Is Your Marketing Agency Being Honest With You? 7 Red Flags Small Businesses Should Know
By ERIN LARISON
COO, Larison Media
Hiring a marketing agency can feel a lot like hiring a contractor. At first, everything sounds amazing. They show you glossy pictures of past projects, talk a big game about timelines, and assure you the results will be “stunning.”
And then three months later, you’re staring at a half-finished deck, wondering if you’ve been scammed.
Agencies can be fantastic partners — but they can also leave you with empty promises and an even emptier wallet. Here are seven red flags every small business owner should watch for.
1. They Promise Instant Results
If someone swears you’ll be on page one of Google by Friday, don’t walk — run. Marketing doesn’t work like a microwave dinner. It takes time, strategy and consistency.
2. They Keep Everything a Secret
You should always have access to your own website, ad accounts and analytics. If they lock you out, that’s a 🚩. Your business, your keys.
3. They Talk Like Robots
If your agency’s reports sound like “leveraging omni-channel synergies to maximize engagement,” they’re trying to confuse you. You deserve plain English: How many leads came in? Did sales increase? What’s actually working?
4. They Nickel-and-Dime You
Beware of line items for every little thing: a “strategy fee,” a “posting fee,” maybe even a “we answered your email” fee. Transparency matters. If the invoice reads like a Cheesecake Factory menu, that’s a problem.
5. They Sell You Stuff You Don’t Need
A neighborhood bakery doesn’t need a $20,000 influencer campaign. A local law office doesn’t need a TikTok dance strategy. A good agency builds a plan around your goals, not around what makes them the most money.
6. They Don’t Understand Small Business
If they’ve only worked with huge corporations, they may not understand the realities of running lean, wearing 12 hats, and needing ROI yesterday. You shouldn’t pay them to learn Small Business 101 on your dime.
7. They Ghost You
If you’re sending emails, leaving voicemails and considering sending smoke signals just to get a response, 🚩. Communication should not feel like a game of hide-and-seek.
The Bottom Line
The right marketing agency should feel like a partner, not a bad contractor. They’ll be upfront, clear and invested in helping your business grow.
