Created 1,500+ articles for clients in industries such as insurance, financial planning, travel, wedding, food and beverage, fashion, and home decor 
Despite our impressive track record of helping ecommerce brands grow, we’re not here to say that Intergrowth® is the all-time best content agency for ecommerce businesses.
The fact is that every ecommerce business is different, as is every agency. Not every great agency will be the right agency for you.
Looking to hire your first content marketing agency or shift away from your current one? Here are some questions you can ask to find the best content agency for your ecommerce business.
Does the Agency Have Ecommerce Case Studies?
Client reviews and on-site testimonials are a great way to get a sense of what other businesses think about an agency, but case studies can provide you with far more valuable information.
A case study can do a lot of things. It might highlight a specific SEO strategy an agency uses to drive traffic and revenue, or it might explain how they tailor solutions for different types of clients.
We regularly publish case studies on our website to give readers a look at some of the amazing clients we’ve partnered with and the successes we’ve shared. If an agency can’t provide you with case studies from current or former clients, ask yourself why.
How Much Experience Does the Agency Have in Ecommerce Content Marketing?
Just because one agency has more years of experience than another doesn’t mean it’s the better choice for your business. It’s more important to look for an agency that has a proven track record of high-quality content creation and experience with the ecommerce platform that you use.
Whether you publish on Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, or elsewhere, all platforms have technical limitations and unique challenges, so it’s helpful to select an agency that knows the platform and its pitfalls.
Related: How to Find the Best Shopify SEO Agency Partner for Your Business
Can the Agency Explain Its Process in Language That You Understand?
It’s essential that ecommerce retailers ask lots of questions when hiring an agency for. But it won’t be a very successful vetting if you don’t understand what they’re saying.
When we speak with new clients, we explain our processes and services in clear language that anyone new to content marketing can understand. Whether you’re hiring your first agency or looking to switch from your old one, we know that being clear, concise, and jargon-free is the best way to demonstrate how we can help your business grow.
What Does the Agency Expect Results to Look Like After 3, 6, and 12 Months of Partnership?
If an agency tells you that your investment in content marketing will produce measurable results overnight, look elsewhere. It takes time for content marketing and SEO to generate ROI.
At Intergrowth®, we let our clients know how much growth they can expect and when. While every client has different results, you can expect to see minimal growth during months 1 to 3, gradual growth during months 4 to 6, and exponential growth after that.
Can the Agency Explain the ROI of Their Ecommerce Content Marketing Services?
The ROI of content marketing can be difficult to calculate, as content generates tons of indirect value. Great content can drive traffic to your website via higher rankings in search engines, but not result in sales (at least not yet).
Keep in mind that hiring an experienced agency to handle content marketing can be more cost-effective than hiring an in-house marketer, running frequent paid ads, or investing in mega or macro-influencer marketing. Keeping such marketing costs low while investing in content marketing can help boost your ROI overall.
For an in-depth look at the many ways to calculate the ROI of SEO, read The ROI of SEO in the AI Era.
Who Will Be Your Primary Point of Contact at the Agency?
The bigger the digital marketing agency, the more likely your point of contact will be an account manager who understands sales and customer service more than content marketing. That means it can take time to have questions answered, as the account manager may have to consult with the marketing team to provide you with in-depth answers.
The Intergrowth® approach is different.
Every ecommerce client we work with is assigned a designated content strategist who works directly with the writers, editors, publishers, and other members of our team. Your strategist will not only develop, implement, and oversee your strategy, but they will also be your main point of contact at the agency and the person you meet with in monthly reporting calls.
How Much Time Does the Agency Need from You Each Month?
Every ecommerce marketing agency works a little differently, but many agencies expect clients to devote at least ten hours per week to their search engine optimization efforts.
At Intergrowth®, we understand that not every ecommerce business has the time or staff availability to contribute that much to content marketing. Some are very hands-on with content, while others let us handle it so they can focus on other aspects of their business.
We encourage clients to be as involved as they want to be.
Does the Agency Provide Transparency into Their Work?
When vetting a content marketing and SEO agency, look for one that maintains full transparency into their process and results.
At Intergrowth®, we do that through our custom client portal called Growth Hub (watch a walkthrough here). In Growth Hub, clients can view the status and progress of every piece of content we’re working on.
Learn about the ecommerce content marketing strategy we use to grow SMBs into industry leaders.
Has the Agency Worked with Ecommerce Businesses of Your Size?
Large ecommerce marketplaces have very different content needs than niche small businesses that only sell a few products. It’s best to invest in SEO services with an agency that has experience in working with businesses of your size.
The Intergrowth® digital marketing team works with ecommerce brands that have as few as five products in their online store to businesses with well over 15,000 variants or more.
Does the Agency Specialize in Content Marketing for Your Industry?
There are pros and cons to hiring a content marketing company that specializes in your industry vs. hiring an agency that works with a broad range of ecommerce businesses.
The benefit of hiring an agency in your niche is that they’ll have a deeper understanding of your target audience and your business model. They won’t have to spend as much time learning about your industry at the start of the partnership.
The benefit of hiring an agency that works with multiple industries is that they may be aware of SEO strategies and ideas that competitors in your niche aren’t privy to. This can give you the edge over your competition and provide game-changing insight into what other successful ecommerce businesses are doing.
Can the Agency Explain How AI Factors into Their Approach?
The best ecommerce customer acquisition agencies account for the growing role of AI in customers’ lives. And while agencies like Intergrowth® don’t use AI to create content, many are using it to steer content in different directions.
Full-funnel marketing services are still important, but the advent of AI has had a significant negative impact on how top-of-funnel content performs. This has impacted click rates and online sales generated from top-ranking search results.
At Intergrowth®, we’re putting more focus on middle-of-funnel content, which (at least for now) is the most strategic way to drive organic traffic from customers in the awareness stage.
When vetting content marketing agencies, ask them to provide you with some specific examples of how they’re using AI or how it has affected their processes.
Related reading: How Are Ecommerce Businesses Using AI?
Can the Agency Explain When Investing in Content Marketing Is the Wrong Decision?
While we hate to tell clients that content marketing might not be the best way to spend their money, it’s true. Sometimes, it makes more sense for businesses to invest elsewhere.
For example, if you have a brand-new website and a limited marketing budget, PPC ads might help to grow your traffic faster. If you need web development help because a poor user experience is driving visitors away, content marketing might take a backseat to UX/UI improvements.
There are many instances when content marketing isn’t the right choice now, but it’s an essential aspect of marketing that every ecommerce brand should consider for the future.
Ready to learn more about developing content that can help grow your business? We’d love to talk!
Intergrowth helps D2C and B2C businesses get more customers through SEO, content marketing, and Meta Ads. We can help you turn your website into a sales machine that consistently brings in new customers.
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