When you’re hunting for a LinkedIn ads agency, it’s easy to get caught up in flashy promises and smooth sales pitches. But after running hundreds of LinkedIn campaigns and managing millions in ad spend, I know what separates the real LinkedIn ads pros from the wannabes.

Here are 10 green flags that should get you excited about working with a LinkedIn ads agency, a.k.a., the signals that you’ve found someone who actually knows what they’re doing.

1. They’re Running LinkedIn Ads for Themselves (And Crushing It)

First thing I do when evaluating any LinkedIn ads agency? I head straight to LinkedIn’s ad library and search for their company. Are they running ads for themselves right now?

Out of maybe 20 LinkedIn ads agencies I know, only 3-4 have actually run ads for themselves, and maybe 2-3 are actively running them today. That’s wild to me.

What does it tell you when someone’s trying to convince you that LinkedIn ads are the secret sauce for your business growth, but they’re not using that same sauce for their own growth? Perhaps, there’s something off with their confidence level.

At Impactable, we’re constantly testing new campaigns for ourselves. We’re in the trenches daily because we genuinely believe this stuff works. 

When you see an agency actively advertising its own services on LinkedIn, that’s them putting skin in the game.

2. They Have an Organic LinkedIn Content Strategy

LinkedIn advertising is just one piece of the LinkedIn puzzle. The agencies that really get it are the ones building their reputation on the platform organically, too.

Check out the agency founder’s LinkedIn profile. Are they posting regularly? Do they have a following? Are people actually engaging with their content? Are they recognized as thought leaders in space?

Take my LinkedIn presence: I’ve got LinkedIn’s official Top Voice badge, which most other LinkedIn ads agency founders don’t have. That’s not me bragging; it’s proof that I understand how to build credibility on the platform beyond just running ads.

When agency leaders are actively building their own brand on LinkedIn, it shows they understand the platform’s culture, algorithm, and audience behavior from the inside out.

3. They Have Multiple LinkedIn Certifications

Here’s a quick litmus test: ask about their team’s LinkedIn certifications. Not just the founder. The entire team.

This might seem like a basic checkbox, but you’d be shocked at how many agencies skip this step. At Impactable, we’ve got 20+ LinkedIn-certified insiders on our team. That’s probably more than any other pure LinkedIn agency in the world, because frankly, no other LinkedIn-focused agency has our team size, and broader marketing agencies rarely invest this heavily in LinkedIn-specific training.

Certifications matter because LinkedIn is constantly evolving. New features, new best practices, new targeting options. Agencies with certified teams stay ahead of these changes instead of playing catch-up.

4. LinkedIn Recognizes (And Spotlights) Their Game Through Collaboration

One thing that really separates professionals from ad expert wannabes is whether LinkedIn has officially recognized them as a partner.

This isn’t something you can fake or buy your way into. At Impactable, we’ve got an official agency partnership with LinkedIn. We get access to ad credits for our clients, we’re part of LinkedIn’s conversion tracking API partnership, and we’ve been invited to LinkedIn’s annual independent agency summit two years running.

Last year, we had two speaking spots on the panels. Out of all the agencies in that room, we were the only pure LinkedIn ads agency with multiple panel presentations.

When LinkedIn itself recognizes an agency as a trusted partner, that’s about as green as a flag gets.

5. They’re Not Just Users, They’re Platform Partners (With a Tech Stack to Prove It)

We’re actually working toward LinkedIn’s technology partnership through our DemandSense platform. This would give us dual partnerships – both the agency and the technology side. 

According to LinkedIn, this combination is rare. Most agencies might have one type of partnership, but having both puts you in pretty exclusive company.

This level of platform integration means the agency isn’t just following LinkedIn’s playbook but helping write it. They’re getting early access to features, providing feedback on platform development, and staying ahead of industry trends.

6. They Tailor Frameworks and Expertise to Each Industry

A dedicated LinkedIn Ads team knows that a generic strategy is never going to be as effective as something tailored specifically for your situation.

That’s why great agencies run LinkedIn ads for software companies, or marketing agencies, or IT services firms. They understand the nuances of your buying cycles, your pain points, your competitive landscape.

At Impactable, we’ve developed specific frameworks for different industries and budget ranges. When we talk to a SaaS company, we’re taking into account industry-specific success metrics such as trial-to-paid conversion optimization and product-led growth strategies.

7. They Don’t Gatekeep the Sauce

If an agency is truly expert-level, it shouldn’t be hiding its knowledge behind paywalls. Real LinkedIn ads agencies should have an abundance of resources visible upfront.

At Impactable, we have a YouTube channel with 300+ videos, including complete beginner’s guides. If someone has the time, they could grab our frameworks and do it themselves using our free resources.

We’re oozing with frameworks and training materials that prove we have the expertise. When an agency freely shares knowledge, it demonstrates confidence in its abilities and a genuine desire to help clients succeed.

8. Their Pricing Is Transparent and Flexible

Pricing transparency is a huge green flag. If they list their pricing upfront, it shows they’re confident in their value proposition and respect your time.

At Impactable, we have transparent pricing and flexible options. When agencies are upfront about costs and offer flexibility to match your specific needs, it signals they’re focused on finding the right fit rather than just closing deals.

Transparent pricing also indicates they have standardized processes and confidence in their service delivery.

Look for agencies with verified testimonials and case studies that you can actually verify (especially ones recognized by LinkedIn itself).

One of our strongest case studies is actually an official LinkedIn case study on our client Lacework, showing 6X ROI. Lacework themselves shared this case study and recognized us as the agency that delivered those results. When LinkedIn itself creates a case study featuring your work, that’s about as credible as it gets.

Verified, third-party validation is one of the most evident trust factors you can rely on.

10. Their Expertise Goes Beyond Just LinkedIn Ads

The thing about LinkedIn Ads is that they’re most effective when they’re part of a bigger growth engine, not operating in isolation (and a “green flag” agency will make sure you know it before taking your money on ad spend).

The best LinkedIn ads agencies understand this. They don’t just optimize your ad campaigns, but optimize your entire funnel. At Impactable, we’ve got conversion rate optimization experts, copywriters, designers, paid search specialists, Meta advertising pros, and marketing automation experts.

Why? Because LinkedIn ads might get someone to your website, but if your landing page converts poorly, or your nurture sequences are weak, or your retargeting is nonexistent, you’re leaving money on the table.

Agencies with diverse capabilities can diagnose and fix problems across your entire customer acquisition system, not just throw more ad spend at symptoms.

The Real Test

Here’s how you know you’ve found a winner: they’re more interested in understanding your business than selling you their services. They ask tough questions about your goals, your current performance, and your competitive landscape.

They might even tell you that LinkedIn ads aren’t the right fit for your situation right now. Agencies confident in their abilities aren’t desperate for every client. The goal is to find the right ones.

These green flags aren’t just nice-to-haves. They’re indicators that you’re dealing with professionals who understand that your success is their success. Find an agency that checks most of these boxes, and you’re setting yourself up for LinkedIn advertising that actually moves your business forward.Ready to work with an agency that checks all these boxes? Let’s talk about building a LinkedIn strategy that delivers real results for your business.