Why the choice is harder than it looks
Turkey has thousands of agencies, from freelancers to large networks. Many have beautiful portfolios. Far fewer can show how their work brought customers. The cost of the wrong choice is not just the fee. It is months of lost momentum.
Ten checks before you sign
1. Real proof, not just pretty work. Ask for case studies with the client name, dates and numbers. Ask whether you can speak to the client.
2. Who will do the work. Meet the people who will run your account, not only the person who sells it. Ask what is done in-house and what is outsourced.
3. Experience with your market. Selling to Turkish buyers and selling to UK or German buyers are different jobs. Ask for work in your target market and language.
4. Clear pricing. Look for prices with a defined scope and deliverables. Be careful with very low monthly fees that include "everything".
5. Reporting that matters. Reports should show leads, booked calls and sales, not only impressions and likes.
6. You own your accounts. Your Google Ads, Meta Business, analytics, domain and website should be in your name. The agency gets access, not ownership.
7. Transparent ad spend. Ad spend should be paid to the platform from your account or shown line by line. Avoid unclear "media fees".
8. Fair contract terms. Check minimum terms, notice periods and what happens to work and data if you leave.
9. Honest promises. Nobody can guarantee first place on Google or a fixed number of leads. Agencies that promise this are a warning sign.
10. Communication. Agree how often you meet, who your contact is, how fast they reply, and in which language.
- 1Real proof, not just pretty work
- 2Who will do the work
- 3Experience with your market
- 4Clear pricing
- 5Reporting that matters
- 6You own your accounts
- 7Transparent ad spend
- 8Fair contract terms
- 9Honest promises
- 10Communication
Questions to ask in the first call
- Show me a client like me. What did you change and what happened?
- Who will work on my account each week?
- What will you deliver in the first 30, 60 and 90 days?
- How will we know if it is working?
- What do you need from me?
Start small, then commit
A paid audit or a defined first project, such as a landing page with a campaign, shows you how the agency works before a long contract.
About OUNTERNET
OUNTERNET was founded in 2018 by Omid Akrami and works from Istanbul (Nişantaşı) and the UK. We run websites, ads, SEO, AI visibility and automation for clients in the UK, Europe and Turkey. See our work, about us or apply for a call.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a digital marketing agency in Turkey cost?
It varies widely by scope and seniority. Compare offers by deliverables and the people involved, not by headline price alone.
Should I choose a local or an international agency?
Choose the one with proven experience in the market you sell to. If you sell abroad from Turkey, you need both local knowledge and international experience.
What is a red flag when choosing an agency?
Guaranteed rankings or lead numbers, unclear pricing, and ad accounts owned by the agency instead of you.