Process for new digital marketing clients

27 replies
Hello everyone. I have been managing digital marketing for my own business and for others for some years now.
I have decided to use my skills to start my own digital marketing agency.
I have a question that I hope some of you can help me with ...
When you get new clients as a digital marketing agency... what would be the process that you go through with a new client?
For example this is how I see the process:
1- I would have an initial meeting with them and find out more about their business and goals and what their budget is and goals are for their digital marketing.
2-Then I would get them to fill in a buyers persona.
3-Then I would develop a strategy for their budget
4-I would check they are happy with the budget and then go ahead setting up the different channels and getting any content created
5- I would create a report each month to say what we have done and what the results were

Please could you guys let me know what steps I am missing and what the normal process would be with a new and ongoing client. Thank you very much for your help in advance
#clients #digital #marketing #process
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  • Profile picture of the author DABK
    Why would the fill out a buyer persona? What do you mean by that?


    Why do you need a monthly report to tell them what the results were? What are you selling that they cannot see the results themselves in an increase in sales? increase in sales to new customers? increase in sales to past customers?


    If you're selling facebook posts or such, they'd see them when they get on their facebook page, wouldn't they?



    Originally Posted by Ale12345 View Post

    Hello everyone. I have been managing digital marketing for my own business and for others for some years now.
    I have decided to use my skills to start my own digital marketing agency.
    I have a question that I hope some of you can help me with ...
    When you get new clients as a digital marketing agency... what would be the process that you go through with a new client?
    For example this is how I see the process:
    1- I would have an initial meeting with them and find out more about their business and goals and what their budget is and goals are for their digital marketing.
    2-Then I would get them to fill in a buyers persona.
    3-Then I would develop a strategy for their budget
    4-I would check they are happy with the budget and then go ahead setting up the different channels and getting any content created
    5- I would create a report each month to say what we have done and what the results were

    Please could you guys let me know what steps I am missing and what the normal process would be with a new and ongoing client. Thank you very much for your help in advance
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  • Profile picture of the author Monetize
    Originally Posted by Ale12345 View Post

    Hello everyone. I have been managing digital marketing for my own business and for others for some years now.
    I have decided to use my skills to start my own digital marketing agency.
    I have a question that I hope some of you can help me with ...
    When you get new clients as a digital marketing agency... what would be the process that you go through with a new client?
    For example this is how I see the process:
    1- I would have an initial meeting with them and find out more about their business and goals and what their budget is and goals are for their digital marketing.
    2-Then I would get them to fill in a buyers persona.
    3-Then I would develop a strategy for their budget
    4-I would check they are happy with the budget and then go ahead setting up the different channels and getting any content created
    5- I would create a report each month to say what we have done and what the results were

    Please could you guys let me know what steps I am missing and what the normal process would be with a new and ongoing client. Thank you very much for your help in advance

    Your process seems too time consuming and the one flaw
    that I see is checking to see if people are happy with the
    costs. I would never ask my clients that question. Just
    give them a menu of options that you are offering - web
    design is this price, sales funnel setup is this price, sales
    copy costs this much, autoresponder content costs this,
    developing ads is this, etc. Whatever services you offer
    put those on your menu. Be sure to charge a recurring
    monthly fee for hosting, maintenance or whatever else.
    If this is your first agency why re-invent the wheel. Just
    do what is already being done by established agencies.
    There are books, videos and tutorials all over the place.
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    Originally Posted by Ale12345 View Post

    what would be the process that you go through with a new client?
    For example this is how I see the process:
    1- I would have an initial meeting with them and find out more about their business and goals and what their budget is and goals are for their digital marketing.
    2-Then I would get them to fill in a buyers persona.
    3-Then I would develop a strategy for their budget
    4-I would check they are happy with the budget and then go ahead setting up the different channels and getting any content created
    5- I would create a report each month to say what we have done and what the results were
    Please could you guys let me know what steps I am missing and what the normal process would be with a new and ongoing client. Thank you very much for your help in advance
    The only part I'd keep from this process is the initial meeting - and I'd use that to tell them how much more business they could expect by using my services and how much they're currently losing without me.Their budget isn't my concern, and I'd assume their "goal" with digital marketing is to make more profits.

    You're making the whole process sound like a job interview when all you need to do is give your clients a clear idea of what they can expect in return for your fee. You're not an employee any more - you're the expert in this arrangement. That's why they're paying you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lucy Indiana
    I would like to tell you first to go for the audience like what kind of people you can target and then choose the people and make a group n contact everyone.
    I I hope this would help you.
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  • Profile picture of the author mandiradebnath
    You have missed the onpage optimization.
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    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      How? The op is talking about the onboarding process.

      Originally Posted by mandiradebnath View Post

      You have missed the onpage optimization.
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  • Profile picture of the author dotcomcj
    LinkedIn + Email omni-channel outreach works wonders. Automate at scale.
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    • Profile picture of the author Anthony La Rocca
      Definitely agree with this and all other great points mentioned above! Automation and scaling should always be front of mind and in your initial plan before even launching to market.

      Also - whats your USP? You mention you have worked with our agencies and customers for other companies - why choose you over the other 1000's of marketing agencies out there?

      In the mean time, get yourself a CRM like Zoho going where you can put in all your leads and prospect notes and always stay in constant contact with them thru the entire sales cycle.

      In 2020, instead of going full fledged agency with all these moving parts - I personally recommend to start somewhere small and specialize like offering small/medium businesses ChatBots and then can upsell them from there.

      And never hurts to get some probono work done in exchange for case studies / testimonials.

      Keep us in the loop with how your journey is going and always happy to help!

      Originally Posted by dotcomcj View Post

      LinkedIn + Email omni-channel outreach works wonders. Automate at scale.
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      • Profile picture of the author parrker090
        In the mean time, get yourself a CRM like Zoho going where you can put in all your leads and prospect notes and always stay in constant contact with them thru the entire sales cycle.
        Or something even like Zendesk, or any other. It depends on purposes you're gonna achieve, and how many clients would you have in the future. Also you should pay attention, that some help desk systems are built for specific spheres of business. There are plenty of comparison articles about freshdesk vs desk features and options, where you can compare every product and every feature of this or that product, as well as prices for them.
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      • Profile picture of the author Primitivesense
        Could not have put it better!
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      • Profile picture of the author JPs copy
        I used Zoho CRM at a B2B sales job years ago. I've used better lol.

        It's better than nothing though. But if money was no options, Salesforce all the way.

        I don't know if he's a book guy, but SPIN selling is the best book I read. I don't think he needs an on-boarding process. He need a qualifying process. Once he gets prospects on a call, having them open up about their problems and how it affects them are huge.

        There's a great video by Ben Settle (Info-publisher) who basically says the best way to get clients is to build a list, sell products to them and then work with the buyers because they're already pre-sold on working with you, and they have a track-record of purchasing from you.


        [Moderator's note: please use the quote function so we can tell who you're replying to]
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  • Profile picture of the author Golabb1
    Banned
    Hello sir digital marketing business is a good business ,it's very easy but it's a trusted business . First you have to promote good quality of products, not any products, Your client will be happy,
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    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      And? So? What does that have to di with their onboarding process?

      Originally Posted by Golabb1 View Post

      Hello sir digital marketing business is a good business ,it's very easy but it's a trusted business . First you have to promote good quality of products, not any products, Your client will be happy,
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      • Profile picture of the author Golabb1
        Banned
        Yes, it will take time.and you have to promote your product on many making platform.
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    • Profile picture of the author Tung Dao
      Digital marketing ain't easy my dude...
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  • Profile picture of the author DURABLEOILCOM
    I would start by asking what their toughest hurdles are for their business and why? Once they answer that you can explain that you have the solution. Lastly you bring up their budget.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Originally Posted by Ale12345 View Post

    Hello everyone. I have been managing digital marketing for my own business and for others for some years now.
    I have decided to use my skills to start my own digital marketing agency.
    I have a question that I hope some of you can help me with ...
    When you get new clients as a digital marketing agency... what would be the process that you go through with a new client?
    For example this is how I see the process:
    1- I would have an initial meeting with them and find out more about their business and goals and what their budget is and goals are for their digital marketing.
    2-Then I would get them to fill in a buyers persona.
    3-Then I would develop a strategy for their budget
    4-I would check they are happy with the budget and then go ahead setting up the different channels and getting any content created
    5- I would create a report each month to say what we have done and what the results were

    Please could you guys let me know what steps I am missing and what the normal process would be with a new and ongoing client. Thank you very much for your help in advance
    Hmm this looks like a mashup of three processes that should be separately looked at:

    1. SALES

    2. ONBOARDING

    3. FULFILLMENT.

    Your steps 1, 2 and 3 need to be done in the Sales stage, and in a different order. Make your buyer persona first (I've written about it in several articles on my blog) and filter prospective clients to those who fit that persona. Then meet with those who qualify, and do your step 1 and 3. There are more steps to a consistent and effective sales process, but that's a good start.

    I don't see much about Onboarding, which is what you do to bring new clients aboard. Setting up accounts, logins, the nitty-gritty of how you're going to execute The Plan you came up with in the Sales process.

    Yours steps 4 and 5 go in the Fulfillment process. Note the feedback loop to keep you on target.

    In a previous business we thought our Onboarding document would be simple...and it ballooned out to 16 pages. There are a lot of checklists and failure points to watch out for, and people want to gloss over this stuff and rush ahead. That's what loses people clients.

    I would go on Facebook and look for agency groups to join, and ask questions about these process topics. I've given you the words to use. That's your best chance of getting some decent help at no charge.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ale12345
      Hello, thank you, this is more the type of answer that I was looking for.

      actually during this message I was referring to the onboarding and fulfilment processes. The client filling in a buyers persona for me was part of the onboarding process.

      If anyone would like to share their steps for the onboarding and fulfilment process's then please feel free as that is what I was hoping to learn about
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      • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
        Originally Posted by Ale12345 View Post

        Hello, thank you, this is more the type of answer that I was looking for.

        actually during this message I was referring to the onboarding and fulfilment processes. The client filling in a buyers persona for me was part of the onboarding process.

        If anyone would like to share their steps for the onboarding and fulfilment process's then please feel free as that is what I was hoping to learn about
        You have it the wrong way around. You figure out your client and what you're going to do BEFORE you sign them up and take the money, not after.

        These processes are individual, specific to you and your business. They are not copy-and-paste things you can borrow from someone else. Processes from other businesses can give you ideas, but you have to personalize them for you. Again, I suggest going onto FB and asking inside some agency founder groups. But it's still going to be mostly Greek to you.

        You say you've been doing this work as an employee... write down the steps of how you do what you do now. That can be a guide worth having, for you. The example is right there. I'm concerned you do not fully understand what is being done and how it is being done...if you can't write down these process steps from what you've been involved in already, then you don't fully understand it yet.

        Don't be blatant about what you're doing, ie. going around asking other people or the owner what the steps are and in what order, because they'll instantly understand what you're doing unless they are a complete moron.
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  • Profile picture of the author Golabb1
    Banned
    Good ... but you need on page and off page SEO
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    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      No, you do not. You can do well without ever bothering with SEO.

      Originally Posted by Golabb1 View Post

      Good ... but you need on page and off page SEO
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      • Profile picture of the author DABK
        Ale12345, listen to Jason. Go to youtube and watch his videos.

        If you came to me and asked me to fill out a buyer persona form, or asked me the questions for one, I'd end the meeting right there. Because I know you are too new at digital marketing.

        If you are selling media marketing, you should be coming in knowing what the best media for my type of company is.

        The only thing you should try to find out is if I want your package A, B or C.

        And you should be prepared to tell me what the differences are.

        After I hire you, I want to talk to you regularly to tell you what happened, so we can tweak things and get me better results.

        So, say, once a month, we talk and you tell me, I have done X, y and z on such date. I noticed x%increase of traffic to your site (or calls). How many more sales did you make?

        And we (you) can figure out what to change to get me better leads.

        What changes you make, that does not matter to me. As long as you do not misrepresent my company.

        Again, to hire you, I need to know you know your stuff. You asking me persona questions tells me you do not. Logic says you can be great at making facebook pages even if you ask persona questions, so what gives?

        I get a large amount of people who are great at making facebook pages contacting me and there are only 24 hours in my day. Why would I waste any of them on you whenn I have so many equally good (or better) options?
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        • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
          Originally Posted by DABK View Post

          Ale12345, listen to Jason. Go to youtube and watch his videos.

          If you came to me and asked me to fill out a buyer persona form, or asked me the questions for one, I'd end the meeting right there. Because I know you are too new at digital marketing.

          If you are selling media marketing, you should be coming in knowing what the best media for my type of company is.

          The only thing you should try to find out is if I want your package A, B or C.

          And you should be prepared to tell me what the differences are.

          After I hire you, I want to talk to you regularly to tell you what happened, so we can tweak things and get me better results.

          So, say, once a month, we talk and you tell me, I have done X, y and z on such date. I noticed x%increase of traffic to your site (or calls). How many more sales did you make?

          And we (you) can figure out what to change to get me better leads.

          What changes you make, that does not matter to me. As long as you do not misrepresent my company.

          Again, to hire you, I need to know you know your stuff. You asking me persona questions tells me you do not. Logic says you can be great at making facebook pages even if you ask persona questions, so what gives?

          I get a large amount of people who are great at making facebook pages contacting me and there are only 24 hours in my day. Why would I waste any of them on you whrlen I have so many equally good (or better) options?
          As a side note, my Thanks isn't just for the shout out. I agree with everything else you said.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeffery
    Originally Posted by Ale12345 View Post

    Hello everyone. I have been managing digital marketing for my own business and for others for some years now.
    I have decided to use my skills to start my own digital marketing agency.
    Those two statements contradict each other, so I am confused. You state that you have your own marketing business and then you state you have decided to start your own digital marketing agency.

    Are you really saying that you have a digital marketing business that you manage as a one-person operation and you have decided to employ other people and start a digital marketing agency?

    Originally Posted by Ale12345 View Post

    I have a question that I hope some of you can help me with ...
    When you get new clients as a digital marketing agency... what would be the process that you go through with a new client?
    For example this is how I see the process:
    1- I would have an initial meeting with them and find out more about their business and goals and what their budget is and goals are for their digital marketing.
    2-Then I would get them to fill in a buyers persona.
    3-Then I would develop a strategy for their budget
    4-I would check they are happy with the budget and then go ahead setting up the different channels and getting any content created
    5- I would create a report each month to say what we have done and what the results were

    Please could you guys let me know what steps I am missing and what the normal process would be with a new and ongoing client. Thank you very much for your help in advance
    Jason and DABK have professionally answered those questions and pointed you in the right direction to learn the right ways before you make the wrong decisions.

    The take-away is the owner of a Digital Marketing Agency with multiple clients manages the relationship with the clients. You also manage your employees by delegating tasks directly related to your business and the client's expectations.

    The trick is to make sure your employees are wrench-turners and not managers wherein they merely use the right tools for the clients. Your employees job should always be black and white wherein they are not part of any decision making process. When their input is necessary that is what meetings are for and should be encouraged.

    Client wise, Never and I mean that with a capital "N".. Never ask them to jump through hoops to serve your end.

    Remember who signs your paycheck.
    Signature
    In the minute it took me to write this post.. someone died of Covid 19. RIP.
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  • Profile picture of the author milliejack
    Banned
    Full of hassle! You are doing a lot! I think all you need to do is to give them a menu of digital services that you will offer to them. You must do a meeting to know their business goals and tell them what you can do for them. Don't make it too complicated.
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  • Profile picture of the author starbaby
    Explain what you charge and what is paid for separately from your fee after all you're not doing this for nothing
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  • I think your process is to time consuming but I think you are in the right path just try to modify the steps like store their data so next time it's more faster and it will also help to give service to the other customers.
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