Chats with Chip

In this second part of a two-part series, Zach Hyder explains what it has been like to transition from agency coach to president of the agency founded by Ward Hubbell.Continue Reading → The post CWC 87: Going from agency coach to agency leader (Part 2 of 2) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Hubbell Communications founder Ward Hubbell talks about the agency he founded, and how he decided to approach the transition when he no longer wanted to manage the business day-to-day.Continue Reading → The post CWC 86: Transitioning your agency to new leadership (Part 1 of 2) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode of Chats with Chip, Dan Englander of Sales Schema explains how agencies can develop these relationships at scale — even with limited resources.Continue Reading → The post CWC 85: Grow your agency by developing relationships at scale (featuring Dan Englander) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode of the Chats with Chip Podcast, Noel Andrews of JobRack explains how talent from Eastern Europe and other parts of the world can supplement your workforce.Continue Reading → The post CWC 84: Leveraging overseas talent to grow your agency appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode of Chats with Chip, Jon Morris of Ramsay Innovations shares his perspective as a former agency owner turned agency financial advisor.Continue Reading → The post CWC 83: Getting a handle on your agency’s finances appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Galen Low, co-founder of The Digital Project Manager, joined Chip on this episode to talk about how agencies can improve their project management skills to improve the results that they produce for clients while also contributing to the agency's bottom line.Continue Reading → The post CWC 82: How to manage agency projects for profitable results appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode of Chats with Chip, Carl describes the journey and talks about what has worked — and what hasn't.Continue Reading → The post CWC 81: The evolution of agency events (featuring Carl Smith) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode of Chats with Chip, Jessica Phillips, CEO/Founder of The Social Standard, and that agency's Chief Revenue Officer, Dylan Conroy, discuss their approach to growing the business.Continue Reading → The post CWC 80: Growing an influencer marketing agency (featuring Jess Phillips and Dylan Conroy) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode of Chats with Chip, Shannyn Lee of Win Without Pitching joins to talk about how agencies can step up their business development game.Continue Reading → The post CWC 79: Creating winning new business strategies for your agency (featuring Shannyn Lee) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Miles Everson, CEO of MBO Partners, joins Chip to talk about the challenges that agencies are facing in this new era of work — and how they can find success while mitigating risks.Continue Reading → The post CWC 78: How agencies can manage the new work landscape (featuring Miles Everson) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Chris Hervochon, a CPA with extensive experience working with small agencies, shares his advice on how to manage your business more effectively by understanding and using your financial reports.Continue Reading → The post CWC 77: Managing your agency's financials for better results (featuring Chris Hervochon) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Ideas and insights for future success in the midst of this crisis Continue Reading → The post CWC 62: The power of creativity and community in difficult times (featuring Carl Smith) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

How to handle succession in the family business Continue Reading → The post CWC 61: Transitioning agency ownership to the next generation (featuring Jonathan and Erik Bernstein) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

What goes into the decision to give up an office in favor of remote work Continue Reading → The post CWC 60: Making the transition to become a virtual agency (featuring Todd Zeigler) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Getting results for clients and growing your agency using the most talked about communications medium today. Continue Reading → The post CWC 59: How podcasts can help agencies and their clients (featuring Kelly Glover) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Lessons for veteran agency owners and newcomers to the agency world from the experience of students Continue Reading → The post CWC 58: When students get a chance to run their own PR agency (featuring Amy Shanler) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

The benefits of joining together with peers to learn about the business side of agencies Continue Reading → The post CWC 57: How PRSA Counselors Academy helps agency owners (featuring Chuck Norman) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Meeting the need for high quantities of high quality content Continue Reading → The post CWC 56: Leveraging freelance writers for your agency (featuring Gideon Stein) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Focus on the right numbers for the right reasons to put more money in your pocket Continue Reading → The post CWC 55: Metrics and benchmarks to improve agency profits (featuring Marcel Petitpas) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

How to maintain open dialogue, encourage growth, and enable graceful exits Continue Reading → The post CWC 54: Building a positive team culture at your agency (featuring Keith Scandone) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Is your agency doing a good job of marketing itself? If you’re like most agencies, the chances are that you aren’t taking enough of the advice you give your own clients. On this episode, Aaron Strout, CMO of W2O Group, shares his experience as an agency marketer. He talks about how you get more out of the whole team, and why marketing matters beyond new business — including recruiting, M&A, and more.Continue Reading → The post CWC 53: Eating your own dog food and marketing your agency (featuring Aaron Strout) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

For the past decade, Rohit Bhargava has written about non-obvious trends in an annual book series. He recently capped it off with a final volume: Non-Obvious Mega Trends. A self-described “reluctant futurist,” Rohit went from working in agencies to examining the trends that impact business and society. In this episode, he and Chip discuss some of the observations, as well as an approach to looking at trends that may help agency leaders be more effective. One of the best pieces of advice he offers is this: “being more observant really is about paying attention to detail.” Sometimes it takes the realization of the obvious to discover the non-obvious.Continue Reading → The post CWC 52: Non-obvious trends and thinking for agency leaders (featuring Rohit Bhargava) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Nobody likes to think about lawyers until they need one. Agency owners are no different, but planning ahead can make a world of difference in the outcome when it comes to legal matters. Sharon Toerek, founder of Toerek Law and host of The Innovative Agency podcast brings a wealth of knowledge and experience on agency legal issues to the latest episode of Chats with Chip. She shares her experience and insight with listeners to help avoid common mistakes.Continue Reading → The post CWC 51: How agencies can avoid common legal mistakes (featuring Sharon Toerek) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sell your agency to one of the big holding companies? How does the dream compare to reality? What should you know before you make that decision? Mitch Joel shares the perspective of someone who has done just that. He and his partners sold Twist Image to WPP. After remaining with the firm for several years after the acquisition, Mitch is now a prolific writer, podcaster, speaker, and more.Continue Reading → The post CWC 50: What it is like to sell an agency to a holding company (featuring Mitch Joel) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Most agencies are looking for any leg up that they can get in the business development process. That’s why some agencies should consider getting certified. No this isn’t a discussion about a seal of approval for the quality of your work, it is about certifying the ownership structure of your business in a category that some organizations prefer. Dr. Sandra Wills Hannon of The Hannon Group discusses how getting certified has helped her agency win more business, both from government agencies and the private sector. She describes some of the available programs and what it takes to win the certification.Continue Reading → The post CWC 49: Dr. Sandra Wills Hannon on why to get your agency certified as a Small, Minority, Woman, or Veteran-Owned Business appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Scope creep and over-servicing clients erodes profitability and many — if not most — agencies. Keeping work within the agreed parameters will not only make projects better, it will ensure that they contribute to the financial health of the business. As founder of The Digital Project Manager, Ben Aston knows all about successful agency project management. He joins Chip to discuss techniques to avoid scope creep — starting even before a prospect becomes a client.Continue Reading → The post CWC 48: How agencies can avoid scope creep with client projects (featuring Ben Aston) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Most agency owners don’t bring prior business experience to the role — let alone formal business education. Paul Benson is an exception to that rule of thumb. He earned his MBA before he took the leap into agency ownership. In this episode, Paul shares his experience running a digital marketing agency and how the business training he received at Babson College has impacted his success.Continue Reading → The post CWC 47: Starting an agency with an MBA in hand (featuring Paul Benson) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Agency owners need to keep tabs on the financial health of their businesses, but many lack the backgrounds to know the numbers that matter most. Darryl Salerno’s long experience in advising agencies on financial matters makes him an excellent resource on this vital topic. In this episode, Darryl explains which numbers agencies should be focused on and what benchmarks can help them evaluate their own success. He takes the mystery out of money matters and provides practical advice that any agency leader can put to work today.Continue Reading → The post CWC 46: Key financial metrics for agency owners (featuring Darryl Salerno) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Ronn Torossian has built one of the largest independent PR agencies in the U.S., and in this episode he shares some of the lessons he has learned along the way. A prolific content creator, Ronn frequently writes and speaks about issues facing the industry, and he is passionate about finding ways to improve modern public relations. Ronn’s agency, 5WPR, recently announced that they were looking for small agencies to acquire. He explains exactly what he’s looking for and why he wants to supplement his firm’s already strong organic growth.Continue Reading → The post CWC 45: Building a large independent PR agency (featuring Ronn Torossian) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Agency businesses have some challenges unique to the individual owners and circumstances. But many of the growing pains are predictable and follow patterns established by other similar businesses. Leaders can take comfort in knowing that they are not likely the first to experience any particular challenge, nor are other agencies immune from the obstacles. Brad Farris has spent decades advising businesses and helping them overcome these growing pains so that they can continue to thrive. In this episode of Chats with Chip, Brad shares his observations on each of the key stages that agencies experience, along with advice on how to forge ahead at every step.Continue Reading → The post CWC 44: Predictable growth stages for agencies (featuring Brad Farris) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Katie Robbert never planned to be an expert in AI and analytics, but she says she likes “numbers to add up” even though she considers herself bad at math. As a self-professed planner, Katie found herself telling stories with data, first for a pharmaceutical company and later for a PR agency. Today, Katie is the co-founder and CEO of Trust Insights, a consultancy dedicated to working with clients to uncover valuable nuggets in the data that often piles up unused in many businesses. Chip talks with Katie about how agencies can leverage data on their own behalf, as well as for their clients.Continue Reading → The post CWC 43: How agencies should think about AI and analytics (featuring Katie Robbert) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Just about every agency leader worries about where the next new client will come from and how to land that new business. Many aren’t natural-born salespeople, so the process itself can be uncomfortable and even intimidating. Jody Sutter brings decades of experience in agency business development to help owners and executives put in place programs and processes that generate revenue. In this episode of the Chats with Chip podcast, Jody shares some of the most common mistakes she sees agencies make and offers practical solutions listeners can implement in their own businesses.Continue Reading → The post CWC 42: Business development mistakes agencies make and how to solve them (featuring Jody Sutter) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

When Sean Cassidy walked out of Tufts University in 1990, he graduated with a major in Cold War foreign policy — just as the Soviet Union was about to dissolve. He hadn’t aspired to a career in public relations, but it turned out he was a good writer and he caught the eye of a small agency owner. Three decades later, Sean leads DKC, a prominent independent PR agency headquartered in New York. They recently rolled out a new tagline: “maximizing return on news.” In this episode, he explains why he believes PR agencies should be news-driven organizations and what skills that requires.Continue Reading → The post CWC 41: The PR agency as a news-driven organization (featuring Sean Cassidy) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

The challenges and opportunities when integrating two businesses while also introducing a new name. Continue Reading → The post CWC 40: Rebranding after an agency merger (featuring Trevor Francis) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, Rachel Jacobs explains why case studies are critical to the scale and growth of agencies. Rachel, founder of Ecommerce Partnerships, reminds agency owners that their number one client is their own agency. Step by step, you’ll learn how to integrate a case study opportunity before a client even signs the contract, who the audience should be, and the six key elements that make up a basic case study. Continue Reading → The post CWC 39: Effective case studies for your agency (featuring Rachel Jacobs) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode, we go Down Under for a deep dive into the business of WebSavvy, a Melbourne-based digital marketing agency founded by Mike Rhodes. He explains why he chose agency life over being a helicopter pilot, advice for fellow agency owners, effective team training, and much more.Continue Reading → The post CWC 38: Professional development for agency owners and employees (featuring Mike Rhodes) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Steve Parker, Jr. brings extensive digital marketing and business experience as CEO and co-founder of Levelwing. He is an industry leader, trendsetter, and occasional provocateur. In this episode of Chats with Chip, Steve discusses his recent video Uncommon Transparency, and how internal and external transparency will benefit all agency relationships. He explores his own experiences and why he chose to produce a series of videos examining Levelwing’s values.Continue Reading → The post CWC 37: Transparency in the agency business (featuring Steve Parker, Jr.) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

On this episode of Chats with Chip, Karen Swim breaks down how changes to the workforce and agency culture have allowed independents and micro agencies more freedom and flexibility than ever before. She also advises how having a financial plan and advances in technology can help smooth the path for solo agency owners.Continue Reading → The post CWC 36: The role and impact of solo PR agencies today (featuring Karen Swim) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode of Chats with Chip, Matt Rizzetta, founder and CEO of N6A, discusses a new model he calls Outcome Relations, designed to provide measurable accountability to clients. Matt explains the benefits of Outcome Relations, how the workforce has changed over his career, and how entrepreneurs need to make mistakes and innovate incrementally over time to be successful.Continue Reading → The post CWC 35: Is Outcome Relations the future of communications? (featuring Matt Rizzetta) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Doug Simon is an expert in producing video for agencies and brands in both broadcast and social media. As CEO of the award-winning DS Simon Media, Doug has lengthy experience in getting clients’ spokespeople on television news. By arranging satellite media tours, providing behind the scenes video coverage, and servicing social media video production, Doug gets his clients’ positive stories out there. In this episode of Chats with Chip, he addresses what the trends in both broadcast and social media mean for the future, as well as changes he is seeing in how clients and agencies work with firms like his own.Continue Reading → The post CWC 34: Advice for agencies on better use of video for clients (featuring Doug Simon) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Chuck Hester is a senior integrated marketing executive with deep experience in B2B and technology. He has worked in-house and on the agency side, so he brings a strong understanding and great perspective to this episode of Chats with Chip. As the author of Linking In to Pay It Forward, Chuck provides advice to communicators on... Continue Reading → The post CWC 33: How agencies can get the most out of LinkedIn (Chuck Hester) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Mark McClennan hosts a weekly podcast where he explores ethical questions with public relations industry experts and agency leaders. He brings a wealth of his own experience to the mix, as a longtime senior agency executive and former National Chair of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Mark joined Chip on this episode to talk about... Continue Reading → The post CWC 32: Leading an ethical agency (Mark McClennan) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Many of us think of lawyers like we do doctors: someone to go to for a fix when something goes wrong. Just as seeing your doctor when you are healthy helps improve outcomes, so does building a relationship with the attorney you use for your agency business. In this episode, Chip speaks with Matt Benson of Cook Little Rosenblatt & Manson of Manchester, New Hampshire. Matt has decades of experience in working with business owners on challenges ranging from the formation of the business to its eventual sale. He discusses why — and how — you should leverage your lawyer for more than just legal advice.Continue Reading → The post CWC 31: Using your lawyer as a business advisor with Matt Benson appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Robert Udowitz and Steve Drake of RFP Associates partner with organizations seeking to retain PR and public affairs agencies. They take years of their own experience on the agency side to help clients navigate the process more effectively. On this episode of Chats with Chip, Robert and Steve offer helpful advice and useful tips for agencies as they respond to requests for proposals.Continue Reading → The post CWC 30: RFP advice for agencies from Robert Udowitz and Steve Drake appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this episode of the Chats with Chip podcast, Rick Gould of Gould+Partners, an agency mergers and acquisitions advisory firm based in New York, provides useful insights for agency owners on the process of selling their agencies — including perspective on current trends in M&A.Continue Reading → The post CWC 29: Practical M&A advice for agency owners with Rick Gould of Gould+Partners appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Brent Lightner of Taoti Creative in Washington, DC joins the podcast to talk about how he became an accidental — but quite successful — agency owner. At the dawn of the Netscape era, Brent took on a web development challenge in search of scholarship funds. Two decades later, he leads an award-winning creative firm.Continue Reading → The post CWC 28: Brent Lightner of Taoti Creative appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

James Papiano joins the podcast to talk about the importance of leadership and culture in an agency environment, including how to change a weakened culture to improve performance. Continue Reading → The post CWC 27: James Papiano on Leadership & Culture in Agencies appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Nick Petroski of Promethean Research joined to talk about the outlook for digital marketing agencies in 2019 and beyond.Continue Reading → The post CWC 26: Nick Petroski of Promethean Research appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Patrick Rogan of Ignition HR joins to discuss how small and midsize agencies can meet their human resources needs with a combination of vendors, consultants, and in-house staff.Continue Reading → The post CWC 25: Patrick Rogan on HR for small-to-midsize agencies appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Johna Burke, Global Managing Director of the International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication (AMEC), joined to discuss Measurement Month and the challenges and opportunities for communicators.Continue Reading → The post CWC 24: Johna Burke of AMEC appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

John Wall, co-host of Marketing Over Coffee with Christopher S. Penn and partner at Trust Insights, joined this episode of Chats with Chip to talk about podcasting, marketing technology, and more.Continue Reading → The post CWC 23: John Wall of Marketing Over Coffee appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.