If your brand was a human, who would they be? A stylish, no-nonsense CEO? A fun, witty best friend? A wise mentor?
And guess what? The higher-paying client always gets priority. If you’re on Package One, good luck getting
a call back.
Marketing Agencies: Are They Actually Doing a Good Job?
Starting a business in
Sri Lanka as a youngster? Chances are, you've considered one of two options: a clothing brand or a marketing agency. Why? Because everyone and their dog seems to have done it already, and let’s be honest;
it looks easy.
And that’s exactly the problem. Marketing agencies are popping up faster than bubble tea shops, but are they actually delivering results? Are they helping brands grow, or just cashing in on trends and clueless clients? Let’s break it down.
Too Many Clients, Not Enough Strategy
Marketing agencies are often too greedy for their own good. They take on every client that comes their way, regardless of industry, budget, or strategic fit. Then, they introduce tiered packages, like some kind of marketing buffet:
Package One: 10 reels, 5 static posts, and a handful of stories for LKR 150,000/month.
Package Two: 20 reels, more prominence, and more attention for LKR 250,000/month.
And guess what? The higher-paying client always gets priority. If you’re on Package One, good luck getting a call back. You’ll get your scheduled content, but don’t expect strategic discussions, deep brand building, or creative storytelling. You’re just another name on a list.
The Copy-Paste Formula
Most agencies have a one-size-fits-all approach to marketing. They find a trend that worked once and apply it to every single client, regardless of whether it fits their brand or not. Lip-syncing to viral sounds, shaky phone camera videos, awkward TikTok dances, you name it, they force it.
But here’s the thing: A trend doesn’t make a brand. A brand needs a unique identity, a voice, a personality. If your brand was a human, who would they be? A stylish, no-nonsense CEO? A fun, witty best friend? A wise mentor? Marketing should bring that personality to life, not strip it down to the latest TikTok fad.
The ‘Just Give Us More Money’ Approach
Let’s be real, many agencies are better at selling their services than actually marketing their clients. They’ll promise groundbreaking strategies, insane engagement, and guaranteed results… but then come back in two months asking for more money because, “we need a bigger budget to make this work.”
While it’s true that marketing requires investment, it also requires effort, creativity, and actual strategy. Some agencies think throwing money at ads and influencers is enough. It’s not. If your strategy is weak, no amount of money can
save it.
Okay, But Are All Agencies Bad?
No. There are agencies out there that actually care about the brands they work with. They don’t take on every client, they don’t churn out generic content, and they prioritize organic growth before pushing paid ads.
Now, I run a marketing agency too, and I’m not here to say mine is better than everyone else’s. But I will say it’s different.
Here’s what we do:
We only work with ten clients at a time (for six months), ensuring that each client gets the attention they deserve.
We focus entirely on organic content. Why? Because we believe in building a real audience, a real community, and real brand loyalty.
We treat business accounts like personal accounts, engaging with followers, keeping them informed, and constantly reinforcing the brand’s USP.
Yes, running ads is important (and I’ll definitely cover that in a future article), but if your organic content is weak, your ads will only amplify the weakness.
Final Thoughts: Can Agencies Do Better?
Marketing agencies aren’t doing a bad job. But they could be doing a hell of a lot better.
If you’re running an agency, ask yourself:
Are you building brands, or just churning out content for a paycheck?
Are you personalizing strategies, or just following trends?
Are you truly invested in your clients' growth, or just trying to squeeze more money out of them?
And if you’re a brand looking for an agency, choose wisely. Your marketing team should be as invested in your brand as you are. Otherwise, you’re just paying for noise, not results.
It’s time to stop the lazy, copy-paste marketing. Let’s actually start building brands.
