Turning “What the Hell” Into “Hell Yeah”: 5 Client Wins That Didn’t Start Pretty

Let’s cut the crap — the business world is messy. Behind every slick brand and polished marketing plan is a trail of missed deadlines, broken systems, and hired help that didn’t help at all.

Over here, we live in the messy middle. Our job is to take the chaos, sort it, shape it, and turn it into something powerful. Something that works. And we’ve done it more times than I can count.

Here are five real examples of client wins that didn’t start pretty — but ended in something worth bragging about.

1. The “AI Built It, Now We Have to Humanize It” Website

The client used a flashy AI builder to create their website. Problem? It had no SEO foundation, no real brand voice, no human warmth, and definitely no clear strategy. Just a pretty placeholder with broken bones.

We stripped it down, rebuilt the infrastructure, added the right keyword structure, made it skimmable and search-friendly, and gave it an actual pulse. We also implemented a blog strategy to feed Google what it wants: fresh, relevant content.

Now? They're ranking for the right search terms, their bounce rate is down, and their brand feels human — not machine-made.

 2. The Missed Deadline, Excuse-Filled Freelancer Test

I gave a content freelancer a test project before onboarding them to our team. He missed not one, but two deadlines, and delivered something I wouldn’t even show to a client’s intern. Then came the excuses.

Nope.

I cut ties mid-email thread, finished the work myself, and used the moment to reinforce a zero-tolerance policy for nonsense. Follow the old adage of 'Slow to Hire, Quick to Fire' because I have learned many times that people will SHOW you who they are. Ignore their words (or their inflated resume, in this case) and trust what they DO!

3. The “We Already Have a Marketing Person” Situation

This client brought me in to elevate their strategy, but they already had a “marketing person” on the payroll. Great — except this person couldn’t explain the difference between reach and engagement, had no content calendar, and was playing guessing games with the brand voice.

Rather than steamroll the situation, I coached both the client and their team member, laid out expectations, and implemented a reporting system tied to business outcomes.

Now, the team has clarity, accountability, and a clear roadmap that actually connects marketing efforts to real results. 

 4. The Ghost Town Blog and Missing Keywords

The client had a gorgeous website — but their blog hadn’t been updated in over a year, and their pages had zero keyword optimization. They wondered why no one was finding them online.

We created a simple SEO strategy: updated meta descriptions, added keyword-rich content, built out internal links, and kicked off a consistent blog calendar that speaks to their ideal customers.

Now, their site traffic is increasing steadily, and they’re getting organic leads without having to rely entirely on paid ads.

5. The “Too Many Cooks, No Chef” Client Project

You know the type — a client hires multiple freelancers, there’s no project lead, everyone emails the client directly, and deadlines are... flexible at best. Noone is being held accountable, no benchmarks or KPI's are in place and everyone is running amuck. 

I stepped in, centralized all communication, implemented a project management system, and became the single point of accountability.

With one voice directing traffic and one system tracking progress, the project wrapped ahead of schedule and under budget — and the client could finally breathe. 

Why That “Hell Yeah” Happens

Here's what working with me actually looks like:

I don’t do mediocrity.
I don’t do missed deadlines.
And I definitely don’t do “that’s good enough.”

When I say I’m going to make something happen, I find a way. That’s the standard I hold for myself, and I expect the same from the people I work with. If you say you’re going to deliver something, you better deliver. Excuses don’t fly here.

I’m also not here to nod and smile at every idea. If something’s not right, I’ll say it. If it’s out of my wheelhouse, I’ll bring in someone who knows it better than I do. I’m not going to fake it. What I will do is bring you a wild amount of hands-on experience across more fields than I can list — unless we’re talking space travel or underwater welding. Sharks, darkness, and heights? That’s a no from me.

I’m not for everyone — and that’s fine!
I’m not the cheapest. I'm not a yes-woman. 
If you want to be coddled or told every idea you have is brilliant, I’m not your girl.

But if you want to be challenged — to do better, lead stronger, and grow your business with intention — then we’re probably going to get along just fine.

So, if your business feels like it’s stuck in “what the hell” mode…
I’d love to help you turn that into a “hell yeah.”

Let’s talk.