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April 24, 2025
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3 minute read

Eight Lessons From Running a Marketing Strategy Agency

Author: Jill Selick

 

Eight years ago, I started Rubix Marketing with a simple belief: smart marketing starts with strategic thinking—and ends with results-driven execution.

In a space crowded with creative agencies, we built differently—from strategy up. What began as a simple idea has grown into a long-term strategic partner for B2C and B2B brands. 

After eight years of running a marketing agency, here’s what we know for sure: marketing success isn’t about buzzwords or trends. It’s driven by a strategy-led, results-oriented mindset—and with the right team in place, it becomes a powerful engine for growth.

These are the eight lessons that shape everything we do today.

Lesson 1: Clever Every Time—Not Complicated

In marketing, smart ideas win when they’re built on clarity and real understanding of the business—not abstract creative concepts that don’t move the needle.

The best creative doesn’t start on a blank canvas—it starts inside the business. That’s why we developed a proprietary 5-step marketing agency process that anchors every marketing plan in deep learning and insights, keeping us grounded in what actually drives results.

Lesson 2: Strategy + Execution = The Winning Combination

We’ve all seen the gap: the beautiful “strategy deck” that never gets executed. We built Rubix Marketing to close that gap.

We call it Straction—our own framework for turning strategy into action. It helps brands move faster, stay focused, and execute with purpose. Strategy-led creative is only powerful if it’s implemented. That’s where most marketing agencies stop.

We don’t just understand marketing—we understand the business behind it. By looking at the entire customer or consumer journey, from first touch to long-term loyalty, we make sure our work aligns with real business goals.

Lesson 3: Why Long-Term Partnerships Beat Short-Term Projects

Some of our biggest successes came from being more than just a vendor. When clients trust us as an extension of their team, the work gets better—and so do the results.

Partnerships > projects. Long-term relationships give us the space to experiment, iterate, and align our work with what really matters: business growth.

Lesson 4: Creative Strategy in B2B Doesn’t Have to Be Dry

Too many people think B2B marketing strategy means safe, stale, or jargon-filled. We disagree.

B2B can be complex, but that’s where storytelling shines. We use strategy-led creative to bring energy and precision to every touchpoint—from lead-gen campaigns to brand refreshes. Clarity drives confidence. And confidence converts.

Lesson 5: Growth Comes From Sales & Marketing Alignment

Marketing in a vacuum rarely works. That’s why we work closely with sales, product, and leadership teams.

We don’t just understand marketing—we understand the business behind it. By looking at the entire customer or consumer journey, from first touch to long-term loyalty, we make sure our work aligns with real business goals. That mindset now shapes how we approach discovery, positioning, and execution.

The more we understand the whole ecosystem of the business, the faster we scale impact.

Lesson 6: Say No to the Wrong Work

In the early years, we said yes to everything. It helped us learn—but it also taught us what not to do.

Now, we’re intentional. We choose partnerships where we can drive real results. That means turning down work that’s not aligned—because fit matters, for us and our clients.

Growth comes from focus.

Lesson 7: The Team Is the IP

We have frameworks and tools—but our biggest asset is our team.

Our people don’t just “do the work”—they think deeply, collaborate cross-functionally, and own outcomes. Every win we’ve had comes back to trust, dedication, and a shared commitment to doing great work, together.

Lesson 8: Process Is Power

Eight years in, we’ve refined a marketing agency process that works—every time.

From discovery to delivery, our 5-step model scales across industries and company sizes. It’s built for focus, speed, and measurable growth. For our B2B and B2C clients, this process turns ideas into traction.

Eight years into running Rubix Marketing, we’re still growing. Still learning. But these eight lessons guide everything we do. 

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