Why I Ditched “Guru Marketing” and Built a Co-Op Agency Instead
When you’ve failed enough times building businesses solo, you learn two things fast:
Hype doesn’t pay bills.
The right systems—and the right people—do.
After years of chasing the dream with shiny tools, confusing funnels, and advice from folks selling 7-figure screenshots, I burned out. Financially and mentally.
So I did something indie. Something...weird.
I built Smart Web Agencies—a decentralized, co-op style agency system powered by AI, automation, and people who actually give a damn about their communities.
The Problem: Spaghetti Marketing & the “Yes, but…” Crowd
Most agencies are built around vague deliverables, bloated retainers, and a sales team that ghosts after the invoice is paid.
They sell dreams and deliver...meh.
Worse, the industry attracts “yes, but” thinkers—people who want innovation as long as it looks like what everyone else is already doing.
I wanted a system where execution is simple, results are transparent, and community is part of the core—not a checkbox.
The Solution: Think Local, Build Global, Automate Ruthlessly
Smart Web is built on three truths:
Local beats loud. We help small businesses dominate their communities by positioning them as Local Heroes.
Automation ≠ Abandonment. We use tools like HighLevel CRM to handle follow-ups, nurture leads, and qualify prospects—but humans still matter.
Transparency > Gimmicks. Our pricing, results, and systems are open. We don’t sell hype. We sell Qualified Referrals.
We leverage AI (yes, including ChatGPT) to create a consistent, scalable experience. From onboarding to lead gen, we automate the friction so the people can focus on growth.
Our Model: The Anti-Agency Agency
Smart Web operates like a co-op:
Shared tools = lower costs.
Community insights = better campaigns.
Ambassadors = boots on the ground.
It’s not perfect. Nothing is. But it works.
And it scales.
We're building toward 100 cities with local partners. No fancy office. No TEDx talks. Just a damn good system that helps businesses grow and pays partners well.
Who This Is For
Indie hackers tired of half-baked SaaS ideas and want something with soul and sustainability.
Marketers who hate marketing gimmicks.
Hustlers who want to build income streams by actually helping their local communities.
If You’re Thinking: “This Is Interesting…”
Cool. So are we.
We’re looking for builders, not spectators.
People who want to own a piece of the future of local business marketing.
If that’s you, let's talk. Or better yet, meet Marvin—our AI-powered assistant that handles your onboarding, connects you with partners, and shows you how this all works.
PS: We don’t do “guru.” We do grind.
