Whether you want to use SEO to boost your website’s presence on Google’s search results or generate more marketing qualified leads through your digital strategy, you’ll need to partner with the right internet marketing agency.
But there are lots of internet marketing agencies in NYC to choose from. How would you know which agency is the right fit for you?
Use the following tips to help you filter through the different agencies so you can identify which one is best qualified to deliver a winning strategy.
5 Steps to Choosing the Ideal Digital Marketing Agency in NYC
1. Identify your goals and deliverables
Before vetting different digital marketing agencies, you’ll need to identify your goals and deliverables.
Your goals should highlight what you’re trying to achieve, while your deliverables should highlight the processes, channels, and platforms you’ll use to achieve your goals.
For example, let’s say your goal is to redesign your eCommerce website to improve its user experience (UX) design and web accessibility. Your deliverables might include hiring a UX design agency to deliver a UX strategy and execute the redesign in stages.
Once you’ve nailed your goals and deliverables, you can refine them. What is the timeline for the redesign and launch of your website? What are the project’s key performance indicators?
With this knowledge, you can contact the agencies that best drive your goals and deliverables.
2. Partner with an agency that has the desired expertise
Not all agencies have the expertise you need.
While many agencies brand themselves as “full-service” (meaning they offer an array of digital marketing services), others focus on a few specific services, industries, or niches.
To ensure the best outcome, partner with an agency that has the desired expertise.
If you want to build a digital marketing strategy encompassing SEO, PPC, and social media, consider partnering with a full-service agency. However, if you’re going to create a series of website and YouTube videos that educate your target audience on a new product offering, consider partnering with a top-notch video marketing agency.
3. Check client testimonials, case studies, and reviews
Once you have a shortlist of agencies, carefully assess their client testimonials, case studies, and reviews.
You can read client testimonials on each agency’s website. Reviews are readily available on B2B ratings and review websites like Clutch. If the agency you’re considering working with is reputable, it should appear on these review sites.
You can usually find case studies on the agency’s website. Ask each agency to email their case studies if they’re not publicly available.
Each case study should clearly outline the client’s problems or challenges and the solutions with accompanying qualitative and quantitative data.
4. Check past projects
Ask for portfolio work If you’re hiring a video marketing, UX, or web development agency. Portfolios help you gauge their creativity, technical expertise, and problem-solving skills. It will also give you an idea of the quality they can deliver.
Ideally, you’ll want to partner with an agency that can align seamlessly with your visual branding and aesthetic direction.
Other types of digital marketing work—like SEO, Facebook advertising, and email marketing—might be challenging to represent in a portfolio. Past clients might also be reluctant to expose confidential data to their competitors. In such instances, ask these agencies for generalized or redacted reports.
5. Schedule an initial consultation
Once you’ve narrowed your shortlist to the most viable candidates, set up initial consultations with each agency.
During your initial consultation, discuss your goals and deliverables and ask each consultant to outline the potential strategies and solutions to meet your objectives. Each consultant should be able to provide direct and clear responses. If they fail to give clear explanations or make outlandish promises, count this as a red flag.
Ultimately, the agency that best understands your challenges, offers the best solutions, has the most relevant experience, and most closely aligns with your core values should be selected.
Take Your Online Presence to the Next Level with Think Design
If you’re looking to partner with a highly experienced New York-based internet marketing agency, look no further than Think Design. We offer various online marketing services— including digital strategy, UX design, web development, SEO, and eCommerce marketing.
Get in touch today and find out how we can take your business to the next level.