About this Episode
At IMPACT, we talk with business leaders every day who are frustrated.
Month after month, they’ve been paying marketing agencies for results that never seem to materialize. They’re tired of unfulfilled promises. They’re tired of spending money that never turns into revenue.
This is a conversation we have pretty regularly:
Potential client: We haven’t had great experiences with marketing agencies in the past.
IMPACT: We hear that a lot. Are you working with one now?
Potential client: Yeah, we have an SEO agency we pay each month.
IMPACT: And what do they do for you?
Potential client: Honestly, I have no idea.
According to Vin Gaeta, head of web strategy here at IMPACT, this is no surprise. “Many businesses turn to SEO agencies often without a clear understanding of what SEO entails,” he says.
These businesses know it’s important to get found in search, and they turn to an agency for help, lured in by big promises and impressive-sounding expertise.
But the honeymoon quickly passes, and the business keeps paying the retainer month after month. While they might see some modest gains, many of the business leaders we talk to feel like they’re not getting their money’s worth.
Honestly, they don’t feel like they’re getting much of anything.
Hence the frustration.
Now, we’re not saying that all SEO agencies are bad. There are thousands of great agencies out there that really help businesses. In some cases — especially with technical SEO stuff like schema markup or site migrations — an agency is a vital partner.
We’ve said for a long time that the traditional agency-client model is broken. It’s inefficient and really expensive. And often, the outcomes are questionable.
In this episode, Vin Gaeta explains what business leaders need to know (and what they should ask) to be sure they’re getting what they need from their agency.
If they’re not, Vin says, they should be able to handle almost all their SEO needs in-house with a bit of training and the right software.
Connect with Vin
Vin Gaeta is IMPACT’s head of web strategy. He leads a team of designers, developers and strategists to provide full-scale website redesigns for our clients.
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Keep Learning
Read: Website Redesign Agency: 15 Must-Ask Questions Before You Hire for Your Next Project
Read: 6 Signs You’re Being Neglected by Your Marketing Agency
Assessment: Website Performance Assessment
