Digital marketing isn’t just a buzzword—it’s become the driving force behind modern business growth. 

According to Statista, B2B digital advertising spending in the United States is projected to reach $23.05 billion by 2026, up from $18.34 billion in 2024. This shows the growing importance of digital channels in the B2B space.

If you want your brand to thrive in today’s market, you need a strong digital presence. That’s where digital marketing agencies come in. 

But with countless agencies promising to transform your business overnight, how do you separate the true experts from the smooth talkers? Let’s find out!

TL;DR — How to Find the Right Digital Marketing Agency

Looking for a digital marketing agency but short on time? Here are the key steps:

1. Define your marketing goals and budget
2. Research potential agencies and check their portfolio
3. Verify their expertise in your required services
4. Look for transparency in pricing and results
5. Check client testimonials and case studies
6. Evaluate their own marketing presence
7. Schedule consultations with top candidates
8. Ask detailed questions about their approach
9. Review their reporting and communication style
10. Trust your instincts about cultural fit

Follow these steps, and take your time during the vetting process. Rushing into a decision can lead to choosing the wrong partner, so do your due diligence.

If you’re ready to take the next step with a B2B digital marketing agency that delivers results, Crackerjack Marketing can help elevate your brand. 

We specialize in humanizing B2B marketing through strategic, customized approaches rather than one-size-fits-all templates.

Our team of senior-level marketers has been raising awareness and magnetizing leads for premier brands since 2010. 

We understand that effective marketing connects and converts—and you don’t have to do it alone. Get started with Crackerjack Marketing today!

What is a Digital Marketing Agency?

A digital marketing agency is a business that helps companies achieve their marketing goals through digital media, data, and technology. 

These agencies plan and execute online marketing strategies designed to effectively reach and engage your target audience in the digital space.

They have teams with expertise in various disciplines, from creating a content marketing engine to managing paid ads:

• Website design and development
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Paid advertising (Google Ads, social media ads)
• Email marketing
• Content strategy and creation
• Social media management
• Conversion rate optimization (CRO)
• Data analytics and performance reporting

A digital marketing agency functions as an outsourced marketing department for your business. They take care of key initiatives to strengthen your online presence and visibility.

Agencies range from specialized boutique firms that offer a narrow set of services to large global agencies that provide integrated, full-stack digital solutions under one roof.

When researching agencies, consider whether you want an integrated approach or prefer to work with separate specialists. 

Also, consider the level of customization, communication, and collaboration you desire.

Types of Services Offered

Digital marketing can encompass many different strategies and tactics. 

We’ve refined our service offerings at Crackerjack Marketing to focus on what truly moves the needle for B2B brands. 

Here’s a look at the services that help our clients achieve their business goals:

Service Type	What It Includes	Why It Matters
Executive LinkedIn	Profile optimization Strategic content creation Thought leadership development Engagement strategy	Positions your leadership team as industry experts while building valuable connections that drive business growth
Content Marketing	Blog writing Ebooks and whitepapers Case studies Email newsletters	Establishes your expertise and provides value to potential customers throughout their buying journey
SEO and Blogs	Keyword research and strategy On-page optimization Content creation Performance tracking	Helps your website rank higher in search results, driving organic traffic and qualified leads
Social Media Marketing	Profile optimization Content creation Community management Strategic planning	Builds brand awareness and engages with your target audience where they spend time online
Digital Marketing Strategy	Situational analysis Audience blueprinting Roadmap development KPI measurement	Creates a cohesive plan that aligns all marketing efforts with your business objectives
Email Marketing	Campaign strategy List management Creative development Performance tracking	Nurtures leads and maintains relationships with existing customers through personalized communication

Strategic Marketing Solutions

Beyond these core offerings, we provide specialized services that help B2B brands stand out:

Service	Purpose
Influencer Marketing	Connect your brand with the right industry voices to expand reach and credibility
Digital Advertising	Target qualified prospects with precision through paid campaigns on LinkedIn and other platforms

Our team takes a human-centered approach to B2B marketing, focusing on creating magnetic presences that attract the right audience to your brand. 

We believe marketing that connects and converts should be within reach for every business. 

How to Choose a Digital Marketing Agency

Looking for the right marketing partner isn’t easy—there are lots of options out there, each offering multiple of the above services. 

Let’s break down this process into manageable steps to help you make the best choice for your business.

1. Start with Your Goals and Budget

First things first: you need to know what you want to achieve. Think about what success looks like for your business. 

Are you looking to:

• Get more website visitors?
• Generate more leads?
• Boost your social media presence?

Don’t worry if you can’t set specific targets like “increase leads by 10% in 6 months.” 

Many businesses simply come to agencies with problems they need resolved rather than exact metrics to hit. 

Good agencies are problem-solvers at heart—they can help you turn your challenges into measurable goals.

Write down whatever goals or challenges you can identify—they’ll guide your entire search process.

When it comes to budget, recent research from The CMO Survey shows that companies typically allocate 10.2% of their total budget to marketing. 

For perspective, if your business has an annual budget of $200,000, you’d invest around $20,400 in marketing.

What’s important is being upfront about your budget so agencies can tell you exactly what they can deliver.

Key things to nail down before your search:

• Your main marketing goals or challenges
• How much you can spend monthly
• When you need to see results
• Who from your team will work with the agency

2. Check their Track Record

Now that you’ve got your goals and budget sorted, it’s time to look at potential agencies’ experience.

Think of this step as checking references for a new hire. You want an agency that knows what they’re doing, right?

Look at their past work first. 

A good agency will have:

• Success stories in your industry
• Real results they can show you
• A clear process they can explain
• Regular updates about industry trends

Here’s a pro tip: Ask for case studies from businesses similar to yours. This gives you a real peek at what they can do for you.

3. Look at How they Market Themselves

Once you’ve looked at their track record, it’s time for something many people overlook: checking how well the agency markets itself.

It’s pretty simple—if they can’t market their own business effectively, how can they market yours?

Take a good look at:

• Their website (is it modern and user-friendly?)
• Their blog (do they share useful insights?)
• Their social media (are they active and engaging?)
• Their Google rankings (do they show up for relevant searches?)

This last point is especially crucial for SEO agencies. Search marketing has changed a lot, and what search marketers do now is far more complex than before.

If they claim to be SEO experts, they should be ranking well for relevant keywords in their own market. 

For instance, if you’re looking at an SEO agency in Boston, check if they rank for terms like “boston seo agency,” “boston seo services,” or “seo consultant boston.” 

If they can’t achieve strong rankings for their own business in their local market, it might raise questions about their ability to deliver results for your business.

Also, if you spot outdated content or a clunky website, that’s a red flag. You want an agency that walks the talk.

4. Listen to What their Clients Say

After you’ve checked out their marketing prowess, there’s one more crucial step: hearing from their clients. 

This feedback is gold when you’re choosing an agency. But don’t just read testimonials on their website—dig deeper.

Practical ways to research their reputation:

• Read Google reviews
• Check their LinkedIn recommendations
• Ask to speak with current clients
• Look for reviews on independent platforms

Pay special attention to comments about communication style and results. These are usually good indicators of what it’s like to work with them.

You now know what your agency should ‘have,’ but you should also know what it ‘shouldn’t have.’ Let’s look at that next.

Red Flags to Look Out For When Choosing a Digital Marketing Agency

When searching for your perfect marketing partner, watch out for these seven warning signs. 

Each of these red flags could signal that an agency isn’t the right fit for your business:

1. They Take a Cookie-Cutter Approach

Here’s what should happen when you first talk to an agency: they should take a thorough look at your business needs to determine if they’re the right fit to work with you. 

Then, they should create a personalized strategy specifically for your company.

If an agency doesn’t try to understand your specific situation and goals, that’s a problem. 

When they just pull out the same approach they use for every other client, that’s your cue to run. Fast.

2. They’re Suspiciously Cheap

Be wary if an agency’s pricing seems too good to be true. 

We’re talking about situations where other agencies quote $3,000 or more per month, but this one says they’ll do it for $50. 

That should raise some eyebrows.

When you see pricing dramatically lower than the competition, there’s usually a reason—and it’s rarely a good one. 

“You get what you pay for” definitely holds true in marketing services. Super cheap agencies rarely deliver impressive results.

3. They Make Unrealistic Promises

Let’s say you’re comparing two agencies. 

One “guarantees” first-page rankings for your website, while the other is more cautious about making promises. 

You might think the first one sounds better—after all, they’re guaranteeing results!

Here’s the truth: no one can guarantee page-one rankings. 

You don’t have complete control over search engine rankings, even though you can optimize for them. 

Any agency claiming they can guarantee too-good-to-be-true results is probably not being honest with you.

Choose an agency that’s confident but realistic about what they can achieve for your business.

4. They Aren’t Open or Transparent

Watch out for agencies that seem closed off or communicate poorly. If you’re struggling to get answers about your campaigns or regular updates, that’s a serious red flag.

Good communication is crucial in any relationship, especially with your marketing agency. 

You need an agency that:

• Responds quickly to your questions
• Provides regular updates about your marketing
• Keeps you informed about their work
• Shows transparency about their methods

5. Their Brand Isn’t Built on Digital Marketing

Imagine going for surgery, and halfway through, your doctor casually mentions they were actually trained as a vet but switched to human medicine for better pay. 

You’d probably want to run, right?

You should do the same when an agency offers digital marketing services, but it’s not their main focus. 

Some companies specialize in traditional advertising or TV commercials and add digital marketing as an “extra” service.

If their approach to digital marketing is “Yeah, we can probably do that. How hard can it be?”—stay away.

6. They Don’t Give You Ownership Over Your Marketing Accounts

What would you think of a business consultant who builds important client relationships for you but keeps all the contact information to themselves?

When they leave, those relationships go with them. That’s exactly what happens with some marketing agencies.

Some agencies will help you set up accounts on various platforms but keep them under their control. 

This means if you part ways, you might lose access to:

• Your website hosting
• Ad campaign accounts
• Marketing tools
• Analytics data

Even if you’re not planning to leave an agency, circumstances change. Your goals might shift, or you might outgrow their services. 

You don’t want your business to suffer because you don’t have ownership of your own marketing assets.

7. They Don’t Use a Data-Driven Approach

The best marketing agencies track valuable metrics in your campaigns and use this data to improve your marketing over time. 

They should provide regular reports showing results and underlying data.

Watch out for agencies that:

• Don’t adjust their strategy based on results
• Stick to the same tactics regardless of performance
• Focus only on vanity metrics like social media likes
• Won’t share data specific to your business goals

Social media engagement and impressions are nice, but what’s more valuable are conversions and other KPIs that directly align with your business objectives. 

If an agency isn’t learning from data and showing how it’s helping you hit your specific goals, look elsewhere.

These red flags are common in the digital marketing world, where many agencies try to be all things to all clients. 

The key is finding a partner who can not only avoid these pitfalls but also offer specialized expertise to address your specific needs. 

If you’ve been disappointed by agencies that overpromise and underdeliver, you’re not alone. 

That’s why at Crackerjack Marketing, we focus on what truly matters—driving measurable results through transparent, data-driven strategies. Our team has been fixing past marketing setbacks and helping clients achieve new levels of success for over 14 years.

We believe marketing that moves the needle requires both strategic thinking and creative execution. That’s why we provide regular KPI tracking and insights that show exactly how our work impacts your bottom line—from elevated visibility to increased quality leads.

Want to experience marketing that’s strategic, nimble, and results-focused? Spark a conversation with our team today and tell us your marketing dreams.

Questions to Ask a Potential Marketing Agency Partner

Before partnering with an agency, ask these essential questions:

Strategy and Approach:

• “How do you develop marketing strategies?”
• “What’s your process for understanding our business?”
• “How do you measure success?”
• “What tools and technologies do you use?”

Experience and Expertise:

• “Can you share relevant case studies?”
• “Who will be working on our account?”
• “What’s their experience in our industry?”
• “How do you stay current with digital trends?”

Communication and Reporting:

• “How often do you provide updates?”
• “What metrics do you track and report?”
• “Who will be our main point of contact?”
• “How do you handle strategy adjustments?”

The more thoroughly you question, the better grasp you will have on the agency’s abilities, specialties, and weaknesses.

A strong partnership goes both ways. You can help your marketing agency do a better job by setting clear expectations and maintaining open communication from the start.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Let’s address some common questions about working with digital marketing agencies:

Is It Worth Hiring a Digital Marketing Agency?

Yes, hiring a digital marketing agency can be highly valuable for businesses that:

• Need specialized expertise
• Want to scale marketing efforts
• Lack internal resources
• Require strategic guidance
• Seek better ROI on marketing spend

The numbers speak for themselves: just one targeted mobile advertising campaign can motivate 72% of people who see your ad to visit your physical store—as long as it’s within 5 miles of their location.

And when it comes to email marketing, businesses typically earn $36 back for every dollar they spend on email campaigns.

How Much Should I Pay a Digital Marketing Agency?

Digital marketing agency fees vary based on:

• Services required
• Project scope
• Agency experience
• Geographic location
• Campaign complexity 

Every business has unique needs, so contact us to discuss your specific requirements and receive a customized pricing proposal that fits your objectives.

How Long Should I Expect It to Take for a Digital Marketing Agency to Show Results?

Timeline expectations vary by service:

• PPC: 2 -3 months
• Social Media: 3-6 months
• Content Marketing: 6-12 months
• SEO: 6-12+ months

Sustainable results take time to achieve and maintain.

What Should I Expect in Terms of Reporting from a Digital Marketing Agency?

A good agency should send you detailed monthly performance reports that clearly show how your campaigns are doing. 

These reports should break down the numbers that matter most to your business goals, explain what the data means, and suggest ways to improve results. 

You should see clear ROI calculations and get honest insights about what’s working and what isn’t. 

The data should be presented in a way that’s easy to understand, even if you’re not a marketing expert.

Conclusion

Choosing the right digital marketing agency requires careful research and evaluation. The right partner will understand your goals and deliver measurable results for your business.

At Crackerjack Marketing, we understand that B2B marketing is different. For 14 years, we’ve humanized digital marketing for brands through our strategic 6-step SPARKS process:

• Situational analysis
• Positional landscape
• Audience blueprint
• Roadmap strategy
• KPI-driven implementation
• Success optimization

Our senior-level marketers work across Chicago, Mumbai, and Barcelona to create magnetized presences that deliver what matters most: elevated visibility, quality leads, and heightened brand awareness.

Spark a conversation with us today, and let’s discuss how we can lift your business higher.