How to get clients for marketing agencies in 2022
Introduction
I’m sure you’ve heard the old adage: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Well, in the world of marketing agencies and client acquisition, that saying couldn’t be more true. Sadly, many businesses don’t understand how to build their network as they grow—and therefore struggle to find new customers and win repeat business. But with the right strategies in place and a solid plan for success, you can attract new clients on a regular basis—all while building your brand into something truly remarkable!
Target the right markets.
- Target the right markets.
- Target the right market size.
- Target the right industry.
- Target the right audience.
- Target the right geography (and maybe even country) if relevant to your business model and target market(s). For example, you probably wouldn’t want to target Asia-Pacific countries like Japan and Australia if your focus is on Western Europe or North America with a focus on UK & Ireland customers only; but if your marketing agency’s specialization is in online marketing for restaurants, then targeting Japan might be a great move because its population has been cooking healthy food for centuries!
Be involved in the community.
One of the best ways to build your reputation and get clients is by being involved in the community. All too often, marketing agencies will send their staff out to attend networking events or conferences but don’t encourage them to interact with other attendees. You can change this by encouraging your employees to mingle as much as possible and actively participate in local events like charity fundraisers or volunteer hours at non-profits. This way, you’re not only building relationships with people who could potentially become clients but also showing them that you care about more than just yourself!
Showcase your expertise.
- Showcase your expertise.
- Write articles and submit them to publications and blogs in your niche.
- Become a guest speaker at conferences, seminars, and events. If you’re not sure where to start, find out if there are any marketing meetups in your area that would be open to having speakers.
- Attend industry events (like MarketingSherpa’s upcoming Marketing Analytics & Optimization Summit) that will allow you to network with other professionals in the field.
Ask for referrals.
Ask for referrals.
It’s the most obvious way, but it’s also the best way. Ask your clients and colleagues if they know anyone else who might be interested in what you’re offering. If you have satisfied customers, ask them to refer you to their friends and family as well. You can even ask for referrals from other professionals in your community or industry (e.g., lawyers or dentists).
Craft a great brand story.
As a marketing agency, you understand the importance of branding. But what are the elements of a great brand story? And how does one craft a compelling and immersive tale?
First off, let’s define what “brand story” actually means. A brand story is a way your company tells its own unique narrative in order to connect with consumers on an emotional level. It can take many shapes—a simple explanation of what your business does or who it serves; an inspirational story about how you got started; or even soaring rhetoric that speaks directly to people’s hopes and dreams (like Apple’s “Think Different” commercials).
Regardless of their form, great brands tell beautiful stories that resonate deeply with their audience—and there are three types of stories worth telling:
Join a network.
Joining a network is one of the best ways for marketing agencies to find new clients in 2022.
Networks are groups of businesses that have something in common, such as their industry, location, or interests. Networks can help you get access to new technologies, find partners and collaborators, and even bring you, new customers. As an example, if you’re part of an advertising network for digital agencies in San Francisco then other members may be able to refer clients who need your type of service.
Invest in your team.
Your team is your greatest asset, so invest in them. Hire the best people, train them well and give them opportunities to grow. Encourage them to share their knowledge with others at work – it’s a great way to help others learn and improve their skills. Make sure they are happy at work too; happy employees are more productive than stressed-out ones!
Volunteer for professional organizations.
Volunteering is a great way to build your network and get new clients. The benefits of volunteering are two-fold: first, it’s a chance to meet people who can help you professionally; second, you can learn new skills that will help you with your marketing agency.
It may seem obvious that volunteering offers opportunities for professional development and networking, but this isn’t just an occasional benefit—it’s something that happens every time you volunteer at an event or organization.
Maintain long-term relationships with clients.
As a marketing agency, it is important to maintain long-term relationships with your clients. This can be done by building trust and providing value. A relationship that you build over a long period of time is much more valuable than one that doesn’t last very long. You should always be in touch with your client, even if they don’t have any work for you at the moment. You can still help them out by adding value in other ways such as giving advice on how to improve their website or create new content for them.
Always deliver value upfront.
One of the most effective strategies for getting clients is to be upfront about your agency’s costs. You want to make sure that they are getting value from your services, so offer a free consultation and/or trial period so they can see what you have to offer.
This approach also ensures that only good prospects stay in the sales funnel, saving you time and money on follow-up calls.
Use social media to increase brand awareness and build credibility.
A new study by Nielsen found that over half of millennials trust social media to provide them with information about brands before they make a purchase.
One way to increase brand awareness and build credibility is through social media. You can post content on your website, Facebook page, or other pages that will increase traffic and engagement with your audience.
You don’t have to be an expert in digital marketing to use social media effectively for your business. If you find it overwhelming, consider hiring someone who specializes in the field like us!
Create referral partnerships with other businesses.
Referral partnerships are a great way to grow your business. They’re also a great way to find new clients, build your brand, and get your name out there in the industry.
When you partner with another company that has the same target audience as you, they can refer their customers to you if they don’t need the service themselves. In other words, if someone is looking for marketing services but doesn’t have time or budget for them yet, they might be willing to go through another company instead of doing it themselves if that other company already has an established relationship with them (i.e., if they’ve worked together before). And if that customer is happy with the service provided by both companies? Then both businesses win!
If this sounds good to you—but how do you find these referral partnerships? Here are three key steps:
Share success stories and case studies via email and social media marketing campaigns.
One of the best ways to get clients is to share your success stories and case studies via email and social media marketing campaigns. These strategies work because they’re simple, easy to understand, and can be shared with anyone at any time.
Here’s how it works:
- Create a marketing campaign around specific projects that showcase your expertise in the field. This is a great way for you to build rapport with potential clients as well as show them what similar projects have looked like in the past.
- Use social media as an outlet for sharing these successes as well as creating new content that connects with followers through regular updates or posts about topics relevant to their interests or industry needs (this may include asking questions about what type of work they would like done).
Marketing agencies can stand out by telling their brand story and building strong networks of clients and partners!
If you’re looking for marketing agencies to stand out, look no further than telling your story. Have a strong brand story and make it easy for potential clients to find it. Share success stories and case studies that showcase the value of working with you, as well as any industry awards or recognitions your agency has received. You’ll want to share your expertise in various ways, including blog posts and social media updates on LinkedIn or Twitter.
You can also build networks of partners—other businesses who may share your values or work closely with yours—to increase brand awareness and credibility among potential clients. This could include everything from speaking at events together to cross-promoting each other’s products or services on social media (think: posting about one another’s products during big sales).
Conclusion
If you follow these steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating a marketing agency with tons of loyal clients and referrals. So get out there and start building relationships with people in your community!