Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Britton Briley

We recently had the chance to connect with Britton Briley and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Britton, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
One of the biggest misunderstandings about my business (and the marketing industry in general) is that people think marketing is a switch you flip on and suddenly customers come flooding in. It doesn’t work like that. Marketing is not a magic button; it’s a process, and it’s an investment in both strategy and consistency.

Another point of confusion is the difference between marketing management and marketing spend. A lot of clients assume the dollars they put into ads are the same as the dollars they’re paying for someone to manage and optimize their marketing. In reality, management is the time, research, creative, and strategy that make the spend actually work. You can throw money at ads all day long, but without the right management behind it (targeting, messaging, creative, tracking, and adjusting) you’re just burning cash.

At Ghost, we don’t sell people a fantasy. We show them the reality: marketing is about building trust, consistency, and visibility over time. It’s about having the right team manage the spend to make every dollar work harder, not just hoping the spend alone will do the job.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Britton Briley, the founder and owner of Ghost Brands, a creative “A La Carte” branding agency based in Greenville, South Carolina. I started the company in 2018 (originally called Viking Solutions) because I wanted to build something different in the marketing space. Too many agencies box clients into cookie-cutter packages, so I flipped the model. At Ghost, we let businesses build their own mix from 47 services; branding, web development, content creation, media buying, advertising, and more. Today, with a team of 12 talented professionals, we serve over 40 clients across 14 states and 13 industries. The name “Ghost” came from the idea that we operate behind the scenes, letting our clients take the spotlight while we quietly drive results.

My path here wasn’t glamorous or straightforward. I grew up in a middle-class family as the middle child, and those experiences shaped my drive and resourcefulness. Before Ghost, I worked jobs in sales, gyms, and eventually in corporate marketing and leadership; roles that taught me how brands connect with people, and also how easily they miss the mark. At just 24, with a mortgage and family responsibilities on my shoulders, I made the leap into entrepreneurship. It wasn’t easy and there were plenty of sleepless nights, cash-flow stress, and tough lessons; but I knew I’d rather grind for 5–10 years to build something real than spend a lifetime working for someone else’s dream.

Since then, Ghost Brands has been trusted by some incredible partners such as Spinx, the City of Jefferson, Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Athens Rock Lobsters, Hub City Spartanburgers, UFC Gym, Fifth Third Park, NewBold Corporation, HipBurger, Zaxbys, and many more. We’ve managed millions in advertising spend, developed campaigns that turn heads, and helped shape the way local and regional marketing gets done. But what makes me proud isn’t just the results, it’s how we get there. Ghost has always been about transparency, creativity, and authenticity. I show up in jeans and tattoos, with Star Wars memorabilia in the office, because i want clients to feel like they’re working with real people, not a corporate machine. That honesty has earned us long-lasting partnerships, industry recognition, and over 32 marketing and advertising awards since we started.

Along the way, I’ve been humbled by the personal recognition too; being named one of the Faces of the Upstate in 2025, a finalist for CEO of the Year in the Best in Business South Carolina Awards, the Local Business Leader Award in 2024, and the Best & Brightest Under 35 in 2023. But more important than awards is the future we’re building. Ghost isn’t just a company – it’s a culture of creativity, consistency, and care.

We’re continuing to grow across industries, expand our impact, and tell stories that help brands win in their markets. For me, the mission is simple: stay true to who we are, work hard behind the curtain, and let our clients shine out front.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Without question, the person who saw me clearly before I could see myself was my wife, Danielle. She’s been the bedrock of my entire journey; the foundation that gave me the confidence to step out of the safety of corporate roles and into the unknown of entrepreneurship. Long before I believed I had the potential to build something bigger, she knew. She recognized that what I was doing inside other companies could be transformed into something of my own, and she pushed me to take that leap.

She also understood the cost. She knew that chasing this vision would mean long nights, weekends consumed with work, and time stolen away from our relationship. But instead of resenting it, she encouraged it. She believed in the bigger picture, sometimes more than I did, and she reminded me that building something worthwhile takes sacrifice.

She’s my biggest advocate, but also my biggest critic. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Danielle tells me the things I don’t want to hear, the things others are too afraid to say, and she does it because she wants me to be better. She has a way of calling out blind spots while still standing firmly in my corner, and that balance is what has made me not only a stronger entrepreneur but also a better man.

If Ghost Brands exists today, it’s because she saw it before I did. She had the clarity, patience, and belief when I was still second-guessing myself. And to this day, every step forward we take as a company, I know it’s rooted in the support and truth Danielle gave me from the very beginning.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been plenty of times I almost gave up. Entrepreneurship comes in waves – it’s exciting and rewarding, but it also brings with it a ton of self-doubt. Anyone who owns a business understands that the weight is heavy. Payroll, overhead, client satisfaction, and employee morale all come back to me; not just as a leader, but also from my own wallet. Being a sole proprietor without multiple owners or financial backing means that safety net doesn’t exist. When challenges hit, I’ve caught myself asking, “What am I even doing this for?” more times than I can count.

The truth is, being both an owner and operator takes its toll. I’m not the type to sit back at home and let my people handle everything; I’m in the office every day, weekends included, filling in when my staff can’t, grinding through 75 to 80 hour weeks. It’s exhausting at times, but I can’t approach this business any other way. Too many clients, too many staff members, and frankly too many families depend on my continued effort and mental fortitude. That responsibility is what keeps me moving forward, even in the moments when giving up feels like the easier option.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is definitely real, but it’s only one side of me. What most people see is the overcaffeinated, overworked hustler. I’m a people person who can strike up a conversation with anyone, and even my middle school yearbook called me “most outgoing.” I’m always pushing the envelope, “in the trenches” with my team, and leading from the front. Bold is part of my identity; tattooed sleeves, jeans, a t-shirt, and almost always a backwards trucker hat. That’s the version the public knows: energetic, relentless, and fully invested in the grind.

But the other version of me is more simple, quiet, and reflective. Yes, I love people, but I also crave solitude. After a day of back-to-back conversations, pouring energy into creative ideas, and pushing marketing strategies forward, I come home with nothing left in the tank. I call it “using all my words” for the day. In those moments, I don’t want to talk, I don’t want to hustle; I just want to be still.

Sometimes that means binge-watching a show, scrolling through reels, or simply sitting in the quiet to decompress. It’s not that one version of me is fake and the other is real, it’s that both are me. One is what drives my business, and the other is what keeps me grounded enough to do it again tomorrow.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I think when I’m gone, I just want people to remember that I was human. And by that I mean flawed, rough around the edges but always trying to see the best in people. Even behind the smile I’d put on camera or the eye contact I’d give in conversation to show I was truly listening; I want people to know I was doing my best to live fully and authentically. I hope they picture me as someone who was genuine to the core, true to my nature, and always smiling, even when life wasn’t perfect.

I also want the story to go beyond me. People often see “Britton as Ghost” because I started the company, but the truth is Ghost Brands is so much bigger than me. It’s the staff who pour themselves into the work every day, the clients who trust us to bring their vision to life, and the ripple effect those partnerships create in the community. My hope is that Ghost continues to thrive long after I’m gone, impacting businesses, shaping culture, and being the behind-the-scenes force that helps others shine.

Ultimately, I want my legacy to be one of passion, understanding, and authenticity. We’re only here for a short time, and what really matters is who we impact, who we love, and who we leave better than we found them. If that’s the story people tell about me (that I cared deeply, gave my best, and left something that continues to help others) then I’ll know I did what I was meant to do.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Ghost Brands

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