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In the ten years I’ve been running my agency, I’ve encountered countless memorable moments and even more unforgettable conversations. One recent exchange with a potential client, a plumber, really drove home the importance of letting experts handle what they do best—especially when it comes to marketing.

During the call, my team and I asked the usual questions:

  • What’s working in your marketing so far?
  • Who’s your target audience?

Then we dug into the tougher, more data-driven aspects:

  • What’s your cost per lead?
  • What’s your cost per conversion?

His response wasn’t numbers; instead, he said, “I would take toilets over this any day.”

At first, I laughed and joked, “Well, I’d rather do anything than have my head in a toilet!” But then, I paused to reflect. This guy is a plumber for a reason—he’s comfortable in that world, whether it involves toilets or not. It’s what he knows. Similarly, I’m not a plumber for a reason. Toilets aren’t my area of expertise, but marketing is.

This got me thinking about a common misconception among business owners: the belief that they can cut corners when it comes to marketing. Some think they can handle it themselves, or hire one person to master all aspects of marketing. The truth is, marketing, like plumbing, requires specialized skills and expertise. I’ve had other clients—like a fence maker—tell me they didn’t think they had the budget for an agency. When I asked him who would do the marketing, he said he’d have to handle it himself. My response was simple: “You don’t see me building fences, because I don’t know how.” Just as a sturdy fence requires skilled hands, an effective marketing strategy demands professionals who understand how to navigate the ever-changing landscape of advertising, branding, and digital marketing.

Small business owners are often bogged down with operational tasks—payroll, hiring, inventory—and they simply don’t have the time or the bandwidth to become marketing experts. Larger businesses, on the other hand, have so much at stake that taking their eye off the core business to focus on marketing can be a costly mistake. Whether large or small, every business benefits from working with a marketing agency that knows the ins and outs of the field, ensuring that their budget gets the best possible return on investment.

The takeaway? Don’t try to do it all yourself. Just like you wouldn’t hire a marketer to fix your pipes, you shouldn’t take on the responsibility of marketing if it’s not your expertise. Trust the professionals to do what they do best, and focus on what you do best—running your business.