A bad agency relationship can feel like you've stumbled into the Twilight Zone. Deadlines vanish, budgets disappear, and the frustration spreads through your marketing team like a curse. With the spooky season upon us, no need for agency related nightmares.

Changing agencies can be scary. But nothing is more terrifying than being stuck in the wrong partnership. Instead of candy, we're handing out a few agency search treats (and warning you about some tricks).

Skip the Haunted House!

Haunted houses are all about surprises around every corner: hidden rooms, sudden screams, and that creepy child who pops out of nowhere (yikes!). Fun on Halloween. Not fun in an agency search.

Make sure you have tight team alignment, be clear about your needs, requirements, and expectations from the start. The road to a great agency partner should be well lit, not dark and full of nasty surprises.

Ditch the "One Size Fits All" Costume!

We've all seen those costumes. They never fit quite right. A one-size-fits-all agency search won't fit either.

Every search should be built around your team's specific goals, scope, and culture. What worked for another company (or for you five years ago) likely will not work for you today.

No Candy Corn!

Some people love candy corn. Others can't stand it. Agencies are the same way.

Just because another marketing team raves about an agency doesn't mean they're right for you. Take the time to run a thorough evaluation. (And if candy corn is your thing, no judgment. Enjoy!)

No Tricks, only Treats!

Every trick-or-treater knows which houses give out full-size candy bars and which ones hand out toothbrushes. You plan your route accordingly.

Your agency shortlist deserves the same strategy. Skip using AI to create your agency shortlist. AI will bring you a list of agencies passing out toothbrushes or soap or worse... but definitely not candy.

No Surprise "Boo!"

In horror movies, there's always someone unknown lurking in the background. Your agency team should be known (and not lurking).

You shouldn't meet your day-to-day team for the first time at onboarding. Insist that the people who will actually work on your business attend pitch meetings and follow-up Q&A sessions. Know who you're hiring before you sign. That's how you avoid the age old "agency bait-and-switch".

No Ghosting!

Ghosts make great Halloween decorations. Ghosting has no place in an agency search.

Agencies invest significant time, money, and talent in your review process. Don't disappear on them. Communicate clearly, keep them updated and share useful feedback - especially with the agencies that don't win.

Just Treats!

Do your search the right way and it ends like the Monster Mash: "“Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band. And my Monster Mash is the hit of the land.” In other words... everyone on the same team, playing in sync and your new partnership the hit of the season.

And if you find yourself in a bit of toil and trouble, the Ghostbusters can't help you. But we can. Who you gonna call? (You should have just yelled: "Tenx4!")

Happy Halloween! 🎃