How to Start Your Own Digital Agency

Growing a brand and business often leads one to think about starting a digital agency. If you’ve considered this, you most likely didn’t know where to begin. In this article, we’ll discuss what it takes to start your own digital agency, how to find clients, how to calculate a budget, and ultimately achieve excellent revenues.

We suggest you familiarize yourself with the stages of developing an internet-marketing agency.

Specific Specialization

To open a digital agency, first decide on the focus or specialization. Agencies usually provide all necessary services at once. However, they can selectively work in certain directions:

• website content creation;
• web resource optimization;
• building websites from scratch;
• creating a unique style;
• SMM direction;
• consulting.

For an agency to work successfully and profitably, you need to constantly monitor the services in highest demand at a given time. Agencies that offer a broader range of services tend to be more successful in the digital space.

For beginners, we recommend starting an agency focused on a specific direction:

• promoting websites using SEO or email marketing;
• developing and implementing advertising campaigns;
• performance-based marketing.

Clear Structure

Once the activity direction is chosen, it’s essential to work on the structure of your organization. The most valuable resource is people, so the first step is staffing. You’ll need specialists to handle:

• marketing;
• the technical aspects of the site;
• design;
• sales;
• SEO optimization;
• copywriting;
• SMM direction;
• account management.

You may also need testers, a photographer, and possibly a videographer. This list may vary depending on the chosen direction.

There are two options—hire experienced professionals or recruit novices and train them. Be prepared to invest time and resources into training. The result will be a well-formed team where everyone knows their responsibilities and possesses the necessary skills for working in your agency.

The number of employees and the size of your team will depend on your chosen direction. For small tasks, a small team will suffice, but if you decide to broaden your profile, you’ll need to bring in new specialists.

Finding Clients in Digital

Even during the agency formation stage, consider how you’ll find clients. When a company is just starting, finding initial clients can be very challenging. Here are some of the most effective ways to attract people:

1. Tell friends and acquaintances. In the early stages, a simple method of spreading the word about what you do and offering your services can help attract the first clients. Provide high-quality work to receive excellent reviews and recommendations.
2. Build brand recognition. Your company name should be well-known, which requires discussing activities on social networks, showcasing work examples, and participating in various conferences.
3. Participate in forums. Not just participate but engage in discussions on topics you are knowledgeable about on behalf of your company.
4. Build a portfolio and gather testimonials. Your portfolio should contain all your projects as well as testimonials from satisfied clients.
5. Collaborate with large companies. Working with reputable companies in the same field as you can be a great experience and make your agency more popular.
6. Attend conferences. Conferences are not only a way to gain valuable knowledge but also a method to promote yourself and find new clients.
7. Visit freelance exchanges. You can come across good orders on such portals. Complete these orders to obtain positive reviews and possibly long-term clients.
8. Conduct cold calls. This involves calling potential clients and offering your services. Success will require persuasion skills and persistence.

Budget Planning

Simply having the desire and special skills is not enough to create a digital agency. Opening and developing one requires finances, so budgeting is imperative. This can be done independently or with a specialist. Think through everything that will require financial expenditure.

To open and develop your own agency, you need to go through the following steps:

1. Work on your brand’s name, style, logo, and recognizability.
2. Study competitors and create something unique.
3. Develop a promotion plan.
4. Formulate a sales funnel.
5. Develop service packages for different types of clients.
6. Handle legal aspects and draft a contract.
7. Create accounts on the most popular social networks and messengers.

What will the budget be allocated for? Here’s a list of the main expenses:

1. Hiring employees and determining salaries.
2. Payment for freelancers’ services.
3. Payment for subcontractor services.
4. Tax payments.
5. Renting or buying premises.
6. Purchasing computers, other equipment, and furniture.
7. Software installation and online service fees.
8. Utility services.
9. Internet and mobile communication fees.

Conclusion

Digital agencies are companies capable of providing a variety of services. If you want to start your own digital agency, you’ll need to decide on a direction, work on the structure, and budget. It is also essential to think about how you will attract your first clients at the initial stage. If you consider all these factors and accurately assess your capabilities, you can achieve your goal and earn the desired profit.