Choosing the Best Online Marketing Consultants for your Business

Although online marketing has been around for many years, many business owners are still very much in the dark as to how to best market their products or services on the internet. With so many internet marketing companies and SEO consultants in the UK providing a wide variety of services, deciding which is the best for your needs is no easy task.

 

You may have already hired an online marketing agency who promised the Earth but failed to deliver, or had an in house employee taking charge of your internet marketing needs with similar disappointing results. Chances are you've also heard a multitude of scare stories from business colleagues and acquaintances about some of the more unscrupulous marketing companies out there.

 

Here's a few tips to help you find the best online marketing company for your business.

 

Word of mouth recommendations are often a reliable source, however, in such a broad industry as online marketing, one company may well be doing an excellent job promoting a local plumbing firm in the search engines, but that's a very different ball game than marketing a business with national coverage. What you need to look for is an online marketing agency with a proven track record in your area of trade.

 

Shop local is also worth considering because there's nothing quite like a face to face meeting with your potential marketing consultants, however this approach may limit you to only a handful of online marketing consultants. In this age of the internet, there's a lot to be said for using the services of a company based on the other side of the country. For example, it's no secret that the cost of living is far more expensive in the south east of England than it is in the north, and for this reason, many companies in the south east find they can get internet marketing services at more competitive rates from SEO consultants based in the north of England.

 

A flexible approach to internet marketing is an excellent way of determining the knowledge base of an online marketing agency. You want to find a company who can provide a wide range of marketing solutions including search engine optimisation, article and press release marketing, paid search or PPC and web design services. The last thing you want is a marketing consultant who recommends implementing a variety of changes or upgrades for your website but cannot deliver them, or marketing consultants with little or no experience in e-commerce websites.

 

Research. An old business saying goes like this; a happy customer will tell on average, three people about the good services they've received, whereas an unhappy customer will tell around fifteen people about the poor service they've been given. Since the advent of the internet, numerous unhappy customers will make their feelings known by posting on their grievances on the many review websites such as Qype and ReviewCentre. This can be a nightmare for those companies who continuously deliver substandard services but is a godsend for those looking for reputable online marketing consultants.

 

Be wary of the companies who promise over night success or give you the hard sell. Ask how long they have been trading as marketing consultants and ask if you can contact any of their existing customers directly. Also, ask how many employees and clients the company has. More is not necessarily better in this case, as you want to avoid the 'battery farm' marketing companies. Instead, look for a smaller company where you'll be dealing with the same consultants each time you're in contact. Such firms are more likely to deliver a quality service which will cater for your needs.