Last week, we introduced Part 1 of common questions we hear about starting up a digital marketing agency. We’re back this week with more. Have you asked any of these questions along your journey to running your own business?
Why Entrepreneurs Need Support
Too many new business owners get started without any real concept of what it takes to manage day-to-day operations. They don’t have a good feel for their niche or their market, so they fumble through uncertainties and questionable internet research while trying to figure out how to make money.
At Remote Millionaires, we want to alleviate some of those common pressures. We’ll help you through the unknowns and give you support as you walk through the early stages of your business ventures. Our direct experience drives our answers, and we want to provide the best resources and tools to help you deal with your most pressing issues. Take these three questions for example.
3 More FAQs about the Basics of Running a Digital Marketing Agency
Last week we covered the first four questions. Here are the next few:
1. How do I get my first client?
Businesses in need of marketing support want to find an agency familiar with their specific needs. Restaurant owners want to know they can trust their resources to someone who knows how to reach hungry customers. They face different challenges than florists or auto body shops.
So, choose a niche. Decide a specific audience that requires marketing services and focus on specializing with them. Identify your ideal client and learn their challenges and questions.
Whichever niche you decide, study the problems businesses in that industry want to solve. Personalize your efforts toward reaching that audience.
Get to know local companies in your niche. Network by visiting businesses to offer your services. Get involved in community business groups to build relationships, and attend chamber and niche events to introduce yourself. Offer valuable assistance or actionable knowledge to help solve a business’s most frustrating problems. You can give initial assistance without selling anything! When the need for more help comes up, owners will already have you in mind.
Don’t forget to implement a plan for client onboarding, processes, communication, and billing… preferably before you start landing clients! You’ll also need a way to collect and store client information, and a contract ready for signatures. That way, you won’t get caught off guard when you start working with your clients and the need for this comes up.
2. What does a digital marketer do on a regular day?
Starting a business requires spending time researching strategies and competitors, implementing basics like your website, and networking. First, you need to define your goals and set deadlines. Your tasks should always function to move you toward those long-term goals. A great place to start is by setting SMART goals.
Your daily to-do list is kind of up to you. That’s a perk of owning your business that you’ve looked forward to! Keep those defined goals in mind and make sure your daily schedule reflects that purposeful strategy. A strategic calendar like this also helps you to stick to the commitments you make to clients. I recommend a few strategies to business owners, which they can modify according to their own personalities and work flow.
It’s ridiculously easy to get derailed from other tasks by email conversations, so set aside specific times for these communications during the day. Plan to do specific tasks on certain days of the week, like content creation on Fridays and software research on Wednesdays. Sometimes demanding projects require extra space on your calendar, so you might have a contingency plan for occasions when clients need extra help.
3. What tools and resources do I need to provide digital marketing services?
I’m going to share a few types of technology to use for your marketing business. You need tools to run analytics (like Google Analytics), automation software for SEO (like Ahrefs), workflow automation (like Monday), programs for making client reporting easier and efficient, and software for landing pages and sales engagement.
A number of tools are completely free (like Google’s suite)—which is awesome as you get started. Before long, you’ll be ready to invest in some paid tools to increase your services and productivity.
Don’t forget about educational resources to help you stay on top of current trends and technologies. You can take courses on digital media, marketing strategies, social media trends, and more.
As you work toward your goals, you’ll no doubt come up with many more questions. You don’t have to walk down this road alone. Get support from experienced marketers and entrepreneurs. We want to help you build the most successful agency with all the best resources.
Take advantage of our library to learn the basics. Contact our team—they’re ready to support you through any questions and concerns that come up in your journey. We can show you the step-by-step process you need to get your first client and support you through the early days of entrepreneurship. With a little time and consistency, you’ll be on your way to a six-figure business!
If you want to learn how to build a recession-proof, automated business, check out our FREE, 15-minute training and start generating at least $8k per month in weeks.