10 Elements of a Good Marketing Relationship With a Agency or Firm

Patrick McFadden

Talking with one of my employees recently during a check-in gave me a revealing insight around how we serve our prospects and clients.


She mentioned how she enjoys that Indispensable Marketing shows prospects and clients "what a proper marketing relationship looks like."


So much so that anyone that has a conversation or consultation with us can never again say you don’t know what a proper marketing relationship and approach looks like.


This got me thinking about the elements of a proper relationship with a marketing service provider or agency:


1. they diagnosis before prescribing

2. they educate you on how the results are being achieved

3. they have weekly/monthly/quarterly communication

4. they understand your specific business and customers

5. they don't change order you to death

6. they encourage you to own and give you access to everything

7. they look to solve problems outside of their core offering

8. they meet you where you are

9. they are responsive through email and phone

10. they are transparent about results and the length of time to generate them


Contact your marketing consultant at Indispensable Marketing

If you’re a small service based business that needs help with finding a marketing partner who has their best interest at heart or your business’s online presence on Google and other search engines, at Indispensable Marketing we can help. We offer marketing strategy consulting, marketing audits, monthly marketing packages, consultations, exploratory calls or monthly local SEO servicesContact us for more information.




By Patrick McFadden March 31, 2025
1. The Challenge: VMI was like many service providers — positioning their value around what they thought clients wanted : “Office furniture installation and assembly — let us handle creating your perfect workspace.” But the actual buyers — facility managers, project managers, furniture reps — weren’t looking for “perfect workspaces.” They were trying to avoid installation nightmares . Their real priority? ✅ Great installation days. ✅ No chaos. ✅ No missed deadlines. ✅ No angry phone calls from clients. 2. The Insight: After conducting stakeholder interviews under our marketing strategy consulting engagement , the Indispensable Marketing team uncovered critical feedback: “We need installers who maintain a professional site and follow instructions.” “We lose relationships when installations go badly.” “I need quotes back quickly or I can’t sell the job.” This wasn’t just about services , it was about trust, problem-solving , and professional reliability . So we reframed their differentiators not by what they did, but how they showed up : Same-day project quotes Problem-solving on-site Update protocol with clients Professionalism guarantee Lasting Impression Insurance 3. The Shift: We shifted the positioning from vague benefits to real-world, emotional triggers : Instead of: “Let us create your perfect workspace.” Now: “Get the perfect installation day, every time.” That subtle shift aligns with who’s actually buying (and who feels the pain when things go wrong). The end-user may care about the workspace. But the buyer cares about the install . 4. The Lesson for Others: If you’re selling a service, don’t describe what you do. Describe what the client wants to avoid or achieve — and who the real buyer is. Then, systematize what you’re already doing well and give it a name. Just like our team did with: “Same Day Quotes” “Lasting Impression Insurance” “Reliable Presence Protocol” 5. The Outcome Within weeks of updating their messaging and positioning: The company reported more qualified leads asking the right questions Furniture reps began referring them because they were “easy to work with and made them look good” They were shortlisted for larger, multi-phase projects due to increased confidence in their process But most importantly, they stopped competing on price — because they weren’t selling perfect workspaces anymore. They were selling peace of mind on installation day.
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