Every ecommerce seller will experience a point in their journey when they want to take things to the next level and improve their online presence.
This can be done in many ways: investing in high-converting marketing campaigns and developing SEO strategies. You can also improve your website design.
These methods can be effective but they can be daunting – especially for those who don’t have experience in the area. These types of jobs can be costly, regardless of whether you are just starting out or an experienced online seller.
A digital ecommerce agency is a great solution.
If you don’t have the skills or time to manage every aspect of your online company, it is worth enlisting their help.
This article will discuss what an ecommerce company does and how they can assist you. We’ll also explain how an agency is different from hiring employees.
It’s a lot of information, so let’s get right in!
What is a Digital Ecommerce Agency?
A digital ecommerce agency, which your brand employs to grow and scale your business, is simply a third-party company. You will typically hire an ecommerce agency to help with tasks that your in-house staff members are unable to handle.
There are no two agencies the same. While some agencies specialize in creative services, others are more focused on tech or marketing channels. Others may have multiple areas of expertise.
We recommend listing all jobs that you require assistance with, and then narrowing your search to agencies that are specialists in those areas.
What Can an Agency Do?
An eCommerce agency can help in many ways. We’ve listed a few below.
Access to up-to-the minute advice
High-quality agencies are always ahead of the curve when it comes to industry trends. You can rest assured that you have access to the most innovative approaches to help manage your eCommerce business.
Top Tip: Ask your agency if they have any resources or materials that can prove they are knowledgeable. This is one way they can show they are constantly researching and adopting the most current trends and systems.
Take an outsider’s perspective
Entrepreneurs often have tunnel vision. Don’t worry, it’s common. To improve your business, it is important to get an outside perspective.
Technical expertise
An eCommerce agency shouldn’t sell generic, out-of-the box tech. Instead, they will offer a custom stack to meet your business goals.
Top Tip: Ask about their certified partners before you hire an agency to develop software. It’s possible that these platforms will be the ones who help you build your tech stack.
The Benefits of Hiring an Ecommerce SEO Agency
Hiring an SEO agency for eCommerce has many benefits, the most notable being:
Access to Expertise
Search engine optimization agencies (SEO) often hire SEO experts and encourage their SEO professionals to continue training. High-quality agencies will invest in their training to keep up with new techniques. This allows them to keep pace with their clients.
SEO Marketing Strategy
An SEO agency that is top-notch will develop a strategy specific to your business, one that helps you get closer to your business goals. These targets can vary depending on your business’s nature, so make sure your potential agency is available to review your goals and business type. This will allow them to create an SEO strategy that suits your needs.
You will need a different SEO strategy for your eCommerce website than the one used to drive traffic from a photographer’s blog, or non-profit website.
The best way to break down your customized strategy is into phrases and then into phases that can be divided into tasks. This will give you a clear idea of the work required and the time it will be completed.
Analytics and reporting
Collecting and analysing data is key to successful SEO strategies. It’s impossible to know if the strategy you are using is improving your ranking on search engines like Google, unless you have a solid grasp of where you rank (i.e. Google).
Outsourcing your SEO analytics and reporting can be a great asset. You’ll not only save time but also get actionable insight into how you can improve your SEO strategies.
Here are the Benefits of Hiring an Agency for Your Ecommerce Website
Design is not just about logos or printed materials. It’s the foundation of your brand identity. It is the visual language that your company uses in communicating with its customers.
Customers often form their first impressions of your brand solely based on how your content looks. Unattractive content is a major reason 38% of website visitors will not engage with your online content. A website’s design is also a key factor in determining credibility of a business. 48% agree.
Web design is important, all that said.
A design agency can help you fine tune your online graphics if creativity isn’t something that comes easily to you. Here are some of the benefits of working with design agencies.
A cohesive brand identity is essential
Your brand identity is made up of many elements that can be easily forgotten, as we have just mentioned.
This combination combines:
Colors
Fonts
Logos
Graphics
Photography
These elements work together to create a visual language that is consistent with your brand.
Designers can create style guides that are unique to your business so they can establish their visual identity. This is what customers associate with you.
Don’t let this scare you. Instead, view it as an opportunity to impress them with your professionalism and personality.
Design agencies know how to communicate brand values. In general, bright, cheerful designs convey a sense of friendliness and fun, while structured layouts and darker colors communicate professionalism and reliability.
Web design is more complex than that. That’s why a professional agency is so valuable. They will be able to translate your brand’s identity and visuals into visuals, so your audience can form an opinion about you business without even reading any of your website copy.
Make the Right Impression
Good design can elevate your brand’s standing among your customers. However, poor design will be your downfall.
A poor-looking website can often be interpreted as a sign of cheapness or a lack understanding. Both of these are not good indicators of confidence.
A positive user experience is key to high-quality website designs. Web designers know the right contrasts to use for best readability, which colors draw attention for higher conversion rates, and which layouts best communicate your content marketing efforts.
Enhance Your Digital Marketing Results
Good design is eye-catching. The most memorable internet marketing campaigns are visually striking and instantly memorable. To drive conversions, your graphic design should be in sync with your copy. Without this, any pitch or concept could fail.
There are many benefits to hiring a web development agency for your ecommerce site
It doesn’t matter if you use Shopify, Magento or WordPress to manage your online store. This is your gateway to the rest of the world. If you want to offer a great shopping experience, you will need a beautiful, easy-to-navigate site.
Here are some ways that a web agency can help you get the best out of your online shopfront.
Professional web design
There are many intuitive website builders available today. Even though the templates included with these software are sleek and modern, it can sometimes be difficult to customize them.
If you don’t have the programming skills to bring your vision to reality, your ecommerce solution will only be able to provide limited functionality. A web design agency is a great resource. These professionals have the ability to design a website that is both innovative and functional. Without professional designers, this kind of quality is impossible to attain.
Device a Powerful Online Strategy
Websites must do more than just look nice. Your website must provide a customer experience that leads customers to make a purchase. A web design agency should be able to provide a strategy online plan that will ensure long-term success.
Good designers will improve your click-through rate by working with skilled SEO specialists who employ search marketing techniques, codes, copywriters and marketing experts to create the best digital experiences.
Optimize your website for the mobile age
Mobile devices are becoming more popular in the shopping process. A responsive website is essential. This means that your website adapts to the smaller screen size of a smartphone.
A web agency can design a responsive website that works on all devices. Because of its amateur technical design, ecommerce clients won’t click off your website.
Reliable websites can save you time and money
You might have problems down the road if you try to build your website yourself. Sites that aren’t working as intended can deter customers. You will need to invest time, effort and money to fix anything that breaks or needs to be updated.
You’ll be able to have a reliable website right from the beginning by investing in a web agency. This will result in less downtime, less frustration and a more stable purchasing experience for your customers.
The benefits of using an Ecommerce Marketing Agency over a. Hiring employees
You may be asking yourself, “Why not just hire someone who specializes in one or more of these areas?” This is a great way to go if you plan to use SEO strategies, design, and web development constantly.
It all depends on your individual situation and needs. Let’s now take a look at the advantages of hiring employees to work in-house.
- You are their only client, therefore you should be able to give them your full attention.
- Sometimes budgeting is easier than you might think.
- They will get to know your brand and its values.
Agencies might offer more benefits when it comes to ecommerce stores – particularly in the areas SEO, design and web development. They can provide a competitive advantage more often than not.
Let’s take a closer look at the differences between hiring an agency and an employee.
On-Demand services are cost-effective
Let’s face facts: Hiring employees costs time and money, even before they receive their salary. It will take time and effort to carefully review the credentials and qualifications of applicants. This could reduce your time and profit, as well as your team’s.
Once you have found the right candidate you can put them to work doing what they are best at. Some projects are only good for a brief time. Websites, once they are built properly, may only require occasional maintenance or redesign. It might not be worth it to pay an employee a full-time, or even monthly, salary.
You will also need to invest in:
- Health care and benefits
- They will need the software and tools to complete the task.
- A workspace
- Onboarding and initial recruitment costs
You can also use agency services for as long as you need them. You only need to pay their salary which can be negotiated on a per hour or per project basis. This is the best option if you have only occasional tasks that need to be outsourced.
Network of Specialists Offers Greater Expertise
An employee may be an expert in their field. A full-service agency allows you to have access to a wide range of specialists for one price. Many agencies have many industry contacts, which allows them to offer a full service. This includes web design, marketing services, optimizing Amazon product listings, and PPC and email advice.
If you are working with an agency to design their services and need a copywriter, or a social media marketing specialist, they will likely be able recommend one. This may be possible to include in the project’s cost. Because agencies are made up of people, the weaknesses of one person can often be matched by another’s strengths, so you have a good chance of receiving a high-quality product.
Allow Larger-Scale Projects from the Start
In-house employees have a limit on how many hours they can dedicate to a project. They only have two hands. If you need to move a large project quickly, an in-house employee may be overwhelmed without the help of a whole design and marketing team.
Agencies have more employees and are able to dedicate more time to the projects they need. Agencies can be hired to help you complete any project of any size, without the need to hire additional staff or shift your team.
Avoid Creative Burnout
To achieve true creativity in tasks such as web design and development, you need to have a certain level of creativity. Designers are driven to improve their skills and have a passion for creativity.
An employee who works in-house may get bored working with the same visual language or values every day. Sometimes, employees become disillusioned by creative work.
If you only have one digital creative in-house, your view is limited to theirs. They must work in a creative echo chamber, which might not allow for agile, outside-of-the box thinking.
Agencies work with many clients at once. Agencies are able to complete projects quickly and move on to the next project, which gives them a fresh perspective. They can bring fresh air to your web presence and campaigns. They are more likely to work together as a team and can bounce ideas off one another. This is what they do every day, so they are able to use a variety perspectives.
Do You Need to Work with a Digital Marketing Agency
A digital ecommerce agency can help you in many ways. Agency services can help you with SEO, design, and web development. They also offer benefits that employees might not be able to provide. Agency staff have access to a wider range of talent, new eyes and more affordable pricing.
A digital ecommerce agency could be the best option for you if you are just starting an ecommerce company or if you want to increase your sales and drive conversions.
This may seem like a large investment for new sellers but the professionalism that a high-quality agency achieves can help your brand establish trustworthiness right away.
Do you have any experience with digital agencies or other digital marketing services? Let us know what your experience was in the comments section below. We look forward to hearing from you!
