Digital marketing, also referred to as online marketing, has been around since the 1990s and has got great attention with the growth of the internet over the last decade.
When it started, digital marketing was quite easy, it mainly comprised of SEO and ads. Sometimes. It only needed to put up a large number of links on the home page or the footer of the site and rank at the top of search results.
Now the time has changed. Search engine algorithms are very intelligent these days. The competition on an online platform has also increased by several notches. The focus has shifted from spam and bad copy to strategy, ethics, quality content, and hard work. Digital marketing has emerged as a promising field today.
More businesses than before are trying to take benefits from digital platforms to grab the attention of their target audience. But most digital marketing experts are still following the same old rules and not getting the desired results. As a result, the scope and opportunities in digital marketing have increased and it will keep increasing in the future.
If you have an interest in digital marketing and want to enter the field, this is a perfect time.
No doubt, starting their own digital marketing business will take long hours, tones of work, and in the very beginning, a few breaks. But it will surely pay off at the end of the day and will bring in bigger opportunities down the road. It's not easy but there is nothing stopping you from turning your dream into a reality and entering the exciting world of digital marketing as a service provider.
Now question raised, How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency in India? Well, don't worry, the answer is here!
Below, we have outlined a step-by-step process on how to start a digital marketing agency in India that would help you to start your own company, keep it afloat and ultimately succeed. Follow this process to ensure your success even if you are just starting out.
Starting a digital marketing agency in India is a great idea, you can have excellent exposure. But before starting, it is vital to educate yourself and understand digital marketing about agencies.
You can be creative and intelligent as anyone in the game but if you are not prepared well and experienced enough to deal with different nuances of managing accounts and client relationships, you will soon start looking for another gig real quick. A lot of people in top positions never stop learning. If you want to grow, invest your time and money in learning.
Understand different concepts related to digital marketing like PPC, SEO, and Email marketing campaigns, and creating online funnels. Get some idea about graphic design and content marketing also.
Before mastering digital marketing and other skills, you also do not know what it is like to work where your clients may work. It will help you to be a more understanding and well-rounded professional.
Having a secure job that pays and allows you to have brain surgery without a lifetime of debt is a luxury many of us take for granted. Taking the leap of working for yourself has a list of risks. What mitigates of that risk is actually establishing the foundation for a business before making the decision to do it full time.
If you are highly passionate and have the required skills in digital marketing then start today as an SEO freelancer from home. When you are at the initial stage, you do not need to leave your job. Dome some freelancing or contract based work on the side for a period while holding down a full-time time job.
During this period, you get a bit of the task of the entrepreneurial life when you begin to do side work. From invoicing to having to put aside extra cash for taxes the small but vital elements of running your own business come into play. You also become efficient in time management when you had to get time for your side hustle while also going to work for your regular job.
Building relationships as a freelancer is also valuable for your business in the long term.
Competition is intense in digital marketing so finding your unique niche is very important to stand out. You can then focus on a smaller audience that's interested in what you offer.
After you are done with your niche, you need to know how you will rank against the competitors. When you research competitors you will then be able to understand how to surpass them. To do competitor analysis, use the same keywords your business use online and then sort out your competition to about 10-15 competitors. Then, check out how they are monetizing, it will help you to know their methods.
The actual state of starting your digital marketing agency starts from you. Get a cool and impressive website to promote your service. The website does mean just the layout and design; make sure the content of your website is of high-quality.
As a digital marketing business, you should have an appealing website. Make sure your site is stunning and it contains all the relevant details.
Social media is a boom today; you must take advantage of it to grow your firm. Create social media profits for your digital marketing agency or company. Also, create informative and valuable content and share regularly on the platforms to reach people organically. Your social media presence actually shows how knowledgeable and skilled you are.
Many companies create content on their social handles and that goes viral. Viral content is a highly strong weapon to grow online and have great engagement.
There are a lot of options when it comes to how to start a digital marketing agency in India. The services you off and how you bill for work become a vital part of how efficiently your business is managed over time.
The most common ways to bill your clients include
Hourly- Many service providers charge on an hourly basis. It is because a lot of their time one-on-one with the clients, whether over the phone or directly in person. This billing model becomes muddy over longer and more complex service offerings.
Flat Retainer– The concept of flat retainer is the simplest of all the pricing models. Under it, you assess how much the work and time for a specific client are worth and you both are okay on a flat monthly fee. This process is not just simple but it also allows you to reduce any friction when it comes time to send out the invoice. The client knows exactly how much it is going to cost them and if you meet their expectations, they will have no issue paying it.
Percentage of Spend– Okay, the percentage of spend is a quiet people with agencies because it factors in the growth potential and scalability of the client. After agencies accomplish a certain maturity they are going to turn down clients with little or no pre-existing spending.
Commission-based– Commission-based payment process is widely used by agencies in attempts to gain a competitive advantage over others. Essentially, they get paid when the client makes money off a sale.
There are a variety of ways of lead generation. But initially, it is tough to grow your client base so don't get discouraged. Before you process for generating a lead, keep your target customer in mind.
Once you have decided your target customer, one of the effective methods you can follow is to use lead generation by starting a YouTube channel. Publish video content on YouTube regularly to generate leads with helpful content.
Some publishing ideas are case studies, trending tops, reviews from clients and more.
Another step is checking your previous blogs or videos. If you notice any of your blog posts or videos are performing better. Take a look at the content and the title. And make similar changes in other posts.
Affiliate marketing is an effective way to add some revenue sources to your website. In business, sometimes you generate lead sometimes you don't. Having an additional source of income like affiliate marketing will help you to maintain your personal and business finances. There are many popular affiliate programs like Amazon, Bluehost, and more.
If you are reading this article, you have probably established your own agency or you are planning about it. Our suggestion would be to make a decision and stick to it.
No doubt, starting and managing your own business is a roller-coaster ride. It is full of ups and downs and you will have to deal with the situation. One of the biggest drawbacks of opening your digital marketing agency in India is that it is your agency. You make the decisions, call the shots, and put in the work. You will soon get rewarded for your hard work and dedication.
Hopefully, this article has given you enough guides to start a digital marketing agency in India. If you have any doubt or questions, let us know in the comment section below. Also, subscribe to The CEO Magazine for all the latest updates in your inbox.
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