Client acquisition comparisons
This section exists for one reason: decision clarity.
Most debates about growth are really debates about constraints: time, capital, skills, risk tolerance, and patience. This page compares common approaches so you can see what each one optimizes for, and what it usually breaks.
Before we dive in, here's the map to explore
Marketing vs Client Acquisition
Why it matters: Because many “marketing problems” are actually system problems.
Outcome: You know whether you need more attention, better conversion, or a real acquisition engine.
Inbound vs Outbound
Why it matters: Because inbound and outbound optimize for different constraints.
Outcome: You can choose a path based on time horizon, effort, and how fast you need learning.
SEO vs Paid Acquisition
Why it matters: Because SEO trades time for compounding, while paid trades money for speed.
Outcome: You can decide which lever fits your budget, patience, and conversion readiness.
Agency vs In-house
Why it matters: Because the real tradeoff is where competence lives and compounds.
Outcome: You can choose a build vs buy approach without losing system ownership.
- If you want the blueprint, start with the System.
- If things aren’t working, start with Problems.
- If you’re deciding between approaches, start with Comparisons.
- If you want examples in context, start with Industries.
The core idea
A comparison is useful only if it makes tradeoffs visible. If a piece says “do X” without naming what X costs, it is not a comparison. It is persuasion.
Choose the decision you are making
- I am deciding whether a website is enough.
Read: why I stopped selling websites - I am deciding whether I need marketing or a client acquisition system.
Read: marketing vs client acquisition (coming soon) - I am deciding between inbound and outbound.
Read: inbound vs outbound (coming soon) - I am deciding between SEO and paid acquisition.
Read: SEO vs paid acquisition (coming soon) - I am deciding whether to hire an agency or build the system internally.
Read: agency vs in-house (coming soon)
Where comparisons go wrong
Most comparisons fail because they ignore one of these:
- time to first result
- dependency on personal authority
- dependency on ad spend
- compounding effects (or lack of them)
- conversion capacity (can you handle leads if it works)
If your current approach “should work” but does not, start with the client acquisition problems library.
If you want the underlying structure behind these tradeoffs, go to the system overview.
If you want help choosing and installing the right approach for your constraints, you can see how I work with clients here.