The Real Reasons You Keep Switching Marketing Agencies

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Remember Those Infomercials?

You know, the ones with the smarmy guy walking in front of a line of sports cars telling you how to make fast money like he did?

“I made six figures in the first three months using my easy-to-follow guide!”

Let’s face it. We all want quick results. I admit it: I’m lazy. Hard work is, well, hard. However, I have learned that very few things come easily.

It’s no different with marketing.

I know some great marketers and amazing marketing agencies. They exist and do fantastic work. Unfortunately, they are becoming increasingly rare these days.

Why? Because everyone wants instant success and immediate gratification.

I’m here to tell you that good marketing takes time and hard work. But I am also here to say that… it’s well worth it!

Four Tell-Tale Signs You're About to Burn Through Another Agency Engagement

1. You Feel You’re Being Lied To - Your Spidey Sense is tingling.
2. They Promise Way Too Much - They tell you everything you want to hear.
3. The Price is a Little Too Good - Cheap marketing really means cutting corners.
4. They Claim to Be Strategic Without a Plan - Saying you’re strategic doesn’t make you strategic.

Let’s dive deeper…

1. Marketing Agencies Lie

I did not enjoy writing that headline. It drives me insane that so many shady marketing firms exist. They are essentially sales operations that also do a little marketing.

Their goal is to land as many clients as possible so they can keep the lights on. They do not value client experience; they value client retainer payments.

We all know what a lie feels like. We all know what it feels like to suspect we're being lied to. It feels dirty and wrong, and you hope your intuition is incorrect.

Maybe, just maybe, this will be the time when things work out.

But you and I know it won’t. Then, you end up watching your hard-earned marketing dollars waste away.

2. Marketing Agencies Overpromise

Again, I wish I didn’t have to write that headline either. Unfortunately, this is often the case with many marketing agencies.

They tell you what you want to hear.

A good marketing agency should challenge you. They should ask you tough questions. And they should push back when you ask for the unreasonable and the unattainable.

Here’s the sneaky part: They can often produce reports that seem to back up their promises.

“Look at these rankings! Look at all this traffic! We’re crushing it for you!”

Yeah, but…

• Is your phone ringing?
• Are you getting a ton of leads from your website?
• Are they actually the right kind of leads?
• Are they converting into ideal customers?
• Is there tangible ROI on your marketing spend?

If the answer is no, then all that traffic is a waste. Your rankings might be great, but what are you ranking for? Nobody has time to deal with a bunch of unqualified leads.

3. Cheap Marketing Means What You Think It Means

Ever get a proposal from an agency and think, “This seems way too good to be true”? Chances are, if they are promising you the world and quoting you very little, they have an agenda.

Their MO is to get you to sign, keep you on the hook for about six months, and then poof, they’re gone… they’ve moved on to other clients with larger budgets.

How can they afford to do things at such low rates? There are usually a few of reasons for this, and sometimes, they occur simultaneously:

• They are doing the bare minimum with a skeleton crew of in-house personnel.
• Their team of “doers” are all offshore.
• They make it difficult for you to leave by taking over your hosting and hoarding your assets, effectively holding your company hostage.

They do just enough to keep you paying while they focus on chasing the bigger and better fish.

It’s still true that you get what you pay for. Always be suspicious of a deal that seems too good to be true.

4. Say Hello to The Strategy Myth

This one is my favorite. Here’s a little secret about strategy… it takes a lot of work. Just saying you’re strategic doesn’t make you a strategist.

Many marketing firms will tell you everything they do is strategic. But what does that actually mean?

Often, these firms will:

• Claim to be big on strategy without diving deep into your brand, design, content, website, company culture, competition, and more.
• Provide surface-level analysis that lacks the depth needed to create a comprehensive strategy.
• Present generic reports that don’t offer new insights or actionable steps.
• Base their "strategies" on guesswork and the output of various tools without genuine expertise and analysis.

Here is what a true strategic approach looks like:

• A deep dive into every aspect of your business to understand its unique needs and challenges.
• Thorough analysis by experienced strategists and marketing experts.
• Detailed reports that highlight both known and previously undiscovered insights.
• A well-constructed and unique brand and go-to-market strategy grounded in extensive research and analysis.
• A comprehensive customer experience design that includes a recruiting strategy to help you build the right team to deliver your brand’s promise to the market.

Remember, Tools Create Output. Brains Create Strategy.

Without a solid strategy, your marketing plan is based on guesswork. Tools like Semrush and ChatGPT are valuable, but they are just that—tools. They are not a substitute for a well-thought-out strategy.

Good strategy takes brain power, talent, and lots of hard work!

Trust Me, We’re Different!

This is the part where I tell you that we’re different. I’m not going to do that. Instead, let’s focus on how to vet a marketing agency. It’s easy for any agency to make promises, but here’s how you can ensure they deliver:

Your Comprehensive Checklist for Evaluating Marketing Agencies:

What Great Marketing Looks Like

There are some phenomenal marketers and marketing agencies out there. By following this comprehensive checklist, you can find an agency that truly meets your needs and helps you achieve your marketing goals. Do your homework, ask tough questions, and make informed decisions.

To all the marketers out there fighting the good fight – I see you! Keep up the great work, and let’s continue to show what great marketing looks like.

A version of this first appeared on the Brand3 blog. Reposted with permission.