Finding the right creative agency is similar to hiring a new team member. You want someone who gets your vision, brings fresh thinking to the table, and doesn’t ghost you mid-project. But with thousands of agencies out there, how do you separate the standouts from the smoke-and-mirrors?
Here’s how to confidently vet a creative agency in five simple, strategic steps, so you can avoid the dreaded “this just isn’t working” conversation halfway through a campaign.
Step 1: Review Their Portfolio (But Go Deeper Than Aesthetic)
A sharp portfolio is a good starting point, but don’t let glossy visuals be the end of your evaluation. Plenty of agencies can build something beautiful. Fewer can connect that beauty to strategy, storytelling, and measurable ROI.
Look beyond surface-level polish and ask yourself:
- Does their work align with your brand’s style or push it in a compelling new direction?
- Do they show range across industries and formats (e.g., branding, paid social, experiential, UGC)?
- Can you tell what problem they were solving, or is it all just vibes?
📌 Pro tip: Look for case studies with real metrics. Did a campaign increase engagement? Boost conversions? Expand reach? Anyone can design a slick landing page, but was it optimized, tested, and performing?
Step 2: Ask for References and Actually Call Them
Yes, really. This is where too many brands get lazy. It’s easy to skip this step, but it’s one of the most revealing parts of the process.
When you speak to past clients, aim for more than “Did you like working with them?” Instead, dig into what it was actually like:
- How did they handle feedback or shifting timelines?
- Were they proactive communicators or reactive firefighters?
- Did the team stay consistent throughout the project or change halfway through?
- Would you hire them again?
You’ll often learn things the agency won’t say in a pitch. Good references will give it to you straight and if they’re still working together, that says a lot.
📌 Pro tip: Ask for references on projects similar in scope to yours. What worked for a startup rebrand might not translate to a global product launch.
Step 3: Evaluate Their Strategic Thinking (Not Just Execution)
Creative agencies are executors and problem-solvers. Your ideal partner won’t just make things look good, they’ll make things work better.
To assess their thinking, ask questions like:
- How do you approach a new project from discovery to delivery?
- What role does research or audience insight play in your creative process?
- How do you define success beyond aesthetics?
A strong agency will lead with curiosity. They’ll want to understand your business goals, your audience, and your KPIs (not just your moodboard). They’ll also be able to speak confidently about balancing big-picture brand building with short-term performance goals.
📌 Pro tip: Pay attention to how they respond when you push back. Do they explain their thinking or get defensive? You want strategic thinkers, not egos.
Step 4: Understand Their Team and Communication Style
You’re not hiring a logo, you’re hiring a team. So make sure you know who you’re actually working with. It’s common for senior leaders to pitch the project, only to disappear once the contract is signed.
During the vetting process, ask to meet the day-to-day leads. You’ll want to get a feel for how they work, communicate, and collaborate. This is especially critical for enterprise brands managing multiple stakeholders or layered approval processes.
Some things to clarify:
- Who will be our main point of contact?
- What tools or systems will you use to manage work and feedback?
- How often will we meet and in what format?
- What’s your turnaround time for deliverables or edits?
You want an agency that brings clarity, not confusion. If things already feel disorganized before kickoff, consider it a red flag.
📌 Pro tip: Culture fit matters. If your team runs fast and loose, a hyper-formal agency might feel like a bottleneck — and vice versa.
Step 5: Start Small (Then Scale)
Before you commit to a multi-month, multi-channel relationship, start with a smaller project. It’s the best way to test fit, process, and results (without going all-in from day one).
This could be anything from:
- A creative audit or brand refresh
- One-off campaign concepting
- Email or social asset production
Treat it like a chemistry check. You’ll quickly get a sense of how they communicate, interpret your brief, and navigate feedback cycles. If the vibes are right and the output’s strong? Now you have a foundation to scale from!
📌 Pro tip: A great pilot project isn’t just about proving skills, it’s about building trust. It sets the tone for longer-term collaboration.
Bonus: Watch for Green (and Red) Flags
Finding the right fit is about reading the signs that tell you whether an agency really aligns with your brand. Here’s what to look out for:
Green flags:
- Clear process and timelines
- Curiosity about your goals and audience
- Transparent pricing and scopes
- Collaborative energy and adaptability
Red flags:
- Vague or recycled pitches
- Lack of data, metrics, or strategic reasoning
- Overpromising or under-questioning
- Radio silence or poor follow-up
You’re not choosing a vendor, you’re choosing a partner. Trust your instincts!
TL;DR: A Quick Checklist for Vetting
✅ Review their work (not just for style, but for substance)
✅ Talk to real references and ask real questions
✅ Evaluate their strategic lens and how they think, not just create
✅ Meet the team and confirm they’re the ones doing the work
✅ Test the relationship with a pilot project
Looking for Agency Matches Without the Guesswork?
At Breef, we connect brands with agencies tailored to their exact needs. Whether you're searching for brand design, content production, paid social, or performance creative, we’ll find you the perfect team.
No cold calls. No capabilities decks with no follow-through. Just the right partners, ready when you are. 🤝✨
Let’s make finding the right agency feel a whole lot less stressful and a lot more successful → connect with a Marketing Startegist and book a demo call with Breef. 🤝
