Quick Answer
Seven agency red flags are visible from a Google Ads account: CPC rising without conversion rise, broad match dominating spend, reported ROAS above platform ROAS, account inactivity, PMax without containment, branded spend disguised as non-brand performance, and GA4-Google Ads disagreement. Three or more in combination is a serious warning.
Flags 1-3: The performance-hiding patterns
CPC drifting up without conversion gain signals bid inflation. Broad match on 40+ percent of spend signals agency shortcut, not strategy. Reported ROAS above platform ROAS signals attribution spin or view-through inflation.
Flags 4-5: The management-effort signals
Account inactivity (fewer than 5 changes in 30 days on an active account) signals set-and-forget. PMax running without brand negatives, audience signals seeded, or themed asset groups signals the 2026 default of unmanaged PMax.
Flags 6-7: The reporting-trick signals
Branded spend blended with non-brand in reporting hides non-brand underperformance. GA4-Google Ads disagreement above 15 percent signals attribution manipulation or tracking breakage. The reporting trick is usually downstream of brand-search cannibalization; the brand-search audit walks the two-week incrementality test to separate the cannibalized credit from real revenue.
The seven red flags are usually symptoms of a deeper structural problem with the retainer itself. The economics of the agency model (loaded cost per manager, accounts per manager, time per account) bound how much depth the engagement can deliver before any specific red flag appears. The structural causes of agency budget burn walks the math, with cited Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and the retainer-volume table.
Common Questions
On record.
What should I do if I see three or more red flags?
Commission an independent audit before having the conversation with the agency. Third-party diagnostic gives documentation of specific structural problems.
Are these red flags proof of mismanagement?
Individually no. Three or more in combination on an account that has not improved commercially in 90 days is strong evidence.
What conversation should I have with the agency?
Show them the findings. Ask for the structural read. Defensive or vague response confirms the finding. Detailed response addressing the specifics may salvage the relationship.
Will the agency notice I ran an audit?
If they have access logs enabled, they will see the third-party tool. If they do not have access logs enabled, they have bigger problems than the audit.
Can Stan Consulting take over management after the diagnosis?
Sometimes. Scope case by case after the Conversion Second Opinion surfaces fit. Depends on account size, industry, and commercial goals.
The Engagement Format
Begin with the diagnosis. Not the proposal.
$999 · 72-hour written diagnostic · No retainer structure · fee is final on submission before work commences
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