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Performance marketing is a type of online marketing that uses precise measurement methods to evaluate the effectiveness of advertising efforts based on user actions. Unlike traditional forms of advertising, where charges are based on exposure or clicks, in performance marketing, advertisers pay for specific results, such as final sales, acquiring a potential customer or signing up for a newsletter. It is a model based on measuring return on investment (ROI), which makes it particularly attractive for companies that want to focus on the effectiveness of their marketing efforts.
In this article, we will focus on the role of performance marketing agencies in planning, executing, and analyzing performance marketing campaigns across various digital channels. We will outline the strategies and tools these agencies use to achieve optimal results for their clients and the benefits of outsourcing performance marketing activities to specialized companies.
The following is an overview of the role of performance marketing agencies.
Channels of Performance Marketing
Performance marketing agencies specialize in extensively serving paid online marketing channels and tracking, analyzing and reporting on the results of their efforts. The most well-known performance marketing channels include:
– native advertising (Native Advertising),
– search engine marketing (Search Engine Marketing),
– social media marketing (Social Media Marketing),
– display advertising (English: Display Advertising),
– affiliate marketing (English: Affiliate Marketing).
A brief history of performance marketing agencies
In the 2000s, thanks to technological advances, the use of search engines increased, social media platforms developed, and mobile devices became increasingly popular. With these advances came the need for online marketing solutions. By the end of the decade, marketers had gained access to various solutions for social media, search engines, and analyzing results. These solutions were channel specific and created a dilemma as to which channel and software to choose. In the 2010s, this problem only worsened as new technology companies emerged in the online market. Along with the need for online marketing support, several things happened.
First, marketing agencies grew as companies looked for ways to optimize online marketing spending. As performance marketing became a larger part of online marketing efforts, marketers began to specialize in this one area.
Firstly, marketing agencies were able to grow as well.
In addition, due to fragmented workflows, companies saw an increased demand for integrated solutions that provide holistic insights into online marketing activities. Instead of managing separate software for each channel, agencies allow you to look at all of your channels, see which ones are performing best, and help you achieve better results from your efforts in other channels.
Benefits of working with a performance marketing agency
Some of the benefits of working with a performance marketing agency come from the very nature of performance marketing:
1. Data-driven results
Performance marketing agencies are primarily data-driven, so they are able to help you clearly track spending and results and communicate the value of your campaigns through data.
2. Digital nativeness
Many traditional marketing agencies have adapted to clients’ needs by adding online marketing and performance marketing services. On the other hand, performance marketing agencies have emerged to perform only marketing. Their expertise lies in understanding the online mechanisms used to promote your brand.
3. Advanced technology
Performance marketing agencies use technology that can better analyze the effectiveness of your performance marketing and give you ideas for next steps. The agency should be able to combine data in a way that makes it easier to understand the customer journey and identify the most influential drivers of growth across all channels where marketing efforts are made.
4. Expert advice
Collaborating with a performance marketing agency gives you access to experts in the field. This may make more sense for some companies than hiring a full-time specialist and training them properly. In performance marketing agencies, on the other hand, you can find experienced professionals for any type of performance marketing channel.
5. Continuous improvement and innovation
Performance marketing agencies are often committed to developing the skills of their employees and the technologies they use. They strive to find new solutions and innovative strategies that can provide a competitive advantage for their clients. As a result, working with such an agency allows your company to stay on top of the latest trends and best practices in the field of online marketing.
Performance marketing agencies vs. Internet marketing agencies
Many Internet marketing agencies offer performance marketing services, but there are agencies that focus exclusively on performance marketing channels. The key difference between is precisely that performance marketing agencies are more focused and specialized in the aforementioned channels of the field, while internet marketing agencies are likely to offer a wider range of services. Often their efforts are more focused on brand building, content creation and other creative services, offering performance marketing support as an additional service. In contrast, performance marketing agencies help you present your brand to the right audience most effectively.
What distinguishes a good performance marketing agency?
Whether you are considering using an online marketing agency that offers performance marketing services or a performance marketing agency, there are several things to consider, including:
1. Multi-channel expertise
When choosing an agency, make sure it has a lot of knowledge and experience with each channel and can prepare the right strategic plan that includes those channels that will best benefit your business.
2. Holistic view
In addition to understanding each type of performance marketing channel, it’s a good idea to ensure the agency you choose has a good perspective on how all your channels perform. Such a holistic view allows the agency and your company to better understand the customer journey and how the marketing channels affect each other.
3. Smart insights and recommendations
Your performance marketing strategy should be flexible and open to modification. A good agency can look at the data collected and tell you what your next steps should be. It should constantly monitor your customer journey, ROI and other key metrics to decide how to change your strategy and get better results.
Choosing a performance marketing agency
Before you decide to work with an agency, take some important steps:
- Detailedly „google” the agency and check the reviews of others about it to make sure you are choosing a reliable partner.
- Pay attention to the responsiveness and communication style of the agency’s team members. Ideally, they should adapt to you, trying to both inform your team and collaborate with them on your strategy.
- Consider the ratio of the agency’s clients to its team members. If something raises your concerns, don’t be afraid to ask, for example, whether, with the current occupancy, the specialists are sure to have time to do quality work for your company.
- Be assured that the agency has experience in operations in your industry. It’s useful to feel that the team really understands your company and target audience.
- Consider whether you feel the agency’s „vibe” and „flow.” It is undoubtedly important that the atmosphere of cooperation between your company and the agency is harmonious and conducive to consensual and effective communication.
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Performance Marketing Agency – Summary
Performance marketing agencies are key players in online marketing, specializing in effectively using various digital channels to achieve specific business goals. There are many benefits to working with a performance marketing agency, such as access to online marketing experts, the use of advanced technology to analyze data, and the ability to receive personalized recommendations on marketing strategy.
Performance marketing agencies are also key players in the field of online marketing.
However, it is important to remember the differences between performance marketing agencies and online marketing agencies. The former mainly focus on the effective use of performance marketing channels, while online agencies offer a wider range of services, including creative branding activities. The final choice of the right agency should be carefully considered to ensure harmonious cooperation and the achievement of the desired business goals.
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CEO and managing partner at Up&More. He is responsible for the development of the agency and coordinates the work of the SEM/SEO and paid social departments. He oversees the introduction of new products and advertising tools in the company and the automation of processes.