Why You Should Schedule a Digital Marketing Consultation

It's no secret that our world has become fully reliant on digital devices, services, and products. But did you know that over two-thirds of Americans are on their phones upwards of 160 times per day ? Devices of all shapes and sizes, including mobile phones, iPads, and other tablets, laptops, desktops, car touch screens, and others basically run our lives! If they want to capture the attention of their target audiences, businesses need to contact agencies like us for a digital marketing consultation.

A big reason for our love for technology is due to the effectiveness of digital marketing experts, who have mastered the ability to brand businesses, target niche or broad audiences, research and develop products that address consumer needs, and so much more. Because of the ever-changing landscape of digital marketing, businesses of all sizes have come to understand the importance of having a digital marketing strategy. Whether that means working with an in-house team or partnering with a digital marketing agency like us here at J&S Digital Services, it's become painfully obvious that brands need to perform well with marketing to beat out their competition.

Scheduling a digital marketing consultation can open the doors for your business in several ways. Through detailed strategy and planning, our team can come up with a tailored approach to growing and scaling your business. We're not just blowing smoke here, either; it's been proven that brands who make a concerted effort to outline, plan, and consistently execute their marketing strategies end up being over three times more effective than businesses that inconsistently market themselves. A digital marketing consultant will help you grow your business through strategy and planning — here’s what a digital marketing consultant can do for you:

Digital marketing agencies can help businesses develop an effective digital marketing strategy in a number of ways. Firstly, they can provide expert guidance and advice on the best digital marketing channels to focus on, based on the specific goals and objectives of the business. Secondly, they can help businesses to create engaging and effective digital marketing content that will capture the attention of their target audience. Finally, digital marketing agencies can also help businesses to track and measure their digital marketing performance, so that they can adjust their strategy as necessary to ensure maximum results. In short, digital marketing agencies can be extremely helpful in developing an effective digital marketing strategy for businesses of all sizes.

Any business needs sales to stay afloat, so at J&S digital, we always keep lead generation and conversion at the forefront of our minds when developing a sales strategy for our clients. Here are just a few reasons why a high converting sales strategy is so important for businesses:

Part of the consultation process is choosing the right KPIs (key performance indicators) to track. This is important because it allows the business to focus on the metrics that are most likely to lead to success. By choosing KPIs that are aligned with the business's goals, the digital marketing consultant can help the business create a roadmap for success. Additionally, tracking KPIs can help businesses identify areas where they need to make improvements. Ultimately, a digital marketing consultation can give your business the guidance it needs to create a winning digital marketing strategy.

When it comes to digital marketing, consultants are always on the cutting-edge of innovation. They keep up with the latest trends and technologies so they can help businesses grow, and by understanding how digital marketing works, they can help businesses create a digital marketing strategy that meets their goals. In addition, digital marketing consultants can provide insights and recommendations on how to improve campaigns, website design, copywriting, SEO efforts, branding, and more. In a digital world where staying relevant is increasingly difficult, digital marketing consultants can help businesses stay ahead of the curve and remain competitive.

Many businesses feel they've already tapped into all the digital marketing channels they can, but a digital marketing consultant will help them see the light. Not only will digital marketing consultants help businesses identify new digital marketing channels to explore, but they'll also help businesses maximize their efforts on existing channels. Additionally, digital marketing consultants can provide guidance on how to create a holistic digital marketing strategy that takes all channels into account to optimize your online presence. By going through a digital marketing consultation and audit, businesses can grow their reach and increase their chances of success in their omnichannel strategy.

Unfortunately, , getting started with a digital marketing consultation isn't as easy as just simply showing up for a meeting. It's going to take a little bit of work on your part to get the most out of the digital marketing consultant you hire. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Every marketing in the world will be more than happy to collect checks doing various digital marketing tasks for your business. But if you're not clear with what you want from the digital marketing consultation, you'll likely end up wasting both your time and money. The agency you hire should be able to help you create a digital marketing plan, but they can't read your mind as to which services you're in need of. So before you even start looking for a digital marketing consultant, take some time to sit down and think about what you want from the digital marketing consultation both now (in the short term) and later (in the long term).

In order for a digital marketing consultant to do their job, they're going to need access to your digital marketing data. This includes everything from your website analytics to your social media metrics. The digital marketing consultant you hire should be able to show you how to set up Google Analytics, Yelp Ads, email automation, local listings, and other digital marketing tools so they can access your accounts and data. The reality is that it's tough to trust a stranger with access to your private business and digital marketing data, but if you want to get the most out of the digital marketing consultation, you're going to have to be a bit more trusting than normal.

Throughout your first digital marketing consultation, the agency you're working with may ask you for usernames, passwords, and other sensitive information. If you're not comfortable with sharing this information, be upfront about it from the beginning. They should be understanding and able to work with you to find a compromise that suits both parties.

Many businesses are too shy or nervous to set expectations with their digital marketing consultant, but it's an important step in the consultation process. If you don't set expectations at the beginning of the digital marketing consultation, you're likely to be disappointed with the results. The agency you hire should be able to help you set realistic expectations for what you can achieve with your digital marketing budget.

It's natural to want results from your marketing efforts immediately, but it's important to understand that this is an investment, not a cost. The digital marketing consultant you hire should be able to help you create a digital marketing plan that will provide a detailed outline of a path toward return on your investment (ROI). So while you may not see results from your digital marketing consultation right away, know that it's a worthwhile long-term investment that requires consistency, dedication, and patience in order to deliver results.

Make sure they put together a robust proposal that outlines the digital marketing services they offer, their fees, and how they plan on helping you achieve your goals. If the agency can't put together a digital marketing proposal, they may not be the right fit for you.

A proposal should be tailored to your specific needs, easy to understand, and should outline the consultant's experience, approach, and associated costs. It's also helpful to get a feel for the anticipated ROI within the proposal, but you may just discuss this piece during the consultation itself.

Return on investment (ROI) is the most important metric to consider when hiring a digital marketing consultant. After all, marketing pros like us should be able to demonstrate a path to ROI so you can make an informed decision about whether or not to continue working with us. There are a number of ways to measure the ROI of digital marketing consulting services, with the most critical being how you track leads and sales generated from digital marketing activities. Other important metrics to consider include website traffic, engagement rates, and conversion rates.

The digital marketing consultant you hire should be able to help you set realistic ROI expectations and should be able to provide a detailed plan for how they intend to help you achieve your goals. If you’re still concerned about achieving ROI after your digital marketing consultation, it’s probably time to ask more questions or seek out an additional opinion.

Want more tips and insights like this? Check out our blog for additional digital marketing content that can help you generate more leads online.

Taking the next step in your brand’s marketing journey  and scheduling a digital marketing consultation is a big decision — one that can significantly impact the way your business evolves in the near-term and future. With that said, it's paramount that you select the digital marketing consultant that's right for you and your business. Here's a quick checklist of five points to help you find the right digital marketing consultant:

The digital marketing landscape is always changing, and what works in one industry may not work in another. It's important to select a digital marketing consultant that has experience in your industry and can provide case studies or examples of their work in your field. This is especially true for businesses in niche categories that need extra attention to detail to capture the attention of their narrow audiences. Marketing can be expensive, so make sure that you're properly vetting agencies to ensure they match up with your industry-specific needs.

In just about every marketing consultation you have, the digital marketing consultant you're working with should be able to communicate that they can deliver projects on time and with minimal errors. If they aren't able to do so, it may be an indication that they're overbooked or aren't able to handle the workload. Make sure you ask about their process for project management and what tools they use to ensure timely delivery of digital marketing assets.

To ensure a successful partnership and ROI, it's important to select a digital marketing consultant that is credible and knows how to solve problems like yours. There are a few ways to establish credibility, but one of the best indicators is whether or not the digital marketing consultant or agency has any formal partnerships (Google, Yelp, Facebook, Hubspot, etc.), has been published in any digital marketing publications, or has lots of reviews on major review sites like Clutch, AgencySpotter, and so forth.

Not every marketing consultant or agency is equipped to handle every digital marketing service. For example, if you need help with your website's conversion rate optimization (CRO), it would be beneficial to select a digital marketing consultant that specializes in CRO or has a team of CRO experts. If you want content marketing services such as copywriting and blogging, agencies like ourselves are a perfect fit. The digital marketing consultant should also have in-depth knowledge of digital marketing tools, software, and platforms so they can make better recommendations for your business.

Relationships are key to a successful digital marketing consultation and long-term agency partnership, and it's important that you work with someone who is on the same page as you. There should be a clear understanding of objectives, budget, and expectations from both parties. If there is any misalignment on these three core points, it can result in a failed digital marketing consultation.

Starting your marketing journey can feel like a big decision, but it doesn't have to be a difficult one. By following these five tips, you'll be able to select the digital marketing consultant that's right for your business.

If you’re nodding your head in agreement with what we've been covering in today's blog (or even if you’re not), it may be time to consider hiring an agency to take over your branding, SEO, advertising, and other marketing efforts.

J&S Digital is here to help. We have a team of experts who are constantly keeping up with the latest advancements in SEO, social media, and all things digital marketing. Reach out to schedule a digital marketing consultation today — we would love to help you take your business to the next level!