Campaign development

How to check an agency's campaigns have delivered results

Check if an agency's campaigns delivered real results. Request concrete proof, call references, verify registration and ask the right questions.

When an agency claims they've delivered results, you need to move past the pitch deck. A genuinely capable partner doesn't just show you pretty work—they show you what that work *did*. Before you hire anyone to build a campaign, you need a clear way to separate the ones who've actually moved the needle from those who simply produce content that looks good on a portfolio.

The agencies worth hiring will have no problem producing evidence. They've been tracking their own output against client goals. They know what their campaigns delivered because they measured it. The ones who hedge, dodge or hand you only case studies without numbers aren't yet at the level you need.

Concrete proof to request upfront

Asking to see past campaigns is standard. But don't accept the story alone. Request specific deliverables that prove impact: before-and-after brand awareness metrics, sales lift data if it was a direct-response campaign, engagement rates from social media work, or website traffic and conversion changes tied to a campaign launch. If the agency built a campaign for a product or service launch, ask for the sales figures from the period during and after that campaign ran—not vague claims of success.

For digital campaigns, request screenshots or analytics dashboards showing traffic sources, click-through rates and any conversion data they tracked. For offline or integrated work, ask how they measured it. If they say "we didn't measure it," that's a red flag. If they measure it, they'll have it.

Make sure the proof is relevant to what you need. If you're launching a product and need sales uplift, a case study about brand awareness work isn't the right fit. If you're running a B2B awareness campaign, ask to see similar work—not their fastest conversion campaigns.

Also ask for the actual client brief and what the goals were. Understanding what the client asked for versus what got delivered tells you whether the results matter. An agency might show you huge social media engagement, but if the client's real goal was sales leads and they didn't measure that, the engagement is vanity.

Verification through references and registration

Before you call a reference, ask the agency for two or three clients from campaigns they're willing to discuss. Look for variety—ideally one or two recent, and one from a few years back. Ask for direct contact details (mobile or email), not just a name to look up on LinkedIn.

When you speak to the reference, ask specific questions: Did the campaign hit the goals that were set? What metrics mattered most to the client, and what did the agency actually deliver? How responsive was the team during the campaign? Did they iterate based on performance data, or did they run it as planned regardless? Would they hire that agency again? What would they do differently?

Reference calls are the fastest way to move past marketing speak. Most clients will be honest if the work didn't land.

Check whether the agency is formally registered with relevant industry bodies. Ask for their CIPC registration and ask if they're members of professional bodies like the Advertising Association or similar. This doesn't guarantee quality, but it means they've chosen to be accountable to a standard.

Also ask for examples of how they report results to clients. The agency that regularly shares performance dashboards and explains what's working is more likely to catch problems early and adapt the campaign. The agency that goes silent for three months then presents a final report is riskier.

What to compare

Asn't a single impressive campaign; look for consistency. Did they deliver results across different types of work, different budgets, different industries? If all their proof comes from one specific type of campaign or one sector, they may not translate well to your needs.

You're looking for an agency that can show you evidence of learning. If their recent work is measurably better than their older work, they're getting sharper. If it's all the same, they may have stopped improving.

Once you've checked the proof, called the references and confirmed the registration, you'll have a realistic picture of whether this agency actually delivers. That's the foundation you need before you hand over your brief or budget. Strove's verified creatives have been through this kind of scrutiny—you can filter by ratings and see what real clients experienced.

Common questions

What proof should I ask for if the campaign was mostly brand awareness, not direct sales?: Ask for awareness metrics like unaided recall studies, brand sentiment tracking, or social media reach and engagement data during the campaign period. Also ask how they defined success with the client and what the client was trying to achieve—brand work should still have measurable goals, even if they're not immediate sales.
Is it a red flag if an agency won't share a case study from a past client?: It depends. If they say they can't share because of a confidentiality agreement, that's reasonable—ask them to describe the campaign, the goals and the results without naming the client. If they refuse to discuss any past work or claim they don't measure results, that's a real concern and usually means they can't or won't take accountability.
How far back should I look at an agency's past campaigns when checking their work?: Ask for recent campaigns (last 1–2 years) to see their current standard, but also ask to see one campaign from 3–5 years ago. Comparing them shows whether the agency is improving or whether their work has plateaued. Recent work is what matters most, but the trajectory tells you about their learning.
What should I do if a reference says the agency's campaign didn't hit the target?: Ask why—sometimes targets are unrealistic or market conditions changed. But if the reference says the agency didn't adapt, didn't measure during the campaign, or went silent, that tells you about their process quality. You're listening for whether they take responsibility and respond to problems, not just whether everything always succeeds.

Find a verified provider on Strove

Compare vetted campaign development providers, check their credentials, and book or request a quote — all in one place.

Find a Business

More on Campaign development

Concrete proof to request upfront

Verification through references and registration

Reference calls are the fastest way to move past marketing speak. Most clients will be honest if the work didn't land.

What to compare

Common questions

What proof should I ask for if the campaign was mostly brand awareness, not direct sales?

Ask for awareness metrics like unaided recall studies, brand sentiment tracking, or social media reach and engagement data during the campaign period. Also ask how they defined success with the client and what the client was trying to achieve—brand work should still have measurable goals, even if they're not immediate sales.

Is it a red flag if an agency won't share a case study from a past client?

It depends. If they say they can't share because of a confidentiality agreement, that's reasonable—ask them to describe the campaign, the goals and the results without naming the client. If they refuse to discuss any past work or claim they don't measure results, that's a real concern and usually means they can't or won't take accountability.

How far back should I look at an agency's past campaigns when checking their work?

Ask for recent campaigns (last 1–2 years) to see their current standard, but also ask to see one campaign from 3–5 years ago. Comparing them shows whether the agency is improving or whether their work has plateaued. Recent work is what matters most, but the trajectory tells you about their learning.

What should I do if a reference says the agency's campaign didn't hit the target?

Ask why—sometimes targets are unrealistic or market conditions changed. But if the reference says the agency didn't adapt, didn't measure during the campaign, or went silent, that tells you about their process quality. You're listening for whether they take responsibility and respond to problems, not just whether everything always succeeds.