Should PPC agencies accept crypto/bitcoin as payment?

The question of the day should PPC agencies accept crypto or not?

Crypto/Bitcoin (aka Cryptocurrency) has come quite a long way since its ‘creation’ back in 2009. So much so, that Elon Musk himself is a strong endorser of Bitcoin. And yet, despite all the hype about it, this virtual currency still causes a stir in the digital marketing world. When it’s not about how secure or efficient Crypto is, the conversation revolves around how volatile its value can be.

The big question for us is if and where do Crypto and the ad tech world overlap. Luckily, we’re about to find out from ClickGUARD Founder & CEO Ralph Perrier and Strategic Marketer Jason Pittock. Tune in and learn whether Crypto and Bitcon’s supposed promise of safer, faster, and secure digital transactions could substitute the traditional ‘real money transactions for your business. 

To accept or not to accept Crypto/Bitcoin - a question of faith

You should ask yourself if you believe in Crypto enough to hold it after receiving payment. There are lots of people out there who would absolutely not hold Crypto and also those who have completely stepped out of the fiat system and have decided to hold nearly 100% of their net worth and assets in Crypto. In other words, it all boils down to how much you believe in the value of this virtual currency. 

Why are Bitcoins/Crypto considered valuable?

The chief reason Bitcoins/Crypto are valuable is that people believe that they are. 

On top of that, they have proliferated because:

1. People can use them fairly anonymously. Even if all transactions are recorded, nobody would know which 'account number' was yours unless you told them. 
2. People are willing to exchange them for real goods, services, and even cash. 
3. Bitcoin/Crypto is not controlled by the government or banks.

If you’re looking for a competitive edge in regards to attracting clients... 

For the most part, digital marketing experts like Ralph would say that Crypto seems to be very easily trusted and understood as a currency or form of trade that is more quickly adopted by the younger generation. He also argues that to some extent, a good portion, if not, the most cutting-edge innovation in marketing also tends to come from that same demographic. Hence, using Crypto might be a competitive edge when it comes to attracting clients or even in recruiting. 

The trend now is that there are plenty of PPC agencies - big and small ones, small contractors, and freelancer-based agencies that accept Crypto payments. 

Also, places with destabilizing currencies and rising inflation such as Argentina, Turkey, or Nigeria would most likely take advantage of this virtual payment technology and its use would become prevalent.

Accepting Crypto payments - a marketing differentiator?

Ralph believes that accepting Crypto payments may set your company apart from your key competitors and give you a perceived advantage in the eyes of your target market. 

Whether it’s something that carries a lot of weight will largely depend on who your target clients are:  

• If your target persona is a Fortune 1000 size company, they might not be interested in making their payments in Crypto. 
• If you’re a smaller or mid-sized agency going after startups (as Ralph put it “more specifically your niche is providing marketing services for ICOs”), you might be quite the hit within that demographic. 

Of course, it will again depend on whether they have Crypto to pay with or not. Realistically, most businesses will not go out of their way to buy or trade their fiat for Crypto to make a single payment. 

Your Takeaway - So Should PPC agencies accept crypto/bitcoin as payment? The final call:

There’s no denying that Crypto is a hot topic in the digital world. In fact, it’s nearly impossible to jump on any platform and not stumble upon it on your social media feed. 

This is a time when creativity and jumping on opportunities can propel you to unexpected heights. Take it from Ralph: 

“If you know how to play the game to hijack (read “leverage on the publicity of a current issue”), ride the coattails (read “use someone else's success as a means to achieve your own success”), or be a part of the new cycle, all you need to do is find a (unique) spin to put on it. This way, you can seriously consider accepting Crypto payments for the services you provide.” 

The technology is likely to stay in the digital marketing world and grow parallel with the explosion of content marketing, branding, and PPC agencies. 

If you measure your time in Crypto, this conversation deserves it all. Invest in this webinar and get the special answer for that bonus question - is worth every Crypto-penny!