Today, everyone claims to be an expert in their field – regardless of how much practical experience they actually have. Take the rise of AI as a perfect example: only days after the release of ChatGPT, scores of “AI experts” took to social media to start selling ‘definitive guides’ and ‘expert tutorials’ on how to use it.
In the same breath, given that anyone can use AI to effectively print dozens of ‘expert’ articles in a matter of minutes, how can you really differentiate the true experts from the opportunist posers?
In this article, we’re going to share some tips on how to find the real online marketing gurus so you can grow your business successfully without wasting time on con-artists.
How to find the real online marketing gurus?
Influencers are everywhere. Spend half an hour on LinkedIn and you’ll be amazed by the overwhelming number of coaches who coach coaches on how to coach coaches! It’s a minefield. So, how do you find the real pros?
It’s simple really. The key to finding professionals who can indeed deliver the online marketing results that you desire is to ignore all of the noise and shop on facts instead. Here are a few key things to look out for when conducting your research:
- Social proof: The first step is to short-list a few potential candidates and then take to their social media. What are their clients saying about them? Can you find an overwhelming amount of support in favour of their services? Are you finding mixed reviews? Or are you struggling to find anything at all? The best online marketing agencies will have plenty of social proof to support them.
- 5-star reviews: When looking at a prospective agency, take to Google and see how many 5-star reviews they have. Obviously, you can expect an agency to have some 4-stars, and even a few 1-stars here and there; however, if they have a majority of 5-star reviews from existing and previous clients, then you can clearly see that they are doing something right!
- Case studies: Another thing to look out for (and this should be non-negotiable) is case studies. If a prospective online marketing agency has dozens of real life case studies and success stories, then you will be far more confident when putting your faith in them and investing your hard earned cash. Remember, it’s not just about the fact that they have achieved great results for their clients – but a detailed analysis of how they achieved the results that you want to look out for.
Conclusion: Never take their word for it
While it can certainly feel like it’s impossible to find a reputable online marketing agency when everyone claims to be an expert, it actually makes it incredibly simple.
Never take their word for it and always shop on reputation. When you set a certain standard for your business and vow never to make an exception, you’ll have no trouble finding the true Online Marketing Gurus who have a wealth of evidence to confirm their authority.