Technology is said to be the best thing that ever happened to businesses around the globe. From equipment that you can use at home to large machines in a production site, technology got your back.
The internet is packed with information, but only some of it is precise. The rest of it ranges from unsupported views masquerading as fact to blatant “fake news”. Some can be fraudsters who pretend to have reliable data expert advice. In some cases, these outlets are evident in their lack of legitimacy, due to sleek websites and “deep fake” visual technology, other websites are more difficult to classify. These are just the challenges faced by customers seeking to distinguish what they should and shouldn’t believe.
With that being said, businesses that do not have internal resources might not know where to turn when seeking advice on aspects of their company, such as online marketing. They do not have much time to check blogs, posts, ebooks, and webinars from those pretending to be credible digital marketers. It can be confusing for one who to listen to and who should be ignored. Here are some ways on how you will know if an online marketing expert is worth your time, attention, and money.
Quality over Quantity
A company’s history is incredibly important as it pervades in every level of an organization. It goes from the initial engagement of consumers with a brand, to corporate management, and to the very foundations of corporate culture. As a business owner, checking an online marketing website’s history can help your business get quality service that you are aiming to have. You can easily trust an online marketing expert with a credible history.
Client Testimonials
Before buying certain products in an online shop, people tend to look at client testimonials or reviews to know if a certain product really works. Same goes in online marketing business. One of the first items that catches the eye when looking at various marketing consultants is always the success stories of customers. Testimonials that are too enthusiastic or those that are pleasant but packed as if they’re anything special are typical errors. Testimonials should, most significantly, represent topics of concern to the target audience.
Most online marketing experts are on Linkedin. You should not just look at their recommendations. Look for feedback that covers the history of the digital marketing expert. In order to learn more about their skills and performance, you can also directly ask for references and contact companies listed on the website of the marketing company. Checking these real-world examples of expertise would provide a clearer understanding of whether the guidance of the marketing organization contributed to positive change for its consumers or not.
Try to contact a few consumers, whether it’s content marketing, social media marketing, search engine marketing, email marketing, Facebook marketing or some other tactic, to see a trend in the results. There may be one or two disappointed customers who do not correctly represent the experience of the online marketing expert. The more businesses you can check with, the better understanding you can get of the competence and reputation of the provider. This will also tackle referrals. Asking a trusted colleague for a recommendation based on their own experiences is one of the easiest ways to verify the reputation of a marketing professional. The knowledge of a powerhouse online marketing talent or agency could well be tapped by a business that is winning in online marketing.
Industry Association
In advancing the industry, a real online marketing specialist would definitely be involved. This may suggest that they are members of or have become interested in the broader association activity of a local interactive marketing association or national chapter. Participating in an association is like investing in the future that your business can gain a higher degree of engagement than others that are not involved. It can set an organization apart and provide an example of its competence by being active in setting industry standards, guidelines and even training programs.
Leadership Delivery
Take the time to listen to an online marketing expert’s delivery and the meat of their message when you have the opportunity to see them present at a meeting, exhibition, or webinar. Note whether they have been a keynote speaker, especially at a prestigious conference or summit. You can also check out some of their online blog posts, presentations or podcasts. It will help to classify their real level of expertise and skill by listening and reading what the online marketing expert has to say.
Search Engine Visibility
Customers trust Google and you’re already ahead of the curve if Google trusts a business. SEV is a form of public relations and displaying important, broad words (as well as your niche specialties) makes your brand name synonymous with those terms (if your title tags are correctly written). You can already tell whether an online marketing expert is credible if their website or company is clean, professional, and user-friendly. It can create a positive customer experience that increases the chance of returning customers being first-time users.
Which signals of reputation carry the most weight if you have experience recruiting outside marketing expertise, especially online marketing services? What signs were considered to be unreliable by your business? Please share or join the discussion in the comments below.
