“We Get You Leads or You Don’t Pay” - the Truth Behind the Pitch.

"We get you leads or you don’t pay" is one of the most common marketing claims flooding the digital ad world today. From Facebook to Instagram to cold DMs, digital marketing agencies are promising wild outcomes like "30 clients in 30 days" or "free leads or your money back." But if you're a healthcare provider or agency owner, especially in the crowded home health or private practice space, here’s what those offers don’t tell you: you’re still paying—just not where you think.

Why This Sales Pitch Is Suddenly Everywhere

The digital marketing space has become saturated. Agencies, freelancers, and even DIY course sellers are all fighting for attention from health care brands. To break through the noise, many have turned to performance-based promises as bait. The most common hooks are:

• “You don’t pay unless we get you leads.”

• “30 booked appointments in 30 days—or your money back.”

• “We guarantee growth—or we work for free.”

  
  

Sounds bold, right? It is. And that’s the point. These offers are designed to lower your resistance, get you to schedule a call, and make you believe there's no risk. But in most cases, what you’re really signing up for is a partial commitment dressed as a guarantee.

What These Agencies Aren’t Telling You

Let’s break it down. In nearly every “you don’t pay unless…” pitch, here’s what’s buried in the fine print—or completely omitted until after you’ve signed:

You Still Pay for Creatives

You’re responsible for:

• Ad copywriting

• Graphic design

• Video editing

• Landing page creation

• Brand assets and revisions

  
  

These “non-refundable” creative fees often run $1,000 to $3,000 before any campaign goes live.

You Still Fund the Ad Spend

The guarantee only covers their fee—not your ad budget. So even if they deliver zero leads, you're still on the hook for hundreds (or thousands) in Meta or Google Ads spend.

You’re Required to Follow Their Process Exactly

Many agencies add clauses that void the guarantee if:

• You change the ad copy

• You delay approvals

• You don’t respond to leads fast enough

• You “interfere” with campaign decisions

Translation? They get to define the success metrics and control the rules.

The Definition of a “Lead” May Be Looser Than You Think

In some cases a lead may mean:

Improve your marketing IQ with insight and information that pulls back the curtain on how it all works.

• A form fill with a fake name

• A missed call

• A person who clicked a link

• A contact who never actually showed interest

Meanwhile, you’re stuck sorting through noise, disappointed, and confused about what you actually paid for.

The Psychological Hook: Why These Offers Work

There’s a reason these pitches sound so appealing. They tap into pain and frustration you already have:

• You’re tired of wasting money on marketing that doesn’t work.

• You’ve been burned before by agencies that overpromised.

• You’re unsure who to trust or what’s actually broken.

• You just want results—and fast.

  
  

But that’s exactly what makes these offers dangerous. They prey on the desire for fast wins without clarifying what long-term success actually looks like.

Real Growth Doesn’t Come From Gimmicks

If “we get you leads or you don’t pay” was a sustainable business model, every agency would offer it. But here’s the truth:

• Good marketing takes time to gain traction.

• Smart campaigns require testing, adjusting, and optimizing.

• Not every business has the same path to success.

  
  

Agencies that only focus on lead volume often neglect critical elements like:

• Positioning

• Audience targeting

• Local search visibility

• Website conversion optimization

• Long-term content strategy

  
  

In other words, you may get “leads,” but not necessarily trust, authority, or qualified opportunities.

A Better Question: What’s Really Blocking Your Lead Growth?

Before getting seduced by another lead-gen shortcut, pause and ask:

• Is my website findable in search?

• Do I rank locally for services I provide?

• Am I showing up where my competitors are?

• When someone does visit my site, do they trust it?

• Am I clear on who I’m targeting—and why they’d choose me?

  
  

Chances are, the real problem isn’t that you “need more leads.” It’s that your visibility and message aren’t aligned with buyer intent. That’s where the Brand Awareness Review comes in.

The Smart Alternative: Brand Awareness Over Blind Ads

The Brand Awareness Review isn’t a gimmick or pitch—it’s a real-time, strategic look at:

• Where you rank in search for local, high-intent keywords.

• What your competitors are doing (and why it’s working).

• How your website is helping—or hurting—conversion.

• Whether your ads, content, and local listings are aligned.

  
  

This isn’t about hype. It’s about truth. And truth is what drives clarity, confidence, and smart decisions. Because when you know exactly what’s broken, you don’t need to gamble on vague promises. You can fix what matters.

Why Healthcare Agencies Are Especially Vulnerable

In regulated industries like home health, private practice, or men’s health, there are extra compliance concerns. Most “get-leads-or-free” offers don’t mention:

• HIPAA restrictions

• Data handling

• Targeting limitations

• Platform advertising rules for sensitive categories

  
  

That means these campaigns are often built fast—and shut down faster. You’re left with no infrastructure, no data, and no plan. And in healthcare, you can’t afford to lose trust or waste time.

What Real Success Looks Like (and What It Doesn’t)

Here’s how you know your marketing is finally working:

• You’re ranking on page one for your top services in your city.

• Referral partners and clients trust your website.

• You’re getting organic inquiries without relying solely on ads.

• Your audience knows exactly what makes you different.

• You’re making smart ad spend decisions based on clarity—not pressure.

  
  

Compare that to what happens with the “you don’t pay” model:

• You get cheap, non-converting leads.

• Your brand feels like everyone else’s.

• You’re rushed, reactive, and confused.

• You’re still dependent on the next gimmick.

  
  

There’s a difference between getting leads and building a business.

What You Can Expect From a Real Strategy

A high-performing marketing strategy doesn’t hide behind fine print. It gives you:

• A roadmap with measurable goals.

• Messaging that reflects your brand’s real value.

• Campaigns that are monitored, refined, and improved.

• Full transparency on performance—no games.

  
  

That’s what you get when you start with a clear understanding of your current visibility and brand presence. That’s what the Brand Awareness Review delivers.

Don’t Buy the Headline—Understand the Model

“We get you leads or you don’t pay” is a powerful hook—but it’s not the whole truth. In reality:

• You do pay—for creatives, ad spend, and setup.

• You’re limited by someone else’s definition of success.

• You risk putting your brand in the hands of people who may not care about long-term results.

  
  

Don’t trade control for hope. Don’t substitute gimmicks for growth. And don’t trust your healthcare brand to an offer that sounds too good to be true—because it usually is. If you’re ready to stop guessing and finally understand where your marketing stands, start with the Brand Awareness Review. The right growth doesn’t require bait. It requires vision, strategy, and truth.

To Your Success,

Darrion Phelps, Sr. MA, MSHCA

Roxford Digital, CMO