It can be frustrating if the digital marketing agency you hired turns out to be a bad fit for your e-commerce business. The good news is that you can figure this out before things get worse.
Marketing is a crucial part of success for any business. And making yours stand out online requires investing in digital marketing. If you can’t do it yourself, there are many marketing companies out there who are willing to offer their services.
Now, let’s say you hired a digital marketing agency for your e-commerce brand. But after some time, you felt that a few things might not be going so well after all.
At that point, your business may find itself in a compromised position. That is, you know you don’t want to cause conflict by ending the relationship. And yet, you know it’s necessary for the future of your company.
Know that you have the right to stop working with a partner agency, particularly if they’re not meeting expectations.
Keep reading to find out the best way for you to switch agencies.
But first, discover the five signs to look out for in a problematic agency.
5 Signs It’s Time to Change Your Digital Marketing Agency
Sign #1. Not knowledgeable about your industry
The reality is that most digital marketing agencies use an identified strategy that works for most of their clients. So, they might not put in the time and effort to understand the unique aspects of your business, like your brand, industry, competitors, and target audience.
If they still don’t understand your brand after several months of working together… It’s time to part ways.
It’s a red flag if your agency can’t grasp and address the differences across audiences. And it’s much worse if they don’t know how to sell your specific set of products or services.
An agency like this won’t be able to give you crucial insight into customer behaviour, which is what drives strategy optimisation and customer reach.
Sign #2. Poor communication
As with any relationship, communication is key. And it’s always a two-way street.
Misunderstandings and mismatched strategies can happen. The problem comes when your partner agency can’t keep its lines open and doesn’t do regular check-ins with you.
Consistent communication issues are a big red flag as they build distrust in your interactions.
For instance, chasing your digital agency for late reports or missed deadlines can make you feel as if your company means little to them. It’s also a bad sign if they don’t update you on how well your campaigns are doing.
Plus, if your agency can’t explain its process in a way that makes sense to you, you might feel uneasy when they offer recommendations or suggest adjustments to your marketing plan.
None of these can be good for your e-commerce business.
Sign #3. Overpromising and underdelivering
If you’ve been working with an agency for a long time and the outcomes they promised when you signed on haven’t been met…
And when your agency consistently misses dates and important deadlines…
It’s time to speak with your account manager.
These situations show that your connection with your partner agency lacks functional and financial value. And it will have a negative influence on the profitability of your campaign.
Now, there will inevitably be months when the agency does not reach its KPIs. But if this pattern becomes the norm, there may be a problem.
When beginning work with an agency, consider all the KPIs you’ve established. And if you’re not satisfied with the numbers of your KPI, it’s time to part ways.
Sign #4. Lack of transparency
You should regularly receive reports on the success of your campaigns. Complete with data that makes it clear to you where your campaigns stand. Because without access to accurate and complete campaign data, how can you determine if your campaigns are successful?
Transparency, like communication, is crucial in this type of relationship. Your agency should be open and honest about the job they do for you, how much they charge you, and how they report on their results.
A digital marketing agency that does not prioritise transparency should not be trusted.
Sign #5. Doesn’t give insights and feedback
A major red flag is when your digital marketing agency shows a lack of knowledge and client support. Remember that they are the experts. So, they must provide you with up-to-date industry expertise.
An agency should provide the latest information and knowledge to assist you in improving your marketing strategy.
How to Switch to A New Digital Marketing Agency
You’ve learned the common red flags that indicate it’s time to start looking for a new digital marketing agency. Now, it’s time to learn the key things you need to get done if you want to transition to a new agency:
Step #1. Assess your current situation
Are you in the middle of a big website redesign or a marketing campaign that has been ongoing for months? Halting the flow of the project could cause massive losses for your company.
So, no matter how toxic the situation with your present agency is…
It might be a better idea to wait until they complete current projects before telling them you’re letting them go.
Step #2. Review your contract with the agency
It’s important to review the terms of your contract and other legal documents. This way, you can make adequate plans if your contract requires a certain amount of time or compensation if you want to end it early.
It’s in your best interest to confirm how much notice you must give before setting a start date with your new agency.
Step #3. Make copies of all your assets
List down all the assets and deliverables the agency has access to before informing them of your decision to switch agencies. Then, make sure you have copies of anything you have paid them to produce in the past.
Don’t forget to ensure that you have all your account details and passwords for all your owned channels. You must also revoke your current agency’s access to your owned channels to avoid future issues.
It’s also a good idea to get a breakdown of all the tools and technology the agency is using to handle your campaigns. This way, when you part ways, you have all the resources you can use independently or with your next agency.
Step #4. Start looking for a new partner agency
Once you’ve reviewed your contract and determined which accounts you have access to, it’s time to take action. Inform your existing agency that your working relationship is ending.
To ensure that the new agency understands your issues and can make plans accordingly, you may share your worries about your former agency.
But take care not to slander your former agency. And try to avoid tearing up any existing relationships.
Make the Switch to a Better Digital Marketing Agency
The goal for your e-commerce brand is to stand out from competitors and build higher profits and revenue. So why bother investing in a digital marketing agency if all it does is make work a lot harder for you?
A good digital marketing agency can help you run amazing campaigns that will help you scale effectively. All without you having to jump through hoops just to make sense of what they’re doing.
If you’re looking for a new digital marketing agency for your e-commerce company, GMS is your choice.
To learn more, feel free to schedule a free consult with one of our GMS experts.
