Why Do Businesses Choose Who They Choose? A Question I’ve Been Thinking About Lately
After more than 20 years in this industry — running 815 Media, LLC in La Salle and Ironcrest Software in Naperville — I’ve noticed a pattern:
Clients come.
Clients go.
Sometimes they come back.
Sometimes they circle around between the same handful of agencies in the region.
It’s almost like the “circle of life” for digital services.
And lately, it’s made me ask an honest question:
Why do businesses choose who they choose?
We All See the Same Things
I’m not blind. I know exactly what some agencies charge around here.
I know their overhead.
I know their margins.
I know what the work often looks like on the inside.
And I also know what I charge — and I know what I deliver.
So when someone jumps ship to an agency I know is significantly more expensive, it makes me wonder:
- Do I come across as “too affordable”?
- Do people assume higher price means higher quality?
- Do some businesses feel more comfortable paying a premium simply because the invoice looks impressive?
Because if the issue is my pricing, trust me:
I’ll raise my rates tomorrow.
Not out of ego — but because perception matters.
What You Get With Me Isn’t Typical
Most people who work with me know this:
I’m available.
Maybe too available.
I answer texts at 11 PM.
I reply on weekends without thinking twice.
I jump in fast because I actually care about the project, the results, and the relationship.
Some agencies aren’t texting you back until Monday.
Some can’t move without three layers of approval.
Some are still billing you for “management hours” on work that could have taken 10 minutes.
I don’t run that type of business.
I run a business where you talk directly to the person doing the work — the strategist, the engineer, the AI builder, the problem-solver.
Not a receptionist.
Not a ticketing queue.
Not an intern.
Maybe the Real Question Is This…
If I’m delivering high-level work, fast turnaround, modern tech, and real expertise…
Why would someone leave without even talking to me first?
Is it comfort?
Is it habit?
Is it perception?
Is it simply timing?
I don’t take it personally — this industry has seasons.
Some years you gain 20 new clients, some years you trade 10.
Some clients return years later because they realized what they had.
I’ve been blessed. I’m busy. I’m grateful.
But I still think the question is worth asking, because the answer helps all of us grow.
The Honest Truth
Businesses should work with whoever they feel aligns with:
- Their goals
- Their personality
- Their expectations
- Their budget
- Their risk tolerance
- Their need for speed, quality, or support
And to be completely direct:
If I’m not charging enough, or not positioning myself the way businesses expect — I will fix that.
Not because I need to…
but because I’m always improving how I show up.
If You Ever Wondered “Should I Call Kevin?” — The Answer Is Yes
Not because I’m the cheapest.
Not because I’m the most expensive.
But because:
- I’m fast
- I’m experienced
- I’m honest
- I pick up the phone
- I answer late-night texts
- I use modern tech, including AI
- I build things the right way
- And I do the work myself
If you’ve worked with me, you know.
If you haven’t, let’s talk — even if it’s just a conversation.
You might end up staying exactly where you are.
Or you might realize you’ve been overpaying for years.
Either way, I’m not here to beg for business.
I’m here because I’m good at what I do — and I can help.