What to Expect When Working With a Digital Agency
And how JKS Digital makes it easier, clearer, and more human.
Hiring a digital agency is a big step—whether you’re a brand-new startup trying to launch your first e-commerce store, or an established company looking to sharpen your digital presence. But if you’ve never worked with an agency before (or if you’ve had a bad experience), the process can feel like walking into a movie halfway through.
What do they actually do?
How long is this going to take?
Who’s in charge of what?
What if I don’t speak “SEO” or “CMS”?
At JKS Digital, we’ve worked with clients across industries, budgets, and team sizes. One thing we’ve learned? The most successful partnerships start with clear expectations and stay strong through consistent communication. In this post, we’ll break down what to expect when working with a digital agency—along with a few ways to make the most out of the relationship, whether you're a marketing department of one or a full C-suite.
First: Why Hire a Digital Agency at All?
It’s tempting to try to keep everything in-house. But when your internal team is buried under other priorities—or when you just need specialized skills (like SEO, paid media, or web development)—a digital agency steps in to fill the gap.
At its best, an agency isn’t just a vendor. It’s a partner. A guide. A translator between your business goals and the sometimes overwhelming world of algorithms, ad platforms, and automation tools.
At JKS Digital, we believe in being an extension of your team—no ego, no jargon, just kind, clear collaboration that gets results.
What Does the Scope of Work Include?
One of the first steps in working with any agency is defining the scope of work. This is where your goals are translated into concrete deliverables.
Maybe you’re looking for:
A full website overhaul
Monthly SEO and blog content
A paid media strategy across Google and Meta
E-commerce optimization
Social media strategy and execution
Or maybe you’re not even sure what you need yet—and that’s okay. A good agency will help you identify what’s mission-critical, what’s nice-to-have, and what’s better saved for Phase Two. At JKS Digital, we use tools like the MoSCoW method to help clients prioritize and stay focused. (Must have, Should have, Could have, and Won’t have…yet.)
The key here is alignment. You should leave the kickoff with a crystal-clear understanding of what’s included, how success is measured, and what the first 30, 60, and 90 days will look like.
How Long Will This Take?
Timelines can vary wildly depending on the scope—but you should never feel like you’re in the dark.
At JKS Digital, we’re honest about lead times. We’d rather give you a realistic launch date than promise the moon and ghost you for three weeks. Whether it’s a one-month sprint or a year-long engagement, we break it down into digestible chunks, often using tools like Asana or ClickUp so you can track progress in real time.
Pro tip: Be ready to participate. The fastest projects are the ones where clients are engaged, responsive, and able to provide feedback, approvals, and content when needed.
What’s the Communication Style Like?
Not every agency-client relationship works the same way, but one rule always applies: communication can make or break a project.
Here’s what works for us (and what we recommend you look for, no matter who you work with):
Clear primary point of contact: You’ll know exactly who’s running point and how to reach them.
Weekly or biweekly check-ins: Email updates are great, but a live touchpoint helps make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Shared documents and dashboards: Transparency is everything. You should never have to chase down metrics or wonder what’s being worked on.
At JKS Digital, we default to over-communication—not in a flood-your-inbox way, but in a “you’ll never be left guessing” kind of way. We believe trust is built in follow-through and reinforced in honest, proactive updates.
What If I’m Not a Digital Expert?
Good news: You don’t have to be.
A great agency meets you where you are. We don’t expect you to know your CPCs from your CTRs or to have a working knowledge of Shopify’s Liquid code structure. That’s our job. Yours is to help us understand your brand, your customer, and your goals.
At JKS Digital, we explain things in plain English. We’ll walk you through strategy documents, break down campaign performance, and answer your questions without the eye rolls.
We’re not here to sound smart. We’re here to make you look smart—to your boss, your board, and most importantly, your customers.
What Happens If Something Goes Wrong?
It happens. A campaign underperforms. A web launch hits a delay. A Google algorithm update knocks rankings sideways.
Here’s the difference between a good agency and a great one:
A good agency points fingers.
A great agency owns the problem, communicates the solution, and moves fast to fix it.
We built JKS Digital around this core belief: Do the right thing, even when it’s hard. That means we’ll tell you when something’s off. We’ll make recommendations even if they’re not the most profitable for us. And we’ll always put long-term trust over short-term wins.
How Can I Get the Most Out of the Relationship?
You’re investing time, money, and trust into your agency partnership. Here’s how to make sure that investment pays off:
1. Be clear about your goals. Even if your goal is “grow traffic” or “get more sales,” give your agency the full picture—including what success looks like in your eyes.
2. Ask questions. Never feel embarrassed about asking for clarification. You’re not supposed to be the expert—we are.
3. Provide feedback early and often. The sooner we know something’s off-track, the sooner we can fix it.
4. Celebrate wins together. Small victories add up. And when your agency wins, your business grows.
Final Thought: You Deserve a Better Digital Experience
At JKS Digital, we’re not the biggest agency in the world—and we don’t want to be. We’re boutique by design, focused on long-term relationships, real impact, and a culture of Just Kind Service (yes, it’s more than just a tagline).
If you're ready for a digital partner who prioritizes clarity, accountability, and shared success, we’d love to hear your story.
Because when the expectations are clear and the vibe is right, digital work isn’t just easier—it’s a whole lot more fun.
