Alexis Kestler
As a social media marketing leader with over a decade specializing in small business growth, I‘ve seen countless owners struggle turning profits. Between fierce competition, limited marketing budgets and a lack of expertise, standing out feels impossible.
But here‘s the game-changing opportunity that 95% of small business owners miss: The right marketing company transforms every area of your business.
I‘ve helped implement marketing solutions that not only drive leads and sales, but also:
- Free up the owner‘s time to focus on their craft
- Attract premium customers willing to pay more
- Turn one-time buyers into lifelong brand advocates
- Enable business valuations exceeding 8 figures
Does this sound too good to be true as a small business? It‘s not. The level of impact driven by marketing specialists with skin in the game remains unmatched.
But with endless options promising the world, identifying the right partner is easier said than done.
In this comprehensive guide, we will unpack:
- Clear, quantified evidence revealing marketing‘s ROI
- A proprietary framework for choosing a growth accelerator
- The top 5 marketing companies serving small business in 2023
- An emerging opportunity in influencer collaborations
Let‘s explore the keys to identifying the perfect marketing ally for your unique business needs.
Why Marketing Deserves Your Full Attention
Most businesses view marketing as an afterthought. But compelling data reveals this mindset leaves serious money on the table:
- 895% higher revenue growth: SaaS companies spending over 15% on marketing see dramatically higher revenue expansions year-over-year.^1
- 6-8x ROI: On average, every $1 spent on marketing returns $6-$8 in sales revenue.^2
- 320% more leads: Businesses working with marketing specialists see lead volume increase by over 300%.^3
Still believe marketing offers more fluff than financial impact? The data says otherwise.
These outsized returns don‘t magically appear. Hyper strategic, integrated campaigns across channels including social media ads, SEO, content and email marketing make it possible.
But delivering these results solo rarely aligns with a small business owner‘s zone of genius. Your limited hours belong directly working with clients and improving profit margins through efficiencies.
This crossroad presents a critically important choice:
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Option A) Divert energy towards complex marketing strategies with slow, inconsistent returns based on your best guess efforts
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Option B) Partner with a proven marketing growth accelerator offering the expertise, technology and connections unavailable within your business
I‘ve guided thousands of small business owners through this decision tree. Most realize Option B makes them unstoppable, but struggle identifying who to trust.
The following blueprint solves this headache, leading you to partner with the perfect marketing ally custom-fit for your business needs.
A Framework For Choosing Your Small Business Growth Accelerator
With endless options promising the sun, moon and stars out there, this framework objectively identifies specialty marketers capable of delivering results for your specific business.
Step 1: Define Your Customer Avatar
Success begins with your target audience. Master who you serve through psychographic (beliefs, values) and demographic (age, income) criteria.
These customer avatars directly inform messaging and media buying decisions across every campaign. Misalignment saddles you with pretty vanity metrics devoid of actual business impact.
Step 2: Map Your Buyer‘s Journey
Where does your audience congregate online? What messaging motivates initial interest? How do they prefer to engage, ask questions and ultimately convert?
Charting your buyer‘s journey uncovers proven lead generation and sales funnel optimization strategies. It also reveals current marketing gaps ignoring critical touchpoints.
Step 3: Set Clear Goals & Key Results
A strategic partner aligned to tangible growth goals is non-negotiable. Be specific in what you want to achieve over the next 12 months collaboratively:
- Increase organic site traffic from 500 → 5000 monthly visitors
- Grow email list by 1000+ high-quality subscribers
- Achieve 100+ customer testimonials for social proof
- Boost revenue from $200k → $500k+
When all parties fixate on the same targets, goal achievement accelerates.
Step 4: Confirm Core Marketing Competencies
visa vis your business and goals, which marketing competencies deserve the heaviest investment for optimal ROI?
For example, an eCommerce site should focus on performance marketing experts (PPC, CRO) while thought leadership properties lean into owned media (SEO, Content).
Rule out generalists attempting to serve all needs. A tailored specialization matching campaign goals pays dividends.
Step 5: Align Values For Long-Term Partnership
Marketing powers your megaphone, brand voice and customer experience. Make sure core values align beyond reeling in sales.
Probe operating processes and company culture fit. How a partner wins comes second to how they deliver for clients like you daily.
Equipped with this criteria, separating high-impact marketing talent from empty hype machines becomes straightforward. Now let‘s examine the top companies guaranteeing small business prosperity in 2023 and beyond.
The 5 Best Marketing Companies For Small Business Growth
As you compare options, keep your defined customer avatar, goals and ideal competencies front of mind.
Let‘s explore the leaders serving small business owners through optimized, integrated marketing strategies.
1. WebFX
Best For: Aggressive growth through comprehensive digital marketing
With over 500 experts on staff, WebFX provides fully integrated strategies at significant scale. If you prioritize growth speed over personalized touch, they deliver proven media buying firepower.
Core Competencies:
- PPC Management
- SEO & Local SEO
- CRO
- Web Design
Evidence of Impact:
- $785M revenue generated for 3900+ clients^4
- 320% lead volume growth for auto shop client^5
- 1400% increase in organic leads for healthcare client^6
WebFX‘s size and tenure advantage them in breadth of services. Their expansive in-house teams manage and optimize at pace unmatched by solo operators.
Mid-tier pricing starts around $1500/month plus ad spend.
2. SmartSites
Best For: Website builds plus holistic digital marketing
SmartSites dominates localized web design while integrating seamless digital marketing. With 700+ successful launches, they inject serious expertise into every campaign.
Core Competencies:
- Web Design & Development
- Local SEO
- Social Media Growth
- SMS & Email Marketing
Evidence of Impact:
- 10X email signup conversions for boutique hotel client^7
- 55% increase in organic traffic for restaurant client in 6 months^8
For an integrated online presence combining high-performing sites with data-driven marketing, SmartSites should top your list.
Starter packages from $599/month. $4000+ setup fee applies.
3. Hibu
Best For: Marketing automation to boost customer engagement
While not a full-service agency, Hibu‘s platform automates critical tasks like email, texts, reviews, and lead capture.
Core Competencies:
- Marketing Automation
- Lead Scoring
- Search Marketing
- Review Generation
Evidence of Impact
- 31.5 million additional impressions monthly across customer base^9
- 65% more 5 star reviews for supported businesses^10
For small teams lacking marketing resources, Hibu efficiently nurtures your audience. Its technology simplifies execution for DIY marketers on a budget.
Plans from $49/month. Quotes provided based on custom solution design.
4. NinjaPromo
Best For: Boutique marketing strategies fully personalized to each brand
NinjaPromo tailors solutions by assigning your business a dedicated "Ninja" guide. With serious hand-holding, they craft holistic plans around goals.
Core Competencies:
- Social Media Growth
- Community Management
- Influencer Marketing
- Web Design
Evidence of Impact
As a private agency catering to startups and small business in Chicago, NinjaPromo does not publicly disclose client information or campaign results.
For white-glove service and strategies personalized to your brand voice, NinjaPromo delivers exceptional value without the big agency price tag.
Personal quotes provided based on custom solution design.
5. Cleverly
Best For: LinkedIn lead generation manned by experts
With exclusive focus on LinkedIn, Cleverly deploys proven messaging frameworks combined with account management to book meetings with high-value prospects.
Core Competencies:
- LinkedIn Outreach & Messaging
- Appointment Setting
- LinkedIn Paid Ads
Evidence of Impact
- 5,297 clients served
- 153,724 qualified leads generated
- $37M revenue driven for clients^11
Cleverly‘s deep specialization provides guaranteed B2B lead generation through precise LinkedIn execution.
Entry package from $1997/month. Volume pricing available.
An Emerging Opportunity: Influencer Marketing
Beyond traditional digital marketing firms, properly leveraged influencer campaigns present immense potential for consumer brands.
Top social media creators establish deep connections and trust with their loyal audiences. Tapping into this existing credibility enables your business to accelerate brand awareness and buzz marketing.
But inconsistencies plague the influencer marketing landscape:
- Endless hours required identifying and vetting creators
- Maintaining an accurate database as new influencers emerge
- Coordinating messaging, approvals and payments
This broken process overwhelms small teams. Yet the ROI generals from successful influencer campaigns remains widely undisputed.
State of Influencer Marketing Report 2023: For every $1 spent working with influencers, businesses see returns of $5.78. ^12
That‘s why leading free platform Ainfluencer proves so valuable. Their seamless tech stack solves the influencer puzzle through:
Influencer Discovery – 500k+ creators indexed across Instagram, TikTok and more ensures endless partnerships
Advanced Filtering – Dial in audience demographic, content quality, engagement metrics and more to identify ideal collaborators
Campaign Management – Message talent, coordinate approvals and track performance in one centralized hub
Payments – Seamlessly pay influencers upon campaign completion right within platform
For consumer brands struggling to cut through fierce digital noise, properly leveraged influencers make growth feel inevitable. And Ainfluencer‘s free tools connect this fragmented ecosystem for seamless execution.
Key Takeaways – Choosing The Perfect Marketing Ally
With the proven power marketing delivers now firmly established, placing your bet on the right agency fuels business expansion.
This guide outlines an objective framework identifying specialty experts that move revenue metrics for companies like yours. Priorities include:
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Deep Audience Expertise – They intuitively grasp your customers through psychographic and demographic analysis
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Goal Alignment – Growth milestones and key results you wish to hit inform campaign design
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Core Competencies – Required marketing specializations directly match business objectives
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Values Fit – A positive, collaborative dynamic between teams drives long-term success
While the options covered provide immense strategic value on paper, fit matters most. My recommendation? Have exploratory calls with 2-3 frontrunners to probe capabilities, vision and operating cultures hands-on.
Move forward with the partner who best aligns across all criteria. Then buckle up for explosive audience expansion and revenue generation quarter after quarter!
