Hiring a marketing agency itself is a big decision. With so many options out there, it’s already hard to know which one is the right fit for you. But it doesn’t stop there. We’ve seen quite a few fake ones pop up over the past few months, so it’s crucial to be extremely cautious and look beyond flashy websites and big promises.
To help you make the best choice and protect your business, here are our 7 key factors to consider before selecting your agency.
1. Does the Company Have Reviews?
Every website nowadays has reviews, and if they don’t, then that’s already a bad start. But what you want to make sure is that your agency has real ones. Let’s use Zima Media’s website as an example.
As you can see, there are testimonials and reviews present from Google and Fiverr, which is a good starting point. However, we don’t recommend using the website as the only source of information. The best practice would be to go and review, for example, their Google Business Profile, their Fiverr profile, or other review sites such as Featured Customers.
Never rely just on the testimonials they showcase on their website. A legitimate agency will have a solid track record of positive feedback from multiple sources, and it is best to take a look at all of them to ensure that they are actually getting reviews from real customers.
Just “google” the agency’s name and the word “reviews”, and make sure you check their reviews everywhere! 😉
2. Is Their Website Secure?
A professional marketing agency should have a secure website. Well, we know this is typically considered a standard practice for any legitimate business (especially for a digital marketing agency), but you might be surprised by what we have seen lately.
So, you can check this by looking if the website’s URL starts with “https” (where the “s” stands for secure). Additionally, you can click on the icon in the address bar (top left corner of your browser) to view the security details and whether the connection is secure and the certificate is valid.
If these are missing, that means their site lacks an SSL certificate, which is a basic security measure. If they can’t secure their own site, how can you trust them to handle yours?
3. Does the Agency Have Social Followers?
If you scroll to the bottom of nearly every website, you will see a list of their social media accounts (even though some of the fake agencies don’t even bother to put them there).
So, take a moment to click on these links and just double-check that these are real profiles with followers, subscribers, or whatever the platform uses. 
You want to have an agency that is active on social media, regularly posting content and valuable information and engaging with their followers. So, what do their profiles say to you? Do they have a solid following?
4. Are There Real Case Studies?
A reputable agency will usually feature case studies on its website (clear, detailed case studies with measurable results). It’s essential to open these up and check if the information provided is realistic and from actual businesses. Take Zima Media’s case studies page, for example, where anyone can explore real-world results from our clients.
While these case studies won’t guarantee the exact same results for you, they show the agency’s ability to deliver similar outcomes for your business. And even if you can’t be 100% sure if these results are true, try to look for statistics that may seem impressive but not ridiculously high. And if you’re wondering why we mention this, it is because we can show a quick trick that anyone can do to “show” really high results inside an actual Google Ads account just by adjusting the code.
In the account below, you will see that the actual ROAS is 20213.90% (ridiculously high), and also, if you look closer, you’ll find our little disclaimer message “this is fake data” we put there when we changed the code. At the same time, if we refresh this page, it will return to normal and show the actual “zero” results.
Want to see this trick in real time? Don’t forget to check out our video!
A good agency will be transparent about their past work and willing to show you and discuss further the actual results they’ve achieved for their clients. So, don’t hesitate to ask them for their case studies. If they don’t share enough, they might be exaggerating or, worse, making things up. However, as you just saw, there are many ways to fake reports, even from accounts like Google Ads. So, at the end of the day, case studies alone aren’t enough. Numbers can be manipulated, so make sure you review all the other factors we cover in this article.
5. Is Their Blog Active?
Content is a big part of a digital strategy. Check if the agency actually has blog posts on their website. If they don’t, that’s definitely a bad sign because they’re either not doing marketing for their own site or they don’t know how to. Either way, it’s best to stay away.
A blog reflects knowledge and a commitment to staying updated in the industry. So, make sure they do have an active blog and, ideally, plenty of valuable content. This is a key strategy not only for SEO but also for other types of marketing.
We recommend taking things a step further and reviewing their content in depth. Does it provide real value, or is it just generic fluff that ChatGPT can produce in seconds? It’s a great way to take a closer look at their expertise and also their writing quality. After all, if they’re going to produce content for you, you want to make sure they know what they’re doing!
6. Are They Official Partners?
If you visit most digital marketing agencies’ websites, you’ll often see badges showing that the agency is a Google, Meta, or Shopify partner. But are they really?
Here’s how you can verify this. Most of these platforms have a directory on their website where you can double-check the partnership status. For example, you can visit Google’s partnership website directory and search for them. If the agency’s name pops up (as it does for Zima Media in the screenshot below), just ensure that this is the right agency (by checking the website) and you’ve successfully validated their partnership. 
Similarly, for Shopify partners, when you search for “Zima Media” in their directory, you’ll find our business information, including reviews, case studies, contact information, and more.
So, if the agency is listed among these directories, then you know they are truly partners. Remember to always look for proof because if they can’t back up their claims, they might not be a real agency or at least not as experienced as they say.
7. Do They Have Competitive Pricing?
If an agency’s prices are available on the website (let’s give them some bonus points for transparency!), take a good look. If the prices are too low (significantly cheaper than industry standards), we would simply say: Stay away!
Overall, we don’t recommend considering agencies with prices that are too low. If they seem too good to be true, it’s because they probably are.
Quality marketing services require expertise, time, and resources. That’s why you want to ensure they have competitive pricing, which means that their rates are in line with most other agencies. Of course, it’s okay if they are slightly cheaper or more expensive than others, but be sure the pricing falls within a reasonable range.
Remember to avoid agencies that offer rock-bottom prices because that usually indicates that they won’t be able to deliver the quality services they promise, or worse, that they may not be a legitimate agency at all.
Do Your Research Before Hiring an Agency
A marketing agency should be able to prove its expertise. By checking reviews, verifying credentials, and analyzing their online presence, you can spot a fake digital marketing company before it’s too late. Take your time, evaluate these key factors, and ask the right questions to find an agency that truly understands your business goals and delivers real results.
If you’re actively looking for your marketing agency and don’t know what to look for, make sure to check our guide on how to choose the right marketing agency with all the essential information. And if you’re considering Zima Media, don’t hesitate to book a consultation call with us; it’s on the house!
