Switching marketing agency without losing data or pausing campaigns
In short: When you switch your marketing agency to Digitalman, your Google Ads, GA4, Search Console and Meta accounts stay yours and your campaign history is not lost. We start with a free Google Ads audit, then take over access through our manager account (MCC) and your campaigns keep running without a break. In the first 30 days we fix tracking and the biggest mistakes, and you get a plan for the months ahead.
When it makes sense to switch
- Your ads cost money, but you do not know how many enquiries or sales they bring.
- Reports are full of charts but never explain what was done and why.
- Your agency is slow to reply and campaigns only change when you chase them.
- You do not have admin access to your own accounts or do not know who owns them.
- Results have stalled and nobody brings new ideas or tests.
- You have outgrown your provider, for example because you now sell abroad or want to be visible in AI search.
Your accounts belong to you, not the agency
This is the most important point in any agency switch. Your Google Ads account, GA4 property, Google Tag Manager, Search Console, Merchant Center and Meta Business Manager should be registered to your company and you should have admin rights in all of them. The agency only gets the access you give it, which you can remove at any time.
- Google Ads. Even if the agency created the account inside its manager account, it is still a separate account. Once it is unlinked from their MCC, your campaigns, settings and full history stay in the account.
- GA4 and Google Tag Manager. Check that you are an administrator of the GA4 property and the GTM container. Without that you lose control of your tracking when the agency leaves.
- Search Console and Merchant Center. Your company should be the owner, the agency only a user.
- Meta Business Manager. The ad account, Facebook page, Instagram and pixel should belong to your company. The agency is a partner in it.
- Website and domains. Always keep admin access to WordPress or your other system and to your domain yourself.
Not sure where your accounts stand? We check this in the audit and tell you what to sort out before your current contract ends.
How the handover to Digitalman works
Audit and call
We review your account with read only access, show you the findings and suggest how we would continue. Free and with no obligation.
Contract and date
We agree the scope of work, price and handover date so it follows on from the end of your current agency contract.
Access
We send a link request from our MCC to your Google Ads account and ask for access to GA4, GTM, Search Console and other tools. You simply approve them.
Handover without a pause
Campaigns keep running in the same account. Before the first changes we back up the settings and check conversion tracking.
30 day plan
We work through the audit findings step by step. At the end of the first month you get a report and a plan for the next three months.
Plan for the first 30 days
Week 1
Tracking and quick fixes
We check conversions in Google Ads and GA4, Consent Mode and enhanced conversions, and fix the issues that waste the most budget: irrelevant search terms, wrong location targeting or networks.
Week 2
Structure and ads
We adjust the campaign structure and negative keywords, add missing assets (sitelinks, callouts, images) and review landing pages.
Weeks 3 and 4
Optimisation and report
We tune bid strategies to the data, launch the first ad tests and prepare a report with results and a plan for the next three months.
We make the first changes carefully. Campaigns with automated bidding need time to learn after bigger adjustments, so we do not change everything at once.
What we need from you
- Admin access to your Google Ads account or approval of the link request from our MCC.
- Access to GA4, Google Tag Manager and Search Console, and Merchant Center for online shops.
- Access to Meta Business Manager if we also run your social media or Meta ads.
- Information about your goals, margins and the products or services that matter most to you.
- Previous reports and a list of changes from your former agency, if you have them.
How to part ways with your current agency
End the cooperation according to your contract and respect the agreed notice period. We recommend having all admin access in your hands before it ends. Also ask the agency for the list of conversions it set up, past reports and ad creatives. If anything gets stuck, we are happy to help with the communication.
Why companies switch to Digitalman
We have been a Google Partner for six years and manage around €40,000 to €50,000 of ad spend per month for our clients. The Digitalman brand has existed since 2011 and we have worked for more than 110 clients. We run campaigns for any market where Google or Meta work, from Slovakia and the German speaking countries to the UK, the USA and the Middle East.
We sign a contract with every client that clearly sets out the scope of work and price. Our fee is not tied to your ad budget, so we have no reason to push you into spending more. Take a look at our references and our Google Ads management.
Check whether you are ready in five minutes with our free Google Ads check before switching agencies. It shows which access you are missing and drafts the email to your current agency.
Frequently asked questions
How long does switching agencies take?
Handing over access usually takes a few days and depends mostly on your current agency. We complete the full takeover, including fixed tracking and the main corrections, within the first month.
Do I have to cancel my current agency contract first?
No. We can run the audit while your current contract is still in place, read only access is enough. You can give notice once you are sure, and we will time the handover to the end of your notice period.
Will my campaigns stop during the switch?
No. Campaigns keep running in the same account, only the people managing them change. We make the first adjustments only after backing up the settings and checking tracking.
Will I lose my campaign history and data?
No, as long as you stay in the same Google Ads account and GA4 property. History, conversions and settings are stored in the account, not with the agency.
What if my current agency will not hand over access?
We will help you with the communication and next steps. If the account does not belong to your company and cannot be recovered, we create a new account and set up tracking from scratch. As a Google Partner we can also offer a one time ad credit from Google for a new account.
How much does the audit cost?
The Google Ads audit is free and comes with no obligation. We prepare a quote for ongoing management based on the scope of your campaigns.
Do you also take over SEO, social media and other channels?
Yes. Besides Google Ads we take over Facebook and Instagram ads, SEO, AI search optimisation (GEO) and social media management.
How is your account doing?
Within 5 working days you get a written audit of your Google Ads and GA4 tracking, and we explain the findings on a 30 minute call.
Free and with no obligation, online via Teams or Google Meet.
Prefer to talk first? The first 60 minutes of a consultation are free.