In this era of the Internet and social media, most of the customers are now online. Businesses are making strides in getting their brand out there with the help of digital marketing. For what it’s worth, digital marketing offers a modern alternative on how businesses can better reach their target market, and in turn, improve their ROI. The increasing demand for good online marketing strategies paved the way for the proliferation of digital agencies that cater to those needs. Albeit the numerous advantages that come with this growth, business owners should be circumspect when working out a deal with online marketing companies and do their due diligence.
Visual Marketing Australia, as one of the front runners in digital marketing on the Gold Coast, we stress the importance of doing your homework and due diligence when investing in online marketing. This comes after a Queensland-based digital agency withheld the information of its clients when it went into liquidation in July this year. As a full-service digital marketing agency, we have the capacity to assist in migrating the affected customers over to our server since the agency in question did not give their clients access to their own domain, website, and even Cpanel login details.
Proper due diligence is essential in any business transaction, which is why it is necessary that you do your homework to ensure that you get your money’s worth. Before making any decision, one should identify all possible risks that may be involved so that a strategic approach can be set in place when dealing with them.
Even if the company embodies transparent and reliable business disciplines, it is still a good practice to go through the terms and conditions stipulated in the contract. Make sure that the domain of the business is registered to your name, and that you have access and control to the login details to avoid issues in the future.
We also believe that communication and trust are key factors in an effective and fruitful working relationship with clients. How confident are you with the company you are about to go into business with? You should always look at its industry experience and reputation, and client feedback.
We have been providing reliable digital marketing solutions since 2009. We are here to help you build killer marketing campaigns and deliver desirable outcomes. Stories on how we help businesses grow or streamline their digital marketing efforts can be found in client testimonials. These are also reflected in the long-term partnership we have established with our customers.
John Bond, CEO and founder of VMA, highlights points to discuss with prospective partners in your digital marketing efforts. “Digital marketing agencies should be able to provide references and contact details so that customers can speak to them directly and do their proper research about the company,” he said. It should not be limited to commendations from clients, but also to unsatisfactory engagements. This way, you will have an idea on how the agency addressed these circumstances.
It is also important to look for companies that offer fair pricing and a “satisfaction guarantee” on their work. Remember that a bargain online marketing plan does not always translate to a better deal. Going over some examples of previous work in a similar price range to a proposed project will help you decide if they are the best fit for your business goals. In addition, a “satisfaction guarantee” scheme ensures that businesses are paying for what they actually signed up for. Here at VMA, we will keep on working on the proposed design and concept of the client’s website until they are satisfied with it.
Lastly, always ask questions. Quiz them on different facets of implementing an online marketing strategy. Make sure to focus on where and by whom the website will be hosted, and who will own the website after the final invoice payment. Here are a few questions just about hosting:
- Is it hosted in Australia?
- is an SSL certificate included?
- Do they manage a shared server or dedicated server?
- Is it optimised for WordPress or Magento for example?
- Is it high speed for fast loading?
- Is it an ‘A’ or ‘A+’ rated server?
- What is there support like (ie: 24/7)?
If things don’t add up or everything seemed too good to be true, it is very likely that problems will arise down the road. If you are doing a web development project, you might like our questionnaire on: 50 Questions to Ask Your Web Developer
Before signing with a digital marketing agency, it is important that you’ve done your due diligence and you’ve asked the right questions. But at the end of the day, it is up to the agency to make their case.
About Visual Marketing Australia
We are a full-service Digital Marketing Agency offering a variety of marketing services, including CRM Implementation and Integration, Sales and Marketing Automation, and Inbound Marketing Solutions. We offer digital marketing services in an integrated manner and focus on multi-channel marketing like Social Media, SEO, and Google Ads. This Gold Coast digital marketing company takes pride in providing tools and solutions that are affordable, measurable, and extremely effective to any business regardless of its size.
For over a decade, we have stayed true to our commitment of providing impeccable customer service and transparent business processes. We encourage our clients to review material contracts and check management references with our previous and current customers. This way, our prospective customers can make a sound decision when establishing a long-term business relationship with us.
For more information on how we can streamline your digital marketing strategy, contact us for a complimentary consultation!
