Brisbane has no shortage of digital marketing agencies. What it doesn't have enough of is transparency about what you're actually signing up for.
After 15+ years doing this ourselves — and hearing plenty of horror stories from business owners who came to us after a bad experience elsewhere — here's what we'd tell a friend before they sign anything.
Ask: "What happens to my account if I leave?"
This is the single most revealing question you can ask. If the answer is vague, or if they hesitate, that tells you the agency's business model depends on you not being able to leave easily. A legitimate agency should be able to tell you clearly: you keep your ad accounts, your data, your website, full stop.
Ask: "Can I see a real report, not a sales deck?"
Every agency will show you a polished case study. Ask instead for a sample of what your actual monthly reporting will look like. If they can't produce one, that's your answer.
Watch for vague "management fee" language
"We manage your campaigns for a monthly fee" sounds reasonable until you ask exactly what that fee covers, and how it compares to what you'd pay for the same work done as a one-off project. Some agencies profit more from you staying dependent than from you actually succeeding.
Ask what happens if it doesn't work
No honest agency can guarantee results — anyone who promises a specific number of leads or sales is either overconfident or not being straight with you. What they can control is the quality of the setup, the testing, and the strategy. Ask what you get regardless of outcome, not just what's promised if things go well.
Check if the price reflects a project or a relationship
There's nothing wrong with an ongoing retainer if that's genuinely what suits your business. But if a one-time, well-executed setup would actually solve your problem, make sure that's on the table as an option — not just the recurring plan that happens to be more profitable for them.
The bottom line
The best agency for your business isn't necessarily the biggest name or the flashiest pitch — it's the one being straight with you about what you're actually paying for, and what you own at the end of it.
Want to see what a transparent, no-lock-in model actually looks like? Take a look at our Turn-Key Google Ads model — one fee, full ownership, no forever contract.