Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Digital Marketing Agency

Hiring a digital marketing agency is not about listening to a polished sales pitch. It’s about knowing the right questions to ask and judging how honestly they answer. In Bangalore, where startups, tech companies, and local businesses are fighting for attention, the choice of an agency can decide whether you scale or stay stuck.

Below are the practical questions every business owner should ask  - and the answers you should expect.

1. How do you measure ROI from campaigns  - beyond clicks and impressions?

Most agencies will show you vanity metrics: clicks, likes, or followers. These look good but don’t pay the bills. What you need is a direct link between campaigns and revenue.

>>Example: If you run an e-commerce brand in Bangalore, ask the agency: “How much sales did my Google Ads generate after ad spend?” If they cannot show you ROI in numbers, they are not transparent.

Cubikey example: Instead of just reporting traffic, Cubikey connects GA4 data with sales. A client in Indiranagar selling organic products saw not only a jump in visitors but also a 22% rise in repeat customers because reporting included retention metrics.

For example: 

Challenge popular opinion:  People generally believe that "more traffic means success."  That's not right.  If traffic doesn't turn into paying consumers, it's just noise. What really matters for businesses is leads converting from that traffic.

2.  Can you give examples of clients in Bangalore or businesses in comparable fields?

Agencies love to drop big brand names in pitches. But many times, their actual role was minimal.

>> The real test: Ask them to show work for businesses like yours. If you own a café in Whitefield, a case study for a SaaS company in San Francisco doesn't signify anything.

Example of Cubikey:  When a Bangalore-based educational business asked Cubikey for help, they didn't only show off their impressive client list.  Instead, we showed the entrepreneur how to run a campaign for educational institutions in Banglore or nearby regions that used local SEO and targeted ads to get three times as many sign-ups.

Question what most people think:  Don't let Fortune 500 client logos fool you.  A case study that is relevant to your scale is more important than global names.

3. Do you specialize in startups, SMEs, or enterprises?

Different businesses need different startegies. A bootstrapped startup cannot spend ₹10L a month on ads, while an enterprise wants campaigns at scale.

Cubikey example: A lot of agencies in Bangalore say they can help "everyone."  Cubikey says no to clients who don't fit, which goes against this.  They work with startups and small to medium-sized businesses who desire real growth, not just branding for the sake of it.

Contrary to popular belief, the best agency is the best agency for no one.

4. How do you balance AI tools with human creativity?

Many agencies now say “We use AI for content.” That sounds advanced, but if they depend only on AI, you risk generic content that Google penalizes.

>>Ask: “Which parts do you automate, and where do humans step in?”

Cubikey example: Cubikey uses programmatic SEO to generate scalable pages (e.g., location-based landing pages for a logistics client) but always layers human editing, storytelling, and compliance checks.

Challenge popular opinion: AI will not replace agencies. Agencies that rely only on AI will fade. The winners are those combining AI speed with human insight.

5. What certifications or compliance do you hold?

Digital marketing is no longer just about catchy ads and trending hashtags. If your agency doesn’t understand compliance, you’re putting your business at risk.

Take healthcare as an example. A hospital in Bangalore might want to promote cancer screenings. If the agency doesn’t know Google’s healthcare ad policies or lacks certifications like Google Partner or HIPAA-like compliance standards, your ads can get suspended overnight. Worse, you could face penalties for misinformation.

Certifications prove that an agency has passed industry-level checks. This demonstrate that the group has made training investments, is familiar with platforms, and has access to support. 

• Google Partner Badge - Trained and trusted by Google to run ad campaigns efficiently.

• Meta Blueprint Certification - Facebook and Instagram advertising strategies.

• HubSpot Partner Certification 

6. How transparent are your reports?

Some agencies send glossy PDFs once a month. But by then, it’s too late to fix anything.

>>Ask: “Can I get live dashboards or weekly updates?”

Cubikey example: Cubikey sets up GA4 and Looker Studio dashboards so clients can check ad spend vs sales in real time.

Challenge popular opinion: Many clients think monthly reports are enough. They are not. Growth needs weekly tracking.

7. What’s your approach to local SEO in Bangalore?

Global ranking is not the same as local ranking. If you are a fitness center in HSR Layout, ranking for “best gym Bangalore” is less useful than “best gym HSR Layout.”

>> Ask: “How will you optimize my Google Business Profile, reviews, and local citations?”

Cubikey example: A restaurant in Indiranagar saw walk-ins grow 40% after Cubikey optimized their GBP with reviews mentioning dishes and locations.

Challenge popular opinion: Most agencies think SEO is equivalent to informative blog posts. Local SEO is often ignored, but it drives the fastest ROI for Bangalore businesses.

8. How do you handle ad budgets?

Agencies often charge a % of ad spend. On the surface, this seems fair. But it creates a conflict: the more you spend, the more they earn - even if results don’t improve. 

>> Ask: “Do you charge a standard fee or % of spend? How do you plan it?”

Challenge popular opinion: Spending more on ads doesn’t guarantee more sales. Smart targeting matters more than high budgets.

9. Do you outsource work?

Many agencies in Bangalore pitch as full-service but outsource SEO, ads, or design. This leads to poor accountability.

>> Ask: “Who will actually manage my campaigns  - your team or freelancers?”

Cubikey example: Cubikey keeps core SEO, paid ads, and data analysis in-house, outsourcing only video production. This ensures direct accountability.

Challenge popular opinion: Outsourcing is not always bad. But agencies should be transparent about it.

10. How do you stay updated with GEO and Programmatic SEO?

SEO is changing with Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and programmatic SEO. If your agency still talks only about backlinks, they are outdated.

>> Ask: “How are you preparing for AI-driven search?”

Cubikey example: Cubikey built 500+ programmatic SEO pages for a logistics client targeting niche queries like “aerospace courier Dallas”  - something impossible with manual writing.

Challenge popular opinion: Backlinks alone will not decide rankings in 2025. Structured data, programmatic SEO, and GEO signals will.

11. Can I meet the team managing my account?

Some agencies roll out smooth sales pitches, but the execution team is hidden.

>> Ask: “Who will be my account manager, SEO lead, and ads specialist?”

Cubikey example: Every Cubikey client meets the team during onboarding. This avoids the “bait and switch” problem.

Challenge popular opinion: Don’t just trust the founder’s pitch. Judge the execution team’s expertise.

13. What kind of clients are not the right fit for you?

This is the most revealing question. A good agency knows who they can’t help.

>> If an agency says “We can help everyone,” walk away.

Cubikey example: Cubikey declines clients who want instant sales in 2 weeks without investment in content or SEO.

Challenge popular opinion: Saying no makes an agency more trustworthy, not less.

Final Thoughts

When you hire a digital marketing agency in Bangalore, you shouldn't just pick the one with the best pitch deck. Check to see how honestly they answer by asking them real factual questions.  It's not enough for an agent to say, "We'll get you leads."  

Agencies should show you clear steps, real-life cases, and reports based on ROI.   If you want to do well in Bangalore, you need an agency that is honest, open, and based on facts.