In this episode Building in Public with David Ellis, we interview Olly Fawcett, Founder and CEO of 303 London, a creative and performance marketing agency.

We dive into 303 London’s 10-year journey, discuss the integration of creative and performance marketing, and share strategies for client acquisition in the ever-evolving digital space.

True to the Build in Public approach, Olly doesn’t sugarcoat anything. If you want a real look behind the scenes of running an agency, with all the lessons and hard truths along the way, this is the episode for you.

Known for his candid, no-nonsense approach, Olly is deeply honest about the challenges of running and scaling a business.

He started 303 London with a focus on content creation, but over the years, he’s evolved the agency into a hybrid model that blends creative and performance marketing to drive results for premium and luxury brands.

Throughout his decade-long journey, Olly has experienced the highs and lows of rapid growth, learning valuable lessons along the way about scaling too quickly, maintaining company culture, and navigating the increasing competition in the agency world.

He’s passionate about the importance of quality creative in advertising and believes in a practical, omni-channel approach to client acquisition. Whether he's sharing insights about winning clients through Instagram DMs or the hard truths about agency life, Olly brings a grounded, transparent perspective to the world of marketing.

Olly shared the journey of starting 303 London in 2013, initially focusing on content creation for theater productions.

Over time, the agency expanded into creative and performance marketing. The shift came from recognising that blending high-quality creative with performance-driven strategies was the key to long-term success.

Olly emphasised that the ability to adapt to market demands while maintaining a strong creative vision has been crucial for their growth.

According to Olly, an omni-channel approach is essential for sustainable client acquisition.

While cold emails, referrals, and in-person events are all effective, the key is combining them for maximum impact. He stressed that no single channel should be relied upon exclusively; instead, agencies should diversify their outreach and ensure they consistently show up in multiple places where potential clients are engaging.

Olly explained that creative is the most important variable for successful advertising.

He believes that while performance metrics and data-driven strategies are vital, they need to be supported by strong creatives.

The agency has focused on building a seamless ecosystem where creative assets fuel both organic and paid campaigns, ensuring that content connects with the right audiences in a meaningful way.

Olly highlighted the increasing competition in the digital agency space, with more agencies emerging post-COVID.

He explained that clients now have more options, making it harder to stand out. To overcome this, he emphasised the importance of delivering exceptional service and not over-promising on what can be achieved.

By staying true to their values and delivering consistently, agencies can navigate this crowded market.

Olly agrees that LinkedIn is an invaluable platform for B2B businesses, particularly for...