Hi all, my business partner and I operate small renovation & design company in GTA and most of our work comes from people updating kitchens, improving condos, doing home upgrades etc. For a long time, referrals kept us busy enough, but inquiries have dropped recently, so curently we’re starting to consider whether paying for proper digital marketing would make sense.
We’ve already tried handling some of it ourselves: posted on social media, kept our Google profile active, tested a few paid campaigns on Meta - but none of it brought in much quality work. We also put money into a couple of traditional local advertising options, including print and a community event, but the return also was pretty weak.
At this point we’re researching agencies that offer online marketing for Toronto/GTA area, but choosing one feels difficult. Almost every agency says they’re among the top SEO firms in Canada, and it’s hard to separate people with real experience from ones who just strong at pitching services... We’d rather hear from other business owners than rely on agency claims.
Anyone who has hired SEO professionals or a local digital marketing company, was it worthwhile? Did you notice an improvement in lead quality or volume? How long did it take before anything changed (if something changed)? Also, what signs helped you recognize a trustworthy agency, and what warning signs should we watch out for?
PLs no promotional messages or DMs, I’m just hoping to hear experiences from dudes who have already gone through this.