Investing in Outsourced Digital Marketing: How to Select the Right Partner

Companies didn’t spend much on
digital marketing in 2020 because of the COVID19 pandemic. However, in the
post-pandemic era, the drastic increase in mobile usage among consumers is
compelling firms to change this trend. Firms need to spend more on digital marketing
to stay competitive. But, digital marketing is expensive. That’s why outsourced
digital marketing is gaining a lot of popularity.The Rise of Outsourced Digital
marketingThe COVID19 pandemic triggered
several behavioral changes in consumers. The new-age consumer prefers consuming
content on digital platforms. Be it video streaming, online gaming, or shopping
on eCommerce platforms – new-age consumers love using digital platforms. That
means brands that want to reach out to these customers must adopt strong
digital marketing strategies.  • In 2021, global spending on
digital marketing increased by 17% (from 2020) to reach a staggering sum of
$389.29 billion. In 2022, that figure will increase by 13% to $441 billion.• Why the extra focus on digital
marketing? Well, digital marketing generates 50% more interactions with
customers than traditional marketing techniques.• In the B2B (business to
business) industry, 50% of agencies already outsource their digital marketing
responsibilities (in 2021).  The process of outsourcing a
firm’s digital marketing responsibilities is simple. Companies find third-party
providers of outsourced digital
marketing services. These experts perform digital marketing services on
their clients’ behalves, helping them promote and grow their businesses.
Outsourced tasks could include –• Creating content (e.g., making
animation videos or writing blogs)• Designing PPC ads• Creating social media posts,• Creating lead magnets for the
clients’ websites• Launching and managing
pay-per-click (PPC) ad campaigns• Handling affiliate programs• Developing and maintaining SEO
strategies for the clients’ websitesThese are some functions that
providers of outsourced digital marketing services can serve as third-party
partners. But, having the right experts implement strategic digital marketing
strategies is very important.Selecting the Right Outsourced
Digital Marketing PartnerOutsourcing allows firms to
partner with professionals who specialize in digital marketing. The right partner
can take a company’s digital presence to the next level and help it generate
digital leads. Here’s how firms should select long-term outsourced digital
marketing partners –• Industry Experience: Make sure
the third-party professionals have industry-specific experience. A financial
company should team up with a digital marketing company that has prior
experience in the financial industry.• KPIs: The outsourced
digital marketing experts should clearly define their goals. They must
clarify how they measure success. For instance, when launching a PPC ad
campaign, the firm should establish clear benchmarks of success. They should
also have contingency marketing plans in place in case their services fall
short of expectations.• Easy Onboarding: Setting up a
long-distance work relationship is never easy. The outsourcing company should
offer a streamlined onboarding process. From setting up communication channels
to establishing monthly marketing goals – the firm should have a clear
onboarding plan.Final TakeApproximately 46% of all
the money spent on marketing in 2021 went to digital marketing efforts. Brand
leaders must ask themselves: can an outsourced digital marketing company help
them cut their in-house marketing costs? If the answer is yes, they must use
this guide to select and team up with the right offshore outsourcing digital
marketing partner.