Agencies open and close constantly. A firm gets acquired, a few key people leave, a client’s contact of five years is suddenly gone, and the institutional knowledge about that account walks out the door with them. It is one of the quiet risks of hiring an outside marketing partner, and it is rarely discussed until it becomes a problem.
Marketing Works has a different story. Founded in 1987 by Brenda Stier-Anstine, the firm has operated continuously in central Ohio for nearly 40 years. In 2014, industry veteran Bill Kiefaber joined as a partner, and by 2018, a deliberate, multi-year ownership transition to Bill was complete. That is not a company that got lucky once. That is a company that planned for continuity.
Why Longevity Is a Real Differentiator, Not Just a Nice Story
Longevity matters in this industry for reasons that go beyond bragging rights. It signals a few things a prospective client should actually care about.
Stable relationships over time. Clients who work with a firm for years, not months, benefit from a team that already understands their industry, internal politics, and goals, rather than starting from scratch with each new account manager.
A business model that works. An agency does not stay in business for decades by chasing every new marketing fad. It stays in business by delivering results consistently enough that clients keep renewing their business.
Proven adaptability. A firm founded in 1987 has marketed through the rise of digital, the shift to inbound, and constant changes in how B2B buyers research and purchase. That kind of adaptability is hard to fake and even harder to build from scratch.
Longevity Shows Up in How Marketing Works Operates Today
This history is not just a founding story tucked away on an About page. It shows up in how the firm builds client relationships now, functioning less like an outside vendor and more like an extension of a client’s own team. That approach is explored further in our post on how Marketing Works operates as an extension of your team.
It also shows up in the firm’s refusal to run cookie-cutter campaigns. A team that has been doing this for decades has learned that no two companies are alike, which is exactly the philosophy behind the firm’s four core values. More on that in why ‘we get it’ is more than a slogan.
What This Means When You Are Choosing a Marketing Partner
When evaluating a marketing agency, it is worth asking how long the firm has been operating and under what ownership. A firm with a clear succession plan and a multi-decade track record is a firm that is planning to be there for your next renewal, not just your first campaign.
If you are looking for a marketing partner built for the long haul, not just the next quarter, let’s talk about your goals.
