Client Requests That Make Us Question Reality: The Funniest Things We’ve Heard in Digital Marketing
At Probey Services , we’ve been in the digital marketing world long enough to have heard it all. We love our clients, we really do, but sometimes their requests make us question if we’re in some kind of parallel universe. You know the type—the ones that have you staring at your screen, wondering if they’re being serious or if this is some kind of elaborate prank.
1. “Can we be #1 on Google by tomorrow?”
Ah, the classic. It’s the request that every digital marketer has heard at least once. We’ve lost count of how many times a client has asked us to make them rank first on Google in 24 hours.
Here’s the thing—SEO is like a slow-cooked meal, not a microwave dinner. It takes time, effort, and a whole lot of optimization to see results. We love that our clients are eager, but there’s only so much we can do in a day (unless, of course, we’ve secretly invented a time machine and haven’t told anyone yet).
2. “Can we add a unicorn to the logo? But make it subtle.”
This request still makes us laugh to this day. A client once wanted to add a unicorn to their logo for a “special launch.” But here’s the kicker—they wanted it to be subtle. Now, we’re all for creativity, but when you think “unicorn,” subtle isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind.
Our design team spent hours trying to create the most discreet unicorn possible. Spoiler alert: there’s no such thing. In the end, the unicorn didn’t make the cut, but it was a fun experiment in mythical creatures and branding.
3. “Can you make this video ‘go viral,’ please?”
If we had a dollar for every time we were asked to “make something go viral,” we’d probably be on a beach somewhere sipping margaritas right now.
Going viral isn’t something you can just make happen. Sure, we can create engaging, shareable content, but the internet is a wild, unpredictable place. Virality is a mix of timing, luck, and sometimes, sheer randomness. We always tell our clients that instead of focusing on virality, they should focus on consistency and quality. But hey, if we crack the viral code, we’ll be sure to let you know.
4. “Can we make our website look exactly like [insert competitor]?”
This one always gets us. A client will come to us with a competitor’s website and say, “We want this. Exactly this.” While we understand the desire to emulate what works, copying isn’t exactly the best approach—especially when your brand is unique!
We’re all about taking inspiration from successful brands, but we always encourage clients to stand out in their own way. After all, the goal is to be memorable, not a carbon copy.
5. “Can you just post something fun? I don’t have any content right now.”
Ah, the panic post request. We’ve all been there—suddenly realizing you’ve got nothing to post and frantically asking your social media manager to “just post something fun.”
Fun content is great, but random content? Not so much. We always tell our clients that consistency is key and that every post should have a purpose. But hey, we’re always up for brainstorming “fun” ideas (even if it’s on short notice)!
We get it!!!
Marketing can be confusing, and everyone has their own ideas of what success looks like. But some requests are so far out there, we can’t help but laugh. So, we thought we’d share some of the funniest, most outrageous requests we’ve heard over the years. Maybe you’ve heard some of these too, or maybe—just maybe—you’ve been the one making these requests (no judgment, we swear!).