Still Locked In with a Self Storage Marketing Agency? Adverank Holds the Key
- Mitch Briggs
- Dec 30, 2025
- 4 min read
Most self-storage operators don’t stay with a marketing agency because everything is perfect.
They stay because leaving feels risky.
“We’re not thrilled, but it’s working well enough.” “I don’t even know how to get out of the contract.” “What if switching makes things worse?”
And then, before you know it, the contract renews. Another year passes. The same spend, the same reports, the same unanswered questions.
Not because you made a bad decision — but because the cost of disruption feels higher than the cost of frustration.
We get it! Leaving a marketing agency isn’t like canceling Netflix. It feels more like switching cell phone carriers or internet providers.
You don’t just worry about some extra work during the transition. You worry about:
Distribution of leads and move ins
Changes to costs and budgets
Losing historical data or access to accounts
Changes in process or philosophy
That fear is real. And it’s why so many operators default to:
“Better the devil you know.”
Understanding What You’re Actually Locked Into
Before you think about switching vendors, you need clarity.
The first thing to understand isn’t performance. It’s access and ownership.
Do you have full admin access to your Google Ads account? GA4? Tag Manager? Call tracking? Domain name? Hosting? Google My Business? Social media accounts?
If the answer is no, then you don't own your marketing — you’re renting it.
It’s important to understand your contract terms and know what you’re entitled to:
How long is the agreement?
Does it auto-renew?
How much notice is required to cancel?
Can you keep certain aspects of your contract and not others?
Many operators don’t realize they’ve missed the notice window until it’s already passed. Simply knowing the key dates puts you back in control.
When to Start Exploring Other Options
You don’t cancel your phone service and then start looking for a new carrier.
Marketing should be no different.
The smartest operators start conversations 90-120 days before renewal, even if they’re unsure they’ll switch. Not to burn bridges — but to understand what alternatives actually look like today and so there is plenty of time to prepare for the transition.
A good vendor won’t pressure you. They’ll help you:
Review your current setup objectively
Explain where risk exists (and where it doesn’t)
Outline what a transition would look like
Be honest about what can and can’t be migrated
If someone promises a “seamless, instant switch” with no questions asked, that’s usually a red flag.
What a Good Marketing Transition Really Looks Like
Despite how scary it sounds, most transitions don’t involve big dramatic cutovers.
When things go well, it feels… uneventful.
Ideally:
You retain admin ownership of all accounts
The new partner is added, not swapped
Existing campaigns are paused — not deleted
Your website is redirected, not shut down
New campaigns launch without a gap
Tracking is verified before anything changes
Even when a previous vendor won’t cooperate (which does happen), a good transition plan accounts for that without downtime.
This is how transitions work in nearly every other industry. Marketing shouldn’t be treated differently.
The Questions That Actually Matter Before You Switch
Don’t end one agency relationship just to start another one that has the same problems.
Be sure to ask:
Can I downgrade, pause, or cancel without penalties?
Do I own everything, even if we part ways?
Are there set up fees or pass-through costs?
How is success measured — and can I see it myself?
What happens if performance doesn’t meet expectations?
What is included or not included in the scope of work with the new vendor?
Clear answers to these questions matter more than any specific strategy.
Because flexibility is what keeps you from feeling trapped again.
Knowing When It’s Time to Switch
The best time to switch is not when you’re angry.
It’s when:
You understand your contract
You’ve validated account access
You’ve reviewed a transition plan with the new vendor
It's clear how a new vendor will improve your situation
You feel informed, not rushed
How Adverank Helps
One of the reasons operators stay stuck in contracts is simple: They don’t want to pay twice just to transition to a new option.
We understand that.
We’ve worked with operators in the exact position — under contract, uncertain about timing, and cautious about disrupting performance. That’s why we’ve built our transition process to remove as much risk as possible.
Here’s our commitment:
If you’re currently under contract with another marketing provider, we’ll help you prepare and transition without charging you during the overlap.
That means:
We’ll review your existing setup and accounts
Help you confirm ownership and access
Plan a clean transition timeline around your contract terms
Prepare new campaigns, tracking, creative and structure
Validate everything before any cutover happens
All while you remain with your current provider, and not pay us a dime until it’s time for things to go live.
No Lock-Ins. No Penalties. No Pressure.
We believe the best partnerships aren’t held together by contracts, they’re held together by helpful tools, easy to review performance, and transparency.
With Adverank:
There are no long-term commitments, all our “contracts” are month to month
No minimum spend requirements or commission-based charges, just a flat monthly subscription
No penalties for downgrading or canceling
And you always retain full ownership of your accounts
