If you have a talented in-house creative team delivering killer visuals and messaging, you’re already winning on brand voice. But Facebook Ads Agency? That’s a whole different ballgame, targeting, bidding, optimization, analytics. You need a partner who can handle this without stepping on your creative toes.
Finding a Facebook ads agency that complements your internal team rather than competes with it is key. Here’s a straightforward guide to picking the right agency for this hybrid setup.
Why Brands Keep Creatives In-House?
Many brands keep their creative work in-house and for good reasons:
- Preserving brand voice and visual identity. Your creative team lives your brand and understands its nuances better than anyone else. This matters a lot in ecommerce, where consistent branding builds customer loyalty.
- Faster creative turnaround. With creatives in-house, you can pivot fast, test new designs or messaging and launch quickly without waiting for agency timelines.
- Cost efficiency. Managing creatives internally often feels more economical, especially if you produce lots of content regularly.
Example: A Shopify brand selling eco-friendly goods keeps creatives internal to maintain authenticity but seeks expert help on targeting and scaling.
What You Really Need from a Facebook Ads Agency When You Have Creatives?
Since your creative side is covered, here’s what to expect from your agency:
- Media buying expertise. They must master Facebook’s targeting, bidding, and optimization mechanics, especially for ecommerce.
- Advanced analytics and reporting. Clear, actionable insights matter more than vanity metrics.
- Strategic guidance. Think funnel building, audience segmentation, budget scaling, and growth tactics.
- Collaboration skills. Your agency should integrate smoothly with your creative team, adapting to your workflows rather than dictating terms.
The right marketing agency Facebook ads partner acts as an extension of your team, not an overbearing boss.
The Questions You Must Ask Potential Agencies
Before signing up, make sure you ask:
- How do you work with in-house creative teams? Collaboration is key; you don’t want an agency that insists on owning all creative assets.
- Can you share examples of hybrid partnerships? Experience in this area shows they understand the unique challenges.
- What’s your feedback and approval process like? Clear, timely communication is essential.
- How do you approach creative testing and iteration? Facebook ads require constant testing of creatives and messaging.
- What project management and communication tools do you use? Agencies stuck in email chains with no transparency are red flags.
Red Flags to Avoid When Hiring a Facebook Ads Management Agency
Watch out for agencies that:
- Insist on full creative control. If they say “We do all creatives or nothing,” run.
- Lack a clear collaboration process. Ambiguous roles lead to chaos.
- Are slow with feedback or poor communicators. Facebook ad optimization moves fast.
- Have no experience working alongside in-house creatives. This setup requires finesse.
Collaboration Best Practices: Setting Up for Success
Good partnerships don’t happen by accident. Set these up for smooth collaboration:
- Define roles clearly. For example, your team handles creatives, the agency handles targeting, bidding, and ad deployment.
- Create workflows for handoff and feedback. Make sure everyone knows how creatives move from your team to the agency and back.
- Use shared project management tools like Asana, Trello, or Slack to stay coordinated.
- Schedule regular check-ins, weekly or biweekly calls keep communication tight and issues caught early.
A seasoned Facebook ad agency once said, “Collaboration is the difference between wasted spend and breakthrough ROAS.” Spot on.
Case Studies & Real-World Examples
Success Story: A direct-to-consumer skincare brand kept creative production in-house but outsourced media buying to an ecommerce Facebook ads agency. With clear roles and communication, they boosted ROAS by 35% in three months. The agency tailored audiences and bids, while the brand delivered fresh creatives, perfect synergy.
Pitfall Example: Another brand hired an agency that insisted on handling all creatives internally, despite having a strong in-house team. The result? Conflicting messaging, slowed turnaround, and a 20% drop in engagement. After switching to an agency skilled in hybrid models, performance rebounded.
How to Transition Smoothly from Fully In-House to Hybrid Agency Model?
Introducing an agency to a fully in-house setup can be tricky. Ease the transition by:
- Preparing your creative team early. Explain the agency’s role and how workflows will evolve.
- Sharing brand guidelines and assets upfront. The agency must understand your brand voice deeply.
- Setting up clear communication channels and points of contact on both sides.
- Starting small. Test with one or two campaigns before scaling the budget.
Extra Tips for Brands in the Market
- Look for agencies specializing in your industry or platform. Shopify brands, for example, benefit from a facebook ads agency for ecommerce familiar with Shopify.
- Check pricing models carefully. Some agencies charge flat fees; others take a percentage of ad spend. Choose what fits your growth stage and budget.
- Don’t neglect mobile-first creatives. Over 90% of Facebook traffic is mobile, your creatives (even if in-house) must be optimized accordingly.
- Ask about data privacy and compliance. US privacy laws are evolving quickly; make sure your agency stays up to date.
In Conclusion
Choosing Facebook ads agency when you have creatives in-house is about balance. Your ideal partner respects and amplifies your internal strengths while bringing expert media buying, strategic insights, and data-driven optimization.
Avoid agencies that try to hijack your creative process. Instead, prioritize collaboration, clear communication, and a proven track record with hybrid teams. Get this right, and your ad campaigns won’t just perform, they’ll soar.
Ready to start your agency search? Keep these criteria in mind and watch your ROAS climb.
