Hiring a digital marketing agency is a big decision for many businesses, and hiring the wrong digital marketing agency can cost you time, money, and reduce your forward progression. Whether you’re seeking out help with SEO, PPC, CRO, web design, or more, asking the correct questions upfront is a critical first step prior to hiring a digital marketing agency.
Here at DASH-SEO, we always believe in full transparency from day one. This is why we always welcome tough questions, as we know trust is built when the strategy, process, and expectations are clear from the beginning.
Before you sign on the dotted line with any digital marketing agency, including us, here are some of the best questions you should ask a digital marketing agency.
“What’s Your Process for Understanding My Business?”
A professional, solid agency should never apply a cookie-cutter strategy to your website or overall digital marketing plan. Your market, your audience, and your goals are all unique and this should be fully reflected in your digital marketing plan, process, and end goals.
At DASH-SEO, we always begin every engagement with a deep discovery process. We want to know:
- What makes your business different?
- Who are your ideal customers?
- What’s worked (or failed) in the past?
If a digital marketing agency skips this step, disengage and choose a more reputable group who knows what they’re doing.
“What Metrics Do You Track?”
If the digital marketing agency’s answer is, “We’ll just get you more traffic”, that’s certainly not a good enough answer.
Specifically ask:
- Do you track conversions, not just clicks?
- Will you report on cost per lead or ROI?
- How will I know what’s actually working?
At DASH-SEO, we track everything: from keyword progression to call tracking to form submissions, so all of our clients always know where their digital marketing investment is going and a clear representation of ROI is exhibited each and every month through our reporting process.
“Can I See Case Studies or Client Results?”
Any reputable digital marketing agency should want to showcase proof of their previous success stories where they were able to achieve excellent results. If the digital marketing agency you’re considering avoids the question or skirts around discussing their past client results with vague terms, that’s a big red flag.
We regularly share performance snapshots and updates at DASH-SEO with our clients, including:
- Before-and-after organic traffic growth
- Local SEO wins for service businesses
- Conversion lift after a content refresh
The digital marketing agency you hire should be more than happy to provide you with past results and also explain how they can achieve the same for your business.
“Do You Customize Strategy Based on My Industry?”
Your business is not just “another client.” Your strategy shouldn’t be, either.
Ask the following questions of your digital marketing agency:
- “What experience do you have in my industry?”
- “How would your approach differ between a law firm and a medspa?”
At DASH-SEO, we’re able to create customized roadmaps for each and every client based on their target market, level of competition, and the stage of growth they’re in. What works for a personal injury attorney isn’t what works for a home services brand. We adjust our strategy to achieve the highest level of ROI for your business, niche, and goals.
“Who Will Actually Be Working on My Account?”
Will you have a dedicated strategist, or be passed around from account manager to account manager?
This truly matters when you choose to work with a digital marketing agency. You’ll want to have consistency and clarity.
When you choose to work with DASH-SEO, you’re not just handed off to a random account manager. You’ll work directly with experienced, senior strategists who truly understand your business and are invested in your overall success.
“What’s Included in Your Pricing?”
Some agencies attempt to upsell everything, including landing pages, schema markup, and conversion tracking as “extras.”
At DASH-SEO, we’re upfront with pricing and what’s included in every package we offer. We include the work which needs to be done in order to help you achieve the highest levels of ROI possible. We’re not in the business of “nickel & diming” our clients. The price you see on the agreement is the price you pay.
Make sure you ask your potential digital marketing agency:
- Are there hidden fees for setup, reporting, or extra revisions?
- How many campaigns are included?
Having the proper level of clarity now helps to avoid surprise invoices later on.
“How Do You Stay on Top of Algorithm Updates?”
Google updates can help or hurt your rankings, depending on how you’ve structured your SEO strategy, unless your digital marketing agency is proactive, not reactive.
At DASH-SEO, we:
- Monitor core updates daily
- Test new techniques before rolling them out
- Stick with tried and true SEO strategies which focus on user-experience
If a digital marketing agency hasn’t mentioned Google’s latest algorithm update… they’re most likely already behind.
“Do You Outsource or Keep Everything In-House?”
Many agencies will farm out content production, linkbuilding, and even strategy. The result from this outsourcing? Inconsistent quality and poor results.
At DASH-SEO, we keep everything in-house so we can truly guarantee quality, speed, and accountability. Ask your potential digital marketing agency who’s actually doing the work for your website. If they are not upfront and transparent, it’s most likely an overseas contractor you’ll never meet, and you may want to reevaluate the partnership.
“How Long Before I See Results?”
A good digital marketing agency won’t promise overnight success. But they should provide you with clear expectations and a realistic timeline.
At DASH-SEO, we typically see traction within:
- 30–60 days for technical fixes and local SEO
- 90–120 days for content-driven organic growth
- Ongoing compounding gains after 6+ months
If someone promises page 1 rankings in two weeks, run, don’t walk away. They’re likely implementing blackhat techniques which will cause your site to be penalized, or they’re lying to you. Either way, don’t sign with a digital marketing agency who promises nearly immediate page 1 rankings.
“What Happens If I Want to Cancel?”
Always read the fine print in your agreement prior to signing. At DASH-SEO, we stick to a 12-month agreement. We believe if we’re delivering true value, you’ll want to stay. But if you ever need to pause or pivot due to unforeseen circumstances, we work with you, as we’re human beings and we know life can throw curveballs.
Ask the agency:
- “Do I own my data, content, and accounts?”
- “Is there a cancellation window?”
- “Will I lose access to assets you’ve created?”
If the answers are convoluted, don’t move forward with signing the agreement.
“Why Should I Choose You Over Another Agency?”
Every agency should have a clear, confident answer to this question. If the digital marketing agency you’re potentially working with doesn’t know what sets them apart, they certainly can’t help you stand out either.
At DASH-SEO, here’s our answer:
We don’t simply rank websites, we truly grow businesses. We blend strategy, creativity, and technical SEO into each and every one of our campaigns to move the needle in the right direction. We’re transparent, proactive, and obsessed with your ROI. We’re not just a vendor, we’re your growth partner in the world of digital marketing.
Trust Your Gut (and Ask the Right Questions)
Hiring a digital marketing agency is not just about flashy dashboards and beautiful pitches. It’s about finding the right team who understands your goals and treats your business like their own. Begin by asking the tough questions. If you’re ready to discuss strategy with a team that welcomes transparency, let’s have an initial conversation to see how we can best work together. At DASH-SEO, we’re not afraid of difficult questions.
Ready to grow your business and improve ROI?
Reach out to us at DASH-SEO and let’s build your custom roadmap to real, measurable digital growth.