about my why

full disclosure: i was an idiot

Out of college with a marketing degree and I was fired twice because I couldn’t stand lying to small business owners about why we were ripping them off for marketing that wasn’t producing leads or sales for them.

So my brilliant idea was to start my own business. I started a commercial cleaning company back in 2011 and I hired the same “yellowpages digital company” you probably use now. Mine was called “Vivial” at the time. They go by “Thryv” or “Hibu” today.

Thinking back, what drove me crazy was the terrible communication. I had a conga line of changing sales reps that never returned important calls or emails. And just when a rep started to understand my business, they would get transferred or quit.

The yellowpages people drove me insane… I found out they knew little to nothing about digital marketing.

The other frustration was the swiss army knife of excuses they handed out for my lack of results. I guess the 2400.00 per month I paid wasn’t enough to expect a few measly leads from time to time. Always seemed to be my fault for not using the dashboard correctly, or not spending enough in paid advertising.

Whenever I spent more money on their bright shiny objects- I got less phone calls. But they always prodded me to spend more.

Spending more money on advertising that isn’t working is like telling a drowning man to drink more water.

Even though I didn’t know it at the time- I needed what every small business owner need when they are down in the trenches fighting.

A partner.

Someone on their side, drawing up battle plans and hammering out strategies.

Then came my idea…

I spent over 11 years thinking about this idea. The idea rolled around in head for quite a while, long after I sold my business and started a great career in local store marketing for franchisors and franchisees.

I wanted to give some business owners the same skill, care and attention that large corporations get from their marketing agency of record. The same attentiveness that a large company would get on Madison Avenue in the 60’s.

In 2019- I rolled that idea out- MADER MARKETING LLC. In the first year – Covid hit. I freaked. People were afraid to go outside. Businesses were boarded up. But- get this… I sent an email out to 225 “Thryv” targets.

Covid actually helped my startup.

I got 35 replies in my box! 8 of them became clients. Turns out they really needed a partner! Especially in an economic crisis. Vivial sure as hell wasn’t figuring out creative ways for them to get business.

By 2024 we had 29 clients and I was turning down clients who were not a good fit. As of 2026 we stand at 32 ex-Thryv and Hibu clients who made the switch to our personal agency. We have slowl;y added talented staff and look to grow to 50 clients by the end of this year.

Are we small? Yep. Do our large competitors care about us? Nope. Do our customers receive personal, talented services daily? You bet your ass.