THE SMIRK DIFFERENCE
Let’s face it, agencies don’t have a great reputation. From the beginning, Smirk set out to be different. We challenge ourselves to meet our highest virtues while avoiding some of the violations that make the business community skeptical of agency partners. This mission is what we call the Smirk Difference.
VIRTUES
Transparency
You’ll know who we are and what we are working on for your brand. And you’ll be able to see the real results of our efforts.
Creativity
We are storytellers at heart. The internet has gifted us with many dynamic ways to tell your tale to your customers — through words, photos, videos and graphics. We also have a bimonthly brainstorming session, called Smirkstorm, for upcoming client campaigns.
Honesty
Is your website bad? We’ll tell you. Did we make a mistake? We’ll tell you. Should your business be active on every platform we offer? Probably not. Truth is important. Heck, we even put real photos of our real people on the website.
Connection
Our team is available to you. Email us about the text you sent about your phone call. We’re there for you.
Diversity
Different voices, opinions and ideas make the best strategies. We intentionally seek out new Smirkers who will bring different perspectives in addition to their skills. Our team will look like our community and that will benefit our clients.
VIOLATIONS
Tricks
We don’t do fake followers, bogus reviews and black hat SEO tricks. We don’t use your accounts to boost the vanity metrics of our other clients.
Noise
We won’t fill your platform with irrelevant content. No National Puppy Days, Kim Kardashian quotes of the day or infographics that belong in a greeting card will be part of our strategy.
Waste
We won’t waste your money or make you spend more than you should. We separate your ad spend from the cost of our services, so you have full control over that budget. Our goal is to be good stewards of your investment.
Obligations
We don’t lock your business into a punishing contract. You own your platforms and your content. If you want a new direction, give us 30 days notice and we’ll part as friends.
Upcharging
We won’t charge you for our mistakes. Don’t worry, you’ll never get a call in the middle of the month asking for more hours or money. It’s our job to manage our hours well and be upfront about what we will accomplish within the time we have.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why are you guys called Smirk?
I need digital marketing help. How exactly does this work?
Who will be working on my account?
How often can I expect to receive progress updates from my strategist?
How do I determine my digital ad budget?
As an external agency, how can you fully understand my company’s core values and mission?
We’ve honed a unique process, called the Content Conversation, to not only understand your company’s voice and mission but to ensure they’re reflected in our work. We listen for the big and small things that make your brand special. The result is a custom strategy tailored to your business.
Still skeptical? Check out the Smirk Difference for a list of our own company values.
How does Smirk measure client success?
Can I expect a good return on investment from digital marketing and social media?
Unlike the dollars you may spend on TV, radio or outdoor advertising, Smirk can tell you the cost per every customer action, who those customers were, where they live, what they did and when they did it. We deliver a monthly report to each client outlining all digital efforts and the plan moving forward. Smirk’s goal is to be a good steward with our client’s budgets every step of the way.
What can I expect from my long-term partnership with Smirk?
Can I just manage my digital marketing myself?
Yep. You sure can. If you’re an owner, you also need to run your business, sell your product, manage your team and, you know, eat and sleep. If you’re an internal marketing pro, you know developing a strategy, monitoring every platform, managing ad campaigns and producing content is too much for one person to handle — that’s why we have a team.
Hiring Smirk gives you access to a group of experienced, innovative pros. We keep track of the latest digital marketing trends, dream up new campaigns and immerse ourselves in real-time metrics, so you don’t have to. Your time is valuable. Imagine your day-to-day schedule without worrying about posting on Facebook, updating your website, running ads on Google or reading through all the news on platform changes. We’ll provide consistency and peace of mind.
Why should I invest in digital vs. traditional?
What social media platforms should my company be active on?
While we recommend that every organization utilize Facebook, everything else depends on the audience you’re trying to reach. If you’re a B2B company, LinkedIn is a great idea. If you’re looking to engage with other industry organizations and hop into relevant conversations in real time, Twitter might be for you.
Our comprehensive Content Conversation and auditing process will help us collectively determine where your brand can shine online.
Why do I need a Facebook presence? Aren't people fleeing for other social platforms?
Facebook continues to have the largest daily social media audience and, no matter the rumors, every demographic is still largely present. Depending on your industry and target buyer, we may recommend spending more time on another platform, but don’t completely count Facebook out. In many ways, Facebook is the modern phone book.
I know a guy that says he can make me a logo and run some ads, isn’t that just as good?
The critical differences between that guy and Smirk: strategy, technical training and best practices. We tailor your branding and online presence to match your vision. You can expect time, care, research and genuine thought to be put into everything we complete.
There are always easy solutions and workarounds, but you can usually expect your return to match your resources and investment.
Have a question we didn't cover?
KEEP UP WITH SMIRK