15 questions to ask a digital marketing agency before you hire them
By the OneRoof Ventures team · Updated · 2 min read
Quick answer
Before hiring a digital marketing agency, ask: what results have you achieved for businesses like mine, who will work on my account, exactly what is included each month, is ad spend included, who owns the ad accounts and content, what is the minimum commitment, how will you report results, and what can I realistically expect in 90 days. Walk away from guarantees of rankings or sales.
Key takeaways
- Ask for numbers and named examples, not adjectives.
- Get deliverables and ownership in writing.
- Honest agencies explain what they can't promise.
On this page
About results
- Can you show me two or three results for businesses like mine, with numbers and timelines?
- What would you realistically expect for us in the first 90 days, and why?
- How will you measure success: leads, sales, cost per lead, rankings?
About the team
- Who exactly will work on my account, and what is their experience?
- How many other clients does my account manager handle?
- Is any of the work outsourced or white-labelled?
About pricing
- What exactly is included each month (posts, reels, campaigns, blogs, pages)?
- Is ad spend included? Is GST included? Are there setup fees?
- What costs extra (shoots, stock images, tools, landing pages)?
See typical price ranges in our agency pricing guide.
About the contract
- What is the minimum commitment, and the notice period after it?
- Will the ad accounts, Google Business Profile, website and creatives be in my name?
- What do I get back if we stop working together?
About reporting
- How often will you report, and can I see a sample report?
- Will I have direct access to Google Analytics, Search Console and the ad accounts?
- How quickly do you reply to messages, and on which channel?
Red flags
- Guaranteed #1 rankings, guaranteed sales, or "viral" content.
- Refusing to give you admin access to your own accounts.
- Vague scope ("complete digital marketing") with no monthly counts.
- Pressure to sign today for a discount.
- No real case studies, only logos.
- Reports full of impressions and likes but no leads or sales.
Agencies on OneRoof Ventures publish their packages and are shown with a One Roof Score (beta) for price transparency, profile completeness and reputation, so some of this homework is done before your first call. Get matched quotes from up to four agencies at once.
Frequently asked questions
Should I ask a marketing agency for a free trial?
Few good agencies work for free, but many offer a paid audit or a short first project. That's a lower-risk way to test them than a long contract.
Is it okay to ask an agency for client references?
Yes. A confident agency will put you in touch with a current client. If they can't share any, ask why.