The 9 Questions That Will Save You From a Bad Marketing Agency

In Episode 97 of "What the Biz?!," hosts Dan Proczko and Brigitte Vegter provide a crucial guide for any business looking to hire a marketing agency. Flipping the script from last week's financial focus, they present nine essential questions to ask before making this "high-stakes hire." This episode helps listeners vet a potential partner based on their commitment to growth metrics and overall business success, not just on a flashy pitch or vanity numbers.

Listeners will discover:

• The foundational difference between a marketing agency focused on vanity metrics (likes, followers) versus one focused on growth metrics (conversions, LTV).
• Why the agency's team structure and your dedicated point of contact are critical for accountability and preventing communication lag.
• How to ensure the agency's definition of success aligns with your business goals, and a story about an agency that cared more about a "pretty looking picture" than results.
• The red flags of an undefined onboarding process and why a great agency will prioritize a seamless, educational setup.
• How an agency handles strategic disagreement by being willing to A-B test your ideas against their own, using data to drive the final decision .
• The importance of reading the fine print and asking how they handle client churn to ensure you own your assets and have a clear off-boarding process.

Show Notes

In this episode, Dan and Brigitte provide nine essential questions every business owner should ask when hiring a marketing agency to ensure they find a partner committed to real business growth.

The 9 Essential Questions

Part 1: The Foundational Questions (Vetting the Philosophy)

1. What is your marketing philosophy? (Focus on growth metrics, not vanity metrics) 
2. What's your team structure, and who will I be working with? (Look for accountability and a consistent point of contact)
3. How do you define success for a client? (Ensure they prioritize your business outcomes) 

Part 2: The Strategic Questions (Vetting the Work)

1. What does your onboarding process look like? (A clean, defined process prevents missed steps) 
2. What metrics do you track, and how do you report on them? (Look for a commitment to regular, proactive reporting) 
3. What is your communication policy? (Clarify response times and preferred communication channels) 

Part 3: The "What If" Questions (Vetting for Longevity)

1. How do you handle a creative or strategic disagreement? (A good agency is willing to A-B test ideas and be guided by data) 
2. What happens if we outgrow your services? (They should have a plan to scale with you or refer you to larger partners) 
3. How do you handle client churn or a project that isn't working? (They should have a clear, non-malicious off-boarding process)

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Hosts
Daniel Proczko - myPocketMarketing
Brigitte Vegter - Vegter Financial