As more and more companies realize the necessity of interactive marketing integration, more and more web development and SEO firms crop up across the U.S.
But not all web development shops are created equal. Some offer basic web templates, proprietary site development (in other words, websites created for the client, but owned by the developer), SEO-only assistance or SEM-only services. Interactive marketing is a big world and it encompasses many inbound and outbound strategies – or at least it should to stand the best chance of creating an impact and harvesting results.
As top, second year honorees of the San Antonio Business Journal’s Largest San Antonio Web Site Development Firms 2012 list, we believe that we at esd and associates know a thing or two what a business needs to grow a strong presence online and how to maintain and grow a brand interactively, over time.
do you need marketing that’s one-dimensional or multi-dimensional?
You already deal with many customers, stakeholders and internal departments. Consulting or working with full-service interactive marketing providers can help streamline billing, paperwork and vendor account hassle. Additionally, by opting out of outside marketing consultant reviews, you could be missing the forest for the trees. No one knows your brand like you, which means that no one may see your brand exactly as you do. Step outside of your brand, or ask someone else to, and analyze:
- “What do we most want to convey to the public about ourselves?”
- “Are we doing it?”
- “Could we be doing it better?”
- “If we could be doing it better, how?”
avoid looking like spam and falling for scams
Choosing to look outward for interactive marketing guidance, so shop around. Make sure you go with a firm with a reputation for success and the awards or accolades to prove it. Examine their case studies, spec work, results and contract carefully. Don’t get sucked into contracts that excessively limit your own ability to edit. Avoid getting stuck with proprietary products that you don’t own and that cost a hefty fee to interact with from your end. Look for a firm that delivers products that aren’t cheesy, that add to your brand and that promote you professionally to any and all customers online.
Your website has only 7 seconds to make a great impression and your online ads often have less than that – don’t waste your hard earned profits on ineffective products that won’t keep you growing.