I want to tell you about a client we lost recently.
That’s right—I own a marketing agency, and I want to talk openly about a client we lost.
In the agency world, we’re supposed to talk about acquisitions, new logos, and big wins. Losing a client is the kind of thing that gets whispered behind closed doors, usually followed by a post-mortem on what went wrong.
But this story isn’t a cautionary tale.
We lost a client we served faithfully for nine years—and their departure highlights exactly what a true marketing partnership looks like from the first day to the last.
To understand why I’m sharing this, you have to understand how The Marketing Squad works.
There are plenty of agencies that operate like “project shops.” You need a brochure? They design it. You need a website? They build it. The project ends…and the relationship goes quiet until the next fire.
That isn’t us.
From the beginning, we built The Marketing Squad around ongoing Partnerships—where you get a dedicated team that functions like an extension of your organization. Not random acts of marketing. Not a stack of one-off deliverables. A steady rhythm of planning, execution, and review that keeps marketing moving forward and aligned with business goals.
For nine years, that’s exactly what we did for this client. We integrated with leadership. We helped shape strategy. We executed consistently. We adapted as their business evolved.
The Rhythm That Keeps Marketing From Stalling
A key part of our Partnership is a communication cadence designed to keep priorities clear, decisions timely, and progress measurable:
This rhythm is simple on purpose. It prevents marketing from drifting, stalling, or turning into a pile of one-off requests.
Over nearly a decade, this approach worked. We helped them clarify their story, strengthen their brand, and support long-term growth.
Then we received the news: they were moving on.
Here’s the part that matters—they told us about a year in advance. This wasn’t a sudden break. It wasn’t a dramatic fallout. It wasn’t a failure of execution.
It came down to philosophy.
For their next season, they decided they wanted marketing leadership in-house rather than outsourced. And honestly? That’s okay.
Outsourced marketing isn’t for everyone. Some companies want to build internal infrastructure. Others prefer the flexibility, speed, and depth that comes from partnering with an outside team.
We serve the second group. (And we serve them well.)
What a Real Partner Does When the Answer Changes
When a business evolves, a true partner respects the change.
We didn’t take it personally or make it awkward. We didn’t “protect our turf.”
We helped them transition.
We worked alongside them to onboard their new marketing hire, handing over the keys to all that had been built and maintained over the years. We made sure the new leader had what they needed to succeed—because our goal was never to “keep the account.”
Our goal was to help the business win.
If you’re a business owner or executive in Louisville, choosing a marketing partner is a serious decision. You’re not just hiring a vendor—you’re inviting people into your strategy, your brand, and your leadership table.
You deserve to know what kind of partner you’re getting.
We’re proud of our history going back to 2007. We’re proud that we can support a business for nearly a decade as their outsourced marketing team—and when their needs change, we can still be a trusted ally through the transition.
We lost a client.
But we kept a friend.
If you’re looking for an outsourced marketing team—and you want a local partner that will bring clarity, consistency, and a steady execution rhythm—let’s talk.
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