Ask for relevant work and the exact role
A client logo alone does not explain what the agency delivered. Ask for a project in a comparable industry or workflow and clarify whether the agency handled design, development, campaigns or ongoing support. Measured results should include timeframe and context.
Compare the commercial scope
Look for clear deliverables, production responsibilities, revision rounds, reporting and exclusions. Separate agency fees from advertising spend and software subscriptions. A low quote with unclear scope is difficult to evaluate fairly.
Protect ownership and access
Your business should know who owns the domain, website files, ad accounts, analytics and customer records. Agree the handover process and recurring license responsibilities. Partner access is usually preferable to sharing personal passwords.
Review how you will work together
Ask who your contact is, how approvals work and what happens when priorities change. A useful agency can explain tradeoffs and uncertainty without promising guaranteed rankings or sales. Choose a team whose process matches your internal capacity.
Your practical checklist
- Review relevant projects and exact delivery roles
- Compare scope and excluded costs
- Confirm account and asset ownership
- Agree approval and reporting routines
- Reject unsupported guarantees