Your website serves as the virtual storefront of your business, crucial for attracting and retaining customers. However, navigating the waters of digital marketing can sometimes lead you into choppy seas, particularly when dealing with digital marketing companies that restrict your access and control over your website.
For those of you currently looking for a great agency partner, imagine investing time, resources, and energy into building your online presence, only to find out you can’t take your website with you if you decide to switch providers! It happens. This article delves into the pitfalls of engaging with stingy digital marketing companies and offers guidance on how to avoid them.
The Lock-In Strategy
Some digital marketing companies use a lock-in strategy, where they keep control of the client’s website and digital assets. This approach can put businesses in a difficult position, as they become overly reliant on the service provider for even minor updates or critical changes. The issue becomes even more severe when businesses decide to end their collaboration with their current provider, only to find out that their website, which is a crucial asset to their online presence, is not theirs to take!
Recognizing the Red Flags
It’s essential to identify potential red flags before signing a contract with a digital marketing company. Be wary of companies that:
- Claim ownership of the site’s design, content, or domain name.
- Impose hefty fees for transferring your website or data.
- Lack transparency about their practices and policies regarding client assets.
Questions to Ask Before Partnering
It is essential to ask the appropriate questions before partnering with a digital marketing company to safeguard your digital assets. You should inquire about their definition of your ownership of the website and domain name. Ensure that the contract explicitly states that you own the website and domain name. Additionally, you should confirm that if you decide to discontinue their services, you will receive administrative access to the CMS, allowing you to make updates independently.
This way, you can ensure that you maintain control over your assets even if you choose to end your partnership with the digital marketing company. You can check if they will transfer the website to another provider along with essential backups as part of their services. It is always important to understand the level of support and assistance you’ll receive from exchanges with companies of this nature (with whom you are trusting your properties), both during the partnership and after it ends.
Best Practices for Protecting Your Digital Assets
In order to prevent yourself from getting scammed by digital marketing companies who offer little value for your money, it’s important to familiarize yourself with some basic best practices. One way to start is by making sure that your domain name registration is done under your business name, which will give you complete control over it. Another great option is to use open-source CMS platforms like WordPress, as they provide greater flexibility and portability.
It is important to make sure that all of your contracts and agreements explicitly state the terms of service for your digital assets, as well as your ownership rights. Additionally, to prevent loss in the event of server issues or disputes, you should request regular backups of your website’s data and content. Don’t forget, this step is crucial to ensuring the safety and security of your digital assets.
Embracing a Collaborative Approach
To establish a fruitful alliance with a digital marketing agency, it is crucial to prioritize collaboration and mutual respect. The ideal agency partners should see themselves as equals who strive for your success and provide transparency, flexibility, and support.
Collaboration is key to achieving mutual growth of businesses while ensuring the protection of digital assets. At Your Online Capital Group, we understand this and work towards this goal. For more information, please visit our website.
How Your Online Capital Group Can Help
It’s important to be careful when navigating the digital landscape, especially when it comes to safeguarding your online presence. When you hire a digital marketing company to manage your website, you shouldn’t have to give up control or face obstacles if you decide to switch providers. By staying informed about potential issues and asking the right questions, you can ensure that your digital marketing partnership benefits your business without compromising your control over your website.
Remember, in the digital world, your website is your territory – make sure you maintain full authority over it. Our business ethics are founded on principles like these. If you’d like to learn more about how we conduct comprehensive online presence management services for the betterment of your business, with you and for you, give us a call today at (904) 600-3600.
