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​Questions You Should Ask

• No matter which Social Media Marketing Company you choose, here are some qiuestions you should ask.
  

1. Ask for 2–3 case studies showing before/after KPIs (leads, CPL, conversion rate, revenue).
   
2. Request client references (similar industry). Call one or two and ask about results and service.
   
3. Ask for a trial campaign or audit. A 30-day pilot with clear KPIs is the fastest proof.
   
4. Review their analytics/reporting format so you can see real-time performance and attribution.
   
5. Check public proof: reviews on Google/LinkedIn, sample ads, content quality, and portfolio.
   
6. Compare with 2–3 competitors on price, services, past results and processes.
   
7. Look at credentials (team bios, certifications, partnerships, awards).
   

Questions you can ask them right away

• “Show me a client case study where you improved lead volume and reduced CPL by X%.”
  
• “What is your process for testing creative and landing pages?”
  
• “How do you attribute leads and revenue to social campaigns?”
  
• “What are your onboarding and reporting cadences?”
  
• “Who will be my day-to-day contact?”
  

Strategy & Fit

1. What do you see as the primary role of social media for a business like ours (brand, leads, sales, support)?
   
2. What specific channels and tactics would you prioritize for our goals and why?
   
3. Describe your typical buyer-journey / funnel approach. How do social and paid activity feed into conversion?
   
4. How do you tailor strategy to different verticals / audiences? Give a quick example for a company like ours.
   

Results & KPIs

1. What KPIs do you recommend we track (short- and long-term)?
   
2. How do you define success for a campaign at 30, 60, 90 days vs. 6–12 months?
   
3. Can you show measurable outcomes: leads, CPL, conversion rate, revenue attribution, AOV or ROAS?
   
4. What reasonable performance targets should we expect in the first 90 days (benchmarks)?
   

Case Studies & Proof

1. Please share 2-3 case studies with before/after metrics (specific numbers, not generic statements).
   
2. For each case study, who was the client, what were the goals, what budget/timeframe, and what were the exact results?
   
3. Can we speak to 1–2 reference clients with similar objectives?
   

Creative & Content

1. Who creates your creative (in-house or freelancers)? Can you show recent examples of ad creative, organic posts, and video?
   
2. How do you test creative? How often do you iterate?
   
3. What’s your process for brand voice and approvals? How do you ensure on-brand content?
   

Paid Media & Organic Tactics

1. How do you balance paid vs organic efforts? What % of budget do you recommend for each?
   
2. Walk me through a typical paid campaign — targeting, creative sets, bidding, and optimization cadence.
   
3. Do you manage ad accounts directly or run through your structure? Who owns the ad accounts?
   
4. How do you approach community management and social engagement?
   

Technical / Tracking / Analytics

1. How do you handle tracking and attribution (pixels, Analytics, UTM strategy)?
   
2. What attribution model do you use for social leads/revenue? Can we see the raw data and source of truth?
   
3. Will you set up and maintain our conversion tracking, audiences, and remarketing lists?
   
4. How do you verify data accuracy and prevent attribution errors?
   

Reporting & Transparency

1. What does your regular reporting include? Can I see a sample weekly and monthly report?
   
2. How often do you meet to review performance and course correct?
   
3. Will I have access to live dashboards with raw data (not just PDF summaries)?
   
4. How do you communicate issues or underperforming campaigns?
   

Team, Process & Responsiveness

1. Who will be our day-to-day contact, and what is their background?
   
2. What’s your account team structure (PM, strategist, paid specialist, creative, analytics)?
   
3. What are your hours, SLA for responses, and escalation process?
   
4. How are tasks managed (project management tools / approval flows)?
   

Budget, Pricing & Contracts

1. What is your pricing model (retainer, % of ad spend, performance, project)? Break down what’s included.
   
2. Are there any additional fees (creative production, landing pages, third-party tools)?
   
3. What are typical recommended monthly budgets for businesses like ours?
   
4. What are your contract terms, notice period, and cancellation policy?
   

Legal, Compliance & Security

1. How do you handle consumer data and privacy (GDPR, CCPA, pixel data)?
   
2. Do you have insurance and professional liability coverage?
   
3. Are you willing to sign an NDA and standard data-protection addendum?
   
4. How do you ensure compliance with platform policies and advertising regulations?
   

Onboarding & Ramp

1. Describe your onboarding process and timeline (first 30/60/90 days). What do you need from us?
   
2. What is your audit process for an existing account? Do you provide a free audit?
   
3. What quick wins do you typically deliver in the first month?
   

Pricing for a Pilot

1. Can you run a 30- to 60-day pilot or audit? What would it cost and what exactly will we get?
   
2. If the pilot performs, how quickly can you scale?
   

Red Flags to Watch For

1. If an agency can’t show real KPIs or refuses client references, that’s a red flag.
   
2. If they promise exact outcomes (e.g., “we guarantee X sales”), ask for proof — legitimate firms avoid unrealistic guarantees.
   
3. If they won’t let you own your ad accounts or analytics, require contract changes before starting.