What should I check before hiring a PPC Company in Lucknow?

I’ve shortlisted a few agencies for my restaurant’s digital promotion, especially for paid ads.
What key points should I consider before finalizing a PPC company in Lucknow?
Any red flags or must-ask questions?

Hey @thisisrohits Here’s a detailed checklist I wish someone gave me back then:

:white_check_mark: What to Check Before Hiring:

  1. Local Experience
    Ask if they’ve worked with restaurants or food businesses in Lucknow. Local targeting needs a special approach — like running campaigns around Hazratganj, Gomti Nagar, or food delivery near universities.
  2. Funnel Ownership
    A good PPC agency won’t just run ads — they’ll guide you on:
  • Landing page optimization
  • Suggesting tools like Popupsmart or OptiMonk to capture leads (email/WhatsApp)
  • Retargeting campaigns for menu views or cart abandons
  1. Conversion Focused Strategy
    Ask what metrics they optimize for. If they just talk about clicks and not bookings, reservations or orders, run.
  2. Platform-Specific Skills
    For restaurants, Meta (Instagram/Facebook) is often more ROI-positive than Google. Make sure they’re experienced with both.
  3. Reporting Style
    Ask to see a sample report. It should show ROAS, CPC, CTR and conversion actions, not just impressions.

:bullseye: 5 Must-Ask Questions:

  1. What’s your process for geo-targeting local audiences?
    (They should mention radius targeting, location-based keywords, and schedule optimization)
  2. Do you run A/B tests for creatives and CTAs?
    If no — they’re wasting your ad budget.
  3. How do you track real conversions?
    Look for answers like: call tracking, WhatsApp clicks, online bookings, and popup submissions.
  4. What’s your landing page approach?
    If they say “you can just send traffic to your homepage” — red flag.
  5. Do you help with retargeting and upsells?
    Ask about abandoned cart ads, cross-sell campaigns (like “Add dessert for ₹49!”), and using Meta pixel effectively.

:red_square: Red Flags:

  • They guarantee “#1 position” or “overnight results”
  • Their own site has no case studies
  • They don’t offer transparency on ad spend vs service fee