What Questions Should I Ask a Marketing Agency?

The questions you ask a marketing agency will determine whether you get strategy or just activity.

Most agencies can execute tactics. They’ll even report back on it and the ‘results.’ Very few agencies can design a strategic system that drives serious revenue growth.
If you do not ask the right questions, then you’ll probably not know the difference or what you’re buying.

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What You Are Actually Trying to Uncover

You’re not just evaluating capability. You should be evaluating:

Whether they think strategically or tactically
Whether they understand your business model
Whether they can drive revenue, not just activity

The goal is simple: identify whether this is a partner who can help you grow, or a vendor who will keep themselves and your team ‘busy.’

Questions About Strategy

Start right here. If this section is weak, nothing else matters.

1. How do you define and validate our target audience?

You want a clear, structured answer. No assumptions.

2. How do you approach positioning and differentiation?

There should be a defined process, not improvisation. This isn’t Vietnam, there are rules! It might look chaotic but clearly defined and ordered architecture should be built out.

3. How do you decide which marketing channels we should prioritize?

You are looking for methodology and reasoning, not a prepackaged list of services.

4. What does a 90 day plan look like?

They should be able to map out early directions without guessing. There’s room to make adjustments as more is discovered and as results roll-in, but that shouldn’t be the case as you launch.

Questions About Execution

Once a strategy is clear, then the execution matters.

1. How do you ensure all marketing efforts work together?

Disjointed execution is one of the most common failure points.

2. What does your ongoing involvement look like?

Are they leading you or just responding? You should ‘feel’ like the team you hired is thinking about your horizon ahead.

3. How do you adapt strategy based on performance?

You want iteration, not a deep commitment to static plans…as you move down the road. There will be new developments, wrinkles, and opportunities. Agility is part of marketing.

4. What internal resources do you provide versus outsource?

Clarity here impacts consistency and quality. Some things can easily be outsourced (so long as the agency owns the results), but other things probably need to stay closer/in-house. An agency should be candid about who manages what

Questions About Measurement

This is where many agencies totally face-plant.

1. How do you measure success beyond traffic and impressions?

If they stop at activity metrics, that is a big red flag.

2. How do you connect marketing performance to revenue?

You are looking for alignment with actual business outcomes. You should be growing and sales should be climbing.

3. What does reporting look like, and how often do we review it?

There should be a structured cadence, not occasional updates. There should be a clear articulation on ‘touchpoints’ — you want to know ‘you’re being taken-care-of.’

Questions About Alignment With Sales

Marketing that is not aligned with sales creates friction. Ask these blunt questions. - And From Here you're looking for a "Good Fit" with your Agency

What type of clients do you work best with?

Where do you typically see engagements fail? Ask them how long they typically keep a client. The industry standard is roughly two years, by the way.

What would make us a bad fit for you?

What Good Answers Actually Sound Like

Strong agencies sound like this:

Speak in systems, not just tactics
Tie marketing to revenue outcomes
Ask you thoughtful questions in return
Provide structured processes
Emphasize positioning before execution

Weak agencies sound like:

Lead with channels instead of strategy
Focus on deliverables instead of outcomes
Avoid clear accountability
Default to what they always sell

How Fidelis Approaches This

Fidelis Creative Agency always leads with strategy first.

We work with B2B service companies to:

Define positioning clearly
Build a structured go to market strategy
Align marketing with sales outcomes
Execute with a focus on measurable growth

We are not a vendor that executes tasks. That’s a marketing monkey. We are a partner that installs strategy systems - then we make sure they perform.

A better next step.

If you are evaluating agencies, the most valuable step is not collecting proposals.

It is getting clarity on your current constraint.

Start with a diagnostic:
Some Helpful Tools

Or, if you are ready to move forward, schedule a conversation with our team.

Ask Better Questions. Get Better Results.

This is the No‑Pressure, Get‑Help Button.

Let's chat to see if we’re the right fit.

Satisfied Partners

"We cannot thank you enough for your hard work, attention to detail, and flexibility throughout this process. The final product is truly exceptional. We are so excited to launch this next chapter of REACH with a website that captures our vision and the heart of our work, and we are grateful for your expertise in bringing this to fruition."

Jillian Warriner

Chief of Strategy - REACH America

Working with Fidelis Creative has been one of the best decisions I’ve made for my firm. Their team guided me through a thoughtful, well-structured branding process that felt both strategic and deeply personal. They helped me clarify who we are, what we stand for, and how we uniquely serve our clients. The entire experience was collaborative. I never felt pushed into a template. If you’re serious about building a brand with clarity, depth, and long-term impact, I highly recommend Fidelis Creative.

Curtis Lacy

Rollo Wealth Management

"Jim and I just met and are just blown away by how great it looks and how easy you have made it for me to update. You guys are great!!"

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TREXO

"As always, thanks for the great care you and the whole Fidelis team have offered. It's fun to work alongside people who "get" what we do. You guys make marketing fun and easy."

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"Amazing experience working with the Fidelis team. Their differentiator is their ability to dive into the heart of a business, understand it, and deliver quality work that resonates within the company and translates externally."

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Owner of Dynamic Drains

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