Hiring a marketing agency is a huge investment. The right partnership can completely change how your business grows, but choosing the wrong agency can end in wasted money and damage to your brand.
Before you sign anything, there are some questions you can ask to set yourself up for success. Some of these questions are for you and your team. Others are what you should be asking the agency you’re meeting with.
This guide walks through all of it, plus a few red flags to watch for.
Questions to Ask Yourself First
Before you bring in an agency, you need clarity on your own business. Here are 5 questions to take back to your team before reaching out to a marketing agency.
1. Do we need branding or a new website before we start a marketing plan?
If your brand message isn’t clear or your website doesn’t work well, marketing won’t fix that. A solid foundation is key to a well built house.
Take a step back and ask yourself if your business is truly ready for more traffic.
Tip: Marketing works best when the foundation is solid.
2. Who is our ideal target market?
Who are you trying to reach?
Think about age, location, lifestyle, and what problems they have. Just as important, you should be able to easily clarify how you fix that problem.
The more specific you are here, the more effective your marketing will be.
Tip: When thinking about your target market, think about their emotions. Age, location, yes…but what are they feeling?
3. What marketing services do we actually need right now?
You don’t need everything at once.
Think about your goals. Do you want to grow your socials? Get people to physically come to your brick and mortar? Direct people to your website to shop? Depending on your goals, the services you need might vary.
Start with what might make the most sense for your business right now.
Tip: Think about the journey of your customer. Where would it make the most sense for them to find you?
4. What have we already tried, and did it work?
Reflect on your past efforts.
What felt like a waste? What actually brought in leads? What didn’t get enough time to work?
This helps you avoid repeating the same mistakes and gives your agency a better starting point.
Tip: Showing what didn’t work is helpful to a marketing agency and can help with brainstorming the right tactics.
5. What is our marketing budget?
What can you realistically invest each month?
Marketing works with consistency, not one “big push”. Knowing your monthly budget upfront helps set realistic expectations to build the right strategy.
Tip: Consistency is the only way to see long term marketing results. Short bursts are a waste of your time and money.
Questions to Ask the Marketing Agency
Once you have an idea of your expectations and needs, its time to start evaluating the marketing agencies near you.
1. What marketing tactics do you recommend to hit my goals, and why?
A great marketing agency should be able to clearly explain a strategy that ties back to your goals, and is tailored to your business.
If it sounds like a one-size-fits-all package, run, that’s a huge red flag.
Tip: Your marketing plan should be fully customized, not templated.
2. Do you have experience in my industry?
With so many agencies out there, you should be able to find one that has worked in your space.
Industry experience means they already understand your audience, competitors, and how to position your business.
Tip: Look for an agency that knows your market, not one that’s learning it on your dime.
3. What results can I expect with my budget, and how long will it take?
Look for honest, realistic answers.
Great marketing agencies will talk about long term-growth, brand recognition, consistency, and sales support. Be cautious of anyone promising fast or guaranteed results.
Tip: Marketing is a long game. It often takes 20–30 touchpoints before someone starts to recognize and understand your brand.
4. How do you display reports, and is your reporting easy to understand?
You should always know what’s happening with your marketing. Avoid agencies that use buzzwords and terminology outside of your knowledge. The right marketing agency should be able to explain your report in a way that allows you to easily understand your data.
Tip: If an agency can’t explain your data to you in a way that is easy to understand, they probably don’t understand it either.
5. What are your in-house capabilities?
Who is actually going to be working on your account?
Be cautious of small agencies that offer everything under the sun. Marketing is made up of many specialties, and a jack of all trades is a master of none.
A strong agency will either have specialists or a focused set of services they do really well.
Tip: You might think twice before you hire plumber to bake your wedding cake…right?
Red Flags to Watch Out For When Hiring a Marketing Agency
If you run into any of these, take a moment and consider.
Promising #1 rankings
No one can guarantee rankings on Google. Algorithms change constantly.
If someone is promising this, they’re either overselling or don’t fully understand how SEO works.
Lack of ownership
You should own your website, your content, and your accounts. This is a non – negotiable.
If everything is built under the agency’s control, it makes it really hard to leave.
Lack of access
You shouldn’t have to ask for access to your own platforms.
A great agency gives you full visibility into your website, analytics, and accounts.
Too much jargon you don’t understand
Marketing can be technical, but it should still be explained clearly.
This isn’t your highschool boyfriend, you shouldn’t leave every conversation confused.
FAQs When Hiring a Marketing Agency
How do I know if I need a marketing agency?
If you don’t have the time, strategy, or understanding to market your business effectively, it may be time to bring in help
What is a realistic marketing budget for a small business?
It depends on your goals, but most businesses should plan for a consistent monthly investment. Most businesses spend a minimum of 2-3% of revenue, but most agencies recommend about 7-8%.
How long does it take to see results from marketing?
Some strategies can create short-term wins, but most take at least 5-6 months to build momentum.
Should I hire a full-service agency or specialists?
It depends on your needs. If you are a small business, find a company that assists with strategy. You can hire a freelancer to assist with services that the agency might not offer. Like video, animation, etc!
What’s the biggest mistake people make when hiring an agency?
Hiring before they have clear goals, budget, or understanding of what they actually need.
If I hire a marketing agency, will I still have control over my website and accounts?
You should. A trustworthy agency ensures you have full ownership and access at all times.
Final Remarks
If you’re looking for a marketing partner you can trust, Remark Digital is here to help. Don’t just take our word for it, read our client reviews here. Contact Remark, or schedule a free consultation to get started today.
