Assessing Performance Metrics: Transparency and Expectations in Agency Partnerships

How did our clients actually perform in March 2025?

On this episode of the podcast, Taylor and Richard break down the latest performance scorecard across our client portfolio—revealing exactly how we stacked up against forecasted revenue, spend, and contribution margin goals.

Spoiler: We beat margin expectations by +11.68%, but that’s just the beginning.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• The exact numbers behind our March forecast (and how close we came)

• Why most agency case studies are misleading

• How to evaluate an agency with real data, not anecdotes

• How CTC forecasts client growth using a self-scrutinizing model

• Why contribution margin is our north star metric—and what that means for your brand

If you’ve ever wondered how to hold an agency accountable (including your own), this is the episode for you.

Show Notes:

• Common Thread listeners get $250 by depositing $5,000 or spending $5,000 using the Mercury IO credit card within your first 90 days (or do both for $500) at mercury.com/ctc.!

• What Drove March?: https://commonthreadco.com/blogs/coachs-corner/march-lessons-from-ecommerce-growth-strategy

• Explore the PROPHIT System: prophitsystem.com

• The Ecommerce Playbook mailbag is open — email us at podcast@commonthreadco.com to ask us any questions you might have about the world of ecomm

• Mercury is a financial technology company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Column, N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust, Members FDIC.