Our agency’s spending too much time vetting potential partners through vague claims. We’re exploring directories with performance data, but I’m overwhelmed by the metrics available – campaign ROI, client retention rates, cultural adaptation scores. What criteria have you prioritized to quickly identify reliable partners?
Focus on client longevity, not just flashy ROIs. Partners with 80%+ client retention over 18 months usually have solid operational fundamentals. We also filter for crisis management case studies – separates the pros from opportunists.
As someone being evaluated through these directories – please check response time metrics! Our startup got penalized for ‘slow’ 12-hour replies initially, but that’s because we insisted on proper Russian-English legal reviews. Context matters more than raw numbers sometimes.
Create a tiered system: Tier 1 partners need 5+ verifiable case studies in your exact vertical. Tier 2 can be generalists with cultural expertise. We weight client acquisition cost 35%, retention 40%, cultural adaptation 25%. Automates 70% of vetting.