Digital Marketing Agency Red Flags: What to Look Out For (and When to Run!)
If you’ve ever hired a digital marketing agency and felt underwhelmed, overcharged, or just plain confused about what they were actually doing, you’re not alone.
At Agilita Digital, we speak to a lot of business owners who’ve been burned by slick sales pitches, vague strategies, and agencies that seem to disappear once the direct debit’s set up. So, we’ve put together a guide to help you spot the warning signs early.
Here are the biggest red flags to watch out for when choosing (or reviewing) a digital marketing agency — and when it’s time to make a run for it.
🚩 “We Guarantee You’ll Rank #1 on Google”
This one’s the classic. And it’s an immediate red flag.
No one, not even the best SEO expert in the world, can guarantee a specific ranking in Google.
Why? Because Google’s algorithm is constantly changing, and rankings depend on hundreds of factors, including competition, site history, backlinks, and user behaviour.
If someone says “We’ll get you to #1 in a week!” — it’s either:
A lie,
A temporary trick that won’t last,
Or they’re chasing useless keywords no one’s searching for.
✅ What to expect instead: A good agency will talk about improving visibility, driving relevant traffic, and increasing qualified leads. They’ll focus on consistent growth over time, not vanity promises.
🚩 There’s No Clear Strategy
If you’re being sold SEO, PPC, or “digital marketing” as a vague, catch-all service without any breakdown of what’s actually being done, alarm bells should be ringing.
Digital marketing isn’t magic. It’s a series of tools and techniques used in a smart, structured way to get results. Without a plan, you’re just throwing money at the wall and hoping something sticks.
❌ Watch out for:
Buzzwords without context (“omnichannel optimisation”, anyone?)
Monthly reports that don’t mean anything to you
No clear goals or benchmarks to measure progress
✅ What to expect instead: Transparency. A real strategy. Someone who asks about your goals, talks about how success will be measured, and adapts based on what works.
🚩 They Own Everything
If your agency won’t give you access to your Google Ads account, Analytics, or even your website — run.
You should always have full access to the platforms you’re paying for. It’s your data. Your business. If they disappear, you shouldn’t lose everything.
We’ve seen it too many times:
Agencies setting up ad accounts in their own name so you’re stuck with them
Clients locked out of Analytics
SEO work done on a site that’s hosted on the agency’s platform, with no way to move it
✅ What to expect instead: Full access. Full ownership. An agency should set things up under your business name, give you admin permissions, and keep things portable. If they’re confident in what they do, they won’t need to keep you locked in.
🚩 You’re Getting More Jargon Than Results
Digital marketing is full of acronyms and industry lingo. But a good agency will cut through all that and explain what’s happening in a way that makes sense to you.
If every report leaves you scratching your head — or worse, feeling too embarrassed to ask what it means — that’s a problem.
❌ Watch out for:
Baffling reports with no explanation
An obsession with irrelevant metrics (“Look at your impressions!”) instead of leads and conversions
No connection between activity and business outcomes
✅ What to expect instead: Clear, honest updates. Straightforward reporting that tells you what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next. If something’s not clear, they should be happy to explain it.
🚩 They’re More Interested in Awards Than Your Results
Awards are nice. So are big client logos on a homepage. But none of that matters if your campaign isn’t delivering.
Some agencies are more interested in their next case study or pat on the back than in actually helping your business grow. If you’re being treated like an afterthought — or you’re just a number on a list — it might be time to reassess.
✅ What to expect instead: A team that’s genuinely invested in your success. That might sound fluffy, but you’ll know it when you feel it. You’ll get attention. Updates. Proactivity. And honesty when things need to be tweaked.
🚩 Everything Feels a Bit... Too Good to Be True
£99/month SEO packages with “guaranteed results”
500 backlinks in 5 days
Instant leads from £5 ads
“We do everything for you” but never show you anything
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Cheap marketing usually leads to cheap results — or worse, spammy tactics that can hurt your long-term visibility.
✅ What to expect instead: Honesty about what’s realistic for your budget. A focus on sustainable, measurable progress, not shortcuts or gimmicks.
🚩 You Never Hear from Them Unless You Chase
If you’re always the one doing the chasing, or you go months without an update, something’s off.
✅ A good agency checks in regularly.
✅ They tell you what’s happening without being asked.
✅ And if something isn’t going to plan, they’re honest and proactive about fixing it.
So, What Should You Look for in a Digital Marketing Agency?
A focus on results, not just activity
Full transparency and access to your accounts
Clear communication — in plain English
Strategies built around your business, not templates
The confidence to be accountable for performance
The Agilita Way
At Agilita Digital, we do things differently — because we’ve seen what happens when agencies put their interests first and the client’s second.
Our promise:
You’ll always own your data and your accounts
You’ll always understand what we’re doing and why
You’ll never be fobbed off with fluff or fake guarantees
We’ll get to know your business and deliver a practical, agile strategy that adapts as you grow
No jargon. No BS. Just digital marketing that actually works.
Not sure if your current agency is working out?
We’re happy to have a free, no-pressure chat and give you a second opinion.
Sometimes it helps to get a fresh pair of eyes.
