Hundreds of new startups are launched every day, and one thing that all of them crucially need is effective digital marketing. As a matter of the fact, the better online marketing a startup will have, the faster and more effectively it will grow. However, most startups have a limited budget and they cannot afford building their own marketing team.
This is where a digital marketing agency serves the purpose. In fact, online marketing has become a lifeline of any new or existing business, because it reaches target audience faster and in more persuasive way than any other medium. The Internet marketing services industry is growing rapidly around the world and particularly in the UK because businesses want to work with local marketing experts.
The demand is expected to remain strong indefinitely and the United Kingdom being the hub of tech as well as non-tech startups has thousands of opportunities for enthusiastic marketers who want to get into digital marketing and become leaders. Let’s explore what it takes to become a successful digital marketer in the UK and how to start your very own online marketing agency.
How to Start a Digital Marketing Agency
Digital marketing business may not require a huge investment for getting started but, experience is the core requirement. You must have at least one year of experience of working as an online marketer. So, when you’re an online marketing expert with one year of experience, you can start your own online marketing company with almost the same effort that you do for an employer.
You might not have a regular flow of incoming projects in the beginning, but with research, hard and smart work you can earn double or more of the amount that you earn from the regular job.
Here in this article, I will discuss some core points and will list some resources for you to start your digital marketing agency anywhere in the UK.
1- Gain Experience
To start an online marketing company you must have solid understanding of the core marketing concepts and experience in multiple marketing faculties, i.e. copywriting, SEO, SEM, SMM, content marketing, online reputation management etc. in general, and difference between B2C and B2B marketing specifically.
You must also have a deep understanding of certain niches you would like to pursue. You might want to build an agency that sells all kind of digital marketing services, but honestly you cannot start big. Ideally, you should stick to two or three niches. For instance, content marketing and SEO if you are looking to target B2B sector and social media marketing and reputation management if you intend to serve the B2C businesses.
Having an internship (free or paid), a volunteer project, or even a test project of your own are some of the great ways to gain valuable experience in digital marketing. Do not forget to follow top digital marketing blogs like Moz, Search Engine Journal, Neil Patel, Content Marketing Institute, Hubspot, etc to discover and learn specific internet marketing tactics and methods.
2- Find Clients
Finding initial clients may be a challenge, as it is with any business. So, you may start with local companies looking for SEO services. For examples, go to job search sites like https://www.reed.co.uk/jobs/marketing-jobs-in-london and see which companies are looking for digital marketing services. Draft a pitch and contact them via their company website or phone. Explore some of the best international job sites and repeat the process.
You may also want to check freelance websites like Fiverr.com to take small projects in the beginning. Get connected to CEOs and CMOs of startups and small businesses over Linkedin and pitch them your services. Do not forget to explore the Linkedin jobs section to find potential clients.
Get connected with web design and development professionals who can possibly send you some clients and you can do the same for them. Be part of local meetups like https://www.meetup.com/London-Internet-Marketing-Meetup/ to meet new people, learn new things and above all to increase the chances of getting more leads.
3- Plan Growth
As your business grows, demand may also create a need to hire subcontractors or employees or train interns. Keep this growth factor in mind, right from the beginning and plan a sustainable growth and devise a scaleable business model to avoid stress and anxieties on a later stage.
4- Take Care of Non-Marketing Matters
Like any home business, you are responsible for paying your own taxes, securing your own health insurance, etc, so make sure your business comply with all rules and regulations. You can cut lot of startup costs and increase profitability of your digital marketing agency with a healthy work from home routine.