Local Ads, Plain English
How to tell if your ad agency is actually doing anything. Five checks you can do yourself.
Kristine · SPARK · Morris County, NJ · October 13, 2026 · About a 5 minute read
You pay every month. You get a report now and then. But you have a nagging feeling: is anyone actually in there working on this?
You don't need to be an ad expert to find out. You need five minutes and access to your own account.
Five checks
- 01
When were the ads last changed?
Open your Ads Manager and look at the ads that are running. If the same images and videos have run for months, nobody is refreshing them.
- 02
Do you own the account?
The ad account and the Facebook page should be yours, with the agency added as a partner. If you can't get in, that's a red flag.
- 03
Does the report show customers?
Reach and impressions are nice. Calls, messages, and bookings are the point. A report that never mentions them is avoiding them.
- 04
Can they explain the plan in one sentence?
Ask what they're testing this month and why. A real manager answers right away.
- 05
Do you know who's doing the work?
If you've never spoken to the person actually running your ads, ask for them by name.
What good management looks like
New creative on a steady rhythm. A report in plain language, every week. A clear answer when you ask what's changing and why. And one person you can reach who knows your account.
None of that is fancy. It's just the job done properly.
If the checks come back empty
You don't have to fire anyone today. But you do deserve a second opinion. A good audit will tell you what's working, what isn't, and whether your current setup is worth keeping.
