Choosing between a design agency or a marketing agency (or both) begs the question – What is your endgame? Of course, from a marketing perspective, most businesses want their brand to be the one that is on everyone’s lips and not just a once-off ‘flavour of the day’. But how do you bridge the gap between relative anonymity to ‘most popular’ in one fell swoop? Well, getting your name out there can be done in two ways – either through traditional marketing agencies or design agencies.
Why marketing is important
Marketing agencies and design agencies alike formulate marketing plans and strategies by deploying various marketing methods to reach the end objective. In a general sense, marketing is not only about reaching the intended audience but keeping your brand top of mind. In essence, it’s about creating partiality that counts in your favour amongst the many options that are available.
Elements of marketing agencies
When one thinks of a marketing agency (or marketing company), most people tend to picture the type of marketing tools that existed before the digital age. And for all intents and purposes, this would be pretty accurate. However, a trend that is gaining momentum in traditional marketing is a sensory approach to marketing, used by well-known companies like Apple and Starbucks. Then there are, of course, the more conventional forms of traditional marketing such as:
- Telemarketing
- Broadcasting
- Face-to-face meetings
- Door-to-door sales
- Direct mail
- Print advertising
- Networking
- And referral marketing
Elements of design agencies
On the other hand, design agencies tend to focus on digital marketing and use digital marketing methods to ensure your brand is the star on the biggest marketing stage – the world wide web! Design agencies employ various digital techniques (and sometimes a combination thereof) to make sure your brand has a visible digital footprint. Some of these methods include:
- Website design and development
- Content writing
- Social media management
- Display advertising
- Email marketing
- Paid Search
- SEO
Advantages of design agencies
Technology is advancing rapidly, and what is popular today can become yesterday’s news at the drop of a dime. While there is a time and place for more traditional forms of marketing, for the most part, digital marketing is where it’s at in the 21st century. The benefits of using design agencies include:
Reach audiences on a global scale
The advent of the internet meant access to audiences globally, with the potential to reach markets like never before. Growing your business is made easy by design agencies that use targeting methods (such as search marketing and display marketing) to redirect the queries of interested audiences straight to your doorstep. And what better way to connect with potential customers that are already practically halfway there in the buying decision process?
Increase in customer engagement
Without customers, our businesses cease to exist. Hence, when done well, customer service can contribute to the long-term success of a business; on the other hand, when done poorly, it can have catastrophic effects on the health and growth of a business. Design agencies, therefore, play a significant role in tethering the loose ends together, creating a seamless process where customer satisfaction is pretty much guaranteed. Design agencies can achieve this through email marketing, blogging, social media marketing, and more.
Better conversion rates
If you have ever purchased anything online (and most of us have), browsing, selecting and buying on the internet is but a few clicks away. The buyer’s journey is, therefore, fast-tracked through the convenience of online purchasing.
It is A LOT cheaper
Digital marketing (i.e. social media marketing, content marketing, Pay-per-click advertising etc.) is generally more cost-effective than other traditional marketing methods, such as TV advertisements, banners, billboards etc.
Real-time tracking
The brilliance of digital marketing is that it provides real-time tracking so that you can see the results of your efforts as it is rolling out. In addition, digital agencies track and monitor digital marketing efforts, giving them time to make adjustments if things start to go awry.
Deciding whether to go the marketing agencies or design agencies route ultimately depends on your prerogative at the end of the day. That said, there are distinct advantages to using a design agency to one-up your competitors and get your brand front and centre where it belongs.
Looking for digital assistance? We are one of the most bespoke design agencies in Cape Town. Contact us today for all your digital marketing needs. Or drop us an email at info@theagncy.co.za
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