Here’s the thing: I spent 13 years building my digital marketing agency from the ground up. We grew to 17 team members and hit the coveted 7-figure mark. We were soaring—until I realized I was clinging to a trapeze bar that wasn’t taking me anywhere. Last year, I knew it was time to let go. So I did. I jumped off that platform into the unknown, trusting that the next bar would swing into place. Why? Because the marketing industry is broken, and if you don’t let go and take the leap, you’ll just keep swinging ...
Here’s the thing: I spent 13 years building my digital marketing agency from the ground up. We grew to 17 team members and hit the coveted 7-figure mark. We were soaring—until I realized I was clinging to a trapeze bar that wasn’t taking me anywhere. Last year, I knew it was time to let go. So I did. I jumped off that platform into the unknown, trusting that the next bar would swing into place. Why? Because the marketing industry is broken, and if you don’t let go and take the leap, you’ll just keep swinging in circles, exhausting yourself without ever making real progress.
The Marketing Industry Is Broken:
Let’s talk about what makes this industry so broken. First, it’s overcrowded with anyone and everyone who decides they want to be a marketer. The barrier to entry is about as low as my dating standards around Y2K. No licenses, no real regulations—just a laptop, Wi-Fi, and a vague idea of what a funnel is, and boom, you’re in business. That sounds great in theory until you realize it’s why businesses are placing less and less value on marketing services. We’re in an industry so saturated that standing out feels impossible.
And let’s not forget the hustle culture. It’s like we’ve all been conditioned to believe that success means working 24/7, burning the candle at both ends, and sacrificing our peace for the grind. But here’s the kicker—what are we really getting for all that hustle? A low average ROAS, maybe 2-3% on a high-ticket B2B item if you’re lucky. Or a conversion rate on a tech startup platform hovering around 1-2%. We’re burning out, stressing out, and for what? Mediocre returns at best.
The Pivot: Partner Campaigns
Now let me tell you about the exact project that made me realize I needed to pivot—like, hard pivot. I was working with a global software company, and they were ready to throw some serious money at yet another round of ads. But I knew we could do better. So, I suggested something different: partner campaigns with highly technical influencers like robotics engineers and PCB designers. We launched a YouTube campaign that was all about real, targeted endorsements, tutorials, and brand advocacy.
And let me tell you, the results were insane. We saw a 62% surge in free trial completions—9,194 new potential buyers added to the sales pipeline. And get this: 1,746 new deals closed, resulting in nearly $11M in added revenue. Yep, $11 million. It was like a light bulb went off for me. Why were we wasting time on scattershot ads when we could be building strategic partnerships that actually moved the needle?
The Leap of Faith: My Pivot Year
So, I gave myself a pivot year to make it make sense. And boy, did it make sense. I decided to only work on partner campaigns, and it’s been a game-changer. Other marketing agency owners are coming to me like, “Oh my god, I don’t know anyone else doing this. I’m so glad I have a resource to share now. What a breath of fresh air.”
It’s working—less overhead, less stress, less scope creep, and far better results. But here’s the thing: I had to take the leap. I had to jump so the net could appear.
So, if you’re stuck in the grind, ask yourself: Is it time to torch the farm? Maybe it’s time to stop hustling for scraps and start building something that actually works. Partner campaigns might just be the lifeline you didn’t know you needed.
