Earlier, the internet was not a place one naturally navigated to, to find things or to shop. So, billboards, magazines, radio, and television were the only mediums used to advertise. Sports games would have huge billboard ads, movies would have ads in magazines & radio etc. But over the last two decades now, we have had the internet. The Internet has changed how we market our products and services. It has created numerous jobs that are specific to each and every little part of marketing digitally.

Online marketing reaches every internet connected device.

The best thing about digital marketing is the myriad types of feedback you can get. You can know demographic based requirements, interests and sales conversions. You can see what kind of advertisements convert to sales, what type of content a particular demographic consumes and therefore where to target your ads etc. However, as a business owner you have a lot to do and studying marketing analytics might take up a majority of your time as you might not be an expert in that.

This is where digital marketing service providers come in. Their job is to come up with digital marketing strategies that work for your business. There are too many digital marketing service providers in the market and it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. All of them offer multiple, often similar-sounding services and that makes it confusing. It is a rather expensive investment to make, both in terms of finances and your brand image. So, here are a few tips to weed out the substandard digital marketing service provides and some key indicators of genuine ones.

Things to avoid:

• Lack of verifiable portfolio: If a digital marketing company does not have a sizeable portfolio of clients they have worked with, or are not willing to share that information, that is a huge sign to not work with them.
• Exorbitant prices: If a company charges you much higher than what is the standard rate for that service in the market, then it is a clear indication that you might have to look further to find a suitable, legit, and cost-effective digital marketing service provider.
• Unwilling to make promises: If a digital marketing service provider seems inconfident working with your business, and is hesitant in setting marketing goals that convert to positive sales, then they are not going to benefit you. Neither in short-term nor in the long-term.
• Lack of strategy: Online marketing is a strategy game, and strategies require one to look at the big picture. So, if a digital marketing service provider does not have a long-term strategy that works for you, then you should definitely consider going for a different solution provider.

In lieu of this, there are companies that are willing to go the extra mile with you and for you. A good online marketing solution works only when businesses work hand-in-hand with their digital marketing service providers. So how does one figure out which digital marketing service provider is good for them?

Here are a few indicators of decent digital marketing service providers:

• Portfolio: A good digital marketing service provider has no issue in showing the companies that they have worked with or are working with. They will want to talk about how they are a part of successful businesses and how they can help you achieve your goals as well.

• Vision: No matter what your business is, they are capable enough to have a vision that aligns with your needs. They are able to map your progress and build marketing campaigns accordingly. Their marketing efforts will bring you prospects that convert to customers.
• True to their word: Digital marketing service providers are very good at making promises. If they follow those promises with actions that work for you, then they are worth working with.
• Economical/Penny-wise: They are economical in their digital marketing services. They carefully plan out what solutions you can spend your marketing budget on. They are not wasteful or hasty about any financial decisions.
• Compatible: They will find marketing solutions that work seamlessly with your brand. They will talk about your brand in a way that makes you look good instead of making them look good.

Rounding off…

Choosing the online marketing strategies for your business can be a really daunting task, so you should make sure that you keep these indicators in mind when hiring a company. After all, this is a long-term relationship for your business and the one that will control your brand majorly. So, choose wisely!