How to hire a marketing agency without regretting it

Practical tools for business owners choosing an agency: a scorecard to rate the ones you are considering, a calculator that compares how they charge, and plain guides on what to ask and what to avoid.

Full disclosure: this guide is published by MAWD Agency, which is an agency. We wrote it to help you judge any agency, including us, and we have not tried to steer you toward a particular model or provider.

Score an agency   Compare fees

Agency scorecard

Tick each statement that is true for the agency you are considering. Nothing leaves your browser.

Fee comparison calculator

See what the same account costs under different pricing models, and what happens when ad spend changes.

Guides

20 questions to ask a marketing agency before you hire

The questions that separate agencies that do the work from agencies that sell it.

Marketing agency pricing models explained

Retainer, percent of spend, hourly, project or performance: what each one means for you.

Red flags when hiring a marketing agency

Guarantees, vague reports, locked-up accounts: the warning signs worth walking away from.

Want a second opinion on a proposal?

If you already have a proposal or contract from an agency, we are happy to read it and tell you what we think, whether or not you hire us. Get in touch or call (510) 857-7838.