Blogs, webinars and long reads from Insites

Google just released generative AI for creating people in ads, and it's a game-changer for digital marketing agencies. This post breaks down how this feature helps your sales team close more deals, removes creative barriers for SMBs, and transforms the ad creation process. Learn specific ways to leverage this update to upsell ad services to your clients and position your agency as cutting-edge AI experts.

The problem for SMBs: Price wars and lost connections You might need to hold your clients hands when breaking this news because this isn't great news for small businesses. Here's why: Price becomes everything When services are presented side-by-side with only price and availability shown, businesses are forced to compete solely on price. This is especially problematic for service businesses that differentiate on quality, experience, or specialised expertise. Personal connections disappear 42.4% of Millennials and 55.9% of Boomers still rely on Google Search first when discovering products (according to GRIN survey data). But with this new feature, traditional direct phone conversations where businesses could build rapport and communicate value could vanish. Workload increases while conversion drops Business staff have to handle these AI calls like any other inquiry, but with: Zero information about the potential customer Likelihood of lower conversion due to price-shopping No opportunity to qualify the lead Potential for spam abuse (competitors wasting staff time) Now none of this ideal for SMBs, but it’s happening. So that’s where your sales team come in - they’re there to help them compete, rather than lose out based on ranking. This changes everything for your sales team If you're selling digital marketing solutions to SMBs, "Ask for Me" just handed you an incredible opportunity. Here's why your sales agents using Insites should be excited: 1. Creates genuine urgency that closes deals Unlike other Google updates that might seem abstract, this feature represents a tangible, easy-to-understand shift in how consumers find businesses. When you get prospects to understand that: Only top-ranked businesses will receive these automated calls Their competitors might already be getting these leads Businesses with no clear differentiators will get trapped in brutal price wars Suddenly, digital marketing services become an urgent necessity rather than a "nice to have." 2. Local SEO becomes critical If Google only calls businesses from the top Local Finder results, ranking well isn't just about visibility anymore - it's about being included in automated lead generation. Your sales agents can use Insites to: Show exactly where prospects rank in local search Use Local Grid to demonstrate which competitors are likely receiving these calls instead Quantify the potential revenue impact of missing these leads Create data-driven proposals with clear ROI potential 3. Opens new service opportunities "Ask for Me" creates specific new needs for SMBs that your team can address: AI-Readiness Audits : Only 18.8% of Gen Z consumers use Google as their primary product discovery tool (compared to 30.4% using Instagram and 23.2% using TikTok). But Google's new AI features could change those numbers dramatically. Sales agents can offer: Technical optimisation for AI crawlers Schema markup implementation Page speed improvements (critical for AI indexing) Local business metadata optimisation Differentiation Strategies : Help businesses stand out when traditional differentiators are removed through: Review management (star ratings become even more important) Content strategies that communicate unique value propositions Website optimisation for conversion once customers engage directly Response Protocols : Prepare businesses for handling these new AI-generated inquiries with: Staff training programs Scripts that effectively communicate value beyond price Follow-up strategies to convert price-shoppers How to use Insites to prepare clients Your sales team can leverage Insites to help SMBs prepare for this new reality with concrete, actionable steps: Run comprehensive local audits to identify where businesses stand in local search rankings. Analyse competitor performance using the Local Grid to understand who's receiving these automated calls. Identify specific optimisation opportunities across Google Business Profile, local citations, reviews and more. Create ongoing monitoring plans to track performance as AI features evolve. This is a sales opportunity, not a threat While "Ask for Me" creates challenges for SMBs, it represents a massive opportunity for digital marketing providers who can help businesses adapt. Your job? Nurture them through the shift. The local businesses that will thrive aren't those with the lowest prices—they're the ones working with solution providers to optimise SEO and AI search results. And that's exactly what Insites equips your team to deliver. To learn more about how Insites helps sales team, book a call with us today ! 👋 Happy selling

How customer reviews impact SMBs and how your sales teams can help with digital marketing solutions.

What impact does social media search have on small-medium businesses and how can digital marketing solution providers leverage social media upselling in their pitch

The framework and step-by-step method for train sales teams quicker and more efficiently

AI-powered website audits are bringing cold calling back, particularly for enterprise digital marketing sales teams. The post How AI-powered website audits are transforming cold calls appeared first on Insites.

Is your enterprise sales team struggling to sell digital marketing solutions to SMB prospects? Minimise the complexity; here are the 7 metrics that will help them sell. The post 7 digital marketing metrics your enterprise sales team needs to close more deals appeared first on Insites.

If managing the sales process is one of your biggest challenges, ask yourself: what could be automated? Too often, mid-large agencies with extensive sales teams let their sale reps spend more time on admin tasks, internal meetings, and lead qualifying, rather than on delivering value to customers. But remember: people buy from people. Your sales […] The post The growing need for sales automation in agencies appeared first on Insites.

Forget our usual sales and productivity hacks – this week we’re doing something different… You might be wondering why we’ve been highlighting small businesses this week as part of our Anti-Black Friday campaign on LinkedIn. Let me give you some context… Insites is a SaaS tool but our founder Andrew created Insites with a genuine […] The post Anti-Black Friday – 25 small & sustainable businesses to support instead appeared first on Insites.

A few years ago, one of my favourite independent jewellery brands, Cult of Youth, felt the need to put a post out on Instagram about why they’re not doing Black Friday. The justifications were as expected; they already had tight margins, they couldn’t cope with increased volume because they were a one-woman band, and so […] The post Why this Black Friday you should support small instead appeared first on Insites.

You’ve got people around you banging the drum about “sales productivity” and how crucial it is for agencies, right? But why does this buzzword dominate the agency world so frequently? The simple answer: it drives conversions. End of the story? Not quite! There’s so much more to explore. Agencies often get bogged down by ad-hoc […] The post How to Improve Your Agency’s Sales Productivity and Conversion Scores appeared first on Insites.

Introduction Is your LinkedIn also flooded with personal branding tips, hacks, and how-to guides? It’s become a hot topic, and for good reason — more professionals are realising its potential. A personal brand is a reflection of who you are, what you stand for, and what you want the world to remember about you. When […] The post 6 Tips for Building a Personal Brand to Grow Agency Awareness appeared first on Insites.

Whether your niche is niche, or hyper niche, the difference between creating content, and creating great content for your agency's niche market, is what impacts how you rank on search engines, win traffic, and generate leads. So, how do you make great content? The post How to make great content for your agency’s niche market appeared first on Insites.

Introduction: The Importance of Consistency in Sales Processes If you’re reading this, chances are your agency is doing well. You’ve built a strong brand, established a solid client base and delivered results. Now, it’s time to shift gears and scale up. With the sales process, you can achieve consistent growth and expand your agency effectively. […] The post How to create a consistent sales process for your agency appeared first on Insites.

Are you servicing clients who are selling products online? An Insites audit checks any business’s full online presence – including social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and now Pinterest! What is the Pinterest Check? The new Pinterest check within our audit tool identifies if a business has an active Pinterest account. This will help […] The post Online presence audits, now with Pinterest appeared first on Insites.

Discover how to prepare your agency for a profitable exit. Learn how refining processes, optimising a tech stack, and scaling sales can maximise your agency's value. The post How to Prepare Your Agency for Your Exit Strategy appeared first on Insites.

This feature will mostly benefit SEO folk who put the work in to optimise a client’s reach in search engines. This feature works alongside other tacking features, and gives SEO production teams a clear and broad understanding of their work at a glance. Plus, sales teams can use it show clients how their website has developed visually overtime. The post Track on-page SEO with Website Screenshot History appeared first on Insites.

The power of the upsell – where do we start? Using the relationship you have with existing agency clients to boost revenue, deepen that relationship and making them more ‘sticky’ in the process is the power we’re talking about. Sticking power! Upselling isn’t possible with every client, as they have budgets to stick to and […] The post How to upsell to your existing agency clients appeared first on Insites.

The goals for each digital marketing agency varies, but the most common ones are to scale the business, grow teams and build a loyal client base. The post Improving Productivity in Your Digital Marketing Agency with Automated Tools appeared first on Insites.

Looking to grow your pipeline, but struggling with cold outreach? Here's how to use free online audits to hook your prospects. The post How to use free audits as a lead generation tool for your marketing agency appeared first on Insites.

What is local SEO, and why is it important? We dive into the importance of local SEO for small businesses and what tactics to use to improve local SEO ranking. The post What is local SEO? appeared first on Insites.

Discover how your digital marketing agency can leverage AI to empower small businesses with personalised strategies! The post AI Essentials for Digital Marketing Agencies: A Guide to Enhancing Small Business Strategies appeared first on Insites.

What is an SEO audit? An SEO audit includes finding and fixing content, scanning keyword optimisation, identifying opportunities and more. The post What is an SEO audit? appeared first on Insites.

As an agency, there are several steps you can take to help you optimise your client's eCommerce site, and how you can deliver impact. The post How Agencies Can Optimise Client eCommerce Sites appeared first on Insites.

Google Consent Mode v2 is the latest move from Google to be compliant in the EU. But what does that mean for your small business? The post Why Google Consent Mode v2 is important for your small business appeared first on Insites.

Welcome back for part two! In our last post we explored 4 of the key aspects of mastering Local SEO for your clients, why they’re important and the impact they have on your clients business success. This week we’re diving into the following points and the actions you can take, to make sure your agency […] The post Location, Location, Location: A Deep Dive into Local SEO Best Practices – Pt 2 appeared first on Insites.

The Digital Services Act is now a legal requirement, but what do you need to know to make sure your clients are compliant? The post Navigating the Digital Services Act: What business owners need to know appeared first on Insites.

Mastering the art of Local SEO is essential for succes in the local markets. Read on to find out what's most important. The post Location, Location, Location: A Deep Dive into Local SEO Best Practices – Pt 1 appeared first on Insites.

Scaling your agency is no easy feat; with challenges from clients and competitors abound, it’s important to understand how to navigate the world when scaling your business. In this blog post, we're strapping on our growth mindset and diving into strategies that not only navigate the hurdles but also propel your agency to new heights. The post Agency Growth Strategies: Navigating Challenges and Scaling Your Business appeared first on Insites.

I’m sure that you’re very familiar with the fact that one of the biggest challenges you’ll face with having a transactional site is converting visitors and getting them to buy. This is one of the biggest pain points for anyone selling online, so today we’re diving head first into 7 ways you can maximise the […] The post From Browsing to Buying: Maximising the Impact of Transactional Sites appeared first on Insites.

Verticalisation is a strategy that requires a deep dive into your segments, but the results it yields can significantly grow brand presence. The post Verticalisation strategies to elevate your brand to new heights appeared first on Insites.

Networking plays a crucial role in growing a digital agency's reach. You develop and maintain relationships with various contacts in your industry through networking. Read our blog post to find out how to network effectively. The post The Power of Networking: How to Expand Your Agency’s Reach appeared first on Insites.

Welcome back! 👋 In part one, we looked at what AI has seen so far in the last 7 decades, how AI is propelling personalisation in marketing, how you’ll be speaking to AI through chatbots more than ever, and how you’ll be leaning on AI to automate your agency’s social media. Today in part two, […] The post AI in 2024: Navigating the Landscape of Intelligent Marketing Strategies part 2 appeared first on Insites.

Let's take a look a what's to come int he world of AI in 2024 - Buckle up! Here's part 1 The post AI in 2024: Navigating the Landscape of Intelligent Marketing Strategies appeared first on Insites.

Freelancing and prospecting at the same time is hard. So we’re giving you insights into the art of reeling in those high-paying clients in the ever-evolving world of digital marketing. The post How to Attract High-Paying Clients as a Freelance Digital Marketer appeared first on Insites.

Freelancers know better than anyone that clients are your bread and butter! We put together 7 top tips for finding clients to help elevate your freelance business. The post Top Tips for Finding Freelance Clients appeared first on Insites.

In the dynamic realm of advertising, the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) is transforming the way agencies operate. So let us take you on a stroll through the impact of these technologies on the future of advertising and exploring the cool strategies agencies are adopting to stay ahead. The post Navigating the ad world: AI and ML insights for agencies appeared first on Insites.

Learn how to provide the most value by looking through your client's lens when it comes to searching for digital marketing services The post The Client’s Perspective: What Businesses Look for in a Successful Agency appeared first on Insites.

Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, a budding blogger, or a corporate giant, establishing a robust digital presence requires a strategic approach to content creation. In this blog post, we'll explore the importance of content creation and delve into various services that can help you craft compelling and engaging content for your website. The post Unleashing the Power of Content Creation: Elevating Your Digital Presence appeared first on Insites.

So your small agency has gotten off the ground, the sales are coming in and you’re doing good. But could you be doing great? It’s an amazing feat making consistent sales and steady income but it’s a good idea to up the ranks and start boosting your sales performance & processes to ensure the future […] The post 7 Strategies to Boost Your Agency Sales Performance appeared first on Insites.

In part one of this long read, we covered the key elements of project management in agencies, who should lead your projects, and how to navigate goal setting and project scheduling. In part 2, we look at the other side of the project management process; managing clients and adapting to challenges, plus how to use agile methodologies to keep your projects progressing as you planned. The post The Art of Effective Project Management in Agency Settings (Part 2) appeared first on Insites.

The art of effective project management starts with working with an finding the best project manager - and yes, that can be found in-house. The post The art of effective project management in agency settings (Part 1) appeared first on Insites.

Sales pitches are the first impression you can never redo. Master your sales pitch and make sure it's a cut above the rest! The post Mastering the Sales Pitch: Techniques to Win Over Clients appeared first on Insites.

Innovation and creative thinking can unlock a growth mindset in agencies. But how? We dig into the impact of unlocking creativity for agencies in this must-read for all agency owners. The post Unlocking creativity: strategies for inspiring innovation in agencies appeared first on Insites.

Social shopping has many benefits that your agency clients may be missing out on. If you haven't considered including Social shopping in your service offerings - here's your sign! The post How to roll out social shopping for your clients appeared first on Insites.

When it comes to streamlining your internal lead qualification processes, it’s well worth employing the well-established BANT methodology. In this blog, we break down what exactly is BANT and how to use it in your agency’s lead qualification process. The post How to use BANT sales qualification model in your agency appeared first on Insites.

Have more meaningful conversations with prospects by ditching the jargon when discussing SEO. The post How to ditch the jargon without sacrificing impact when talking about SEO appeared first on Insites.

Discover effective ways to display your expertise with a data-heavy audit report & how to differentiate yourself with the manual checks. The post How to display your expertise with a data-heavy audit report appeared first on Insites.

Digital marketing agencies are always looking to sell more. But one thing could be holding you back - (a lack of) audits. The post How to sell digital marketing solutions with site audits appeared first on Insites.