Podcasts about smma

Als Agentur sofort mehr Umsatz und Gewinn durch gezielte Skalierung! Du möchtest deine Agentur automatisieren, endlich wieder mehr Zeit haben, ein Vertriebsteam, Marketingteam und Backoffice Team aufbauen und endlich über 100k Monatsumsatz machen? Dann solltest du dieses Video auf jeden Fall sehen! In diesem Video erklärt Agenturinhaber Max Weiß wie du deine Agentur, egal ob Social Media Agentur, Marketing Agentur, Videoagentur, Kurzvideoagentur, Webdesign Agentur, Branding Agentur und co., mit 5 Hebeln sofort skalieren kannst! Hier geht es zu einem kostenlosen Telefonat mit Max: https://maxwei1.typeform.com/to/v0DTx9 Hier geht es zur Software Agentursysteme, welche du kostenlos testen kannst: https://www.agentursysteme.com Hier kannst du dir einen kostenlosen Online Kurs sichern: https://weiss-max-coaching.coachy.net/lp/kostenloser-kurs/

As the digital marketing landscape continues to evolve, agency owners must adapt to remain competitive. Scaling your agency requires more than just relying on a single client acquisition strategy. In this post, we'll dive into seven proven methods for acquiring high-paying clients that have worked for both my agency and the hundreds of [...] The post I Tried 21 Methods For Getting Clients, These Are the Best (SMMA) appeared first on Seven Figure Agency.

In nur 30 Tagen eine eigene Social Media Agentur gründen und damit sofort Geld verdienen, genau dafür liefert dir Agenturinhaber Max Weiss in dieser Episode des Next Level Agency Podcasts eine Komplettanleitung. Du lernst Schritt für Schritt wie du deine eigene erfolgreiche Online Marketing Agentur auch ohne Startkapital aufbauen kannst du wie du damit in 30 Tagen ein eigenes Online Business aufbaust mit welchem du direkt nebenbei seriös Geld verdienen kannst! Hier geht es zu einem kostenlosen Online Kurs um sich eine SMMA aufzubauen: https://weiss-max-coaching.coachy.net/lp/kostenloser-kurs/ Hier geht es zu einem kostenlosen Telefonat mit Max: https://maxwei1.typeform.com/to/v0DTx9 Hier geht es zur "All-In-One" Plattform für Agenturen: https://www.agentursysteme.com

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Would your agency be ready for an unexpected acquisition opportunity? Could you make it work if the time and offer were right? One boutique agency owner faced this question when an unexpected offer transformed her lifestyle business into an acquisition prospect. Though she and her partner had no immediate plans to sell, they recognized the potential and methodically prepared for a successful transition. Learn about their experiences finding their niche in the industry, preparing for acquisition, their ‘no regrets' attitude regarding the sale, and the reason why they approached negotiations with a thoughtful mindset that would benefit everyone involved. Kelsey Dixon is the co-founder of Davies and Dixon, an organic social media agency based in Seattle. She shares her journey into entrepreneurship, highlighting the transition from the events and hospitality industry to digital marketing, the way her agency's niche organically changed as she and her partner found the right audience, and more recently, her agency's acquisition process, including why she chose to lead negotiations with kindness and their successful earn-out story. In this episode, we'll discuss: Going from full service to finding focus. An unexpected opportunity to sell. Negotiating with kindness and thoughtfulness to ensure future success. How to negotiate an earn-out. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. Accidental Agency: When Adaptability Meets Opportunity Kelsey never saw herself as an entrepreneur and had no plans of starting her own business. a chance meeting during an internship in New York would change her career trajectory. There, she met Mackenzie, a fellow intern who years later, would convince her to move to Seattle and start a business with her. As an agency owner, Kelsey found there were new surprises around the corner every quarter and every year. At age 24, she started out with no idea what she was doing; everything seemed new and unexpected. However, she believes this worked to her benefit since she approached the experience with naiveté and willingness to learn. With Kelsey's background in hospitality and travel, and Mackenzie's expertise in digital marketing, the two women initially planned to build an agency serving the hospitality sector. However, upon arriving in Seattle, they faced the significant challenge without a network in their new city. Their proactive networking efforts unexpectedly led them deeper into the local tech industry, naturally evolving their agency's focus and creating a new niche that differed from their original vision. Finding Focus: From Doing It All to Intentional Hiring In their early days, Kelsey and Mackenzie approached client acquisition with an eager, full-service mindset, taking on everything from PR to organic social media and branding. While they managed these diverse projects through talented contractors, Kelsey now realizes their determination to win clients' trust sometimes led them into areas beyond their expertise. As their agency evolved, they naturally discovered their true strengths through client feedback and successful outcomes. The organic process of finding their niche allowed them to recognize and pursue opportunities where their work could truly stand out. For eight years, both partners remained deeply involved in every aspect of the business, from client work to day-to-day operations. The preparation for acquisition marked a significant turning point, prompting them to narrow their roles as founders and delegate responsibilities. Though both partners initially struggled with the emotional challenge of stepping back from daily operations, their strategic approach to hiring made the transition successful. They built a team of talented individuals who often exceeded their own expertise in specific areas. This decision proved transformative – by placing trust in their capable team and focusing on their own areas of expertise, they not only improved the quality of work but also created a more efficient organization. Embracing the Opportunity to Sell Their Agency Selling the agency was not initially part of Kelsey's overall vision, at least not at the eight-year mark. However, a buyer agency reached out with an interest in acquiring Davies and Dixon, which prompted a thorough evaluation of their current circumstances and future aspirations. With two co-founders, Kelsey admits it's difficult to get on the same page in any decision. They were at a crossroads, having invested nearly eight years into building their agency so they laid out the pathways and concluded that, although they were looking for an exit along the ten-year mark, they could push to be ready before that. It was 2021, they were coming out of a tumultuous year with the pandemic and had lost key team members to offers they couldn't match as a small boutique business. Faced with burnout and the strain of navigating an unpredictable economy, they weighed the potential benefits of pursuing the acquisition against the option of pushing through to a planned exit around the ten-year mark. As they explored the acquisition, they concluded the move would align with their overarching goal of supporting their lifestyle while also presenting solutions to the challenges they faced. The integration promised enhanced opportunities for their team, addressed immediate concerns, and positioned the agency for long-term success within a larger framework. So they decided to embrace the opportunity. Maintaining a “No Regrets” Mindset About an Agency Sale The decision to sell their agency came at a pivotal moment. Unlike many agency owners who accept acquisition offers out of exhaustion or overwhelming pressure, Kelsey and her partner approached the opportunity strategically. While the loss of key team members influenced their timing, the decision wasn't made in haste. It was grounded in careful data analysis and thoughtful consideration of future opportunities. Looking back, Kelsey believes there wasn't truly a wrong choice to make, as both paths – selling or continuing independently – offered potential for success. She maintains a strong belief in trusting her gut, embracing a no-regrets mindset that has consistently served her well throughout her career. The acquisition proved to validate their decision-making process: the integration proceeded smoothly, their team found new growth opportunities, and their clients received enhanced services. Lead Negotiations with Kindness to Create the Foundation for Success Kelsey's acquisition deal had an ‘acqui-hire' portion, which means Kelsey and her partner would continue to serve in leadership for two years following the purchase to be a key element in the integration process and in helping scale the agency. According to Kelsey, this changed the negotiation process a bit since she had to consider that she'd be working with the acquirer for some time once a deal was reached. For her, this unique scenario required a thoughtful approach to negotiation where she led with kindness and thoughtfulness, keeping in mind the future success of the agency—and the well-being of its employees—depended on the relationship established during the negotiation process. However, this doesn't mean she said yes to the first offer, they just negotiated with the greater good in mind. They negotiated not only for their own interests but also for the cultural values and benefits that defined their agency. By advocating for policies that prioritized employee welfare—such as PTO policies, work-from-anywhere options, and signing bonuses—they ensured that their team members would continue to thrive in the new environment. By treating the negotiation process with respect and integrity, recognizing that their legacy would be tied to the success of the agency they were joining, Kelsey and her partner were able to create a foundation for success that would extend far beyond the immediate financial implications of the deal. Walking a Fine Line to Negotiate Earn-Out Terms Carefully Kelsey's acquisition deal did include an earn-out, which thankfully they were able to meet after a successful first-year integration. In their case, they decided to maintain open communication with both their team and clients during the earn-out process, which contributed to an impressive retention rate post-acquisition. By fostering trust and transparency, they were able to ease the transition and ensure that clients felt secure in their ongoing relationships with the agency. However, while earn-outs can provide a financial incentive for sellers to ensure the success of the acquired business post-sale, poorly structured earn-out terms can lead to frustration, financial loss, and strained relationships between the parties involved. To avoid this scenario, secure control over client relationships and business operations until the earn-out conditions are met. This involves negotiating terms that keep the acquisition confidential until the seller has fully transitioned and received the agreed-upon compensation. By maintaining control, sellers can ensure that their clients remain engaged and satisfied, which is crucial for achieving the performance metrics tied to the earn-out. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Over the past 5+ years, I have generated millions across my agency & consulting business.It's safe to say that I've learnt quite a lot & made a fair amount of mistakes in the process.If you are just starting out, I want to save you the headache of having to go through the mistakes I went through & shortcut your success as a result.In todays podcast, I'll share how exactly I'd make $100,000 per year as soon as possible if I were to start from absolutely ground zero.I hope you find it helpful. If you do, consider subscribing :)To Your Success,Charlie

Hello agency owners, coaches & consultants.As you may know, mindset is one of the fundamental elements of your success.And if you are able to master it, and finally understand how to counteract the mental obstacles that are constantly holding you back:The future will play out exactly as you planned.It certainly worked for me.So, in this exclusive podcast pulled from my private Mastermind in Dubai - I share the clear path of how I transformed my mindset and used it to grow to multi 8-figures.I hope you find it helpful. If you do, consider subscribing :)To Your Success,Charlie

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Do you shy away from cold calling for fear of rejection? Or, do you think cold calling is dead in the digital age? Today's guest runs an SEO agency that grew from a small project with four clients to a full-service agency. Discover how a focused cold-calling campaign landed him seventeen clients in his first month. In this episode, youl will also learn the reason he prioritizes culture fit over impressive resumes in his hiring process, why he believes relying on just one lead source is playing a dangerous game, and why he believes that open communication is the key to building trust with clients. Marc Brookland, the owner of SEO Locale, a full-service digital marketing agency specializing in search engine optimization. He shares his journey into the world of SEO and how much things have changed in that field, from focusing on repeating a keyword as much as possible or having more backlinks than the next guy to a complex and sophisticated process to improve your website traffic. He also discusses the challenges he's faced with hiring and ho open communication has shaped a trusting relationship with clients. In this episode, we'll discuss: Building his agency on cold calling success. Hiring for culture fit over skill set. Why open communication doesn't mean losing your agency's 'secret sauce' Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources Wix: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by Wix, an intuitive way to design exceptional sites and a smart addition to your agency's toolkit. With this flexible tool, your team will be able to take on any project at any scale and focus on the work that matters the most. Check out wixstudio.com and break free from growth bottlenecks. Taking a Leap of Faith to Become an Entrepreneur When Marc landed his first SEO job, he discovered his true calling and began dreaming of running his own agency. It was there he met his future business partner, and together they started mapping out their entrepreneurial ambitions. Though passionate about SEO, Marc soon felt constrained by the role's narrow focus and yearned to expand his digital marketing expertise. He left that agency to go work in-house, where he finally got to challenge himself being a team of one in charge of social media, website management, and SEO. This was the test that convinced him that he could start his own business. He began taking on agency clients on the side, though still hesitant to fully embrace entrepreneurship, and accepted another in-house position. Fate intervened when his employer's pivot led to staff layoffs, presenting Marc with a choice: stay on as an employee or transition to a contractor role. Recognizing this as his opportunity to finally commit to his agency dreams, Marc chose the entrepreneurial path – and never looked back. Agency Success Built on Cold Calls Although it started as a small operation, Marc spent the first month as an agency owner cold calling businesses and was able to bring seventeen clients with this strategy. This campaign was undoubtedly a huge success thanks to his unwavering determination to connect with potential clients. Where many shy away from direct outreach due to fear of rejection, Marc embraced the challenge. It was also thanks to a methodical approach to identifying potential clients. By utilizing data scraping tools, he was able to target businesses that were likely to benefit from his services. Interestingly, Marc's experience highlights a common misconception about cold calling which is cold calling is an outdated or ineffective strategy in today's digital age. In his opinion, agency owners can't be afraid of sales because there's no way around it if you're starting your business from scratch. Although it's not something he's revisited after the agency took off, cold calling provided him an opportunity for direct interaction, fostering relationships that can lead to long-term partnerships because the ability to engage authentically with potential clients can set a business apart from its competitors. Nowadays, SEO is his agency's number one lead generator, followed by referrals and word of mouth. The skills he honed in those early days—effective communication, resilience in the face of rejection, and the ability to identify and address client needs—remain integral to the agency's operations. Hiring for Culture Over Skillset Hiring is one of the biggest challenges at Marc's agency at this point of their growth. He and his partner are trying to focus on hiring the right people. For them, this means hiring people who fit into the agency's culture. They're much more interested in this than in hiring people with an impressive resume. At the end of the day, skills can be taught, but intrinsic values and work ethic are often more difficult to instill and Marc is much more interested in finding individuals with a genuine drive and a willingness to learn, which is the sort of information you'll probably won't get in a resume. Rather than partnering with recruiting firms, Marc has built a successful hiring pipeline through Indeed, LinkedIn, and his extensive professional network. The majority of applications come through Indeed, where Marc and his team have honed their ability to identify promising candidates. However, with a large volume of applications it can be better to set your standards very early in the application process by only reviewing applications that comply with parameters expressed in the job posting. This way, you'll greatly reduce your workload by eliminating the candidates who not even bother to read the full description. How Open Communication Leads to Stronger Client Relationships To Marc, communication is an active process that involves educating clients about the work being done on their behalf and being consequent with this has shaped his agency's growth is his relationships with clients. The most common complaint raised against agencies is that clients feel in the dark regarding the work being done. This could stem from a fear of sharing too much of their process and then lose clients as they set off to do that work themselves. However, Marc has found that the more agencies communicate and educate clients the more they'll trust you as they feel more involved in the process. This involvement can take many forms, such as regular updates, detailed reports, or even educational sessions that explain the strategies being employed. When clients understand the rationale behind the work, they are more likely to appreciate the efforts being made on their behalf. Furthermore, many clients may not have a background in marketing or digital strategy, leading to confusion about the value of certain actions. By taking the time to explain these concepts in an accessible manner, agencies can empower clients with knowledge, making them feel more invested in the partnership. Don't be afraid to give some “secret sauce” by explaining and demystifying your processes. In the end, everyone's process is pretty much the same. Your real secret sauce is your people and how they treat the client and that's what you should protect. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.  

Join our free community (and get free resources): https://whop.com/growthwriter/ My Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rajasplash/ Twitter: https://x.com/rajasplash LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parikchhit-basnet/ Need email marketing help? Mint Ave (agency): [https://www.mintaveinc.com](https://www.mintaveinc.com/) Want to join our mastermind and get consulting from me? Book a call below https://go.growthwriter.io/splash About Me: Hi, I'm Splash! My journey in entrepreneurship started at just 16 years old when I dabbled in various business models like dropshipping, affiliate marketing, and SMMA. Despite trying everything, I struggled to find success—until I discovered the power of mastering one high-income skill: **email marketing**. What began as a one-time project quickly grew into something incredible. I built a 7-figure email marketing agency that has helped clients generate over **$100 million in revenue**, all while transforming my life and taking care of my family. Now, I'm on a mission to share everything I've learned. I've already helped **thousands of people worldwide** master email marketing and start their own journeys to financial freedom, and I hope these videos inspire and guide you to do the same. If you're looking to start or scale your own business, especially in email marketing, you're in the right place. Subscribe for actionable tips, strategies, and stories to help you grow and achieve your goals! Join our free community (free resources): https://whop.com/growthwriter/ Umar Shaikh is the CEO and Founder of Nest Marketing, an email marketing agency. Someone's journey which has been amazing to see from the start. Starting from 0 to making millions writing emails for his clients. We talk about his journey, obstacles, relationship with faith, family etc. Indulge and enjoy! My Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rajasplash/ Twitter: https://x.com/rajasplash LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parikchhit-basnet/ Need email marketing help? Mint Ave (agency): [https://www.mintaveinc.com](https://www.mintaveinc.com/) Want to join our mastermind and get consulting from me? Book a call below https://go.growthwriter.io/splash About Me: Hi, I'm Splash! My journey in entrepreneurship started at just 16 years old when I dabbled in various business models like dropshipping, affiliate marketing, and SMMA. Despite trying everything, I struggled to find success—until I discovered the power of mastering one high-income skill: **email marketing**. What began as a one-time project quickly grew into something incredible. I built a 7-figure email marketing agency that has helped clients generate over **$100 million in revenue**, all while transforming my life and taking care of my family. Now, I'm on a mission to share everything I've learned. I've already helped **thousands of people worldwide** master email marketing and start their own journeys to financial freedom, and I hope these videos inspire and guide you to do the same. If you're looking to start or scale your own business, especially in email marketing, you're in the right place. Subscribe for actionable tips, strategies, and stories to help you grow and achieve your goals!

Leads heraussuchen für die eigne Social Media Agentur kostet oftmals sehr viel Zeit, Energie und Geld. Damit ist ab heute Schluss, denn du lernst in diesem Podcast des Next Level Agency Podcasts von Agenturinhaber Max Weiß, wie du in Sekunden hunderte Taumleads für deine Agentur gewinnst und wie du diese mit nur einem Klick in dein CRM System hinzufügen kannst. Hier geht es zu einem kostenlosen Online Kurs um sich eine SMMA aufzubauen: https://weiss-max-coaching.coachy.net/lp/kostenloser-kurs/ Hier geht es zu einem kostenlosen Telefonat mit Max: https://maxwei1.typeform.com/to/v0DTx9 Hier geht es zur "All-In-One" Plattform für Agenturen: https://www.agentursysteme.com

In today's competitive digital marketing world, many agencies struggle to land high-paying clients. Yet, some agencies routinely sign deals with clients paying $3,000 to $5,000 per month. The difference lies in their approach—specifically their sales process. If you're struggling to sell $1,000 to $2,000 packages or facing constant objections, you're not alone. But [...] The post How to Close $3,000+/mo SMMA Clients (Sales Guide) appeared first on Seven Figure Agency.

Wie gestaltet man Verträge für seine Kunden als Agentur? Wo findet man kostenlose Musterverträge als Social Media Agentur? Was muss man beachten bei der Vertragsunterschrift? Wie kann man Verträge online abschließen? Auf all diese Fragen bekommst du von Agenturinhaber Max Weiß in dieser Episode des Next Level Business Podcast eine Antwort und erfährst alles was du über Dienstleistungsverträge als Online Marketing Agentur wissen musst! Hier geht es zu einem kostenlosen Online Kurs um sich eine SMMA aufzubauen: https://weiss-max-coaching.coachy.net/lp/kostenloser-kurs/ Hier geht es zu einem kostenlosen Telefonat mit Max: https://maxwei1.typeform.com/to/v0DTx9 Hier geht es zur "All-In-One" Plattform für Agenturen: https://www.agentursysteme.com

Eine Kundenliste und ein CRM System sind für Agenturen unglaublich wichtig und unverzichtbar, denn durch eine Kundenliste machst du direkt 30% mehr Umsatz um durchschnitt. In dieser Episode des Next Level Agency Podcasts erklärt Agenturinhaber Max Weiß, wie du deine Kundenliste und ein CRM von Anfang an richtig aufbauen kannst! Hier geht es zu einem kostenlosen Online Kurs um sich eine SMMA aufzubauen: https://weiss-max-coaching.coachy.net/lp/kostenloser-kurs/ Hier geht es zu einem kostenlosen Telefonat mit Max: https://maxwei1.typeform.com/to/v0DTx9 Hier geht es zur "All-In-One" Plattform für Agenturen: https://www.agentursysteme.com

Dubai? Miami? London? LA? Bangkok? I swear the worst advice I see online is where to live. Even people I respect normally give horrible answers. I've spent millions traveling and testing over 40 countries in the last 2 decades. Let me break this down carefully for you. And you can go even more in-depth by going to TravelingCeo.com for the advanced paid community! Learn more about Tai's Programs: https://www.tailopez.com/travelingceoyt - Traveling CEO https://www.smma.io/newsmmayt - SMMA 9.0 https://www.67steps.com/new67stepsyt - NEW! 67 StepsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The most common question from agencies earning under $20,000 per month is simple: How do we get more clients? The answer lies in building a predictable system for attracting and converting clients consistently. This blog outlines a proven method to help you achieve this goal. If your agency provides SEO, web design, Google [...] The post How to Get More SMMA Clients Than You Can Handle appeared first on Seven Figure Agency.

Was sind die besten Nischen für Social Media Agenturen? Was sind die besten Branchen für SMMA 2025? Welche Nischen sind noch lukrativ als Agentur? Welche Nischen sind die besten für Kaltakquise? Mit welchen Nischen kann man am meisten Geld verdienen als Online Marketing Agentur? In dieser Episode des Next Level Agency Podcast erklärt Agenturinhaber Max Weiß, wie du eine erfolgreiche Nische findest und mit dieser viel Geld als Social Media Agentur verdienst. Hier geht es zu einem kostenlosen Online Kurs um sich eine SMMA aufzubauen: https://weiss-max-coaching.coachy.net/lp/kostenloser-kurs/ Hier geht es zu einem kostenlosen Telefonat mit Max: https://maxwei1.typeform.com/to/v0DTx9 Hier geht es zur "All-In-One" Plattform für Agenturen: https://www.agentursysteme.com

Die wenigsten Social Media Agenturen und Online Marketing Agenturen da draußen schaffen es, wirklich für ihre Kunden auf den Social Media Kanälen wie Instagram neue Follower aufzubauen... In dieser Episode des Next Level Agency Podcasts erklärt dir Agenturinhaber Max Weiß, wie du als Werbeagentur für deine Kunden auf Social Media ein deutlich besseres Ergebnis erzielen kannst! Viel Spaß! Hier geht es zu einem kostenlosen Online Kurs um sich eine SMMA aufzubauen: https://weiss-max-coaching.coachy.net/lp/kostenloser-kurs/ Hier geht es zu einem kostenlosen Telefonat mit Max: https://maxwei1.typeform.com/to/v0DTx9 Hier geht es zur "All-In-One" Plattform für Agenturen: https://www.agentursysteme.com

Scaling your digital marketing agency requires offering the right mix of services. The services you choose impact your clients' results and your profitability. Get this wrong, and you'll struggle to achieve consistent results and strong profit margins. But get it right, and you can stand out from competitors, command premium pricing, deliver exceptional results, [...] The post Best SMMA Services to Offer in 2024 (More Profits & Better Results) appeared first on Seven Figure Agency.

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Do you feel along or isolated in your agency leadership journey? Wonder how it feels to have people who ‘get you' and understand the unique challenges of owning an agency? Today's featured guest faced numerous insecurities and challenges on her growth journey. Ultimately, the pivotal moment came when she joined a peer community, which encouraged her to adopt a new mindset and explore various solutions and strategies. Discover her unexpected journey into entrepreneurship and how the support of her peer community empowered her to confidently remove misaligned talent and pursue strategic partnerships, alleviating the burdens of ownership. Andi Graham is the CEO and founder of Big Sea, a marketing agency that began its journey as a web development firm in 2005. She shares her unique educational background, her interest in the intersection of communication and behavior change, and discusses her self-taught journey into graphic design and how realizing her vision was bigger than her skills paved the way for starting to build a team and eventually starting an agency. In this episode, we'll discuss: The role of community in embracing a different approach to agency challenges. Learning the importance of due diligence in an agency merger. Lessons on the high price of misaligned talent. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources Join us in Feb 2025 to ELEVATE YOUR AGENCY! You don't know what you don't know. But you can learn a ton and get connected with a small group of like-minded agency owners plus me and some game-changing speakers at our exclusive event. We're meeting in Phoenix, AZ for two days of transformative insights where you'll make meaningful connections with top-tier leaders, master inbound and outbound strategies, and elevate your agency to achieve 10x growth. Check out ElevateMyAgency.com and grab your spot! Accidental Agency Owners: Embraces Your Strengths and Delegate Weaknesses Although Andi graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sociology, her true passion was advertising and understanding the connection between communication and behavior change. She also taught herself design and had fun creating menus for the pizza shop where she was working at the time. Later on, in her first professional role, she got to dive into other marketing activities like starting the company's first email newsletter. To enhance her skills, she learned coding to implement more visual modifications than the newsletter platform could offer. Eventually, she started building websites and taking freelance clients and realized she had built something more lucrative than her full-time job. When the time came to intentionally start growing her business, Andi knew her strengths are copywriting and project organization but lacked in design and web development skills. It was time to start hiring people with expertise in these areas to improve the quality of her services. She recognized she was more of a jack of all trades but lacked the patience to get really good in a particular area. It was the right combination of skills to become a business owner, as running a business requires learning a little bit about every part of the business. The Importance of Community in Agency Leadership One of the most significant challenges Andi faced while launching her own business was the struggle to balance financial realities with her desire to cultivate a positive workplace culture. Yes, she wanted her team to have fun and like her but she also needed to run a profitable business. However, finding a community of peers who understood the unique difficulties of agency ownership proved to be a game-changer for her. She quickly learned that, although her peers faced the same challenges, they were approaching them with a different mindset. This highlighted the importance of perspective in business and the need for a supportive community that encourages open dialogue and shared learning. This camaraderie was not just about commiserating over shared challenges; it became a platform for exchanging solutions and strategies and helped Andi appreciate the value of having a “tribe” who not only validate your experiences but also inspire you to adopt new approaches to your work. The Significance of Due Diligence in an Agency Merger By 2016, Andi found herself feeling overwhelmed by the demands of running her agency alone and yearned for more quality time with her daughter. She had connected with various agency owners, which enabled her to build relationships with peers whose skills complemented her own. This collaboration led to a partnership that resonated with both her personal and professional goals. Each partner brought unique strengths to the table, whether in sales, operations, technology, or marketing and creative projects. This division of labor allowed everyone to concentrate on their passions, ultimately enhancing job satisfaction and productivity. However, the journey was not without its challenges and Andi regrets not conducting thorough due diligence on her partners prior to the merger. As a result, she encountered unexpected friction due to undisclosed ownership stakes that created tension in decision-making processes. Fortunately, there was a positive outcome, with a successful buyout of the problematic partner handled with care and mutual respect. Collaborative partnerships are not merely transactional; they are rooted in shared values, trust, and open communication. As Andi learned, prioritizing alignment in partnerships is essential for fostering a healthy, productive, and fulfilling business environment. Lessons on the Hidden Cost of Misaligned Talent Another significant challenge Andi encountered was the difficulty small agencies face in attracting and retaining talent that not only possesses the necessary skills but also aligns with the team's dynamics and values. At one point, she struggled to let go of a highly skilled developer whose negative attitude was detrimental to the work environment. This is a common pitfall for agency owners who often become overly reliant on individuals with specialized skills, overlooking the importance of interpersonal dynamics and team cohesion. Recognizing that technical expertise does not automatically translate to a good cultural fit is a vital lesson for leaders. Ultimately, Andi faced several situations that taught her the importance of recognizing early signs of misalignment and getting over the fear of disruption and the perceived challenge of replacing a key player can lead to prolonged periods of dissatisfaction within the team. She is now much more confident in her team's potential for resilience and adaptability in the face of personnel changes. Embracing the Long Game in Agency Growth Having run her agency for almost twenty years, Andi has learned the value of patience as it become clear that success is not merely a product of quick actions or rapid changes, but rather the result of sustained effort and the ability to endure challenges over time. Although agency owners are usually fast-movers and very action-oriented, her recent agency rebrand has taught her the importance of building momentum through consistent actions and understanding that the efforts put forth today will yield results in the future, sometimes months or even years later. This long-term perspective is essential for entrepreneurs who may feel disheartened by the slow pace of progress. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Are you currently utilizing AI or fear it will replace digital agencies? Most agency owners fall into one of these two categories. However, those open to exploring this technology's potential and maintaining a sense of curiosity will lead the way in innovation. Today's featured guest lost some clients who opted for in-house ChatGPT services over his agency's offering. Instead of staying fearful of losing all his clients to this technology, he was prompted to explore how AI could be leveraged to enhance his services. Through experimentation, he created what has become a very effective foot-in-the-door to showcase good results with very little investment. Tune in to discover valuable lessons about creativity, collaboration, and the evolution of marketing strategies. Abraham Bree is the founder of Brand:Whatever, a full-scale, small-sized branding agency based in Brooklyn, New York. With over 15 years of experience in the marketing, branding, and advertising landscape, Abraham shares insights into his journey from traditional ad agencies to becoming an agency owner. He discusses the creative processes learned in the agency world and highlights the challenges of navigating interactions outside the creative bubble, particularly with non-creative roles like accounting. In this episode, we'll discuss: Why success in marketing requires more than creativity. Creating value-add AI-powered solutions. Leveraging relationships to sell your high-impact low-budget solution. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources Join us in Feb 2025 to ELEVATE YOUR AGENCY! You don't know what you don't know. But you can learn a ton and get connected with a small group of like-minded agency owners plus me and some game-changing speakers at our exclusive event. We're meeting in Phoenix, AZ for two days of transformative insights where you'll make meaningful connections with top-tier leaders, master inbound and outbound strategies, and elevate your agency to achieve 10x growth. Check out ElevateMyAgency.com and grab your spot! Forging Agency Leadership Through Diverse Roles Although owning an agency was not originally part of Abraham's career plan, he began his journey in advertising, dedicating eight years to traditional ad agencies where he refined his creative abilities. However, he soon discovered true success in marketing requires more than just creativity. It demands understanding of how to work with diverse teams and navigate corporate structures. In his view, creatives operate in a bubble without ever interacting with people outside the client who have different ideas and opinions. This realization came as he transitioned from the creative agency life to a corporate role as a marketing director. In this role, Abraham not only had to deal with his creative team but also the accounting, sales, and HR departments. This experience taught him the importance of cross-departmental collaboration, as he strived to align everyone with his vision while allowing them the autonomy to pursue their own initiatives. Following this successful transition, Abraham continued to ascend the corporate ladder, seemingly reaching the pinnacle of his career until the onset of the pandemic. The ensuing uncertainty around the lockdowns and the impact Covid would have on different companies ultimately affected his standing. His new employer could no longer sustain his role as Chief Marketing Officer and he was offered to continue as a consultant. It was the pivot he needed to launch his own agency. Turning AI Anxiety into an Agency Advantage By now, companies are either embracing the use of AI or fearing it. Abraham had chosen to embrace it, even before a client dropped his agency and brought their content creation in-house using Chat GPT. He had been toying with ChatGPT himself, but now felt worried he was starting to lose clients to this innovation. How could he use AI to sell more marketing campaigns? Abraham understood that effective marketing is not just about promoting a product or service; it is fundamentally about solving problems for clients. He decided he could use this technology to help people with their pain points and create innovative solutions that added value. In his first venture using AI in this way, Abraham created an app designed to assist families in planning their Passover vacations. This not only addressed the immediate concern of families looking for vacation ideas but also opened up avenues for marketing partnerships with kosher food companies. It effectively addressed consumer needs while presenting these businesses with an opportunity for direct engagement with clients, offering more value than a traditional print ad campaign. The app attracted over 40,000 users in a one-week span. Although the number of users dropped after the first week, but it was still a success for a high-impact low-budget campaign made with AI. By leveraging AI to solve pain points, Abraham was able to enhance strategies, foster meaningful connections with clients, and ultimately drive impactful results. Creating Value-Add Using AI for Agency Clients One of his best strategies with this project was coming to companies with an idea they could easily adopt. To gain support for this initiative, he targeted existing relationships, leveraging connections he had nurtured over the years and asking for just five minutes to explain his project. Companies quickly recognized the potential to get in front of clients with little cost and signed on. Abraham then utilized this platform again on several similar projects and continued to drive results with these short and impactful campaigns. These projects offer an excellent chance to demonstrate value to potential clients without the need for substantial retainers. This way, Abraham was able to generate buzz while also establishing a foundation for ongoing relationships. For agency owners who want to try this approach to AI, Abraham recommends using it as a tool. Don't go and try to build your own language model and become the next Open AI. Instead, focus on the many ancillary services you can bring to the table using AI. Figure out how you slice off a piece of your current offering and use it as a foot-in-the-door — that is where you'll find your goldmine. Overall, Abraham's advice to agency owners is to stay curious, a good guiding principle for anyone aspiring to grow in their field. The moment you think you have figured everything out is the moment you'll cease to progress. Let your curiosity fuel innovation, push you to explore new ideas, and seek out diverse perspectives, and you'll ultimately discover new avenues for success. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

How can you grow your agency's client list beyond referral clients? Would you sacrifice price or length of contracts in order to attract new business? Today's featured guest has successfully established his agency by prioritizing higher prices and maintaining a clear vision of his offerings. He emphasizes the importance of being selective with the opportunities that arise. He shares the challenges and strategies involved in growing his agency, as well as how he prioritized long-term relationships over new business. Seth Odell is the founder and CEO of Kanahoma, a performance marketing agency specializing in the education sector. With over 15 years of experience in marketing and education, Seth shares his journey from being a chief marketing officer at a university to launching his own agency during the pandemic. He discusses the pivotal moment when UCLA became his first client, propelling him to leap into entrepreneurship and the strategies he used to secure more clients and start managing the agency's growth. In this episode, we'll discuss: Getting your agency on its feet with a clear strategy from day one. Tactics for landing long-term contracts and increasing client retention. Getting the agency owner out of sales. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. When CMO Isn't the Final Destination Seth had dedicated fifteen years to marketing in the education industry before starting his agency, working in-house in roles like Chief Marketing Officer at a university system in San Diego. Initially, becoming a CMO seemed like the pinnacle of his career. However, after achieving this position, he realized he could keep pushing himself and decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship. Seth's first client at his agency was UCLA, an amazing opportunity for a starter agency and a great chance to launch his business to success. It was a consulting agreement that covered Seth's salary, his mortgage, and most of his expenses. 3 Strategies for Long-Term Agency Growth Build Relationships After landing UCLA as his first client, Seth formed a plan to send personalized letters and small gifts to fifty industry contacts who had influenced his career over the past 15 years. It was a sincere acknowledgment of the relationships he had built throughout his career and a good way to announce his new venture. This tactic had a tremendous impact and his agency secured two additional clients through referrals generated by this strategy. It led to immediate business opportunities and also laid the groundwork for long-term relationships. Strategic Hiring Seth was also very intentional about his service offering right from the get-go, being very selective with the opportunities he pursued, and handling things himself whenever possible. Once he started to hire, Seth took the risk of over-hiring for some positions. It could've backfired, but he trusted the move of hiring people he trusted and who could quickly grow into their role and make it their own. Price on Value Seth recommends charging as much as you reasonably can right from the start. He made the decision to position on premium and be both the new agency around and the one that charged the most. It seems counterintuitive, but he was willing to turn down work to keep his prices up. To him, losing work over price is an indicator that you're pricing correctly and he was willing to lose up to 20% of new business with this strategy. He knew people were paying for more than just performance, they were paying for the confidence in future results. This way, he could hire better teams, drive better performance, and build a better reputation. Tactics for Landing Long Term Contracts and Increasing Client Retention Whenever possible, Seth likes to start client engagements with a twelve-month contract. If it's not an option, he's willing to do a six-month pilot. Recently, he has also introduced paid media audits, where his team conducts a thorough analysis of the client's account and provides consulting services. His agency's growth strategy focuses primarily on client retention, aiming to maintain relationships for five to ten years rather than solely pursuing new business. There have been a couple of occasions where Seth wished he tested a client before committing to a year-long relationship. Consequently, his team is trained to assess each potential client with the mindset of determining whether the engagement is a “winnable game.” They also don't hesitate to turn down clients who come in with unrealistic expectations. More recently, he has been able to move some of his paid media clients to three-year contracts by offering a discount and an offer to exit the contract with a 90-day notice. This alleviates the fear of being locked into a long-term commitment without recourse. While clients might feel a sense of freedom with this provision, the reality is that a 90-day notice period is substantial enough to encourage open communication about any concerns that may arise during the engagement. A successful collaboration begins with understanding the client's needs and challenges and a great way to achieve this is through a collaborative project. Jason suggests a foot-in-the-door project where they'll participate in identifying their biggest challenges and creating an action plan. It's a great way to create a sense of ownership in the outcomes and help build trust as clients see their input being valued and integrated into the final product. Shifting Focus and Getting the Agency Owner Out of Sales Seth has come to recognize the importance of distinguishing between promoting himself and advocating for the solutions his agency provides. Like many agency owners, he was deeply involved in the sales process, leading clients to believe he would also be heavily engaged in product delivery. While he initially played a significant role in sales, as the agency grew, he began to step back, which resulted in some mismanaged expectations. He has since adopted a new approach, positioning himself as the product architect and his team as the driving force behind the product. By surrounding himself with a team that excels in their respective areas, he has shifted client focus away from his involvement. This allows the client space to appreciate the capabilities of the team. Additionally, Seth was taken aback by the extensive responsibilities that come with ownership. Running a large in-house agency was a challenge, but it paled in comparison to the diverse duties associated with owning a business. From managing human resources and legal obligations to overseeing finances and IT, the vast array of tasks can be overwhelming. This realization has highlighted the need to delegate responsibilities—not only to alleviate his workload but also as a vital strategy for ensuring mental clarity and operational efficiency. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Are you looking to start your own creative business and don't know where to start? Should you become a freelancer? Or maybe go with a full-blown agency?Today, Jordan breaks down the pros and cons of each business model and gives his verdict on which you should pursue. Jordan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanscheltgen/Jordan's X: https://twitter.com/jordanscheltgenGet weekly actionable social media advice on our Newsletter: https://mindyourmarketing.beehiiv.com/subscribeHire our agency: https://www.cavesocial.comGet our Social System 1.0: https://jordan.bz/social-system

Jordan Bown is a self-made entrepreneur who has rapidly ascended to success in the eCommerce world through dropshipping and digital marketing. After building multiple successful dropshipping stores that have generated over $4 million in sales, Jordan is now leveraging his expertise to help others achieve similar success through offering a 18 hour dropshipping course, free of charge. As a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs, Jordan is dedicated to guiding others through the complexities of online business, empowering them to break free from traditional career paths and achieve financial independence. Tune in for the next 2 hours as we explore the key elements of entrepreneurship, the rise of creator brands and the future of eCommerce.0:00 Introduction2:12 Capital club & networking3:09 Family dynamic & the benefits of living at home in your 20s5:24 Building a business 101 (CRM, teams, processes) 7:49 Early personal & career struggles (72 cents) 10:44 Jordan's breakthrough with SMMA, drop shipping, Amazon FBA + 17:49 How Jordan's free 18hr eCommerce course went viral (importance of free up-front value)22:34 Signature traits of a successful entrepreneur & common mistakes 26:36 Creating a successful energy drink brand (logistics, hardships & industry risks)34:02 The decline of faceless brands & the rise of creator brands (i.e Mr.Beast, Prime) 39:12 Supplements, simple fixes for improved focus & productivity management43:07 “Recreate yourself - vision board etc & free vs paid courses 51:02 eCommerce trends & the importance of niche expertise55:25 Mentorship & asking yourself the big question: “what do I actually want?”59:12 Life as a content creator: the unsurfaced truths, complexities & rising standards1:08:33 Content strategy: short vs. long form, authenticity & creativity1:20:33 Podcasting for networking & personal branding & how Mike manages First Things THRST1:24:45 Imposter syndrome & how to beat it1:28:33 The start of FirstThingsTHRST1:32:59 Speak your future into existence: manifest & grind1:36:33 Jordan's plans for 30 » Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life - https://www.digitalplaybook.net/» Transform your physique - https://www.thrstapp.com/» My clothing brand, THRST - https://thrstofficial.com» Custom Bioniq supplements: CODEBQMIKETHURSTON - https://shorturl.at/fRV67» Follow Jordan«Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordan.bown/?hl=enTwitter: https://x.com/JordanBownTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jordanbownteaches

**Cold Open (Tea, Coffee, Reviews, Our YouTube Channel)****Skip the Cold Open at 7:52**Even if you're not an SEO or web design agency, you should know how to audit a website. The website is an asset that affects everything in digital marketing whether you're a social media agency, email marketing agency, or even video and design agency.If you're a design agency, you may want to consider adding website maintenance and basic SEO service for monthly retainer work.If you're an SMMA, you might want to make sure websites perform well so your social media ads do as well.In this episode, we cover everything we look at when auditing websites for prospective clients and how to do that.Keep in mind, that we are auditing for our specific niche. If you're in other niches such as e-commerce, you might want to consider other things we're not mentioning.----------------------------------Our recommended agency tools:everbrospodcast.com/recommended-tools/----------------------------------⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐As always, if you enjoyed this episode or this podcast in general and want to leave us a review or rating, head over to Apple and let us know what you like! It helps us get found and motivates us to keep producing this free content.----------------------------------Want to connect with us? Reach out to us on the everbrospodcast.com website, follow us on YouTube, or connect with Jake on socials:YouTube: @everbrosTwitter/X: @HundleyJakeLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jake-hundley/Facebook: facebook.com/jake.hundley.1Instagram: instagram.com/jakehundley/Reddit: u/JakeHundleyTikTok: @jakehundley

Read ONLY if you never want to run out of SMMA clients. In that case, inside my program Agency Accelerator, I cover that and all the other aspects of starting a wildly profitable agency - service delivery, outreach, systems & processes, and much more. Click here to learn more: https://link.agency-accelerator.io/join Start Your 30-Day Free Flozy Trial Here: https://www.flozy.com/educate-product Download the resources of this video: https://event.agency-accelerator.io/resources/4-prospecting-methods-for-your-agency Connect With Me On Other Platforms: Instagram: @imangadzhi Twitter: @GadzhiIman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you clearly defined your service offering to the extent that you can productize it? Or do you prefer to customize your approach for each client's needs? Which strategy aligns better with your agency's objectives and overall success? Today's featured guest transitioned from providing highly customized services, which impacted his team's ability to meet deadlines and adhere to budgets. He has since adopted a productized model and is currently exploring how to effectively present differentiated pricing tiers. Join us as we delve into invaluable insights on launching and scaling a creative agency, optimizing your service offerings, and gracefully managing a co-founder's exit. Matthew McIver is the founder and CEO of Commence Studio, a B2B brand and e-commerce agency with a proven track record for helping purpose-driven companies build widely-known brands. He shares his journey from graphic designer to agency owner and offers insights for those considering buying or selling a business. In this episode, we'll discuss: The hidden costs of customization. Learning the value of processes and standardization. Two paths to agency growth Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. Navigating an Agency Partner's Exit Ever since high school, Matt envisioned a future where he would own an agency—an aspiration he regarded as the pinnacle of success for a graphic designer. After honing his skills in design and photography at art school, he made the transition into the agency world, where he worked as a freelance designer and web developer at several firms. Eventually, Matt partnered with a like-minded individual to embark on the ambitious venture of starting their own business, pooling together just $500 to kickstart their dream. Matt quickly learned that building a successful business requires immense perseverance—navigating through growth, setbacks, and the resilience to rise again. After years of building the agency together, Matt's partner experienced burnout and lost his passion for entrepreneurship. The split was amicable, characterized by mutual respect and a buyout agreement that allowed both parties to prioritize their respective futures without ego interference. Reflecting on this pivotal period, Matt notes the buyout agreement they drafted through LegalZoom served its purpose in outlining the terms of their separation. However, he recognizes that a more tailored agreement crafted by a legal professional would have provided additional benefits and advises having a comprehensive and detailed agreement in place when entering a partnership. The Hidden Cost of Customization and Not Having SOPs Looking back at his experience building the agency with his partner, Matt reflects on how the agency saw rapid and significant growth. However, he recognizes their journey was largely improvised, resulting in various shortcomings, the most notable being the lack of processes. As they scaled, they inadvertently constructed a business model centered around their craft and talent, leading to a portfolio that lacked distinction among brands. The agency found itself specializing in a singular type of design, which necessitated training every new hire—both designers and developers—in the same approach. No documented SOPs were in place, as each product was custom-built for new clients. This absence of structured processes led to several oversights, not necessarily diminishing quality, but causing them to miss deadlines and exceed budgets. Matt realized he was essentially forfeiting potential revenue by not understanding the value of the ideas they were providing for free. More recently, they moved into a productized format that helped take their sales cycle from 88 days to just 8 days. They have packaged their services into standardized offerings that can be easily replicated and sold to multiple clients by creating a catalog of three tiers of services. The Power of Standardization & Learning the Value of Processes Moving into a more productized format poses the question of how much to charge for each of their service's tiers and whether or not they should make those prices public on their website. On one hand, having value-based advisory emphasizes the importance of providing personalized, strategic advice to clients. Rather than treating clients like a commodity, their approach is based on the individual needs and goals of each client. On the other hand, research indicates that clients like to know the options available to them. After refining their sales process, Matt is now able to ask the right questions to find out what kind of business the leads are in, and their size, and position their product catalog quickly accordingly. He then presents all three options in their catalog and highlights the one he recommends for that specific client. However, this has sometimes created confusion among clients who feel overwhelmed by the options. Ultimately, clients seek to engage with an industry expert they can trust to provide effective solutions to their challenges. They don't want to make decisions but rather have someone take care of the problem and present solutions that make it a no-brainer. It's important to position yourself as a trusted advisor to clients, which is why presenting the right price offering based on the client's needs and budget after the initial meeting might be the best option. High-Touch vs. High-Efficiency: Two Paths to Agency Growth The key to value-based advisory is the ability to guide clients through complex decision-making processes and offer expert recommendations based on their unique needs. It's an approach that involves actively listening to clients, understanding their pain points, and presenting solutions that align with their goals. However, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to scaling an agency and while some entrepreneurs may choose to focus on offering high-end, personalized services at premium prices, others may find success by adopting a more streamlined and cost-effective approach. For instance, some agency owners have found success in "creating a factory", a powerful and thought-provoking idea that challenges traditional notions of pricing and service delivery. This is the case of David, who built a successful agency by offering low-priced services in a streamlined and efficient manner. By focusing on efficiency, simplicity, and scalability, David was able to attract a large number of clients and ultimately sell his agency for a substantial sum. His approach of offering standardized services at a low price point may seem counterintuitive to some, especially in an industry where high prices are often equated with quality. Ultimately, the key is to understand your target market, identify their needs and preferences, and tailor your business model accordingly. Building a Strong Culture that Prioritizes Flexibility and Growth Opportunities Matt is very conscious of the fact that his team is his greatest asset and is committed to treating them with respect while providing compelling reasons for them to remain with his agency. He feels a profound sense of gratitude for the loyalty shown by some employees who have been with the agency since its inception, even amidst various challenges and transitions. His vision has always been to cultivate a close-knit team of around fifteen members, and although recent difficulties necessitated a downsizing, he is now focused on rebuilding. He takes pride in building a strong culture that values time and freedom, especially as a new father. He also recognizes the importance of offering flexibility and a supportive culture for their team. By focusing on transparency, open communication, and providing tools for retention, he has been able to create a positive work environment where employees feel valued and supported. In addition to offering competitive benefits such as health and wellness benefits, gym benefits, and paid time off, Matt goes above and beyond to support his team through personal challenges and difficult times. His dedication to prioritizing employee well-being reflects a genuine commitment to investing in his team members, recognizing that they are more than just assets or sources of income. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Read ONLY if you want to sign more clients. In that case, I cover that and all the other aspects of starting a wildly profitable agency - service delivery, outreach, systems & processes, and much more - inside my program Agency Accelerator. Click here to learn more: https://link.agency-accelerator.io/join The resources of this video: https://event.agency-accelerator.io/resources/agency-guarantees Connect With Me On Other Platforms: Instagram: @imangadzhi Twitter: @GadzhiIman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, David dives into the "fast track to failure" and shares three critical mistakes that can ruin a business. Drawing from his book FAILURE, David explains why never expecting people to remember you, consistently making client calls, and following up with leads are crucial to business success. Learn why relationships and consistent outreach are key to avoiding failure. Don't miss out on these valuable insights for business owners and entrepreneurs!   GET A COPY OF MY NEW BOOK: THE TRUTH ABOUT FAILURE AND LEARN HOW TO GET FREE ACCESS TO THE TRAINING:  https://www.truthaboutfailure.com/ JOIN MY COACHING ACADEMY: https://freedomachieveracademy.com/join

Do you price your agency services based on time spent or based on value delivered? Your fees should reflect the expertise you bring to solving your client's challenges, not how long it takes. If you still consider time your most valuable metric, it may be time to reassess the true value you offer. Our featured guest started her career in PR and ventured to start an agency after becoming disillusioned with corporate decision-making; often neglecting the best interests of both teams and clients. She set out to build an agency that would get the job done while not losing sight of their values. Tune in to learn how she learned to appreciate the value she brought to clients and how that changed the way she prices her services and structured her offer. Sharon Robustelli is the founder of Ten3 Public Relations, an agency with a mission to elevate female founders and help them raise their authority in their industries. She shares her journey from starting in entertainment PR to eventually founding her own agency and figuring out the struggle between value and time. In this episode, we'll discuss: Figuring out the pricing struggle between value and time. A surefire foot-in-the-door strategy. Fueling creativity and innovation for your agency team. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. Turning Frustration into Motivation and Innovation Injustice can serve as a powerful catalyst for change and achievement. This is what inspired Sharon to establish her agency "out of spite." With a degree in public relations—an increasingly rare credential—she embarked on her career in entertainment PR. After a decade of mastering this segment of the industry, Sharon began to explore opportunities for a strategic pivot. This transition ultimately led her to consumer PR, igniting a passion that continues to drive her work today. As she climbed the ranks in the agency world, Sharon reached a point where she was exposed to the inner workings of decision-making at a higher level. This experience opened her eyes to the bureaucracy, internal politics, and priorities that were not always in alignment with what was best for the team and the clients. She felt disillusioned by the way decisions were made and the lack of consideration for the impact on individuals' lives. More than anything, she was taken aback by how much time was lost with bureaucracy and trying to look smart and strategic to clients. She was determined to create a space where she could prioritize the well-being of her team and focus on serving her clients in a way that aligned with her values and mission. In doing so, she took a bold step towards creating a more equitable and empowering work environment for herself and those she serves. Figuring out the Pricing Struggle Between Value and Time The biggest ‘aha moment' that led Sharon to leap into starting an agency realizing the the struggle between her value and her time. She recognized that her value lies in her experience and knowledge rather than the amount of time she spends on a project. This shift in mindset allowed her to break free from the traditional agency model and start her own agency, where she could focus on delivering tangible results efficiently and effectively. She had not internalized she was good at what she did and figured if someone paid her to do something it meant she had to spend a certain amount of time doing it. In the end, clients are not paying for the number of hours spent on a project; they are paying for the expertise, creativity, and strategic thinking that professionals bring to the table. Prioritizing expertise is a way for agencies to deliver higher quality work in less time, ultimately leading to greater client satisfaction and long-term success.  Sharon's advice is to embrace your expertise and acknowledge the value it brings to the table. This also extends to pricing strategies, as she highlights that charging for the time spent doing something meant losing money for her. Instead, charging based on the value provided will allow you to command higher prices and build long-term relationships with clients who appreciate the impact of their work. Establishing Expectations and a Surefire Foot-In-The-Door Strategy Understanding your value is essential for developing an offer that effectively showcases your expertise while minimizing the time and resources spent on client pitches. For Sharon, this begins with establishing clear expectations with clients right from the start of their relationship. She emphasizes her approach of not pitching a specific offer; instead, she arranges a session dedicated to understanding the client's unique needs and crafting tailored solutions. Providing clients with a roadmap or strategy upfront allows agencies to demonstrate their expertise and show clients the value they bring to the table. This approach not only helps clients understand the benefits of working with a professional but also saves time and resources and sets the stage for a more collaborative and successful partnership. A session like this would be a perfect foot-in-the-door strategy you can use to filter out serious clients from those who may not be a good fit. If you're working on your foot-in-the-door offer, just remember to ask yourself the following questions: What's the perceived value? What's the speed of execution? Does it lead to a logical next step? Is it something you can co-create with the prospect? If your strategy provides value, does not take much time or effort to create, and leads the prospect to a follow-up project co-created with them, then you have a winner. More often than not, prospects will enjoy the transparency of being part of that process. Fueling Creativity and Innovation for Your Agency Team Business owners often find themselves responsible for large teams and can't seem to get comfortable with the idea of leading. Sharon advises staying curious and continuously exploring new ideas and perspectives to refuel passion and drive for work. Look for things that keep you interested in the world and seek outside stimulation; engage in conversations with others, read, take walks, and pursue interests outside of work and family to expose yourself to new experiences and ideas that can broaden your perspective and keep your mind sharp and engaged. Creativity is a key component of success in any field, including business. When you remain curious and open-minded, you're more likely to come up with innovative solutions, think outside the box, and adapt to changing circumstances. By exposing themselves to new experiences and ideas, they can broaden their perspectives and keep their minds sharp and engaged. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

In this video, I revisit early proposals I sent to clients years ago, showcasing mistakes I've since learned from. Despite initial setbacks, these experiences taught me valuable lessons in refining client pitches and focusing on delivering precise, results-driven services. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Read ONLY if you want to learn more about crafting $10,000 SMMA offers. In that case, I cover that and all the other aspects of starting a wildly profitable agency - service delivery, outreach, systems & processes, and much more - inside my program Agency Accelerator. Click here to learn more: https://link.agency-accelerator.io/join Start Your 30-Day Free Flozy Trial Here: https://www.flozy.com/educate-product Download the resources of this video: https://event.agency-accelerator.io/resources/high-ticket-offers Connect With Me On Other Platforms: Instagram: @imangadzhi Twitter: @GadzhiIman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you seeking the best approach to train your sales team? Have you considered implementing a foot-in-the-door offer? Today's featured guest reflects on past mistakes made while attempting to step away from sales, and shares a recent success could lead to a complete overhaul of the sales funnel, resulting in a tenfold increase in the closing rate. Tune in to hear about the journey from startup life to agency ownership and the creative acquisition strategy he's using to become his own client and create the ultimate success story. Jim Huffman is the CEO and founder of Growth Hit, a customer-centric growth marketing agency that specializes in technical marketing. He shares his journey of becoming an accidental agency owner, some lessons learned about building a sales team, and his careful approach to crafting a foot-in-the-door offer that could boost his agency's sales funnel. In this episode, we'll discuss: Lessons in crafting a successful agency team. The Power of the Foot-in-the-Door Offer. How to become your own client and create the ultimate success story. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio At the start of his career, Jim juggled marketing, creative, and sales for a couple of successful startups while also teaching marketing at General Assembly. As his reputation for delivering top-notch classes grew, so did the number of requests for his marketing expertise. This led him to take on freelance marketing projects, which eventually flourished into a full-fledged business. Like many entrepreneurs, Jim faced the challenge of pricing his services when the freelance work started pouring in. Initially, he quoted a modest $500, thinking it was a great price. However, as he sat down to do the work and calculated the amount of hours it took, he realized he could have made more working at Dunkin Donuts. That was his first lesson in raising agency prices. An Agency Owner's Journey from Salesman to Strategic Leader The realization that he needed to fire himself from sales was a pivotal moment in Jim's entrepreneurial journey. After getting a taste of what it was to work on the business instead of in the business, he recognized the need to step back from certain roles to focus on higher-level strategic tasks that would drive the growth of the business. Around this time, Jim's current partner interviewed for a junior role. Although he was overqualified for the position, he expressed his willingness to discuss other ways he could bring value to the agency, which eventually led to his appointment as COO. By hiring a COO specializing in conversion rate optimization, Jim saw the value of bringing in experts to take his agency to the next level. He quickly recognized the importance of not getting in the way and using that time to focus on other aspects of the business. The process of firing yourself from various roles within the business can be challenging and uncomfortable. It requires letting go of control, trusting others to handle important aspects of the business, and investing time and resources into training and development. In Jim's experience, once he started he quickly began looking for other roles where he could replace himself. He says the trick is to start small and work yourself up to what you feel will be most difficult to delegate, which in his case was sales. The key is to keep in mind you're working to build a business where you're not just another cog in the machine. Missteps and Lessons in Crafting a Successful Agency Sales Team A key aspect of success in firing himself from sales was Jim's focus on building a strong sales team. However, it was not a seamless process and he acknowledges there were a few mistakes along the way. One notable misstep was hiring a salesperson without ensuring there was enough lead volume to support them. In hindsight, Jim recognizes this as a glaring oversight on his part as the business owner. Additionally, he still didn't understand the differences between different roles in the sales team, like what a hunter does versus a closer. He also hired people and provided them with the agency's CRM, processes, and automation, instead of focusing on getting a solid sales script and making sure his new hires could close. One specific challenge Jim has found while training his sales team to replace him is customers who want to have an in-depth conversation about aspects of their services that not every salesperson would understand. In these cases, you don't necessarily have to have a specialist. Instead, build these types of scenarios into your training. Some valuable strategies agency owners can implement include creating a repository of success stories that your sales team can reference during sales calls and offering a foot-in-the-door. This way, they'll have valuable examples of past successes to demonstrate the agency's ability and get a little bit more into detail regarding how your agency would approach their particular challenge. The Power of the Foot-in-the-Door Offer Jim recently saw an encouraging success that has made him reconsider his entire pricing model to incorporate a foot-in-the-door strategy. His current sales funnel typically involves two calls, a conversion optimization assessment, and a monthly package priced at 10k. This process usually takes about 30 days to close. However, Jim recently had a conversation with a potential client and, sensing their specific needs, he spontaneously offered a foot-in-the-door and managed to sell a smaller package within just 72 hours, a huge jump. Thus far, it is a one-case-only success, but the results are encouraging and worth exploring. To create an effective a foot-in-the-door you should consider the following: What's the perceived value to the client? Is it easy to create for the agency? Does it lead to the logical next step? Is it being co-created with the prospect? Think about things you're already doing and that you can slice off your core service and go through each of these items to come up with a valuable offer. Finally, remember the prospect is going through their own struggles and by providing a foot-in-the-door you are offering prospects the opportunity to address these questions with a smaller commitment, making the final decision a no-brainer for them. Becoming Your Own Client and Crafting the Ultimate Success Story One innovative strategy Jim has been testing recently was leveraging profits from his agency to buy a B2C company that he could use as a model for approaching potential clients in the same industry. This unique approach allows agency owners to not only diversify their portfolio but also gain valuable insights and experience that can be applied to their core business. This can provide a new revenue stream, access to a different customer base, and opportunities for cross-promotion and collaboration. In Jim's case, he identified an opportunity to acquire 50% of a client's company, enabling his agency to handle the marketing side and become their own client. This strategic move has doubled their thought leadership content, as they now create content around the newly acquired B2C company in addition to their existing content. Acquiring a B2C company can be a great opportunity for agencies to gain valuable insights into customer behavior, marketing strategies, and product development, which can be applied to its offerings. Moreover, by showcasing the success and growth of the acquired company, agency owners can demonstrate their expertise and capabilities to potential clients, making it easier to secure new business. This strategy can also open up new opportunities for partnerships, collaborations, and joint ventures with other businesses in the industry. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Are you making a mark in your specific niche? Have you taken the necessary steps to elevate your brand and attract your ideal customers? Our guest today, a seasoned agency owner with fourteen years of experience working with influencers believes these are areas where agencies could learn from influencers, who by heavily focusing on developing their brands can grow to compete with big brands that have historically overshadowed smaller competitors. Tune in to learn more about her agency's approach to influencer marketing and why you should stop being a volunteer at your own agency. Casey Benedict is the CEO and founder of Maverick Mindshare, an influencer marketing agency with over 14 years of experience in the industry. Casey shares insights on working with influencers, emphasizing the importance of expertise, processes, safeguards, and quality assurance; she also talks about learning to delegate and the importance of finding your zone of genius and staying in that lane as a way for owners to always stay in touch with the parts of the business they most enjoy. In this episode, we'll discuss: Using influencer collaborations to grow your agency. What agencies can learn from influencers. Changing your mindset from volunteer to visionary. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. Being the Bridge for Brands and Influencer Marketing Casey's journey into the world of influencer marketing began with her own experience as a home baker and blogger. She was inspired by the community of food bloggers and the potential for brands to leverage their influence. This experience led her to a blogger retreat, where she observed the challenges faced by bloggers and PR agents in collaborating effectively. It also sparked the idea of becoming the bridge between bloggers and brands — and her agency was born. Through her agency, Casey has successfully facilitated mutually beneficial connections between influencers and brands, prioritizing the quality and authenticity of influencer campaigns. In today's landscape, numerous influencers are rivaling major brands, such as Mr. Beast's Feastables competing with Hershey's and Logan Paul's immensely popular energy drink. This presents a compelling opportunity for agency owners to tap into, enabling them to compete with the largest global agencies by elevating their brand. Combining Agency Processes with the Human Elements of Influencer Marketing Casey's agency has been working with influencers for over 14 years and she disagrees with the common perception that influencers can be difficult to work with. Although she acknowledges this is likely due to her agency's expertise and attention to processes. She attributes this perception to the fact that influencers are human beings, with their unique personalities and perspectives. In traditional marketing, the focus is often on digital media buys or static content, whereas influencer marketing involves collaborating with real people who have the power to engage audiences authentically. This human element introduces a level of unpredictability and risk, but Casey believes that with the right processes and safeguards in place, these challenges can be mitigated. How Clarity Plays a Role in Marketing Your Agency Over the past fifteen years, influencers have shown us that by being authentic and true to themselves, they can compete against major corporations and make a significant impact in the industry. Likewise, it is crucial for agencies to elevate their brand and stand out boldly to compete against the biggest companies in the world. Understanding your brand thoroughly can be a time-consuming process, but by defining core values and target audience, you can establish a strong foundation and set a clear direction for you and your team. This clarity not only guides your decision-making process but also helps you connect with your audience on a deeper level. Agency owners often dedicate most of their time to helping their clients and overlook the need to focus on their own business. Casey has also faced this challenge, but she recognizes the importance of building a brand that resonates with people. Imposter syndrome, self-doubt, or fear of judgment are just some of the reasons holding agency owners back when it comes to sharing their thoughts and ideas with the world. Despite the plethora of opinions on social media about how to build a brand, putting yourself out there requires courage, vulnerability, and a willingness to take risks. Overcoming these barriers demands starting small, embracing unique strengths, and gradually expanding their presence, enabling agency owners to overcome their fears and establish themselves as confident thought leaders in their industry. Changing Your Mindset from Volunteer to Visionary At one point in her agency's growth, Casey had to ask herself if she wanted to be a non-profit or a CEO, based on the tasks she was taking on. Her day-to-day was filled with things she should've been delegating and it felt like she was doing volunteer work for her agency, rather than stepping into the role of a CEO. It is crucial to prioritize tasks that hold greater value and impact for your agency, rather than becoming entangled in smaller, less significant tasks that could be assigned to others. If you find yourself falling into this pattern, categorize tasks as $10, $100, or $1000 tasks to swiftly identify and prioritize those that will significantly impact your agency's growth and success. By delegating, you can entrust tasks to someone who will approach them with a level of enthusiasm that you may not possess, yielding superior results. Doing $10 tasks may create a sense of productivity, but once you really look into it, you can pay someone to take care of that giving yourself time to tackle the bigger tasks. It's about building your agency around your life, your values, and the things you want to do. This way, you build a stronger organization and attract more of the right people. Likewise, agency owners may feel unprepared to invest in growth, but according to Casey, it is essential to adopt the mindset that your agency is equipped to handle expanded business and growth. Taking the necessary steps to support this growth, whether by hiring additional team members, investing in marketing, or expanding services, is crucial for sustained success. What Do You Do Best? Staying True to Your Strengths Part of getting to a point where you're effectively delegating tasks across your team is embracing diversity in team dynamics. As an agency owner, it's important to recognize that not everyone will approach tasks the same way you do, and that's perfectly fine. Embracing a team with diverse skills, personalities, and working styles is essential for the success of any organization. This diversity can lead to increased efficiency, creativity, and overall success. Realizing this took the animus out of team differences for Casey, as she was able to embrace diversity in team dynamics and understand each team member's strengths and weaknesses. By recognizing what each individual excels at and what they may struggle with, agency owners can delegate tasks more effectively. Casey encourages agency owners to find what they do best and let that guide them. There'll be many voices wanting to tell you what's best, which KPIs to follow, and what to focus on so make sure you touch base with that zone of genius as much as you can. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Are you considering narrowing your focus in the near future, or do you prefer to retain the flexibility to take advantage of growth opportunities in specific sectors? Our featured guest established a PR agency by recognizing the potential to connect forward-thinking companies with journalists. In the current uncertain economic climate, she opts for diversification and maintains the agility of her agency to capitalize on the expansion of emerging sectors. Gain insights into her journey of building a PR agency that harnesses technology to enhance brand visibility, her pivotal moments in realizing the agency's success, her strategies for solidifying its growth, and the ongoing learning curve inherent in the agency's evolution. Amy Jackson is the founder of TailSplash, a PR agency focused on effectively helping startups and emerging brands. She shares her journey from working in corporate PR to starting her own agency, discusses the role of the media in times of change, and explains how the agency is using AI to efficiently connect journalists with relevant sources and products. In this episode, we'll discuss: The power of versatility and adapting to economic shifts. Getting beyond the $ million mark. Why growing an agency is a continued learning experience. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio The Art of Brand Elevation and Media Matchmaking After a decade in the corporate world and navigating the challenges of the pandemic, Amy recognized the pivotal role of media in shaping people's understanding of the world. This realization sparked her vision of bridging innovative companies with journalists to promote their products. Serving as a matchmaker between clients and journalists, she has steadily expanded her agency, empowering founders to elevate their brand awareness and position themselves as valuable resources for journalists. So far, her agency journey has been one of discovery. As much as one can prepare themselves, speak with other owners, and read about the experience, you won't really know until you jump in and start your journey. Her first year with the agency was about building and creating. After that, each year has brought on new challenges as they grow, like staffing and learning to run the business profitably. Overall, she always keeps in mind what clients want from her agency, which is coverage at big outlets, speak at conferences, and have people pay attention to what they represent as thought leaders to bring in more customers, investors, and have more credibility. This commitment to meeting client expectations is vital in the face of intense competition, ensuring the agency's ongoing relevance in the industry. Building an Agency Team of Experts Amy first felt the momentum of her agency when she began enlisting the support of experienced individuals, enabling her to deliver top-notch services to her clients. She surrounds herself with people who have decades of experience. As a result, has been able to offer a diverse range of services and support to her clients, ultimately leading to their success. Her team has helped multiple clients be recognized by the White House, brought into Senate hearings, and be a part of important conversations in the media. This level of support and expertise has added immense value to her clients and set her agency apart from others in the industry. All this is possible thanks to the team of experts she assembled. The Power of Staying Versatile and Adapting to Economic Shifts Amy cites the current economy as a key factor in why she hasn't niched down her services. Amy's agency needs to remain fluid during tough times while certain niches have their moment. Versatility makes it easier to focus on some key industries like AI, climate solutions, lifestyle brands, and health tech. By diversifying, Amy can capitalize on growth opportunities in various sectors and mitigate risks associated with focusing solely on one industry while allowing her agency to adapt to changing economic conditions and industry trends, ensuring long-term sustainability and success. Growth Strategies to Get Beyond the $2 Million Mark Up to this point, Amy has relied on personal networking to drive her business. She has explored various marketing channels such as lead generation, attending events and conferences to connect with other industry professionals, and has also received some referrals. However, the majority of her agency's growth has been attributed to meeting people at events. Typically, this approach can only take a business so far, usually up to the $2 million mark, before hitting a ceiling. This is because the potential to meet new prospects at events is limited. To surpass this point, it is essential to establish alternative channels for business growth. These channels are: Inbound: This includes social media, podcasts, blogs, website, and ads as ways for the clients to find you and get to know you and your services before reaching out and becoming customers. Outbound: Building an effective sales team with a clear target and a deep understanding of the ideal customer profile to actively pursue leads. Strategic partnerships: A key component in any agency's growth strategy. In her case, forming alliances with other businesses has helped her expand her agency's reach, access new clients, and tap into new markets. Strategic partnerships also provide opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mutual support, ultimately enhancing the agency's capabilities and competitiveness in the industry. Grit, Growth, and Grace In the world of PR, if you come from a traditional PR education and agency background, you won't have any notion of sales and financial infrastructure. In Amy's case, it's something she's had to learn on the fly as an entrepreneur and a focus of hers as her agency continues to grow. The agency experience is all about continuous learning and overcoming challenges. As Guy Kawasaki explained in a past episode, looking back at his career he likes to break life up into thirds - grit, growth, and grace. This concept emphasizes the idea that learning is a lifelong process that involves embracing challenges, seeking growth opportunities, and remaining humble and open to new experiences and knowledge. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Do you run a virtual agency or a more traditional in-office business? It all comes down to what suits your and your team's work style, and one agency owner has found a way to incentivize in-office days. She also shares the lessons learned after two big clients left within weeks of each other. This feature guest has constantly been evolving and adapting to change. She shares her reasons for being an advocate for the collaborative and innovative environment that comes with a shared physical workspace. She also shares the challenges she has faced that forced her to diversify her client roster and empower her team to be independent. Sarah Segal is the CEO and founder of Segal Communications, a public relations, social media, and influencer marketing agency that specializes in crafting communication strategies spanning the events, hospitality, and food niche. She shares her journey from broadcast journalism to accidental agency ownership. Sarah also talks about why she established a hybrid agency show where she encourages her staff to go to the office, and the decision to resize her agency and diversify their client roster. In this episode, we discuss: An innovative approach to promoting office culture. Adaptability and resilience when big clients leave. Building a self-reliant agency team. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Going from Broadcast Journalist to Accidental PR Agency Owner Sarah began her career as a broadcast journalist in New York City, first working behind the scenes for various networks before transitioning to an on-camera reporter. However, her move to San Francisco marked a significant turning point in her life. While covering a particularly harrowing story, Sarah, now a new mom, found herself unable to desensitize herself from such distressing content. This realization prompted her to pivot her career path. This new stage of her career involved moving into PR and working starting in in-house positions before eventually moving to an agency, where she reunited with an old college friend who first presented the idea of starting an agency together. Sarah was working a couple of freelance gigs and a particular opportunity to launch a resort in Sun Valley, Idaho offered the perfect chance for the agency's first gig. Following her partner's departure for an in-house role, Sarah has successfully operated as a solo agency owner ever since. An Innovative Approach to Promote In-Office Culture Sarah, a forward-thinking advocate of new technologies and platforms, initially established her business as a virtual agency even before the pandemic. However, as she began to expand her team with freelancers and staff, she quickly recognized the irreplaceable value of in-person communication within her PR agency. Face-to-face interactions and fostering a sense of community in the workplace were paramount to her. While her team had become accustomed to remote work, Sarah sought to strike a balance between virtual and physical presence. She carefully selected an office space that felt like a home away from home and introduced amenities such as work slippers. Furthermore, she implemented mandatory office days for all staff members. She created a point-based reward system for additional days in the office. Points are cashed info things like extra PTO, high-end headphones, and even international travel. This way, days at the office don't have to feel like punishment for her staff and she is leaving room for them to spend extra days of the year there at their choosing. This not only fosters a sense of community and camaraderie among team members but also allows for more spontaneous and creative interactions that can lead to better collaboration and idea generation. When Big Clients Leave: A Lesson in Adaptability Every entrepreneur is cautious about how they move ahead with growing a company. Throughout the years, Sarah has received all types of advice about what not to do with her agency, and, by heeding this advice, she successfully expanded her client base, securing several major accounts. However, when the agency lost two of those clients in six weeks, Sarah had to start making tough decisions to stay afloat. Unfortunately, this meant she had to lay off part of her staff leaving her feeling terrible, yet also relieved about being able to make payroll. This experience served as a poignant lesson that she hopes never to repeat. Since losing those clients, Sarah has restructured her agency to diversify their portfolio. Now, her agency does not focus solely on big clients and has a range of small and mid-size clients. This way, if any of those clients depart, it has no impact on her P&L. By spreading out the risk across multiple clients, the business owner was able to protect their bottom line and ensure financial security moving forward. Furthermore, diversifying clients also opens up opportunities for new business relationships and partnerships. By working with a range of clients, the business can expand its network and potentially tap into new markets and industries. This can lead to increased revenue streams and a more stable financial foundation for the business. Cultivating Independence by Building a Self-Reliant Agency Team As your agency grows and you bring in new team members, you'll find that your role shifts to that of a leader who nurtures and develops others. It becomes essential to empower them to embrace your vision and handle challenges independently. By doing so, you can free yourself from the pressure of making every decision. When you invest in training a proficient team, they become equipped to tackle any obstacle, allowing you to step back from being involved in every single decision. For instance, Sarah entrusts her team to handle minor decisions and seek guidance for major issues. It's not about her making the final call, but rather ensuring that all written materials leaving the agency are reviewed by a second party. Her team knows to come prepared with multiple options when seeking her input, akin to the 1-3-1 rule recommended for mastermind members. By teaching your staff to consider various solutions and choose the best one, they can gradually take charge of decision-making. For Sarah, one of the most important things is that her team keeps her up to date about the temperature of each client. Unfortunately, she also thinks temperature checks are something people don't necessarily learn until they've had the experience of getting that call from a client who is leaving. As an agency owner, patience is key as your team gains the necessary experience, ultimately surpassing your expectations. Only by adopting this mindset of letting go of small tasks that your team can handle on their own can agency owners finally let go of some of the things they used to do and start doing the things no one else can do. Shaping the Agency's Client Communication Strategy As someone who runs a communications and PR agency, Sarah has seen with concern that most agencies have a very close-to-the-vest approach to how they handle their media. These agencies won't give clients access to the emails and connections they have and keep those as their value. According to Sarah, the primary reason clients seek her agency's services is the time and effort it saves them. She and her team handle tasks that clients simply don't have the bandwidth for. This understanding has shaped her client communication strategy, emphasizing transparency. Sarah prioritizes open and honest communication with her clients, sharing media lists, expenses, and other pertinent information. This commitment to transparency not only fosters trust but also ensures that clients are well-informed and aligned with the agency's goals and objectives. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Are you the bottleneck in your own agency's growth? Does the weight of every decision rest on your shoulders, leaving you overworked and your team underutilized? This guest is a successful agency owner who found himself in the industry after being laid off during the global economic crisis. He turned this setback into an opportunity and started his own business. However, as the agency expanded, he realized he was hindering progress. He had to shift away from the superhero mindset and empower his team to move forward. Tune in to learn how unexpected events can lead to new beginnings and the importance of seizing opportunities. Irwin Hau is a successful entrepreneur running two agencies: Chromatix, an agency focused on stunning web design that drives users to engage faster; and ConversionCow, a SaaS focused on lead conversions. He shares his journey from working at top ad agencies to starting his own businesses. Despite being made redundant during the Global Financial Crisis, Irwin took the opportunity to venture out on his own in a move that ultimately shaped his success in the business world. In this episode, we discuss: Unlocking agency potential by shedding the superhero mentality. Rethinking agency roles. The Lion Framework. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. Going from Redundancy to Resilience The global financial crisis of fifteen years ago was a pivotal moment for Irwin. Despite having worked at the top two agencies in Melbourne and loving his job, he found himself made redundant – a harsh reality that could have easily crushed his spirit. However, Irwin's philosophy was simple: life's too short to wallow in self-pity, and true character is revealed in how one picks himself up. Instead of giving up, he seized this unexpected turn of events as an opportunity to pursue his long-harbored entrepreneurial dreams. Yet, as any business owner knows, the path to success is rarely a straight line. He faced challenges, struggled to find clients, and had to take on low-paying projects just to keep the business afloat. However, his passion for making websites fueled his resilience and he continued to push forward. This unwavering passion fueled Irwan's resilience, enabling him to push forward despite the obstacles. To him, true resilience isn't merely about bouncing back from failure; it's about adapting, growing, and thriving in the face of challenges. It's a mental toughness and determination to keep going, even when the road ahead seems insurmountable. Shedding the Superhero Mentality to Unlock Agency Potential Irwin understood at some point he was becoming the bottleneck at his agency. Everything had to go through him and the first step to solving that was learning to let go. His initial reluctance to delegate stemmed from a fear of losing control and a belief that he was the only one who could do things the right way. However, as he reflected on his own mindset and the impact it was having on his team and his business, he recognized holding onto this mentality was hindering growth and limiting the potential of his team. Ultimately, he was working more hours and was constantly tired. The fact that everyone came to him for everything slowed the overall process. Instead of being the central figure, he should've been the one bringing superstars together to build something great. The more he was tying himself to every project, the harder it was to scale. In the end, people didn't necessarily want “Irwin's results,” they wanted the results Irwin's team got. Ask yourself which “line” your agency is currently on: 1. Unfocused line 2. Emergency line 3. Table line Whenever you find yourself in the emergency line, remember the easiest job in the world is the hardest to do by yourself. Yet, the hardest job can become the most rewarding when you have a team to support you. Trust in your team and rely on them to help you get through the emergency line(s). Rethinking Agency Roles: Is Someone Else the Better Leader? Once he decided to address the bottleneck situation, Irwin called his team. Following the “important and urgent matrix,” he instructed them to take care of all important and urgent tasks themselves while deciding what to delegate, delay, or eliminate from the rest. They also conducted an exercise where mentally every member of the team, including himself, was fired. Then they wrote down who they needed and wanted on the team based on their overall goals and whether they were the right fit for the role. This exercise can help agency owners not only assess the team but also whether they are the best suited to lead the team or if someone else could be doing a better job. Once you let go of your ego, you may find that delegating most of your workload would greatly improve the overall process so you can get to a place where your team can deliver amazing results without your involvement at any stage of the process. This way, you'll be closer to the goal of sticking to the parts of the business you really enjoy and reducing working hours. The Lion Framework for Being Productive Rather Than Being Busy Most agency owners start their business to do something they're passionate about while creating more freedom for themselves. However, they often go from being a slave to someone else to being a slave for themselves. During this year's Elevate event, mastermind member Manish Dudharejia, Founder and CEO of E2M, spoke about the Lion framework. He drew parallels between the hunting habits of lions and the need for agency owners to emulate their balanced approach to work and rest. It is okay to rest and space out. Don't fill your day up with activity so you don't feel lazy and unproductive. Whenever you're not working you're exercising or thinking you'll end up burned out and never have the time to think about the things you need to think about. Just because you're moving doesn't mean you're going forward, so think about being productive rather than being busy. Being busy all day is not a guarantee that you're actually being productive and getting things done. Leaning on Your Agency Experience to Empathize with Your Clients For Irwin, the biggest success in his career has been starting a business and seeing it through, despite challenges and uncertainties. Turning what was just an idea into a business didn't happen overnight, but with dedication and perseverance, he was able to build something. He encourages agency owners to move forward and try, even when faced with obstacles and setbacks. Success is not just about hitting financial goals or being acquired by another company, but about following through with your ideas and commitments. Moreover, by going through the process of getting from idea to actual business agency owners are better able to understand and relate to clients who come to them for help in designing and building their businesses. This empathy allows them to provide more accurate guidance and support, based on their own experiences and lessons learned. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

What do you think is holding you back from scaling your agency? Have you received coaching? And if you have, have you implemented their recommended measures? On today's episode we talk about agency owners' accountability and why reaching out for help can be useless unless you understand what you want. Scaling an agency is hardly something you can do independently. You'll need support and community along the way. A lot of the times the most important step to growing is figuring out if you're ready to change. Get ready for some hard truths and expert advice. As Agency Scale Specialist on our team, Darby Copenhaver talks with hundreds of agency owners and finds a common thread when it comes to what's holding them back from scaling their businesses. Seeking help is the first step, of course, but you'll also need the right support and the willingness to make the necessary changes. Many agency owners get as far as knowing to ask for help but then don't follow through, ultimately rendering any investment in coaching useless. Tune in to see why showing up consistently is the most important thing you can to and how accountability and community play a big role in the journey of growing an agency. In this episode, we'll discuss: Are you ready to accept help? Showing up makes all the difference. The agency transformation blueprint. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. The Roadblock to Agency Success: Are You Ready to Accept Help? More than once we've had agency owners contact our team saying they need help and then they can't even clear an afternoon for a free call to talk about what's getting in the way of their growth. If there's something that has really surprised Darby is how many people are just not prepared to get help. First, they need to recognize they want to change and get to a point where the pain of not changing is greater than the pain to change. Agency owners need to be open to receiving support to progress. Not every form of assistance may be suitable for everyone, whether it's from a mentor, a coach, or a community. The real challenge lies in being receptive to help and taking the necessary actions to effect changes in their businesses. In reality, a lot of agency owners feel they want to step up to the next level but don't want to risk what they have. This means that whenever something doesn't go according to plan they'll falter and reject the help. On the contrary, hard periods are when you'll need to invest the most, learn valuable lessons, and surround yourself with the right people rather than isolate yourself. How Showing Up Propels Agency Owners Forward People who actually make it to the top have some things in common: They're curious. They're humble. Their outlook is that they'll either win or learn. The more comfortable you get with your agency the more you'll feel you have to lose by trying something risky with the business. However, remember you can always start again as long as you have something to offer. How many agency owners do you think tanked their businesses because they tried something new? Not nearly as many as you may think. Both Jason and Darby have repeatedly seen that the agency owners who consistently show up, put in the work, and follow through on their commitments are more likely to see positive results. By being consistent in their efforts and showing up for their team members and peers, they can build momentum and make progress toward their goals. The Agency Transformation Blueprint: Clarity, Focus, and Finding Your Tribe Once you commit and are willing to make the necessary changes, you'll need a clear idea of what you want, where you're going, and a community. Too many agency owners seem to be waiting for everything to fall into place magically but this just doesn't happen. Running an agency is definitely more of a marathon than a sprint and you'll have to learn to pace yourself and have a sense of where you're going and what it is that you do really well that'll get you there. If you were getting paid on performance only, who would you do it for? Who is it that you can help the most and deliver the most value to? That's your starting point. Once you do that, it's all about how to get your audience's attention and find the right team to get you there. Setting clear goals and knowing your direction is crucial for success and defining your target audience and focusing on delivering results will help you create a solid foundation for growth and development. This is where having a tribe or community to support you through the journey becomes super important. Whether it's mastermind groups, networking events, or one-on-one interactions, find your tribe and actively engage with them. A community will help keep things in perspective and constantly challenge you to stay accountable to your goals and overall direction. Turning Obstacles into Lessons and Finding Strength in Community There will always be challenges and difficult times in business, but it is important to view these obstacles as opportunities for growth and learning. Agency life has many highs and lows, and understanding can help you develop resilience and adaptability to navigate through tough times. In the agency industry, you're either approaching the storm, in the storm or just got out of the storm. In any case, the storm is always there right around the corner. It doesn't have to be something bad, a storm can be a pressure test and could help you see things you need to see. Being part of a community can also help you realize everyone is growing at a different pace and that while not all years bring big wins, they all bring important lessons that will prepare you for an amazing year ahead. Furthermore, a year represents a very short part of your agency journey and one bad year is not the end as long as you're focusing on building the right foundation for your ultimate goal. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Are you establishing genuine connections with your target audience and clients? Have you developed a compelling brand narrative that resonates with your audience to cultivate a dedicated following? Our featured guest today played a pivotal role in shaping the iconic brand identity of Red Bull, which has become a benchmark for creating captivating content. He shares Red Bull's strategy for creating engaging content, the initial missteps he addressed regarding staffing decisions and much more. Learn from his diverse experiences in the agency space and his insight into creating brand fandom. Geoffrey DeStefano is the founder and CEO of Brand Programming Studios, a strategic and creative content studio that bridges the gap between entertainment and marketing. Geoffrey is a seasoned professional with experience in both the advertising/marketing and entertainment/media industries. He shares insights from his time at Red Bull's media and creative agency during the brand's growth in North America. He discusses transitioning from the advertising business to the television industry and working on popular shows like Mad About You and Friends. In this episode, we'll discuss: Keys to compelling brand stories. Creating true connections to develop brand fandom. Boosting agency performance through better leadership. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources Clutch: This episode is sponsored by Clutch, the #1 marketplace for agencies just like yours. With their innovative process, your agency will be matched with highly motivated buyers looking for the exact services you offer. Leave the lead generation to Clutch and let your team focus on delivery. Get started for FREE at clutch.co/smartagency by creating your agency profile. Red Bull's Playbook for Creating Engaging Content Geoffrey left the ad business to work as a studio executive on shows like Mad About You and Dawson's Creek when an old friend contacted him about an ailing agency that needed his expert advice. At that agency, he helped turn things around and became part of the team that made Red Bull a brand that pushed the limits by doing things differently. One of the things they discussed when trying to establish Red Bull as a rebel and unique brand was leveraging entertainment content. They truly excelled at content creation, with a strong focus on pushing the limits and doing things differently. Years later, Red Bull has become a leader in the marketing space creating engaging and unique events that serve as content generators. Red Bull's approach to content creation has set a strong playbook for other brands to follow. With Red Bull Media House, a separate entity focused on producing and distributing content, they've been able to monetize its marketing content, a strategy that has proven to be successful for the brand. By leveraging entertainment content for the brand, Red Bull has engaged with consumers in a meaningful way and created a strong connection with its audience. With this, they've been able to build a loyal fan base and establish itself as a leader in the industry by thinking outside the box and taking risks. 3 Keys to Crafting Compelling Brand Stories Brands can tell wonderful stories that resonate with their audience and create a lasting impact. How can you guide them to discovering these stories? For Geoffrey, there are three very important aspects: Talk to clients about giving their marketing a sense of purpose. It has to be informative, engaging, or entertaining or no one will pay attention to it. Influencer marketing is like word of mouth on steroids. It may not be seen as authentic as when it first exploded but it's very effective and there's a way to do it right. As a brand, don't give up control of how your product will be presented, and make sure to search for influencers who line up with your brand. Driving fandom. Fandom goes way beyond just liking a brand. It has to do with creating passion and loyalty for that brand. Building fandom through brand passion involves creating a strong emotional connection with consumers. If you can find a way to create the level of fandom that saved brands like Apple and Jeep, you'll have an audience that can get you through hard times. Personal Interaction as a Powerful Tool to Create Connection Personal interaction is a key component in building relationships and fostering loyalty in business. It is particularly relevant in the agency world, especially in the context of building and maintaining client relationships. This is where a podcast becomes a powerful tool agency owners can use to create a personal connection with clients and prospects. By sharing insights, thoughts, and expertise through a podcast, they can showcase their personality and expertise, allowing clients to get to know them on a deeper level. This personal connection can lead to stronger relationships and increased loyalty from clients. Once you've established yourself as an expert, you won't need to pitch. You'll be invited to projects and assess whether or not your agency would be a good fit with the brand but you won't be asked to compete for the company's attention. Boosting Agency Performance Through Amazing Leadership and Trust Agencies go through several inflection points while growing their teams and clientele. At some point what worked before won't be as effective and you have to adapt. When he came in as an expert consultant to help Red Bull grow as a brand, Geoffrey noticed a need to improve communications and how the team was staffed. If you're having similar problems at your agency, look at your leadership team and see what you need to fix to ensure strong leadership at the top and set the tone for the entire organization. By ensuring that the leadership team consists of top performers, the rest of the team is more likely to follow suit and excel in their roles. Geoffrey focuses on two main issues: Effective communication. As he spent some time at the Red Bull offices, he noticed everyone spent their day emailing each other. This is a creative business and interaction is a very important part of sparking that creativity. So he shut off the email services for 48 hours to incentivize communication in their open-space office. Trust as a form of empowerment. Geoffrey believes in giving people reign to innovate. This motivates people once they feel free to create and grow beyond their skill set. It's not about giving up control but rather giving people the space to develop and grow. Trusting Your Gut to Weed Out Toxic Team Members and Preserve Morale As human beings, we have innate instincts that can guide us in making decisions in difficult situations, which can apply when it comes to hiring and managing employees. Trusting your instincts and being able to act on them can prevent toxic individuals from negatively impacting the team and the organization as a whole. Geoffrey encourages agency owners to use their instincts to stay vigilant and proactive in addressing issues within a team. One or two individuals with negative attitudes can bring down the morale of the entire team. As a manager or leader, it is crucial to recognize when someone is not the right fit for the team and take swift action. Delaying the decision to remove a toxic team member can lead to bigger problems down the line. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Do you feel trapped in an operation tunnel vision? Are you ready to shift your attention toward strategies for agency growth? Our guest today initially viewed strategy sessions as a luxury she could only afford once her agency had achieved significant success. However, upon receiving guidance from a coach to address alignment issues, she and her partner began scheduling daily strategy sessions and prioritizing working on the business rather than just in it. Tune in to hear about her accidental path to agency ownership and her vision for the future after implementing more intentional planning for growth. Samantha Martin is the co-owner of Prime Marketing Agency, a female-led experiential agency that creates epic brand experiences that leave a lasting impression. She discusses her entrepreneurial spirit and how she navigated through different roles before landing in her current position. In this episode, we'll discuss: Navigating cashflow constraints. Unshackling from RFPs and into a more relationship-building model. Prioritizing strategic development. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources Clutch: This episode is sponsored by Clutch, the #1 marketplace for agencies just like yours. With their innovative process, your agency will be matched with highly motivated buyers looking for the exact services you offer. Leave the lead generation to Clutch and let your team focus on delivery. Get started for FREE at clutch.co/smartagency by creating your agency profile. The 0 to 100 Leap from Freelancer to Co-Ownership During her student years, Samantha was a member of a dance group that toured the US and Canada for various gigs contracted through an agency. This is where she ended up getting her start in the agency industry. Throughout the years, she kept working different gigs and staying open to possibilities working at different agencies at a time. Eventually, the start of the pandemic brought a unique opportunity to work at an agency startup, seeing its growth from the ground up. It was an important experience she took to her next opportunity, where she could become co-owner of an agency she'd previously worked at. It was practically a zero to 100 growth from being a gig worker at several agencies to owning a 50% stake in one. It was scary and risky but she knew how the business worked and felt ready to figure out her new role as owner. Navigating Cashflow Constraints and Cultural Complexities So far, the most challenging aspect of agency ownership for Samantha has been cashflow. As an agency that actually keeps and maintains equipment like foodtrucks, trailers, and large rigs, they've found it challenging to manage all these pieces while still accessing more freedom to grow the business quickly. They also have warehouses in three different cities in Canada, which adds to their operational expenses. Furthermore, while growing a team has been incredibly rewarding and recruiting both English-speaking and French-speaking professionals offers a great advantage for the agency, it can also be a challenge for the owners. Basically, there are cultural differences between both that they are actively working to smooth. After the pandemic, the agency has been fortunate to have a steady flow of leads and, while the number of clients has decreased, they have acquired larger accounts and diversified their portfolio across various industries. In the immediate future, Sam wants to focus on getting to a point where the agency has a healthy amount of both big and smaller clients, which not only provides stability in terms of revenue but also allows for better resource planning and team motivation. There will also be a focus on clearly defining which clients they want to service and building the specialized teams to address those particular needs. Unshackling from RFPs As her agency grows, Sam is also working on feeling more empowered to step away from some of the less-than-ideal parts of agency life, especially when it comes to filling RPFs. Requests for Proposal are already a controversial figure in the industry, with most agency owners hating them and striving to get to a point where they feel comfortable enough to deny them. RFPs are often time-consuming, costly, and offer no guarantee of securing the project, given the intense competition from multiple agencies. Successful agency owners have chosen to avoid responding to RFPs altogether, citing the time and cost involved in the process. These owners choose to focus on building relationships, showcasing their expertise through other means, and strategically selecting which RFPs to respond to. This allows them to not rely on the traditional RFP process and it's where Sam wants to steer her agency in the future since she considers the model is slowly dying. Heading to a Relationship-Building Model Shifting the focus from simply responding to Request for Proposals also allows agency owners to position themselves as advisors engaging with clients and prospects. Instead of spending time and effort on crafting proposals and competing with other agencies can often outweigh the potential benefits. Instead, agencies can decline RFPs respectfully and propose alternative solutions, such as paid discovery sessions or consultations, to demonstrate their expertise and value to clients. By reframing the conversation and showcasing their unique insights and capabilities, agencies can attract clients who value quality over price and are willing to invest in achieving the best results. This approach not only helps agencies stand out in a crowded marketplace but also fosters stronger, more collaborative relationships with clients based on trust and mutual understanding. Escaping Operational Tunnel Vision by Prioritizing Strategic Agency Development Part of saying no to RFPs is putting more focus on the bigger picture, which is a must for agency owners to continue to grow their business. After being in the weeds day after day working on accounts, for Sam it was luxury to shift to working on the business instead of in the business. Initially, it was almost a foreign concept for her to take time from day-to-day operations to work on planning for the bigger picture. It seemed silly to take two hours every day to just talk about the business when she and her partner talked about different aspects of operations on a daily basis. However, it was suggested by a coach that saw Sam and her partner's issues with the business were easily solvable by being more intentional about working on strategy. Now she can clearly see how this intentional focus on strategic planning and development has been beneficial for their company and has allowed them to better serve their clients and team. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.