12 Answers Doctors Ask Us About How to Evaluate + Hire a Marketing Agency
Analysis based on ITD GrowthLabs' work across 20+ clinic engagements in India + GCC. Client names + case study details shared on discovery call under NDA.
How do I evaluate a marketing agency for my cardiology clinic?
Evaluation checklist: (1) verifiable case studies with real client permission (not just logos), (2) transparent pricing (not 'depends on scope' hidden), (3) full-stack capabilities (social + Reels + video + photography + ads + WhatsApp + GMB + branding) vs single-service, (4) compliance workflow (ASCI + MMC/MCI review process), (5) ad-spend markup policy (should be zero), (6) contract flexibility (6-month with month-3 exit option), (7) team composition + seniority, (8) reporting cadence + dashboards, (9) tech + tools + attribution stack.
What questions should I ask a cardiology marketing agency?
Must-ask questions: (1) 'Show me a live client dashboard from a comparable cardiology practice.' (2) 'What's your ad-spend markup — do you keep any % of Meta/Google ad billing?' (3) 'Who are your medical compliance advisors + how do you review creative?' (4) 'What's your monthly reporting + QBR structure?' (5) 'Do you shoot on-site or work with what we provide?' (6) 'What's your team composition + who is my dedicated pod?' (7) 'What happens if we want to exit after month 3?'
How much should a cardiology clinic pay for a good marketing agency?
Reasonable pricing bands for Cardiology + Heart Specialists: (1) Small agency + solo doctor: Rs 25-50K/mo retainer + Rs 30-80K/mo ad spend. (2) Mid-tier agency + 2-4 doctor clinic: Rs 60K-1.5L retainer + Rs 80K-3L ad spend. (3) Boutique + premium clinic: Rs 1.2-3L retainer + Rs 2-8L ad spend. (4) Enterprise + multi-location: Rs 2-6L retainer + Rs 6-25L ad spend. Cheaper isn't better — under Rs 25K/mo usually means single freelancer with limited capacity.
What makes ITD different from other cardiology marketing agencies?
ITD advantages: (1) Full-stack coverage (social + Reels + on-site video + photography + ads + WhatsApp + website + branding — one team, one contract). (2) Real live case studies — cardiology practices across India + GCC. (3) Transparent 4-tier pricing (Rs 35K-3L/mo) — publicly displayed. (4) India + GCC + international city coverage with on-site shoots for metros. (5) ASCI + MMC compliance workflow explicit. (6) Zero ad-spend markup. (7) Senior partner on discovery + QBRs. (8) 6-month MSA with month-3 exit option. (9) 100% client-owned IP + creative + data. (10) WhatsApp Cloud API + booking built into every engagement. Book a free 30-min audit.
What red flags should I watch for in a cardiology marketing agency?
Red flags: (1) guaranteed patient numbers or ROI (nobody can guarantee — regulatory risk), (2) hidden ad-spend markup (agency keeps % of Meta/Google billing), (3) 'proprietary AI' or magic-bullet claims, (4) no verifiable case studies (only logos), (5) contract > 12 months with no exit clause, (6) no compliance workflow shown for medical creative, (7) generic pitch not customized to your specialty, (8) senior partner unavailable after signing (bait-and-switch).
Should I hire a specialist agency or a generalist for cardiology?
Specialists win for Cardiology + Heart Specialists: (1) understand ASCI + MMC/MCI compliance built-in, (2) proven playbooks for specialty patient acquisition, (3) creative library + templates specific to your specialty, (4) benchmark data for your specialty's typical CPI + LTV + ROAS, (5) team trained on specialty-specific patient psychology + concerns. Generalists learn on your dime + often violate compliance.
How long is a reasonable marketing agency contract for a cardiology clinic?
Reasonable structure: 6-month Master Service Agreement with (1) 30-day notice period, (2) exit option at month 3 if agreed milestones not met, (3) IP + creative + data ownership 100% client, (4) ad account admin access retained by client, (5) transparent pass-through on ad spend. Avoid: 12+ month lock-ins, agency-owned ad accounts, non-transferable creative assets, cancellation penalties. ITD's default is 6-month with month-3 exit.
What ROI should I expect from a marketing agency for a cardiology clinic?
Realistic ROI benchmarks for cardiology practices (retainer + ad spend combined): Month 1-3 = ROI negative to breakeven (learning phase). Month 4-6 = 1.5-3x ROAS (patient inquiry attribution). Month 7-12 = 3-6x ROAS + compounding organic. Month 12+ = 4-10x ROAS + branded search lift + reduced CPI. LTV-based (not immediate ROAS) accounting matters — high-AOV specialties see 6-15x LTV/CAC at year 2.
Can I fire my cardiology marketing agency easily?
Only if contract allows. Check for: (1) exit clause at month 3 or 6, (2) 30-60 day notice period (not 90+), (3) IP + creative + data transfer at exit (should be 100% yours), (4) ad account admin transfer, (5) no penalty fees, (6) domain + hosting + CRM transfer. ITD's standard: month-3 exit for any reason + 100% asset handover + full transfer support in exit month.
How do I switch from a bad cardiology marketing agency to ITD?
Migration workflow: (1) Free 30-min discovery call — we audit your current setup + share transparent gap analysis. (2) Overlap period 2-4 weeks — ITD onboards while current agency continues. (3) Asset + account handover — creative library, ad accounts (admin transfer), analytics, CRM, website, social pages, GMB. (4) 30-day exit from prior agency (as per their contract). (5) ITD ramps to full-stack over 4-8 weeks. (6) First QBR month 3. Zero downtime typical.
Does ITD offer trial period or performance-based pricing for cardiology?
Trial: Free 30-min discovery + 90-day plan delivered within 3 working days at zero cost. Performance-based: We don't offer % of revenue pricing (creates misaligned incentives — agencies pushed to promise volume over quality). We DO offer month-3 exit option with pro-rated refund of unused work if agreed milestones not met. Fair alignment: transparent retainer + zero ad markup + exit flexibility.
How do I book a free growth audit with ITD?
Two ways: (1) Fill the enquiry form on our /industries/digital-marketing-for-doctors.php page — Prashant + team respond within 24 hours with scoped proposal + 90-day plan. (2) Book a 30-min Calendly discovery call directly at https://calendly.com/itdgrowthlabs-info/30min. (3) WhatsApp Prashant on +91 99207 07644 for quick text first. Audit covers your current GMB + Instagram + Facebook + website + WhatsApp + benchmark against 3-5 competing Mumbai cardiology practices. Free. No obligation.