Ah, the old “We got burned by another agency” conundrum…

I hear this sometimes. A business hires an agency, things don’t go well, and now the business owner is worried about getting burned.

Chances are they:

• Made big promises but didn’t deliver.

• Weren’t transparent about what they were actually doing.

• Focused on vanity metrics instead of real results.

That’s frustrating. But imagine walking into a restaurant and demanding a free ribeye because another restaurant served you a bad steak once. Does that make sense? Of course not.

The real question isn’t whether we’re going to prove ourselves—it’s whether you know how to build a win-win relationship with a real marketing partner.

Here’s how to make sure that happens:

• Ask for clear deliverables. There should be a clear objective, like leads, phone calls or engagement.

• Look at real case studies. Find ours here.

• Expect transparency. Someone you can talk openly with and ask questions.

We don’t do “prove yourself” deals. Instead, we’re upfront about what we do, how we do it, and what you can expect.

If that sounds good to you, let’s talk.

I get it. You want someone who cares about your business as much as you do. And honestly? So do I. That’s why I only work with businesses I believe in and know I can help.

But let’s clear something up:

Passion and getting paid are not opposites.

• Passion doesn’t mean working for free.

• Passion doesn’t mean discounting rates.

• Passion doesn’t pay the bills.

Here’s how I see it:

• I’m passionate about getting results. That’s why I only take on a limited number of clients—so I can focus on actually delivering.

• I charge fairly. Every client gets the same, honest rate. No random discounts, no “exposure” deals.

• I treat your business like a business. If you want someone who truly cares, you don’t want the cheapest option—you want the best one.

I get it—there are a lot of marketing agencies out there making big promises. Maybe you’ve been burned before. Maybe you’re skeptical about marketing in general.

But let’s be real: would you ever tell your plumber, “I’ll pay you only if my pipes never leak again”? Or your personal trainer, “I’ll pay you only if I get a six-pack in 30 days”?

Marketing is an investment. No magic involved.

Here’s how we actually handle risk:

• We don’t take on clients unless we genuinely believe we can help them.

• We charge fair, upfront fees—because we put in real work to get results.

• We operate with full transparency, so you know what’s working (and why).

If you’re looking for a partner who’s serious about growing your business, let’s talk. If you’re looking for free labor? That’s not us.

I understand some agencies do this. And a free trial may seem appealing, but great marketing is a partnership, not a quick test. If a business isn’t ready to invest, that’s usually a sign we’re not the right fit.

Plenty of larger agencies will offer a free trial before locking you into a binding contract.