Digital Marketing Agency Tips

[A7strohhut]

Hey BlackHatWorld!

I'm already making good money with online marketing, but I didn't make this thread to brag around. I want to open a new business. I want to start a digital marketing agency. I'm an expert in website creation, design, sales processes, email marketing and much more. I target local businesses that need a professional website, online presence and social media presence. I have the needed skills, but I want to ask you guys if you got any tips for someone who wants to start a digital marketing agency.

The advice of experts, intermediates and newbies is very much appreciated. Even newbies maybe have good thoughts on this topic. Please feel free to give me any tips and advice that may help me. Maybe I haven't took your thoughts into consideration.

I'm looking forward to your responses.

A7strohhut

 

[MisterF]

Maybe look to do a JV with someone from here ?

 

[Notion]

Don’t waste you time trying to compete on price. Volume with small margins won’t get you anywhere. Instead you should focus on high ticket sales where the margins are so high you’re able to go above and beyond for your clients that you can Wow them.

 

[Priince1337]

Are you from Germany? If so hit me up maybe we can connect.

 

[InWire.Agency]

(I'll write fast so sry about my english) I have an agency and can give you some insights on things we did wrong and what you need to be careful about:

This will be little guide and maybe a lot of text (sry about that)

Pros of having an agency:
+ you are no longer seen as freelancer (in some countries this is a good thing)
+ you are the boss
+ you can run it how you like it (a lot of times you will be wrong but it will be your decision)
+ money (if you are good at running an agency)
+ networking, connections, new job opportunities etc.

Cons of having an agency:
- working with bad clients
- lack of time
- stress

Few things to point out that will depend what type of leader/owner you are:

a) you start to have a feeling you are not equal to your clients - most of the time when you used outbound marketing to get them (inbound marketing is where you can feel like you have power)

b) money problems - it is nice when they pay on time, it all depends what kind of background you have - if you have nice budget you will have less stress, but if your starting budget is small, when they are late with payments and you planned everything then stress starts to kick in

c) your employees are your obligation and your deadlines are your bread

Few things you need to take seriously:

- laws in your country
- taxes etc.
- contracts - get everything you can on paper - deadlines, your obligations, your work and be smart about it - on first agency clients, while you are still feeling everything out, create smaller offers - create something you are 100% positive you can deliver because there is that shitty feeling you won't make it on time - start small and build up!
- structure - we did one major mistake, we hired 2 people (that did good) for making websites before we hired our sale department - have sale team always! First guy / girl you hire needs to be in sales!
- to make it you will need to outwork yourself - this is used by many online motivation guys like gary vee etc. but it is the true. It is sunday, sunny and after this forum thing I'm going to do some work for my clients even no one asked.

Let me finish this up for now - having an agency is beautiful but you have to be person who can handle all the bad stuff (good stuff we all can) and think about your firm every minute of every day! There is no free time not because you can't afford losses or brunch or weekends but because you will fail at some point and then you need to have way out of that problem.

 

[Dumingo]

Are you from Germany? If so hit me up maybe we can connect.

I am from Germany and going to start something similar

 

[zawad_karim]

I was looking forward to start something similar to this. Already started working on the website. Good thing I found this.
Thanks OP for posting this.
Some more tips and tricks would be really great I guess.

 

[Topoki]

Don’t waste you time trying to compete on price. Volume with small margins won’t get you anywhere. Instead you should focus on high ticket sales where the margins are so high you’re able to go above and beyond for your clients that you can Wow them.

What kind of margin would you consider to be too small? Obviously you need to take into account your own overhead, etc., but is there a target profit percentage you want to aim for when pricing your work?

 

[FreakenSEOsmh]

(I'll write fast so sry about my english) I have an agency and can give you some insights on things we did wrong and what you need to be careful about:

This will be little guide and maybe a lot of text (sry about that)

Pros of having an agency:
+ you are no longer seen as freelancer (in some countries this is a good thing)
+ you are the boss
+ you can run it how you like it (a lot of times you will be wrong but it will be your decision)
+ money (if you are good at running an agency)
+ networking, connections, new job opportunities etc.

Cons of having an agency:
- working with bad clients
- lack of time
- stress

Few things to point out that will depend what type of leader/owner you are:

a) you start to have a feeling you are not equal to your clients - most of the time when you used outbound marketing to get them (inbound marketing is where you can feel like you have power)

b) money problems - it is nice when they pay on time, it all depends what kind of background you have - if you have nice budget you will have less stress, but if your starting budget is small, when they are late with payments and you planned everything then stress starts to kick in

c) your employees are your obligation and your deadlines are your bread

Few things you need to take seriously:

- laws in your country
- taxes etc.
- contracts - get everything you can on paper - deadlines, your obligations, your work and be smart about it - on first agency clients, while you are still feeling everything out, create smaller offers - create something you are 100% positive you can deliver because there is that shitty feeling you won't make it on time - start small and build up!
- structure - we did one major mistake, we hired 2 people (that did good) for making websites before we hired our sale department - have sale team always! First guy / girl you hire needs to be in sales!
- to make it you will need to outwork yourself - this is used by many online motivation guys like gary vee etc. but it is the true. It is sunday, sunny and after this forum thing I'm going to do some work for my clients even no one asked.

Let me finish this up for now - having an agency is beautiful but you have to be person who can handle all the bad stuff (good stuff we all can) and think about your firm every minute of every day! There is no free time not because you can't afford losses or brunch or weekends but because you will fail at some point and then you need to have way out of that problem.

you sir are a saint. lots of respect to you

 

[theRevolt]

What kind of margin would you consider to be too small? Obviously you need to take into account your own overhead, etc., but is there a target profit percentage you want to aim for when pricing your work?

That can be different from person to person and as you said your own overhead. You may be more likely to go after lower margins if you just need to keep the lights on.

In general, the smallest contracts are the most painful ones to work on as the small guys usually demand more than companies/enterprises where
a) it is not the money of the person making the decision (contrary to small owner controlled businesses)
b) larger clients do understand (with exceptions of course) you get what you pay for and will honor contracts where smaller ones will often ask you for this and that small change

Now deduct taxes from that and see if it's worth it for you. $1k website? Well, more likely 30-40% of for just most of your taxes.
Really calculate your margin properly and if you are used to 9-5 then definitely check if you even make more than what you did before (with benefits, healthcare etc.) as most fall for "I own an agency now" and forgot that all that matters is the bottom line.

In general for longterm growth, I don't think anything under sub $100/hr(gross) is not sustainable (unless of course you are in a very low-cost country or can wing it with outsourcing cheaply but selling premium).

 

[Topoki]

That can be different from person to person and as you said your own overhead. You may be more likely to go after lower margins if you just need to keep the lights on.

In general, the smallest contracts are the most painful ones to work on as the small guys usually demand more than companies/enterprises where
a) it is not the money of the person making the decision (contrary to small owner controlled businesses)
b) larger clients do understand (with exceptions of course) you get what you pay for and will honor contracts where smaller ones will often ask you for this and that small change

Now deduct taxes from that and see if it's worth it for you. $1k website? Well, more likely 30-40% of for just most of your taxes.
Really calculate your margin properly and if you are used to 9-5 then definitely check if you even make more than what you did before (with benefits, healthcare etc.) as most fall for "I own an agency now" and forgot that all that matters is the bottom line.

In general for longterm growth, I don't think anything under sub $100/hr(gross) is not sustainable (unless of course you are in a very low-cost country or can wing it with outsourcing cheaply but selling premium).

Thanks for this reply. I'm working with a variety of clients, and you are right about the smaller ones being more demanding. The thing for me is that I relate well to these small, single owner businesses and want to help them. The dilemma always comes to being able to find a solution that's mutually beneficial. At the end of the day there's always someone willing to undercut.

 

[theRevolt]

Thanks for this reply. I'm working with a variety of clients, and you are right about the smaller ones being more demanding. The thing for me is that I relate well to these small, single owner businesses and want to help them. The dilemma always comes to being able to find a solution that's mutually beneficial. At the end of the day there's always someone willing to undercut.

Well, sometimes you can balance it sometimes you cannot.
You have to leave out any personal connection from why you want to work on the account. Sure build a personal connection with the client (absolutely do), but do not keep an account just because you like their product, story but they do not have a budget or if startup offer you a stake in the company (all contractual of course).
Ideally, you'd get all together, but that does not always happen and some just do not have the budgets to make it worthwhile. While you will likely hear "I have an unlimited budget with positive ROI" it is obviously not that easy when you start from 0.
Also, do never offer work for free. I have never seen that work in the long run. I am not talking about small little things or quick advice but say 40 hr retainer etc. for free as a test. You have to realize that time = money and spending any time for free just in hope to get more is not the way to go. You can do a smaller package but don't do 100% free (some might object but just my take on it).

Good luck

 

[sok]

Personally, I am currently starting "internet marketers" for providing into three services--training, service contract and visiting program---in my country. What else I am challenging need time to develop training courses, special skill courses and more. All the relevant tasks are against to my core work. I did not want to lost it. In my business outlines may connect to all friends for complement to my lack/no knowledge in some fields of Internet Marketers. I planned to explore this business to cooperate with BHW friends who can provide services to my clients or exchange/visit program that beside of tour in my country can give the the course/opportunity to my youths/interested business man. Last but not least, I would bookmark to follow up and learning. Thanks.

 

[slickbrick]

Hey BlackHatWorld!

I'm already making good money with online marketing, but I didn't make this thread to brag around. I want to open a new business. I want to start a digital marketing agency. I'm an expert in website creation, design, sales processes, email marketing and much more. I target local businesses that need a professional website, online presence and social media presence. I have the needed skills, but I want to ask you guys if you got any tips for someone who wants to start a digital marketing agency.

The advice of experts, intermediates and newbies is very much appreciated. Even newbies maybe have good thoughts on this topic. Please feel free to give me any tips and advice that may help me. Maybe I haven't took your thoughts into consideration.

I'm looking forward to your responses.

A7strohhut

Hi!
I run an agency which revenue ranges in the 6 figures per year in a conservative country (Italy).
People are really difficult to get into marketing here, let alone digital marketing.
In all conservative countries businesses are hard to "convince" to invest in new opportunities, even if proven they can benefit from it.

If you have a better and different offer than your competition, master these skills:

1. Education-Based Selling:
Educate your prospect to learn and appreciate the quality and opportunities you have to offer.

Make sure to study the competition and make sure your offer is better for your prospect and not better than your competitors (a wagyu beef burger is not a better offer for a vegetarian);

2. Presentation Selling:
There are books like Pitch Anything and some books by Dan Kennedy which can really help you to get prospects to literally visualize the benefits coming from your offer.
Presentation IS also storytelling, it is not a brochure or a simple pdf you show or send via email, so make sure you take the prospect through a story to help them get your point of view, convince them that your offer can work for them and they can benefit from it.
Take all the objections you think you could receive and kill them with your presentation.

3. Customized Cold Outreach:
If you're planning to get paid big, provide a customized service. Yes you can bundle and unbundle your services but do that when the prospect is already interested and you stabilized a trusty relation, I never package my services before because every case is different.
A cold customized outreach is a cold outreach where you point out how your services will benefit specifically that business that you're planning to get as a client. Study the business and make sure you can help them specifically.
Clients should be opportunities for you because you know you can help them specifically and your trust and reputation will grow.
You will be viewed as "opportunity" from clients if they feel like you know everything about their problems and can trust you as their guide.

4. Honesty:
If you can help and get paid for it, do it. If not, don't risk your reputation.

As my grandfather says: "Don't put your dick in every hole you find, some of them are sockets".

Sales= trust + reputation + common ground overlapping interest.

And sometimes, if you feel like they can ruin your reputation as a trustworthy person, refuse unhealthy projects.

8 months ago I got asked to work on a social media political campaign for a candidate of my city's council and I happily refused to do it.

First I don't know and feel good about promoting politician in social media, second how would I work in the future without my arms if I loose a campaign for a mafia member? Think long term.