Scary marketing facts from the Ombudsman!
I never knew how many dodgy marketing agencies were out there, until I saw this in the latest report from the Australian Small Business & Family Enterprise Ombudsman.
This report was written after the increased number of cases lodged with the Ombudsman in relation to disputes between small businesses and digital marketing providers.
The report was pretty extensive (and I’ve linked to it below), but here is a summary of what it says:
- Almost three quarters of small businesses don’t stay with the same marketing provider for more than a year.
- Half of small businesses reported that their providers push for expensive services they don’t need.
- One third need help to resolve disputes with their providers.
I believe that these stats arise from three things:
- Relationships between the marketing agency and their clients have not been prioritised.
- Generic packages are being pushed on businesses, without regard for their unique situation.
- Poor communication and a lack of empathy for the small business has allowed things to escalate.
At Crisp, I have always said that our point of difference is the way we interact with and care for our clients.
We genuinely want them to succeed, so we listen, ask questions and give a tailored approach to their marketing.
Plus we have check-ins throughout our processes so that issues can be picked up and resolved with ease.
I never really thought about why this was a good approach. I just felt it in my waters.
But after reading this information from the Ombudsman, I sure am glad that I went with my gut and followed my instinct in these areas.
The result? On average we work with clients for over 3 years, and we still have a handful of clients that are with us since we launched Crisp in 2019.
We have hundreds of happy clients who continually refer their friends and family to us.
We even have keen bean clients who rave about us in Google Reviews, Facebook groups and on their socials.
So, if you have had a bad experience with a marketing agency previously, or are feeling a little off about what is happening currently with your provider – let’s chat!
I would be more than happy to lend an ear and be a sounding board.
And lastly, on behalf of the marketing community: I’m sorry, we aren’t all like that!