Winning International Clients for Your Digital Marketing Agency [5 Key Strategies Included]
Expanding your digital marketing agency to attract international clients? That’s where the real growth opportunities lie. Not only can it boost your revenue, but it also lets you diversify your portfolio and tap into exciting new markets. But let’s face it—landing international clients for digital marketing from regions like Europe, Canada, or Australia isn’t always easy.
No need to worry, though. We’re here to walk you through proven strategies to break into these markets and overcome the challenges that come with going global.
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How to Get International Clients for Digital Marketing
The key to expanding your digital marketing agency beyond borders lies in understanding where to focus your efforts and how to create strategies for international growth. It might seem daunting, but it’s not impossible. Here are some practical steps that go beyond basic market research:
Identify Potential Marketing for Expansion
Reaching a more global audience begins with more than just pinpointing high-growth regions. You need to align your agency’s strengths with the market’s specific needs. Rather than focusing only on broad markets, dig deeper into niche industries within those regions. For instance, Europe, Canada, and Australia offer strong opportunities, but it’s important to consider industries in these regions that are still underserved by digital marketing services.
A Statista analysis projects that between 2024 and 2028, digital advertising spending in Europe alone will increase by 6.04%, reaching a market size of $161.2 billion in 2028. Countries like the UK and Germany are appealing because they have large, tech-savvy populations that are in need of specialized services.
- An actionable tip to identify potential markets is to develop targeted lead generation strategies adjusted to each market’s needs.
Take Australia, for example. The hospitality industry there is going through a major digital transformation. Meanwhile, in Canada, retail is shifting heavily toward eCommerce. You can use insights like these to adjust your services and create pitches that fit each market’s specific needs. Market research can also help you spot which industries are seeing the most digital growth in each country.
Establish International Credibility
To attract clients internationally, you need to show your expertise, yes, but you also need to show your ability to work across borders.
Trust is huge – 81% of customers need to trust a brand before they’ll make a purchase. This, in fact, applies to agencies looking to find clients for digital marketing internationally. Because if a brand doesn’t trust your agency, they wouldn’t want to invest time and money for their marketing needs. Thus, establishing credibility is critical. Without a solid reputation, breaking into global markets can be a tough battle.
Ways to build credibility? Here are they:
- Highlight your past work and display case studies on your agency website.
- It’s also smart to earn internationally recognized certifications, like becoming a Google Partner or Hubspot Partner. These certifications show that your agency meets global standards.
- Another great move is joining well-known agency directories, like Digital Agency Network (DAN). They’ve got a strong global reputation and only list top-tier agencies, which can give you an extra credibility boost.
- And don’t forget about testimonials. Sure, case studies are important, but video testimonials or quotes from clients—especially from different countries—can instantly build trust with potential international clients.
Overcome Language and Cultural Barriers
Language and cultural differences can be a real challenge when working with clients from different countries. That’s why localization is so important. Your digital marketing services need to resonate with each target market. Did you know that 75% of customers prefer to buy products in their native language? That same preference applies to business connections, too. So, it’s crucial that your agency adapts its communication for different regions.
- Invest in Localization: Do not just translate your website. Each and every content such as marketing materials -blog posts, case studies, and even email campaigns – must be localized.
- Hire Native Speakers: If necessary, consider hiring native speakers or working with local consultants to refine your content. This way, you can make sure your messaging aligns with the cultural preferences of each market you’re targeting.
- Use Hyper-localized content marketing: Adjust not only the language of your content but also the tone, style, and even the humor to fit each market.
- Add multilingual chatbots or customer support to your website: This goes beyond static translations and can instantly build trust with potential clients. It is helpful for getting international clients for web development, where technical questions need detailed explanations, often best delivered in their native language. With customer feedback solutions, businesses can gain valuable insights into customer satisfaction and identify areas for improvement.
- Cultural Immersion Training: Before reaching out to international clients, make sure your sales and account management teams understand the local customs and business etiquette.
- Localize Your SEO Strategy: Incorporate localized keywords that potential clients might search for, such as “digital marketing agency in [country]” or “[service] providers in [country].” This will help your agency rank higher in local searches and make it easier for international clients to find you.
Find International Clients by Using Digital Platforms
We must say that finding international clients for your digital marketing agency has never been easier – if you know where to look. Right digital platforms can open doors to clients across borders and will help your agency expand its reach.
- Yes, be active on platforms like LinkedIn, because they’re ideal spaces to publish content that addresses region-specific marketing challenges. But don’t just post and hope for the best – take it a step further by optimizing your profile for international clients.
- Actively participate in online global events and industry-specific webinars.
- Join directories and be active on agency marketplaces. DAN’s digital marketing and advertising marketplace, for instance, is designed to connect brands with agencies from all over the world, making it a perfect platform to get clients and international exposure.
Customize Your Services for International Customers
Each country has unique regulations, market dynamics, and naturally, consumer behaviors. If you’re aiming to successfully find clients for digital marketing, you need to customize your services to the specific needs of these regions. 61% of consumers are prepared to pay more for a product or service when it provides a personalized experience. This means your agency must go beyond language adjustments to get international clients.
You can offer:
- Region-specific packages.
- Localized pricing structures.
- Service packages to industry-specific needs.
- Localized service contracts.
- Multi-language client onboarding.
Conclusion
Expanding your agency internationally is a major opportunity to grow and evolve. The key is to adapt these approaches to your agency’s strengths and the needs of different markets. But remember that they are not just limited to digital marketing agencies. In fact, they apply just as effectively to other agency types, such as web development agencies. No matter your niche, the important thing here is to make real connections with international clients and provide services that resonate locally. You’ll be ready to capture clients across borders once you customize your services and stay proactive.
Ready to scale your agency and win clients worldwide? Let’s make it happen!
