If you’ve been feeling a little iffy about your agency, you’re not alone. And so you may want to check if your instincts are correct. As someone who’s spent a good chunk of their career working with them, I’ve seen how it looks from the inside. So in this article, I’m going to uncover some signs it’s time to fire your digital marketing agency.
Confusing or mismatched results
Chances are you partnered up with a marketing agency because you wanted one of the following: more leads or more sales.
However, if several months go by, and you aren’t seeing the results you promised, it may be time to shop around. And maybe even consider firing your digital marketing agency altogether.
The results presented by your agency should line up with what you were looking to achieve for your business. Or, at the very least, it should be clear that effort is being made to reach your goal. It’s possible to have to wait a couple of months before you see a return on Google Ads… But that should be 6-9 months, not 12-18.
Lock-in contracts
Hopefully you considered what your agreement would be before you signed on, right?
Unfortunately, there are some agencies who’ll lock you in for a period of time.
Good ones won’t do this because they know their work can be trusted.
Lack of transparency
Similar to the point of confusing results, a lack of results or access to certain back-end areas is a massive red flag.
For example you should be allowed to see your negative keywords in Google Ads, and take them with you if you decide to move.
You should also own every Google account, email platform, and domain name that belongs to your business. These are your cars, and your marketing agency should be your hired driver and/or mechanic.
Poor communication
Poor communication is a symptom of a poorly managed agency. And it’s likely a sign of one that cares more about making a buck off you than doing a service.
While it’s understandable that people get busy, you are paying for their service.
The vibe feels off
At the end of the day, if the type of vocabulary used in advertisements, or the technique they use doesn’t gel with the vibe of your business… Why keep going? If your agency swore you needed an eBook to get people on your email list, but you believe your audience wouldn’t go for it… Then don’t! Oh, and if the communication and vibe are off, chances are it’s not just you! It’s possible the employees behind the agency are stressed and uncomfortable too!
There are all kinds of ways to get your business out there. You absolutely don’t have to do the same as everyone else “just because”.
It’s like I said in my presentation at WordCamp Sydney — The Agency Business Model is Broken, just because an option is available it doesn’t mean you should do it.
Just because you can run an ad on Facebook or write 1000 SEO articles, it doesn’t mean it’s the right thing for your business!
Be open to the idea it’s possible to grow your way. And by all means, if they’re not delivering what your business needs, go ahead and fire your digital marketing agency.
And if you’d like to discuss anything about your agency or digital marketing results, I’m here for you. Reach out to me if you’d like a chat.
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