We Turned Down a Client Last Week. Here's Why.

Not because they were difficult. Not because the money wasn't there. They seemed sound, actually. Proper nice people running a proper good business. We said no because they didn't have a brand problem. They had a marketing problem.

We said no

We turned down a client last week.

Not because they were difficult. Not because the money wasn't there. They seemed sound, actually. Proper nice people running a proper good business.

We said no because they didn't have a brand problem. They had a marketing problem. And honestly? A decent freelancer could sort that for half the price.

The thing most agencies won't tell you

That's the thing most agencies won't tell you. Not every business needs what we do. Some just need someone to post on their socials or fix their website. That's fine. It's just not what we do.

We build uncopyable brands. That's it. That's the whole thing.

And if your problem is "we need more content," we're overkill. Like hiring an architect to put up a shelf.

What most agencies do instead

Most agencies would take the money anyway. They'd sell you a "brand strategy" you don't need, chuck in some social media management, and call it a day. Six months later you're £5k down and nothing's changed. Because you never had a brand problem. You had a visibility problem.

Which is a shame, because there's nothing worse than spending money on the wrong thing.

The simple test

So how do you know if you've got a brand problem? Simple test.

If I asked ten of your customers why they choose you over the place down the road, would they all say the same thing? And would that thing be something only you can claim?

If the answer's no, you've got a brand problem. If the answer's "because we're cheaper" or "because we're closer," you've definitely got a brand problem. Because the day someone opens up round the corner with lower prices, you're finished.

What we actually fix

That's what we fix. We find the thing that makes you different. The thing nobody else can copy. Then we put words to it, show it off, and make sure everyone who should choose you actually does.

But like I said — not everyone needs that. And we're not going to pretend you do just to get your money.

What happens next

If you think you might have a brand problem, drop me a message. I'll be straight with you. If it's just a marketing thing, I'll tell you who to call instead. No catch.

And if it turns out you do have a brand problem? Well, we should grab a coffee. Up to you.