SEO & Digital Marketing

How to Get Clients for Your Digital Marketing Agency in 2024

Published

8 months ago

January 23, 2024

The digital marketing industry is brimming with agencies that excel at delivering results for their clients, yet many face challenges when trying to grow their own businesses.

For newcomers, the task of getting clients can feel like navigating a maze, and the quest for clients becomes an often neglected priority. We get those feelings of uncertainty and are here to help. Even with your experience, it is crucial for our veteran agency owners to adapt to rapidly shifting digital trends.

With the landscape evolving almost daily, now is the time to invest in yourself and ensure you’re not left behind. Whether you’re a new face or an old hand adjusting to the latest trends, this guide is your roadmap to thriving in 2024 and beyond.

15 Proven Ways of Getting Clients for a Digital Marketing Agency

Let’s face it, collaborating with companies looking for digital marketing services is fiercely competitive, as the number of marketing agencies in the digital world is sky-high. This is why reaching out to the correct audience and then turning them into clients requires clever, cutting-edge strategies.

To provide you with such effective strategies, we’ve put together the key ones below. They’re practical, effective, and have been game-changers for many agencies:

Take Advantage of Online Directories
Leverage Artificial Intelligence
Treat Yourself Like Your Own Clients
Prioritize Your Portfolio
Blog About Marketing
Get Interactive
Build a Following with Your Newsletters
Get Into the Continuing Education Game
Use LinkedIn Much More Effectively
Combine Google Ads and Facebook Ads
Harness the Magic of Video
Share Your Client Reviews
Deepen Your Industry Specialization
Enhance Social Media Engagement
Get Out from Behind the Desk

1. Take Advantage of Online Directories

There is a very important reason why we are placing this on the front. Yes, online directories are our area of expertise. But the reason it’s our area is that we firmly trust in the directories’ capacity to boost a digital marketing agency’s outreach and success more than anything else.

A top-notch website is essential to getting clients for your digital marketing agency but when your SEO is not as powerful as online directories, you’ll get behind them in the SERPs. For example, our marketing agency directory, in particular, offers this pivotal advantage, ensuring enhanced visibility in search results.

We also offer a suite of features to elevate your digital presence, such as an agency profile page, enhanced SEO advantages, and digital PR efforts. Our members benefit from the exclusive ability to share content with our community, a feature that fosters engagement and positions your agency as a thought leader.

To take our services one step further, in 2023, we initiated our game-changing Request for Proposal system, “Get Quotes.”

“Get Quotes” is a streamlined process where brands share their needs and budgets through our platform, DAN, and reach out to their best matches!

While we’re passionate advocates of our platform, Digital Agency Network, we recognize and respect the myriad of other valuable digital marketing agency directories out there.

As you venture into this realm, a word to the wise: not all are crafted equally. While some might give you a basic listing, others (our platform, Digital Agency Network, included) offer added perks like advertising opportunities, a job board for recruitment, and special discounts for digital marketing events. As you embark on this journey, remember to research, compare, and select platforms that will genuinely amplify your digital agency’s reach and reputation.

2. Leverage Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence can significantly transform your approach to sourcing and securing new clients. Let’s dive deeper into how to use AI to get clients for your digital marketing agency:

Automated Lead Generation: Think of AI as your own digital detective. It swiftly scans through social media to identify people who might be interested in what you offer. This saves time and ensures that the leads you gather are relevant.

Lead Qualification: Once potential leads are identified, AI can take a deeper look at online footprints to evaluate how well they match your agency’s services. By evaluating factors like engagement rates, content interests, and past behaviors, AI offers a higher chance of conversion. So, it’s about quality over mere quantity.

Personalized Touch: AI’s ability to analyze vast datasets means it can tailor marketing campaigns to each prospect’s preferences. From the tone of messaging to the delivery timing, every aspect can be fine-tuned. Remember, a personal touch in campaigns often leads to better engagement.

Smart Spending: With AI, you can predict which marketing channels and campaigns will yield the best ROI. Instead of spreading your budget thin, AI helps concentrate resources where they’ll make the most impact.

Feedback Loop: AI uses past data to predict future trends, which allows for immediate feedback on campaign performance. This continuous loop ensures that strategies are always evolving, adapting to the latest trends and audience behaviors. Mistakes can be quickly rectified, and successes can be amplified.

Predictive Analytics: AI uses past data to predict future trends. By anticipating client needs, you’re positioned to offer solutions before they even ask. Staying a step ahead by anticipating needs is a surefire way to impress prospects.

Content Optimization: AI can suggest content adjustments based on what’s resonating with your target audience. Whether it’s tweaking headlines, adjusting CTAs, or shifting the content’s tone. With optimized content, you’re more likely to attract and retain a potential client’s attention.

Engagement Tracking: You can go beyond basic metrics with AI. By understanding nuances like time spent on content or navigation patterns, you can refine your approach for even better future interactions.

3. Treat Yourself Like Your Own Client

How do digital marketing agencies attract clients? The answer is becoming their most important client.

You already possess a proven process that delivers results for your clients. It’s time to allocate a portion of your schedule to implement this same process for your agency.

Approach this task with the same rigor and attention to detail as you would for any client. Begin by developing a comprehensive brand guide, diligently collecting and analyzing data, crafting a data-driven marketing strategy, and meticulously executing each step of this plan.

Remember to apply all the strategies and insights you offer to your clients. Utilize storytelling techniques to establish a deeper, more authentic connection with your audience, ensuring your narrative resonates and engages.

Most importantly, maintain the best possible standards of quality. Business owners observing your marketing efforts will use them as a barometer for your commitment to their projects. If you don’t put in much effort, they can assume that you won’t put in much effort when handling their business. Setting a high standard for the services you provide means that you must approach your marketing with the same commitment to quality and diligence that you make to your clients.

4. Prioritize Your Portfolio

When it comes to attracting digital marketing clients, your portfolio speaks louder than words. It’s the tangible evidence they need to gauge your expertise. Moreover, boasting prestigious digital marketing certificates from your team can significantly bolster your credibility, but what truly sets you apart is the real-world success you’ve achieved for your clients.

Clients are looking for a team that can authentically represent their brand voice. You can demonstrate your adaptability and willingness to fit any client’s distinct voice by showing the companies you’ve worked with. And don’t forget to share results and case studies. A prime example of this can be seen in NoGood‘s portfolio. They excel not only in presenting their broad client base but also in sharing detailed case studies. For each project, they provide a comprehensive overview, including the challenges faced, the strategies implemented, and most importantly, the results achieved.

Secondly, tailor your portfolio to attract the type of work you desire. For instance, if your goal is to secure more clients in the healthcare sector, prominently feature your successful projects in this area. This not only signals to potential clients your proficiency in their specific field but also underscores your focus on a particular digital marketing niche.

5. Blog About Marketing

You probably already tell your clients about content marketing and how important it is to establish themselves as experts in their area, and some of them decide to do it on their own.

But soon, they realize the complexities involved and turn to professionals. This is where your agency comes into play, especially if your marketing blogs have been their go-to resource during their DIY phase.

In the era of AI-driven content creation, tools like ChatGPT 4 can be invaluable for crafting blog posts as they are highly skilled in content creation. But keep in mind that human touch is irreplaceable and you should edit your content to put it into the final form. No matter how perfect and appropriate your prompts are, check the tone of voice, keywords, consistency, and unity. So, always sprinkle in your insights and give any AI-generated content that final human finesse.

Your blog gives you credibility, which helps you get SEO clients. That’s why utilizing your blog effectively is a vital strategy in attracting digital marketing clients. With blogging being one of the most effective measures for SEO, it’s crucial to demonstrate that you practice what you preach.

Expanding your blogging reach beyond your website is also beneficial. Consider guest blogging on popular platforms frequented by business owners and executives, like Business Insider and Forbes. This not only increases your visibility but also establishes your authority in the digital marketing realm.

Matt Cutts, Administrator at United States Digital Service, shares more about the effective techniques for building links and eventually getting more clients:

6. Get Interactive

To find digital marketing clients, implementing social media strategies is a cornerstone but most brands fall short on the “social” aspect. They spend plenty of time posting their own content but little time sharing, commenting, and otherwise engaging online.

You can begin by pinpointing a selection of companies you’re eager to collaborate with. Actively follow their social media accounts and periodically engage with their content. A couple of thoughtful comments each week can significantly increase your visibility.

Such engagement puts your agency’s name on the radar of these businesses, particularly in cases where the owner or manager personally handles their social media.

This familiarity lays the groundwork for a more receptive interaction. When the time comes to reach out directly, what would have been a cold call transforms into a warm introduction, thanks to the rapport already established through your social media interactions.

7. Build a Following with Your Newsletters

Local businesses are constantly seeking ways to enhance their operations and boost their revenues. Positioning your agency as the go-to expert for such growth is a strategic move. While your blog is a valuable tool in this regard, establishing a direct line of communication through an email newsletter can be even more impactful.

Initiate a series of weekly email newsletters packed with fresh marketing insights, practical tips, and industry trends. Focus on crafting content that is both informative and engaging, reinforcing your position as a thought leader in the field. To expand your reach, implement strategies to get more subscribers. This could include a coordinated social media campaign and ensuring that your website features a prominent, user-friendly “subscribe” button.

If people sign up for your newsletter, your company becomes more than simply a knowledge source for them—it serves as a weekly reminder of your dedication to their success. Being regularly in their inboxes increases the likelihood that they will choose you first when they need professional marketing services.

However, it’s crucial to grow your subscriber base ethically. Avoid any tactics that could be perceived as spammy or intrusive, such as signing people up without their explicit consent. If you start getting labeled as spam by a few recipients, you’ll have a harder time getting into other subscribers’ inboxes instead of their spam folders.

8. Get Into the Continuing Education Game

Marketing is always evolving, and for business owners and administrators, staying on top of the latest trends is essential for their success.

Many businesses are ready to invest in learning about the latest in marketing trends and practices through mini-courses and seminars. Why not be the one to offer these valuable learning opportunities? This approach benefits your agency in two significant ways. First, it creates an additional revenue stream. Second, it positions you as an expert in the field. If you’re knowledgeable enough to teach it, it’s clear you’re skilled enough to excel in the work itself.

If organizing seminars and courses isn’t your preference, consider participating in the conference circuit. Look for business conferences in your area and propose to be a speaker. It might take some time and effort to get chosen, and you might have to pitch to several conferences. But once you start accumulating speaking engagements, your credibility will grow, and it’ll become easier to secure more opportunities.

Speaking at these events can be a game-changer for your business. It not only provides exposure but also cements your status as a leading authority. Being chosen as a speaker at a conference boosts your credibility, as the audience recognizes the value and expertise you bring to the table.

9. Use LinkedIn Much More Effectively

LinkedIn is a great platform for connecting with individuals; it can be the ultimate answer to how to find companies that could benefit from your marketing expertise. It’s an interesting place to build connections and relationships, not just with your potential clients but also with future employees or more, so it is always crucial to use LinkedIn in a more effective way.

LinkedIn offers many opportunities for your brand to reach out to many people. You can join groups, share content, and advertise your agency’s company page to the vast LinkedIn user population. Every action you take on the platform has the potential to draw in new customers. You can publish sponsored content, send direct messages or connection invitations to your potential clients, and join related LinkedIn groups where you can come across potential clients who are looking for your services.

10. Combine Google Ads and Facebook Ads

Most of your potential clients will start searching for a digital marketing agency to partner with on Google. That is why it is crucial to work on your SERP results to rank organically higher in Google search results. However, it takes more time than you probably need. In this situation, you may want to combine the best of both worlds: Google Ads and Facebook Ads.

By targeting the right keywords, Google Ads will help you attract potential clients right away. Facebook, on the other hand, is still one of the most used social media platforms, and among billions of users, we’re pretty sure you can reach out to your potential customers as well. Using targeted ads on these platforms is not only effective for local outreach but also a key answer to how to get international clients for digital marketing.

The best way to get your agency noticed by potential clients on Facebook is through Facebook Ads. Since gaining organic attention on the platform can be challenging for businesses, Facebook Ads offer a direct and efficient solution. They are also more cost-effective than many other digital advertising methods, with a lower average cost-per-click. This makes Facebook Ads a budget-friendly option, allowing your agency to make a considerable impact even with limited financial resources.

11. Harness the Magic of Video

As we navigate the digital landscape of 2024, videos stand out as a beacon of innovation, allowing you to establish an authentic and vibrant connection with your desired audience.

With each frame and narrative, you have the ability to unveil not only the services your agency provides but also the very essence of who you are. These videos seamlessly blend your agency’s core values, highlighting your distinct culture and innovative approach. Video content is a great way to attract companies looking for marketing agencies who understand the power of visual storytelling. Through the enchantment of video, potential clients are invited into an immersive experience that goes beyond words and images, fostering a genuine and enduring connection.

As we navigate the digital landscape of 2024, videos stand out as a beacon of innovation, allowing you to establish an authentic and vibrant connection with your desired audience.

With each frame and narrative, you have the ability to unveil not only the services your agency provides but also the very essence of who you are. These videos seamlessly blend your agency’s core values, highlighting your distinct culture and innovative approach. Through the enchantment of video, potential clients are invited into an immersive experience that goes beyond words and images, fostering a genuine and enduring connection.

12. Share Your Client Reviews

A dedicated webpage for reviews and testimonials serves as a canvas on which the voices of your satisfied clients come together to paint a vivid picture of the value and excellence your agency offers. Through the authentic experiences shared by your clients, potential partners can gain insight into the transformative journey you can guide them through.

Your potential clients will conduct research across various platforms, including Google and Facebook. By emphasizing your reviews and featuring them on your website, you signal your confidence in past partnerships. You can create a similar area on your website, just like Damteq does:

13.Deepen Your Industry Specialization

Think of your marketing portfolio as a showcase of your expertise, with each project highlighting your in-depth knowledge of different industries. This targeted approach shows potential clients that your agency is deeply invested in understanding the unique aspects of various sectors.

For example, look at the agency Together. They’ve specialized in serving technology companies, exemplifying a focused approach. Their dedication to the tech sector has equipped them with the ability to offer precise strategies tailored for tech businesses. This is a clear illustration of how an agency can establish itself as a trusted authority in a specific field.

This level of specialized expertise is far more impactful than a generic sales pitch. It’s a definitive sign to clients that your team possesses the insights and experience necessary to address the distinct challenges of each industry.

14.Enhance Social Media Engagement

Turning your social media from just another broadcasting outlet into a lively engagement platform is a big leap in your digital game plan. It’s all about making your platforms places where real talks happen, insights get shared, and genuine connections blossom.

With this hands-on approach to engagement, your agency is stepping up as a leader and influencer in the community. This kind of vibrant, interactive online presence is just what clients are looking for – they value your expertise, sure, but they’re also keen on your ability to engage and build solid relationships.

Whether it’s tapping into the storytelling charm of TikTok and Instagram Reels, or getting into the exciting new worlds of Web3 and the metaverse, your agency is showing some real pioneering vibes. This tells potential clients that your agency is right up there, leading the charge and shaping what’s to come.

15. Get Out from Behind the Desk

You can’t ignore the digital world, but sometimes you need to step out into the “real world” too.

Start building a presence at local events where you’ll find business owners and other decision-makers. That should include networking events, business expos, trade shows, you name it.

The goal is to make yourself a known part of the local business community. Get to know your fellow business owners and potential clients.

As you build your Rolodex, start referring people to the businesses you know when the opportunity arises. Not only will grateful business owners be more likely to become clients, but they’re also likely to return the favor and refer others to you.

The right conference can be a game-changer for your business. If you are keen to learn how in detail, Vanessa Van Edwards, Behavioral Investigator, explains more about how face-to-face communication is effective:

How to Find Clients for Digital Marketing Agency: The Most Effective Ways

As a marketing agency, it can be challenging to find the right balance between working on your clients’ businesses and your own. Too many agencies put themselves on the back burner, but it is critical to build and maintain a healthy, long-term relationship with each of your clients. As tracking all of your clients’ data gets harder and harder, it is better to think of implementing a customer relationship management tool for your agency. Before losing a critical client and hoping of pulling in a new one, step into AI-driven CRM software to keep track of each of your client’s data and activities. While you, as an agency owner, focus on developing new marketing strategies, CRM apps take care of collecting, tracking, and managing all your client data.

SaaS tools for digital agencies provide stand-out features including digital marketing and social media campaign management, automated lead generation, CRM, pipeline management and sales tracking, reporting, customer services and more. If you understand your agency’s core needs in the first place, you can better at finding new clients and growing your agency’s revenue in 2024.

Social Media for Reaching Out to Potential Digital Marketing Agency Customers

Social media is no doubt one of the most used communication channels of our day. It allows businesses and brands to reach and engage with their potential customers with constantly updated algorithms and advertising options. The key point; however, is to figure out how you can stand out from your competitors and the strategies you need to reach your potential digital marketing customers. An effective social media strategy is essential to understand where to find clients for digital marketing, as it allows you to connect directly with businesses seeking your services.

We believe what’s essential is a strong social media marketing strategy to engage with brands looking for digital marketing services.

Below, we have listed the initial steps you should take to use social media effectively to get new clients.

1. Create Less Formal Social Media Posts

Yes, selling is critical! However, it is just as important to determine your target audience, create suitable posts, convince clients from a different perspective, and direct them to your website. But just advertising products by flooding users with boring information is no longer enough in this creative world. With fun posts that will reflect your company and team, your potential customers can get to know you, thereby increasing their desire to work with you.

2. Give Your Customers an Inside Look

Create posts where you briefly describe your products and services so that visitors will have an idea of whether your agency is what they’re looking for. You can offer a trial demo for interested clients, or you can organize a meeting to be able to introduce your agency in a detailed way.

3. Create Polls and Ask Your Audience’s Opinions

It can be challenging to get your audience to interact with your social media content; occasionally, even well-written articles and captivating videos fail to interest users. Though, you have not only well-designed images and reels but a few more options to engage your audience. When it comes to learning more about your audience, polls offer a variety of advantages. They are simple, and therefore people love to participate and share their thoughts and opinions. By using polls, you can eliminate a lot of these assumptions and get a clear understanding of how your audience feels about your company or a certain product.

4. Use Hashtags (The Right Ones!)

Users might easily become overwhelmed by an excessive amount of information. Using hashtags makes it simple to filter out unnecessary digital clutter and concentrate only on the information we truly need. You can connect with your industry and your target audience by using an industry-specific hashtag. The use of many hashtags, however, might make your message seem cluttered and unprofessional. So make sure to avoid overusing them!

5. Infuse Storytelling into Your Strategy: Captivating Narratives that Resonate

Storytelling is like a timeless art that’s got this amazing power to totally captivate, inspire, and leave a lasting impact. So, why not dive into that enchanting world of storytelling on social media? We’re talking about spinning narratives that totally resonate with what your audience dreams of and struggles with.

You can craft narratives that artfully portray the journey from adversity to triumph, and position your agency as the catalyst behind these awe-inspiring transformations. These stories aren’t just lines on a screen; they’re emotions that hit you right in the feels. They make your brand super memorable and relatable, turning potential customers into lifelong fans.

The tips above can help you get clients, no matter how small or large your agency is. The key is a varied marketing strategy that combines your staple of digital marketing with old-fashioned methods as well. Don’t forget to be transparent about your agency’s pricing too.

You can start right away by joining the Digital Agency Network and seeing everything we have to offer.

Source link

SEO & Digital Marketing

How Bot Traffic Is Impacting Digital Marketing?

Published

19 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Josh Kuku

Online bot traffic is increasing every year. This is having a marked impact on digital marketing campaigns. In this article, we discuss how bot traffic is interfering with your digital marketing exercises.

Gone are the days when you could feel happy about the growing numbers of visitors to a website. It is now estimated that almost 50% of internet traffic is dominated by software applications known as bots. They can be created to help you, but others can be created with ill intent. The bad news is that none of them will buy products or sign up for your services, meaning they can seriously hinder marketing campaigns. In the article below, we discuss how bot traffic is impacting digital marketing.

It’s a Robots World With Increasing Bot Traffic Online

A recent report by cyber security company Thales discovered that online malicious traffic has risen for a fifth consecutive year. The applications used to carry out these attacks, known as bots, now make up around 32% of all internet traffic. However, they also found that 49.6% of internet traffic is no longer human, but derived from bot activity.

A bot is an application used online. Generally, it is programmed to perform a repetitive task. Many of them come in very handy, helping crawl websites to see what they contain or even assisting in customer service chatbots. Yet many are malicious and are used to deploy malware attacks that can steal data and harm websites.

In addition to this, as a digital marketer, some bots that exist in grey areas you should be aware of. These include ones that inflate social media statistics.

Checking for Bot Traffic on Your Website

If you are running a digital marketing campaign, hoping to direct quality traffic to a website, you need to know how much of this is bot traffic. Once you remove bot traffic from your statistics, you can get quality data about what is and is not working.

You don’t need to pay for an advanced subscription program either. A free tool to check website traffic will suffice, providing you with information on traffic stats, any referring domains, and the top search ads. You can then upgrade if you need more functionality. By combining the results with the pointers below, you can help pinpoint bot traffic and remove it from your key performance indicators.

Analyze Page Views

One way to tell if you have bot traffic is to check your page views. An unexpected spike could mean you have been the target of bot traffic. However, it could also be a genuine interest in the page, so check where the traffic originates.

Referral Traffic

Referral traffic is a good place to look for bot activity. Bots can create fake referrals to get people to visit their websites.

Time on Page

This is a technique you can use by looking at your own on-site statistics. Start by checking your bounce rate. Bots won’t hang around looking at products, watching videos and reading news, so a high bounce rate can indicate traffic is coming and leaving fast, the key sign of bot activity. This can also be seen in pages with a low on-page time.

Check Where the Traffic Originates From

Bot traffic usually comes direct. Very seldom will it come from a search engine. If you are getting traffic from strange locations, it may also be bot traffic. For example, if you have an English-language website and most of your traffic comes from China, it is probably bots.

Bot Traffic and Its Damage to Marketing Campaigns

The damage bots cause to digital marketing campaigns comes solely from how they skew your data. Bots will make things look great in one aspect. They can be pushing your social media campaign to thousands of views, or sending streams of traffic to a website. However, it is not real people behind it and that is where bots can make your campaign come undone.

Without a human behind your traffic, you can not get a picture of your audience. Bots have no real location, income, gender, or anything else that can make up a user profile. Therefore, it makes it very hard to tailor landing pages for certain audiences using this data.

They can seriously increase PPC costs. As they scour a page they will click on ads and even fill out forms. With no conversions, you are left paying for worthless ads. If you host the ads, then other people’s marketing will soon see a lack of conversions and go elsewhere.

There are several ways to eliminate bot traffic, or at least cut down on it. Monitoring your traffic closely using a website traffic checker and on-page metrics is one of them. In a marketing campaign, try to switch to results-based payment, not one that tends to pay based on vanity metrics such as clicks or shares. Finally, make sure you vet anyone you work with in campaigns. This includes any affiliates, publishers, or websites you may be getting links from. By using this, you can cut down bot traffic and increase the efficiency of your marketing campaigns.

Source link

SEO & Digital Marketing

A Complete Guide to Using Original Research to Elevate B2B Content Marketing – TopRank® Marketing

Published

2 days ago

September 18, 2024

Josh Kuku

Let me know if this sounds familiar: You’re drafting a masterful thought leadership piece and want to back up your thesis with a strong data point. After a bit of searching, you find the perfect one! But when you click through to the source, it takes you to one of those “Billionty Best Statistics For Marketers” lists.

Okay, so you find the stat again, click through, and it takes you to… an older stat round-up list.

Many (many…) frustrating clicks later, you find you’re back in 2012. Maroon 5 is topping the charts, London’s hosting the summer Olympics, and the stat you’ve been chasing is no longer relevant.

If you’ve ever found yourself at the bottom of the dreaded stat source rabbit hole wishing you just had reliable data – do I have a solution for you!

Original research. At TopRank Marketing, we’ve partnered with several big brands on ambitious original research reports that have driven amazing results for lead gen and brand awareness. We’ve got tips to share from our experience.

Your guide to B2B original research

Publishing your own marketing research reports, on the surface, may appear daunting — they take budget, time, and certain skills to do well. That’s why we’ve broken down the benefits and best practices of conducting B2B original research.

B2B original research influences your bottom line

Here are a few high-quality data points that drive home the value of publishing your own marketing research:

84% of deals are already won or lost before vendors even know they’re on the radar.
Research reports are a sought-after form of content. 55% of B2B buyers regularly consume research reports, and rate them as the most valuable type of content when evaluating purchasing decisions.
High-quality research and data are the top factors that motivate B2B buyers to express interest in a sales conversation.

In short: Your buyers are looking for your company to be the voice of authority and to offer insights that make their jobs easier, ahead of ever contacting your sales team.

“Early-stage positioning can reduce the number of vendors that buyers consider before they arrive at the 70% Constant… and affect which vendors are top-of-mind when it’s time to engage sellers.” – The 2023 B2B Buyer Experience Report, 6sense

Brand benefits of B2B original research

From strengthening thought leadership to giving your customers information they’re hungry for, publishing your own research data has a number of benefits:

Becoming the primary source

Being the source of a data point or unique research positions your brand as the authoritative origin of valuable information. Your company owns the insights and findings, allowing you to control the narrative and provide exclusive content to your audience.

Positioning your brand as an industry leader

The most powerful way to build your brand’s reputation is to publish data-backed thought leadership that aligns with your company’s vision and meets the needs of your customers and stakeholders. B2B original research helps your company present fresh, data-driven insights, and establishes your business as a go-to authority on new trends and issues within your sector.

Cementing trust and credibility

By publishing the most sought-after data-backed insights under your logo, you gain the twin advantages of differentiation and credibility. Data-backed content builds trust with your audience by providing factual, relevant information that helps readers determine their own path forward. B2B buyers are often decision-makers looking for reliable information to guide their business strategies and purchases, and research-based content offers the credibility they seek.

Amplifying your brand

When you publish high-quality information, other B2B thought leaders and media outlets take notice. As the primary source of original research, your company becomes a go-to expert. Any publication that cites your work, every podcast that discusses your findings, and each webinar that invites your brand thought leaders on to share their insights amplifies your brand that much further.

Types of original research

The type of research you publish depends largely on your end-game: do you want the research to generate leads? Are you after greater brand awareness? Is this a marketing research report you want to publish on a regular cadence?

These are a few types of reports to consider adding to your marketing strategy:

Yearly benchmarks

These are annual studies that track key metrics or industry trends over time. They are useful for showing how specific areas evolve year after year.

Example: LinkedIn 2024 B2B Marketing Benchmark

One-off research

Research focused on a single topic, often related to emerging trends, industry disruptions, or niche subjects. These are useful for addressing specific questions or timely issues.

Example: Sprinklr and LinkedIn: Proving the Power of Brand*

Customer Insights and preferences

Studies that survey your customers or broader market to understand buyer behaviors, needs, or preferences. This data helps craft solutions that better address customer pain points.

Example: Global B2B Buyer Report, BigCommerce

Trend reports

Regular publications that analyze and predict key market trends in the B2B space. This helps your audience stay ahead of the curve with industry developments.

Example: TopRank 2023 B2B Influencer Marketing Report: Elevate & Ignite*

Reporting on disruptive trends

Research that measures how companies are reacting to major industry shifts, economic changes, or technological advances like AI positions your brand as responsive and in tune with industry needs.

Example: HubSpot: The Intersection of Marketing, Data and AI*

* TopRank Marketing partnered on or led these original research projects.

Repurposing marketing research reports: The content gift that keeps on giving

The dollars you invest in original research can be stretched far and wide as that research is repurposed into blog posts, infographics, white papers, webinars, video series, and so on … all unlocking different ways to reach and provide value for your audience.

Blog posts: In what we like to refer to as a “turkey slice,” you can break down key findings into a series of blog posts, each focusing on a different aspect of the research.

Infographics: Visualize data and insights from the report into easily digestible infographics.

Social media posts: Share individual stats, charts, or quotes across LinkedIn, X/Twitter, or other social media platforms, driving engagement.

Whitepapers: Combine the research with related content to create a detailed whitepaper or guide for your audience.

Ebooks: Expand on the research findings by providing additional context or case studies, turning the data into an in-depth ebook.

Webinars: Host a webinar discussing the report’s insights, with key speakers diving deep into the findings.

Case studies: Use the data to support a case study highlighting how a company benefited from the trends or insights revealed in your research.

Podcasts: Create a podcast episode discussing the findings, either with internal experts or guest industry professionals.

Presentations: Develop a presentation or slide deck to share at industry conferences or with prospects.

Video series: Create short videos discussing the top takeaways, explaining how the insights apply to your audience’s challenges.

Newsletters: Feature snippets from the marketing research report in a company newsletter or as part of an email marketing campaign.

Best practices for B2B original research

Our team has a great deal of collective experience putting together high-quality reports based on original research. Here are the best practices we’ve developed along the way.

#1. Establish your research goals: Understand what insights you want to uncover, how they align with your company’s strategic goals, and how they serve your audience’s needs.

#2. Target the right audience: Ensure your research is aimed at your core audience, whether it’s clients, prospects, or key industry players.

#3. Ask neutral, focused questions: Design survey or interview questions that are free of bias. If the results of your surveys and interviews don’t support your original hypothesis, remember: that data still holds insights, and may be even more newsworthy!

#4. Don’t be afraid to outsource the research: For your data to be high-quality and accurate, you may want to work with a third-party research organization. They have the connections and expertise to ensure the quality of your questions, rapidly deploy your survey, and help you make sense of the responses.

#5. Validate and cross-check data: I once stumbled upon a data point that had been published far and wide, long after the original publisher pulled their report due to inaccuracy. Cross-checking data strengthens its credibility and prevents misleading conclusions.

#6. Use a blend of quantitative and qualitative data: While quantitative (hard numbers) data can provide a broad overview, qualitative (observable but not measurable) data offers deeper insights. Use both forms of data to give your report more dimension and support a compelling narrative.

Source: 2024 B2B Marketing Benchmark

#7. Get other industry experts involved: Data from a single voice is interesting, but a consensus of thought leaders backing up that data? That’s compelling! Partnerships can be accomplished through co-branded research, or by including quotes and feedback from experts.

Source: 2023 B2B Influencer Marketing Report: Elevate & Ignite

#8. Give your audience actionable takeaways: Data is great, but useful insights are what drive impact and motivate organic sharing. Highlight key findings and suggest practical applications that can help your audience use the insights to inform their strategies.

Source: The Intersection of Marketing, Data and AI

#9. Prioritize the report design: Design can make or break your report’s readability. Make your research accessible and easy to digest by using a combination of visuals (infographics, charts) and detailed insights to present your findings.

Source: Proving the Power of Brand

#10. Promote, promote, promote: Publishing a research report should never be a one-and-done campaign. Make sure you continue to leverage your research findings by promoting the report across various channels and through different content formats to reach a broader audience and maximize the impact of your research.

Source

Our friends at Content Marketing Institute have also drafted an excellent self-assessment for marketers who are considering diving into original research: Don’t Start an Original Research Project Before Answering These 8 Questions.

Learn to stop worrying and love B2B original research

Publishing a marketing research report is an excellent way for your company to share the next Big Idea with your industry. At TopRank, we’ve helped companies bring their research to life, as well as published our own proprietary insights.

Some highlights from this last year of report drafting include:

Interested in learning more about how we can help you develop a marketing report based on original research? Contact us.

Source link

SEO & Digital Marketing

The New Creative Hub: Dubai’s Agency Scene Evolves

Published

2 days ago

September 18, 2024

Josh Kuku

We bet that, recently, at least one of your friends visited Dubai for a reason. Why are we hearing so much about Dubai these days—not only for its tourist aspect but also for digital marketing initiatives?

We will find out why Dubai is now a new digital marketing hotspot in this blog post – career opportunities and digital marketing agencies in Dubai.

Keep reading.

Key Takeaways

Dubai offers a sizable market to companies looking to increase their online presence.
Because businesses in Dubai are eager to take advantage of online platforms, digital marketing is one of the most in-demand skills in the job market.
Marketers predict that Dubai’s digital marketing ecosystem will continue to grow quickly in the coming years.
For professionals, agency owners, and brands, Dubai offers a plethora of opportunities in the digital marketing space.

What’s Inside?

An Overview of Dubai’s Digital Marketing Atmosphere

In recent years, Dubai has solidified its status as a hub for digital innovation, offering businesses a dynamic environment for marketing success. With widespread access to the latest tech and a business population that relies on the internet, the city presents unparalleled opportunities for brands to connect with their target audiences.

Dubai is a digital-first city. It is equipped with affordable high-speed internet, and almost all of its population uses smartphones. This makes effective digital marketing services in Dubai a foremost concern for businesses.

According to research on why Dubai is an attractive area for international business, Dubai has radically changed over the last thirty years.

It has become a major business state with a sustainable and branched-out economy. Especially over the last ten years, Dubai has noticed enormous economic development as a result of urban development that converted the uninhabited desert of Dubai into a commercial, residential, economic, and tourist state.

Additionally, it is well known that Dubai boasts a massive international trade network that spans nearly 180 states worldwide, offering investors many options for international marketing channels to promote a diverse range of products and services. Hong Kong and Singapore are the two largest export and reexport hubs globally, with Dubai coming in third.

Of course, the city also gains from all kinds of marketing efforts & channels, including digital marketing, as new businesses, investors, and clients come on board. So much so that recent research has shown that a wide range of industries in the United Arab Emirates profit from digital marketing, and they use related tactics to influence business profitability by raising brand awareness, driving more traffic to websites, and generating leads.

Given these factors, effective digital marketing has become a priority for companies looking to thrive in this fast-paced market. This has led to an evolution in Dubai’s agency scene, where creative strategies and cutting-edge solutions are reshaping how businesses approach their online presence.

Digital Marketing Agencies in the UAE Worth It?

Let us continue with one of the most common questions people ask on the internet about the digital marketing ecosystem of Dubai. The answer is a resounding yes. In a market as competitive and digitally driven as the UAE, partnering with a digital marketing agency can make a significant difference.

According to our Exclusive Q&A with Sacha Christe, CEO of Emirates Graphic, digital marketing agencies in Dubai are especially worth working with.

In the said Q&A, Christie states that Dubai’s multicultural audience is indeed a “unique challenge and opportunity” at the same time. To tailor digital marketing strategies effectively, digital agencies conduct thorough market research to understand cultural nuances, language preferences, and consumer behaviors. And finally, they create content and campaigns that resonate with various cultural groups while ensuring sensitivity and respect for diversity. He adds:

Dubai’s business-friendly regulatory environment fosters innovation and attracts agencies and businesses to operate and expand in the region. It provides a stable and conducive platform for growth, which is advantageous for agencies like Emirates Graphic.

What’s more, it seems that in the next few years, marketers anticipate Dubai’s digital marketing ecosystem to continue evolving rapidly:

Brands should stay ahead by embracing emerging technologies, staying updated on local trends, and collaborating with innovative agencies. It’s crucial to remain flexible and adapt to changing consumer preferences.

Dubai for Working Professionals (Scope of Digital Marketing in Dubai)

As we mentioned earlier, Dubai has quickly become a magnet for working professionals, particularly in the digital marketing sector. With its thriving economy and constant push toward digital transformation, the city offers endless opportunities for those looking to build or expand their careers. Digital marketing is one of the most in-demand skills in the job market because businesses in Dubai are eager to take advantage of online platforms.

From social media management and content creation to SEO, professionals can find a diverse range of roles within digital marketing agencies and in-house corporate teams. With Dubai’s commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements and its large consumer base, there is always a need for innovative marketing strategies. For digital marketers, this city offers a dynamic work environment and the chance to work on projects that shape global perceptions.

DAN-member agencies like Crowd are playing a crucial role in promoting Dubai as a prime destination for business. As a creative agency, Crowd has actively worked on campaigns showcasing the city’s potential to global audiences, emphasizing its business-friendly environment and advanced digital infrastructure. This is just one example of how digital marketing professionals in Dubai can be part of projects that have a global impact, helping position the city as a leading business hub.

Let us wrap up that section with two thoughtful responses to the query, “Is it hard to find a job in digital marketing or SEO in Dubai?“

Dubai for Agency Owners

For agency owners in Dubai, several digital marketing domains present lucrative opportunities. With a significant portion of the population active on social media, social media advertising is a leading domain.

According to Statista, social media ad spending in the UAE is expected to reach approximately $388.40 million in 2024, indicating a high demand for agencies specializing in targeted campaigns on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

SEO and content marketing are also crucial due to the competitive business environment. Brands seek agencies that can optimize their online presence, driving organic traffic and brand visibility.

Influencer marketing is another domain thriving in Dubai. The city’s diverse culture and global appeal make it a hotspot for influencers, and agencies that can connect brands with the right influencers are in high demand.

Paid advertising through PPC campaigns remains a key strategy. Digital ad spending in the UAE continues to grow, with businesses looking to agencies for data-driven strategies that maximize their ROI.

These popular domains offer agency owners a chance to diversify their services and cater to Dubai’s dynamic market, allowing them to position themselves as industry leaders.

Here are some hints as to why Dubai’s digital marketing sector is expanding, in case you decide to establish your agency there:

Dubai for Brands & Businesses

With digital advertising in the UAE projected to reach $1.48 billion by 2028, Dubai presents a vast marketplace for brands seeking to expand their digital footprint. This environment provides brands with the tools they need to drive growth and build a strong online presence.

Additionally, as a part of Dubai’s marketing ecosystem, brands and companies have many opportunities to collaborate with excellent, locally focused digital marketing agencies, such as WGG Digital Marketing Agency, a DAN member.

We live in Dubai; we work in Dubai; we know how to work with digital marketing to grow your business in this city.

WGG has established itself as one of the leading agencies in the UAE. For us, each campaign is not just numbers but also a representation of the vibrant life of Dubai and the UAE. With a team versed in the latest digital trends and tools, we offer a panoramic view of modern marketing. In the ever-changing digital marketing in the UAE, WGG is the most adaptive and evolving agency.”

According to the statement on their website, WGG begins each project “by diving deep into Dubai’s online market. It’s paramount for us to understand the digital platforms that have the most traction in the region.” Also, they are “committed to grasping the digital habits of both locals and the expatriate community, ensuring our campaigns cater to each distinct audience segment.”