producing digital content to intrigue and engage online and offline customers. These guys are skilled in working with non-profit organisations and have a unique talent for taking a creative approach to campaigns that exceed expectations time and time again.
Alternatively, Wildfire is a London-based creative agency that uses the power of ideas to craft memorable creatives across their advertising and marketing services. With the power of ideas at the centre of their marketing strategy, they dissect an ‘idea’ into parts, identifying, designing, executing and analysing—wildfire use this approach across the hospitality, leisure, sport and retail industries. Working with big names like Amazon, Next and various football clubs, these guys know what they are doing with their creative work. If you want to choose a digital marketing agency with big creds behind them, these are your people.
If You’re Looking For Organic Social Media Management
Wondering how to choose a digital marketing agency that can manage your social media for maximum impact? Truffle Social is the leader in the game regarding organic social media management. They offer a complete and flexible service that covers all social aspects, from strategy planning to influencer campaigns. These guys focus on honing your brand’s tone of voice online, engaging with your online community and generating valuable conversations. Be sure to check out their TikTok too! Checking out all of an agency’s platforms is a great step if you’re unsure how to find a good marketing agency.
If You’re Looking For B2B Marketing
Gripped is the leading B2B marketing agency in London and are experts in their field. They understand that B2B audiences are more knowledgeable than the average consumer and what their buying decisions are motivated by. They help founders, sales leaders, and marketing teams earn the trust of prospective customers, and they use a combination of content marketing, SEO, automation, paid media, and market understanding to put you ahead of your competitors.
If You’re Looking For Influencer Marketing
Disrupt Marketing is an agency based in London that specialises in paid social, influencer marketing and youth marketing. They like to be considered an all-access pass to attention, engagement and action in one of the most progressive marketing channels. Disrupt was founded in 2010 and is now working with iconic brands such as Absolut, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Vinted. However, when you’re mulling over how to choose a digital marketing agency, don’t get too blinded by the big names. Instead, take the time to consider if they can deliver the services you need to scale your business.
If You’re Looking For Video Production
Skylark Media is a creative video agency based in Bristol that crafts videos to inspire consumers and boost client sales. They have had extensive experience in various video types, including animation, TV commercials, product explainers and more, for differing business sizes. So if you’re thinking about how to choose a digital marketing agency to provide professional video content, these guys are for you.
Founder Jo Hayward started her career in television, making scientific documentaries that fuelled her passion for telling the story of environmental solutions. Skylark selects one charity per year to work with and help progress their cause.
So there you have it, our top 8 agencies!
Once you’ve found an agency that can service your marketing needs, you’ll need to consider your budget.
In years gone by, digital marketing agencies throughout London have been known for their lack of transparency when it comes to their client’s finances.
You might be pondering questions like, what is my agency actually doing? What am I paying for? Is my advertising budget being used effectively?
Not that we’re biassed, but here at The Good Marketer, we pride ourselves on leading the change in the industry and offering our clients complete transparency on all aspects of our service – including your £££. Now, that’s not to say all agencies work this way – but times are certainly changing! That being said, you still need to consider how much agencies charge and what you can realistically afford.
If you’re a startup, you’ll want to find an agency with digital marketing packages and contract flexibility. If your business is at a stage where money is no natural object (isn’t that the dream?), hit up the big dogs well-versed in spending big budgets!
So when you’re wondering how to choose a digital marketing agency, remember to choose an agency that’s had experience with businesses just like yours.
Now, consider the agency’s credibility.
If you’re a business owner, you’ve heard this before. But we’ll go ahead and repeat it, and a little louder for the people at the back.
Social proof, social proof and, oh yeah, SOCIAL PROOF!
Before signing with an agency, you need to determine its credibility. Check platforms like Google My Business, Clutch and the agency’s website. See what their previous and existing clients are saying about them – it’ll help you get a feel for who they are outside their marketing spiel. Don’t expect all five stars either; the mark of a good agency isn’t one that has never lost a client but one that, when it does, manages to do so amicably.
Now, you’ve found an agency that offers the right marketing services for your business, is within your budget and is credible. You’re sorted, right? Well, almost.
Marketing, budgets, agencies – so far, it’s all felt pretty transactional. But the thing to remember about agencies is we’re people too!
The best digital marketing agency will feel like an extension of your in-house team. It will feel like a group of people sharing your goals, passions and visions for the future. And with that in mind, it seems pretty crucial that you get along with your chosen agency.
In 2018, an article from Forbes called it ‘the beer test’.
In marketing years, decades have passed since 2018, but in our opinion, this concept has stood the test of time.
So finally, consider this when you’re wondering how to choose a digital marketing agency.
Do you like your agency? When all’s said and done and the metrics are put to one side, could you sit contently and have a beer with them (or your account manager, at least?)
Especially for small business owners, your brand is your baby and putting it into someone else’s hands can be a big deal. And, over the weeks or months or years that you may work together, it’s essential (and inevitable) that you build up a relationship.
But, like in any walk of life, you’re bound to gel more with some people than others – clients and agencies are no exception. So, we think it’s crucial that you find an agency you do gel with.
Forbes rounded up their article by concluding that only two things really matter when choosing a digital agency:
- Can they do the job?
- Do you like working with them?
Of course, these two questions are essential, but we think there’s a little more to it – especially in the world of small businesses where time and money are hot commodities.
So, Forbes. We’ll take your two questions and raise the following:
- Are they credible? (we get it, you don’t have time to waste)
- Do they suit your budget? (you don’t have money to waste either)
And there you have it, four things to consider if you’re looking for a digital marketing agency in London.
