How to Choose a Digital Marketing Agency That Actually Delivers

You found a digital marketing agency that feels like the one.

The pitch was perfect. They “get” your goals. Their case studies are impressive.

But a few weeks later, reality starts to set in: slow responses, recycled strategies, and reports that don’t show any tangible results.

This scenario is painfully common, but it’s not inevitable.

Choosing an agency that performs as well as they sell is possible — if you know what to look for.

In this guide, I’ll cover:

• Red flags that signal an agency might overpromise and underdeliver
• Green flags that separate the great partners from the mediocre ones
• Must-ask questions to help you spot these flags before you sign the contract

You’ll also get real-world advice from experienced marketing leaders who’ve seen both dream partnerships and nightmare contracts.

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to choose a digital marketing agency in 2026. One that drives results instead of draining your budget.

First up: Vital questions to ask before jumping into a partnership.

Before You Hire a Digital Marketing Agency, Ask These Questions

Finding the right agency starts with understanding what you need and why.

Do You Have Product-Market Fit and a Clear Target Audience?

Even the best agency can’t sell a product that doesn’t solve a real problem for a defined audience.

If product-market fit isn’t there, your results will stall.

Ask yourself:

• What pain points do we solve?
• Who’s willing to pay for this?
• Who else is competing for this audience?

Use a market analysis tool like Semrush’s Market Overview to confirm there’s real, sustainable demand.

For example, a quick search for Purina pet food shows strong growth and evenly distributed traffic — a clear sign of opportunity.

That’s the kind of demand signal you want before investing in outside help.

Do You Have a Clear Goal for Your Marketing Strategy?

A marketing agency can help you refine your goals.

But you’ll get better results when you already know what success looks like.

Vague goals like “increase website traffic” sound good, but they’re too broad to measure. Instead, set SMART goals — specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Here’s what a SMART goal looks like in action:

“Generate 120 qualified demo requests per month within four months by improving landing page copy and optimizing Google Ads.”

Clear goals like this help you find the right agency. And give them a focus to rally around and drive results.

Do You Have the Bandwidth to Manage an Agency?

Working with an agency isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it kind of task.

Regular, consistent communication with your agency is part of this process.

Sure, the level of autonomy will depend on the agency and the work.

But generally, the best agencies keep the door to conversation open.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Provide materials and align on strategy and deliverables up front
• Join weekly or biweekly check-ins (typically about an hour)
• Review work and share feedback monthly

Do You Know What Marketing Services You Need?

“Full-service marketing” sounds great. Until you realize you’re paying for tactics that get you nowhere.

There are many types of digital marketing agencies:

• SEO and content: Drive organic growth through optimized content
• PPC: Manage and optimize paid campaigns
• Social media: Build brand awareness and affinity
• Branding and design: Shape your visual identity and messaging
• Video: Create video content that converts
• Consultant: Help define priorities before execution

But before you pick one, identify what’s already working (and what’s not).

The more specific you are about your needs, the easier it is to find a partner whose strengths align with your goals.

Start by looking at your top-performing channels, campaigns, and content in analytics tools.

If content and partnerships drive results for you, that’s a hint about where to invest.

Next, check what’s working for your competitors.

For example, Semrush’s Organic Social tool reveals how your competitors generate traffic from social media.

And tells you exactly which platforms send the most traffic to their websites.

If others in your space are thriving on social while you’re not, that’s a clue to where you could expand.

Is Your Internal Team Aligned on What You Need?

Clear goals mean nothing if your team isn’t aligned.

Without internal buy-in, even the best agency partnership can derail fast.

Marketing leader Eric Doty learned this the hard way.

After hiring an agency for a logo redesign (and spending weeks on revisions), leadership revealed they wanted to keep the full company name.

Avoid this by:

• Defining who owns the agency relationship
• Deciding who signs off on deliverables
• Getting stakeholder input before work gets started

Once you’re aligned internally, you’re ready to align externally with your agency.

6 Red Flags That a Marketing Agency Will Waste Your Time (and Budget)

The sales call sounds great.

But how do you know whether the relationship will work long-term?

Don’t go in blind. Here are six warning signs and how to spot them.

1. They’re Not Willing to Invest Time in You

This isn’t something an agency will just come out and say directly. But there may be indications that they’ve currently got too much on their plate.

(And you’re about to be thrown onto the back burner.)

For one, look for a high amount of employee turnover. Employees leave when stress is high.

Check LinkedIn to learn about their employees and watch for downward growth trends.

You’ll also want to pay close attention to the discovery call.

If it’s all about them and nothing about you, that’s a sign they’re not taking the time to understand your business.

An agency that “yeses” you to death without adding ideas or offering pushback is another red flag.

They’re likely more focused on producing work as fast as possible than on providing a sustainable strategy.

And it’s never a good sign if they get defensive when you ask questions.

This can be an indicator that they’re not willing to invest time in the relationship.

Fractional CMO Amanda Milligan has had this experience.

Here’s her agency horror story:

Looking at recent testimonials or mentions of the agency can help.

But sometimes, asking pointed questions is the best way to get an answer.

For example:

• What’s your typical engagement type?
• How long are your typical engagements?
• How many clients does your team normally work with at once?

By asking these questions, you’ll get a better sense of the agency’s bandwidth.

2. Their Offerings Haven’t Evolved (or Have Evolved Too Much)

It’s no secret that marketing has evolved over the past few years.

And AI has only accelerated those changes.

So, if an agency hasn’t evolved its strategy to match the industry, it’s a sign they’re coasting on an outdated approach.

Want to find this out before the discovery call?

First, check the age of their case studies. Older case studies indicate a strategy that hasn’t changed.

Next, look at the wording on their services page.

If it sounds generic or dated, that’s a red flag.

In the example below, wording like “Taking over Google” is no longer fully relevant.

Plus, there’s no mention of local search or AI results.

(Which is odd, since they target local businesses.)

Make sure they’re thinking ahead — not clinging to old playbooks — by asking:

• How have your offerings changed in the past year?
• How has your process changed since AI came on the scene?
• How much does your team use AI when creating deliverables?
• What’s your perspective on marketing in the AI era?

3. They Won’t Allow for a 30-Day-Out Clause

Agencies don’t want to get burned.

But you don’t want to get stuck in a relationship that’s not working.

Shorter contracts may not have an out clause. But if you’re getting ready to sign a contract for a year or more, and there’s no way out of that relationship, that could be a red flag.

For longer contracts, a 30-day out clause is typical. That means you both can leave the contract if things aren’t working out.

If you ask for this clause and the agency is pushing back hard, that’s a warning sign.

Amanda agrees:

Again, communicating clearly is important here.

When in doubt, ask the digital marketing agency these questions:

• How have you handled failed campaigns in the past? Did you course-correct mid-campaign, or offer free revisions?
• What barriers to success do you see with our engagement?
• What’s your policy for a 30-day out in the contract?

4. Communication Isn’t Clear or Easy

The way your agency communicates during the discovery phase is a key indicator of how they’ll communicate once that contract is signed.

Here are some key warning signs you could see early in the process:

• You have to chase them for updates or next steps: If getting in contact with the agency is hard before you sign the contract, don’t expect it to improve later on.
• You can’t get clear answers to your questions: Asking about timeline, resources, and processes is normal. If they can’t give you straight answers to basic questions, beware.
• You have no idea who you’ll be working with: It’s typical to talk to a salesperson or account manager in the early stages. But if you get pushback when asking to speak to the people you’ll be working with, that’s a red flag.

Chelsea Castle, head of brand and content at Close, experienced this firsthand.

Here’s her agency horror story:

To know more about communication before signing the contract, ask questions like:

• Who’s my main point of contact with your agency?
• Who’s going to be working on the project with me?
• Who will be included in the check-in meetings?
• At what points in the process do you track metrics to assess if we’re on the right track?

5. They Promise More Than They Can Reasonably Deliver

Overselling can lead to disaster down the road. But, how do you know if an agency is selling something they can’t deliver?

First, look at the language they use to describe their services or results.

If they make exaggerated claims or promises, it’s worth pausing.

For example, this agency’s website has red flags written all over it:

(I wish this were a made-up website, but it’s not.)

Claims like this sound great, but it’s important to take a step back and look at the facts.

• Can they actually back up their claims with real examples?
• Can they reasonably guarantee results without knowing anything about the potential client?

Danni Roseman, a brand manager at a SaaS company, hired an agency that promised the world but didn’t live up to expectations.

An agency that’s focused on revenue may sell more than the team is capable of doing, and you’re left with the aftermath.

Another side to this is whether the team has experience using or integrating with your tech stack.

Eric once worked with an email marketing agency that promised big things.

But ended up having no experience integrating with Microsoft Teams (a must-have for his company).

So, how do you make sure that what the sales team is offering can actually be delivered down the road?

First, ask pointed questions like:

• Who on your team has experience working with the tools in our tech stack?
• How much experience does your team have with these tools?
• How many years of experience does the team have in this type of project?
• What’s the project (within the type of service you’re looking for) that you enjoyed working on the most?
• Can you give me some names of people I can talk to about your work?

Lastly, get references.

The sales team is going to say everything right. You need something solid to back up those claims.

6. Their Process Is a Big Black Box

Most agency websites say some version of “We do X for Y.” But can they explain how?

This is something you can check for on their website.

For example, what do their case studies look like? Are they just screenshots, or do they explain the process behind the work?

Here’s an example:

What looks impressive at first glance melts away when you realize these are just screenshots.

No discussion of the work, no explanation.

Here are some other warning signs to look out for:

• Their process isn’t up for discussion: If an agency tells you anything along the lines of, “Trust us, we’ll handle it,” beware
• They’re using the same templated strategies for every client: On the discovery call, are they bringing ideas to the table? Do they take your unique situation into account?
• Their reporting is focused on big-number vanity metrics: Case studies with numbers are great. But do those numbers tell you a story of real impact?
• They can’t explain why something worked: This could mean the team has little understanding of the mechanics behind the results

If you’re not sure about their process, ask questions like:

• How do you approach new engagements?
• How much time do you spend determining strategy?
• How is the strategy adjusted as time goes on?
• How often will we meet for check-ins?
• Can you tell me about a project you worked on (in this vertical/type) that didn’t go well? How did your team handle that situation?

When you’re evaluating an agency, Chelsea’s advice rings true:

6 Green Flags You’ve Found a High-Performing Marketing Agency

Despite the horror stories we’ve discussed, great agencies do exist.

Here are the most common green flags — and tips for choosing a digital marketing agency that will actually deliver on its promises.

1. They Start with Questions, Not Tactics

The right agency feels like a partner.

They’re curious about your business and invested in your success.

On the discovery call, look for all of these green flags:

• They start by asking deep questions about your business model, ICP, positioning, and goals
• They’re comfortable pushing back respectfully if a strategy doesn’t align with best practices
• They focus on how their work ties to your business outcomes, not vanity metrics

For example, KlientBoost, a PPC agency, doesn’t just offer standard strategy packages.

They ask questions about what the client needs, their goals, and their situation.

This information lets them tailor quotes to each client’s needs.

2. You Get Good Feedback From Third Parties

Good feedback, testimonials, and reviews are always a green flag.

First, check vetted, third-party review sites like Clutch.

Look for reviews that mention:

• Quality of the digital marketing agency’s work
• Communication style
• Costs
• Timing

Some reviews even include specific numbers and results.

Another way to get feedback is to ask your network.

Ask around in your favorite Slack communities and check on Reddit or LinkedIn.

You’ll learn who’s worked with this agency and what their impressions are.

Chelsea swears by using your network to find good agencies.

What should you do if you don’t have any network recommendations?

Check out industry award winners, says Chelsea:

Within awards like Webby, you’ll find some incredible projects (and the agencies that made them happen).

3. The Full Team Will Be Involved in Communication

Knowing who’s involved in your project can help you have more confidence in the work being done.

Plus, if it’s easy to talk to the team before the project gets started, it’s a good sign that communication will be top-notch after the contract is signed as well.

Ask early on who will be on calls with your team.

If you find out it’s more than just one account manager, that means multiple people are invested in your engagement.

For example, check out this about page from content agency Beam:

You see the founders of this team.

But you also see the content producers and their social profiles. This level of transparency is a green flag.

4. They’re Transparent About Scope, Pricing, Timing, and How Work Gets Done

Your agency should be very clear about vital details upfront.

This includes:

• The scope of the projects they do
• Timing they can commit to
• Any processes they use

For example, KlientBoost creates marketing plans for clients.

But even before you give them any information or sign up for a call, they show you a sneak peek of what a marketing plan looks like for their clients.

Another aspect of transparency is pricing.

Knowing what you’ll pay (and exactly what that cost includes) is essential to the project’s success.

That’s why some agencies, like A2Media, show their pricing right on their homepage:

Of course, not every agency lists its pricing publicly.

And there are plenty of different pricing structures, each with its pros and cons.

When talking about rates, ask the agency why they take the approach they do.

Get estimates for what each type of project entails.

If you’re comfortable with those ranges and estimates, include those in the contract.

When you can get clear answers to these questions, it’s a good sign they’ll live up to their promises.

5. Their Own Marketing Is Top Notch

When you find an agency you like, check out their marketing.

Most of the time, it’s a good indicator of the quality of their work.

In the past year, I’ve had two fantastic experiences with marketing agencies.

And both of them had one key aspect that was a huge green flag for me: their brand marketing was on point.

Take A2Media, for example.

The founder, Ademola, regularly produces video content on LinkedIn that generates strong engagement with his niche audience.

Another example is Beam.

They offer great content services to clients.

But they also produce fantastic content on their own website that’s both interesting and fun to read.

This pattern repeats itself over and over again.

KlientBoost’s LinkedIn video ads aren’t only hilarious but also deeply relatable.

Juice, a brand and web agency, has an incredibly stylish and fun website.

If they do great work for themselves, it’s a positive sign they’ll do great work for you.

6. Your Personalities Match

Yes, personality is subjective. And judging a marketing agency on “vibes” might sound a bit woo-woo.

But remember, this is a relationship. Hopefully, a long-term one.

So, the right agency should also match your style and get your vision.

Here are some green flags when it comes to personality match:

• Their team seems genuinely excited about your product and mission
• They treat your team members with respect, regardless of title
• Their company culture aligns with yours
• You enjoy working with them
• They make collaboration energizing, not draining

Chelsea saw a personality match early on with a video agency, which gave her the confidence to move forward.

Bonus: They Have Proven Expertise in Your Vertical

We’ve covered the most vital factors to evaluate when choosing a marketing agency partner.

But niche experience is worth considering, too.

While it’s not a necessity, it can be a really great bonus when combined with what we’ve discussed above.

For example, this agency focuses on dental practices:

While this agency focuses on marketing for law firms:

From just those two websites, it’s clear that their approach, strategy, and personality are very different.

And they’re each uniquely qualified to help clients in their chosen industry.

Other agencies may not have experience in your specific vertical. But they can demonstrate proven experience in the services you need.

For example, let’s say you want an agency that can help you show up in AI responses.

Then, you come across a case study like this:

Obviously, this agency has adapted its services to include AI search.

And has proven expertise in exactly what you need.

Ready to Choose a Digital Marketing Agency? Trust the Patterns (and Your Gut)

Choosing the right marketing agency comes down to spotting patterns.

• Red flags: Overpromising, poor communication, and teams that won’t invest time in your success
• Green flags: Thoughtful questions, killer third-party reviews, and teams that practice what they preach

But don’t forget the value of your gut reaction.

If something feels off during discovery, it won’t magically disappear once the contract is signed.

The best agency relationships start with a genuine connection.

As Chelsea says, “In any kind of creative work, sometimes you really do just have to go off vibes.”

When you find a team that gets your vision, respects your goals, and makes collaboration energizing, that’s your signal to move forward.

Before you head into discovery calls, read 5 Crucial SEO Trends (and How to Adapt).

Understanding what’s happening in SEO will help you ask better questions. And spot whether agencies are using outdated tactics or staying ahead of the curve.