Is your digital marketing agency doing these 5 things? (Ours does)

Let’s cut to it: not all agencies are created equal.
And in an industry overflowing with buzzwords like “data-driven,” “disruptive,” and “bespoke” (🙄), how do you know if your agency is actually delivering, or just talking a good game?

Whether you're a founder hunting for your first partner or a CMO quietly wondering if it's time to break up with your current one, this is your clarity check. These five things separate the “meh” from the “magic.”

And yes. At wonderwork, we bake all five into everything we do. Because “good enough” won’t move the needle. You need bold. Strategic. Impact-obsessed.

1. They focus on business outcomes, not just marketing metrics

Your agency sends you a shiny monthly report. Clicks are up. Impressions are soaring. Engagement looks solid. But when you ask, “How’s this helping us grow revenue?”, you get a shrug and a smiley face - or a lot of talk without saying anything.

🚨 Red flag. A great digital marketing agency isn’t obsessed with vanity metrics. They’re laser-focused on your bottom line.

At wonderwork, we start every project with a simple question: What does success actually look like for your business?
Then we reverse-engineer your funnel to deliver it.
Whether that’s lower CAC, higher LTV, more qualified leads, or bigger cart sizes, we don’t just optimize for performance, we optimize for impact.

✅ If your current agency talks about ROI without ever asking about your revenue model? You’re not the problem. They are.

2. They know when to say no (and why)

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most agencies will say yes to anything.

“Yes, we can run TikTok ads.”
“Yes, we’ll boost that post.”
“Yes, let’s add 17 hashtags and cross-post it everywhere.”

But a partner worth your budget will push back, with purpose. We say no when it protects your brand. No to bad creative. No to channels that won’t convert. No to bloated tactics that don’t serve your goals. We’re not here to please you. We’re here to serve your business.
Because good strategy isn’t built on yes-men. It’s built on brave ideas, sharp thinking, and the occasional “hell no.”

3. They think (and build) beyond the ad

Performance ads are great.  We love a high ROAS day as much as the next nerds. But what happens after someone clicks? If your agency isn’t asking where your traffic lands and what happens next, you’re losing leads by the dozen.

• Landing page optimisations
• Email nurture sequences
• Behavioral retargeting
• UX audits
• Funnel diagnostics

That’s the stuff that turns traffic into customers.  And customers into fans. At wonderwork, we’re not just a performance marketing agency.  We’re full-funnel thinkers. We work backward from action, not just forward from awareness. Clicks are just the beginning. We build the journey after the click, too.

4. They customize your strategy (instead of using a cookie cutter)

If your “strategy session” sounds suspiciously like their pitch to every other client, run.
You deserve more than templated packages, recycled copy, and rinse-repeat roadmaps.

A great digital marketing agency should feel like part of your team. Deep in the weeds with your goals, your market, your quirks. We build custom growth frameworks that flex with your business. That might mean leaning into organic for one client, paid social for another, and experimental content drops for a third.
One size fits no one. We know that. So we don’t pretend otherwise.

5. They actually give a sh*t

Not to be crass, but this one matters.

You can’t teach care. You either have it... or you don’t. We’ve worked with enough clients who came to us burned out from agencies that ghosted them mid-campaign, delivered “final drafts” with typos, or ran ads with zero understanding of their audience. At wonderwork, we’re obsessive about the work and the people behind it. We notice the tiny tweaks. We remember your goals. We fix the landing page bug before you even spot it.

Because great marketing isn’t just technical. It’s emotional. It’s a reflection of your vision, your values, and your reputation. We don’t take that lightly. And you shouldn’t either.

TL;DR – The 5-point agency check

Here’s your checklist. If your current agency isn’t doing all of these?

It might be time to ask why. It might be time to walk.

1. They tie their work to business outcomes
2. They challenge you with strategic “no’s”
3. They obsess over the post-click journey
4. They build for you, not for everyone
5. They show up like it matters. Because it does

If that sounds like the kind of partner you’ve been looking for, we’re ready when you are.

Because good agencies hit the brief. Great agencies help you rewrite it.