Capture Customers at the Moment of Buyer Decision—Or Lose Them

Our digital marketing strategies pinpoint prospects at peak intent, so you earn their business.

Table of Contents

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Appear at the top of Google, Maps Apps, Bing, YouTube—even ChatGPT—when buyers are actively searching.
Our SEO pros optimize your site, build authority, and create content that drives steady, organic leads and beats your competition.

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising

Instantly own the top of search results and social feeds with ads that target real buyer intent.
We fine-tune bids, keywords, and audiences to slash wasted spend and deliver clicks that turn to customers.

Social Media Marketing (SMM)

Build buzz on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn—and turn followers into customers.
Our social ads campaigns spark engagement, drive traffic back to your site, and keep your brand top-of-mind.

Website Development & Design

Showcase your business with a WordPress site that looks stunning—and converts visitors into buyers.
We marry SEO-friendly structure with conversion-driven design so every click counts.

Paid Advertising

Achieving organic reach and visibility through SEO and social media posting can be a time-consuming and uncertain process for some businesses. It may not guarantee reaching the intended target audience effectively and some businesses might want an immediate action.

Despite investing significant time and effort in organic SEO and social media posting, some businesses may struggle to reach their desired audience. The competition is fierce, and we know some businesses may want an ROI right away.

Paid marketing channels, such as Google adsBing ads, and social media ads, offer businesses a targeted and efficient way to reach their desired audience. By utilizing these paid channels, businesses can tailor their ads specifically to their target audience, increasing the chances of generating quality leads and conversions.

Our agency specializes in creating compelling and eye-catching ads that grab attention, engage viewers, and drive results. We have a team of experienced professionals who understand the intricacies of each platform, ensuring that your ads are strategically placed and optimized for maximum visibility and conversion rates.

With paid marketing channels, businesses have the advantage of reaching a wider audience, increasing brand exposure, and driving traffic to their websites or landing pages. Moreover, they have greater control over their budget, allowing for efficient allocation of resources and the ability to track and analyze the success of their campaigns.

If you want to kickstart your marketing right away, paid advertising is a great solution. You can use this as a standalone strategy, or to enhance your organic reach. Let us help you navigate the world of paid marketing channels to effectively target your audience and achieve your business goals. Contact us today for a consultation and let’s take your digital marketing strategy to new heights.

The Digital Agency Business Model

Next Step Connect is a leading digital marketing and consulting agency, specializing in helping businesses thrive in the digital landscape. With a team of experienced strategists, creatives, and technologists, we provide a full range of digital services to support their clients’ growth and success.

In today’s digital age, businesses need to have a strong online presence, and Next Step Connect is at the forefront of helping companies navigate the complexities of the digital world. Our business model is built on providing innovative digital marketing solutions, strategic insights, and measurable results for their clients, ensuring that they stay ahead of the competition and achieve their business goals.

Retainer Model

By securing a monthly retainer from clients, agencies are able to generate predictable revenue and maintain healthy cash flow. This allows for better financial planning and investment in resources, ultimately fostering growth.

Retainer models also lead to better results and predictability in agency operations. With a consistent and steady income stream, agencies can dedicate resources and manpower to deliver quality work for clients without the distraction of constantly seeking new business. This results in improved client satisfaction and long-term relationships, ultimately leading to greater client retention rate and additional revenue opportunities.

The retainer model not only provides financial stability for agencies but also enables them to focus on delivering better results for clients. This contributes to sustained growth and success for both the agency and its clients. The significance of the retainer model in agency planning and client delivery cannot be overstated. Next Step Connect works on a monthly retainer model!

Commission/Performance-Based

Pricing models such as commission or performance-based pricing work by tying the agency’s compensation directly to the results they deliver. In this model, the agency only gets paid based on the actual performance of its digital marketing campaign or project.

Next Step Connect will only work on a commission base once a relationship has been well established. The client must already be paying for a service on retainer/flat fee such as SEO in order for us to offer commission based PPC service. 

The benefits of this pricing model include aligning the incentives of the agency with the client’s goals, as the agency is motivated to deliver the best results to maximize their compensation. This can lead to a high level of dedication and effort from the agency to achieve the desired outcomes. Additionally, this model can provide cost savings for the client if the agency is able to deliver exceptional results.

However, the drawbacks of this model include the potential for conflict of interest if the agency’s focus is solely on maximizing their compensation rather than delivering the most effective solution for the client. Additionally, there is a level of risk for the agency as their compensation is directly tied to the performance of the campaign, which can lead to volatility in their income.

To establish key metrics and mitigate the risk of volatility, agencies can set clear and achievable performance targets, regularly track and analyze performance data, and adjust strategies as needed to optimize results. This can help to ensure that the agency is able to deliver value to the client while also mitigating their own financial risk.

With these risks, you can see why we only offer PPC on commission with already established clients.

Hourly

Next Step Connect offers hourly consulting services. One of the major benefits of the hourly pricing model is its simplicity. You pay a set fee, and we create a plan with you to accomplish your goals. If you want to explore an agency that offers hourly services, please keep in mind the follow:

It allows for easy tracking of profitability and project schedules, as it directly ties payment to time worked. With this model, businesses can accurately calculate and predict costs and revenues, leading to better financial planning and decision-making.

One common mistake in this model is not charging enough to compensate for non-billable hours, such as administrative tasks, meetings, or other non-client-related work. It is crucial to include a buffer in the pricing to cover these non-billable hours and ensure profitability.

Effective management of team-hours is also essential to the success of the hourly pricing model. By closely monitoring and allocating team-hours, businesses can maximize productivity and minimize idle time, ultimately leading to higher profitability.

Moreover, the hourly pricing model helps eliminate worries about scope creep, as any additional work can be billed based on the actual time spent. This encourages clear communication and project boundaries to ensure that clients understand the costs associated with expanding the project scope.

The hourly pricing model offers simplicity, profitability tracking, and project schedule management, but it requires careful consideration of non-billable hours and proactive management of team-hours to truly maximize its benefits.

Commission/Performance-Based

At Next Step Connect, implementing a flat fee or fixed fee pricing model for our agency’s services is a strategic and efficient approach. This model is well-suited for one-off services and well-defined deliverables, making it a great option for new agencies seeking retainer-based clients.

To implement this model, we first estimate the number of hours required to complete the project. We then multiply this by our agency’s resources giving us a baseline cost for the project. Next, we consider any additional expenses that may arise, such as materials or specialized services, in order to understand the total expected costs.

This pricing model is not only transparent and easy for clients to understand, but it also allows us to provide accurate quotes and manage our resources effectively. It also provides clients with a sense of security by knowing the exact cost of the project upfront.

By utilizing a flat fee or fixed fee pricing model, we can streamline our billing processes and focus on delivering high-quality results without the complications of hourly billing. This makes our agency more appealing to clients looking for clear and predictable pricing for their projects.

Some of our flat/fixed fee services include:

Monthly reporting where you can use our high-end software to keep track of your website health and keyword rankings.

PPC management for a single campaign.

Website hosting

CRM and communications via SMS and email

Why Our Strategies Work For Your Local Business

Appear #1 in “near me” searches when buyers are actively looking

 Turn high-intent clicks into calls, appointments & foot traffic

Slash wasted ad spend by targeting only ready-to-buy prospects

Keep leads warm with timely social & remarketing campaigns

Working Process

Simple Step Follow to Complete Work

Discovery & Strategy

We meet with you to understand your goals, competition, and target audience.

Campaign Design

We build a customized plan, including SEO, PPC, web design, or content
— tailored to your buyer’s intent.

Launch & Optimize

Our team launches campaigns, optimizes in real-time, and fixes technical issues (like site speed
or SEO errors).

Track & Report

We monitor keyword rankings, traffic growth, conversions, and provide monthly reports —
so you see the ROI.

Digital Marketing Agency FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Digital Marketing Agencies

Digital marketing agencies are specialized firms that help businesses promote their products and services online. They use a variety of digital channels such as search engines, social media, email, and websites to connect with current and prospective customers. These agencies focus on creating and implementing marketing strategies tailored to the digital landscape.

Digital marketing agencies typically offer a wide range of services, including Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising, social media management and marketing, content creation and marketing, email marketing, website design and development, and analytics and reporting. Some agencies also offer additional services like influencer marketing, online reputation management, and conversion rate optimization.

A digital agency can help your business by increasing online visibility, driving targeted traffic to your website, enhancing brand awareness, and improving lead generation and sales. They use data-driven strategies to reach your target audience effectively and measure the impact of marketing efforts, ensuring a better return on investment (ROI).

The best digital marketing companies are those that have a proven track record of success, a strong reputation in the industry, and a portfolio of satisfied clients. Some well-known names include HubSpot, Ogilvy, and NP Digital. However, the “best” agency can vary based on your specific business needs and goals. Not many local businesses can afford those agencies, so that is where Next Step Connect comes in.

To choose the right digital marketing agency, start by defining your marketing goals and budget. Look for agencies with experience in your industry and with businesses of your size. Review their case studies and client testimonials. Schedule consultations to assess their understanding of your needs and their ability to communicate effectively.

Consider factors such as the agency’s experience and expertise in your industry, the range of services offered, their approach to digital marketing, their use of data and analytics, client reviews and testimonials, and their pricing structure. Also, consider the cultural fit and their willingness to work as an extension of your team.

Costs can vary widely depending on the services required, the agency’s expertise, and the project’s complexity. Some agencies charge a flat fee for specific services, while others may work on a retainer or performance-based model. Costs can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per month.

In-house marketing involves managing your marketing efforts with your own team, giving you more direct control but often limiting the range of expertise. Hiring an online marketing company provides access to a team of experts with diverse skills and tools, often leading to more innovative strategies and a broader scope of services.

Current trends include the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning for personalized marketing, increased focus on video content, voice search optimization, interactive content, influencer marketing, and an emphasis on user experience (UX) and customer journey mapping.

Success can be measured through various metrics such as website traffic, lead generation, conversion rates, social media engagement, search engine rankings, and overall ROI. Set clear goals and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) at the beginning of your partnership and regularly review these metrics to assess the agency’s performance.

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In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, Next Step Connect is here to help answer any additional inquiries and provide expert guidance for your specific business needs. We know this is a lot of information to take in, so please reach out to us about your digital marketing project.