Modern Marketing Is a Joke (And It's Killing Local Businesses)
Hey,
It’s Mladen.
I’m about to say something that might get me excommunicated from the “Cool Agency Bro” Slack channels:
Modern marketing is a disgrace.
It doesn’t work.
It makes businesses look like clowns.
And worst of all?
It’s contagious.
How did we even get here?
You’ve seen it.
The "creative" campaigns. The funny TikToks. The quirky little ads where some guy in a banana suit screams about "brand values."
Sure, it might be interesting.
It might even get a few chuckles.
But you know what it doesn’t get?
Results.
Sales.
Actual customers through your door.
And here’s why:
The modern marketing machine isn't built to work.
It’s built to win awards and make the board of directors feel smart.
Let’s talk about Big Companies for a second.
When Coca-Cola or Apple runs some bizarre artsy ad that makes no sense, you know why?
Because somewhere, sitting in a soulless glass building, there’s a board of directors.
And guess who’s on that board?
✅ A lawyer
✅ A finance guy
✅ A few political friends
✅ Maybe Karen from accounting who "loves marketing"
None of them actually know how advertising works.
None of them have ever had to sell a damn thing in their life except maybe their resume.
But they have opinions. Oh boy, do they have opinions.
And the agencies know this.
So what do they do?
They create "creative" ads that will impress the board — not convert the customer.
Big brand marketing is basically expensive performance art.
It’s corporate karaoke night, but with $10 million budgets.
But you’re not Coca-Cola.
You’re a local business owner.
You don't have $10 million to waste making a commercial that "raises brand awareness" while people laugh at you behind your back.
You need ads that do one thing and one thing only:
Bring in leads.
Turn leads into sales.
Put money in your pocket.
That’s it.
Simple. Brutal. Effective.
And guess what?
Creative-for-the-sake-of-creative doesn’t do that.
Funny ads that don’t sell don’t matter.
Clever wordplay doesn’t keep the lights on.
What actually works?
Clear offers.
Strong hooks.
Demonstrations of value.
Direct response advertising.
You don’t need a mascot.
You don’t need to rap on TikTok.
You don’t need a hashtag campaign where people share their feelings about your plumbing service.
You need an ad that says:
"Here's what we do. Here's why it's better. Here's how to get it. Let's go."
That's what makes you money.
That's what grows your business.
That’s what real marketing is supposed to do.
Final thought:
Don’t let yourself get seduced by the "modern marketing" clown show.
You're playing a different game.
Their goal = Look cool at a cocktail party.
Your goal = Own the damn cocktail party.
If you want marketing that actually works — that makes phones ring, inboxes fill, and bank accounts grow —
You know where to find me.
👉 https://www.timesaversolutions.net/mainpage#contact-form
Talk soon,
Mladen
P.S.
You don’t need “clever.”
You need cash flow.
Let the big brands waste their money.
You? You're here to win.
