# Choosing the Right Agency Partner | Part 1 Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/mastermined-a-behavioral-mental-health-podcast-7348207/choosing-the-right-agency-partner-part-1 Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/mastermined-a-behavioral-mental-health-podcast-7348207/choosing-the-right-agency-partner-part-1.md Podcast: [MasterMined: A Behavioral & Mental Health Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/mastermined-a-behavioral-mental-health-podcast-7348207) Published: 2026-05-12T11:00:00+00:00 Episode link: https://7b85b8b9-e12c-419f-86e6-b1da2ff0426b.libsyn.com/choosing-the-right-agency-partner-part-1 Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/7b85b8b9-e12c-419f-86e6-b1da2ff0426b/Episode_52_MP3.mp3?dest-id=5072550 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/mastermined-a-behavioral-mental-health-podcast-7348207/episodes/choosing-the-right-agency-partner-part-1 Duration seconds: 2408 ## Resource Choosing the wrong marketing agency can cost a behavioral health organization time, money, momentum, and admissions growth. In Part 1 of this two-part MasterMined series, Mark Scrivner and Lee Pepper break down the behavioral health RFP process, how to properly evaluate agency partners, and the biggest mistakes organizations make when selecting a marketing firm. Lee shares practical guidance from his experience leading marketing initiatives at Foundations Recovery Network and consulting with behavioral health organizations nationwide. From defining conversion metrics and budgeting correctly to building strong agency relationships rooted in accountability and trust, this episode gives operators a practical framework for making smarter marketing partnership decisions. If your organization is considering hiring a new agency—or struggling to get results from your current one—this episode provides actionable insights to help you avoid costly mistakes and build a stronger marketing foundation. Key Moments: 00:47 – Why choosing the wrong agency can hurt growth and operations 03:44 – The importance of documenting what success looks like 08:21 – Why agencies should present in person and on-site 10:16 – What every strong behavioral health RFP should include 15:23 – What separates a good RFP from a bad one 17:36 – Why price alone leads to poor agency decisions 19:48 – How to define agency accountability and conversion metrics 24:09 – Why the agency team matters more than the agency owner 29:09 – Major red flags during agency presentations 36:16 – The most important question every CEO should ask before signing Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: snapshot.agency.com/health/mastermined Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | http://snapshot.ag… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/mastermined-a-behavioral-mental-health-podcast-7348207/episodes/choosing-the-right-agency-partner-part-1/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/mastermined-a-behavioral-mental-health-podcast-7348207/choosing-the-right-agency-partner-part-1.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.