Average business owners don’t have the time or knowledge needed to develop and implement online marketing campaigns. This is why millions of small business owners in the United States hire marketing agencies to help them further their online reach. As the owner of a marketing agency, you will have to meet with potential clients to win them over.
Developing a plan of action before these meetings can help you stay on track. Going into these meetings unprepared can lead to mistakes being made. These mistakes can thwart your attempt at growing your marketing agency. Here are some things you need to keep in mind when meeting with a potential client.
Work On Setting Expectations Early On
Some business owners go out in search of marketing help because they want a “quick fix” to their non-existent online presence problem. These business owners usually have very little knowledge about how search engines work and how long it will take to see results from their marketing investment. If you fail to educate these types of potential customers on the process of building an online presence, you will be fighting an uphill battle when it comes to keeping them happy and loyal.
Letting potential customers know right away how long this process takes and what it entails early on is important. By setting these expectations early on, you can avoid being accused of doing nothing to expand the reach of a new customer a few weeks into your partnership. If a client knows what to expect going into this process, they will be far more patient and more appreciative of the progress you make.
Show Potential Clients a Breakdown of What Your Agency Provides
Once you set expectations for a potential client, you need to give them a breakdown of what steps you will take to put their website on Google’s radar. Start by giving them a list of SEO best practices so they know that your business is adamant about using white hat techniques.
Showing the potential client some examples of the content you have developed for existing customers is a great idea. This gives them something to go by when deciding whether or not your agency is the right fit for their needs.
Highlight Your Industry-Specific Experience
A potential client will usually want to know more about your background in the online marketing world. If you have industry-specific experience, you need to draw attention to this fact immediately. In most cases, a business owner will opt for a marketing agency with industry-specific experience over an agency without it. Before your meeting, take the time to file away some examples of campaigns you have managed for businesses in the same industry as your potential client. Keeping this evidence handy can help you display it quickly and make a good first impression.
Landing new clients will be much easier if you consider the factors in this article.