AUTOMATION AT WORK, CREATIVE AT PLAY
We need to change the advertising agency model — for both marketers and business owners. Stop selling/buying services for the sake of selling/buying them. Stop padding/accepting scopes with deliverables no one asked for. Marketers can (and should) provide quality solutions at cost-effective pricing. Show clients revenue-generating ideas and proposals that actually move the needle. Contracts that feel like a partnership — not a trap. And for business owners: you don’t have to rely on third-party resources forever. You can replace bloated processes with smart AI tools and gutsy new operational changes.
You don’t need account managers or project managers to hold your hand. You can automate these roles, schedule work, stay on deadline, and still be the face of your company. You just need you (and a couple AI friends). We equip growth-minded professionals with AI tools, trainings, and systems to market smarter—without bloated teams or high third-party costs.
EXPERTISE WITHOUT THE OVERHEAD.
BUILD SMARTER. SCALE LEANER.
This is a guidebook for solopreneurs and small business owners who want systems that actually work—without bloated teams, pointless meetings, or high-priced consultants. The Employer-To-Employer Relationship is more than a title. It’s a blueprint for anyone ready to trade job security for something bigger: control, credibility, and freedom. Inside, you’ll find:
Section 1: The 2024 Interview Tour – Real conversations, experiments, and tested tools that fueled “Mercenary Mode.”
Section 2: Job Security Is Your Biggest Ceiling – Why “safe” is the most expensive choice you’ll ever make, and how Todd turned his old boss into his first client.
Section 3: Personal Systems; Not Corporate Chaos – How to run projects, money, and momentum with solo efficiency most companies can only dream of.
Section 4: Tech Without Tears – Building a personal tech stack, automating without losing your soul, and knowing when to build vs. buy.
Section 5: New Freedom – Redefining success as time, energy, and flexibility—not endless hustle.
For Solopreneur Marketers
You’ll learn how to position yourself as a one-person powerhouse, armed with the right AI tools and systems to compete with agencies ten times your size. Think credibility that prints income, a brand that scales without burnout, and a model that grows with you—not against you.
For Business Owners
You’ll discover how to break free from bloated teams and broken corporate playbooks, replacing them with lean, effective systems. You’ll see how independence isn’t riskier—it’s smarter, cheaper, and often more profitable than the old way of doing business.
we use AI to scale speed, not skip steps
We bring strategy, intuition, and a little comedy to every client table—literally. Because when you're building something meaningful, you don’t outsource trust. We work with AI not because it’s trendy, but because it makes the work better. Sharper. Smarter. More human.
And we do it in a way that respects your time, your goals, and the people behind your business. If you're serious about growth—and about showing up—then let’s talk. At your office. Over coffee. On your turf. Because good marketing isn’t automated. It’s personal. Select one of the options below to begin working with us.
AGENTS
Personalized systems to enhance contact data curation, sales outreach, content personalization, engagement tracking, and recruitment.
CONTENT
Develop AI content that feels anything but artificial. Every piece is crafted to sound like you on your best day, not a bot chasing word count.
PAID MEDIA
Onboard and learn MercenaryMarketing.ai’s platforms to purchase and control your own advertising, while our team and AI recommendations lend a helping hand.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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That depends on what your business needs. I can help with areas including marketing strategy, content, lead generation, paid media, social media, video and creative, AI, automation, reporting and other growth initiatives.
The point isn't to sell you every service. It's to figure out what will actually help.
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I lead the relationship and strategy, but I don't pretend to personally be the world's best copywriter, developer, media buyer, designer and AI engineer.
When specialized expertise is needed, I can tap into vetted resources and specialists through The Mercenary Network.
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The Mercenary Network is the larger ecosystem behind my business. It gives me access to technology, training, specialists, resources and other Mercenees with complementary expertise.
You get one primary relationship with me while I have a much larger bench behind me.
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Traditional agencies can be a great fit for some companies. But they also tend to come with larger teams, layers of communication and overhead.
My model is intentionally leaner.
You pay for expertise, not overhead.
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You absolutely can. The question is whether you need one full-time person or access to several different capabilities.
Hiring internally can mean salary, benefits, recruiting costs, software, training and eventually building an entire department. Working with a Mercenee gives you access to broader capabilities without building all of that infrastructure first.
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AI is part of how I work, but it isn't the product.
I use AI, automation and modern technology when they make the work faster, smarter or more effective. The strategy still starts with your business, your customers and what you're trying to accomplish.
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Not necessarily.
I can work alongside an internal marketing team, supplement capabilities they don't have, lead specific initiatives or serve as fractional marketing leadership when a company doesn't yet have that role internally.
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Our subscription tiers are built to match your stage of growth. Solopreneurs get pro-level AI tools without the cost of staff, small teams gain added seats plus production support, and larger teams unlock deeper services, strategy, and specialized talent. Think of it like an all-inclusive resort: your core subscription covers everything you need — the AI suite, production tools, and community — while extras like private coaching, advanced media buys, or specialized talent are available à la carte.
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Absolutely. I'm not interested in replacing something that's already working just so I can own it.
If you already have strong partners, platforms or internal resources, I'll work with them.
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Not necessarily. The relationship should match what your business actually needs.
That might mean starting with a specific project, bringing me in for ongoing support, or expanding the relationship over time as priorities change.
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Usually with a conversation about where your business is today, what's working, what's frustrating you and what you're trying to accomplish next.
From there, we can determine whether there's a mutual fit and what working together should actually look like
Todd Krise brings 20 years of marketing experience across advertising agencies, media companies, startups, and higher education. He built MercenaryMarketing.ai to help companies move faster, think smarter, and generate real results without bloated teams or wasted spend.
MEET TODD, YOU MARKETING MERCENARy
