For centuries, people have been placing bets on virtually anything. And to this day, the betting continues when it comes to hiring a DTC digital agency.
Businesses bet on hiring the right DTC digital agency, every day. What do I mean by that? Glad you asked!
Businesses that have to choose a DTC digital agency to hire make a calculated decision after hours of phone calls, due diligence, reference checks, read case studies, audits, etc. Even then, it’s still a best bet on the selection. Right?
But it should not be a bet, my friends! If you are betting, then, as a brand and business owner you are not doing your homework hard enough…because you will end up hiring the wrong agency.
Since the beginning of time, humans have risked their lives for fame, glory, and fortune. Of course, some do it for survival — nonetheless, it’s still a “bet” of sorts.
The principles have not changed for centuries.
Humans are programmed to take risks for a chance at a handsome return. Leave it to marketers, to make things sound fancy after centuries — ROAS, ROI, LTV, ABC, 123…that’s what we are calling the bounty of risks these days.
While not all bets produce winners (most lose!), the opportunity to hit the proverbial jackpot is too tempting to ignore. As an ecommerce business, you are constantly taking risks on the DTC digital agency you hire.
In fact, every prospect I have spoken with over the last 4 years have already worked with at least two agencies — before they talk to us. It’s OK guys, I don’t feel salty at all for being your 3rd, or 4th choice. But I am glad that we were their last stop 🙂 Why? That’s for another post another day.
I digress…
Did you know, in Las Vegas, you could bet on practically the craziest things?
DTC growth isn’t a guessing game if you are serious about winning.
How do brands hire their digital agency? What criteria is used to determine if the DTC digital agency will deliver on their promise? This isn’t a straightforward question and certainly doesn’t come with a one-size-fits-all answer.
Over years of experience working with DTC ecommerce brands, some common (and irrational) considerations why DTC brands hire agencies include:
- hiring DTC digital agency with the most attractive brand portfolio and lots of big name logos
- deciding to go with an agency with overly vertical industry experience
- in a rush to replace their current DTC agency before contract renewal (this is where things are really bad with the existing agency)
- not getting the level of service AND results from their current and past DTC digital agency
There’s much more to choosing the right DTC digital agency to hire than the list above.
It is understandable that DTC brands gravitate to digital agencies that have worked in their industry before or have a huge list of trophy logos. Don’t even get me started on the “XX Under XX” pay-to-play nonsense.
Questions for your DTC Digital Agency: Ask the right questions, don’t get distracted by the shiny-penny
Here are a few questions to help you think differently. Trust me, these are questions that will separate the wheat from the chaff. Agencies with real experience will find these questions engaging. The other agencies will try to avoid and placate you.
Who will be managing your campaigns? Are you jumping on the bandwagon and drinking the polished presentation koolaid? Are you sure you’re getting the A-team? What is a project your team didn’t succeed?
The reasons can feel biased. And the checklist can be daunting. But hiring a solid DTC digital agency is a big deal — you are going to invest A LOT of money to build this extension for your in-house team. You are bringing in an entirely new team to integrate with your business — you better be darn sure you picking the best horse in the race.
If you’re an eCommerce, FMDM can help you with a custom marketing plan that helps you utilize the proven Google Ads, Facebook Advertising, SEO, and content marketing strategies specific to your goals.
Bets are not 100% proof. There are no guarantees.
Let’s face it. You, or someone you know, probably hired an agency that did not deliver the satisfactory results in this lifetime. We won’t go into the many reasons why DTC digital agency cannot drive growth or strategy — but the reality is there is no guarantee that your ecommerce business will skyrocket just because you hired an agency that have 5 awards.
At the crossroads, you have to asks yourself if your mindset and approach to business is aligned with your future DTC digital agency. Alignment is often ignored — but that can make a difference when the business is faced with difficult challenges.
Are you willing to put your business in the hands of a team that doesn’t understand or align with the way your strategy?
