How to Get Clients for Your Digital Marketing Agency in 2024 (17 Steps)

The digital marketing industry is brimming with agencies that excel at delivering results for their clients, yet many face challenges when trying to grow their own businesses. 

With the landscape evolving almost daily, now is the time to invest in yourself and ensure you’re not left behind. 

Whether you’re a new face or an old hand adjusting to the latest trends, this guide is your roadmap to thriving in 2024 and beyond.

Here’s a quick look at what we’ll cover in this guide; click to jump right in:

17 Proven Ways of Getting Clients for a Digital Marketing Agency

Let’s face it, collaborating with companies looking for digital marketing services is fiercely competitive, as the number of marketing agencies in the digital world is sky-high. 

This is why, in the context of “how to get clients for digital marketing,” reaching out to the correct audience and then turning them into digital marketing clients requires clever, cutting-edge strategies.

To provide you with such effective strategies, we’ve put together the key ones below. They’re practical, effective, and have been game-changers for many agencies.

1. Take Your Place in Marketplaces

Joining digital marketing marketplaces like the DAN Marketplace is a powerful way to get new clients for digital agencies.

Finding the right projects and building long-lasting relationships with brands can be challenging. 

Marketplaces offer agencies a platform to showcase their expertise, connect with vetted clients, and position themselves as leaders in their industry. 

Here’s what DAN Marketplace offers to your agency:

Direct Access to Clients: Connect with brands actively seeking digital marketing expertise. Enhanced Visibility: Showcase services, projects, and reviews to attract potential clients. Simplified Client Acquisition: Receive direct project opportunities, streamlining the process. Curated Opportunities: Access projects that match your expertise, budget, and location. Transparent Proposals: Submit quotes and set clear expectations with clients. Build Long-Term Partnerships: Foster ongoing relationships and repeat business. Stay Competitive: Gain insights on industry trends to keep your agency ahead.

2.  Treat Yourself Like Your Own Client

How do digital marketing agencies attract clients? 

The answer is becoming their most important client.

You already possess a proven process that delivers results for your clients. It’s time to allocate a portion of your schedule to implement this same process for your agency.

Approach this task with the same rigor and attention to detail as you would for any digital marketing client. 

Begin by developing a comprehensive brand guide, diligently collecting and analyzing data, crafting a data-driven marketing strategy, and meticulously executing each step of your digital marketing agency’s business plan.

Remember to apply all the strategies and insights you offer to your clients. Utilize storytelling techniques to establish a deeper, more authentic connection with your audience, ensuring your narrative resonates and engages.

Most importantly, maintain the best possible standards of quality. Business owners observing your marketing efforts will use them as a barometer for your commitment to their projects. 

If you don’t put in much effort, they can assume that you won’t put in much effort when handling their business. Setting a high standard for the services you provide means that you must approach your marketing with the same commitment to quality and diligence that you make to your clients.

3. Prioritize Your Portfolio

When it comes to attracting digital marketing clients, your portfolio speaks louder than words. 

It’s the tangible evidence they need to gauge your expertise. Moreover, boasting prestigious digital marketing certificates from your team can significantly bolster your credibility, but what truly sets you apart is the real-world success you’ve achieved for your clients.

Clients are looking for a team that can authentically represent their brand voice. 

You can demonstrate your adaptability and willingness to fit any client’s distinct voice by showing the companies you’ve worked with. And don’t forget to share results and case studies. 

A prime example of this can be seen in NoGood‘s portfolio. They excel not only in presenting their broad client base but also in sharing detailed case studies. For each project, they provide a comprehensive overview, including the challenges faced, the strategies implemented, and most importantly, the results achieved.

Secondly, tailor your portfolio to attract the type of work you desire. For instance, if your goal is to secure more clients in the healthcare sector, prominently feature your successful projects in this area. This not only signals to potential clients your proficiency in their specific field but also underscores your focus on a particular digital marketing niche.

4.Take Advantage of Online Directories

There is a very important reason why we are placing this on the front. Yes, online directories are our area of expertise. But the reason it’s our area is that we firmly trust in the directories’ capacity to boost a digital marketing agency’s outreach and success more than anything else.

A top-notch website is essential to getting clients for your digital marketing agency but when your SEO is not as powerful as online directories, you’ll get behind them in the SERPs. For example, our marketing agency directory, in particular, offers this pivotal advantage, ensuring enhanced visibility in search results.

As Digital Agency Network, we also offer a suite of features to elevate your digital presence, such as an agency profile page, enhanced SEO advantages, and digital PR efforts. Our members benefit from the exclusive ability to share content with our community, a feature that fosters engagement and positions your agency as a thought leader.

To take our services one step further, in 2023, we initiated our game-changing Request for Proposal system, “Get Quotes.”

“Get Quotes” is a streamlined process where brands share their needs and budgets through our platform, DAN, and reach out to their best matches!

You can start benefiting from these above-mentioned features right away by joining the Digital Agency Network. As you can see, we’re passionate advocates of our platform, but we also recognize and respect the other valuable digital marketing agency directories out there.

As you venture into this realm, a word to the wise: not all are crafted equally. While some might give you a basic listing, others (our platform, Digital Agency Network, included) offer added perks like advertising opportunities, a job board for recruitment, and special discounts for digital marketing events. As you embark on this journey, remember to research, compare, and select platforms that will genuinely amplify your digital agency’s reach and reputation.

5. Blog About Marketing

You probably already tell your clients about content marketing and how important it is to establish themselves as experts in their area, and some of them decide to do it on their own.

But soon, they realize the complexities involved and turn to professionals. This is where your agency comes into play, especially if your marketing blogs have been their go-to resource during their DIY phase.

In the era of AI-driven content creation, tools like ChatGPT 4 can be invaluable for crafting blog posts, as they are highly skilled in content creation. But keep in mind that human touch is irreplaceable and you should edit your content to put it into the final form. No matter how perfect and appropriate your prompts are, check the tone of voice, keywords, consistency, and unity. So, always sprinkle in your insights and give any AI-generated content that final human finesse. 

Your blog gives you credibility, which helps you get SEO clients. That’s why utilizing your blog effectively is a vital strategy in attracting digital marketing clients. With blogging being one of the most effective measures for SEO, it’s crucial to demonstrate that you practice what you preach.

Expanding your blogging reach beyond your website is also beneficial. Consider guest blogging on popular platforms frequented by business owners and executives, like Business Insider and Forbes. This not only increases your visibility but also establishes your authority in the digital marketing realm.

Matt Cutts, Administrator at United States Digital Service, shares more about the effective techniques for building links and eventually getting more clients:

6. Get Interactive

To find digital marketing clients, implementing social media strategies is a cornerstone but most brands fall short on the “social” aspect. They spend plenty of time posting their own content but little time sharing, commenting, and otherwise engaging online.

You can begin by pinpointing a selection of companies you’re eager to collaborate with. Actively follow their social media accounts and periodically engage with their content. A couple of thoughtful comments each week can significantly increase your visibility.

Such engagement puts your agency’s name on the radar of these businesses, particularly in cases where the owner or manager personally handles their social media. 

This familiarity lays the groundwork for a more receptive interaction. When the time comes to reach out directly, what would have been a cold call transforms into a warm introduction, thanks to the rapport already established through your social media interactions.

7. Build a Following with Your Newsletters

Local businesses are constantly seeking ways to enhance their operations and boost their revenues. Positioning your agency as the go-to expert for such growth is a strategic move. 

While your blog is a valuable tool in this regard, establishing a direct line of communication through an email newsletter can be even more impactful.

Initiate a series of weekly email newsletters packed with fresh marketing insights, practical tips, and industry trends. 

Focus on crafting content that is both informative and engaging, reinforcing your position as a thought leader in the field. To expand your reach, implement strategies to get more subscribers. This could include a coordinated social media campaign and ensuring that your website features a prominent, user-friendly “subscribe” button.

If people sign up for your newsletter, your company becomes more than simply a knowledge source for them—it serves as a weekly reminder of your dedication to their success. Being regularly in their inboxes increases the likelihood that they will choose you first when they need professional marketing services.

However, it’s crucial to grow your subscriber base ethically. Avoid any tactics that could be perceived as spammy or intrusive, such as signing people up without their explicit consent. 

If you start getting labeled as spam by a few recipients, you’ll have a harder time getting into other subscribers’ inboxes instead of their spam folders.

8. Get Into the Continuing Education Game

Many businesses are ready to invest in learning about the latest in marketing trends and practices through mini-courses and seminars. 

Why not be the one to offer these valuable learning opportunities? 

This approach benefits your agency in two significant ways. First, it creates an additional revenue stream. Second, it positions you as an expert in the field.

If you’re knowledgeable enough to teach it, it’s clear you’re skilled enough to excel in the work itself.

If organizing seminars and courses isn’t your preference, consider participating in the conference circuit. Look for business conferences in your area and propose to be a speaker. 

It might take some time and effort to get chosen, and you might have to pitch to several conferences. But once you start accumulating speaking engagements, your credibility will grow, and it’ll become easier to secure more opportunities.

9. Use LinkedIn Much More Effectively

LinkedIn is a great platform for connecting with individuals; it can be the ultimate answer to how to find companies that could benefit from your marketing expertise.

LinkedIn is an interesting place to build connections and relationships, not just with your potential clients but also with future employees or more.

Here’s how you can make the most of LinkedIn to get clients to your digital agency:

Join groups to engage with relevant communities. Share content to boost visibility and showcase expertise. Advertise your agency’s company page to LinkedIn’s vast user base. Publish sponsored content for targeted reach. Send direct messages or connection invitations to potential clients. Participate in related LinkedIn groups to discover clients seeking your services.

For example, The Charles uses valuable content to showcase their expertise in community engagement strategies. A notable post features a carousel with tips from their social media strategist, Ciera Duban, on maintaining community engagement beyond initial interactions.

10. Combine Google Ads and Facebook Ads

Most of your potential clients will begin their search for a digital marketing agency on Google. That’s why it’s essential to work on your SEO to rank higher in organic search results. However, achieving high rankings takes time, which may not align with your immediate needs.

To get quicker results, combining the power of both Google Ads and Facebook Ads can offer the best of both worlds. Google Ads help you target the right keywords and attract potential clients immediately by reaching users actively searching for services like yours.

While Google Ads are highly effective, managing them can be time-consuming. 

This is where Facebook Ads come in as the perfect complement. With Facebook Ads:

Cost-effective with a lower average cost-per-click. Provides direct access to your target audience. Allows precise targeting based on user behavior and demographics. Budget-friendly, making a big impact even with limited resources. Easily measurable results to track ad performance and ROI.

Using targeted ads on both platforms is not only effective for local outreach but also a smart strategy for winning international clients.

11. Leverage Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence can significantly transform your approach to sourcing and securing new clients. Let’s dive deeper into how to get digital marketing clients for your digital marketing agency with the help of AI:

Automated Lead Generation: Think of AI as your own digital detective. It swiftly scans through social media to identify people who might be interested in what you offer. This saves time and ensures that the leads you gather are relevant.  Lead Qualification: Once potential leads are identified, AI can take a deeper look at online footprints to evaluate how well they match your agency’s services. By evaluating factors like engagement rates, content interests, and past behaviors, AI offers a higher chance of conversion. So, it’s about quality over mere quantity. Personalized Touch: AI’s ability to analyze vast datasets means it can tailor marketing campaigns to each prospect’s preferences. From the tone of messaging to the delivery timing, every aspect can be fine-tuned. Remember, a personal touch in campaigns often leads to better engagement. Smart Spending: With AI, you can predict which marketing channels and campaigns will yield the best ROI. Instead of spreading your budget thin, AI helps concentrate resources where they’ll make the most impact.  Feedback Loop: AI uses past data to predict future trends, which allows for immediate feedback on campaign performance. This continuous loop ensures that strategies are always evolving, adapting to the latest trends and audience behaviors. Mistakes can be quickly rectified, and successes can be amplified. Predictive Analytics: AI uses past data to predict future trends. By anticipating client needs, you’re positioned to offer solutions before they even ask. Staying a step ahead by anticipating needs is a surefire way to impress prospects. Content Optimization: AI can suggest content adjustments based on what’s resonating with your target audience. Whether it’s tweaking headlines, adjusting CTAs, or shifting the content’s tone. With optimized content, you’re more likely to attract and retain a potential client’s attention. Engagement Tracking: You can go beyond basic metrics with AI. By understanding nuances like time spent on content or navigation patterns, you can refine your approach for even better future interactions.

With a dedicated webpage for reviews and testimonials, you can make the voices of your satisfied clients heard. This way, you can paint a vivid picture of the value and excellence your agency offers. 

Through the authentic experiences shared by your clients, potential partners can gain insight into the transformative journey you can guide them through. 

Your potential clients will conduct research across various platforms, including Google and Facebook. By emphasizing your reviews and featuring them on your website, you signal your confidence in past partnerships. You can create a similar area on your website, just like Damteq does:

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13.Deepen Your Industry Specialization

Your marketing portfolio is a showcase of your expertise, with each project highlighting your in-depth knowledge of different industries. 

For example, look at the agency Together. They’ve specialized in serving technology companies, exemplifying a focused approach. Their dedication to the tech sector has equipped them with the ability to offer precise strategies tailored for tech businesses. This is a clear illustration of how an agency can establish itself as a trusted authority in a specific field.

This level of specialized expertise is far more impactful than a generic sales pitch. It’s a definitive sign to clients that your team possesses the insights and experience necessary to address the distinct challenges of each industry.

14.Enhance Social Media Engagement

Turning your social media from just another broadcasting outlet into a lively engagement platform is a big leap in your digital game plan. It’s all about making your platforms places where real talks happen, insights get shared, and genuine connections blossom. 

With this hands-on approach to engagement, your agency is stepping up as a leader and influencer in the community. 

This kind of interactive online presence is just what clients are looking for. They value your expertise, sure, but they’re also keen on your ability to engage and build solid relationships.

Whether it’s tapping into the storytelling charm of TikTok and Instagram Reels, or getting into the exciting new worlds of Web3 and the metaverse, your agency is showing some real pioneering vibes. This tells potential clients that your agency is right up there, leading the charge and shaping what’s to come.

For example, Crowd is one of the digital agencies utilizing Instagram effectively. Let’s look at one of their engaging posts:

In this carousel, they humorously explore ChatGPT’s overuse of certain words, reminding their audience of the importance of human touch in digital content. This way, they resonate with their marketing audience and increase the post’s chance of being saved or shared with colleagues.

Another good example of utilizing Instagram is by Mimosa:

They share creative content like curated playlists, which connect with their audience on a more personal level. This method helps in building a cultural connection with their audience, enriching their brand’s community interaction.

15. Get Out from Behind the Desk

You can’t ignore the digital world, but sometimes you need to step out into the “real world” too.

Start building a presence at local events where you’ll find business owners and other decision-makers. That should include networking events, business expos, trade shows, you name it.

The goal is to make yourself a known part of the local business community. Get to know your fellow business owners and potential clients.

As you build your Rolodex, start referring people to the businesses you know when the opportunity arises. Not only will grateful business owners be more likely to become clients, but they’re also likely to return the favor and refer others to you.

The right conference can be a game-changer for your business. If you are keen to learn how in detail, Vanessa Van Edwards, a behavioral investigator, explains more about how face-to-face communication is effective:

16.Elevate Your Agency’s Web Presence

Your website should perfectly reflect your agency’s expertise and uniqueness, and the website design needs to be aligned with your brand identity, ensuring every visitor can navigate effortlessly to find the information they seek, such as your agency pricing, ethical values, or previous work. Use engaging visuals and ensure your messaging is clear and concise.

When someone searches for your agency’s name or the services you offer, appearing on the first page of Google is crucial. 

You can achieve this by optimizing your website for search engines. Also, incorporating SEO best practices not only in your blog content but across all pages will help you immensely while using relevant keywords, optimizing your images and videos, and maintaining your site’s loading speed.

Additionally, to convert your website visitors into new clients, your website must have effective CTAs. These can range from free consultations to downloadable guides or case studies, which act as lead magnets. Here’s an example by Major Tom:

Ensure that the CTAs are visible and enticing, and placed in strategic locations throughout your site to maximize engagement.

17. Harness the Magic of Video

As we move through the digital world in 2024, video content has become an essential tool for building real, lasting connections with your audience. 

Each video you create not only showcases your agency’s services but also reflects your unique identity.

It’s a really good chance to highlight your values, company culture, and creative approach. 

Videos are an effective way to attract businesses looking for agencies that truly understand the impact of visual storytelling. They offer potential clients an engaging, immersive experience that builds a meaningful and lasting connection.

Social media is one of the key answers to “How do digital marketing agencies get clients?” as long as it is utilized wisely.

The key point is to be unique, stand out from your competitors, and reach your potential digital marketing customers. 

Below, we have listed the initial steps you should take to use social media effectively to get new clients

1. Leverage the Unique Strengths of Different Platforms

You should understand the distinct characteristics of each social media platform to effectively tailor your strategies. For example, LinkedIn is the perfect platform to let professionals from your industry know about your achievements, recent education, and presentations. Impression leverages the platform’s professional setting to share industry insights and networking successes, as seen in their post about a behavioral science presentation in Manchester.

With this kind of content, you can also demonstrate your thought leadership and build professional credibility.

X (formerly Twitter) is ideal for quick, personable updates that humanize your brand. Here’s an example from Hallam about their team’s laser tag event:

— Hallam™ (@HallamAgency) April 12, 2024

This is a great example, showing how casual, humorous updates can make your agency more relatable and engaging to your audience.

And on Instagram’s side, visuality and dynamism come, and No Good benefits from these unique features effectively. They have a large following of 43,000 and seem to achieve this with truly humorous, sincere, and relatable reels that lead their audience to share with their colleagues and friends. 

Their creative content like “that one coworker who overshares” not only entertains but also encourages sharing among users, significantly boosting engagement.

For Facebook, where diverse content types thrive, Crowd’s approach is a great example of engaging an older audience through to-the-point and interactive posts. 

Their post, which merely discusses the advantages of viewing competitors positively without any verbosity or jokes, effectively encourages user interaction.

TikTok stands out as a platform targeting younger generations. This is why it should be used to capture attention with short and entertaining videos that can quickly go viral. For instance, Kutiza’s content about their team members’ arrivals at work has grasped the attention of 224K people so far:

@kutiza Meet the team 😊 #officelife #digitalagency #officehumor #fyp #digitalagencylife #worklife ♬ bounce (i just wanna dance) – фрози & joyful

By leveraging the specific strengths and user preferences of LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, you can craft a nuanced social media strategy that effectively targets and engages different segments of your audience, enhancing your agency’s reach and relevance across the digital spectrum.

2. Give Your Customers an Inside Look

Create posts where you briefly describe your products and services so that visitors will have an idea of whether your agency is what they’re looking for. You can offer a trial demo for interested clients, or you can organize a meeting to be able to introduce your agency in a detailed way. 

3. Create Polls and Ask Your Audience’s Opinions

It can be challenging to get your audience to interact with your social media content; occasionally, even well-written articles and captivating videos fail to interest users. However, you have not only well-designed images and reels but a few more options to engage your audience. When it comes to learning more about your audience, polls offer a variety of advantages. They are simple, and therefore people love to participate and share their thoughts and opinions. By using polls, you can eliminate a lot of these assumptions and get a clear understanding of how your audience feels about your company or a certain product.

4. Use Hashtags (The Right Ones!)

Users might easily become overwhelmed by an excessive amount of information. Using hashtags makes it simple to filter out unnecessary digital clutter and concentrate only on the information we truly need. You can connect with your industry and your target audience by using an industry-specific hashtag. The use of many hashtags, however,  might make your message seem cluttered and unprofessional. So make sure to avoid overusing them!

5. Infuse Storytelling into Your Strategy

Storytelling is like a timeless art that’s got this amazing power to totally captivate, inspire, and leave a lasting impact. So, why not dive into that enchanting world of storytelling on social media? We’re talking about narratives that totally resonate with what your audience dreams of and struggles with.

For example, you can share some insider content, such as a day in the life of your agency employee, just like Hallam did:

You can also craft narratives that artfully portray the journey from adversity to triumph, and position your agency as the catalyst behind these awe-inspiring transformations. They make your brand super memorable and relatable, turning potential customers into lifelong fans.

6.Create Less Formal Social Media Posts

Yes, selling is critical! However, it is just as important to determine your target audience, create suitable posts, convince clients from a different perspective, and direct them to your website. But just advertising products by flooding users with boring information is no longer enough in this creative world. With fun posts that will reflect your company and team, your potential customers can get to know you, thereby increasing their desire to work with you.

For example, you can show your office settings, how you work, or how you have fun as a team, as Crowd Dubai did in this post:

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The tips above can help you get clients, no matter how small or large your agency is. The key is a varied marketing strategy that combines your staple of digital marketing with old-fashioned methods as well.