The Problem.
Q) Why are so many business owners fed Up with large digital marketing companies?
A) Because they Were sold a “bill of goods” by their digital marketing sales rep.
Scott’s original Sales Rep.
(not actual rep, this is an actor 🙂
6 Complaints We Hear The Most…
1) you’re just a number
Remember when you signed up and felt like they really understood your business? That feeling didn’t last long, did it? Large digital marketing companies manage hundreds—sometimes thousands—of accounts. Your local service business gets the same cookie-cutter strategy as the plumber three states over and the dentist across the country. There’s no custom approach, no understanding of what makes YOUR business unique in YOUR market. You’re not a partner in their success—you’re a monthly recurring revenue line item on a spreadsheet. When you call with questions or concerns, you’re routed through a call center where representatives read from scripts and have no idea what your business actually does.
2) locked into long contracts
That 12-month (or longer) contract seemed reasonable when you were excited about finally getting professional marketing help. But a few months in, when the results aren’t there and the communication has dried up, you realize you’re trapped. Early termination fees that cost thousands of dollars keep you stuck paying for services that aren’t working. They knew this going in—that’s why they pushed the long-term commitment so hard. Meanwhile, your business is bleeding money on marketing that doesn’t deliver, but breaking free costs more than sticking it out. It’s not a partnership; it’s a financial hostage situation that hurts your business month after month.
3) results? what results?
You were promised more leads, more calls, better visibility. Instead, you got “impressions” and “engagement metrics” that don’t pay your bills. Your phone isn’t ringing more. Your quote requests haven’t increased. When you ask why, you hear excuses: “SEO takes time,” “The market is competitive,” “Your industry is challenging.” But here’s the truth—real marketing drives real business results. Period. If your investment isn’t generating measurable revenue impact after a reasonable timeframe, something is fundamentally wrong with the strategy, the execution, or both. Meanwhile, your competitors who figured this out are growing while you’re stuck with fancy dashboards that show activity but zero actual business growth.
4) jargon over transperency
Open your monthly report. Can you actually understand what you’re paying for? Probably not. It’s filled with terms like “domain authority,” “bounce rate,” “CTR,” and “impressions”—impressive-sounding metrics that mean nothing to your bottom line. When you ask for plain English explanations, you get more jargon or vague reassurances that “the strategy is working.” This isn’t accidental—confusion keeps you from asking the tough questions about ROI. You shouldn’t need a marketing degree to understand whether your marketing investment is working. Clear, honest reporting that shows leads generated, calls received, and revenue influenced isn’t complicated—unless someone has something to hide.
5) overpaying for empty promises
That sales rep was smooth, wasn’t he? Premium website design, advanced SEO, social media management, email marketing, reputation management—the whole package for one “competitive” monthly fee. Except six months in, you realize half those services are automated templates, your “custom” website looks like dozens of others, and that “dedicated account manager” is managing 50+ other accounts and never has time for you. You’re paying premium prices for economy service. The worst part? You suspect most of what you’re paying for either isn’t happening at all or is so basic it provides zero competitive advantage. But you can’t prove it because of all that jargon in your reports.
6) customer service? good luck
Remember when you signed up? Calls returned within hours. Emails answered same-day. Your rep seemed genuinely invested in your success. That changed fast. Now you’re lucky to get a response within 48 hours. Your “dedicated” account manager changed three times in six months. Each time you start over explaining your business and goals. When something breaks on your website or an ad campaign stops running, you submit tickets into a black hole. The company that promised to be your “marketing partner” has ghosted you while continuing to auto-draft your account every month. You’re left feeling like that friend who keeps texting someone who’s clearly not interested anymore—except you’re paying thousands of dollars for the privilege of being ignored.
tHE mADER MARKETING DIFFERENCE
We built this agency because we’ve been exactly where you are now. Our founder hired Vivial in 2011 for his cleaning business and experienced the same terrible communication, broken promises, and complete lack of personalized service you’re dealing with right now.
After years of refusing to treat small business owners the way he was treated—and getting fired twice for it—he created the marketing partner he wished he’d had: transparent, results-focused, and genuinely invested in your success.
You’re a Partner, Not a Number – Custom strategies built for YOUR business, YOUR market, YOUR goals. No templates. No cookie-cutter approaches. Just personalized attention from a team that knows your name and understands what makes your business unique.
Month-to-Month. Earn Your Business. – No long-term contracts trapping you in underperforming relationships. We prove our value every single month, or you’re free to leave. That’s confidence in our work, not desperation for locked-in revenue.
Real Results, Plain English – Forget vanity metrics and marketing jargon. We report on what matters: leads generated, calls received, revenue influenced. If you can’t understand your report, we haven’t done our job.
Been There, Done That – We’re not selling you theory from a textbook. We’ve lived the frustration of being a small business owner burned by big digital marketing companies. That experience drives everything we do—and it’s why we’ll never let you feel ignored, confused, or trapped.
The Cost of Procrastinating
Your Competitors Are Winning
Wasted Money Adds Up Fast
Your Stress Keeps Building
The Problem. Solved.
Old School Madison Avenue Agency Service
