Startups need smart marketing. Here’s how your agency can fuel their success.
Dav Nash
8 min read
Startups are tough. From CEO to social media manager, you are wearing more than your fair share of (metaphorical) hats, often without the time or budget to spare. So what’s the solution? Let’s open the door to the trusted digital marketing agency.
Many startups at the beginning of their journey think that hiring an agency may be throwing in the towel – that it’s a badge of honour to be wearing all these hats, but it’s about bringing in the pros to amplify your efforts. So how can a digital marketing agency transform your startup? There’s more than one way to skin a cat, so here’s eight of them:
Your business is one of a kind. We can all run the risk of following generic advice, and “just post on social media” isn’t going to cut it. A great agency will tailor every part of its strategy to fit your startup like it was a custom-made suit. What does this look like?
An agency doesn’t just scratch the surface but delves deep into your industry, competitors, and audience. Think of them as your psychoanalyst (without any hypnosis or questions that are Freudian in leaning)!
A great digital marketing agency evaluates everything, from website loading speeds to SEO and everything in between. Your website should be a well-oiled machine.
Some startups thrive on social media buzz, but others see better ROI with paid ads or content marketing. A digital marketing agency analyses your strengths and weaknesses, and yes, while the term “bang for your buck” is on the tip of our tongue here, this is really what it’s all about. So let’s just say “pow for your pound.”
You’re a startup, therefore you change faces more than a teenage girl’s Instagram filters. An agency will revise your strategy, ensuring it aligns with your new goals and keeps that momentum strong.
Marketing isn’t your full-time job. The world of digital marketing moves faster than a chameleon changing colours in a disco. Keeping up with algorithm platform updates and new trends, well…
This is where an agency’s expertise can help you shine.
Digital marketing agencies live and breathe trends. When Google rolls out a major algorithm change, rather than running around like headless chickens, give yourself over to an agency because they’ll know how it affects your website ranking and will adjust your SEO strategy accordingly. They can also predict trends, such as the rise of AI-driven marketing, which is somewhat popular right now.
Each platform requires a different tone, style, and approach. Whether it’s LinkedIn and its professional thought-leading content or Instagram’s visually appealing posts and stories. Like a good method actor, an agency knows how to craft the perfect message for each face, ensuring your efforts will always resonate with the people who matter.
Agencies can help refine your brand voice so it stands out in a crowd in the market. For example, if your startup specialises in tech for remote workers, positioning you as a forward-thinking, flexible brand that understands modern workplace challenges could be the difference that makes all the difference.
Online reputation can make or break a startup. From negative reviews, PR crises, or social media mishaps, a digital agency will have the tools to handle the situation.
If you think hiring an agency is out of your budget, you need to stop that image of an Apprentice wannabe holding bags with dollar signs on them! Many agencies design their pricing with startups in mind, offering scalable and affordable options so you get the results you need without draining your wallet.
Agencies often provide tiered pricing models so you can “eat that frog” first, whether it’s your social media management, PPC, or SEO campaigns. As that revenue grows, you can add more advanced services if necessary, so you’re only paying for what you need, allowing you to keep an eye on your cash better than a shopaholic in a clearance sale.
If you just need a single campaign for a product launch or a one-time audit of your website, digital marketing agencies can provide these services without the need to commit to long-term contracts. We’re never asking you to get down on one knee and commit your undying love “Till Death Do Us Part”. You don’t need to commit to long-term contracts. If you’re operating on a tight budget, that’s okay.
Some agencies offer pricing models based on results, which can make a big difference. This arrangement can align the agency’s success with yours; it’s a win-win scenario.
You’re a startup, so you need results fast, don’t you? Agencies aren’t here to see how you go for the next 40 years. Strategies are laser-focused on growth and scaling a business. It can look like some of the following methods:
It’s not enough to get visitors to the website; they need to take action. Agencies analyse user behaviour to identify the little tweaks that can boost conversions, like clearer calls to action, faster checkout processes, or more engaging visuals.
Reel them in! Fishing metaphors aside, a great agency will know how to create compelling landing pages, lead magnets, and ad campaigns that will attract the right type of person.
Implementing personalised email campaigns, retargeting ads, and loyalty programs- the list goes on. Those customers need to keep coming back.
Your customer is as unique as you, babe, and your marketing campaigns need to be as well. Creating campaigns that resonate with your audience on a personal level should tug at those heartstrings.
Analytics tools are in abundance. Tracking user behaviour, preferences, and pain points may unearth insights akin to a cold case.
What does your ideal customer look like? While you don’t need to know how many nose hairs they have, creating detailed profiles of your ideal customers means every campaign can speak directly to their needs, desires, and challenges.
Have you ever noticed how some emails seem tailored just for you? Yes, you! Agencies can implement tools that deliver personalised content based on user interactions, like showing products they’ve browsed or suggesting services based on past purchases.
Set it and forget it! Automated follow-up emails, chatbots, and retargeted ads- agencies can help you stay engaged with your audience without pushing buttons.
Startups operate in a world where every penny counts. Digital marketing agencies always recognise that. To make their services accessible, agencies can offer startup-friendly pricing models that allow even the smallest businesses to compete in a number of different ways:
Traditional long-term contracts can feel daunting for startups. Many agencies offer flexible solutions for businesses to scale their commitment up or down depending on their immediate needs.
Agencies can often provide project-based pricing where you pay for specific campaigns or deliverables.
The proof is in the pudding, whether it’s a vegan pudding or a gluten-free one. When startups partner with a digital marketing agency, the investment is in results. Agencies prove their value through the real outcomes that showcase how effective their strategies are. It’s always worth keeping an eye on the following:
A good agency will have a portfolio of case studies that highlight their work with startups in similar industries. The success stories will build trust and show that the agency understands the challenges faced by startups.
From day one, agencies set measurable goals tailored to your business. Whether it’s achieving a specific ROI, growing your social media following, or increasing conversions, they will track progress against these benchmarks to ensure the strategy is on track.
A great digital marketing agency will be more transparent than the Invisible Man. Agencies should provide detailed performance reports and break down metrics like lead generation and website traffic. This means you can see what’s working and what needs tweaking.
Constant monitoring and optimising based on real-time data is what the best agencies do. If an ad campaign isn’t performing well, they’ll adjust the appropriate things to improve the results, ensuring you’ve squeezed every single penny of your budget.
“Cutting-edge” is such an overused term, but in that fast-paced world they call digital marketing, it’s vital to be innovative in the right possible ways. Startups always benefit from working with agencies that leverage the latest tools, tech, and methodologies to create campaigns that stand out.
I don’t know if you’ve heard of this at all, but AI is kinda popular! Agencies can use AI tools to understand more about customers. AI is a tool, and a marketing agency will know, in true Horse Whisperer style, how to use it properly.
Augmented reality and virtual reality can help startups deliver memorable, immersive experiences that captivate their audience. Imagine letting customers try on products in a virtual showroom?
Staying relevant means experimenting with new platforms or trying out interactive content. The right agency will be quick to adopt and understand the strengths, so you can connect with audiences in fresh and engaging ways.
Startups need to be nimble, so do the marketing strategies. Agile methodologies constantly iterate and refine campaigns quickly. Innovation is such an overused term, but it’s a necessity. Embracing cutting-edge techniques ensures that startups can stand out.
Startups need marketing strategies as bold and ambitious as their dreams. If you have a digital marketing agency on your side, you won’t just survive but you’ll thrive. You don’t need to wear all of those metaphorical hats as a startup, as long as you find the right agency.
