The three finest analytics firms of 2020

You probably already know the importance of creativity in digital marketing.

However, coming up with great ideas – whether through content or ads – when it comes to getting results online is only part of the story.

Another important factor that amplifies your marketing efforts is the collection and use of data.

In other words, to be really successful with your digital marketing campaigns, you need to get the most out of the machine and human world.

But maybe you are not a data person. This is where hiring an analytics firm comes in – an option you may already be considering.

Before making this important decision, it is recommended that you arm yourself with the information that we have described in this article so that you can make the best choice for your needs.

The 6 characteristics that make a great analytics company

There are certain characteristics that you need to consider when choosing the right analytics company.

Not all agencies are created equal. It can be assumed that most companies are the best contributors to their customers, but there will always be differences in the results you get with each company.

Consider the following factors.

They offer a full range of marketing services

You may already have your marketing strategy under control and you may just need help understanding and using your data.

But how can a company help you use your data if it has no experience with what the data should be used for?

Data and analytics are all about improving your decision-making and informing your strategy. So if you are working with an agency to help you with this, they must have some real marketing problems.

Make sure the agency you want to work with offers other services besides analysis. This is a good indicator that the insights they are getting from your data actually mean something.

You have a strong technology stack

It goes without saying, but if a company promises to help you use data (technology), they likely have the technology to do it.

Your analytics partner should at least have their own proprietary platform that is used as a central point for your data.

At best, however, the partners will use more advanced technologies like machine learning to better understand the vast amount of data you have.

You will find that the best insights into your data come after the raw data has been analyzed by a machine and then understood by a human.

However, the quality of this initial analysis will depend on the quality of the technology your agency partner has developed.

You have an all-star team

Understanding your marketing data is not an easy task. It requires breadth and depth of skills and experience, all of which work together in a harmonious way.

Make sure to check the team on the About page and on LinkedIn, taking into account the following factors:

Diversity of skills – In order to understand data, a symbiosis between man and machine is required. A good agency will have social scientists (or marketers), data scientists, and statisticians.
Years of experience – How long has the team been active? What are their backgrounds? The more industries and companies they have seen, the higher the chance that their insights will be valuable.
Founder – The founders set the tone for the corporate culture. Try to find information about the founder's background to get a better understanding of how he performs his operations.

You have a strong customer list

One of the most objective ways to evaluate a business is to take a look at the customers they've worked with – and most importantly, the results they've got for them.

Keep these things in mind:

Similar customers – If an agency works mostly with Fortune 100 clients and you're a small startup, these chances are that they don't go well together. It is likely that their processes and expertise will be optimized for analyzing data on a large scale.
Transparent results – Can the analytics agency demonstrate the results they have obtained in the past?
Experience with your channels – It won't do you any good if the analytics company you want to work with specializes in advertising analytics and you have a content-driven strategy. Check for demonstrable results and insights into your specific channels.

You have a great style of communication

If you're a marketing director or a business owner, you probably aren't well trained in understanding and interpreting data.

In this case, the analytics company you are working with needs to be able to understand your data and also make it available so that you can actually use it.

To get an idea of this, look at how the company communicates with its audience.

Blog Posts – Does the agency create content and train its customers? Are they doing this in a clear and simple, but value-oriented way?
Visualizations – Does the agency appreciate data visualization? Do you have examples of how to visualize data in a user-friendly way?

You take a holistic approach to analytics

It is likely that your company has a lot of data to work with. Often, insights come from unlikely places, such as comparisons between apparently unrelated data sets.

In order to be able to use your data optimally, your analysis agency must map and design your entire data ecosystem.

You need to consider aspects of your business such as:

Customer Profiles – Your customers have common data points, e.g. B. demographic information, which can then be used, for example, to provide information about PPC targeting.
Marketing channels – Each marketing channel has its own set of data that needs to be analyzed. For example, social media has metrics like engagement and likes, while email marketing focuses more on open rates and click rates.
Website analysis – Your website has metrics that contain information on everything from design to marketing. This is where data points like website dwell time, page conversions, and heat map analysis come into play.

What to Expect from a Great Analytics Company

Every analytics company has its own process when working with clients.

However, the best analytics firms make sure that their process is tailored to your specific needs.

They will also go to great lengths to make sure you stay updated as much as possible.

Here's what you can expect when working with a great analytics company.

Onboarding and integration

At the beginning of your working relationship, your analytics partner should guide you through an onboarding process.

Great onboarding sets the stage for future success as it creates a solid foundation for your working relationship.

Manage expectations – Both you and your analytics partner should clearly outline the roles and responsibilities of your relationship at offset. Make sure you have all the details such as B. specify the communication hours.
Integrations and setup – Depending on your marketing channels, there may be different assets that your analytics partner needs to access, such as: B. your Facebook pixel. They also have to be integrated into the analysis platform.
Set goals – If you haven't already, then be sure to have a strategy call with your partner and set a strategy and timeline for the results.

Review of processes and assets

Before you proceed, your analytics partner should first conduct a review of your existing processes and databases.

Depending on your stage of the business, you likely already have data in place that could serve as a starting point.

Existing data across all channels – Your partner in an analysis agency consolidates all of your data across all channels and brings it to a single platform.
Set up tracking – In some cases, you may not have been tracking certain things. For example, if you don't have Google Analytics installed on your website, your partner will help you set it up.
Solve problems – You may have tried to use data and analytics with limited effect before. This could have been done on your own or through another partner. A full analysis of your previous attempts would need to be done to find out what went wrong and how you can get better results in the future.

Set up marketing channels

The best analytics company can offer you additional marketing services like PPC, content, and SEO.

The reason for this is simple: in order to better understand how to interpret the data and inform your strategy, your agency needs to have actual experience in executing a marketing strategy.

Some of the elements of your marketing strategy that your analytics partner should help with include:

PPC – Performance advertising like Google or Facebook ads requires a combination of analysis and creativity. Your partner will help you develop successful advertising ideas based on data.
SEO – Analyzing the best keywords for targeting as well as writing great content for search engine placement also reflect the importance of a holistic analytics partner.

Data management and reporting

Once your marketing campaigns are in full swing and the appropriate tracking tools are in place, the fun part begins.

Now is the time to look at all of the data that you have gathered.

If your agency partner is worth the money, consider viewing this data through their own proprietary software.

When this data is organized, analyzed and communicated, you will really see the quality difference between different analytical agencies.

Dashboard – When you log into your partner's platform you should be able to organize and navigate the various records for your marketing channels.
Analysis – Depending on the technology used, you might be able to get an instant insight into what your data means, or even compare it to other data sets in your industry.
Visualization – A powerful way to understand data is through visualization. Charts, graphs, and possibly even custom infographics should be provided by your partner.

Actionable insights and results

However, collecting raw data is not enough.

You need to understand this data in order for it to be useful.

Even though your analytics partner may have sophisticated number crunching technology, a human still needs to review everything and gain real insight.

At the end of the process, your analytics partner needs to tell you the real meaning of the numbers.

Tell stories – Together, you need to find out what the data is really telling you. It's easy to point out that one ad is performing better than the other, but why? How do you find the logic behind the data?
Strategy – Once you really understand the data, you need to turn that insight into a strategy. For example, you may find that your entire approach was wrong, or that there is an opportunity for a new product offering.
Execution – Ultimately, you need to put your new data-driven strategy into action – either through your own team or with the help of your analytics partner.

The top 3 analytics companies in the world

With so many service providers, it can be difficult to narrow down and ultimately choose one.

We've broken down the criteria that make a great analytics company and scoured dozens of companies to find the best agencies today.

Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, but regardless of who you work with, you are in good hands.

# 1 NP Digital – The best for marketing execution

NP Digital is a marketing and analytics company founded by Neil Patel who is arguably the most famous and influential figure in digital marketing.

The company was founded in 2017 and has over 44,000 followers on LinkedIn and over 100 employees. In addition to analytics, NP Digital also offers a wide range of digital marketing services.

Here's what makes NP Digital one of the best analytics companies in 2020:

Start-up competence – Neil Patel is a rock star in the digital marketing world who started out in space as a teenager in 2001. The agency he founded has his fingerprints all over the place, which means you're working with top-notch marketers and analysts.
Marketing Execution – NP Digital doesn't just help you understand your data. They offer a complete suite of marketing services, from PPC to SEO. Since digital marketing is the foundation of their business, you can expect great results when combined with their analytics services.
Great case studies – NP Digital often receives great reviews and has won great clients as evidence of their success. For example, one client said that "NP Digital is one of the few consulting firms that are worth the fee".
Reporting in the press – Neil Patel himself has been recognized as one of the most influential marketers of our generation by Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and the United Nations.
Education – NP Digital regularly produces educational content on all topics of digital marketing. This carries over to their customer relationships, in which they position themselves as teachers and not just as partners.

Who should work with NP Digital?

If you need help with marketing execution in addition to data analysis, you can't go wrong with Neil Patel Digital.

The company was founded by one of the most renowned personalities in the digital marketing world. So when you work with his agency, take advantage of his years of knowledge.

This comes at a cost, of course, so Neil Patel Digital is best suited for clients with a larger marketing budget.

Their customers include companies like Viacom, Facebook and even Google.

So, if you're running a marketing team in a large company and you need a comprehensive marketing and analytics partner, check out Neil Patel Digital.

Artifact # 2 – The best for technology

Artefact describes itself as "marketing engineers" and places special emphasis on the technology behind digital marketing.

In keeping with this identity, they have developed a powerful suite of technologies to help their customers turn their data into business value.

Artefact works company-wide to use data and to use the entire value chain of operations, IT and marketing.

Here's what makes Artefact one of the top analytics companies in 2020:

Technology stack – Artefact leverages some of the latest advances in AI and machine learning to create custom algorithms that organizations can use to accelerate data transformation and streamline their business processes. Artefact, known as “AI Factory,” also works with cloud service providers like Azure to ensure they have a robust infrastructure.
Large, diverse team – Artefact lists over 1000 employees on LinkedIn, made up of data scientists, software developers, and business consultants. This enables Artefact to solve a wide range of requirements in different industries.
Solid case studies – Artefact has worked with clients like FMCG to improve their digital processes. In this particular case, they received an "extremely positive response from (the) customer, internal stakeholders, Amazon and even the industry and other providers of Amazon NL".

Who should work with Artefact:

If you are part of a large organization in digital transformation, then you should definitely consider Artefact.

The approach and technologies Artefact uses are also beneficial for organizations that have a lot of data that needs to be optimized across the board.

For example, companies that need to optimize their manufacturing processes or react to market information.

# 3 Adverity – Best for Small Business

In some cases, you may not want to work with an agency partner. Analytics software can bridge the gap, especially for small businesses without large marketing budgets.

Adverity is a platform that allows you to collect all of your marketing data in one place. With their analytics tools, you can break down silos in your company and gain new insights to improve your decision-making.

While the Adverity team will assist you on board their platform, you will not get the bespoke and guided expertise you would get from an agency like NP Digital.

Here's what makes Adverity one of the top analytics companies in 2020:

Costs – If you want to dive into the world of analytics but don't have a significant budget, Adverity has you covered (to some extent). Pricing is based on a custom quote that is influenced by your industry, the size of your business, and the data sources you want to access. Note, however, that you will not receive the expert guidance of an agency partner like NP Digital or Artefact.
Holistic data analysis – Adverity has one of the largest data connector libraries on the market. You can connect all of your data sources including CRM, backend database, website analytics and advertising. They keep adding new integrations. So if you have a specific need they may be able to customize it for you.
Great Reviews – On the software rating platform G2, Adverity currently has a 4.5 / 5-star rating with over 100 ratings. The reviews reflect a wide variety of companies and use cases – from marketing agencies to political scientists. One of the most common aspects noted by reviewers is the platform's great connectivity.

Who should work with Adverity:

Adverity is best for small and medium-sized businesses that may not have the budget to work closely with an analytics partner.

Remember, your marketing team needs to figure out how to understand all of your data as they don't have expert guidance. This is not an easy task.

Conclusion

If you take advantage of the research conducted for you in this article, you won't have much trouble finding the right analytics company to work with.

Regardless of your choice, remember that the goal of the analysis is to inform your marketing strategy.

However, data alone does not guarantee that your digital marketing strategy will be successful. It always has to be paired with creative ideas and strict implementation.

To make sure you can't go wrong when choosing an analytics partner, you should always keep the end goal of increasing conversions in mind.