Agencies often pitch exciting, ambitious "North Star" campaigns that get one department excited. However, these ideas frequently fail because the client's internal teams (e.g., digital, PR, comms) are siloed and not aligned. The agency sells a vision that other departments ultimately block, leading to an inability to deliver.

Telling a story about a massive enterprise client to a small business prospect can backfire. Instead of being impressive, it often makes the prospect feel that your solution is too complex or expensive for them, and that you are simply bragging about your large clients.

Elaborate pitch theatrics carry significant risk and must align with the client's brand. An agency was rejected for using plastic balloons by a sustainability-focused client. Theatrics must demonstrate deep research into a client's values, not just generic creativity.

While delivering a virtual training, a speaker was distracted and shouted, "oh, look, a heron." While seemingly unprofessional, this human moment likely became the most memorable part of the presentation. It suggests that authenticity and relatable imperfections can create a stronger, more lasting connection with an audience than a flawless but sterile delivery.

Go-to-market strategies built on outrage and controversy (rage-bait) attract attention but create a fragile brand. The audience you build is not a community of supporters but a mob waiting for you to fail. This makes it a spiritually and strategically poor choice for sustainable growth.

Once a specific, visceral comparison is made about a creative asset—like a conditioner looking like "cum"—it can be impossible for the team to unsee it. This type of feedback instantly validates the client's concern and highlights the risk of creating an unintentional, damaging meme, rendering the creative unusable.

Observing a competitor's dystopian ad campaign, Dan Siroker realized the worst outcome for a startup isn't bad publicity, but irrelevance. Controversial marketing, even if it gets negative reactions, can generate crucial mindshare and get people talking, which is a prerequisite for user adoption.

An agency hired an actor to play a 'weird' PR person in a pitch, with a planned reveal at the end. The stunt backfired when the client genuinely liked the actor's performance and requested they be assigned to the account, highlighting how clients can value charisma over proven expertise.

Providing an exhaustive list of creative ideas, including weaker ones, often backfires. Clients, seeking safety or overwhelmed by choice, gravitate towards the most bland and forgettable option, undermining the project's quality.