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5 Signs Your Current Digital Marketing Agency Is Holding Your Business Back

Are you finding that your digital marketing efforts need to catch up with your growth ambitions?

Do you lie awake at night wondering if your marketing investment is truly driving your business forward, or merely treading water?

If you’re feeling frustrated by sluggish growth despite significant digital marketing spend, you’re not alone.

Many business owners and marketing managers are being held back by their digital marketing agencies without realising it. It is estimated that one in three businesses switched their digital marketing agency in the past year.

Perhaps even more significant, a larger proportion of business owners are working through their dissatisfaction and are reluctant to make the switch.

If this sounds familiar, keep reading to explore the five telltale signs to recognise when your business needs a new Digital Marketing Agency approach.

Let’s get straight into the signs:

Sign 1: You Don't Own Your Data

If you invest your hard-earned cash into a marketing agency, you should own access to your digital platforms.

At Sydney Digital Marketing, we’ve heard the phrase, “We don’t own any of our accounts” or worse: “We have no idea if our campaigns worked”, one too many times in the previous 10 years.

And honestly? It’s heartbreaking.

How does this happen? Some agencies create and manage your accounts on platforms like Google Ads, Meta, or HubSpot under their credentials rather than yours. This gives them ownership of the data and limits your control, keeping you dependent on them for insights and operations.

Now, imagine trying to switch agencies without access to your accounts.

It’s a nightmare. You lose all of the insights from past campaigns, and your new agency has no baseline to build on. You’re left wasting time and money rebuilding something that already existed.

If you’re unsure who has access, check in with your agency now. Don’t let them take your data hostage. Request access and take control of your business analytics accounts.

Sign 2: Neglecting Results

You’re pouring money into digital marketing, but what are you really getting in return? If you’re scratching your head trying to figure out how your agency’s efforts are boosting your business, it’s time to ask some tough questions.

You deserve clear, measurable results – no more guesswork. Without this, you’re unable to quantify any real tangible impact to your bottom line.

What to look for:

Reporting that focuses on vanity metrics rather than business impact and market share. We’re talking about impressions, clicks and no mention of ROI.
Inability to demonstrate how their efforts are contributing to your bottom line and competitive position
Lack of clarity on the ROI of your marketing spend with your industry benchmarks

Sign 3: They're using Cookie-Cutter Approaches

Your business isn’t like any other, so why settle for a marketing strategy that treats you like you are? Your strategy should be as unique as your business, tailored to fit your goals, your market, and your customers. If your agency is applying the same cookie-cutter approach they use for small businesses or large corporations, you’re already falling behind.

Customers today not only prefer personalisation, they expect it. Adobe’s Digital Trends 2024 Report reveals that “72% of senior executives say that customers’ expectations for digital experiences are significantly higher now compared with just a few years ago.” The same goes for your business.

You deserve a personalised approach to stand out against your competitors.

Watch out for:

Generic strategies that don’t align with your specific business goals or industry position
Lack of personalisation in your campaigns that fails to highlight your unique selling propositions
Unwillingness to adapt their approach to your industry, target audience, or competitive landscape

Sign 4: Poor Communication, No Strategic Partnership

We know you need more than just a service provider, you need a strategic partner who understands your industry and growth objectives. If your agency is not proactively communicating with you or is hesitant to share insights about market trends and strategic opportunities, it’s a major red flag.

Signs of a communication breakdown:

Infrequent updates or reports that lack strategic insights
Difficulty in getting straight answers about campaign performance and market positioning
Reluctance to explain their strategies or tactics in the context of your industry trends
Lack of proactive suggestions for new growth opportunities or market expansion strategies

Sign 5: Failure to Adapt

What worked 1 year ago, may not work today.

Marketing tactics are continually evolving, your customers’ pain points are changing and so is how you reach them. A substantial near 70% of CMOs say that future growth will be defined by their ability to pivot quickly to market changes and evolve their marketing strategies.

If your agency is stuck in its ways and not adapting to new market trends, trying out new technologies, or shifts in your business strategy, they’re likely holding you back from reaching your full potential.

Signs of an outdated approach:

Reliance on outdated tactics or platforms that don’t align with your target audience’s behaviour
Lack of proactive suggestions for new strategies or technologies that could give you a competitive edge
Resistance to adjusting strategies as your business grows and your market position evolves
Using the same old strategies as your competitors

The Most Important Question

If any of this resonated with you. Ask yourself the most important question of all:

Do you feel valued?

Is your digital brand identity consistently compelling across all touchpoints?
Do you have a deep data-driven understanding of your target audience?
Are you confident that every marketing dollar you spend is driving real business results?

Exceptional Services and Results! We’ve been working with Sydney Digital Marketing for the past six months, and we couldn’t be happier with their services. From the initial consultation to our finished website, they’ve consistently exceeded our expectations. Ben, Cedric and their team are knowledgeable, responsive, and creative. They’ve helped us overhaul our website, increase website traffic, and generate quality leads. The results speak for themselves! I appreciate their transparency, regular progress updates, and willingness to adapt strategies based on our business needs. If you’re looking for a reliable digital marketing partner, I highly recommend Sydney Digital Marketing.

I am based in Australia, and I must say that my experience with SDM has been quite impressive. We started our partnership on a slightly rocky note with an initial strategy that didn't quite hit the mark. However, what truly sets them apart is their adaptability and their prowess in data and analytics. Over the past six months, I've witnessed a remarkable transformation in our digital marketing efforts. Ben and his team has been relentless in their pursuit of better results. Month after month, they have fine-tuned our strategies, making data-driven decisions that have led to substantial improvements. Their expertise in data and analytics is truly commendable. It's as if they have a sixth sense for deciphering trends and opportunities in the digital landscape. This keen insight has resulted in a noticeable uptick in our online presence and, more importantly, our ROI. I can't stress enough how crucial their ability to adapt and refine their strategies has been in achieving our goals. Their dedication to our success is evident in the results we've seen, and I am genuinely grateful for their hard work. If you're looking for a digital marketing agency that doesn't just promise results but consistently delivers and evolves to meet your needs, I wholeheartedly recommend SDM. They've certainly earned my trust and loyalty. Keep up the fantastic work!

We engaged SDM for brand positioning and a go-to-market plan for Bright Environmental, and they exceeded our expectations. The team at SDM quickly understood our brief and grasped the nuances of our business and the market we operate in exceptionally well. Their passion for ensuring their work is on point is evident, and most importantly, their focus on generating sales quickly has made a significant impact on our business. The speed and efficiency with which they delivered the project were impressive, and their deep understanding of our needs was clear from the outset. Additionally, SDM walks the talk when it comes to exceptional digital marketing, as they do it for themselves really well. I highly recommend SDM and the team for their professionalism, expertise, and dedication to delivering results.

Time For a New Partnership

Adaptability is not just an advantage; it’s a necessity for securing growth for your brand. Adobe’s 2023 Digital Trends report warns that businesses that don’t evolve will lose market share to agile competitors.

The signs we’ve discussed – not owning your data, lack of measurable results, one-size-fits-all approaches, poor communication and failure to adapt – are clear indicators that your current digital marketing agency might not be aligned with your business goals.

We know you’re not just looking for any agency, you’re looking for a growth partner who understands your unique product and opportunities. After all, it’s what you deserve.

At Sydney Digital Marketing, we’re committed to being that partner.

Our ABC-Strategy is designed to address the specific needs of businesses like yours, looking to scale.

Here’s how:

Audience: We dive deep into understanding your target market, their pain points, and their decision-making processes. This allows us to create highly targeted campaigns that resonate with your ideal customers and drive qualified leads.
Brand: We help you articulate and amplify your unique value proposition in the market. For medium-sized businesses looking to compete with larger players, a strong, differentiated brand is crucial. We ensure your brand message cuts through the noise and positions you as a leader in your space.
Competition: We conduct a thorough competitive analysis to identify gaps in the market and opportunities for differentiation. This intelligence informs our strategies, helping you outmanoeuvre competitors and capture market share.

Is your current digital marketing agency as committed to your success as you are? If not, it’s time to ask the tough questions. Don’t wait for another quarter of missed opportunities.

Remember, you’ve worked hard to get where you are – now, you deserve to take the first step towards experiencing transformative growth. Connect with us today and together we’ll continue your growth!

Need a second opinion on your digital marketing? Our experts can help! Contact us here.

Article by

Simon Gould

CEO / Founder / Dad

Founder and leader, Simon established SDM back in 2012. Since then, he has helped 150 clients (and counting) to achieve their digital goals.[…]