It’s like hiring a personal trainer and showing up in flip-flops and jeans. The trainer might be amazing, but if you’re not prepared, you won’t get the results you’re after.
At Code3, we’ve partnered with thousands of brands across every industry imaginable. And the most successful ones? They’re not just showing up, they’re showing up ready. Here's how you can do the same.
Define Clear Roles and Responsibilities (Yes, Really)
It might sound basic, but the best partnerships start with clarity. We’ve seen projects stall or misfire because of miscommunications or uncertainty on who the final decision maker is. What this looks like in practice:
- Assign a primary point of contact to streamline communication and approval processes.
- Designate and share internal stakeholders for creative approvals, analytics access, product updates, and legal sign-offs.
- Document internal processes and onboard your agency to them so they can be empowered to make progress on your behalf.
Why it matters: Without clarity, agencies spin their wheels chasing down feedback. Time gets wasted, deliverables slip, and opportunities to drive results are missed.
Align on Your Business Goals and Share Them
Your agency isn’t just executing media buys or creating content. They're helping you move your business forward. That’s only possible if you clearly articulate what success looks like.
Your team should be able to answer:
- What are our short- and long-term goals?
- How do the short- and long-term goals feed into each other?
- What cadence do we need to measure goals at and what cadence are we reviewing them with internal stakeholders?
- Which metrics actually matter to us?
- What metrics do internal stakeholders care about?
- How do our campaigns and strategy tie into broader company objectives?
- What campaigns are critical to deliver on?
Pro tip: Your agency wants to have a seat at the table and collaborate on driving your business forward. It’s critical to have strong briefs with context on previous learnings, the now, and what’s potentially ahead so your agency can deliver on a strategy and plan that produces strong results.
Prioritize the Partnership Internally
Agencies can feel like an extension of your team, but only if you let them in. Too often, agency partners are left in the dark because internal teams don’t loop them in on product updates, promotions, or last-minute strategy shifts. If your agency’s not in the room (or on the thread), they can’t be proactive. They can only react.
How to combat it:
- Add your agency to key meetings or give them visibility into recaps.
- Invite them to your project management tools or shared docs when possible.
- Treat them as collaborators, not vendors. Spend time with them and give them access to what’s under the hood.
Build in Time for Onboarding and Ramp-Up
Your agency might be a well-oiled machine, but that doesn’t mean results happen overnight. Every brand has its own tech stack, approval process, and unique quirks. A smart onboarding phase is essential. At Code3, we have a 30 day onboarding process that ensures our team is ready to hit the ground running.
Set your agency up by providing:
- Platform and tool access (Google Ads, Meta, Amazon, etc.)
- Brand guidelines, creative assets, and previous campaign performance
- A list of stakeholders and their roles
Remember: The first few weeks are about learning, strategizing, and aligning. Rushing to “go live” before the foundation is solid almost always leads to misfires.
Make Communication a Two-Way Street
We know your calendar is packed, and as your agency, we’re here to make results happen seamlessly so you don’t have to stress. But timely feedback and open dialogue are what keep momentum going. Here’s how to keep things flowing:
- Prioritize recurring check-ins (weekly, bi-weekly) to review progress and next steps.
- Designate a single feedback channel (Slack, email, Asana, whatever works for both sides).
- Keep feedback clear, consolidated, and actionable.
Bonus tip: Don’t wait for a QBR or leadership check-in to raise concerns. If something’s not working, speak up. A good agency wants to pivot fast and get back on track.
Respect the Strategic Expertise You’re Paying For
You hired an agency because they have deep platform knowledge, years of experience, and a pulse on what’s working across industries. Leverage that.
Instead of saying: “Just do what we’ve always done.”
Try this: “Here’s what’s worked in the past. What would you recommend based on current trends?”
A healthy agency partnership is collaborative, but it also leaves room for your agency to lead where they’re the experts. If you’re not open to their guidance, you’re not getting the full value of the relationship.
Final Takeaway: The Best Results Start Internally
A great agency can drive serious growth, but only if your internal team is aligned, engaged, and ready to partner. When expectations are clear, access is seamless, and communication is ongoing, that’s when the real magic happens.
At Code3, we don’t just plug into your marketing plans. We embed ourselves in your business. And we’ve seen firsthand how much smoother and more successful engagements run when brands do their part to set the stage. So, if you’re gearing up to bring on an agency, or want to improve the way your current one works, take a hard look internally first. Because when your team shows up ready, great things follow.