Before You Hire an Agency, Ask These Questions
Hiring a media or creative agency shouldn’t feel like speed dating. And yet, for many brands, it does.
Decks get compared. Case studies get skimmed. Chemistry gets over-weighted. A decision gets made — often without the clarity needed to make the partnership actually work.
Smart brands slow this moment down. They ask better questions before the contract is signed.
1️⃣ What Role Do You Believe Media and Creative Play in Growth?
This question surfaces philosophy, not credentials. Different partners hold very different beliefs about what media and creative are for — and those beliefs show up in every recommendation that follows.
What to listen for:
Is media framed as distribution or as a strategic lever?
Is creative treated as decoration or as a performance driver?
Do they talk about long-term impact, or only short-term efficiency?
The Whirr POV
If a partner can’t clearly articulate why media and creative matter to growth, you’ll spend the relationship debating tactics instead of building momentum. Alignment on role comes before alignment on channels.
2️⃣ How Do You Define Success — and When Do You Measure It?
Success means different things at different moments. The strongest partners acknowledge that upfront.
What to listen for:
Do they distinguish between leading and lagging indicators?
Do they talk about learning velocity, not just final outcomes?
Can they explain what “good” looks like early vs. late?
The Whirr POV
When success is only defined at the end of a campaign, most decisions in the middle become guesswork. Clear measurement philosophy prevents reactive optimization and builds trust.
3️⃣ How Do You Actually Work With Clients Day to Day?
Process is where partnerships succeed or fail — quietly.
What to listen for:
How often do you communicate?
Who makes decisions, and how quickly?
How is feedback handled when priorities change?
What happens when something isn’t working?
The Whirr POV
You’re not hiring an agency’s thinking in isolation — you’re hiring how that thinking shows up every week. If the process feels vague now, it won’t magically sharpen later.
4️⃣ How Do Media and Creative Collaborate Internally?
This is one of the most revealing questions you can ask.
What to listen for:
Are media and creative planned together or handed off?
Do insights travel between teams, or stay siloed?
Can they explain how collaboration improves outcomes?
The Whirr POV
If media and creative don’t collaborate internally (as a team, not necessarily under one roof), you’ll feel it externally — in misalignment, slower learning, and work that doesn’t scale. Integration isn’t a bonus; it’s table stakes.
5️⃣ What Do You Say “No” To?
Every good strategy is defined by constraints.
What to listen for:
Where do they draw clear boundaries?
Can they explain why they don’t recommend certain tactics?
Do they prioritize clarity over activity?
The Whirr POV
Partners who say yes to everything rarely deliver focus. Good judgment shows up in what a partner is willing to walk away from — not just what they’re excited to sell.
6️⃣ How Do You Learn and Adapt Over Time?
Markets shift. Algorithms change. Business priorities evolve.
What to listen for:
How are insights captured and shared?
How does learning influence future decisions?
Is reporting treated as a deliverable or a tool?
The Whirr POV
Execution gets you started. Learning is what keeps you competitive. The best partners compound understanding over time — not just outputs.
The Whirr Takeaway
The best partnerships don’t start with deliverables. They start with shared thinking.
When brands choose partners based on philosophy, process, and clarity — not just credentials — they build relationships that last longer and perform better.
Ask better questions up front, and everything that follows gets easier.
Whirr is perched and ready to build a productive and lasting partnership that builds momentum. Reach out today so we can set up a discovery call to get the new year off to a soaring start!
Note: See our other blog posts that can help you select a partner that fits:
Why Agility Beats Size In Today’s Media Landscape, September 2, 2025
Demystifying Media Buying: What to Look for in a Media Partner, July 15, 2025
