Questions Before Signing

What to ask a marketing agency before you sign.

The questions that separate agencies before the contract does. Ask every agency on your list the same ones and compare the answers side by side.

The short list

Before you sign with any Minneapolis marketing agency, get clear answers to five things: how they track results, who does the work, what happens if it isn't working, who owns your accounts, and what the contract actually says.

Below is each question, what a good answer sounds like, and when to walk away. If you're still building your shortlist, start with our guide to choosing a Minneapolis agency.

The checklist

Ask	A good answer	Walk away if
How will you track results?	Leads and revenue, traced to the channel	They lead with impressions and clicks
Who does the work?	Names, and you can meet them	"Our team" and nobody specific
What if it isn't working?	When they'd know, and what they'd change	Guaranteed rankings or lead counts
Who owns the accounts?	You own ads, analytics, site and data	The accounts stay with them if you leave
How long is the contract?	A clear term and notice period	12 months before any work is shown

1. Ask how they track results, not just activity

Posts published and ads launched are activity. Ask what number they'll report every month and how it connects to sales.

A good agency sets up tracking that follows a lead from the ad or search that brought it in to the sale, and shows you on a report you can open yourself.

2. Ask who actually does the work

Ask who runs your account each week and whether you can meet them before signing. Ask what they do themselves and what goes to contractors. Both are fine, but you should know.

3. Ask what happens if it isn't working

Ask when you'd see the first real signal, and what they'd change if month three looks like month one. Anyone who guarantees rankings or a number of leads is guessing. Nobody controls Google's results.

4. Ask how the services connect

If they run ads, SEO and email, ask how those work together. Does the landing page match the ad? Does the email follow up on the lead the ad brought in? Separate services with separate reports usually means nobody owns the result.

5. Read the contract for these

Term and notice. How long it runs and how much notice it takes to end it.
Ownership. Ad accounts, analytics, the website and your data should be yours.
What's included. Which work is in the monthly fee and what gets billed separately.
Ad spend. Whether it's paid to the platforms directly or marked up.
One-time fees. Setup or build costs, and what you get for them.

Frequently asked.

What questions should I ask a marketing agency before signing a contract?

Ask how they track results, who does the work, what happens if it isn't working, who owns your ad accounts and data, and what the contract term and notice period are.

How long should a marketing agency contract be?

Month to month with a notice period is common for ongoing marketing, and a one-time build is usually its own fee. Be careful with a 12-month commitment required before any work is shown. Snack Club retainers run month to month with 30 days' notice.

Should a marketing agency show me revenue results, not just likes or impressions?

Yes. Likes and impressions show activity. Ask for leads and revenue traced back to the channel that brought them in, on a report you can open yourself.

Does Snack Club work with businesses outside Minneapolis?

Yes. Most of our clients are in the Twin Cities, and we also run marketing for businesses in other states.

Want to see what fits your business?

Book a 15-min strategy call. We will tell you which model fits, with or without working with us.

See if we're a fit