Top 25 Social Advertising Agencies

If you are evaluating X (formerly Twitter) as a pipeline channel, your agency pick matters more than your media budget. The right Twitter ads agency aligns targeting, creative, and reporting to LTV:CAC and payback, not just CTR. This guide is built for B2B marketing leaders who want a clean selection process, the right RFP questions (brand safety, follower and keyword strategy, reporting), and a scorecard you can actually use.

If you are comparing partners across platforms too, start with best B2B social media agencies. And if your mix includes additional paid social beyond X, pressure-test how an agency handles adjacent channels like a Meta advertising agency (creative velocity and conversion measurement tend to separate good from “busy”).

Why agency selection fails (even for smart teams)

Most B2B teams do not fail on effort. They fail on incentives and missing controls. A weak agency selection process inflates CPL, hides wasted spend behind “engagement,” and delays the one thing that matters: a repeatable path from impressions to qualified pipeline.

Trap 1: “Engagement-first” goals

Teams optimize for likes, replies, or cheap video views. Result: high engagement, low opportunity volume. Set finance guardrails (target CAC, payback) and map objectives to revenue milestones so the account is forced to optimize for outcomes, not activity.

Example: a Reach/Engagement campaign drove 0 opportunities; a Website Conversions campaign with the same budget generated MQLs at target CPL once pixel/CAPI events were implemented.

Trap 2: Overbroad follower look-alikes

Spraying look-alikes of large publishers or generic influencers expands reach but not ICP fit. Require follower look-alikes from credible B2B handles (for example, industry analysts) plus tight geo and language filters and exclusions.

Impact: irrelevant traffic, high CPR, shallow time on site.

Trap 3: Keyword lists with mixed intent

Ambiguous terms (for example, “security”) pull consumer chatter. Build intent-weighted clusters and negatives; X guidance for keyword targeting emphasizes starting with a sufficiently sized, relevant keyword set (X recommends adding at least 25 relevant keywords) and iterating with exclusions to protect relevance.

Impact: wasted impressions and low conversion rate. Reference: Keyword targeting (X Business Help).

Trap 4: Brand safety as an afterthought

Without Sensitivity Settings, adjacency controls, keyword/author exclusions, and third-party verification (IAS and DoubleVerify), ads can appear near unsuitable content. Insist on controls in the IO and in weekly reporting. References: Sensitivity Settings (X Business Help) and 3rd-Party Brand Safety Measurement Is Now Live (X Business, 2024).

Trap 5: “Set-and-forget” creative

Running a single asset per ad group stalls delivery. Require a weekly test plan across copy, formats, and vertical video assets so creative does not become the bottleneck.

How to select an X (Twitter) ads agency: step by step

Use this sequence to force clarity: inputs up front, checkpoints during evaluation, and acceptance criteria before you hand over spend. The goal is not a “great pitch.” The goal is a repeatable operating plan for Twitter advertising for B2B.

Step 1: Define outcomes and finance guardrails

Inputs: target CAC, payback period, LTV, win rates by segment, SQL and opportunity goals, acceptable CPL/CPR by objective.

Thresholds: if modeled CAC payback > target months or LTV:CAC < 3:1 for paid social, flag and adjust targeting or offer before launch. This is where many “X is too top-of-funnel” takes come from: the finance model was never agreed, so the channel gets judged on vibes.

Step 2: Build a tight shortlist and RFP

Shortlist 3–5 agencies with proven B2B references. Share budget bands, ICP, and goals, and ask for a lightweight diagnostic (no spec work). You want to see how they think, not how many slides they can produce.

RFP must include: brand safety plan, follower/keyword strategy, measurement/reporting, creative/testing cadence, and a pilot plan with milestones.

Step 3: Vet X targeting strategy (follower look-alikes + keywords)

Follower look-alikes: ask which accounts anchor similarity, how many, and how performance will be pruned. Interests: cap sub-topics to 10; refine by results (as commonly recommended in X targeting guidance).

Keyword targeting: require at least 25 tightly relevant keywords, clustered by intent; include negative keywords and a refresh cadence. Reference: Keyword targeting (X Business Help).

Step 4: Assess creative formats and testing plan

Expect a weekly test matrix across Text, Image, Video, Carousel, and vertical video. If the agency cannot show how it produces motion-first assets with strong hooks in the first 1–2 seconds, you will not get stable learnings.

Require landing page QA and message-market match for each audience cluster. If they can run paid social but cannot diagnose why the page does not convert, you are buying traffic, not pipeline.

If your team is also investing in community-style placements, ask how learnings transfer across channels such as a Reddit advertising agency approach (audience intent and creative truthfulness tend to correlate with downstream lead quality).

Step 5: Require measurement and reporting discipline

Must-haves: X Pixel or Conversions API, objective-aligned results, cost per result, reach/frequency, and conversion reporting from Ads Manager; breakdowns by audience, keyword, and creative.

Ask for weekly commentary and decisions: what we learned, what we are changing, and projected impact on CAC and pipeline. For metric definitions and common reporting fields, reference: X/Twitter ad metrics (Hootsuite Help, 2025).

Step 6: Lock in brand safety and suitability controls

Controls: Sensitivity Settings tier, adjacency controls, keyword/author exclusions, and third-party measurement (IAS and DoubleVerify). Note: IAS pre-bid optimization is available for specific surfaces like vertical video in the U.S.; post-bid measurement supports feed placements in additional markets.

Require a written policy for political/misinformation adjacency during election cycles. References: Sensitivity Settings (X Business Help), 3rd-Party Brand Safety Measurement Is Now Live (X Business, 2024), and IAS announces partnership with X for pre-bid brand safety (Integral Ad Science, 2023).

If the agency name-drops GARM brand safety but cannot explain how sensitivity settings, adjacency controls, and exclusion lists are operationalized weekly, treat it as a red flag.

Step 7: Pilot, contracting, and SLAs

90-day pilot with phase gates: week 2 (tracking verified), week 4 (first learnings and creative swap), week 8 (midpoint goals review), week 12 (scale/hold/stop decision).

SLAs: weekly reporting cadence, 24–48h creative swaps, 72h escalation path for brand safety incidents.

Also decide up front how the agency will coordinate with your other performance partners (for example, a linkedin advertising agency) so attribution and audience overlap are handled intentionally instead of debated in month three.

Template: X Ads Agency RFP Scorecard

Use this template as your single source of truth during evaluation. Score every vendor the same way, require proof, and attach artifacts in an appendix (screenshots, sample reports, example test plans, brand safety documentation).

‍Scoring rubric: 0 = does not meet, 3 = meets, 5 = exceeds with proof. Require artifacts in an appendix. If a vendor cannot provide proof (sample Ads Manager reporting, example exclusion lists, an actual weekly test matrix), treat the score as a 0 until proven otherwise.

What tactics are most prone to wasted spend on X?

It is rarely the tool; it is targeting, creative, or measurement. Calibrate each tactic for intent and safety so you are not buying “cheap” results that never turn into pipeline.

• Engagement-only campaigns: fine for awareness; for pipeline, use Website Traffic/Conversions with pixel/CAPI and post-click retargeting.
• Overbroad follower look-alikes: anchor in credible B2B accounts; cap interest sub-topics; prune weekly.
• Loose keywords: cluster by buying stage; add negatives; refresh monthly. Reference: Keyword targeting (X Business Help).
• Vertical video without safety: pair with IAS pre-bid (where available) plus exclusions and Sensitivity Settings. References: IAS partnership announcement and Sensitivity Settings.

Mini X audit (7 quick checks)

Use these as pass/fail gates before you scale spend or sign a longer contract. If the agency cannot pass these, the risk is not “performance.” The risk is unmeasurable work.

• Tracking: X Pixel or Conversions API implemented and validating standard events (pass/fail).
• Keywords: ≥25 active, intent-clustered terms with at least 5 negatives (pass/fail).
• Follower/interest targeting: ≤10 sub-topics per campaign; seed handles documented (pass/fail).
• Brand safety: Sensitivity Settings enabled; adjacency controls + keyword/author exclusions applied (pass/fail).
• Third-party verification: IAS/DV in place (pre-bid where applicable; post-bid for feed), weekly reports (pass/fail).
• Creative: ≥4 active assets per ad group, including vertical video; weekly refresh plan (pass/fail).
• Reporting: weekly Ads Manager exports with objective results, CPR, and breakdowns by audience/creative (pass/fail).

FAQ

What is a Twitter ads agency?

A partner that plans, buys, and optimizes X (formerly Twitter) campaigns, aligning targeting, creative, and measurement to your B2B pipeline and revenue goals.

Why use X for B2B?

Real-time conversation targeting, keyword intent, and vertical video can efficiently reach decision-makers when paired with first-party data and tight measurement. For a platform overview and setup guidance, see Brandwatch’s overview of X ads and X Business resources.

How long to see results?

Expect signal within 2–4 weeks (traffic/CPR trends) and pipeline indicators by weeks 6–8, assuming tracking and creative velocity are in place.

What budget do we need?

Plan for a 90-day pilot with enough daily budget to hit learning thresholds across 2–3 audiences and 3–4 creatives per audience. Tie spend to CAC/payback targets, not fixed CPM goals.

How will we measure success?

Objective-aligned results and CPR in Ads Manager, conversion events from pixel/CAPI, and CRM-validated opportunity creation and CAC against LTV. For metric definitions, reference: X/Twitter ad metrics (Hootsuite Help, 2025).

Move Beyond Manual Agency Selection With Abe

Abe is a B2B paid social advertising agency built for revenue. Our Customer Generation™ methodology aligns first-party data, financial modeling, and creative testing to make X a pipeline channel, not just an awareness line item.

Efficiency: 45% average CPL savings driven by tighter audiences and rapid creative iteration.

Quality: TAM verification and finance-first reporting tie spend to SQLs, opportunities, and CAC payback.

Safety: Sensitivity Settings, adjacency controls, and IAS/DV measurement reduce adjacency risk.

Velocity: Weekly test plans across formats, including vertical video, to compound learnings.

Ready to pressure-test your RFP plan and pilot? See how Abe runs X for B2B and map it to your pipeline goals, then move into a 90-day test with clear milestones.

B2B teams don’t need more impressions; they need opportunities and revenue. When you hire a social advertising agency, you should judge it on pipeline, SQLs, and CAC payback, not on follower counts or CTR vanity screenshots. This guide gives you selection criteria, 25 short profiles, a comparison table, and a buyer’s checklist so you can run a disciplined RFP and a 90‑day pilot that Finance will actually sign off on.

Why these agencies made the list

These agencies are curated for B2B outcomes, not surface‑level social “engagement.” We prioritized partners with proven paid social execution across LinkedIn, Meta, and YouTube (with selective X/TikTok/Reddit testing), measurable influence on SQLs and pipeline, and finance‑grade reporting.

Criteria:

• Channel expertise by platform and format (Conversation Ads, Document Ads, short video).
• ABM chops (named‑account programs, role‑based messaging, sales alignment).
• First‑party audience strategy (verified TAM, exclusions, and list refresh).
• Measurement into CRM (MQL→SAL/SQL→Opp→Revenue) and model triangulation.
• Brand safety, data governance, clear pricing model* and SLAs.

How to use this list

Treat each profile as a pattern library, not a script. Shortlist 3–5 that match your ACV, segment, and channels; then run a 90‑day pilot with predefined gates on CPL vs. model, SQL rate, and CAC payback before you scale.

If you also need organic and community support alongside paid, you can pair this list with the 9 best B2B social media agencies to cover the full social mix. For LinkedIn‑heavy programs in particular, keep a separate shortlist of specialist B2B linkedin advertising agencies.

The list of 25 agencies (ordered for variety, not rank)

Each item includes a short overview, who it’s best for, benefits, standout features, and where to verify reviews and references. Use the “Verification” notes as a starting point, then confirm Clutch/G2/directory scores, quotes, and pricing details before you sign anything.

Abe

Overview: B2B paid social specialist focused on LinkedIn as a revenue engine. Runs first‑party data workflows, LTV:CAC modeling, and creative tied to pipeline via Customer Generation™.

Best for: B2B teams that want finance‑first LinkedIn programs and fast SQL lift.

Benefits: Verified TAM; lower CPL; clear CAC payback; weekly iteration.

Standout features: Conversation/Document Ads playbooks; CRM‑stage reporting; ABM targeting; financial modeling.

Verification: Clutch*, case study links*

Directive

Overview: B2B paid social across LinkedIn and Meta with strong attribution and CRM alignment; public case studies highlight pipeline impact*.

Best for: SaaS and tech brands seeking revenue‑backed scale.

Benefits: Full‑funnel strategy; ABM alignment; experimentation velocity.

Standout features: GA4/CRM triangulation; creative testing frameworks; SQL‑focused optimization.

Verification: Clutch*, case study links*.

Sculpt

Overview: B2B social programs emphasizing LinkedIn for precision and Meta/YouTube for efficient reach; clear reporting and iteration cadence*.

Best for: Mid‑market B2B wanting unified paid + organic motion.

Benefits: ICP clarity; consistent creative; pragmatic ops.

Standout features: Paid social + content rhythms; role‑based messaging; dashboard transparency.

Verification: Clutch*, agency case studies*.

Ironpaper

Overview: B2B growth agency connecting social to pipeline and conversion optimization; strong RevOps alignment.

Best for: Complex sales cycles requiring lifecycle reporting.

Benefits: Funnel linkage; CAC focus; cross‑channel coordination.

Standout features: ABM programs; CRO for social traffic; opportunity‑level reporting.

Verification: Clutch*.

Disruptive Advertising

Overview: Performance‑oriented paid social at scale; broad platform depth with disciplined testing.

Best for: Brands pushing testing velocity across multiple platforms.

Benefits: Budget control; learning speed; strong QA.

Standout features: Creative testing matrices; reporting suites; retargeting architecture.

Verification: Clutch*.

VaynerMedia

Overview: Social‑first creative and media with robust production; strong for awareness and category building with performance layers.

Best for: Enterprise seeking brand + performance under one roof.

Benefits: High creative volume; trend fluency; multi‑platform scale.

Standout features: In‑house creative; influencer integrations; cross‑channel amplification.

Verification: Clutch*

Sociallyin

Overview: Social strategy, creative, and paid ops; handles B2B and B2C with clear paid social case studies*.

Best for: Teams needing creative + media throughput.

Benefits: Content velocity; platform coverage; hands‑on ops.

Standout features: UGC‑style systems; retargeting frameworks; pragmatic reporting.

Verification: Clutch*, lists*.

Viral Nation

Overview: Social + influencer powerhouse with enterprise governance; paid performance plus creator ecosystems*.

Best for: Enterprise with creator‑led strategies needing scale and safety.

Benefits: Talent ops; compliance; multi‑market scale.

Standout features: Creator networks; measurement; risk controls.

Verification: Clutch*

The Social Shepherd

Overview: Paid social specialists with documented rankings and reviews*; creative + media integration across platforms.

Best for: Brands seeking hands‑on paid social and creative.

Benefits: Creative rigor; testing cadence; cross‑platform reach.

Standout features: Short‑form video systems; carousel frameworks; case libraries.

Verification: Clutch*.

WebFX

Overview: Large performance firm with social, SEO, and CRO under one roof; strong reporting infrastructure*.

Best for: Organizations wanting breadth plus process maturity.

Benefits: Scale; integrated reporting; multi‑service coordination.

Standout features: Social + SEO synergies; dashboards; CRO programs.

Verification: Clutch*.

Power Digital

Overview: Tech‑enabled performance marketing with paid social depth; B2B and B2C capabilities*.

Best for: Teams seeking analytics‑heavy decisioning.

Benefits: Modeling; experimentation; creative insights.

Standout features: Analytics platform; creative intelligence; integrated media.

Verification: Clutch*

Tinuiti

Overview: Large independent with social, search, and retail media; paid social scale with strong process.

Best for: Multi‑channel coordination at sizable budgets.

Benefits: Platform relationships; measurement; governance.

Standout features: Retail + social orchestration; advanced audience building.

Verification: Clutch*

Obility

Overview: B2B performance shop tying paid social to pipeline; strong LinkedIn rigor.

Best for: B2B tech needing LinkedIn + search orchestration.

Benefits: ICP precision; data discipline; CRO partnership.

Standout features: LinkedIn ops; audience development; attribution.

Verification: Clutch*.

Merkle B2B

Overview: Enterprise ABM and paid social at scale; complex buying committees and data integration.

Best for: Global enterprise ABM with strict governance.

Benefits: Data depth; account personalization; analytics.

Standout features: Advanced ABM; identity resolution; multi‑touch attribution.

Verification: Clutch*

B2Linked

Overview: LinkedIn‑only agency known for deep platform expertise and technical campaign builds.

Best for: High‑budget LinkedIn programs needing precision.

Benefits: Advanced bidding; hygiene; creative‑audience fit.

Standout features: Audits; advanced targeting; offer sequencing.

Verification: Clutch*

Impactable

Overview: LinkedIn growth programs geared toward SMB/mid‑market; accessible pricing tiers*.

Best for: Early‑stage B2B validating channel fit.

Benefits: Fast setup; templated playbooks; affordability*.

Standout features: Offer testing; nurture cadences; tight ops.

Verification: Clutch*

Gripped

Overview: UK B2B growth with LinkedIn paid social and demand creation; ABM‑friendly.

Best for: UK/EU SaaS and tech growth‑stage teams.

Benefits: Category POV; pragmatic testing; RevOps wiring.

Standout features: LinkedIn + content engines; lead quality focus.

Verification: Clutch*

OST

Overview: Award‑winning B2B social with international execution; paid + organic programs.

Best for: Multi‑market B2B brands needing governance.

Benefits: Process rigor; repeatable formats; exec social.

Standout features: Audience research; video/document systems.

Verification: Case study links

Kuno Creative

Overview: Inbound + social aligned to HubSpot; lifecycle view of paid social.

Best for: Teams standardizing around HubSpot and social.

Benefits: RevOps mapping; nurture linkage; content depth.

Standout features: Persona‑based social; reporting cadence.

Verification: Clutch*.

TopRank Marketing

Overview: B2B influencer + social for complex buyers; content‑led programs.

Best for: Thought‑leadership + social amplification.

Benefits: Editorial quality; creator alignment; trust signals.

Standout features: Influencer ops; long‑form to short‑form systems.

Verification: Clutch*.

Social Driver

Overview: Digital communications + social programs; strong creative craft with measurable outcomes.

Best for: Narrative‑driven brands balancing brand + demand.

Benefits: Stakeholder alignment; creative polish; clarity.

Standout features: Visual systems; content series; impact reports.

Verification: Clutch*.

NinjaPromo

Overview: Creative + paid social with influencer extensions; global client mix.

Best for: Brands needing creative throughput and scale.

Benefits: High volume creative; cross‑platform skills.

Standout features: UGC studios; rapid testing; reporting.

Verification: Clutch*.

97th Floor

Overview: Performance + content shop with social as a growth lever; experimentation emphasis.

Best for: Teams valuing creative testing rigor.

Benefits: Hypothesis‑driven tests; analytics; iteration.

Standout features: Paid social frameworks; dashboards; CRO tie‑ins.

Verification: Clutch*.

Godfrey

Overview: Industrial B2B specialist; social supports technical storytelling and demand programs.

Best for: Manufacturers with complex offerings.

Benefits: Technical fluency; compliance; sales alignment.

Standout features: Video/case libraries; ABM support; analytics.

Verification: Clutch*.

New North

Overview: B2B agency pairing content + social with email; pragmatic scopes for SMB/mid‑market.

Best for: Budget‑constrained teams needing clear ops.

Benefits: Steady cadence; reporting clarity; simple playbooks.

Standout features: Content‑social mixes; dashboards; retargeting.

Verification: Clutch*.

Buyer’s checklist (red/green flags)

When you get to proposals and pitches, score agencies on how they handle data, targeting, creative, and reporting. Use these red/green flags to keep the conversation grounded in revenue.

Green: First‑party audiences (verified TAM + exclusions), role‑based creative, CRM‑stage reporting, documented SLAs, experimentation cadence.

Red: “We optimize for CTR,” unclear data ownership, no UTM governance, last‑click only reporting, set‑and‑forget creative.

Ask for two recent LinkedIn case studies mapping to SAL/SQL and CAC payback*; require dashboards/screenshots.

Run a 90‑day pilot with gates: CPL vs. model, SQL rate vs. baseline, payback window; scale only after two green cycles.

FAQ

How do you rank a social ad agency for B2B?

Weight platform expertise (LinkedIn first), ABM, first‑party audience strategy, CRM reporting to pipeline, and brand safety over vanity metrics. Ask each agency to show how these capabilities show up in real accounts, not just in pitch decks.

What pricing models should I expect?

Commonly retainers or hybrid retainers with project add‑ons; insist on scope, SLAs, and change‑order rules, and verify ranges on directories like Clutch*. Clarify what’s included in “media management” vs strategy, creative, and analytics before you compare quotes.

How fast should I see results?

Signal in 30–45 days, qualified pipeline in 60–90 days for mid‑market; validate with a 90‑day pilot and clear gates. If an agency promises overnight SQL volume without caveats, treat it as a red flag.

What proof should I require?

Recent, role‑relevant case studies, CRM screenshots, and a measurement plan covering UTMs, view‑throughs, and campaign influence. Make sure their examples map to your deal size, sales cycle, and regions, not just generic lead gen.

Move Beyond Manual Vetting With Abe

Abe turns paid social into a revenue engine with first‑party data, LTV:CAC modeling, and creative built for decision‑makers. We verify TAM, wire CRM reporting, and ship weekly iterations so your ads earn proper credit—and bigger budgets.

First‑party data: verified ICP lists and exclusions reduce waste and lift SQL rate. As your linkedin advertising agency & services partner, Abe operationalizes those lists directly into LinkedIn and Meta.

Finance‑first: CAC payback and LTV:CAC guide scaling—not clicks. Whether you think of us as a focused linkedin advertising agency or a broader meta advertising agency, every recommendation starts from revenue math.

Clarity: dashboards tied to SAL/SQL and pipeline, ready for Finance. You get reporting that reconciles platform numbers against CRM so you can defend budget requests with confidence.

Ready to build a shortlist and 90‑day pilot? Book a consult and see our Customer Generation™ approach in action.

Choosing the wrong LinkedIn Ads agency doesn’t just waste your budget. It delays growth!

For B2B companies, where cycles are often long and each lead matters, the cost of a poor partner isn’t just in dollars. It’s in lost time, internal team frustration, and campaigns that never connect with the right people.

LinkedIn advertising is uniquely suited for B2B when it’s done with precision. That means targeting the right roles, using the right creative, and knowing how to move buyers through a well-intentioned sales process. 

In many cases, it might make sense for a company to hire an agency. This guide outlines how to recognize the signs that an agency might be the right move for you. Then — if you happen to see your org in these signs — we’ll talk about how to know that you’re choosing the right agency. 

When it makes sense to hire a LinkedIn agency

Hiring an agency isn’t always the right move. It only makes sense if:

• You’re spending $5,000/month or more on LinkedIn Ads
• You’re targeting multiple products, personas, or regions, and it’s become a bit cumbersome for the marketing team to keep up with 
• Your team can’t realistically dedicate 20+ hours/week to campaign setup, optimization, and reporting
• You need help with attribution, ABM, CRM integration, or creative testing at scale
• You don’t have anybody on your team who is a LinkedIn specialist (this is not to say that your team can’t do other things really well — it’s just that LinkedIn is a specialty all on its own. LinkedIn is so complex, some marketers dedicate their entire careers to it)

If your campaigns are simple, your budget is small, or you already have internal execution in place, you may be better served with a freelancer, a part-time specialist, or even a generalist hire. Agencies are best when the stakes are higher, the complexity is greater, and you need both strategic and technical expertise—not just help pushing buttons in Campaign Manager.

Can you hire a LinkedIn agency if you’ve never run LinkedIn ads? 

Yes, and in fact this is when it can be the best investment.

A good LinkedIn agency won't expect you to show up with a perfect strategy or fully built campaign infrastructure. Actually, if you do this, don’t be surprised to see the agency start from scratch anyway (it’s not personal, just their methodology). 

A good agency will help you build from the ground up: clarifying your goals, identifying your best-fit audience, and shaping offers that resonate with decision-makers. Look for a partner that treats onboarding as a collaborative process, not a handoff. They should set clear expectations for ramp-up time, be comfortable educating your team as you go, and show patience while early tests generate directional learnings. 

If the fit is right, it’s likely that your team will actually come off of the engagement having learned a lot about LinkedIn ads and feeling more confident in running campaigns by themselves. 

What to look for in a LinkedIn advertising agency 

Not all agencies that offer LinkedIn services actually specialize in it, but many companies will seek out a specialized shop. That is more likely to guarantee a partner who can handle strategy, creative, execution, and analytics without needing to be hand-held.

Platform focus

A LinkedIn-only agency is ideal, but at the very least, LinkedIn should be a core part of their business, not an add-on. Ask how much of their revenue comes from LinkedIn-specific work. Look for teams who are familiar with the nuances of the platform — especially things like audience segmentation, bidding strategies, ad format rotation, and lead routing. Don’t be afraid to ask to meet with the person who will be working on your account on a day-to-day basis while you’re talking to sales and operations teams. 

Industry specialization 

Selling software, services, or anything with a long sales cycle is different from eCommerce. Your agency needs to understand how deals actually close: who’s involved, how long it takes, and what kind of creative makes an impression on a skeptical buying committee.

Be aware of any shop that claims to be an expert in both B2C and B2B. This is possible but unlikely. 

Reporting style 

Whenever you sign up for an engagement with an agency or a freelancer (or basically anything that is significant on your bottom line), it’s important to be able to prove ROI. This means you need visibility into performance that ties back to sales not just impressions and CTR. Ask how they report on lead quality, pipeline impact, and budget pacing. 

At minimum, expect weekly or biweekly updates, with full access to your Campaign Manager and CRM data. Best case scenario, they can give you access to a dashboard that you can reference at any time (like a Looker Studio dash). 

Defined roles

Good agencies build cross-functional teams. That means a strategist who sets direction, a campaign manager who handles execution, a creative team who develops the assets, and an analyst who interprets the data. Ask about how your prospective agency staffs their accounts. If it’s all one person, corners will be cut.

Clear pricing and terms

You should understand exactly what you’re paying for, and what happens if you decide to stop. Be wary of long lock-in periods, vague line items, or fees for things like basic reporting or asset access.

However, keep in mind that it can sometimes take months for get results from LinkedIn advertising, so you might want to budget for a few anticipatory months before you get true ROI. 

Agency red flags to watch for 

• They treat LinkedIn as “just another paid channel”
  
• Their campaign optimization only includes bid adjustments
  
• They use templated, generic reporting
  
• The agency won’t give you admin access to your own ad account
• They talk about results in terms of "leads generated" but don’t mention anything about sales quality (a successful agency partnership requires a willingness to work with BOTH the sales and the marketing teams — not one or the other)
• They don’t have a unique methodology, thought process, or philosophy when it comes to LinkedIn
  

Agency green flags to watch for 

• They optimize campaigns based on audience quality, funnel stage, and creative performance—not just bid changes
• They treat LinkedIn as a strategic B2B channel—not just another paid platform
• They provide custom reporting that ties directly to pipeline and sales metrics
• They give you full admin access to your ad account and data
• They align with both sales and marketing to measure qualified leads and revenue outcomes
• They share a clear methodology for how they approach LinkedIn strategy and execution
• They onboard your team with collaboration, education, and transparency
• They start with simple, testable campaigns before scaling budget or complexity
• They explain performance in context—using relevant benchmarks and business goals
• They prioritize long-term growth, not just short-term clicks or lead volume

What you should expect to pay 

Here’s a breakdown of standard ranges for serious LinkedIn campaigns. It’s common for agencies to charge a different amount depending on ad spend. 

Some, but not all, agencies may also charge a one-time “set-up fee”, usually within the first month of discovery. 

These are market rates. If an agency is quoting significantly less, you should assume they’re using a templated approach, offshoring execution, or assigning a junior marketer with limited platform knowledge.

Also ask about what's not included. Creative production, landing page support, or tracking setup/CRM integration could cost you extra. 

How to evaluate an agency 

Here’s a process that avoids guesswork and keeps things structured:

Shortlist candidates

Look for 3–5 agencies with visible expertise in LinkedIn and your industry. Prioritize those with a point of view—not just case studies, but a methodology they can explain clearly.

Ask for proposals

‍‍Request a short proposal that includes team structure, sample strategy, pricing, expected timelines, and references.

Check references‍

‍Actually call them. Ask about performance, communication, and how the agency handled unexpected challenges.

Make the call ‍‍

Pick the agency that shows clarity, focus, and alignment—not just enthusiasm. The best partner should be able to explain what success looks like before the first dollar is spent.

What a strong agency relationship looks like 

The best agencies act like an extension of your team. They push back when needed, explain trade-offs, and share data regularly. You know what’s happening with your spend, and you trust the team managing it.

They don’t chase vanity metrics. They focus on qualified leads, cost efficiency, and driving revenue. And they’re not just running ads—they’re helping you figure out what message matters to whom, and how to scale it.

Final thoughts

LinkedIn Ads aren’t for everyone—but for many B2B companies, they’re one of the few paid channels where the right message can reliably reach the right people at the right stage of a deal.

If you're at the point where growth depends on more than just organic reach and warm referrals, it’s time to take the selection process seriously.

Pick the wrong partner, and you’ll waste six months. Pick the right one, and LinkedIn becomes a lever—not a line item.

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