Case study
How a Los Angeles marketing agency hired a remote Ad designer and scaled lead generation
A Los Angeles digital marketing agency needed a remote ad designer who could create conversion-focused Facebook and Instagram campaigns for service businesses. Global Squirrels sourced and screened candidates across the Philippines and India, reviewed portfolios and lead generation results, and managed onboarding and payroll. The successful hire improved creative turnaround, reduced founder workload, and helped the agency scale client delivery.
Executive summary: Building paid social creative capacity with a skilled remote designer
A Los Angeles based digital marketing agency specializing in Facebook and Instagram advertising needed a graphic designer who understood more than visual design. The founder wanted someone who could create conversion focused ad creative, support campaign execution, understand service business audiences, and show previous lead generation results.
The agency had reached a point where too much founder time was going into creative production while strategy, sales, client communication, and campaign performance still required daily attention.
The company partnered with Global Squirrels to hire a full-time remote graphic designer from the Philippines. Global Squirrels handled sourcing, screening, English communication checks, portfolio reviews, interviews, onboarding, payroll, and ongoing employment support.
Within the first 90 days, the hire supported two client accounts, reduced average creative turnaround by about 60 percent, produced 40 to 50 campaign-ready variations per month, and helped the agency improve lead generation performance. The founder also recovered approximately 12 to 15 hours each week for higher value work.
About client: Los Angeles marketing agency focused on Facebook and Instagram advertising
The agency was not simply looking for someone who could make attractive graphics. The role required a designer who could understand an offer, identify the desired customer action, and turn that strategy into ad creative built around lead generation.
The challenge: Finding a designer who understands both creative execution and lead generation
The founder had a clear hiring need, but finding the right candidate was difficult.
The first challenge was lead generation experience. Many designers could show polished portfolios, but the agency needed evidence of work involving Facebook ads, Instagram ads, landing page creative, direct response campaigns, and service business offers.
For example, a real estate campaign promoting a free home evaluation needed more than a good looking image. The designer had to understand how the headline, visual hierarchy, call to action, audience intent, and offer worked together to encourage a lead.
The second challenge was verifying performance. The founder wanted candidates who could explain what they designed, why they made certain creative decisions, and what happened after campaigns launched.
The third challenge was finding a dependable full-time team member. The agency wanted to start with one hire, evaluate quality and fit, then expand responsibilities as the business grew.
The solution: A full-time remote ad designer with conversion focused campaign experience
Global Squirrels built the search around the agency’s actual business outcome: hiring a remote graphic designer who could support lead generation, not just produce attractive graphics.
Recruiters sourced candidates across the Philippines and India with experience in paid social advertising, Meta ad creative, service business marketing, and conversion focused design.
Shortlisted candidates were evaluated on four areas:
- Portfolio quality and relevance
- Facebook and Instagram ad experience
- Evidence of lead generation or conversion focused work
- English communication and ability to explain creative decisions
Instead of treating portfolios as galleries, Global Squirrels used them as interview evidence. Candidates were asked to explain previous campaigns, the intended audience, the offer, their creative approach, and any available performance results.
This helped separate designers who understood marketing strategy from candidates focused mainly on production.
After a focused interview process, the agency selected a Philippines based designer with relevant paid social and lead generation experience. Global Squirrels then supported onboarding, payroll, employment administration, and ongoing HR needs.
How the hiring process runs: From portfolio screening to full-time remote onboarding
Step 1: Define the role around outcomes
Global Squirrels clarified the expected workload, paid social platforms, required design skills, English communication needs, working hours, and growth expectations.
Step 2: Source candidates in relevant markets
Recruiters searched the Philippines and India for professionals with experience in Meta advertising, digital marketing agencies, lead generation, and conversion focused creative.
Step 3: Review portfolios for business relevance
Candidates were screened for paid social examples rather than only branding or print work. Portfolios showing clear offers, calls to action, campaign variations, and performance thinking received priority.
Step 4: Assess communication and ownership
Candidates were evaluated on how clearly they explained campaign decisions, responded to feedback, and managed remote work.
Step 5: Conduct client interviews
The founder met only candidates who had passed the initial screening. Interviews included practical scenarios such as designing ads for a real estate lead generation offer.
Step 6: Hire, onboard, and expand
Global Squirrels coordinated onboarding and payroll. The new hire initially supported one to two accounts, then took greater ownership of campaign creative, testing variations, revisions, and routine production.
Results: Faster creative production and greater capacity to manage client campaigns
The hire delivered measurable improvements during the first 90 days.
60 percent faster creative turnaround: Standard ad creative moved from several days to roughly one to two business days.
40 to 50 creative variations per month: The agency gained dependable capacity for Meta campaigns, testing, revisions, and new offers.
12 to 15 founder hours recovered each week: Time previously spent coordinating design work could be redirected toward strategy, sales, and client relationships.
Two client accounts supported independently: The designer progressed from onboarding to managing routine creative production with limited founder involvement.
23 percent lower cost per lead on selected campaigns: Refreshed creative and more frequent testing helped several campaigns generate leads more efficiently than the previous creative cycle.
Most importantly, the agency validated a repeatable remote hiring model. What began as a test with one international hire became a practical way to add specialized talent as new clients were signed.
Testimonial: Hiring a designer who understands what makes ad creative convert
Why companies choose Global Squirrels
Global Squirrels helps growing companies hire international talent through sourcing, screening, interview coordination, onboarding, payroll, and ongoing employment support.
Companies use Global Squirrels to:
- Hire remote professionals in countries such as the Philippines and India
- Screen for role specific experience
- Reduce time spent reviewing unsuitable applicants
- Build full-time remote teams with predictable availability
- Simplify international onboarding and payroll
- Start with one hire and scale as demand grows
For this agency, the value went beyond filling a graphic design role. The company gained a remote team member who understood both creative execution and lead generation. That combination increased production capacity, improved testing speed, protected the founder’s time, and created a stronger foundation for agency growth.
Need a skilled remote designer, marketer, or specialist who can contribute to real business outcomes?
Build your remote team with Global Squirrels. Request a demo and let us help you source, screen, onboard, and manage international talent.