Securing clients in the crowded landscape of digital marketing can be intimidating. In the world of business, every organization is in a race to establish a presence on online platforms, which has increased demand for digital marketing services. But how will you ever differentiate in such a crowded market? Do you want to find your first digital marketing client or build a steady stream of new clients?
In this blog post, we’ll discuss7 digital marketing strategies you can use to get clients for your digital marketing business easily. No matter whether you’re at the beginning or have been in business and want to grow, these actionable tips will teach you how to get better-paying clients, increase your authority, and make more money.
Build a Strong Personal Brand
‘Your brand is your digital reputation, and in digital marketing, it’s everything. Creating a strong personal brand gives you the credibility to attract clients. When your potential clients are seeking your services, the image and brand need to say: trustworthy, knowledgeable, results-proven.
Why Personal Branding Works
Introduce Yourself: Make a great first impression – demonstrating that your business is established, knowledgeable, competent, and worthy of the company.
Emotional Appeal: People relate to people, not brands. Sharing your story and how you got to where you are can make YOU more relatable to potential clients.
Be viewed as an Authority: Sharing highly desirable content on LinkedIn, Medium, or your personal blog positions you as a thought leader in digital marketing.
Actionable Tips
- Update your LinkedIn profile to highlight your strengths and the services you offer.
- Write consistently informative content for blogs or social media.
- Hop into the digital marketing-related groups, either on a forum or Facebook.
Leverage Your Existing Network
Networking is still one of the best ways to acquire digital marketing clients. You’ve already got a network — Lean on it! Friends, family members, work colleagues, or anyone in a professional network can serve as potential clients or referral sources.
Why Networking Works
Word of Mouth: Advocacy and referrals are won or lost amongst people you know.
Relationship Building: Networking helps you build relationships for the future, not just a one-time client association.
Actionable Tips:
- Start with your current network to share what you do.
- Offer friends or contacts free (or heavily discounted) digital marketing in exchange for a referral.
- Attend local meet-ups, webinars, or events in your niche to also grow your network.
Use Cold Outreach—Effectively
It may sound daunting to cold reach out, but it is a necessary part of getting new clients in the digital marketing field. Cold outreach to potential clients via email or LinkedIn can also be a powerful lead generator when done effectively.
Why Cold Outreach Works
Introduction: As a form of Neo-Business Development, cold outreach is an opportunity to reach potential decision-makers who may want what you offer.
Scalable: It can be used to contact dozens or hundreds of potential clients quickly.
Actionable Tips:
- Customize your emails to demonstrate that you have done some research on their business.
- Instead, focus on how you can help them solve their unique problems, rather than just selling your services.
- Keep it short and to the point, and focus on what you bring to them.
Develop Highly-Effective Case Studies and Testimonials
If you’re trying to establish trust with potential clients, there’s no better way than to present your past success stories. Case studies and testimonials serve as social proof that you can get the job done.
How Case Studies and Testimonials are Effective
Social Proof: You want visitors to trust your service, and showing that you have served others can help.
Proof of Value: Case studies demonstrate the concrete benefits you’ve delivered for customers, helping would-be buyers to see what you can do for them.
Actionable Tips:
- Request recommendations from your happy clients and share them on your website and social media profiles.
- Develop case studies with a problem, solution, and results for each client you’ve worked with.
- If digital marketing is new to you, try offering low- or no-cost services in exchange for testimonials.
Offer Free Workshops or Webinars
Free workshops or webinars are among the best strategies for demonstrating your know-how, proving yourself as a leader in your field, and bringing clients on board. By hosting these, you can start meeting potential clients and allow them to warm up to your personality, skills, and what you would be like to help them grow their business.
Why Workshops and Webinars Work
Establishes Authority: Hosting a webinar or workshop makes you look like an expert in your field.
Demonstrates Value: By delivering actionable information in your presentation, you start proving your worth from the start.
Actionable Tips:
- We would attempt to arrange a free, but value-filled, webinar/workshop on the latest state of digital marketing – for example, SEO or social media marketing.
- Host them on platforms like Zoom, YouTube Live, or Facebook Live.
- Promote your event on social media and in emails to help round up the troops.
Partner with Complementary Businesses
Partnerships are an excellent way to grow your audience and can be especially effective if you’re trying to get in front of potential clients who already trust your partners. For instance, you can establish relationships with web designers, branding agencies, or content creators who don’t offer digital marketing services but have clients who need them.
Why Partnerships Work
New Clients: You have access to your partners’ clients and networks.
Business Benefits: Both banks stand to gain as they pitch their services to the same demographic.
Actionable Tips:
- Find companies that serve your target audience and offer complementary products/services.
- Present opportunities for win-win partnerships, e.g., bundled offerings or co-events.
- Building stable, long-term relationships with your partners to foster trust and cooperation.
Optimize Your Website for Conversions
Your website is often the first touchpoint a potential customer has with your business. The content not only has to be optimised to attract visitors, but also to turn those who do into paying customers.
Why Website Optimization Works
You Have Only One First Impression – Your website will convert potential customers. Your potential leads would prefer to work with you.
Drives More Leads: With accessible CTAs and forms on every page, it’s easy for your visitors to reach out and ask for your help.
Actionable Tips:
- Make sure your site is optimized for mobile and loads quickly.
- Make your site professional, add reviews from past clients and case studies, and break down your services.
- Clear, action-oriented CTAs will help visitors on their journey to becoming a lead.
Conclusion
Digital marketing clients can be easy to come by building a strong personal brand, engaging your network, doing cold outreach the right way, and offering something of value (e.g., case studies, webinars, partnerships), you can quickly scale your client base for digital marketing agencies. With these 7 tried-and-tested strategies, you’re well on your way to bringing in clients and enjoying steady success for years to come.
Marketer Saif is a full-time blogger and Internet marketer. Follow Saif to learn how to scale up your online business to make more money. Before starting this blog, Saif managed one of the world’s top digital marketing agencies (Saif IT Park). Now, he has been helping people make money online through affiliate marketing.
