5 Signs You Are Overpaying For Digital Marketing
IT’S TIME WE HAD THE TALK! If you are reading this, chances are, it is because you think you might be paying too much for content creation. Maybe you’ve been told that you need to invest in your brand, in social media, in email marketing. Perhaps the biggest expense of all is that new website you are working on, but you find yourself wondering if it is worth the investment. Maybe you started working with a marketing specialist, or a web designer who made promises, but you just aren’t seeing that ROI. I am here to tell you to stop wasting your money. Just STOP! If you have a doubt in your mind about the services you are paying for, it is time to think strategically about what you are receiving in return and if it is worth your time and resources.
If this is you and you feel like you’ve been burned by the marketing industry, like you’ve flushed money down the drain trying to create an online presence for your passion project, don’t give up just yet. There are so many ways you can see results at a fraction of the cost you are currently paying. If you aren’t sure if you are paying too much, here are our 5 signs that you are overpaying for digital marketing. You can also click here to get in touch with our team.
It is Impossible to Get in Touch With the Person or Team You Hired
This is our number one pet peeve for marketing specialists who work with small business owners. If you need something done, you should not, under any circumstance, have to go through a time-intensive, bureaucratic process just to get a hold of your web developer or marketing specialist. If you have to fill out a form or submit a help desk request for every little task that you are already paying your contractor to handle for you, you are wasting your time.
We know that time is money, especially for business owners, so place a high value on it! You should not be wasting your time and energy trying to get a hold of your web developer or marketing specialist. Communication should be easy. At The Confidant Collective, we are available to our clients via call or text. We don’t believe that a quick question should have to wait.
You Never See Reports OR The Reports You Do Receive Aren’t Helpful
When you are paying someone to market your business, you shouldn’t have to ask to see accurate, helpful and informative data. Quarterly reporting should inform your marketing strategy and if you aren’t seeing those numbers, you are wasting your time.
Maybe you do receive reports from your marketing consultant, but they are difficult to understand and when you ask clarifying questions, you are made to feel silly for not being able to interpret the data. So often we see agencies hand over lackluster reports that give little helpful information to a business owner. Each report you receive should be highly customized and easy to digest so you can do what you do best, make decisions for your business. It isn’t your job to interpret bad data. Remember that.
You Aren’t Really Sure What They Are Working On
If it is not abundantly clear to you what you are paying for, you are wasting your resources on an agency or consultant who is happy to do the bare minimum and expect that paycheck. A quality consultant or agency will be in conversation with you about what is being completed and how it is having a positive impact on your business. If it has been a few weeks and you haven’t heard from the person or business you are paying to handle your online marketing, chances are they aren’t working on anything.
It is never your job to motivate or drive results from a consultant. Sure, maybe that is something you do with your employees, but a contractor should be giving their expert advice and communicating with you about how they are helping you meet your business goals. If they aren’t, it’s time to call it quits.
They Talk Down to You
If the person or agency that you are paying to manage your digital marketing plan makes you feel for lack of a better word, stupid, for not understanding something the first time around, or for asking questions, that is completely unacceptable. People who make online marketing sound like a math problem you could never solve, or a language you could never understand are not worth your time.
At The Confidant Collective, we value the opportunity to work with small business owners and empower them to feel confident in the work that is being done. You should feel included in your marketing strategy. In fact, you should feel in charge of it. After all, you are in the power position. Never let a consultant talk down to you or make you feel less than.
It Feels Like A Whole Lot of Work
One of our favorite sayings? Good marketing doesn’t feel like marketing. It’s true! Your end goal as a business owner is to sell your product or service. We all know what a bad sales pitch looks and feels like. Good marketing feels like a great recommendation from a friend. It makes your target client feel involved in your mission and vision. It is about having someone you can trust on your team.
If you dread your weekly alignment calls and you somehow feel like more work has been added to your plate, it is time you demand more from your marketing specialist. It’s time you get someone on board who will lighten your workload, not add to it. You deserve a quality marketing strategy that yields results. Your business deserves to be discovered! Start asking for more.