Are I really going to need a SaaS-based marketing agency? You’ve likely asked this question many times if you are the CEO or founder of a SaaS business. Your business has been successful because you and your team have handled marketing independently. You can surely continue to handle it in-house without having to hire an agency.
The truth is that you are likely to miss the mark in your marketing efforts if you are not a professional marketing expert. Digital marketing is a science that requires time and experience. This can be difficult if you are managing a large client load or a startup.
Marketing is something you don’t want to let go of. This could cause your company to fall apart after all the hard work. It doesn’t matter how good your products or services are, there is always the possibility that your competition has a better marketing strategy and lead generation strategy.
SaaS marketing agencies can help your company reach new heights of growth, while you continue to focus on the core business activities that have made your company successful. Before we get into the details, let me tell you a little secret. Usually, outsourcing marketing is cheaper than hiring an agency. It is not as expensive as you might think.
This article will cover everything you need to know to choose a SaaS marketing agency.
Signs you should hire an agency
Let’s get started.
Quick Take-Aways
If you feel overwhelmed by your marketing tasks and are uncertain about your marketing ROI, then it is a sign that you should look into a SaaS agency.
How can you tell if you have a SaaS marketing agency you need?
First, how can you tell if an agency is necessary? There are several signs that will tell you it’s likely time.
Feel overwhelmed
If you feel overwhelmed, it is a sign that outsourcing might be the right choice. Agency support is necessary if marketing is not your forte, you have too many responsibilities, or your company’s growth is faster than you can handle. SaaS marketing agencies have the resources and knowledge to quickly get you moving and help you scale up or down as necessary.
There is no plan.
Are you letting your marketing strategies fly by the nose? You’re likely missing huge growth opportunities. Consistency is the hallmark of a successful digital marketing strategy. You should hire an agency to help you create a plan that you stick with.
Your current strategy isn’t working
If you don’t see results from your plan, outsourcing may be the right option. SaaS marketing agencies can help you audit your strategy and recommend new strategies that will increase its effectiveness.
It’s not clear if your strategy is effective.
Poor results can be just as damaging as no results. Do not just throw spaghetti at the wall hoping it sticks. An agency might be the right choice for you if you feel like you are not getting the results that your hard work deserves. Marketing agencies must report regularly on their performance in order to demonstrate effectiveness.
Your metrics are declining
SOS! SOS! An agency of quality will help you quickly assess your situation, stop the bleeding and then create a strategy to solve your problems and turn the tide.
What services can a SaaS marketing agency provide?
It is important to understand the services that SaaS marketing agencies offer in order to fully appreciate the benefits of hiring them and ultimately choose the best one for you. Let’s take a look at each one.
Content marketing
Content marketing is without doubt the most important and effective part of any digital marketing strategy. According to research, content marketing generates 3x more leads than other methods and costs 62% less.
SaaS companies that operate almost entirely online need to connect with customers through content marketing. A blog with regularly updated posts is the heart of great content marketing. How often should you blog, then? It is best to blog between 11-16 times per year. Companies publishing at this rate get 3x as much traffic than those who don’t.
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Content marketing agencies can create, deliver, and publish content for you. Other types of content can be created by them, including videos, ebooks or infographics. They can also produce reports, newsletters, case studies and whitepapers. It is obvious that creating content takes time. Handing it off to an agency will allow you to focus on your strategic business priorities.
SEO
Search engines are essential for optimizing content for impact. Search engines account for 93% of all online interactions. Search engine results pages are a great way to make sure your brand is visible to potential customers.
A SaaS marketing agency is able to provide SEO expertise, which is one of the most valuable and common services. You can be certain that the content you publish will be optimised. An agency can also help you create an optimized website and integrate important SEO steps (such as keyword research) into your overall strategy.
PPC
Organic traffic is the best, and we are hearing a lot today about why brands should concentrate on organic. Sometimes, however, your brand may need a boost and pay-per click (PPC), advertising can help. Pay-per-click advertising is simply running ads across multiple platforms and only paying for clicks.
PPC is often associated with Google. However, you can also use paid ads on social media platforms that fall under the PPC umbrella. PPC ads are particularly effective in a few areas, such as remarketing to visitors who have visited your site, expanding into new markets or testing different messaging. It can also help you in your content marketing efforts to increase brand awareness and visibility for startup SaaS companies.
PPC campaigns require a lot of work, including copy design, keyword and targeting optimization, reporting metrics, and UX optimization. This process can be handled by a SaaS marketing agency.
Inbound marketing
All of these tactics are part of inbound marketing. SaaS marketing agencies can help you to develop a holistic approach to inbound traffic. What are your strategies working together to increase engagement? What are some other lead generation strategies you can use? What are the best ways to target your efforts and make sure they align with your buyer journey? These are crucial questions for effective B2B marketing strategies. An agency can answer them with proven reporting and results.
Branding
Many SaaS companies don’t do thorough branding. It is assumed that a great product/service will sell itself. While this may be true in some cases, it is not the case for all SaaS companies selling these products or services. Your brand is what you present to your customers. It’s the image that distinguishes you from other companies and makes you stand out in the eyes your potential customers.
Your brand should be consistent across all your marketing channels. This includes your website, content, and emails. It should have a consistent brand that authentically reflects who you are. These channels are a great way to connect with your audience, and make you stand out in a competitive market.
It is a difficult task that requires a lot of creativity and experience. SaaS marketing agencies can help you get to know your company, and create a brand that shines.
How to find the best SaaS marketing agency
Be aware of your needs
You must first identify your needs in order to choose the right agency. You may not need all services. However, you should know your most pressing needs. You might have a brand but need help creating and publishing consistent content. Or, perhaps you don’t have the time or resources to create content and you lack a personality to support it.
Second, set goals. This is something you’ll do with your agency after you have chosen one. But before you start looking for one, it’s important to know what you want. To set clear goals and keep you accountable, I recommend the SMART framework.
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When you know what your goals and needs are, you will be better equipped to find an agency that offers the services you require.
Be aware of your budget
It’s obvious that hiring a SaaS-based marketing agency will cost money. It is money well invested to achieve the desired ROI for your marketing efforts. Before you dismiss the idea of outsourcing, remember that it is usually cheaper than hiring full time staff. Full-time employees have to pay for salaries, benefits and office space. They also have less flexibility and can be scaled up or down depending on what’s needed. Do your research on potential costs. You need to know what your budget is before you can decide how much you are willing to spend. This will ensure that you don’t waste time and money on potential agencies.
Ask for referrals
Referrals are a common way for 84% of B2B buyers to find new solutions. Referrals work! Referrals work because your peers know you and can recommend agencies that are a good fit. Referring can increase your confidence in the quality of the agency and their follow-through. A bad experience is not something that anyone would recommend.
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Instead of starting from scratch, ask for recommendations. If you don’t know anyone, you can ask online referral networks like LinkedIn groups and industry discussion boards. Avoid “Top 10” and “Best X Agency” lists on Google. These lists often have hidden motivations, such as agencies that pay to be included.
Find out your compatibility
Before you meet with potential SaaS marketing agencies you need to assess your compatibility. This should be done from multiple perspectives. Is there cultural compatibility? Are their core values and goals in line with yours? Will your processes be compatible? Are their programs compatible with yours? How do they communicate, report, and operate the services they provide?
Good working relationships are built on mutual compatibility. Before you sign a contract with a new agency, it is important to evaluate your compatibility.
See their track record
An experienced SaaS marketing agency won’t hesitate to show past results. They will be more than happy to share client references and case studies with you, as well as show the metrics that back up their claims about what they can do. Do not be afraid to ask for these resources. You can also do your own research by visiting company websites. Most will have testimonials and case studies posted on their sites.
Ask them how they report their results
Data-driven marketing leads to greater accountability and a better marketing ROI. Regular reporting, as we have already mentioned, is as important for your agency and their clients as it is for yourself. It is the main way they show their effectiveness. Not every agency reports on the exact same metrics, or does it in a similar way. Your goals and preferences should be reflected in the frequency, mode, as well as the metrics that your agency reports on.
Do not bargain for a bargain
This will be short and sweet. If an agency promises you the world for less than anyone else, don’t hesitate to run. This is a red flag. It takes a lot of time and experience to produce high quality content. Both of these things are expensive. You get what you pay when you hire a SaaS marketing agency.
Follow your gut
After you have done your research thoroughly and vetted all options, it is time to trust your gut. Even the most highly-regarded agencies may not be the right choice for every client. After comparing the capabilities of several options, you can choose the one that is most suitable for your company, your team and you.
Great content can help you grow your business
In today’s highly digital marketing environment, content is key to success. A great content strategy will showcase your brand and make you more visible to customers. It will also drive inbound organic traffic which will increase your leads, conversions and sales.
Our SEO Blog Writing Service is a great way to kickstart your content strategy. Our SEO team can provide you with optimized content that is ready to publish every week for up to a year. To get started, schedule a quick consultation.
Marketing Insider Group’s first article, The Insider Guide to Selecting a SaaS Marketing Agency, appeared first on Marketing Insider Group.
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By: Michael Brenner
Title: The Insider Guide to Choosing a SaaS Marketing Agency
Sourced From: marketinginsidergroup.com/content-marketing/saas-marketing-agency/
Published Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2022 10:00:47 +0000
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