BUYER CHECKLIST / AGENCY

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Marketing Agency

The right questions reveal how an agency thinks, what it owns and whether its work can improve a commercial decision.

Reviewed by Multi Pixels Strategy Team · Updated August 2026

Practical decision guidance; final scope and cost depend on your business evidence.

THE SHORT ANSWER

Ask questions that expose the operating model—not rehearsed credentials.

Start with how the agency understands your goal, customer, offer and constraint. Then examine account ownership, evidence, measurement, production responsibilities, communication, exclusions and what happens when the first plan does not work.

DECISION CRITERIA

What should you compare before choosing?

01

What problem are you solving?

Ask for the agency diagnosis, assumptions and the evidence it still needs.

02

Who owns what?

Clarify accounts, data, assets, production, approvals, response and final decision rights.

03

How will success be judged?

Define qualified outcomes, reporting sources, limitations and the cadence for changing the plan.

04

What is not included?

Ask about media, production, landing pages, tools, tracking, taxes, revisions and notice periods.

PROOF BEFORE PROMISES

See how connected marketing works in real projects.

Review the scope, source notes and outcomes inside our case studies before starting a conversation.

QUESTIONS BEFORE HIRING

Clear answers for a better comparison.

How many agencies should I shortlist?

A small shortlist with the same brief creates a clearer comparison than a large unfocused pitch process.

Should I ask for free strategy?

Ask for enough diagnosis to judge thinking, but do not expect full research, account work or a finished strategy without a paid scope.

What is a red flag?

Guaranteed results, hidden account ownership, vague responsibilities, irrelevant evidence and reports that stop at activity are important warning signs.

TURN RESEARCH INTO A DECISION

Share your situation for a focused starting point.

Share the market, goal, budget and current setup. We will explain the most useful route without forcing a fixed package.

Add at least an email address or phone number.

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YOUR NEXT STEP

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