How to check a strategist's plans have converted for someone like you

Hiring a strategist means trusting them to guide where your marketing effort goes for months. But 'strategy' can hide work that was never tested, advice that hasn't landed results anywhere, or plans built on theory instead of what your actual customers do. Before you commit budget or time, you need a simple way to verify: does this person's thinking hold up against real outcomes, and have they solved problems like yours before?

The risk is asymmetric. You pay upfront for planning. Results arrive later—if at all. A strategist might hand you a beautiful deck that feels strategic but was never stress-tested by a client's live business. They might assume your industry works the same way as their last project. They might talk about 'engagement' or 'reach' but never track whether traffic or inquiries actually moved. Your job is to dig past the portfolio and ask harder questions before you sign.

Search for past client outcomes, not just campaign names

When a strategist shows you case studies, look for specifics: what metric mattered to that client, and by how much did it shift? Did traffic go up? Did inquiries increase? Did conversion rate improve? Did they hold bookings or sales steady during a quiet season?

Don't accept vague language like "strong engagement" or "brand awareness grew." Ask for the before number and the after number. If they can't name one, that's a signal. A strategist who works for real results tracks them. They'll also tell you the work the client had to do—what did the business owner or team actually have to execute, and where did friction show up?

Next, ask whether they can share a client in your industry or one facing a similar constraint (low budget, seasonal demand, niche audience, load-shedding or internet limits affecting your audience). If they say they can't name anyone due to confidentiality, that's fair—but then ask them to describe a similar problem they've solved elsewhere. Can they walk you through a brief, a decision, and what happened next?

Talk directly to someone they've worked with

A reference call is your best protection. Ask the strategist for three past clients, and phone at least one—not an email exchange. The goal isn't a testimonial; it's a realistic picture.

Ask the reference:

• Did the strategist's plan actually work for you, or did you have to change course?
• What surprised you—good or bad—about how they worked?
• If you hired them again, what would you tell them differently upfront?
• How much execution work fell to you, and was that what you expected?
• Did they adjust the plan when early results came in, or did they stick to the original deck?

Listen for hesitation. If someone takes a long time to answer whether the strategy actually converted, or if they praise the process but can't name a result, that matters. You want to hear: "Yes, our inquiry rate went up," or "We nailed our busy season," or "We finally got clarity on who was buying." Ideally, they'll also mention something that didn't work and how the strategist pivoted.

Ask what proof they'll show you mid-engagement

Before you hire, agree on how success gets measured. Not vaguely—specifically. What dashboard or report will you review together at week four, week eight, week twelve?

A strategist worth hiring will have a sharp answer: "I'll show you which pieces of content drove clicks, and which audience segments started converting." Or: "We'll compare your quiet-season bookings this year to last year at the midpoint." They should want to track because they're confident their thinking works.

If they say tracking is "too early" or "requires you to set up tools first," that's worth questioning. Basic tracking—form submissions, phone calls, inquiries logged—sits within reach of most businesses. A strategist who avoids early measurement is either worried their plan doesn't hold up, or they're comfortable delivering something unmeasurable. Neither is good for you.

Before you book a strategist on Strove, ask to see evidence they've built strategies that moved real numbers, not just portfolios. Then call someone who lived through it. That friction is worth it; it weeds out advisors who plan theoretically and keeps you working with people who've actually made strategy stick.