I’m currently paying a marketing firm around $1200 per month to manage my SEO and Google Ads campaigns. I’m also spending around $30 per day on the Ads campaigns. The company created the landing pages, manages the ads, and makes adjustments based on leads generated.
This is really starting from to dig into my bottom line. I’m a 1 man operation, and max revenue I can generate is around 12k per month with an average around 7k. I’m spending close to 20% of expected revenue on marketing. To make things worse, last month I was seeing crazy jumps in clicks (3,000%) with no increase in leads.
I’m considering dropping the marketing firm and taking over the Ads myself, or even looking for an alternative company more reasonably priced. I don’t know that I need more on my plate, but I feel like saving that $1200 per month would be smarter.
Thoughts?
How much of the $1200 a month is going towards the landing pages or are you “renting” the landing pages indefinitely? How many landing pages? That’s a big variable in all of this. A 13.64% conversion rate is ok. However, conversion rates can differ by industry. The scope of your SEO and website matters too. Off the top of my head, $1200 seems high for only spending around $900 in Google Ads. That would imply that you’re spending around $700 on SEO and landing pages a month.
It’s just the one landing page, which kind of covers everything as a more streamlined version of my website. I’m a private pet trainer who also has a handful of part time contracts for security K9 services. I don’t advertise security K9 services through this outlet, but they are on my website. I should have said earlier, this particular marketing company does advertising solely for pet trainers.
Can you elaborate on the lead connector concerns? I like how it collects the contact information and provides the auto text to clients. I’m a one man operation, so it might be late at night or the next day before I can answer a lead. I feel like this at least lets them know I’m not willfully ignoring them. It’s also easier to answer a with a quick text during an appointment as opposed to a phone call. I’m open to suggestions and insights.
Thank you for your help!
You have a very specific niche and your conversion rates should be higher. Especially, at a premium price. The automated notification service is good for all form fill leads. However, answer as many live leads as you can. I don’t like live calls going to an automated service. The drop off could be significant. Google Ads management fees are usually around 20%. That would infer you’re paying around $1000 for your SEO, the lead connector and that one landing page every month. Ask them to break down those fees and see where your money is going. I wouldn’t recommend “renting” the landing page indefinitely. That’s where your wasting money. How much organic traffic do you get each month? Do you own your main site?
Yeah I’m new at doing this for myself as a business owner. My background is running K9 programs for the federal government and a Fortune 500 Defense contractor. Managed to climb the ladder high enough to make just enough money to warrant being laid off. So I went out on my own. Definitely a little out of my element, learning as hard and as fast as possible.
My entire business, including the website, was set up through Zen Business. I can add landing pages as well. I’d say I’m at about an 80/20 split with firm/organic traffic. Though I went straight to the marketing firm as soon as I was up and running, so all I know is business with them. I’m only 9 months into this.
I would try to steer away from them and start owning your property in a transparent manner. This will save you a lot of money in the long run. I’ll send you a message tomorrow if you want to continue the conversation.