You own the decisions

Your business should provide:

  • knowledge about your customers;
  • clear offer limits;
  • access to the right accounts;
  • approval for important changes; and
  • final business decisions.

The supplier may build the ads, pages, follow-up, tracking and reports.

Your business should still be able to see and use the important accounts, data, assets and instructions.

This does not mean you own every software tool. It means you know what the system uses and who can access it.

Agree on these areas

Swipe sideways to see all columns.

Area Agree on this Warning sign
Ad accounts Who owns the account and has admin access? One supplier login controls everything
Lead data Where is it stored and who can export it? You can see a report but cannot get the records
Pages Who controls the domain and publishing access? The page disappears when the supplier leaves
Tracking What do the numbers mean and who can change the setup? Only one person understands it
Assets Which copy, images and working files will you receive? The agreement does not name the files or rights
Follow-up Where do enquiries go and who replies? Leads can sit between tools or teams
Changes Which decisions need your approval? Important changes happen without you
Instructions What will explain the system? The process lives in one person's memory

Use this table during supplier discussions. Put names and account details beside each answer.

Access is not control

A dashboard login is not enough. You may see the numbers but still be unable to export data, change billing or check the tracking.

Good control means:

  1. You can see the important parts.
  2. You know who owns each regular task.
  3. You approve important business decisions.
  4. Another capable person can understand the instructions.
  5. Any supplier-only tools are clearly named.

You do not need to make every small change. You need enough access and information to protect the business.

Ask these five questions

Ask a supplier:

  1. Which accounts will belong to my business?
  2. Which data and files can I export?
  3. Which decisions need my approval?
  4. What instructions will you provide?
  5. What would another person need to continue the work?

Clear answers do not promise good results. They show whether the system can continue without one supplier.

The simple standard

Outsourcing should reduce your workload without taking away your control.

Your business should keep the right access, understand the main decisions and know how the system works. Agree on this before the build starts.

Common questions

Which marketing accounts should my business control?

Your business should control the domain, core ad accounts, analytics, lead records and access needed to continue the work. Any supplier-only tools should be named before the project starts.

Does keeping control mean doing every marketing task myself?

No. A supplier can build and run much of the system. You still need access, clear decision rights and instructions another capable person can follow.