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Agency Horror Stories

⏱️ 21:37 🎤 Caitlyn Noble, Meredith Medlin
AUDIO EPISODE
Agency Horror Stories
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Chapters

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  • 0:00
    Agency Horror Stories Intro
    Caitlyn and Meredith introduce the episode's topic: agency horror stories from contractors, aiming to help listeners spot warning signs.
  • 0:59
    Story 1: Ownership Issues
    The hosts recount 'Contractor Mike' who lost access and ownership of his website, ad accounts, and tracking numbers after his agency ghosted him.
  • 8:49
    Lesson: Demand Ownership
    Caitlyn and Meredith stress the importance of owning all digital assets before signing any contract with an agency.
  • 10:22
    Story 2: Lead Inflation
    The hosts share a story about a roofer whose agency inflated lead counts, leading to poor business decisions and wasted resources.
  • 15:00
    Lesson: Define Lead Metrics
    The hosts advise contractors to demand clear definitions of what constitutes a lead and to connect reporting to closed revenue.
  • 18:45
    Story 3: Vanishing Account Manager
    This segment covers a kitchen and bath remodeler who experienced high turnover of account managers, leading to a loss of business momentum.
  • 24:20
    Lesson: Vet Your Account Manager
    The hosts recommend asking about account manager experience, caseload, and meeting them before signing a contract.
  • 25:15
    Story 4: Competitor Conflict
    The hosts discuss a bath remodeler whose agency was also working with a direct competitor, using one client's playbook to benefit the other.
  • 29:47
    Lesson: Non-Compete Policy
    The hosts emphasize the importance of working with agencies that have non-compete or exclusivity policies in your service area.
  • 30:09
    Red Flags Lightning Round
    Caitlyn and Meredith provide a quick rundown of 8 red flags to look out for when evaluating a potential marketing agency.

Speakers

C
Caitlyn Noble
Host
M
Meredith Medlin
Host

Key Takeaways

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Always ensure you, the contractor, own all your digital assets (website, domain, ad accounts, tracking data) before signing any agency contract.

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Demand clear definitions of what counts as a 'lead' and ensure these definitions align with your sales process and business goals.

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Push to connect marketing data all the way through to closed revenue and average ticket price, not just top-of-funnel metrics.

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Inquire about account manager retention, caseload, and meet your dedicated account manager before committing to an agency.

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Verify if an agency works with your direct competitors in your service area, and if so, demand a clear exclusivity agreement.

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Be wary of agencies that guarantee specific lead numbers or rankings, require long contracts with huge early termination fees, or are vague about monthly work.

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Ask for a clear breakdown of agency fees versus pass-through costs to avoid excessive markups on every line item.

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