I recently saw a list of the 10 best growth marketing agencies in 2026 (link here). I was amazed because we are still in 2025, so that list must be absolutely awesome and updated (irony).
I don’t want Fuzelift to be part of that list!
Sure, there are amazing, huge, global agencies featured on that list, but all of them are overwhelming for small businesses.
They do consulting, we do the actual work!
At Fuzelift, we partner with small businesses to make them grow and profitable. We analyze and optimize all the metrics, but when we explain the results of our services to our clients, we explain in simple terms, so that business owners can understand and make the right decisions with us.
After reading the article, here’s why we don’t fit in these “top 10 growth marketing agencies”, and they surely aren’t the right solution for small businesses:
Budget Mismatch – Built for Enterprise Wallets
Look at the client lists: Amazon, Google, Adobe, Nike, Microsoft, Uber. These agencies are designed for companies with six-figure monthly marketing budgets. Small businesses operating on €500-€2,000/month budgets simply can’t afford the retainers these agencies require. Their pricing models assume you have deep pockets and dedicated internal teams to coordinate with them.
Overcomplicated Solutions for Simple Needs
The article glorifies “Growth Pods,” “High-Velocity Testing frameworks,” and “ICE scoring systems” (Impact, Confidence, Ease). Small businesses don’t need experimentation backlogs – they need their Google Business Profile optimized, a functional website, and basic SEO. These agencies are solving problems small businesses don’t have yet.
Service Overkill
These agencies offer integrated teams across Product, Data, Creative, and Media. A local restaurant or small law firm doesn’t need a cross-functional pod embedded in their Slack. They need someone to help them get found on Google and answer the phone when it rings.
No Fixed Pricing Transparency
Notice how none of these agencies advertise their pricing? That’s because they work on custom retainers negotiated for each client. Small businesses need predictable, fixed-price services like fuzelift’s DFY website subscriptions where they know exactly what they’re paying each month.
Wrong Success Metrics
These agencies optimize for “LTV:CAC ratios,” “pipeline attribution,” and “qualified MQLs.” Small businesses measure success differently: more phone calls, more walk-ins, more local sales. The sophistication gap is massive.
Minimum Commitment Requirements
Most of these agencies require 6-12 month minimum contracts with significant setup fees. Small businesses need flexibility – the ability to start small, scale up if it works, and not be locked into long-term commitments they can’t afford.
Lack of Hands-On Execution
Many of these agencies position themselves as “strategic partners” who embed with your team. Small businesses don’t have marketing teams to embed with! They need agencies that actually do the work – write the content, manage the ads, update the website – not just provide strategy and frameworks.
Technical Complexity
The article mentions “proprietary platforms,” “sophisticated attribution models,” and “programmatic SEO at scale.” Small businesses struggle with basics like updating their website or understanding Google Analytics. This level of sophistication is counterproductive.
What Small Businesses Actually Need
This is exactly why Fuzelift’s model works – small businesses need:
- Fixed, affordable pricing (not “contact us for a quote”)
- Done-for-you execution (not strategic consulting)
- Simple, clear deliverables (website updates, blog posts, local SEO)
- No long-term contracts (flexibility to pause or cancel)
- Local focus (Google Business Profile, local search, not global brand building)
- Direct communication (not account managers and layers of bureaucracy)
These agencies are optimizing for Series B startups trying to scale to $100M ARR. Small businesses are trying to reliably generate enough leads to keep their 3-person team employed.
Completely different games.
Want to start working with us and grow your small business? Take a look at our (fixed prices) digital marketing services and our webdesign subscriptions.