Starting your own digital marketing agency sounds like an exciting, glamorous business idea that can make you rich while doing something you love. The truth of the matter, however, is that running a digital marketing agency takes a lot of skill and knowledge – things you might not have if you’re new to the industry. If you’re thinking about starting your own agency but don’t have any experience in digital marketing, this guide will show you how to start your agency by learning from the mistakes and success of others.
Have you always wanted to own your own digital marketing agency? Owning your own business can be extremely rewarding, but starting one from scratch can seem like an insurmountable task. Fortunately, you don’t need years of experience in digital marketing or previous agency management experience to start your own digital marketing agency! This step-by-step guide walks you through how to get the ball rolling and grow your agency from there.
Target your niche
If you’re thinking about starting a digital marketing agency, you might be having the same questions I had when starting mine: how do I get clients? What’s the best way to start building my client base and stay competitive? How do I find someone who will agree to work for me long-term? Read on for my answers. One of the biggest challenges in digital marketing is the relatively high rate of turnover; it is common for agencies to experience 60% turnover every year. With that in mind, your first task should be attracting people to your business, which can seem daunting without any experience. Your secret weapon? Become an expert! To help you build your brand and generate traffic to your website, start by creating valuable content that resonates with your target audience. Share it across social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter and set up a blog so that interested parties can subscribe via email (or RSS).
Set up your systems
Create a set of systems so you can divide your work. This includes things like developing an understanding of the work you need done, planning ahead for both your clients and staff, etc. You’ll need to figure out what is involved in running the agency as well (researching industry trends, business filings and bank accounts).
Finally, it’s important that your new agency reflect your personality. This means including personal touches in everything from branding materials to company structure. For example, if you’re known for being generous and caring then this should be reflected in how people are treated at your agency. Likewise, if you have a reputation for being diligent and organized then your employees will also feel this way about their work environment.
Get clients
With no previous experience, how can you compete for clients? The truth is, it’s easier than you might think. Start by building your portfolio and offering the services that you’re most qualified to offer. For example, if you don’t have any in-house design skills but are excellent at SEO or SEM, start there and hone your skills so that over time you can offer design services as well. Another strategy is to find one big client first—a referral from someone you know—and build on that relationship. Whatever you do, never put all of your eggs in one basket and wait for new business opportunities to come knocking; rather, proactively pursue new clients! To gain more exposure, attend networking events and connect with potential customers on social media. Share helpful content on social media channels such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep potential clients engaged. Lastly, maintain an open dialogue with past clients about their experiences working with you. Make sure they were happy enough to recommend you before moving forward!
One of the biggest challenges when starting a digital marketing agency is getting clients. You need some sort of way to show off your skills in order to be taken seriously. If you’re not confident enough in yourself yet because you haven’t been able to develop a full range of skills due to lack of experience or education (this includes technical expertise), then work on something else like email marketing campaigns until you feel comfortable branching out into other areas like copywriting or graphic design.
Run it like a business
- Set up your office space. This should include office furniture and basic equipment such as phone, laptop, printer, copy machine, scanner, fax machine etc. Spend wisely as it’s likely you’ll need to go cheap at first for the sake of cash flow. It’s often tempting in those early days to buy things that are nice but not really necessary and find yourself spending much more than you should have.
- Make a list of everything you need for your business including items such as phones, laptops, fax machines etc… (i will follow-up on this in the next post) 3. Sign up for an account with Google Ads, Facebook Ads and LinkedIn Ads 4. Create social media accounts 5. Add a website or blog 6. Attend networking events 7. Start cold calling clients! Begin by researching companies in your area by browsing through their websites and looking for any contact information you can find. Find out if they offer any services similar to what you offer, then contact them about taking on new clients. Keep track of who agrees to meet with you so you can follow up later!
Conclusion
The internet offers unlimited opportunity for anyone who is willing to take the necessary steps in order to do so. One way you can start is by starting a digital marketing agency. This type of business gives you the opportunity to market other businesses and make money doing it. There are many things that go into starting up this type of agency, including finding customers, advertising your services, and getting contracts set up. While it might be tough in the beginning, sticking with your goal will ensure that you will find success one day. It’s not too late to try your hand at something new. Whether you have experience or not, there’s always room for growth!
