Stop Accepting “Agency Horror Stories” As Normal

I hear the same story from founders and CMOs every week. A smooth pitch. Big promises. Then missed deadlines, vague reports, and vanishing accountability. That shouldn’t be the standard. Great work and a great experience should go hand in hand.

As a serial entrepreneur, I’ve been on your side of the table. I’ve built and exited companies, and I’ve hired agencies, too. Those scars led me to build Hawke Media with a simple premise: be the best at the work and easy to work with. That’s not a dream. It’s the baseline the industry should meet.

“I’ve yet to meet a business owner that doesn’t have an agency horror story.”

“Why can’t there be an agency that’s the best at what they do, but easy to work with?”

The Problem Isn’t Strategy—It’s Trust

Most agencies know marketing tactics. The breakdown happens in how they operate. Opacity is the enemy of trust. If you don’t know what’s happening with your budget, you don’t have a partner—you have a bet you can’t measure.

I grew Ellie.com to seven figures in four months because the plan was clear, the numbers were daily, and the team moved fast. The same mindset applied when I built and sold Swag of the Month. Execution, transparency, and speed beat hype every time.

We don’t need more jargon or bigger decks. We need honest goals, clean reporting, and adult conversations when something isn’t working. Good marketing is measurable. Good partnerships are dependable.

What “Easy To Work With” Actually Looks Like

People ask me what that phrase means. It’s not coddling clients or saying yes to everything. It’s structure. It’s clarity. It’s accountability.

• Clear scope, timeline, and owner for each deliverable.
• Simple dashboards that show spend, performance, and next steps.
• Weekly check-ins with real decisions, not fluff.
• Fast swaps when a channel or tactic underperforms.

Those are table stakes. They reduce friction so the work can shine.

Why Horror Stories Keep Happening

There are common traps. You hire charisma over process. You accept vague KPIs. You mistake “busy” for effective. Agencies are at fault for selling theatrics. Brands are at fault for buying them.

The fix is boring—and it works. Set clear outcomes. Tie work to those outcomes. Share the truth weekly. Move resources fast. Celebrate wins. Cut losses faster.

But Aren’t Agencies Supposed To Be Challenging?

Pushback isn’t a problem. Ego is. A strong partner will challenge your assumptions and bring new ideas. That should come with respect, data, and open books. If feedback feels like gaslighting or blame-shifting, you don’t have a partner. You have a liability.

How I Judge An Agency In 15 Minutes

If I were hiring today, I’d keep it simple. No theatrics. No magic. Just proof and process.

• Show me three case studies with clear start metrics and end metrics.
• Walk me through your weekly meeting flow and dashboard.
• Explain what happens in month one when results lag.
• Name the decision-maker who can reallocate budget within 48 hours.

If they dance around any of that, I’m out. You should be too.

The Standard We Should Demand

As Erik Huberman, I built Hawke Media to prove a basic point: excellence and ease can live together. The industry shouldn’t ask you to choose between elite talent and a sane working experience. You deserve both.

If you’ve been burned, don’t let that harden you. Let it sharpen your filter. Ask better questions. Require clear reporting. Hold partners to outcomes, not activity. Refuse to normalize horror stories.

My stance is simple. Great marketing should feel rigorous, not chaotic. It should make you smarter each week. It should give you leverage, not headaches. And it should earn your trust, not ask for it.

Share the standard you expect. Demand it. And if your current partner can’t meet it, you already have your answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can I spot an agency red flag early?

Look for vague goals, no clear owner for tasks, and resistance to sharing real performance data. If reporting is confusing or delayed, walk away.

Q: What metrics should I care about first?

Track the few numbers tied to revenue or profitable growth. For example, CAC, LTV, conversion rate, and contribution margin by channel.

Q: How often should I expect performance updates?

Weekly is ideal for trends and decisions. Daily for spend and pacing on paid media. Monthly for deeper testing insights and strategy shifts.

Q: What’s a fair way to handle missed goals?

Agree upfront on thresholds and timelines. If results lag, swap tactics or channels fast. Keep accountability clear, not personal.

Q: Do smaller brands need a full agency?

Not always. Start with the highest-impact channel and a tight scope. Add services as ROI proves out. Scale the team to match results.