1. Will they set up tracking before they spend?
If nobody can tell you which ad brought which lead, you are paying to guess. A good agency checks your pixel, Conversions API, analytics and call or WhatsApp tracking before the first rupee goes into ads. Ask to see how they do it.
2. Will they agree a target in writing?
Every business has a number that makes marketing worthwhile: a cost per lead, a cost per order or a return on ad spend. Ask the agency to write yours down in the first week. If they only talk about reach and followers, be careful.
3. Will you own your accounts?
Your ad account, social pages, domain and website should be in your name, with the agency working through delegated access. If an agency insists on running everything from its own accounts, you may lose your data and audience if you leave.
4. Have they worked in your industry?
Real estate, healthcare and events all behave differently. Ask for examples from your sector, the kind of problems they faced and what they would do first for you. Specific answers are a good sign. Generic answers are not.
5. How will they report?
Ask what the weekly and monthly reports look like. You should see what was spent, what it brought in, what was learned and what comes next, in language you understand.
Warning signs
Be careful with promises of guaranteed rankings or guaranteed sales, long lock-in contracts with no exit, no access to your own accounts, and reports that celebrate impressions but never mention leads or sales.
- Guaranteed results
- No written target
- Unclear fees, or hidden ad management charges
- Refusing to share account access
How we approach it
These are the terms we work on at Elite Social Connect: tracking first, a target in writing, your ownership of everything, and a short update you can read. If you want to see what that looks like for your business, you can ask for a free audit. You can also read about what we do.
Common questions
How much should I budget for an agency?
It depends on the services and your ad spend. Ask each agency for a clear quote that separates their fee from your ad budget.