Businesses often make the common mistake of hiring too fast an internet marketing company – primarily because they are concerned about price. Poorly designed websites can be a poor representation of your business. These are the questions to ask before you hire an internet marketing company.
The industry’s longevity is a sign of skill and stability. Online marketing companies that have been around for a while with a solid reputation are known for their excellent design work and exceptional customer service. An internet marketing company with a longer history will be more likely be available for future maintenance and updates of your website. This question will give you an idea of the skills and experience within the company. A tertiary degree is a good thing. A lot of experience is better than none, and it is more beneficial to combine experience with a higher education.
When it comes to web marketing companies, bigger is not always better. On average, companies have one designer, several web developers, analysts and a few support and sales people. Companies may use Just-in Time staffing to add or remove staff as necessary. This allows for lower overhead. Numerous prominent internet marketing companies are now offering additional services such as web design and development. Many experienced internet marketing firms offer services such as SEO, Search Engine Marketing and Web Content Writing. Finding the right company to provide you with the services you need is key.
A web marketing company should take the time to create a customized solution for your site. The online marketing company will often provide you with a questionnaire that allows them to get a better understanding of your goals, competition, and overall website requirements. Your website plays a major role in your brand marketing. It is crucial that you have an understanding of your overall internet marketing goals by your internet marketing company.
Most internet marketing companies charge an upfront deposit as well as stage payments. These stages are based on milestones and deliverables. Avoid any internet marketing company that requires payment upfront.
Your internet marketing company must have access to the most important information about you and your company. This information is not available to your competitors or anyone else. This is especially true if your company is new. It is important that you don’t allow others to steal your idea before you have a chance to make it a profitable business. You can protect your data by creating a solid privacy and non-disclosure policy.
Ask the company what their average turn-around time is for similar projects. You will be able to see if the web designer/developer uses time tracking and project management software. You should let the company know if you have a deadline you must meet.
Make sure you know the pricing structure for website updates. Ask the internet marketing company how they will handle future updates. Consider how frequently you will need updates. A Content Management System is a good option if you need to make frequent updates to your website. CMS can only be useful in the case of frequent changes, and only if staff members have received good training. It may be more cost-effective to hire a supplier to handle small updates.
