Are You Being Played for a Pig in a Poke? Find out if your marketing agency is giving you the right numbers.

How to Know if Your Marketing Agency is Delivering the Right Numbers

Hiring a marketing agency can be an excellent strategy to boost your business. However, it is crucial to make sure that the marketing agency is providing you with accurate and useful information. Here is a detailed guide on how to check if the numbers you get from your marketing agency are correct and how to maintain a transparent and effective relationship with them.

 Define Clear and Measurable KPIs.

KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are critical to evaluating the performance of your marketing campaigns. Make sure you and your marketing agency are aligned on which KPIs are relevant to your business. Examples of common KPIs include:

- Conversion rate
- Return on investment (ROI)
- Cost per acquisition (CPA)
- Click-through rate (CTR)
- Social media engagement

 2. Requests Detailed and Regular Reports

Ask your marketing agency to send you regular reports on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. These reports should be detailed and include specific data on campaign performance. Make sure the reports include:

- Raw and analytical data
- Comparisons with previous periods
- Graphs and data visualizations
- Interpretations and recommendations

3. Verify Data with Independent Tools

There are several tools you can use to verify the data provided by your marketing agency. Some of the most common include:

- Google Analytics: To analyze web traffic and user behavior.
- Google Ads: To verify the performance of your paid campaigns.
- Social media tools (such as Facebook Insights, Twitter Analytics, etc.): To measure engagement and reach.

Comparing the data from these tools with your marketing agency's reports will allow you to identify possible discrepancies.

4. Performs Periodic Audits

Consider conducting periodic audits of marketing campaigns and strategies. You can hire a third party to conduct an impartial audit and provide you with an objective view of your marketing agency's performance.

5. Calls for Transparency in Methodology

Make sure your marketing agency is transparent about how they collect and analyze data. Ask about the tools and techniques they use and request a clear and understandable explanation of their methods. A reliable marketing agency should have no problem providing you with this information.

 6. Establish Open Communication Channels

Maintain constant and open communication with your marketing agency. Schedule regular meetings to discuss campaign progress and challenges. This will not only allow you to stay on top of things, but will also foster a relationship of trust and collaboration.

7. Trust Your Instinct, but Check with Data

If something doesn't seem right in the numbers or reports you receive, trust your instincts and don't hesitate to investigate further. It's always best to be proactive and make sure everything is in order.

Conclusion

Verifying that your marketing agency is giving you the right numbers is essential to ensuring the success of your campaigns and the growth of your business. By following these steps, you can establish a relationship of trust and transparency with your marketing agency, ensuring that the data you receive is accurate and useful for making informed decisions. Remember, a good marketing agency will be your ally and will be willing to work with you to achieve your goals.