Seven questions to ask before hiring any marketing agency

Choosing an agency is mostly a trust decision made with incomplete information. These questions surface more than a portfolio will.

1. Who actually does the work?

Some agencies sell with senior people and deliver with juniors. Ask who is on your account and whether they are in the room right now.

2. What happens if it does not work?

Every campaign has a bad month. The answer you want describes a process: what gets diagnosed, what gets changed, how fast. The answer you do not want is that it always works.

3. Who owns the accounts?

Your ad account, your pixel, your CRM data, your footage. If an agency owns those, leaving costs you everything you built. The answer should be that you own all of it. Get it in writing.

4. What do you need from me?

Any agency claiming they need nothing is either lying or planning to produce generic work. Good work requires access, context, and some of your time.

5. What is out of scope?

Cheap proposals are usually narrow proposals. Ask specifically what is not included and what it costs when you need it.

6. Can I talk to a client who left?

Uncomfortable, and revealing. Most engagements end for ordinary reasons and a confident agency can point you at someone. Total refusal is informative.

7. What would you tell me not to spend money on?

The best answer names something. An agency that thinks everything they sell is right for you has not thought about your business. They have thought about their invoice.

If you are evaluating us, ask all seven. We would rather answer them now than have you find out later.