Posted by The digital marketing agency has come a long way since its inception in 1999. There were no smartphones or tablets back then; in fact, the first MP3 player wasn’t even invented until 2001! With the advent of the Internet and the booming popularity of social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. The role of digital marketing agencies has changed drastically over the years. For example, it wasn’t until 2009 that Facebook even opened up its advertising platform to advertisers. Allowing them to directly advertise on their website.
Comparison #1: Size
One thing that most people don’t realize about modern digital marketing agencies is that many of them are very large, employing hundreds and even thousands of people to manage and execute different facets of their digital strategies. For example, a single agency could have a team dedicated to content creation. Another team was dedicated to copywriting, another devoted entirely to pay-per-click (PPC) management, and so on.
The old digital marketing agencies were much smaller, often operating with only one or two employees at any given time. This was large because they didn’t need nearly as much help to create digital marketing campaigns; they were able to do it all themselves using just a few tools like email and website builders.
Comparison #2: Industry Experience
Today’s digital marketing agency has a wealth of experience when it comes to online marketing. In fact, as technology and digital methods change, many agencies have adapted their services to stay current with these changes.
Many traditional marketing agencies don’t keep up with today’s technology, which means that your brand could be missing out on valuable information if you choose one of these older options over a modern one. If you need help growing your business, then look for an agency that stays on top of new trends in digital marketing. This way, they can provide more value to your business than a traditional company ever could.
There are so many benefits to choosing a digital marketing agency that knows what they’re doing. There are also some drawbacks to choosing an old-school digital agency instead of going with someone who specializes in digital marketing and staying up-to-date on all things internet and social media related.
Comparison #3: Working Styles
In today’s digital marketing agency, you might find that some of your colleagues work remotely at times, while others rarely leave their desks; some use Mac computers and others prefer PCs; and some want to meet with clients face-to-face on a regular basis, while others rarely even travel. And so on. There are many ways in which working styles have changed over time. One thing remains constant: We still need people who can get things done—and do them well—regardless of how they work or what tools they use.
It is important for any organization to provide opportunities for employees to grow and learn. And It is equally important for organizations to ensure that every employee knows exactly what he/she has to do. It should be noted that there will always be new technologies emerging in the world of digital marketing—it’s part of our industry! However, no matter how fast technology changes, successful companies will always require competent employees with solid business acumen.
Comparison #4: Bureaus or in-house?
Deciding whether to run a digital marketing agency with in-house resources or to contract outside consultants is dependent on several factors, including expertise and price. Running an in-house team provides familiarity, as well as hands-on experience that comes from daily involvement with clients and campaigns. But it also costs money and requires a significant investment of time—not only hiring but onboarding staff, providing training, and so on—which is one of several reasons why many agencies choose to contract instead… at least for some positions.
One strategy used by agencies running leaner organizations is subcontracting their SEO work to freelancers. This can be beneficial because they can hire someone with specific skill sets who’s already familiar with their business, which means they don’t have to train them on their processes. It also gives them access to someone who might not be available full-time (for example, if they’re traveling) or might not want to relocate (like someone living overseas). Freelancers are usually cheaper than full-time employees too, making them an attractive option for companies working within tight budgets.
Comparison #5: Digital Media Usage
Over time, digital marketing agencies have evolved and so has their understanding of what is important for a new campaign, new business, or even just driving brand awareness for an existing company. They understand how much attention today’s consumer pays to social media as well as search engines. This has caused them to focus on where they can reach these consumers in order to best deliver their message.
While there are many differences between modern-day digital marketing agencies and old-school ones. One major difference is that digital marketing agencies now know that it’s not enough to simply send an email blast with a catchy subject line anymore. Consumers are too savvy for that. Today’s digital marketing agency knows that they need to be creative in getting their client’s name out there if they want to be successful. They also know that you don’t necessarily need a big budget to get your name out there either. With today’s technology, small businesses can compete with larger companies when it comes to getting noticed online.
Comparison #6: Knowledge of SEO, SEM, PPC, Social Media Etc.
You can’t talk about digital marketing without talking about acronyms—and these acronyms change every day. As a digital marketing agency, it’s important to be ahead of emerging technologies and trends in your industry. So you can continue to stay on top of what clients are looking for in terms of content creation, influencer partnerships, and social media management. Knowing how to execute a successful SEO strategy is an invaluable skill; one that requires constant learning and attention.
This means being up-to-date with Google’s ever-changing algorithm updates. Being knowledgeable about new social platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram Stories. It also means staying abreast of current events that may affect your client’s business or personal brand. For example, if there was a recent tragedy in a city where your client has offices or frequents often, they may want to avoid posting anything publicly while they figure out how best to respond.
Conclusion
Finally, some say that digital marketing agencies of today can now do more than what digital marketing agencies of yesteryear could have done. However, is that entirely true? Do today’s digital marketing agencies offer a better value to customers? Is their modern-day focus on customer experience enough to overcome older firms’ legacy and proven track record?
This is a comparison in which both sides will have a say; however, it’s one that we might not be able to settle for years. In fact, as long as digital marketing continues to evolve at its current pace. There will always be a debate about whether or not modern-day agencies are superior to those of yesteryear. And while you may choose to take a side in that argument. Remember: no matter how old or new your agency is, if you want to stay competitive and relevant, you need to continue evolving along with your industry.