Beware of Inflated Fees and Bare Minimum Marketing: Why You Deserve More
In the world of digital marketing, it’s easy to fall prey to agencies that promise big results but deliver very little. Many businesses and nonprofits are faced with inflated fees and hefty retainers for marketing services that don’t provide real value or the personalized attention they deserve. At City Girl Strategy, we want to help you avoid these traps - we don’t care if you become a client of ours or not. Really! We care that your marketing dollars are being put to good use.
The Truth About Inflated Fees and Basic Marketing
It's no secret that marketing agencies can be expensive. At one point in my career, my former agency had a minimum monthly retainer fee of $500,000/month with a minimum commitment of 12 months. That was WILD to me. But guess what? They paid for it. What’s that saying? “If it works, it’s not stupid”? Let’s jump back into the reality you and I live in:
The real issue is when agencies inflate their fees and retainers without delivering the quality and results that justify the price. This happens more often than you might think, sucks. Especially since it leaves small businesses and nonprofits stuck paying high prices for bare minimum marketing services.
Here’s how this typically plays out:
Inflated Retainers and Fees: Agencies often offer hefty monthly retainers, promising comprehensive services. Yet, when you scratch beneath the surface, you’ll find that these retainers cover only basic or generic services—services that don't move the needle for your business. You may be paying for “premium” services but getting the equivalent of an entry-level marketing plan.
Basic, One-Size-Fits-All Marketing: Instead of creating a tailored strategy, many agencies use cookie-cutter approaches that don’t align with your unique business goals. You may receive generic content, broad social media posts, or one-size-fits-all ads that lack the personalized touch needed to stand out in your industry.
Limited Communication and Engagement: Once the retainer is in place, some agencies go quiet, providing little communication or feedback on the progress of your campaigns. You’re left wondering where your money is going, and the “results” don’t seem to match the investment.
No Clear ROI: You’re paying top dollar, but you don’t see an increase in engagement, leads, or sales. The agency may point to vague metrics like “followers”, “website traffic” or “impressions,” but these numbers don’t always translate into real business growth. Yeah, they’re getting to your page but they aren’t converting.
Why This Happens
Some agencies take advantage of businesses that are new to marketing or simply don’t know enough to ask the right questions. Unfortunately, in the rush to secure clients and revenue, some agencies rely on inflated fees to cover their lack of expertise or commitment. They may promise you the world, but when it comes to execution, they deliver the bare minimum.
Other times, agencies grow too large and focus on volume over quality, creating one-size-fits-all marketing plans that aren't designed to address the specific needs or challenges of your business. You become just another line item in their client list, rather than a valued partner.
We do things differently
We believe that small businesses and nonprofits deserve more than “just the bare minimum”. We’re committed to delivering real value and measurable results without the inflated costs.
Transparent Pricing: We offer clear, straightforward pricing with no hidden fees. You’ll know exactly where your money is going, and we’ll work with you to make sure that every dollar you spend on marketing gets you closer to your goals. Here is a great example we often use:
We built you a custom website and handled the hosting- OUR COST is $30/month to host your website on our server - YOU pay $30/month.
We don’t do markups. Period. No exceptions.
You pay EXACTLY what we pay.
Tailored Strategies: Unlike agencies that use generic, one-size-fits-all plans, we take the time to understand your business and craft a custom strategy that fits your unique needs. From SEO and social media marketing to content creation and paid ads, we design a marketing approach that speaks directly to your audience.
Personalized Attention: At City Girl Strategy, you’re not just another client. We are your marketing partner. We’re in this together, and your success is our success.
Measurable Results: We believe in providing tangible, measurable results. We track everything we do so you can see how our efforts are translating into increased engagement, leads, and sales. Our reports help you understand exactly what’s working and where we can improve. We’ll continually optimize your campaigns to ensure that you’re always moving forward and getting the best possible return on investment.
You Deserve More Than the Bare Minimum
When you work with a marketing agency, you deserve more than just the basics. You deserve a partner who genuinely cares about your success, offers transparent pricing, and provides strategies tailored to your unique needs. Don’t settle for inflated fees and bare minimum services—work with an agency that is committed to delivering real value and making a difference for your business.
At City Girl Strategy, we’re here to help you navigate the complexities of digital marketing, avoid common pitfalls, and get the results you deserve.
We’re happy to look over your current plan and partner.
We sign NDAs in our sleep.
We aren’t after your money. We’re after YOUR success.
Here’s a little secret… City Girl Strategy has NEVER pitched a client. We can honestly and proudly say, as we approach 12 years in business, that we have never once pitched a potential client. Every single client/partner has come to us.
Ready? Contact us today or sleep on it. Whatever. You know how to find us if you need us.