5 Signs It’s Time to Review Your Marketing Agency

Every strong client-agency relationship starts with good intentions - collaboration, creativity, growth. But somewhere between the brief, the budget, and the board report, things can drift.

It’s rarely one big thing that breaks the relationship. More often, it’s a gradual erosion of clarity and trust: missed KPIs, vague reporting, or creative that feels increasingly disconnected from the business.

If any of this sounds familiar, it might be time to step back and review the partnership before it drifts further.

Here are five common signs it’s time for an agency review consultant to step in.

1. Misaligned Expectations

Your agency is producing deliverables - but they’re not moving the dial.

This usually happens when the brief, KPIs, or success measures weren’t properly defined at the start (or haven’t evolved as your business has).

If your agency is chasing impressions while you’re chasing qualified leads, something’s off.

2. Declining ROI

If performance has plateaued - or worse, declined - despite increased spend, don’t just look at the tactics.

Look at the strategy, structure, and reporting.

A review process can reveal whether the issue lies with creative execution, targeting, or even the data the team’s working from.

3. Creative Stagnation

When work starts to feel samey, reactive, or formulaic, it’s a warning sign.

Great agencies should challenge your brand and push for progress, not play it safe.

If the spark’s gone, it might be time to question whether they’re still the right fit - or whether the brief itself has boxed them in.

4. Lack of Transparency

If you’re unsure how your money’s being spent - or can’t see what’s driving results - you’ve lost visibility.

Transparency isn’t about micromanagement; it’s about trust and clarity.

A structured review can re-set expectations and ensure reporting aligns with commercial impact, not vanity metrics.

5. Strategy Drift

Even great agencies can lose sight of the bigger picture.

Maybe the original campaign objectives are outdated. Maybe internal priorities have changed.

Either way, without periodic recalibration, strategy and execution drift apart.

Why Bring in an Agency Review Consultant?

Because doing it internally rarely works. You’re too close to the work, and the relationships, to see the root cause clearly.

An independent consultant brings an objective view: assessing performance, process, and alignment without bias.

They help you decide whether to fix the relationship or find a new partner - and ensure you don’t repeat the same issues next time.

A Quick Performance Checklist to Review Your Agency

• Output - Is the quality of work still strong?

• Impact - Are KPIs and outcomes aligned with business goals?

• Communication - Are feedback loops open and consistent?

• Cost- Does the value match the investment?

The Bottom Line

Sometimes the fix is as simple as re-setting expectations between you and your agency. Other times, it’s about finding a better-fit partner.

If you’re not sure whether to change agencies or reset the relationship, I can help you find clarity fast.

That’s exactly what my Agency Selection & Oversight process is designed for - objective, strategic evaluation that gets everyone back on course.