When Should You Trust an Unknown Agency for Your Digital Marketing?

 

The question of when to take a chance on unknown digital marketing agencies near me is one many businesses face.

The temptation of paying less for the latest growth hacking tactics is real. However, turning over your digital presence to an unproven agency is also risky.

Below we break down the main considerations around hiring a startup digital marketing agency near you versus going with an established player.

Recognizing where your company currently stands is essential for determining what level of risk makes sense when it comes to your digital marketing partner.

What Stage Is Your Business At?

The phase your company is currently in plays a major role in whether an unproven digital marketing agency is a viable option:

● Early Days - When just starting out, testing creative growth strategies from hungry young agencies can be advantageous. You likely have minimal marketing infrastructure to dismantle. Feel free to take chances with your digital marketing approach when you have less to lose.

● Gaining Traction - If you’ve hit your stride and want to accelerate, you may still be able to work with a startup agency - especially if specialized services around SEO or social media advertising are your priority. Ensure you vet their competency thoroughly first.

● Scaling Upwards - When focused on expansion, an established digital marketing agency with extensive experience guiding rapid business growth is likely the safer bet. However, some startups do have specialized scale-up knowledge that could be useful here.

The overarching key is to match where you currently stand as a company with an agency equipped to meet your needs at that life cycle stage.

What Are Your Main Digital Marketing Goals?

Clarifying your core objectives is vital for determining agency fit.

● Brand Building - If increasing overall awareness is the primary aim, a younger agency’s lack of branding contacts and networks could hurt you. However, their zeal around innovative branded content could also resonate.

● Lead Generation - Startups tend to excel at leveraging emerging channels and scrappy tactics for demand generation. But they likely can’t match a larger agency’s access to proprietary tools and data.

● E-Commerce Sales - For transactional objectives, a proven e-commerce strategy track record should rank above tantalizing but untested growth hacking ideas. Don’t gamble with your revenue without due diligence.

Again, be completely transparent on the outcomes you expect so agencies can honestly assess their abilities to deliver accordingly.

What Level of Risk Is Acceptable?

Ultimately the decision to work with an unestablished digital marketing agency comes down to your tolerance for uncertainty:

● Minimal - If your directors, investors, or even personal temperament require predictability and assurances, an unknown agency is too much of a gamble. Stick to established players only.

● Moderate - If you can handle some volatility but still demand tangible marketing outcomes, you could try a startup on a small campaign first. Set clear benchmarks and metrics for gauging performance.

● High - If major innovation and first-mover advantages outweigh stability concerns, partnering with a young digital shop aligning with your vision could pay dividends despite inherent execution risks.

The level of risk acceptable should decline the later stage your company is at though, as the table below summarizes:

Business Stage	Example Tactics	Risk Tolerance	Agency Option
Early Days	Guerilla marketing experiments	High	Startup
Gaining Traction	Targeted channel expertise	Moderate	Potential startup
Scaling Upwards	Full-service expansion focus	Low	Established