Are you one of the more than 73,000 small businesses in Denver?
If so, you know that competition is stiff and you need to up your marketing game to make a splash and the resulting profits.
There are a few key things to look for to make sure that when you go digital you’re on the right path.
So, let’s look ahead to the future and help your Denver small business shine.
Why Digital Marketing is the Key to Success
Let’s face it, old-school marketing may not be dead but everyone has their nose in a phone these days. That means you need to hit the internet if you want to have any real chance of success.
Did you know that 75% of local searches lead to an offline visit within 24 hours?
That’s a huge number and you’re missing out if you’re not actively engaged in digital marketing. You need to be present, but more than that you need to be more visible than the rest.
With Denver’s huge number of businesses you already know the competition is stiff, but with some thought and a bit of shifting of your budget you’ll be able to come out ahead in the end!
What You Can Do On Your Own
There are a few things you can handle on your own to start the digital marketing process.
The big one? Claim your business on Google. Fill out all of the information.
If you’re capable of any form of web design you may want to buy a domain with a host that has easy WordPress install and set up a basic site. Add in some social media accounts and you’re on your way to a good start.
The problems begin to arise if you’re working in a business with stiffer competition. At that point, you’ll either need to learn digital marketing from scratch or begin to work with someone who knows what they’re doing.
When Does Your Denver Small Business Need a Professional?
High competition is the biggest reason to step into using a professional service.
You can either hire individual freelancers or you can step things up a notch and hire an actual agency.
With the sheer number of small businesses in the Denver area it’s doubtful you’ll be working in a niche where you’re the only game in town. If you’re lucky you may only have a couple of competitors who’ve gone digital.
Even simple stuff like managing your own social media accounts and website can take a lot of time from what you’d prefer to be doing. That means longer working hours or neglecting other portions of the business and neither is a good long term prospect.
The truth is this: you will need professional assistance with your digital marketing at some point. Whether it’s a team of freelancers or an agency, you’re probably not going to be able to run a stable business and run every piece of the marketing campaign directly.
Finding the Right Agency
Agencies are a dime a dozen these days. It’s hard to know who to trust and how to vet the various people involved.
It’s the internet: the truth is that many agencies are either using dated tactics that can actively hurt your Google rank, may not be offering much at all, or may not be able to deliver real results in the end.
Finding a skilled agency takes time.
Vetting agencies is a bit harder when you’re taking shots in the dark on the internet. Just because a company manages to rank on Google doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re an excellent choice. It could mean they’ve found a loophole that will get closed eventually or it may just mean they have too much time on their hands.
Likewise, you don’t want to go with the cheapest agency available. There are plenty of operations that come out of India, for instance, that will take your money willingly and not give you much value for it.
Going local is one of the best choices you can make if you’re on too tight of a budget to afford one of the big names.
This way you’ll be interacting with real people and have recourse if something goes south. You may also be able to get traditional marketing done depending on the agency.
Tired of Bad Agencies? Try a Directory!
Fortunately, there are places on the internet that can help you eliminate bad choices before you even vet them.
What you’re looking for is a good directory. You’re lucky enough to be near one at this very moment, we even have a top 10 list for Denver available.
Directories can also help you target the services you really need. If your website is doing fine and you just need social media management, for instance, then it’s best to find a company that specializes in it.
You’ll still need to handle your vetting process on your own but it’ll help you keep a tight focus on only reputable agencies.
Directories are a big win for everyone. You find the best and the agencies involved are connected with customers who already know what they’re looking for.
Ready for a Big Win?
If you’re ready to get a big win for your Denver small business then you may be in for a treat. We specialize in bringing together the best-of-the-best in digital marketing agencies and bringing them straight to you.
So, are you ready to get your digital marketing campaign off the ground?
Check out our list of agencies based in Denver!