• FAQs

          Search engine optimization (SEO) helps businesses drive visits to their website through organic search traffic. Given that the top organic search results receive a third of the clicks, a decline in ranking could be detrimental for your business. Implementing SEO best practices on your website will help to ensure that your web content is seen by as many potential customers as possible. The more visitors you have, the better your chances are of converting those visits into sales!

          Local search engine optimization (SEO) helps local businesses gain visibility by optimizing their local business listings for local search. A business that leverages local SEO will include its address, phone number, local opening times, and exact location in the form of a local citation. The goal is to rank for local searches which are usually performed by people in a specific geographical region looking for a business near them.

          We typically see results within the first 30 to 60 days, but when it comes to SEO, there are many factors at play. It's important to remember that SEO is a long-term strategy and results may not come as fast at you wish.


        • FAQs

          Digital advertising uses the internet to send advertisements to customers who are online through different websites and social media platforms like Google, Bing, LinkedIn and Facebook.

          The price for Google Ads management depends on the monthly ad spend. For accounts with $1,000 in monthly ad spend, the price is $550/month. Between $1,000 and $5,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $950/month. For $5,000 to $10,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $2,000/month. For more than $10,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $4,500/month.

          The price for Social Media Ads management depends on the monthly ad spend. For accounts with $1,000 in monthly ad spend, the price is $550/month. Between $1,000 and $5,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $950/month. For $5,000 to $10,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $2,000/month. For more than $10,000 a month in ad spend, the price is $4,500/month.


        • FAQs

          This depends on the complexity and size of a redesign and if eCommerce is needed. On average, it takes around 14-18 weeks from the web design intensive stage to launch.

          If your website experiences the following issues: it’s not responsive on all devices, has a slow loading speed, the design appears old and tired, users don’t spend long on the site, sales are stagnant, or your business is going through a rebranding - your website needs a redesign to boost your brand awareness and sales.

          Sometimes there’s no need to rebuild a website. Minor edits, refreshing page content and images, or restructuring page layout for SEO best practices can boost traffic and sales.


        • FAQs

          Semantic search launched in 2013 with the release of Google's Hummingbird update. Since then, Google's search engine has become more complex. The integration of machine learning, with RankBrain, and NLP, with BERT, has enabled the search engine to better understand the context of a query and deliver more personalized and targeted results. Semantic SEO is the process of creating machine-readable content using structured data and linked open data to help search engines better understand your content.

          On-page SEO is the practice of optimizing individual web pages in order to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic in search engines. On-page SEO refers to both the content and HTML source code of a page that can be optimized, as opposed to off-page SEO which refers to links and other external signals. From meta tags to page content, website structure, and HTML, on-page optimization services are focused on making your website more visible to search engines.

          Structured data refers to any organized data that conforms to a certain format, such as information in a relational database. When information is highly structured and predictable, search engines can more easily organize and display it in creative ways. Structured data involves using a piece of code that is laid out in a specific format easily understood by search engines. The search engines read the code and use it to display search results in a more dynamic way.


        • FAQs

          An SEO agency has experts in different areas of search engine optimization that may be out of the realm of your marketing team's abilities. SEO can be very complex and time-consuming. Furthermore, as search engine algorithms change it can be difficult to stay current on the latest ranking factors and strategies for improving online visibility. You will likely see a greater return on investment and better results from using a professional SEO agency than you would from tackling this on your own.

          As a digital marketing agency, SMA Marketing provides products and services in four areas: SEO, Local SEO, Digital Advertising, and Web Design

          We focus on building authentic, long-lasting relationships with our clients. We’re goal oriented and results driven and believe in doing good and making a difference in the world.

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How to be an Awesome Inbound Marketing Agency Client

How to be an Awesome Inbound Marketing Agency Client

When you enter into a relationship with an inbound marketing agency, those first few weeks are a lot like dating. You and your agency are getting to know each other, your communication style, your likes and dislikes, and your goals. It takes a while to develop trust and to know you’re ready to fully commit. You want to be sure that this is “the one”, that they “get you,” and that you make a great team.

What makes a great client/agency relationship? The bottom line is communication and leadership. Having an open line of communication between the client and the agency is key. You’ll be working hand-in-hand, so commit to the process and have clear expectations. Leadership is crucial because your agency will expect you to be able to make decisions, steer the ship in the direction of your goals, and communicate your commitment to the rest of your company. For your new marketing strategy to work, there has to be company-wide buy-in and that starts at the top.

So, how do you navigate those first few weeks of courtship in the client/agency relationship?

Here are a few tips to help you become an awesome inbound marketing agency client:

Get to Know Each Other

Like any great relationship, you have to really get to know the other person. Your agency will be asking you a lot of questions. Ask them a few too. Ask your agency owner to tell you about their agency’s mission and values. Do they align with yours and what you want to achieve in your inbound marketing efforts? Ask your agency about its SEO strategy. A few key questions will tell you about their knowledge, methods, and track record. Ask your agency how they will be reporting results to you. Ask them what kind of communication and frequency of communication you can expect.

Evaluate whether or not you’ll be comfortable working closely with the agency owner or team they have assembled. If there is a disconnect and you find that you’re incompatible, it’s best to know that upfront. You can either work through it or terminate the relationship before it goes any further. You want to make sure you hire the right agency.

Make Marketing a Priority

It’s clear that inbound marketing, which includes content marketing, is lacking at most B2B companies. There is a real need for inbound marketing services. According to the Content Marketing Institute:

  • In 2015, only 30% of B2B marketers say their organizations are effective at content marketing, down from 38% in 2014.
  • 55% of B2B marketers say they are unclear on what content marketing success or effectiveness looks like.
  • 32% of B2B marketers say they have a documented content marketing strategy.
  • 28% of B2B marketers say they have a documented editorial mission statement. (Source: HubSpot)

You’ve hired an inbound marketing agency for a reason. You need help connecting with your buyers online. If your in-house marketing department was in charge of this initiative, they would have C-level attention and resources. Your marketing agency needs this level of buy-in as well. Since they are located off-site, effective communication and attention are even more paramount.

Online marketing is no longer a “nice to have” part of a company’s overall marketing strategy. It’s a must-have. Allot adequate time and financial resources to your inbound marketing strategy. The time you spend upfront during onboarding – providing information, strategizing and developing goals and plans, and setting up processes and an open line of communication with your agency – will pay off in dividends in the long run. Keep in mind, though, that this isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it plan. You will be continually evaluating and adjusting over time. The digital landscape is constantly changing. Be prepared to put in the effort.

Related Article: An Inbound Marketing Guide for Busy Business Owners

One thing that cannot be stressed enough, but is often overlooked, is the importance of communicating your company’s online marketing strategy with your entire staff. Here’s why that’s important ~ some of the best content for your website can come from your staff if they are aware that this is an important initiative for the company. Your staff is the product experts. They are on the front line with customers. They are the ones who are solving problems daily. You are probably sitting on a content gold mine in your marketing and sales departments, and you may not even realize it. All of this knowledge is fabulous information that can be turned into content for your website. But, if your staff is unaware of the role they play and doesn’t have a process by which to share this information, the opportunity is wasted.

Don’t Keep Secrets

Transparency during the onboarding process is crucial. You’ll be answering lots of questions, and your agency needs as much information and data as possible. There’s a reason your agency needs to know about your current marketing strategy, current marketing assets, business issues, processes, buyer personas, and social media use. Your agency wants to understand your business from all angles. In order to know where they’re going, they have to know where they’re starting from.

Your agency also needs to be apprised of upcoming events, product developments, human resources programs, and corporate initiatives. All of this ties into your online marketing strategy because this is the sort of real-time information that produces excellent web content that is perfect for sharing on social channels.

Be Responsive

Your inbound agency is working hard to produce project deliverables according to a strategic plan with deadlines. They will be providing value to you with every meeting and every email. Part of inbound marketing success is consistency. Do your part when it comes to reviewing content, participating in meetings, and providing information. Things don’t always go according to plan, but when you get into a rhythm with your agency, you’ll start to see results.

Have One Point of Contact

It’s very difficult for an agency to report to several different corporate stakeholders. It leads to bottlenecking and decisions being passed off to others. Having one person at your firm who can make day-to-day decisions on your behalf will speed up the process and allow your agency to implement your strategy with ease.

Give Specific Feedback

In order to improve its service, your agency needs specific feedback and constructive criticism. There is a bit of a learning curve with each new client. Your inbound agency will be constantly evaluating its efforts and making improvements as they learn more and more about your company, your buyer persona, and your industry. Keep in mind that you are the subject-matter experts in your industry. Help your agency help you. Give your agency feedback that will help them carry out your mission and objectives.

Be Open to New Ideas

A good inbound agency will push you beyond your comfort zone. Be open to new ways of expanding your marketing strategy and attracting customers. Your agency has an objective vantage point. It may be easier for them to see issues and opportunities. Trying a new approach will make you feel vulnerable, but there is no reward if there is no risk.

Have Clear Goals and Realistic Expectations

Your agency will work with you to set realistic goals for your company’s inbound game plan. Having clear goals will also allow them to measure and present data relevant to your marketing strategy. Keep in mind success in online marketing doesn’t happen overnight. There may be some quick gains, such as an increase in website traffic or an increase in social shares, but real wins in terms of leads and conversions will come over the course of a long-term plan. Your inbound marketing strategy is about building relationships with potential customers, and that takes time.

A successful client/agency relationship is truly a partnership. You and your agency will be constantly learning from each other, adjusting your strategy, and trying new approaches. Mutual respect, open communication, leadership, and realistic expectations are key. It takes time, patience, and dedication. With a commitment to a shared vision and strategy, you’ll accomplish great things together.

Do you have tips for agency clients? What works best for you in developing a strong client/agency relationship? We’d love to know, so feel free to comment or send us a message.

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