What to Expect in Your First 30 Days Working with a Digital Marketing Agency
Hiring a digital marketing agency is a significant step toward scaling your business, increasing brand awareness, and generating more leads. However, many business owners and marketing managers are uncertain about what to expect during the first 30 days of this partnership. The onboarding process, initial strategy development, and campaign setup are crucial for ensuring long-term success. At Migration Digital, we understand that clarity, communication, and strategic execution are key to a successful agency-client relationship. This guide will walk you through what to expect in your first month working with a digital marketing agency, covering onboarding, strategy development, initial campaign launches, and early performance analysis.
Key Takeaways
- Clear Onboarding Process: Expect a structured onboarding experience with document collection, access setup, and goal alignment.
- Strategy Development: Your agency will conduct market research, analyze competitors, and create a customized marketing plan.
- Campaign Setup & Launch: The agency will implement key strategies, including paid ads, content marketing, SEO, and social media efforts.
- Performance Tracking & Reporting: Agencies provide regular updates on key metrics to evaluate early results and adjust strategies.
- Collaborative Adjustments: Expect ongoing communication and strategy refinements based on initial data and feedback.
Onboarding & Discovery
1. Kickoff Meeting
Your first interaction with the agency typically includes a kickoff meeting where:
- The agency learns about your business, goals, and target audience.
- You discuss your past marketing efforts and key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Expectations for communication, reporting, and campaign success are established.
2. Access & Documentation Setup
To ensure seamless execution, your agency will request:
- Access to Google Analytics, Google Ads, and social media accounts.
- Branding guidelines, existing marketing assets, and website credentials.
- Information about customer personas, sales processes, and key business objectives.
3. Competitor & Market Analysis
Agencies analyze your competitors to identify gaps and opportunities, using tools like:
- SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz for SEO research.
- Facebook Ad Library and SpyFu for competitor ad strategies.
- Market research to understand audience behavior and pain points.
Strategy Development & Campaign Planning
1. Digital Marketing Strategy Blueprint
Based on the discovery phase, your agency will create a tailored strategy that may include:
- SEO Optimization: Keyword research, content strategy, and technical SEO improvements.
- Paid Advertising (PPC): Google Ads, Facebook Ads, LinkedIn campaigns, or other paid strategies.
- Content Marketing: Blog strategy, social media posting schedule, and email marketing tactics.
- Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO): Improving website landing pages to maximize conversions.
2. Approval of Strategy & Content Calendar
After presenting the strategy, the agency will seek approval before execution. You can expect:
- A content calendar outlining blog posts, emails, and social media updates.
- A paid ads strategy detailing ad creatives, budget allocation, and targeting.
- Clarification on key deliverables and next steps.
Campaign Implementation & Execution
1. Website & SEO Optimization Begins
Your agency may start by:
- Conducting an SEO audit to fix technical issues.
- Updating website content for better user experience and search rankings.
- Implementing schema markup, meta descriptions, and page speed improvements.
2. Paid Advertising & Social Media Campaigns Launch
The agency will set up and launch:
- Google Ads campaigns targeting high-intent keywords.
- Facebook and Instagram ads designed for brand awareness and conversions.
- LinkedIn campaigns (if B2B) aimed at lead generation.
3. Email Marketing & Automation
If part of the strategy, expect:
- The development of email sequences for nurturing leads.
- Automation setup for abandoned cart emails, customer follow-ups, or onboarding sequences.
Performance Tracking & Adjustments
1. Reporting & Analytics Review
Agencies provide performance reports that may include:
- Website traffic insights (Google Analytics, Google Search Console data).
- PPC campaign metrics such as click-through rates (CTR), cost-per-click (CPC), and conversion rates.
- SEO rankings and organic search performance.
- Engagement rates on social media and email open/click rates.
2. Optimizing & Refining Strategies
Based on initial performance data:
- Ads may be adjusted to improve CTR and lower cost-per-acquisition (CPA).
- SEO strategies might shift based on keyword ranking changes.
- Email campaigns could be refined to increase engagement and conversions.
3. Ongoing Communication & Future Planning
Expect a meeting or call to:
- Review the first month’s performance.
- Discuss key learnings and next steps.
- Align on upcoming campaigns and additional opportunities for growth.
Final Thoughts
Your first 30 days with a digital marketing agency lay the groundwork for long-term success. With proper onboarding, strategic planning, and transparent communication, businesses can see early wins and set the stage for sustained online growth. At Migration Digital, we prioritize seamless collaboration, data-driven strategies, and tangible results. If you’re ready to take your digital marketing to the next level, contact us today for a consultation.
