The 6 Best Digital Marketing Companies of 2020

Digital marketing covers everything from SEO and content marketing to email campaigns, social media strategy, and video marketing too. 

With new digital marketing companies popping up left and right offering a bit of everything (and truly speaking to no one), it’s no surprise you’re having a hard time finding the right one. 

The best thing to do is narrow down your options by bypassing those digital marketing companies trying to do too many things at once. 

Why? Because true highly-niched experts are the best way to get the results you want (and deserve) for your business. 

But, it’s not always easy to find those experts when you need them. 

So, I put together a list of the top digital marketing companies who genuinely excel at what they do to help you find the right fit for your business depending on what you need. 

Then, we’re going to talk about what makes them great and what to expect when working with them. 

Let’s get started!

The 6 top digital marketing companies in the world

Digital marketing can be done from anywhere in the world. 

So, it doesn’t matter if you’re living in New York and want to work with a company in Houston. Or living in London interested in an advertising specialist in Australia. 

All this freedom does make it difficult to narrow down your choices. 

But this list is a great place to start. 

1. Neil Patel Digital — Best for content marketing and SEO

Let’s face it — consistent content creation and effective content marketing are the banes of a lot of business’s existence. 

Pair that with constantly evolving search engine algorithms and you have a recipe for burnout and frustration (on top of your every-day to-do’s). 

Thankfully there’s an easier way than staying on top of it on your own. 

Neil Patel Digital was built by marketers — not bankers — interested in disrupting the way brands (and their target audience) think about the content they create, publish, and promote. 

We’ve helped businesses like Facebook, Intuit, and Google, as well as small to medium-sized businesses, disrupt their industries with our holistic and authentic approach to content creation and search engine optimization. 

From research to execution to promotion and ongoing optimization, we know a thing or two (or twenty) about helping your brand create the best content for the right people… and putting it in front of them as well.

Your business deserves to be heard and there’s no one more dedicated to making that happen than our team of professional experts equipped with my world-class digital marketing strategies.

Plus, with seven offices around the world, our team is here for you when you need us. 

2. Cubicle Ninjas — Best for brand design and app/website development

You can have the best ideas and products in the world but without a brand that portrays your story and core values, you’re going to have a hard time connecting with your audience. 

But cohesive brand design goes beyond the basics of graphic design best practices and Googling for free information until your eyes gloss over. 

That’s where an experienced specialist comes in and saves the day. 

Cubicle Ninjas uses a strategic combination of design and technology to develop innovative, inspiring, and one-of-a-kind branding design paired with the mobile apps and websites brands need to stand out in our online world. 

They’ve designed high-end customer experiences for companies like Red Bull, Microsoft, IBM, and Hilton but they also work with smaller boutique brands as well. 

Cubicle Ninjas believe the best brands encompass visual, written, and interactive elements to create a cohesive customer experience through every stage of their journey from casual visitors to loyal repeat customers. 

Their client-proven process works for businesses and projects of all sizes interested in developing a brand and creative assets that help them tell their story. 

3. Storm Brain — Best for advertising and social media marketing

Social media seemingly changes by the second. 

It feels impossible to keep up with new platforms, updated policies, and ever-changing social media marketing techniques on top of running your business. 

But thankfully, you don’t have to. 

Storm Brain is a digital marketing company specializing in effective advertising campaigns and social media marketing that helps brands of all sizes generate more leads, build brand ambassadors, and make more money with a strong focus on ROI. 

They’ve worked with some big names like Zillow, Ford, and Citi Bank but they also work with smaller brands in a wide variety of industries. 

Storm Brain focuses on planning, creating, and executing both paid and organic social media campaigns that help your audience connect with your brand across social media channels. 

However, they specialize in Facebook and paid social media advertising. 

Their four-step strategic approach centers around your target audience and capitalizes on paid media, owned media, and earned media to ensure your brand is in front of the right people. 

4. Mad Mind — Best for eCommerce development and product branding

As a product-based business, you have different marketing roadblocks than service-based or blogging-based businesses. 

And there are a lot of other branding elements coming into play as well.

Thankfully, Mad Mind is here to help. 

They’re a creative digital marketing studio for both large and small eCommerce brands looking to develop cohesive branding from their website design down to the smallest details of their product packaging. 

Brands like Lyft and Sony Music trust Mad Mind to help them create an impactful brand, attract the right people, and turn them into lifelong paying customers.

Furthermore, they’ve been featured on Shark Tank, The Los Angeles Times, and Vogue. 

From WordPress, WooCommerce, and Shopify development to custom websites and thoughtful eCommerce branding, their team of “marketing geniuses” delivers powerful results and dynamic marketing strategies you can leverage for years to come. 

5. Pop Video — Best for video and visual content marketing

Video and visual content marketing are booming right now. 

But it’s no secret planning, creating, and producing videos feels overwhelming and downright difficult, to say the least. 

The good news is… you don’t have to do it all yourself. 

Pop Video specializes in doing the heavy lifting (read: video creation, execution, repurposing, editing, etc.) for you. 

They know your audience expects more than one-off videos and other types of visual content. And they also believe your business deserves better, as well. They don’t call themselves a “lean, mean, content-generating machine” for nothing. 

Pop Video has partnered with hundreds of brands including Phillips 66, Academy Sports + Outdoors, and Mattress Firm to revolutionize the way their audiences consume and interact with digital content. 

However, they don’t just produce great videos. 

They help you create a library of visual assets by repurposing content as well so you can walk away with all the visual content marketing material you need. 

6. Action Rocket — Best for email marketing and design

There’s a reason 93% of B2B brands use email to distribute the content they create — it works. 

But starting your email list and growing it into a database of raving fans and customers isn’t easy. Most businesses know this and do everything they can to avoid it like the plague. 

Good thing you have another option. 

Action Rocket is an email marketing studio leveraging strategic approaches, creative thinking, and in-depth customer journeys to develop results-driven email marketing campaigns. 

Furthermore, they’ve worked with some huge names you may have heard of like QVC, Unicef, and American Express. 

However, they also work with businesses of all sizes anywhere in the world. 

Action Rocket offers courses, workshops, and training as well as world-class email campaign creation services so you can start leveraging one of the most effective forms of digital marketing for your business. 

7 characteristics that make a great digital marketing company

Now you know my top recommendations. 

So, let’s talk about what makes these digital marketing companies great and what to look for if none of the companies above match what you’re after. 

1. A great website and digital marketing strategy

Smart digital marketers understand the importance of having a well-designed website and an effective digital marketing strategy. 

So, it makes sense to expect your digital marketing company to have both, especially if they offer web design or custom development services.

Take a look around their website, sign up for the email list, and peek at their social media profiles to make sure they’re practicing what they preach. 

And if they’re not… move on to a digital marketing company that is.

2. An impressive portfolio

Agencies use their portfolio to show off their best work. 

So, look through their published portfolio pieces to see examples of the types of work they produce for their clients. 

This also gives you an idea of the types of clients they frequently work with. 

Pay close attention to the style and quality of what they do and make sure it closely aligns with what you hope to get out of working with them. 

Furthermore, look at the list of clients they have to see if you recognize any of the names. 

If anything seems off or doesn’t fit what you’re looking for, move on to a digital marketing company that feels like a better fit for you and your business. 

3. Aligned company culture and core values

It’s important to work with companies that value the same things and have a strong company culture you can appreciate to get the results you hope to achieve (without wanting to pull your hair out). 

Do you prefer a creative and collaborative atmosphere or a more rigid and structured approach? 

Look at the words, phrases, and photos they use on their website to get an idea of how they work and make sure it’s a good match to what you’re looking for. 

Some digital marketing companies use humor and playfulness while others are more serious. 

So, decide what type of experience you want to have and find a company that matches that. 

Example: Would you use the word “disruptive” to describe your brand and vision?

4. A diverse team with appropriate specializations

It’s important to hire a digital marketing company with the right team that can deliver the results you’re hoping for. 

If you’re looking for high-end brand design services, make sure they have an experienced team of designers to take on your project. 

Or maybe you’re interested in a custom-coded website. 

Check out that company’s team on their about page (if they have everyone listed there) or on LinkedIn to make sure they have an experienced designer and a coder or developer on staff. 

5. Timely and effective communication

Strong communication is one of the most important parts of a fruitful and beneficial partnership between a company and its digital marketing company. 

So, it’s important to consider their communication skills and overall customer service before hiring them. 

You can do this by evaluating the responses you get and how long it takes for them to respond to your messages and questions before giving them any money. 

This doesn’t always work but if they take weeks to respond to a simple question, consider moving on to someone else. 

6. Realistic promises and proven results

Before scheduling a consultation or reaching out for more information, look through their website to make sure their promises are realistic. 

Furthermore, look to see if you can find any data-driven case studies they have regarding the type of results they regularly produce for their clients. 

If they’re promising unrealistic things and making outlandish claims on their website, that’s a huge red flag. 

Why? Because this means they probably don’t understand how the industry works and they don’t have any actual client results to share. 

7. Real-world client testimonials

93% of consumers turn to customer reviews and testimonials when deciding to buy something. They do this because it helps justify the expense and ensure they’re going to get what they pay for. 

So, you should do the same. 

Keep an eye out for detailed and honest customer reviews or testimonials to give you an insight into what working with the company is like. 

If you can’t find any, they probably haven’t worked with many clients and they may be inexperienced. 

Which… is fine if you’re on a budget. But it’s not fine if you’re looking for the best possible solution for your business. 

What to expect from a great digital marketing company

Now you know what to look for, so let’s talk about what to expect when working or partnering with a digital marketing company.

The details of each phase look different for every business out there. But, the fundamentals remain the same regardless of the company you choose to work with. 

Phase 1: discovery and research

The best digital marketing companies want to learn everything there is to know about your business from top to bottom. 

This usually happens through a series of phone calls/zoom chats and detailed questionnaires so they can get to know you and what you’re looking for. They’ll also do a deep dive into your target market, audience, and competition. 

Phase 2: developing a plan of action

Once they know who you are and what you’re looking for, they’ll work with you to develop a detailed timeline and plan of attack to get the job done well and on time. 

Phase 3: executing the plan of attack

Once everyone agrees on the plan, it’s time to start executing. 

Your digital marketing company will work through the process of creating and finalizing everything you both agreed to during phase 2. 

This includes building infrastructure, creatives, ongoing strategies, and anything else you need to achieve the results you’re after. Again, this looks different for different types of projects and the company you’re working with. 

Depending on the complexity of your project, this could take anywhere from a few days to several months (or even a few years depending on the type of partnership). 

Phase 4: results and offboarding

After everything is complete, good digital marketing companies will walk you through the results and outcomes you achieved by working together. 

From there, you’ll discuss the next steps and how to move forward on your own (or what happens next if your partnership isn’t over).

Digital marketing = long-term relationships and results

Investing in digital marketing is a huge step in the right direction for your business. But, these strategies don’t return results overnight and they generally tend to ramp up over time. 

So, expect a long-term relationship with your digital marketing company.

The longer you work with them, the more fine-tuned they are to your needs, and the quicker they can get to work producing even better long-term results for you and your business. 

So, whether you choose one of my top recommendations or scout out your own, use the tips and best practices we talked about to make a smart, educated decision… like the future of your business depends on it. 

Because it does!

Have you worked with any digital marketing companies recently? How did it go and did you get the results you hoped for?

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Interview: Redesigning the Empire State Building’s Website

In 2019, to keep pace with an interior redesign of its visitor experience, the Empire State Building decided to redesign its website. Blue Fountain Media were engaged to deliver the project. With the new site launching, we spoke to Head of Design, Tatyana Khamdamova about designing for the world’s most famous building.

Webdesigner Depot: The Empire State Building is probably the most iconic building in America, if not the world. Were there any points at which you thought, “Oh God, this is too much pressure”?

Tatyana Khamdamova: Yes, of course, it was a lot of pressure knowing that people all over the world will be looking at your work. But with the pressure, we also felt excitement and pride that we got to work on such an iconic project. Just thinking that we are doing the site for Empire State Building made us feel proud of all that other work we did during our whole life that gave us the opportunity to be a part of this project.

WD: Blue Fountain Media is a large agency. Did you utilize the whole company, or was there a smaller, dedicated team tasked with creating the site?

TK: On a project like this one, you need the expertise of the team members from all departments in the agency. You want people to work together from the beginning to ensure that their knowledge helps to shape the project and produce the best possible outcome. It’s important for designers and marketers, for example, to be a part of the strategy and UX phase to provide their input which minimizes tunnel vision and generates more ideas. You can only achieve the best results if every single detail from strategy to design to development is done right.

WD: That’s a lot of people to coordinate. Did any roles naturally come to the fore, or is design leadership a quality that varies from person to person?

TK: Some people are natural leaders in their fields. But, sometimes a certain project requires people to take responsibility and show their leadership skills within the team. So I would say that it’s a quality that varies from person to person and doesn’t depend on a role or a title at all.

WD: What were the central aims of the redesign?

TK: ESB’s previous website did not reflect the level of design to match their iconic brand, UX was not user friendly, the content was outdated, and they wanted to grow online individual and group ticket sales. In addition to competing with global and NYC based tourist attractions, ESB was also faced with growing competition in the NYC Observatory market with Top of The Rock, One World Observatory, and Edge at Hudson Yards.

While the building underwent a $165 million renovation, BFM was tasked with creating a best in class website that reclaimed their iconic brand identity while providing an intuitive, and enjoyable user experience for both domestic and international visitors looking to learn about the building, exhibits, and the many ticket experience packages that they offer to visitors.

WD: How do you approach researching a unique project like this?

TK: We went to the source! First, we spoke to visitors of the Empire State Building while they were in line. What was their experience, did they use the website, what made them choose to visit the observatory instead of or in addition to some of the other competing observatories in the city. We then looked at other key tourist towers worldwide to see how they are positioning themselves globally to draw inspiration. We did in-depth stakeholder interviews that included folks working at the building every day and the types of interaction and questions they field from visitors. We conducted surveys of international travelers to understand their motivations and concerns. Finally, we dug into the website itself by testing using various protocols and platforms to understand the visitor paths, what they were able to easily do, and what tasks they may have found challenging. Drawing from all of those insights, we planned and designed the site using an iterative process.

WD: ESB visitors come from all over the world; how did you tackle designing for an international audience?

TK: People across the globe speak different languages, have different cultures and needs. Our goal was to learn about the audience and give them a site that looks and feels like it was created for them. Luckily we were working for the iconic building that is well known internationally and capturing the design aesthetic of the building itself already made the site recognizable across the globe. When working on the project we also were making sure that all users can see the information in their local language when they land on the site and have easy access to the language selector in case they want to change it. When you translate from one language to another the number of words and characters is not always the same. It was important to make sure that the site is designed and developed with an understanding of how the content will be displayed in other languages. With the localization help of our parent company Pactera EDGE we successfully translated the site in several languages and tested it to ensure that it looks right for the local and international audience.

WD: The famous view of the ESB is the external view, but your design feels more in keeping with the experience of the building’s interior. Was that a conscious decision?

TK: It was a conscious decision to create a site that makes you feel like you are visiting the building. Our goal was to make the visitor excited to buy a ticket and see all that beauty with their own eyes. But, if someone doesn’t have an opportunity to come to NY we wanted to make that online experience as close to the real one as possible. We understand that nothing will replace the actual visit to the Empire State Building but we wanted the website to feel real and by using the great photography and amazing Art Deco design elements, we were able to do so.

WD: How did you interpolate such a complex style as Art Deco into a functional site?

TK: Fortunately for us, our office is located a couple blocks away from the building and we had the opportunity to go there and see some of the details. We also had access to the great photos of the renovated hallways, exhibits, and observatory decks, which gave us the idea of how the Art Deco elements were used in the interior design of the building. We all know that interior design and web design have different needs and goals so it was an interesting challenge to design a site that makes you feel like you are inside the building without overwhelming users and that content is easy to read and the ticket purchasing process is simple and clean. We re-created a lot of design elements used on the ceiling, walls, and floor of the building simplified those elements and made them part of the website design. A lot of those elements were used in the background, call to actions, icons, and maps, and combined with the brand colors used in both interior and web designs we were able to give the site the Art Deco look.

WD: There’s been speculation in the design community recently that Art Deco may re-emerge as a trend in the 2020s. Having worked with the style, do you think it could benefit the wider web?

TK: This was a very specific design approach for a very specific project that takes us back to the 1920’s and emphasizes that era through modern twists in web design. I do not see how it can be applied on the web in general unless the client specifically asks for it, for example, architecture website, real estate, or furniture site. Every project is unique and has its own goals and style and there is no one solution that will fit all. As of today, The ESB is Art Deco in a sense and it truly owns that style.

WD: Can you share some details on the technology stack you employed?

TK: The site was built on the Drupal CMS, integrates with Empire’s partner Gateway Ticketing System, and is hosted on Acquia.

WD: Why Drupal? Does it have qualities that suit a project of this scale, or is it simply the case that BFM had the pre-existing expertise of Drupal to facilitate the build?

TK: BFM is a dev-agnostic production team and we always ensure we’re making the best recommendation to our clients. In this case, the previous website was built on Drupal, so in order to decrease the effect of a new platform rollout that would be unfamiliar to the internal ESB teams, we decided to keep the site on the Drupal platform. Luckily, Drupal is an extremely flexible CMS and the needs of the site perfectly align with what Drupal provides.

WD: With visitors from around the world, the range of browsers and devices you had to consider was vastly larger than most projects. Did you draw a line for support? If so, where was it?

TK: BFM constantly updates our list of supported browsers and devices to stay in line with changing technology trends and device usage around the world. We’re extremely lucky that our larger organization, Pactera EDGE, has deep roots in globalization and localization, so we leveraged their team to help us with all aspects of website visitors from the many regions around the world, including translation services and testing. Since this was a complete overhaul, we ensured the baseline standard for all devices was met and will continue to enhance as the future technology needs become apparent.

WD: The Empire State Building gets millions of visits each year, what sort of server resources do you need to throw at it to guarantee uptime?

TK: BFM is a partner of Acquia, and Empire State Building is hosting their new site with them. Acquia is a wonderful ecosystem built specifically for high performing drupal websites and provide many tools for their hosted sites to be able to handle fluctuations in visitors, traffic surges, and with the 24/7 support offered, they can easily manage the changing needs of worldwide visitors.

WD: Now it’s live, how does the new ESB site relate to its real world presence?

TK: The Empire State Building defines the New York City skyline. The world’s most magnificent Art Deco skyscraper, it’s a living piece of New York history and an instantly recognizable symbol of city culture today. The old site did not reflect the amazing interior and exterior design of the building and we had a chance to showcase the redesigned interior and bring more attention to the beautiful Art Deco design elements. We wanted to create the site to make you feel like you are visiting the building. By showcasing the exhibits, renovated halls, and observatories through compelling photography and architectural details, our goal is to make the visitor excited to buy a ticket and see all that beauty with their own eyes.

We’d like to thank Tatyana for taking the time out of her day to talk to us.

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How to Choose The Right Digital Marketing Agency

Deciding to hire a digital marketing agency is easy. 

The hard part is deciding which digital marketing agency to hire. 

In today’s world, anyone with an internet connection can create a website and start offering services as an entrepreneur. The barriers to entry are slim to none. 

Which… is what makes choosing the right digital marketing agency so tricky. 

However, I know a few things that can help simplify the decision-making process. In this article, I cover what to look for, things to avoid, how to make the most of your digital marketing agency, and my top recommendations. 

But first, let’s start at the beginning. 

Know your goals and desired outcomes

Every business is different, as is every digital marketing agency. 

Digital marketing agencies usually specialize in one or two areas. And while many of them are “full-service,” they typically prefer projects within their specialty.

So the first step in choosing the right digital marketing agency is understanding your goals and what you hope to achieve by working with one. 

It may be easier to break this down into deliverables, the goal of those deliverables, and the outcome you hope to achieve. Knowing these things helps you communicate what you wish to get out of the project. 

And when an agency knows what you’re looking for, they know whether they can actually help you without wasting anyone’s time. 

Here are some examples to get your wheels turning. 

Example #1:

Pretend you want to hire an agency to help you develop a content marketing system. You ultimately want a blog that continuously runs on autopilot with no work required by you. 

• Deliverable: a fully-managed content marketing plan, strategy, and system
• Goal: attract more of the right visitors to your website with high-quality content
• End result: a blog 100% managed by someone else

From there, you can start looking for companies that fit the bill because you know exactly what you’re looking for and how to communicate your desired outcomes.

Example #2:

Maybe you’re interested in creating a series of marketing videos you can use on social media and your website, but you don’t know how to do it or where to start. 

You also want someone to coach you through the process. 

• Deliverable: a series of on-brand marketing videos and matching visual assets
• Goal: communicate your new offer in a fun and engaging way for your audience
• End result: a finished product and the know-how required to do it on your own

Now, you can actively look for digital marketing agencies that are willing to coach you through it. Coaching is more hands-on, so not all video marketing agencies can do this. 

But because you know what you want, you can find the right fit for you. 

Imagine the disappointment of hiring someone and realizing they can’t or won’t give you what you were really looking for. 

This is why it’s essential to pinpoint your goals and desired outcomes before doing anything else. 

7 characteristics that make a great digital marketing agency

Now you know what your goals and desired outcomes are. So, it’s time to talk about what makes excellent digital marketing agencies… great. 

So, look for these characteristics as you go through the process of deciding who you want to work with. They’ll help you vet out top-notch service providers from those who say they’re the best without proof to back it up. 

Let’s dive in!

1. A sizable portfolio and/or list of past clients

Smart digital marketing agencies are proud of who they work with and the work they do. Furthermore, they typically display their partnerships for the world to see. 

You don’t necessarily have to know who their past clients are (bonus points if you do). But if you can’t find a list of previous clients or examples of their work, that may mean they haven’t worked with anyone. 

Which… is fine if you’re on a budget. But not okay if you’re looking for the best of the best. 

That said, some types of services aren’t easy to display, like content marketing and SEO. So, agencies specializing in those areas may not be able to showcase their work in a portfolio. 

However, a client list is a good indication of their experience. 

Note: with services like graphic design or website development, you should see a well-put-together showcase of the type of work they do. If you can’t find any examples, move on to a service provider with a portfolio that matches your expectations.

2. Experienced and specialized team members

Regardless of the type of services you’re after, it’s essential to make sure the agency you hire has the right team-members to suit your project. 

For example, you wouldn’t hire someone to design a logo if they don’t have a graphic designer. 

Look through their about page to see if they list their team members there. 

And if not, LinkedIn is also a great place to look. Start by searching for the agency. 

Then click “People” to see a list of everyone who works there. 

Note: this typically won’t show you any freelancers or contractors they work with, so it’s not always 100% indicative of who’s on their team. 

Furthermore, some of their team members may not be on Linkedin at all. 

But this is an excellent place to start. You can always ask questions during your consultation if you aren’t sure. 

3. Social proof and a strong industry reputation

Social proof, like testimonials and previous client reviews, can give you deep insight into what working with that agency is like.

Furthermore, smart marketers understand the importance of displaying social proof on their website. So, if you can’t find any, they may not have any previous clients, or they may not understand the industry as well as you’d like them to. 

Besides positive reviews, negative or neutral reviews can also shine a light on areas that agency struggles with to get a clear understanding of their work. 

Lastly, you can search for in-depth reviews on Google to see what others in the industry (and their past clients) say about their experiences with the agency. 

4. Similar core values and company culture

Take a moment to revisit your company’s core values and culture.

Why? Because it’s crucial to work with a digital marketing agency that values the same things and operates in a similar environment. 

Doing so ensures they mesh and work well with your team. Ultimately, an agency is an extension of your business. Choosing an agency with the right values and culture is just as important as considering the quality of their work. 

The last thing you want is the stress of working with a group of people who don’t value the same things or operate in the same way. 

Look at the words and phrases an agency uses to describe what they do. Does this align with your core values and the results you expect to see? 

If not, move on to an agency that feels like a better fit. 

5. A well-designed website

Your website is like a cozy entryway that makes the right people feel welcome. 

The best digital marketers know how essential a well-designed website is. So, if they’re not executing internal projects well, why would you expect them to deliver something better for yours? 

This is especially true if they offer website development or design services. 

So, look through their website and listen to your instincts. 

If it doesn’t feel right or appears low-quality, you’re better off moving on to an agency that values good design and delivering exceptional user experiences. 

6. They don’t make outlandish promises

The type of results an agency promises on their website is a strong indication of how well they understand the industry. 

For example, anyone claiming to fast track your way to the number one spot on Google doesn’t know that SEO is both a long-term and short-term marketing strategy. Or that it requires continuous work to maintain. 

So, that’s probably not someone you should hire to help optimize your website. 

Pay close attention to the claims and promises they make. 

Make sure they align with what you know about the industry. And remember outlandish or seemingly impossible promises are a huge red flag. 

Stick to digital marketing agencies that offer transparency and realistic promises. 

7. And they’re easy to get in touch with

The best digital marketing agencies make it as easy as possible for potential clients to get in touch with them. 

Navigating their website shouldn’t feel like a maze,

In a perfect world, their contact information isn’t more than one click away regardless of what page you’re on. And they provide a clear call to action, so you know what to do next.

Furthermore, your first step should be painfully clear. Do they want you to schedule a consultation? Maybe you’re supposed to fill out a contact form for more information or a custom quote. 

If it isn’t obvious or you’re struggling to figure out how things work, consider choosing a digital marketing agency that simplifies the process. 

How to work with a digital marketing agency

There are quite a few things you can do as a client to maximize your results and get the most out of your strategic partnership with a digital marketing agency. 

Doing these things helps set the stage for effective and successful collaboration through every phase of the project.

Prepare your team and do your homework

It’s essential to have everyone on the same page. So, have a meeting with your team and let them know the extent of your new project or partnership with plenty of time to get ready for it. 

If you owe the agency anything, be sure to spend time on it and do it well. They need to learn the ins and outs of your business, and this is your chance to put it all out on the table. 

This sets the precedence for the rest of the project, so don’t rush to get it done. 

Understand the scope, process, and timeline

Before the project starts, make sure every person with a stake in it agrees on the scope and timeline before moving forward. This is just as much your job as it is your agency’s. 

Furthermore, most digital marketing projects go through these four phases:

1. Discovery and research
2. Project planning
3. Execution
4. Review, results, and offboarding

Layout the details of each step with your team and agency so everything is crystal clear before the project begins. 

Don’t expect a hands-off experience

The best digital marketing projects are highly collaborative. 

Furthermore, your input, thoughts, and ideas help move the project forward in the right direction to match your desired outcomes. 

Some agencies and projects are more collaborative than others. So make sure you understand what they need from you throughout the entire project. 

It may help to have a dedicated point of contact and a team or team member ready to manage the project. Having someone readily available helps ensure you’re not holding things up on your end. 

Be ready to forfeit control

It’s important to remember that the agency you hired is excellent at what it does, and you hired them for a reason — their expertise. 

This means giving them complete control over certain aspects of the project to let them do what they do best. It’s also important to listen to what they say. 

If they have a reason for doing things a certain way, remind yourself they’re the experts. 

You don’t necessarily have to agree, but it’s worth keeping an open mind. 

Ask questions

If you’ve never worked with a digital marketing agency before, you will see and experience a lot of new things. 

And it’s completely normal if you don’t understand everything that’s happening. 

The best thing to do is ask questions.

Maybe you don’t know why they chose this color over that one. Or there’s a piece of data you don’t get. Perhaps someone said something that doesn’t make sense to you. 

There’s nothing wrong with not knowing. However, asking about the things you’re unsure of is an excellent opportunity for everyone to learn more. It also helps clear up any uncertainties. 

How to find the right digital marketing agency for you

There are countless “full-service” agencies offering every type of service you can imagine under one roof. Which… sounds great, but I don’t recommend hiring them. 

Why? It makes more sense when you think about other industries. 

Example #1: Would you rather hire a general contractor or a custom porch specialist to build a custom-fit back deck for your house? The specialist, right? 

Example #2: Who do you see when you have specific medical issues that need attention? A specialist for that particular problem. Or you get referred to one by your general care physician. 

The best digital marketing agencies excel at one or two things with their other services being add-ons or secondary options. 

So, choose a niched digital marketing agency specializing in the types of services you’re looking for to get the best results and the most bang for your buck. 

The 6 top digital marketing agencies

Now you know what to look for and how to choose the right digital marketing agency for your next project. To help you get started, these are my top agency recommendations for different types of projects.

1. Neil Patel Digital — Best for SEO and content marketing

Neil Patel Digital is a holistic digital marketing agency specializing in content marketing and SEO for brands interested in disrupting their industry. 

Our goal is to change the way brands think about the content they produce. 

And we also care about helping that content get the attention it deserves. 

Our team of highly-skilled content marketers and SEO experts are equipped with my tried-and-tested digital marketing strategies to help your business deliver the right types of content… at the right time. 

2. Storm Brain — Best for social media marketing and advertising

Storm Brain specializes in helping brands of all sizes generate more leads and leverage social media through organic and paid campaigns. 

They go the extra mile by looking at clients through the lens of an audience member to help craft and deliver long-term experiences that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. 

3. Action Rocket — Best for email marketing campaigns

From workshops and online courses to full-scale email campaign creation services, Action Rocket is a go-to expert for all things email marketing. 

Their team specializes in email strategy, design, and coding so you don’t have to worry about planning your campaigns or designing them. 

Plus, you can rest easy knowing your email code aligns with today’s best practices. 

4. Pop Video — Best for visual content marketing

Pop Video is a visual content marketing agency specializing in video and visual content marketing as well as matching visual assets for digital brands of all sizes. 

They understand the importance of deep collaboration between clients and their team, which is why they call themselves video partners… not video producers. 

At Pop Video, they consider themselves an extension of your team that works in parallel to supply iterative content for every step of the customer journey. 

5. Mad Mind — Best for eCommerce brand design

Online stores and eCommerce businesses deal with different challenges. So, you need a digital marketing agency who things differently to help you overcome those roadblocks. 

The Mad Mind team understands the importance of visual brand and product development from the look of your website and social media profiles to the intricate details of product packaging. 

6. Cubicle Ninjas — Best for branding and website/app development

In a perfect world, your website is your #1 salesman. But it’s no secret we aren’t all be web developers with a keen eye for design. 

But that’s why we hire experts, right?

Cubicle Ninjas is a digital marketing agency specializing in custom app and website development. They use modern design, humor, creative thinking, and the latest technologies to create excellent customer experiences. 

The best digital marketing agency is an extension of your team

Every project, big or small, deserves the attention of a true industry expert. However, choosing the right digital marketing agency often feels overwhelming. 

With tens of thousands of agencies to choose from, that’s no surprise.

But now you know what to look for, what to avoid, and how to prepare your team. Use the tips and characteristics we talked about next time you’re on the hunt for a niched digital marketing agency ready to bring your ideas to life. 

What do you consider before hiring a digital marketing agency? 

The post How to Choose The Right Digital Marketing Agency appeared first on Neil Patel.

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Choose Your Own Adventure with the Parsons Web Design and Development Certificate

Many people dream of a career in web design, but it may actually be more attainable than you think.

There are countless online courses, of variable quality, with little to no academic structure; self-learning is an option, but it doesn’t come with a curriculum. Without a professional structure and a comprehensive curriculum your dream career might never be more than that.

But there is a practical, fast-track option to making a career in web design a reality, and that’s the Parsons Web Design and Development Certificate.

Built around the innovative teaching approach that Parsons is known for, you’ll learn human-centered design, explore the latest tools, evaluate techniques and approaches, and uncover the secrets of UX. The certificate even offers two distinct tracks, one for designers, and one for developers, so you can take control of your own future.

It’s one of the most creative approaches to a formal design education in the world, and what’s more, because it’s entirely online you can study from anywhere.

What Will I Learn?

Parsons offers a flexible curriculum to suit both designers and developers. There are two core courses, followed by three specialist courses.

learn human-centered design, explore the latest tools, evaluate techniques and approaches, and uncover the secrets of UX

The core courses cover the essentials of web and mobile design, plus JavaScript for designers. Each of the core courses lasts nine weeks. When you’ve completed them, you can opt for a design specialism or a development specialism. (You don’t have to make your choice until you’ve completed the core courses!)

If you prefer design work, you’ll spend a total of 21 further weeks learning mobile design patterns, studying emerging platforms, working with interactive typography, and mastering design systems.

If development is more your thing, then on the 21 week development track you’ll cover advanced HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, learn how to work with APIs, and finish up with experimental JavaScript.

To earn the Web Design and Development Certificate you need to complete the two core courses, plus three specialist courses within two years — a total of 39 weeks of study. Parsons recommend that you take two courses per semester, but it’s possible to complete the entire certificate program in one year.

Is This Really For Me?

Parsons Web Design and Development Certificate is a recognized qualification from a reputable institution that will stand you in good stead in future job interviews. But what’s more important, is the knowledge and experience you’ll gain from the course.

Thanks to the creative, flexible approach to learning, the certificate is suitable for designers and developers at any stage of their career

Thanks to the creative, flexible approach to learning, the certificate is suitable for designers and developers at any stage of their career.

If you’re just starting out, the certificate is a superb way of exploring the field, all the while building skills that will make you stand out to employers.

If you’re a print designer, or a programmer, the Web Design and Development Certificate is a great way to supplement your existing skills and make a lateral move into web work.

And if you’re a grizzled industry professional with decades of experience, you’ll benefit from the track you know least well; designers studying development, developers studying design. Not only will it open up new creative avenues to you, but you’ll find project management easier with a broader outlook on the web.

The best thing about the Parsons Web Design and Development Certificate is that because it’s made up of modules, you can still work part-time as you tick off the courses.

Why Choose Parsons?

Parsons College of Design is part of The New School, a New York-based university. Open Campus, the platform that will run the certificate, is the New School’s online system for pre-college, professional, and continuing education courses.

Thanks to Covid-19, most learning institutions are planning online-only courses for at least the next 12 months, so why not enroll in a program run by an institution that already excels at online teaching.

Innovative courses, underpinned by the creative approach to teaching that Parsons College of Design is renowned for, mean the design education you embark on this fall will be second to none.

Individual courses cost between $577 and $850, with the entire Web Design and Development Certificate costing just $3,704.

 

[– This is a sponsored post on behalf of Parsons College of Design –]

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How to Spy on Your Competitor’s SEO in 60 Seconds

Have you ever searched for a term on Google and wished that your website ranked for it?

You know that if that traffic was going to you, it could change your sales, your revenue, and even your life.

But sadly, that traffic is going to your competition.

Well, today we are going to change that. I just released a new version of the Ubersuggest Chrome Extension that will give you insights into your competition’s SEO strategy so you can beat them…

Introducing the new Ubersuggest Chrome Extension

I’m going to show how to spy on your competitor’s SEO and outrank them, but first, you need to install the Ubersuggest Chrome Extension. It’s quick to do and it’s free.

Once you install it, I want you to head to one of your competitor’s websites and click on the “U” in your Chrome toolbar.

When you click on it, you’ll get data on any popular site.

You’ll see data on the right side, and, as you scroll, you’ll see more data.

The reason I added this feature to the Ubersuggest extension is to give you better access to your competitor’s SEO strategy.

That way you can outrank them.

Let’s go over each report of the Ubersuggest Chrome Extension and how you can use it to outrank your competition.

How to outrank your competition

First off, when you click on the “U” you’ll see traffic overview stats.

This gives you an idea if your competition has more traffic than you. If they do, then you should consider copying their SEO strategy.

If they don’t, then you still may consider spying and copying some of their SEO tactics… but, in general, focus on competitors with more traffic than you.

If you don’t know how to find these competitors, I will show you in a bit… but for now, let’s go over how you can use the data within the Ubersuggest Chrome Extension to boost your SEO traffic.

Once you find some sites that are generating more SEO traffic than you, I want you to scroll down. You’ll see charts that break down how many SEO keywords the site ranks for.

The bigger the number the better. Also, look for sites that continually rank for more keywords than fewer over time.

In other words, if they continually rank for more and more keywords, they are doing something right.

Now scroll down a bit more and you’ll see Top Pages By Country and Top Keywords By Country.

I want you to click on the arrow next to the first result under Top Pages By Country.

It should look something like this:

This will give you an idea of the pages that drive the most SEO traffic to your competition.

If you click “view all” under each page, it will take you over to Ubersuggest and give you more data on the keywords that drive traffic to that content piece.

What you will want to do is create content similar to that by using the keywords that your competition is using. The key, though, is to create content that is more detailed and thorough than what your competition published.

Now that doesn’t mean you need to have a higher word count. It means you need to be more thorough. Here’s what I mean:

• Cover every aspect of the topic – if someone reads your content and still has questions, you didn’t go deep enough.
• Don’t create multiple pages on the same topic – it’s better to have one page that is super in-depth than it is to have multiple pages on the same topic. When you have multiple pages on the same topic it confuses Google because it makes it harder for them to figure out which one to rank.
• Use media to explain your message – a picture is worth 1,000 words. So, use images, audio, and video to help explain your message. For example, if you had a blog post on how to tie a tie, adding images and a how-to video would be very helpful.
• Focus on user experience – Google optimizes for users, so focus on users before you focus on Google.

Also, with that Ubersuggest report, you’ll also notice that it will show you all of the people linking to your competitor’s article.

From there, you’ll want to reach out to those sites and see if they are willing to link out to your article, which is better and more in-depth. You can use the outreach templates in this article to help you out.

Last, but not least, I want you to look at your competitor’s keywords.

Within the Ubersuggest extension, scroll to the bottom and to see the top keywords by country. Select the arrow for any country you may be targeting to see a list of keywords.

If you click “see details” under each keyword, you’ll see a detailed report about that keyword.

You’ll be able to see the search volume over the last 12 months, the mobile versus desktop search volume, the click-through rate, how competitive the keyword is to rank, and how lucrative it is as well (CPC).

You can also see any keywords that your competition ranks for.

The report above will give you more ideas of keywords you can be targeting for your website. From there you can take that list of keywords and create content around it.

So how do you find your competitors?

In case you aren’t sure who your competitors are, don’t worry.

Just go to Google and do a search for any keyword related to your industry.

You’ll see something that looks like this:

From there, go through the sites and look for anyone who is a direct competitor. What I mean by a direct competitor is someone who sells the same products or services as you.

News sites aren’t really competitors… general informational sites like Wikipedia aren’t competitors… and even sites like Amazon that sell everything aren’t really competitors.

You need to look for direct competitors, people who focus on the same products or services as you.

Conclusion

If you haven’t tried out the Ubersuggest Chrome Extension, make sure you go and do so. It gives you tons of data for free.

It will allow you to get instant information about your competition and their SEO strategy. In essence, you can analyze the data to get insights on any company in less than 60 seconds.

So, what do you think of the new Ubersuggest extension?

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