In online spaces teeming with formulaic copywriting, posting for the sake of posting, and sophisticated strategy—the perfect Instagram feeds—audiences have grown weary of perfection.
In this Daily Sparkz interview with Marco Robinson, award-winning entrepreneur, coach, property investor and man behind Channel 4’s Get a House for Free, we explore how many UK businesses could benefit from showing their true side in marketing. By sharing the stories of their employees – and how they overcame challenges to become the companies they are today – companies can engage their audiences more effectively and create genuinely interested customers.
All companies could benefit from focusing more on showing the real lives of their founders and their business history.
The new norm of customer acquisition
According to Marco and many of his colleagues, “personal brand” is your greatest asset and business strategy.
The strong growth of AI has made traditional life and work obsolete. You, the individual, are now the company, the company, the face of your life… and the only way to grow is to use this technology as your asset by learning how to do it.
People ask…but what business am I going into? You choose a personal brand store or a faceless brand store.
You are the center of attention or you have a company asset in which you can invest and get a return…
Are you lacking capital?
Earn it. Everything is earned, nothing is free. Save. Learn how to start and run a business.
But please never think that school or universities will ever give you these skills… because they won’t unless you are a doctor, lawyer or professional.
If you want to be at the forefront, you have to own your story, the good, the bad and the ugly. People don’t want glitz, they want truth and they want courage.
They want to work with people and brands that help them overcome their problems. Plain and simple: If you can tell your story and help them overcome the problem they are in, you will win…if they like you…that is your personal brand.
And being authentic means saying what you’re going to do and actually doing it.
Marco Robinson on being his own hero
Marco Robinson
is no stranger to an underdog story.
Marco’s business journey is one of courage, pain, growth and transformation – a journey that resonates with his colleagues and those he coaches when he shares it. Growing up with a devoted mother and a gambling addict father. A father who had so much debt that his mother had to give up this marriage…
A mother who was sexually abused by the patriarch in the 1970s when she was four years old.
When he was filming the TV show Get a House for Free on Channel 4, the backstory was how her stepfather intervened and wouldn’t let her into the house… The reason for this is that when she was 12, her stepfather put his hand on her chest and said, “I didn’t marry your mother for your mother, I married your mother to get to you…”
You can imagine how afraid she was… of this predator all her life…
He spent nights sleeping on park benches and enduring the harsh reality of homelessness. At school he was bullied and stressed by the difficult environment of the 1980s and changed schools several times. Marco Robinson once felt like he had no hope or future.
But at 16, Marco made a decision that changed everything – he left school and began struggling to make his way through the business world. Through tireless effort, countless setbacks and unwavering faith, Marco Robinson built what he calls his own business empire.
Today Marco Robinson is a highly successful business coach, best-selling author, TV personality, film producer, actor and British property developer. His rise from homelessness to entrepreneurial excellence became the core of his public mission – he used his success to give back, even giving away free houses to families in need on his Channel 4 show Get a House for Free. He received the title Dato’ Seri (Sir Marco Robinson) for his charitable work in Malaysia. He also did charitable work as an official advisor to the charity Homeless Entrepreneur (see here). Marco also offers life story-inspired coaching through The Undisputed Success Formula and The Start Over Movement.
Marco’s story is proof that no matter how bleak your beginnings, you can reshape your future through resilience, courage and determination.
And that’s where Marco Robinson focuses his attention when he works with companies and coaches them on social media marketing – showing the real people behind the success, their colorful personalities and the challenges they’ve overcome. People interact with people. People buy from people. This is a philosophy that Marco Robinson lives and teaches.
Marco Robinson on focusing on more real marketing
The most effective marketing no longer relies on faceless slogans, but on the real human stories behind a brand.
Marco Robinson says: “Truly creative marketing that will actually make a difference for many companies is often out of reach because they focus too much on direct marketing or hard sales techniques and promotions. They are quick to plan simple, unengaging social media or email content about their services or industry changes – but hardly reveal their real people on screen or the heartbeat behind their company.”
Companies that dare to reveal more – their people, founding stories, challenges, flawed beginnings and their human side – create a bond that marketing dollars can’t buy. Some of this content is natural and free and may be the highest converting content you have. It doesn’t always have to be a wave of inspiration, but rather showcasing the story of a person behind your brand. According to Marco Robinson, this is the future of business storytelling: real people, real emotions, real connections. Don’t miss this wisdom in your marketing, it will make you look good.
Show a company with people and goals
Every business has its scars: moments of failure, difficult decisions and lessons learned the hard way. Instead of hiding these issues, forward-thinking brands are recognizing that vulnerability is a strength. Sharing stories about employees who have suffered setbacks, founders who almost quit, and teams who have struggled with uncertainty doesn’t weaken a company’s image – it humanizes it.
As Marco Robinson often says, “Your audience doesn’t want to see perfection – they want to see persistence, they want to see courage, they want to see you evolve before their eyes… they want to be in your chapter, that’s why they hire you.”
When a company highlights its people – the employees who have overcome personal challenges or the founder who turned rejection into innovation – it evolves from a brand to a story that attracts such compelling people to your brand… and if you still have the right suite of offerings that solves their problems, they will never stop buying from you…
These narratives trigger an emotional resonance that drives loyalty far more effectively than discount codes ever could.
A story of transformation – from adversity to success – taps into something universal: the human instinct to strive for perseverance. Marco Robinson teaches that authenticity always wins over advertising.
Furthermore, authenticity cuts through the clutter of modern media. While the competition screams louder, the honest brand simply tells the truth. Transparency creates trust and trust creates advocacy. Customers don’t just buy a product; They believe in a purpose. When they see the imperfect journey behind success, they identify with it – and this relativity turns audiences into communities and communities into champions.
Marco Robinson on the Warts & All approach to storytelling
Marco Robinson says: “Ultimately, it’s not about oversharing, it’s about being bold and honest. The most compelling marketing strategy in today’s noisy world is the one that says, ‘This is who we really are – the good, the bad and the nascent.’ Because when people realize that your company’s story is based not on perfection but on persistence, they will believe not only in what you sell, but also in why you exist.”
He continues: “People no longer just buy products or services – they buy stories, values and the people behind the brand. When you show the essence of your company – the real, raw moments, the behind-the-scenes processes, the challenges and the personalities that drive your company – you humanize your brand and build trust. Social media is full of sophisticated advertising and generic content; authenticity stands out in the clutter.”
When Marco Robinson coaches his clients, he often reminds them that when you tell real stories—like the genesis of a product idea, the difficulties your team faced during a tough week, or the laughter that fills your workplace—you invite your audience to become part of your journey. This emotional connection turns casual followers into loyal fans, which helps express loyalty and is a sign of success.
Marco Robinson concludes: “Storytelling adds dimension and meaning to your brand. It transforms marketing from advertising to relationship building. It’s the difference between being noticed and being remembered. Focus on it and watch what happens. So instead of striving for perfection, show the reality – the heart, the hustle and humanity behind what you do. This way, you’ll not only attract customers who like your business Not only do history resonate, but also build a community that believes in it and has access to real connections.” fantastic inspiration between you.”
Find out more about Marco Robinson Coaching
For information about Marco’s business, advice and social media coaching masterclasses, visit his website at MarcoRobinson.com. Marco Robinson is listed on IMDb as a media producer, actor, media investor and real estate investor and has also published several book series on real estate investing and financial freedom.
