As a result, it’s so much easier for things to go wrong on the popular social media platform. Money oftentimes goes wasted due to ads being thrown together at the last minute with weak copy and design. Not to mention, crummy targeting while playing an absolute guessing game as to who to push content out to.

So, because of how easy it is to make those blunders as an entrepreneur focused on your own business, it’s important to know when you need to ask for help—especially if you’re not seeing any results from your current Facebook campaigns.

And, one way you can push the weight of Facebook advertising off your plate, while steering your strategy in the right direction, is by partnering with a local advertising agency.

There's a strong chance the budget will be blown out the window with every wrong bid for those who choose to fly by the seat of their pants with their strategy. A local advertising agency can help you steer clear from making this mistake.

When many think of working with an advertising agency, however, they tack on a bogus price tag to that partnership. But, hiring one to manage your Facebook campaigns can actually be less of an expense when compared to the cost of a full-time employee.

Let’s put it this way: if you find a hotshot that can successfully manage all the bidding, audience research, creative components, monitoring, and performance analyzing, that person won’t come at a bargain.

In fact, Digital Marketing Managers earn an average salary of $62,363 a year. That’s a whopping chunk of your hard-earned money! Meanwhile, an agency already has a built-in multiple-person team that can get the job done at a monthly retainer cost starting at $1,000.

When it comes to placing your Facebook advertising strategy in the hands of experts for success that scales, you can’t stick a price tag on that.

From sitting in brainstorming meetings to getting your hands on result recaps, you have the chance to actually learn…a lot. Marketing terminology will be easier for you to understand, new strategy and social media ideas will sprout up more than ever before in that brilliant brain of yours—the opportunities are endless.

Most importantly, you’ll be able to reflect and rely on those lessons over the years of your business to tackle future challenges that come your way.

> How long should my contract be? An agency should be able to understand your business and jumpstart your campaigns. But, it can take time to see the results. Just be sure to protect yourself from getting sucked into any long-term contract gimmicks. Because, as a paying client, you should have the ability to leave the relationship at any time and for any reason.

> What’s included each month with this contract? Contracts vary agency to agency. Ensure the pricing is clear and simple. Determine if you’ll be billed at an hourly rate, project rate, or retainer. And, be aware of what deliverables are to be supplied and when. Most agencies will provide you with a customized timeline on a per project basis. This will help you know what to expect, safeguarding your business from surprises and scope creep.  

> What’s your track record for businesses like mine? Vet their agency and ensure they have the experience to market your brand correctly. Also, take a look at their website and see if they’ve won any awards lately. No website? That doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t professionals. No matter the case, a strong advertiser should be able to provide you with excellent, verifiable testimonials from past clients. After all, not all agencies can walk the talk. Out-of-this-world copy and creative gets businesses noticed, which is just what you want.

> How do you handle client communication and collaboration? Communication is key to a healthy relationship. An agency that has implemented proper platforms and processes (like Trello or Slack) to manage client communication and collaboration wastes much less time. And, makes you feel like you’re their only client because they’re just that good at it.

> Who will be managing my account and executing the work? This may seem like a silly question, but some digital advertising agencies actually outsource their talent. It’s okay to do this for certain tasks. Though, if you’re looking to amplify your Facebook advertising, it’s much more comforting to know there are superstar digital marketing managers on staff.

> What’s your distinctive culture? When hiring an agency, you’re basically gaining new teammates. Be sure to partner with one that has values and a culture that meshes with your company’s personality. The chemistry should be there and you should look forward to collaborating with them at any chance you get.

> How will you measure the success of the marketing campaign(s)? Marketing and advertising shouldn’t be a giant black hole on your budgeting sheet that you dump money into. Thus, the agency should be able to support their campaign recommendations with real data—up-to-date, easy-to-understand (non-jargon heavy) reports on how things are going.

Ask questions on benchmarks, metrics, and analytics they use to measure success. Also, be aware of when you can expect to receive reports on progress made towards these metrics. 

If you're the agency make sure you answer all of the above questions before your client asks them and if you need help with creating terms of service, privacy policy or other legal agreements, check out termsfeed.com.  

We could list 20 plus questions you could ask when evaluating a digital advertising agency to run your Facebook ads. But, this is just a guide. In the end, ask away on those that matter most to you. There’s no such thing as a dumb question. Your brand’s success is at stake.  

The bottom line is: many small businesses are outsourcing various tasks, like Facebook advertising, to help their business thrive and stay nimble. So, if you’re ready to join forces with a local advertising agency, you’ve got the insight as to how they can help you and what questions to ask during your search.