Top Boston Digital Marketing Agencies

Frequently Asked Questions

What services do Boston digital marketing agencies typically offer?

Most agencies provide a core set of services, including SEO, paid advertising (Google Ads, social media ads), content marketing, email campaigns, and website design. Many also offer specialized services like video production, influencer partnerships, or marketing automation setup.

The best agencies tailor their services to your specific goals rather than pushing a one-size-fits-all package. They should explain which services make sense for your budget and timeline.

How much should I expect to pay for digital marketing services?

Digital marketing costs vary widely based on scope and agency size:

Hourly rates typically range from $100-300. Be wary of agencies charging under $75/hour or promising guaranteed results for unusually low prices.

What questions should I ask before hiring an agency?

Ask these critical questions during your initial meetings:

• Can you share case studies from similar businesses in our industry?
• Who will actually work on our account day-to-day?
• How do you measure success and report results?
• What happens if we need to adjust strategy mid-campaign?
• Do you require long-term contracts?
• How do you stay current with platform changes and trends?

Request specific examples of how they've solved problems similar to yours. Generic answers often signal lack of experience.

How long before I see results from digital marketing?

The results timeline depends on the strategies you choose. Paid advertising can drive traffic within days but requires an ongoing budget. SEO typically takes 3-6 months for noticeable improvements and 6-12 months for significant results. Social media growth varies but usually shows engagement improvements within 2-3 months.

Set milestone check-ins at 30, 60, and 90 days. Any agency promising instant organic rankings or viral content should raise red flags.

What red flags should I watch for when evaluating agencies?

Avoid agencies that:

• Guarantee specific rankings or results
• Won't share references or case studies
• Outsource all work without disclosure
• Lock you into contracts over 12 months without performance clauses
• Can't explain their strategies in simple terms
• Have no expertise in your industry
• Use black-hat SEO tactics like buying links

Trust your instincts if communication feels off during initial conversations. Poor communication usually gets worse after signing.

Should I hire a large agency or boutique firm?

Large agencies offer more resources, established processes, and diverse expertise. However, smaller clients often get less attention from senior staff.

Boutique agencies provide personalized service and direct access to decision-makers. They often specialize in specific industries or tactics but may lack bandwidth for rapid scaling.

Consider your priorities: Do you value personal relationships or extensive resources? Need specialized expertise or broad capabilities? Your answers guide the choice.

How do I know if my current agency is underperforming?

Warning signs include:

• No regular reporting or vague metrics
• Declining website traffic despite ongoing SEO work
• Ad costs increasing without better results
• Same strategies for 6+ months without adjustment
• Account manager turnover every few months
• Defensive responses to performance questions

Schedule quarterly business reviews to discuss ROI. If your agency can't clearly connect its work to your business goals, consider switching.

What's the difference between hiring an agency versus in-house marketing?

Agencies provide immediate expertise, proven systems, and scalability without employment overhead. You gain access to specialists across multiple disciplines for less than hiring full-time experts.

In-house teams offer deeper brand knowledge, faster communication, and complete focus on your business. The tradeoff is higher fixed costs and limited skill sets.

Many businesses use a hybrid approach: an in-house coordinator working with specialized agencies for execution.

How do I transition from one agency to another?

Start by reviewing your current contract's termination clause—most require 30-60 days notice. Request all account access, creative files, and performance data before ending the relationship.

Key transition steps:

1. Document all active campaigns and passwords
2. Transfer ownership of ad accounts and analytics
3. Download historical data and reports
4. Overlap agencies by 2-4 weeks if possible
5. Ensure proper billing cutoffs

Never let an agency hold your accounts hostage. You should always maintain admin access to your own properties.

What results tracking should my agency provide?

Expect monthly reports showing:

• Traffic metrics: visits, sources, user behavior
• Conversion data: leads, sales, revenue attribution
• Campaign performance: ad spend, ROI, engagement rates
• Competitive analysis: ranking changes, market position

Good agencies create custom dashboards you can access anytime. They should explain what numbers matter most for your business goals and why certain metrics changed month-to-month.