Building your business online is a smart move because it's one of the most affordable and trackable forms for promotion available. Done right, it should offer you a terrific return on your investment. But there are plenty of ways to market online, and I thought I'd share my thoughts about other options vs. mccardellwrite:
Name Brands, General Services
Some of us remember when advertising in the Yellow Pages was a key solution to being seen. It was the Google of its day. But no more. Yet some brand names like that sell generic services -- like listings in their directories -- that no one uses but that might seem like a good marketing investment.
They're not.
Another example of big name company solutions would be websites with pre-written content. Seems like a great deal because it's professionally written and nicely formatted and reasonably priced. Only problem is, it will probably never get you seen unless you're spending on ads. That can be your chosen approach. But if you invest in unique content for your site, this not only makes it more specific to your business but it also gives you the chance to earn free search engine traffic.
Remember that big name companies are all about cookie cutters. Repetition. Assembly lines. And their own bottom lines. The people who serve your account need to be replaceable, which means they can't have much specialized knowledge. They know the basics of the specific service they offer. They are not worried about how much money you're making. I'm sure there are exceptions, but to me, this is a rule of thumb.
In general, I would not spend my marketing budget with these companies. And if you're one of my clients, I can advise you on any of these services you may be looking at. In this way, I may be able to save you a lot of money and grief.
They're not.
Another example of big name company solutions would be websites with pre-written content. Seems like a great deal because it's professionally written and nicely formatted and reasonably priced. Only problem is, it will probably never get you seen unless you're spending on ads. That can be your chosen approach. But if you invest in unique content for your site, this not only makes it more specific to your business but it also gives you the chance to earn free search engine traffic.
Remember that big name companies are all about cookie cutters. Repetition. Assembly lines. And their own bottom lines. The people who serve your account need to be replaceable, which means they can't have much specialized knowledge. They know the basics of the specific service they offer. They are not worried about how much money you're making. I'm sure there are exceptions, but to me, this is a rule of thumb.
In general, I would not spend my marketing budget with these companies. And if you're one of my clients, I can advise you on any of these services you may be looking at. In this way, I may be able to save you a lot of money and grief.
Other Marketing Agencies
There are plenty of other marketing agencies besides mccardellwrite who offer custom services. In my opinion, you'll get a lot more from this approach than you will from generic services from brand name companies. Some of these agencies may be a perfect fit for you, as they may have strong talents in certain areas. The best, of course, will cost plenty, and I think these are most useful for companies investing in some serious branding, high-end commercials, etc.
But when it comes to agencies that offer basic digital marketing services, keep a few things in mind:
But when it comes to agencies that offer basic digital marketing services, keep a few things in mind:
- If it's a large agency, then they are building "cogs" like the brand name companies do in order to grow and become more profitable. So they need people they can easily replace to do things like spit out average content and run ads that may be effective but not optimal. At least this is my experience with larger agencies.
- People who build websites often don't understand SEO (search engine optimization). This can affect your ability to get found for relevant searches. Try to vet their understanding of this topic.
- When you pay someone once to build your website, you will have to manage it or hire someone each time you need changes made. This is ideal for those who don't want ongoing costs and are comfortable with running their own website, but not for those who just want to focus on the work of their business.
mccardellwrite Digital Marketing Services
My goal is to help local businesses focus successfully on the few digital marketing efforts that are really needed for their success. This includes having a quality website with custom content and search engine optimization and running targeted digital ads. It can include others things like having a smartphone app and doing email marketing too. Here are the differences in working with me:
- I've been doing writing and digital marketing since 2001 and I'm a one-man shop, so I do almost everything myself. You won't get rookies on the job. There are a couple optional areas where I use outside help, but I'll let you know about this ahead of time, and I oversee all final results. But for your website, app, digital ads, etc. ... that's all me.
- When it comes to digital ads, I run these through your accounts, so if you choose to stop my services after an agreed on term, you can continue running those ads. (This is true of most agencies.) But when it comes to websites, I host and manage the site because my service is aimed at those who generally don't want to touch their websites ... but want someone they can trust to take care of it.
- I work in content and digital marketing full time for a pretty large company as the digital marketing manager. So I run client accounts in the evenings and on the weekends. This makes me less available than some companies. This also means I work with just a handful of clients who I get to know on a personal level, and I treat you like a partner. If I'm running ads for you, I will spend your ad budget as carefully as I spend my own money; and I will act as a partner in all things digital marketing.