StoryBrand Marketing Agency
StoryBrand Your
Business Without
the Guesswork
We implement a StoryBrand-driven strategic marketing system that attracts, nurtures, and retains your ideal clients, so you can focus on what you love (which, let's face it, is probably not copywriting and marketing).
Clarify Your Message
Attract Only Ideal Customers
Focus on Your Business Growth
Struggling to implement StoryBrand?
Are you finding it challenging to create a clear, engaging StoryBrand BrandScript on your own?
Unsure how to effectively integrate StoryBrand into your marketing?
Overwhelmed with what steps to take after completing your BrandScript?
Frustrated with marketing efforts that don't resonate with your audience?
Struggling to focus on your actual business?
You have a great business, and you're excellent at what you do. But if you're caught up chasing the latest marketing tactics – from SEO to social media and more – you're losing time that could be invested in growing your business.
WHERE STORYBRAND MEETS STRATEGY
You deserve marketing that works
Experience the clarity and efficiency of a well-crafted marketing plan tailored to your business and powered by StoryBrand.
Transform your marketing with a StoryBranded message that cuts through the noise, ensuring your brand resonates with your target audience.
See tangible results as your business attracts and retains the right clients (seemingly on autopilot), leading to sustainable growth and success.
With a StoryBrand-powered plan in place, spend less time worrying about marketing and more time on what you love – growing your business, spending time with loved ones, and all that good stuff.
You deserve peace of mind
Grow your B2B business with our strategic marketing services.
Do you find the lead generation process frustrating and time-consuming?
Save valuable time and focus on serving your clients.
Gain the upper hand in your market.
Set up a strategic marketing system that attracts and nurtures your ideal clients.
Feel confident with a solid, strategic marketing plan.
Hear Directly from DONALD MILLER
In this short clip, StoryBrand’s founder Donald Miller explains why clear messaging and a simple marketing plan change everything.
Donald shares why newsletters are back, what a full StoryBrand campaign includes, and how a certified guide helps you focus on what actually works—without wasting money or time.
Watch to see how working with a StoryBrand Certified Guide can make a measurable difference for your business.
Hi, I'm Vicky Sidler
A StoryBrand Certified Guide & Fellow Entrepreneur
And believe me, I GET IT! I understand the frustration of marketing that just doesn't seem to work. I know what it's like to feel lost in a sea of tactics and strategies. When I started my agency in 2020, I was just a small fish in a big pond, trying to stand out from whale-sized competitors. (I’m also a qualified scuba diver, in case you’re wondering about these metaphors…)
Since then, we developed a proven, data-driven marketing strategy (powered by StoryBrand) that has helped both us and countless clients get noticed, attract the right customers, grow their ideal client base, and make an impact with their marketing and their businesses.
We boast a proven track record of transforming marketing messages to resonate with target audiences.
As StoryBrand Certified Guides, we apply the renowned StoryBrand Framework to everything we do with impressive results!
And as a Duct Tape Certified Agency, we’ve gone through an extensive certification process to offer you a holistic, systematic approach to marketing – a system that truly works.
You don’t have to do this alone. Together, we'll take your marketing from confusing to crystal clear. Let's make your brand's message stand out and connect with the people who matter most to your business.
I used the StoryBrand ‘one-liner’ yesterday for the first time to create some awareness on my various social media platforms. I have never had so many likes and interest on one of my coaching ads before. I am booking some consultations as we speak. You guys are amazing!
Tracey Clark, Business Coach
StoryBrand Services We Provide
Clarify Your Message
From US$1,500
Let us help you refine and perfect your StoryBrand messaging. We'll work with you to fine-tune your StoryBrand BrandScript, ensuring it resonates with your target audience and aligns with your brand's identity.
We even interview your ideal customers to get their point of view and make sure you've nailed it!
Learn More About Our StoryBrand Framework Consultation
StoryBrand Sales Funnel
From US$5,000
Specializing in the creation of the Marketing Made Simple Sales Funnel, we develop effective landing pages, engaging lead generators, and persuasive email sequences - all within the StoryBrand framework.
Install the full StoryBrand system into your business.
Learn More About Our StoryBrand Sales Funnel Development
Strategic Marketing Engagement
From US$7,500
Our Strategy First Engagement is a deep dive into your current marketing, where we’ll identify your ideal clients, map out your customer journey, craft a customized marketing plan, nail your BrandScript, and more.
Make sure you're doing it right from the start!
Why Choose Us?
Strategy-First Approach
At the Strategic Marketing Tribe, we apply the StoryBrand framework as our cornerstone, ensuring that your marketing plan has a clear and coherent message that speaks directly to your customers’ needs and desires.
Consistent Lead Generation
Kiss those unpredictable and mismatched leads goodbye. Leveraging the StoryBrand principles, we help you craft messages that consistently attract the right clients, ensuring a reliable flow of high-quality inquiries.
Save Time and Effort
Let us handle the complexity of crafting and applying your StoryBrand BrandScript. With our StoryBrand-focused approach, we streamline your marketing efforts, enabling you to dedicate more time to what you're passionate about – growing your business.
Gain A Competitive Edge
Elevate your business with a marketing message shaped by StoryBrand, positioning your brand as the clear choice in your industry. Our strategic, story-driven method ensures your business stands out to your ideal clients, giving you a competitive advantage.
Amazing! I needed help clarifying my message for my website. The Strategic Marketing Tribe helped me do this using the StoryBrand Framework. I can even use the BrandScript we made for the rest of my marketing material.
Matthew Van Neel, Lance Mvn
[Free eBook] 7 Steps to Small Business Marketing Success
Submit your info to download a copy of our free Book, which will guide you through the seven steps to build an effective marketing system.
How It Works
Here’s what you can expect when
partnering with us:
Book Your Free Consultation
Complete the form below and schedule a time that works for you. We’ll meet and talk about your business, goals, and current messaging.
StoryBrand Strategy Session
In our StoryBrand Strategy Session, we’ll dive deeper into your business to see what you’re doing now and where there are opportunities to integrate the StoryBrand framework effectively.
Start Applying StoryBrand
You get to keep all the ideas we come up with during this strategy session – absolutely no obligation.
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Stay up-to-date on the latest strategic marketing insights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are our answers to the most frequently asked questions about marketing and lead generation.
What is StoryBrand?
StoryBrand is a marketing framework developed by Donald Miller that helps businesses clarify their message so it resonates with their target audience. It centres around creating a story for your brand where the customer is the hero, and your business is the guide that helps them overcome their challenges and achieve their goals.
How can StoryBrand help my business?
Implementing the StoryBrand framework can transform how you communicate with your customers. It simplifies your message, making it easier for customers to understand how your products or services can solve their problems. This clear communication helps increase engagement, conversions, and customer loyalty, ultimately driving growth for your business.
What does the process of creating a StoryBrand BrandScript involve?
Creating a StoryBrand BrandScript involves identifying key elements of your brand's story, such as defining your customer's problem, positioning your brand as the guide with a solution, and outlining a plan that leads the customer to success. This script serves as the foundation for all your marketing materials, ensuring a consistent and compelling message across all platforms.
How do I choose the right StoryBrand guide for my business?
Be sure to choose a StoryBrand guide who prioritizes strategy over tactics. A strategic-first approach ensures your marketing is built on a solid foundation, preventing wasted time and resources in the long run. Look for a guide focused on aligning your core message and goals before diving into marketing actions, ensuring your efforts attract the right leads and drive meaningful results.
Learn More about StoryBrand
and Strategic Marketing Insights
From the Strategic Marketing Tribe
Take a deep dive into the world of strategic marketing insights,
where you’ll find expertise to help your business thrive.
File Sharing Sites Skip Virus Scans—Here’s the Risk
By Vicky Sidler | Published 14 December 2025 at 12:00 GMT+2
If you’ve ever sent a file to a client or downloaded one from a colleague without giving it a second thought, you’re in good company. Unfortunately, you may also be one bad upload away from a malware mess.
A recent study by cybersecurity firm Surfshark reviewed some of the world’s most popular file-sharing platforms. The finding? Most don’t scan your files for viruses unless you’re paying for the upgrade. And even then, it’s not guaranteed.
Meanwhile, the UK is about to force platforms to start scanning everything—ostensibly for illegal content. Depending on how that plays out, your harmless spreadsheet could end up flagged as dangerous. Or worse, your files could be silently scanned without your knowledge in the name of online safety.
Let’s break this down in plain English.
TL;DR:
Free file-sharing services like Dropbox, WeTransfer, and iCloud do not scan for viruses
Paid plans sometimes offer scanning, but it’s inconsistent
The UK wants platforms to scan all shared files for illegal content
This could create new privacy issues and security risks
👉 Need help getting your message right? Download the 5-Minute Marketing Fix.
Table of Contents:
File Sharing Sites Skip Virus Scans—Here’s the Risk
What File-Sharing Services Are (Not) Doing:
The UK Plan: Safety or Surveillance?
Why This Could Backfire for Small Business Owners:
But Isn’t This Just a Tech Problem?
Advice From a Marketer, Not a Hacker:
Want to Show You’re a Pro? Start With Clarity
1. SA Data Breaches Drop But AI Makes Them More Dangerous
2. US Leads in AI but Lags in Internet Quality and Security
3. AI Marketing Trust Gap Widens as Consumers Push Back
4. Digital Scams Targeting Women Are Getting Smarter
5. Shopping Apps Ranked by How Much Data They Take
Frequently Asked Questions About File-Sharing Security
1. Do free file-sharing platforms scan for viruses?
2. Is it safe to use file-sharing tools for business?
3. What are the risks of not scanning files?
4. How does the UK’s Online Safety Act affect this?
5. Why are people concerned about file scanning and privacy?
6. What should small businesses do to stay safe?
7. Are paid plans better for file safety?
8. Can scanning software make mistakes?
What File-Sharing Services Are (Not) Doing:
According to Surfshark, most file-sharing services are letting your uploads pass through like unsupervised toddlers in a supermarket.
Here’s a quick look at the big players:
Dropbox: 700 million users. No virus scanning.
WeTransfer and Box: Combined 138 million users. Virus scanning is available only on paid plans.
iCloud: 900 million users. No upload/download scanning. Relies on Apple device security instead.
This means if you’re using these tools for your business—and using them for free—you are one double-click away from installing ransomware.
And no, this is not a 2003 problem. Malware is still very much alive and well.
The UK Plan: Safety or Surveillance?
The UK government is taking a more aggressive approach. Under its Online Safety Act 2023, it wants platforms to proactively scan files for illegal content.
Sounds reasonable—until you realize what that means in practice.
It means scanning everything. All uploads. All downloads. Every file you send to a colleague or receive from a client. All in the name of catching the bad stuff.
But according to James Baker from the Open Rights Group, this opens the door to mass surveillance. Not targeted. Not filtered. Just universal scanning of every file, by default.
It’s like asking your courier to open every parcel and read every letter, just in case you’re sending contraband.
Why This Could Backfire for Small Business Owners:
You may be thinking: “I’m not sending anything illegal. Who cares?”
But false positives are a thing. Especially when automated systems are involved. A photo used for protest coverage. A research paper on sensitive topics. A file with keywords flagged by mistake.
If your file gets flagged, it could be deleted. Or your account could be banned.
And if your files are scanned at the server level, it also means someone—or something—has access to your data. Even if it’s just a machine, that’s still one more place your private business info lives.
But Isn’t This Just a Tech Problem?
Yes and no.
The tech companies are the ones skipping virus scans. And now governments want them to act more responsibly.
But the burden falls on you.
If you don’t pay for a scanning service, you have to:
Hope your client isn’t sending you something dodgy
Trust that your antivirus will catch threats before they open
And cross fingers your files don’t get wrongly flagged in the name of “safety”
None of those sound like solid risk management strategies.
What You Can Do About It:
Here’s the simplest fix: get a reliable antivirus.
Surfshark says that if you’ve got antivirus software installed, you don’t need to rely on file-sharing platforms for scanning.
That’s good advice. But let’s take it a step further:
Stick to known platforms with strong reputations
Upgrade to paid plans if they offer extra security features
Use password protection and encryption for sensitive files
Label files clearly so they don’t get flagged as suspicious
Keep your devices updated
And finally, don’t assume the platform is doing the safety work for you. Most aren’t.
Advice From a Marketer, Not a Hacker:
As a StoryBrand Certified Guide and Duct Tape Marketing Consultant, I usually help businesses get their messaging right. But clear communication doesn’t just matter in your website copy.
It matters in how you protect your business too.
If a client gets a file from you that sets off their virus scanner, you don’t just look careless. You look untrustworthy.
And if your file-sharing tool silently scans and flags your content without context? That’s a brand perception issue you’ll have to explain.
Trust is fragile. It’s built through consistent, secure, and clear interactions.
If you want to be seen as the business that has its act together, protecting your files is just part of the deal.
Want to Show You’re a Pro? Start With Clarity
Confusion isn’t just a tech problem. It’s a marketing one too.
If your messaging is as murky as your malware settings, your prospects won’t feel safe doing business with you.
That’s why I created the 5-Minute Marketing Fix. It helps you write one clear sentence that tells people exactly what you do and why they should trust you.
Related Articles:
1. SA Data Breaches Drop But AI Makes Them More Dangerous
Now that you know file-sharing platforms don’t scan for threats, this post explains what happens when a breach actually occurs—and how AI makes it worse.
2. US Leads in AI but Lags in Internet Quality and Security
If you're relying on popular tech tools, this article shows why security gaps in places like the US affect global small businesses too.
3. AI Marketing Trust Gap Widens as Consumers Push Back
You just read about trust and data. This post builds on that idea by showing how consumer trust is eroding—even in marketing—and how clarity protects your brand.
4. Digital Scams Targeting Women Are Getting Smarter
Scammers love weak spots. This article shows what happens when fraudsters take advantage of unsecured systems—and what real business owners can do to protect clients.
5. Shopping Apps Ranked by How Much Data They Take
Worried about what platforms are collecting from you behind the scenes? This post shows exactly how much data popular apps extract—so you can make smarter choices.
Frequently Asked Questions About File-Sharing Security
1. Do free file-sharing platforms scan for viruses?
Most do not. Platforms like Dropbox, WeTransfer, and Box skip virus scans on free plans. Even Apple’s iCloud relies on device security instead of scanning uploads or downloads.
2. Is it safe to use file-sharing tools for business?
Only if you take extra steps. Use reliable antivirus software, encrypt sensitive files, and don’t assume the platform is checking for threats.
3. What are the risks of not scanning files?
You could download a file that installs ransomware or other malicious software. This can damage devices, compromise client data, or stall your business operations.
4. How does the UK’s Online Safety Act affect this?
The UK plans to require platforms to scan all shared files for illegal content. This could lead to mass surveillance, false flags, and unnecessary account bans.
5. Why are people concerned about file scanning and privacy?
Automated scans could access sensitive or private data without consent. There’s also a risk of files being misinterpreted, flagged, or removed incorrectly.
6. What should small businesses do to stay safe?
Use antivirus software, avoid relying solely on free file-sharing tools, label files clearly, and secure files with passwords or encryption when needed.
7. Are paid plans better for file safety?
Sometimes. Some paid file-sharing plans include virus scanning and additional security features. But always check the fine print before assuming you’re covered.
8. Can scanning software make mistakes?
Yes. Automated systems can produce false positives, flagging safe content as harmful. They can also miss more sophisticated threats.
9. What if I share sensitive data with clients?
Use secure platforms, enable encryption, and make sure your files are labelled in a way that won’t trigger scanning tools. Trust and professionalism matter.
10. How does this relate to my marketing or brand?
If your files cause problems for clients—like triggering antivirus alerts or being blocked by scanning tools—you risk damaging trust. Protecting your files is part of protecting your reputation.
Become the Next StoryBrand Success Story
In the world of business, feeling overwhelmed by marketing strategies that don't deliver can be disheartening.
At the Strategic Marketing Tribe, we understand that you might be unsure on how to effectively apply the StoryBrand framework and perhaps hesitant about investing in yet another marketing solution.
Our approach is designed to alleviate these concerns:
We offer a completely free strategy session that’s designed to help you with some great ideas for marketing your business. These ideas are 100% yours to keep – and there is no sales pitch to endure (not even a secret one).
What’s the catch? Well, if you’d like help with finalizing your StoryBrand Framework or implementing any of the tactics we discuss, we hope that you’ll consider us.
Best of all? If you’re not completely blown away by the work we do for you, we’ll give you a full refund. Sure, it’s a massive risk for us because we can’t undo the delivery once it’s been made, but we are so confident in the value our service provides that a guarantee is a no-brainer.
With our expert guidance, you can shift your focus from marketing worries to what you do best – growing your business, spending time with those you love, and enjoying the success that comes with clear, effective strategy.
Ready to take the guesswork out of your StoryBrand marketing?
Let’s get started
Is your Marketing Message so confusing even your own mom doesn’t get it? Let's clarify your message—so everyone wants to work with you!
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