What a Free Strategy Call With a Marketing Agency Should Actually Look Like

I offer a free 30-minute strategy call at Local Lift - Media & Marketing, so writing this post is a little like a magician explaining the trick. But I spent nine years in journalism learning to spot when someone was managing me instead of informing me — and most 'free consultations' in the marketing industry are exactly that.

Here's what a legitimate strategy call should look like, whoever you book it with. Including me.

A real call starts with questions about you, not a deck about them

If the first ten minutes are a slideshow about the agency's awards, you're in a sales pitch. A real strategist opens with your business: who your customers are, where they come from now, what you've tried, what 'working' would look like in 90 days. The questions should be specific enough that answering them is clarifying all by itself.

You should get actual findings, not just vibes

Before or during the call, someone serious will have looked at your Google Business Profile, your website, your reviews, and how you show up against local competitors. You should hear at least two or three concrete observations — 'your profile has no posts since March,' 'your competitor in Buford is outranking you for this search' — not generic 'you need more brand awareness.'

You should leave with something you can use for free

The tell of a good-faith call: you walk away with at least one or two actions you could execute yourself without hiring anyone. An agency confident in its value isn't afraid to give away the easy wins — because they know the hard part is doing them consistently, and that's what you'd actually be paying for.

Pricing should be discussable, not mysterious

If someone won't give you even a range for what working together costs until you've sat through three meetings, that's a process designed to wear you down. Honest agencies can tell you what things generally cost in the first conversation.

Red flags to walk away from

• Guaranteed #1 Google rankings (nobody can promise this)
• Pressure to sign today with a 'discount that expires'
• Long contracts pitched before any work has proven out
• Reports full of impressions and followers but nothing about calls, leads, or customers

How mine works, since you asked

My free 30-minute call is exactly what this post describes: I'll look at your presence before we talk, give you honest findings, hand you the quick wins whether or not we work together, and tell you plainly if I don't think you need me. If that sounds like the kind of conversation you've been looking for, book it here.