Shirin runs a skincare brand. In two years, she worked with three agencies. The first boosted posts and sent screenshots of likes. The second promised “guaranteed first page on Google in 30 days” and disappeared with three months’ fees. The third asked for her sales numbers on the first call, wanted access to her shop data and said one thing she remembers: “If we cannot connect our work to your revenue, we should not work together.” That third one is still her agency.
Knowing how to choose a digital marketing agency can save you a lot of money and frustration. Here are the 12 questions to ask, and the red flags to watch for.
Before you talk to agencies
Write down three things:
- Your main goal: more leads, more online sales, a new market, brand awareness.
- Your numbers: average order value or deal size, current sales, profit margin.
- Your budget: agency fee plus ad spend you can sustain for at least three to six months.
Agencies that care about results will ask for these. If they do not, that tells you something.
The 12 questions to ask
1. “What results have you achieved for businesses like mine?”
Ask for case studies with real numbers and, ideally, a client you can speak to. Similar industry or business model is a big plus.
2. “Who will actually work on my account?”
Meet the people, not just the salesperson. Ask about their experience and certifications.
3. “Who owns the ad accounts, pixels and data?”
The answer must be: you. The agency should get partner access to your Business Manager, Google Ads, GA4 and website.
4. “How will you measure success?”
Good answers mention leads, sales, cost per acquisition, revenue and return on ad spend. Weak answers focus on likes, reach and impressions.
5. “What will you do in the first 30, 60 and 90 days?”
A clear plan shows real thinking. Vague promises do not.
6. “How do you handle tracking?”
Without good tracking, nobody knows what works. Ask how they set up Pixel, Conversions API, GA4 and conversion tracking. Our tracking guide explains why this matters.
7. “How often will we meet, and what will reports show?”
Monthly reports with clear numbers and next steps, plus regular calls, are a good standard.
8. “How do you price your work?”
Fixed fee, percentage of ad spend, or performance-based. Each has pros and cons. Understand exactly what is included.
9. “What is the contract length and exit process?”
Reasonable notice periods are fine. Long lock-ins with no exit are a warning sign.
10. “What do you need from us?”
Good agencies need your input: product knowledge, fast approvals, sales feedback. Results come from partnership.
11. “What would you not do for us?”
Honest agencies will say when a channel is not right for you. Agencies that say yes to everything may not be thinking.
12. “Can I see a sample report?”
This shows how they think and communicate.
Red flags
- Guarantees of #1 rankings or fixed sales numbers.
- Owning your accounts or refusing to share access.
- Secret methods they cannot explain.
- No real case studies or only screenshots of likes.
- Very cheap packages with “everything included”.
- Fake reviews or followers on their own pages.
Freelancer, agency or in-house?
A freelancer can be great for a specific task. An agency gives you a team of specialists: ads, SEO, design, tracking and strategy. An in-house team gives full focus but costs more in salaries and management. Many growing businesses start with an agency, then build in-house skills over time.
Compare proposals fairly
| Compare | Agency A | Agency B |
|---|---|---|
| Relevant case studies | ||
| Team experience | ||
| You own accounts and data | ||
| Tracking plan | ||
| 90-day plan | ||
| Reporting and meetings | ||
| Total monthly cost | ||
| Contract terms |
Use this table to score each proposal. The cheapest is rarely the best value.
Making the partnership work
- Share real sales data and feedback.
- Approve content quickly.
- Give it enough time: three months for ads to stabilise, longer for SEO.
- Agree on goals and review them together.
Understanding agency pricing models
| Model | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed monthly retainer | Set fee for agreed services | Clear scope and deliverables |
| Percentage of ad spend | Fee grows with budget | Incentive to raise spend, not results |
| Project fee | One price for a website, audit or setup | What happens after launch |
| Performance-based | Fee tied to leads or sales | Clear definitions and tracking |
There is no perfect model. The best one aligns the agency’s success with yours and is easy to understand.
The first 90 days with a new agency
- Weeks 1–2: onboarding, access, audit of accounts, tracking and website.
- Weeks 3–4: strategy, fixes to tracking, first campaigns or content.
- Month 2: testing creatives, audiences, offers and pages.
- Month 3: doubling down on what works, cutting what does not, first clear results review.
Judge progress against this kind of plan. Ads usually show signals early; SEO takes longer.
Questions agencies should ask you
You can also judge an agency by its questions. Good agencies ask:
- What is your profit margin and average order or deal value?
- Who are your best customers, and why do they buy?
- What has worked and failed before?
- How do you handle leads and sales today?
- What does success look like in six months?
An agency that asks nothing about your business is likely to treat you like every other client.
When to end an agency relationship
- No clear reporting after repeated requests.
- Results keep declining with no explanation or plan.
- They refuse to give you access to your own accounts.
- Promises keep changing.
End it professionally, collect all access and data, and document what was done so the next team can continue.
A scoring sheet you can use
Feelings after a sales call can mislead you. Score every agency on the same criteria. Give each a score from 1 to 5, multiply by the weight, then add it up.
| Criterion | Weight | What a 5 looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Relevant results | × 3 | Case studies in your industry with revenue numbers, and a client you can call |
| Tracking and reporting | × 3 | Clear plan for Pixel, CAPI and GA4; sample report tied to sales |
| Team quality | × 2 | You met the people who will do the work; they asked smart questions |
| Ownership and access | × 2 | You own every account; they work through partner access |
| Strategy fit | × 2 | A 90-day plan built around your goals and numbers |
| Price and terms | × 1 | Clear scope, fair notice period, no hidden fees |
The highest total is usually the right choice, even if it is not the cheapest proposal.
What a good monthly report looks like
A report should help you make decisions, not just prove the agency was busy.
- One-line summary: “Orders up 18%, cost per order down Tk 40.”
- Business numbers first: leads, orders, revenue, cost per result, return on ad spend.
- What worked and what did not, with reasons.
- What they will do next month, with priorities.
- What they need from you: approvals, stock info, new photos.
Likes, reach and impressions can appear at the end as context. They should never be the headline.
Agency pricing in Bangladesh: what affects the fee
Fees vary widely. These factors explain most of the difference:
- Number of channels: Facebook only, or Facebook + Google + SEO + email.
- Ad spend size: larger budgets need more testing and management time.
- Content production: are design, video and copywriting included?
- Seniority: who actually runs your account, a trainee or a senior specialist?
- Tracking and tech work: server-side tracking and dashboards take expert time.
- Markets: campaigns for the UK or USA need different skills from local campaigns.
Compare proposals by what is included and who does the work, not by the monthly number alone.
Comparing agencies? Start here
If you are building a shortlist, our honest roundup of the best digital marketing agencies in Bangladesh compares 30 agencies, including us, with founding year, team size, ratings, rates and specialty. Use it with the scoring sheet above.
Shirin’s advice
“Do not hire the agency that tells you what you want to hear. Hire the one that asks hard questions about your business.” Her current agency cut half her ad campaigns in the first month because they were not profitable. Revenue went up anyway.
Choosing the right digital marketing agency is one of the most important growth decisions you will make. Ask the 12 questions, watch for red flags and insist on owning your data. If you want to see how we work, read our case studies or book a free strategy call.
- Know your goal, numbers and budget before talking to agencies.
- Ask for real results, meet the team and see a sample report.
- Always own your ad accounts, pixels, analytics and domain.
- Avoid guarantees, secret methods and long lock-ins.
- Choose the agency that connects its work to your revenue.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a digital marketing agency cost in Bangladesh?
It depends on services, channels and ad budget. Some charge a fixed monthly fee, others a percentage of ad spend, or a mix. Compare what is included, not just the price.
Should the agency own my ad accounts?
No. Ad accounts, pages, pixels, analytics and domains should belong to your business. The agency should get partner access.
How long before I see results?
Ads can show early signals within weeks. SEO and brand building take months. A good agency explains realistic timelines upfront.
Is the cheapest agency a good choice?
Rarely. Very low prices often mean junior staff, little strategy and copy-paste work. Judge by results, process and transparency.
Amanat has managed $4M+ in Google and Meta ad spend for brands in the UK, USA, Australia and Bangladesh since 2020. He holds 20+ certifications, including Digital Marketing Strategy from Harvard Business School Online. More about Amanat
