Top 10 Questions to Ask an Internet Marketing Agency
1. What is the main purpose of a business-to-business website?
We believe that the main purpose of any website is to first capture your visitor’s attention and should move them through a sales funnel, educate them about your product or service, and give them the information they need to take the most-appropriate action. In our opinion, any consultant who forgets this basic premise is suspect.
2. Will your Internet Marketing strategy focus on generating revenue?
At 190west, we believe the right answer here is “yes.” In fact, we help our clients make money every day online through improved lead generation, direct sales, optimization, and branding. If people are looking for what you sell online, you can generate revenue selling it – it’s that simple. It’s just a matter of finding the right prospects, educating them, helping them solve their problem, and delivering the right solution for them.
3. How do you plan to attract people to our website?
There are several ways to attract prospects to your site, and good Internet Marketing consultants should be able to speak to all of these options. All search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.) have built-in tools and formulas for helping prospects find your site quickly when they’re searching for products or services similar to yours. Attracting traffic is a dynamic process, so effective consultants should develop a comprehensive strategy that consists of articles, social media, public relations, blogs, and more. Above all else, be cautious of those who don’t speak to the full range of tools, or think there’s only one way to attract traffic.
4. How do we convert visitors into leads or buyers?
When people visit your site, you must be able to convince them that you have a solution to make their lives easier. Remember, the website is a direct response vehicle, not a billboard. By using proven direct response lead generation tactics such as opt-in boxes, articles, trial offers, newsletters, and much more, you begin to develop a relationship with your visitors. All of this is critical because once they trust you, they will begin to buy from you.
5. How do I know if my business is suitable to have a Web presence?
Every business is suitable to have a web presence, or to be more emphatic: every business should have a Web presence. However, you should use your website as just one tool in your arsenal, and not as your entire marketing strategy.
For some businesses, their websites will become a local tool to entice people to visit their store. For others, they might sell their goods and services directly from the website. And others still may use their website as an educational medium that builds awareness, trust, and expertise.
6. Why do I need a professional to write the copy on my website?
Copywriting is both an art and a science, and some seemingly small changes can lead to significant results. Yet to educate, inform, and motivate your audience to take action – the action you want them to take – takes skill, practice, and experience. Like the famous advertising tagline once said, “You’ll never get a second chance to make a first impression,” and nowhere is this more true than with copywriting.
7. Do you have long-term satisfied clients?
Too often, Internet Marketing consultants (especially the bad ones), don’t really have long-term happy clients who can serve as references. The reason for this is they don’t focus on the customer’s overall success and only try the “quick fix” that may or may not work. If it doesn’t work, they tend to move on to the next big deal, leaving the current customer less than satisfied.
So if your consultant hems and haws when you ask for long term customer references, don’t walk away. Run.
8. Do they offer additional services?
If you need it, does your partner offer additional services, such as tracking, ROI measurement, e-mail address gathering, viral, PR, link building, copywriting, and more?
Remember this is a long-term strategy and approach and you need to partner with a vendor who can help you achieve your best results. Those with more to offer are more likely to be able to help you accomplish your goals.
9. What types of keywords are they going to target?
It is important to know what types of keywords they are going to target, and if these keywords will produce any real traffic. For example, a prospective vendor may promise to target 10 keywords, but there may be four keywords that will end up producing no real traffic and no conversions.
10. Why should I hire a consultant when there is so much free information online?
The old adage is true: “hope is a not a strategy.” When it comes to Internet Marketing, it may seem easy to slap a few words and pictures on a website and hope (and pray!) that someone comes to visit once in a while.
However, it’s another story when you know where everything goes and how to put it all together. We at 190west get paid to test and weed out the irrelevant hype and present you with marketing strategies and services based on years of experience. We not only know how to put the boiler together but we know where each bolt goes.
The 190west Advantage
190west is a proven leader in Internet Marketing and is ready to help you start achieving the kind of results that really matter: increased traffic, more qualified leads, and ultimately, more revenue.
To learn more about how 190west can help you achieve better results, please take advantage or our Free Inbound Marketing Assessment or call 866.538.8196 today.
