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Hiring a Facebook Ads Agency: What to Expect
Everything you need to know before hiring a Facebook Ads agency - from pricing and onboarding to creative strategy and reporting.
Facebook and Instagram Ads (now Meta Ads) are among the most powerful paid social channels. But the platform's complexity - from audience building to creative testing to attribution - means most businesses are better off partnering with a specialized agency. Here's what to expect when you do.
What a Facebook Ads Agency Actually Does
A good Facebook Ads agency handles much more than just "running ads." Their scope typically includes:
- Strategy - Defining your funnel, audiences, messaging angles, and campaign structure.
- Creative production - Designing ad images, writing copy, and producing video content.
- Campaign setup - Building campaigns with proper targeting, placements, and conversion events.
- Testing - A/B testing creatives, audiences, and landing pages to find winning combinations.
- Optimization - Daily monitoring, bid adjustments, and budget reallocation based on performance.
- Reporting - Weekly or monthly reports with clear metrics and insights.
The Onboarding Process
Expect the first 2–4 weeks to be a ramp-up period. A typical onboarding looks like:
- Week 1 - Kickoff call, access to ad accounts, review of past performance, brand assets handoff.
- Week 2 - Audience research, competitive analysis, creative brief development.
- Week 3 - Creative production, campaign setup, pixel/CAPI verification.
- Week 4 - Launch initial campaigns, begin testing phase.
Don't expect strong results in the first month. The testing phase typically lasts 4–8 weeks before the agency finds winning formulas.
Creative: The #1 Lever
With Meta's AI-driven targeting (Advantage+), creative quality is now the biggest performance lever. A great agency:
- Produces 10–20+ new ad creatives per month
- Tests multiple formats: static, video, carousel, UGC
- Iterates on winners - changing hooks, CTAs, and angles
- Understands platform-native creative (not repurposed TV ads)
If an agency only refreshes creative once a quarter, they're behind the curve.
Pricing Models
| Model | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| % of ad spend | 10–20% | Common, scales with budget |
| Flat retainer | $1,500–$8,000/mo | Predictable costs |
| Performance | CPA or ROAS-based fee | Aligns incentives, less common |
| Hybrid | Base + performance bonus | Best of both worlds |
Creative production may or may not be included - always clarify this upfront.
What to Look for in Reviews
When evaluating agencies on Pick an Agency, pay attention to:
- Creative quality - Do reviewers mention strong ad design and copy?
- Communication - Is the agency responsive and proactive?
- Results specifics - Look for mentions of ROAS, CPA, or revenue numbers.
- Scaling ability - Has the agency helped clients scale from $5K to $50K+ in monthly spend?
Questions to Ask Before Signing
- Do you handle creative production in-house or do I need to provide assets?
- How do you handle iOS privacy changes and Conversions API (CAPI)?
- What's your approach to Advantage+ Shopping campaigns?
- How many new creatives do you test per month?
- What does your reporting include and how often?
Find Your Facebook Ads Agency
Browse top Facebook Ads agencies on Pick an Agency - compare reviews, pricing, and creative capabilities to find the right partner.
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