Welcome to The Engaging Marketeer, where we dive into all things digital marketing, business, and beyond.
In this episode, Darren Jamieson takes the stage to share something he has never openly revealed before—his “why.” What drives him? What keeps him passionate about his work? It turns out, his purpose runs much deeper than just digital marketing; it’s about fighting for fairness and exposing those who take advantage of others. Below, we’ll see what Darren has to say.
Darren: Simon asked me—on very short notice, I might add—to speak today. He asked me yesterday, actually. So, I had to think long and hard about what I would talk about. I could have shared digital marketing tips, but let’s be honest, that would put you all to sleep. Instead, I want to talk about why I do what I do.
For years, I didn’t know the answer to that. But now, at 48, I’ve finally figured it out. The truth is, I hate seeing people get ripped off. I hate seeing people bullied, manipulated, or taken advantage of just because they don’t know any better. And when I see injustice, I can’t help but act.
Back in 2004-2005, I found myself in an online war with a student property company in Leeds. They had a well-known scam—students would pay deposits, and when it was time to move out, the company would claim that the deposit had been paid to a separate entity, meaning they couldn’t get their money back.
I used my digital skills to investigate, uncovering proof that the two companies were actually the same. I published my findings on my website, which caught the attention of BBC Watchdog. They ran not one, but two televised investigations with Nikki Campbell exposing this fraud.
The owner of the company called me, furious, asking why I was trying to destroy his business. My response? “Because it’s wrong.” His solicitor later called to threaten me with legal action, warning that I could lose tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds. But I didn’t back down—because I knew I was right.
This kind of behavior isn’t limited to small-time scams. I’ve seen it in major corporations too. Years ago, Carphone Warehouse ran a “16-day money-back guarantee”—except, apparently, it didn’t apply to phones. Employees even tried to cover it up by posting fake positive reviews online—using their official company email addresses. So, of course, I exposed that as well.
More recently, I had an ongoing battle with DFS. They scratched my newly restored parquet floor during a sofa delivery and denied responsibility. But after a very public back-and-forth on social media, they finally agreed to pay for the repairs. Unfortunately for them, my podcast episode about it still went live.
The problem isn’t that mistakes happen—it’s how companies deal with them
And when they refuse to do the right thing, that’s when I step in.
My industry, digital marketing and SEO, is no different. There are countless so-called “experts” charging businesses thousands of pounds a month without delivering any real results. You don’t need qualifications to claim you’re an SEO guru. You just need a website and the nerve to take people’s money.
I’ve had enough of businesses being taken advantage of, which is why I’m now offering a completely free SEO audit. If you’re paying for SEO or digital marketing, I’ll review it—no obligation, no cost. You’ll find out:
If your provider is doing a fantastic job—great, you’ve got peace of mind!
If they’re doing something but could improve, we’ll give you suggestions.
If they’re doing absolutely nothing and simply taking your money, then in some cases, you may even be entitled to a refund.
I will keep fighting for fairness
At the end of the day, I don’t do this just because I enjoy digital marketing. I do it because I can’t stand seeing people get ripped off. I’ve gone up against scammy businesses, legal threats, and corporate giants, and I will continue doing it because it’s the right thing to do.
If you or a business you know is paying for SEO and not seeing results, let me know. I’ll gladly help—for free—because I refuse to let these scams continue unchecked.
Thank you for listening to The Engaging Marketeer. If you enjoyed this, make sure to tune in next time!
About your host:
Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/
Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com
Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk
