Agency Journey

"Don't lead with the solution. This is my number one tip for agency operators. And it's my number one tip for traditional sellers, SaaS sellers—anybody who is trying to get someone to work with them." Are your sales suffering? Are you finding it harder to get calls and close deals? Are you looking for ways to run cold outreach or follow-up after an event that actually gets responses? If so, this episode of Agency Journey is for you. Jen Allen-Knuth is the founder of DemandJen, where she helps B2B sales and marketing teams build more pipeline when it might seem harder than ever before. With over 18 years of experience in sales, Jen now works with mid-market and enterprise organizations to help train their sales teams. In this episode of Agency Journey, Jen shares her insights on effective sales strategies, particularly in challenging economic times. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on the problem rather than the solution, slowing down the sales process to build trust, and using data-driven analysis to improve your approach. Whether you're looking to refine your agency's sales process, improve your cold outreach, or build stronger relationships with prospects, this episode is packed with actionable advice and real-world examples. Episode Insights: 💡 Focus on the problem your solution solves, not just the features of your offering. Help prospects understand why they need to change before pitching your solution. 💡 Use signal-based prospecting to identify potential clients who might have the problem you solve. Look for cues like new leadership, product launches, or industry shifts. 💡 Slow down your sales process when things get tough. Analyze your wins and losses to identify patterns and areas for improvement. 💡 Use "unsure tonality" in your outreach to demonstrate thoughtfulness and respect for the prospect's expertise. 💡 When following up after events or webinars, provide additional value rather than immediately pushing for a sales call. 💡 Consider reaching out to lower-level employees to test your problem hypothesis before approaching top decision-makers. 💡 Use the "five whys" technique in discovery calls to uncover deeper motivations and needs of clients. Resources Mentioned: 🌐 Jen's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demandjen1/ 🏢 DemandGen website: https://www.demandjen.com?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-312-jen-allen-knuth 🛠️ Lavender (email writing tool) 📚 The Challenger Sale (sales methodology) ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 3,000+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-312-jen-allen-knuth 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

Are you struggling to differentiate yourself in a saturated market? Are you finding it hard to win enterprise clients and manage complex relationships with them? On the other hand, perhaps you’re looking for ways to create high-quality content at scale, or demonstrate the long-term value of SEO to your stakeholders and clients? If any of those resonate, the latest episode of Agency Journey will be useful for you. Alex Birkett is the co-founder of Omniscient Digital, an organic growth agency that partners with B2B brands to build SEO programs. With a background in scaling agencies and working with enterprise clients like SAP, Adobe, and Loom, Alex shares his expertise on agency differentiation, content operations, and winning big clients. In this episode of Agency Journey, Alex dives into the strategies behind building a successful SEO agency, from differentiating your services to managing enterprise client relationships. He emphasizes the importance of developing a clear point of view and consistently delivering value to your target audience. Whether you're looking to scale your agency, improve your content operations, or land more enterprise clients, this episode is packed with actionable advice and insights from Alex's experience. Episode Insights: 💡 Differentiate your agency by understanding how decision-making processes work in purchasing your services, and compete on edges beyond just price. 💡 Use podcasts and newsletters to showcase your agency's personality and give potential clients a sense of what it's like to work with you. 💡 When working with enterprise clients, focus on managing multiple stakeholders and understanding the complex approval processes. 💡 Build a strong freelance writer network with subject matter experts who can contribute unique insights to your content. 💡 Leverage original research and data to create thought leadership content that's difficult for competitors to replicate. 💡 Focus on being the best version of yourself rather than obsessing over competition in the saturated agency space. Resources Mentioned: 🌐 Alex's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamalexbirkett/ 🌐 Omniscient Digital website: https://beomniscient.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-311-alex-birkett 📰 Alex's newsletter, Field Notes: https://beomniscient.com/newsletter/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-311-alex-birkett 🎙️ The Long Game podcast: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-311-alex-birkett ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 3,000+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-311-alex-birkett 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

Tired of working harder for the same (or less) money? Frustrated by clients who don't value your expertise? Or perhaps you’re dealing with: – Razor-thin profit margins; – Clients who nickel and dime you; – Difficulty scaling without burning out; – Sales processes that feel like pulling teeth? If so, this episode of Agency Journey is for you. Raul Hernandez Ochoa is the founder of Do Good Work, a growth consultancy helping agencies scale and increase profitability. With experience building multiple agencies and leading teams to significant revenue growth, Raul brings a wealth of knowledge on pricing strategies, sales processes, and delivering high-value outcomes to clients. In this episode of Agency Journey, Raul shares his framework for increasing revenue per client without increasing workload. He tackles the mindset shifts you need to make, shows you how to ditch "selling services" for good, and reveals his value-based pricing approach that'll have clients eager to pay premium rates. Whether you're looking to boost your agency's profitability, improve your sales process, or deliver more impactful results for clients, this episode will be well worth your listen. Episode Insights: 💡 Focus on selling outcomes and transformations rather than specific services or deliverables. 💡 Develop a deep understanding of your ideal client's pain points and desired outcomes. 💡 Use discovery calls to mirror the client's language and demonstrate a true understanding of their challenges. 💡 Create a "methodology" or unique mechanism that delivers your outcomes, rather than selling individual tasks. 💡 Offer different tiers of service, but ensure all options are profitable based on your ideal profit numbers. 💡 Productize your services on the backend for efficient delivery, while presenting custom solutions to clients. 💡 Continuously reinvest in yourself and bet on your own capabilities to drive agency growth. 💡 Build patience with yourself, the process, and others as you implement new strategies. Resources Mentioned: 🌐 Do Good Work website: https://dogoodwork.io/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-310-raul-hernandez-ochoa 🌐 Raul's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dogoodwork/ 📚 "The Magic of Thinking Big" by David J. Schwartz ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 3,000+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-310-raul-hernandez-ochoa 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

"The value of an hour of your time as an agency owner, if you're growing, is never going backwards." In this episode of Agency Journey, Gray “The Martian” MacKenzie joins Kuba to discuss the challenges and strategies for agency owners scaling their businesses beyond 10 full-time employees (FTEs). Gray shares valuable insights on both the psychological and operational aspects of this critical growth phase. If your agency is past the 10 FTE threshold—or close to it—this is a must-listen to prepare you for the obstacles that you’re about to navigate. Episode Insights: 💡 The "messy middle" for agencies is typically between 10-30 employees 💡 There are specific skills owners need to develop at this stage: prioritization, forecasting, decision-making, and clear communication 💡 Creating the next layer of leadership is crucial to reduce direct reports and manage growth 💡 Move out of delivery roles first, and focus on the growth side of the business 💡 Building robust systems and processes is key to supporting consistent delivery and hiring 💡 Implementing capacity and workload tracking becomes critical at this stage 💡 Leaning into your agency's unfair advantage is crucial for sustainable growth Resources Mentioned: 🌐 Gray’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graymackenzie/ 🛠️ ClickUp: https://www.clickup.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-309-gray-10-fte-wall 🛠️ EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 3,000+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-309-gray-10-fte-wall 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

“If a handful of 20 year olds can service millions of dollars a year in revenue—your agency can, with very little stress and very little complications. And your newsletter can, too.” Marketing Max is a serial entrepreneur and growth marketer with a seven-figure agency exit under his belt. He's the man behind the Growth Daily marketing newsletter, read by over 50,000 world-class CEOs, founders, and marketers every day. In this episode of Agency Journey, Max shares his journey from Wall Street to agency owner to media mogul. He discusses the pivotal moment when he niched down his agency services, leading to explosive growth and eventual exit. Max also dives deep into his current ventures, including his portfolio of marketing software, media, and service businesses built on the back of a massive audience. Whether you're looking to scale your agency, grow a newsletter, or build a media empire, this episode will help you get there. Episode Insights: 💡 Read "Built to Sell" by John Warrillow - it can be a game-changer for agency owners looking to scale and eventually exit. 💡 Niching down to one or two core services can lead to exponential growth and profitability for agencies. 💡 Growing a newsletter through strategic ads can be a powerful way to generate leads and revenue for your agency. 💡 Consider building a portfolio of businesses on the back of a large audience, using unsold ad inventory to promote your own products and services. 💡 Create a "coloring book" template for your newsletter content to streamline production and maintain consistency. 💡 Don't underestimate the power of systems and processes in scaling both agencies and media businesses. Resources Mentioned: 📚 "Built to Sell" by John Warrillow 🌐 Marketing Max on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxbidna/ 🐦 Marketing Max on X (Twitter): https://x.com/MarketingMax 🌐 Growth Daily website: https://growthdaily.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-308-marketing-max 🏢 The Newsletter Team: https://thenewsletterteam.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-308-marketing-max 📺 Mad Men (TV show) 👤 Russell Brunson ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 3,000+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-308-marketing-max 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

"Clarity is not the natural state of things. It is a discipline that we have to build into ourselves and into our organizations to create clarity for the team. The outcome is well worth it." In this episode of Agency Journey, Kuba talks with Gray about the importance of clarity in agency leadership and operations. Gray emphasizes that clarity is a form of kindness—it reduces anxiety, builds trust, and allows team members to make better decisions aligned with the company's vision. If you're struggling with unclear processes, misunderstandings in your team, or a lack of focus in your agency's direction, this episode will arm you with practical advice on how to bring more clarity to your organization. Episode Insights: 💡 Clarity in vision allows team members to make decisions aligned with the company's goals 💡 Documenting and communicating clear processes is crucial for consistent client experiences 💡 Be more direct in communication than you think you need to be - most people appreciate candor 💡 Build "relational equity" to balance direct feedback with personal care for team members 💡 Use tools like the EOS Accountability Chart to clarify roles and responsibilities 💡 Shadow top performers to document their processes, but be aware they may not be fully conscious of all they do 💡 Regularly question if your actions align with your stated goals and vision for the business 💡 Getting clear on who you serve (and who you don't) is often the biggest catalyst for agency growth Resources Mentioned: 🌐 Gray’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graymackenzie/ 📚 "Extreme Ownership" by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin 📚 "Turn the Ship Around!" by L. David Marquet 🛠️ ClickUp: https://www.clickup.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-307-gray-clarity-kindness 🛠️ EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) 👥 INBOUND Conference ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 3,000+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-307-gray-clarity-kindness 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

“We have to optimize the business just like a hotel optimizes their business—because you can only sell your time once, and we're in the business of selling time." Tycho Luijten is the CEO and co-founder of Dapper, a B2B marketing agency focused on helping scale-ups set up marketing engines that deliver inbound leads. With offices in Rotterdam and Lisbon, Dapper has grown to a team of 30 experts and has ambitious plans to become a key global player in the next 8 years. In this episode of Agency Journey, Tycho shares invaluable insights on niching down, creating effective video content for LinkedIn, and the importance of proper time tracking for agency growth. He emphasizes the power of focusing on a specific market segment and consistently delivering value through content marketing. Whether you're looking to refine your agency's focus, improve your content strategy, or optimize your operations, this episode is packed with actionable advice from a rapidly growing agency. Episode Insights: 💡 Niche down to grow faster: Focusing on B2B scale-ups allowed Dapper to create targeted content and marketing strategies. 💡 Balance specialists and generalists: Having a strong generalist who can oversee the entire marketing funnel is crucial in B2B marketing. 💡 Create in-platform content for LinkedIn: Short video clips (1-3 minutes) that provide value and address prospect problems perform best. 💡 Focus on building problem awareness, solution awareness, and authority in your content. 💡 Aim for high visibility frequency: Post 4-5 times a week, including 1-2 videos, to stay top-of-mind with your target audience. 💡 Use paid promotion to ensure your content reaches your ideal customer profile (ICP). 💡 Start videos with strong statements or results to immediately capture viewer interest. 💡 Implement proper time tracking to optimize business operations and profitability. 💡 Leverage your existing team for sales support: Involve consultants in the sales process to handle tasks outside of client meetings, freeing up the founder's time for strategic thinking and key client interactions. Resources Mentioned: 🌐 Tycho's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tycholuijten/ 🌐 Dapper website: https://www.dapper.agency/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-306-tycho-luijten 🎙️ Agency Journey episode on time tracking with Gray MacKenzie: https://share.transistor.fm/s/b1232eb1 📱 Rode microphone for video content creation 🛠️ ClickUp for project management and time tracking 📊 ZenPilot Profitability Reports: https://www.zenpilot.com/agency-profitability-and-utilization-reporting/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-306-tycho-luijten ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 3,000+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-306-tycho-luijten 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

"I can't grow if I'm doing the same stuff that I was doing last year. So for me to grow, I need to give my leaders space to grow in so that they're doing the stuff that I was doing last year—and then I'm doing something different. That's my yardstick for a good year." Damian Papworth is the founder and managing director of Globital, a white label digital marketing agency serving over 250 agencies across 6-8 countries. With a team of around 300 staff distributed globally, Damian has built a scalable agency model focused on consistent, high-quality fulfillment. In this episode of Agency Journey, Damian shares insights on building an agency for enterprise value, leading a distributed team, and navigating uncertain times in the industry. He emphasizes the importance of strategy over tactics and building strong relationships to weather economic challenges. Whether you're looking to scale your agency, improve your leadership skills, or prepare your business for a potential exit, this episode is packed with valuable advice from Damian's years of experience in the industry. 🎁 Get $1,000 credit to try Globital's white label services for your agency: https://globitalmarketing.com/lp/white-label-digital-marketing/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-305-damian-papworth Episode Insights: 💡 Focus on profit, not revenue, when setting goals and measuring success. Your agency will be valued based on profit multiples, not revenue. 💡 Be aware of the tension between operational value and enterprise value when making business decisions. Sometimes what works best day-to-day may not be ideal for selling your agency. 💡 Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, especially during uncertain times. Agencies with deeper relationships have weathered recent challenges better than those relying on high-churn sales tactics. 💡 Implement Net Promoter Score and make your operational teams responsible for customer satisfaction. This builds trust and drives continuous improvement. 💡 Develop strong leaders within your organization to create a business that can run without you. Invest in executive coaching and give your leaders space to grow. 💡 Create consistent, documented processes to deliver reliable results at scale. Focus on being consistently good rather than occasionally brilliant. 💡 When meeting with your leadership team, ask "How can I help you?" to support their growth and development. Resources Mentioned: 🌐 Damian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianpapworth/ 🌐 Damian's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damianpapworth/ 🌐 Globital website: https://www.globitalmarketing.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-305-damian-papworth 📚 "Who: The A Method for Hiring" by Geoff Smart and Randy Street 🛠️ Net Promoter Score for measuring customer satisfaction ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 3,000+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-305-damian-papworth 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

Ben Catley-Richardson is the "Accountability Viking" for agencies, helping owners of 3-5 year old agencies grow beyond their own capabilities. With a background in video game journalism and a passion for Norse mythology, Ben brings a unique perspective to agency growth and accountability. In this episode of Agency Journey, Ben shares insights on the importance of rest and reflection in the growth cycle, the power of creating personas, and how to prioritize effectively in an overstimulated world. He emphasizes the value of disconnecting and the science behind why rest is crucial for sustainable business growth. Whether you're looking to scale your agency, improve your work-life balance, or foster a culture of intentional growth, this episode is packed with actionable advice and fascinating perspectives on Viking culture and modern business practices. Episode Insights: 💡 Rest and reflection are crucial parts of the growth cycle. Taking time off isn't "doing nothing"—it's driving you forward and making sustainable business growth possible. 💡 Creating a persona (like Ben's Viking persona) can give you permission to stand out and motivate you to live up to that image. 💡 Digital agency owners are often overstimulated. Constantly being "plugged in" can hinder growth and learning. 💡 Sleep is crucial for health and growth. Most people need more than 6 hours of sleep per night. 💡 Focus on having a single priority rather than multiple "priorities." This makes decision-making easier and reduces procrastination. 💡 To find your priority, identify the main blocker preventing you from achieving your goals. Your priority should be removing that blocker. 💡 Create an environment that supports your priority (e.g. removing distractions). 💡 Make the right sacrifices by prioritizing what truly matters. Don't sacrifice your life enjoyment for unnecessary work. 💡 Aim to finish each week satisfied with your progress towards your priority. This makes it easier to truly unplug and enjoy life outside of work. 💡 Celebrate your wins, no matter how small. Ben uses a handbell to mark achievements. 💡 Ben's 5-gate system for growth and learning: 🏛️ Awareness: Recognize the problem or opportunity 🏛️ Agitation: Find motivation to take action 🏛️ Attention: Focus without distractions 🏛️ Reward: Reflect on progress and build momentum 🏛️ Process: Rest and "bank" your gains Resources Mentioned: 🌐 Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/accountabilityviking/ (☝️ check it out to sign up for Ben’s weekly “Thor’s Day” accountability emails + get a free 20-minute accountability MOT session!) 🌐 Ben’s website: https://getshitdone.fun/?utm_source=youtube.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-304-ben-catley 📚 "The Alter Ego Effect" by Todd Herman 📚 "Why We Sleep" by Dr. Matt Walker 📚 "Atomic Habits" by James Clear 📚 "Thinking Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman 🏛️ The Norwegian Rune Poem ⚒️ Mjolnir (Thor's hammer) as a symbol of accountability ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 3,000+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-304-ben-catley 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

"Going from a company of know-it-alls to a company of test-it-alls—that's really powerful at the organizational level. And it makes people's work so much more meaningful." David Arnoux is the co-founder and CEO of Growth Tribe, one of Europe's leading EdTech providers focused on bridging digital skills gaps within organizations. With a background in growth marketing and consulting, David has built Growth Tribe into a powerhouse that has trained over 35,000 alumni from 1,000+ companies. In this episode of Agency Journey, David shares insights on the importance of experimentation, data-informed decision making, and continuous learning in today's fast-paced digital landscape. He emphasizes the value of upskilling teams to drive long-term impact and ROI for organizations. Whether you're looking to scale your agency, improve your team's capabilities, or foster a culture of experimentation, this episode is packed with actionable advice and fascinating perspectives. Episode Insights: 💡 Focus on delivering measurable results for clients, considering both quantitative and qualitative/emotional impact. 💡 Use the "five whys" technique in discovery calls to uncover deeper motivations and needs of clients. 💡 Consider offering training as an add-on service to help clients better understand and implement your agency's work. 💡 Adopt an experimentation mindset across your organization using the GROWS framework (Gather ideas, Rank ideas, Outline experiment, Work work work, Study results). 💡 Aim to increase your experimentation velocity by 2-5x to drive faster learning and innovation. 💡 When improving processes or systems, focus on removing complexity rather than always adding new tools or steps. 💡 Surround yourself with "completer finishers" if you tend to be more of an idea generator and fire starter. Resources Mentioned: 🌐 David’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidarnoux/ 🌐 Growth Tribe website: https://www.growthtribe.io/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-303-david-arnoux 📚 "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World" by David Epstein 📚 "Managing the Professional Service Firm" by David Maister 📚 "Thinking in Bets" by Annie Duke 🧠 GROWS framework for experimentation 👥 Winning By Design (sales methodology) ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 3,000+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-303-david-arnoux 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

"Trust is only built through time. It's very hard to build trust through any other mode than time. And that's what's great about having a podcast." Hector Santiesteban is the founder of Amplafy Media, a podcast production company helping businesses leverage podcasting to drive revenue. In this episode of Agency Journey, Hector shares insights on using podcasts strategically to grow your business and generate leads. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on benefits over features, creating a great guest experience, and using different podcast formats to build trust and drive sales. This episode will be a great listen for agency owners looking to leverage podcasting for growth; podcast hosts seeking to monetize their shows more effectively; as well as business leaders wanting to establish thought leadership in their niche. Episode Insights: 💡 Focus on selling the benefits of your services, not just the features. Understand what outcomes your clients are looking for. 💡 Use podcasts to get meetings with prospects more easily than cold outreach. Conversion rates for podcast guest invites can be up to 70%. 💡 Have conversations on equal terms with guests rather than just putting them on a pedestal and interviewing them—this allows you to maintain your positioning as an expert and your "sales equity" in the eyes of the audience. 💡 Create a great guest experience to encourage sharing the episode after it’s published. Provide easy-to-use promotional materials on a dedicated page. 💡 Consider using a mix of solo episodes, co-hosted shows, and guest interviews to build trust and showcase expertise. 💡 Niche down your podcast topic to quickly become a recognized expert in an industry. 💡 Use AI tools like ChatGPT to help repurpose podcast content into SEO-optimized blog posts. Resources Mentioned: 🌐 Hector's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hector-podcast/ 🌐 Hector's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hector_podcast/ 🌐 Amplafy Media website: https://www.amplafymedia.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-302-hector-santiesteban 💰 Book a Podcast Profitability Session with Hector’s team: https://calendly.com/hector_podcast/podcast-brainstorming-session/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-302-hector-santiesteban ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 3,000+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-302-hector-santiesteban 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

Corey Morris is the owner and CEO of Voltage Digital, a specialized digital marketing agency focused on search marketing and websites. He's also the author of "Digital Marketing Success Plan", a new book aiming to help businesses worldwide make digital marketing predictable with a documented strategy and objective, actionable plan. In this episode of Agency Journey, Corey shares insights on niching down an agency's services, creating comprehensive digital marketing plans, and adapting to AI in search marketing. This is a great conversation for agency leaders interested in specialization, strategic planning, and staying ahead of industry changes. Episode Insights: 💡 Niching down services can be scary but pays off. Focus on what you do best and can differentiate on. 💡 Document your strategic planning process to create accountability and consistency as you scale. 💡 Connect marketing KPIs to business outcomes and ROI. Don't shy away from asking uncomfortable questions about costs and profit margins. 💡 Be prepared to adapt your services as search evolves, whether it's called SEO or something else in the future. The core need to "be found" will remain. 💡 Build a comprehensive digital marketing plan using the START framework: Strategy, Tactics, Application, Review, Transformation. 💡 Stay flexible to industry changes like AI, but maintain focus on delivering results for clients. Resources Mentioned: 📚 Corey’s newly released book, "Digital Marketing Success Plan": https://thedmsp.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-301-corey-morris 🌐 Corey's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreymorris/ 🌐 Voltage Digital agency website: https://voltage.digital/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-301-corey-morris 🔍 Search Engine Journal 🔍 Search Engine Land People to Follow: 👤 Bruce Clay (SEO training expert) 👤 Gray MacKenzie (ZenPilot CEO and previous Agency Journey host) 👤 Jim Sterne (AI in search results expert) ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 2,700+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-301-corey-morris 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

"It was clear that there was so much power in individuals banding together to do something." Cooper Munroe is the CEO of The Motherhood, an influencer marketing agency founded in 2006, long before the term "influencer marketing" existed. Cooper shares the fascinating origin story of her agency, which emerged from a viral blog post during Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. In this episode of Agency Journey, Cooper discusses the evolution of influencer marketing over the past 15+ years, from early "mommy blogs" to today's multi-billion dollar industry. She provides insights on best practices, untapped opportunities in regulated industries, and the importance of authenticity in influencer partnerships. This conversation is valuable for agency leaders interested in the history and future of influencer marketing, as well as those looking to partner with specialized agencies to deliver these services. Episode Insights: 💡 The power of authentic, user-generated content was evident even in the early days of blogging, before social media platforms existed. 💡 Influencer marketing has evolved from a one-off tactic to an integrated piece of the overall marketing strategy for many brands. 💡 Micro-influencers often deliver the best results due to high engagement and trust with their audiences. 💡 Authenticity is crucial - influencers must have a genuine affinity for the products or causes they promote. 💡 There are untapped opportunities for influencer marketing in highly regulated industries like pharma, healthcare, and finance, as well as in B2B sectors. 💡 Revisiting core questions like "Why do we exist?" and "How will we succeed?" is important for agency leaders, especially those who've pivoted or evolved their business models. Resources Mentioned: 🌐 The Motherhood agency website: https://www.themotherhood.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-300-cooper-munroe 🌐 Cooper's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coopermunroe 📝 Cooper's Forbes Agency Council articles: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/people/coopermunroe/ 📚 The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni (book recommendation) 🛠️ EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) 👥 Vistage (executive coaching organization) ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 2,700+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-300-cooper-munroe 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

"Managing a CEO's LinkedIn account is a full-time job." Garret Caudle is the founder and CEO of Influent, a full-funnel LinkedIn marketing agency. With a background in scaling agencies and a passion for LinkedIn's untapped potential, Garret shares his expertise on leveraging the platform for thought leadership and business growth. In this insightful episode of Agency Journey, Garret breaks down the strategy behind effective LinkedIn content creation for agency founders and executives. He emphasizes the importance of developing a clear point of view and consistently sharing valuable insights with your target audience. Whether you're looking to establish yourself as an industry thought leader or generate more leads for your agency, this episode will give you plenty of inspiration and actionable advice to make LinkedIn a key pipeline driver for your business. Episode Insights: 💡 Create a "thought leadership map" outlining your core beliefs and perspectives on industry trends. Use this as a foundation for your content strategy. 💡 Aim for 4 LinkedIn posts per week, focusing primarily on text-based content that showcases your unique point of view. 💡 Analyze engagement to ensure you're reaching your ideal customer profile (ICP), not just your existing network. Quality of engagement matters more than vanity metrics. 💡 Be patient - expect to see "green shoots" of results within 90 days, more consistent lead flow by 6 months, and significant impact by 1 year. 💡 Use proprietary data and unique insights from your client work to differentiate your content and showcase your expertise. 💡 Consider incorporating personal elements into your professional content to make it uniquely yours, without relying solely on selfies or personal anecdotes. 💡 Leverage your team's expertise by having them interview you about your POVs to generate content ideas. 💡 Write concisely and conversationally, leading with your main point or value proposition in each post. Resources Mentioned: 🌐 Garret's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garretcaudle/ 🏢 Garret’s LinkedIn agency, Influent: https://influent.co/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-299-garret-caudle ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 2,700+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-299-garret-caudle

Is it ever possible to track 40 hours of work in a given week? If not, what should the benchmark be? What is time tracking for, anyway? And how to talk about it with your team members in a way that makes them motivated, and gives you good insights? In this episode of Agency Journey, Gray and Kuba discuss the challenges and best practices of time tracking in agencies. They explore how to communicate its purpose, implement effective processes, and use the data to drive business decisions. Episode Insights: 💡 The real purpose of time tracking is to shape business decisions and help managers guide team members' focus 💡 Clear communication about why you're tracking time is crucial for team buy-in 💡 Using tools like RescueTime can provide more accurate data on how time is actually spent 💡 Weekly reviews of time tracking data can help coach team members to be more efficient 💡 Time tracking data should inform decisions on pricing, packaging, staffing, and process optimization 💡 Reframe time tracking as managing "units of energy" or impact rather than just hours 💡 It's important to share back with the team how time tracking data is being used to improve the business Resources Mentioned: 🌐 Gray’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graymackenzie/ 🌐 ZenPilot Profitability and Utilization Reporting: https://www.zenpilot.com/agency-profitability-and-utilization-reporting/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-298-gray-time-tracking ⚒️ ClickUp: https://www.clickup.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-298-gray-time-tracking ⚒️ RescueTime ⚒️ Harvest ⚒️ Everhour ⚒️ Toggl ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 2,700+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-298-gray-time-tracking 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

In this episode of Agency Journey, Gray and Kuba discuss the pros and cons of daily standup meetings and explore alternative approaches for remote teams. They break down why many companies still rely on standups and offer strategies to instead build trust, maintain momentum, and improve planning asynchronously. Episode Insights: 💡 Daily standups are often a crutch for poor planning or lack of clear expectations 💡 Trust is built when expectations are consistently met over time 💡 Asynchronous tools like ClickUp can replace many standup functions if used properly 💡 Celebrating wins and progress is crucial for remote team momentum 💡 Consider if standups are truly necessary or if they've become an inefficient habit 💡 Clear communication and transparency about expectations are key in building trust 💡 Journaling and self-reflection can help identify areas for improvement in team processes Resources Mentioned: 🌐 ZenPilot: https://www.zenpilot.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-297-gray-daily-standups-anti-pattern 🌐 Gray’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graymackenzie/ ⚒️ ClickUp: https://www.clickup.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-297-gray-daily-standups-anti-pattern ⚒️ 15Five: https://www.15five.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-297-gray-daily-standups-anti-pattern ⚒️ HubStaff ⚒️ Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS): https://www.eosworldwide.com//?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-297-gray-daily-standups-anti-pattern 📦 ZenPilot’s Agency Client Health Tracker: https://www.zenpilot.com/agency-client-health-tracker/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-297-gray-daily-standups-anti-pattern ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 2,700+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-297-gray-daily-standups-anti-pattern 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

"From the very start, when I launched Galactic Fed, some of my friends (former entrepreneurs) gave me really good advice, which is that you want to be removing yourself from as many processes as you can. You do not want to create what some people call a key man or key woman scenario." Zach Boyette is the co-founder and Managing Partner at Galactic Fed, a full-service growth marketing agency with a team of 150 people across 25 countries. Zach has an unconventional background, having worked at Google and P&G before becoming a digital nomad and building Galactic Fed. In this episode of Agency Journey, Zach shares insights on scaling an agency while maintaining a strong remote culture. He emphasizes the importance of documentation, promoting from within, and choosing your team over rude clients. Zach also discusses his perspective on the future of remote work and why he believes younger generations will drive a shift toward more location-independent companies. This is a great conversation for agency leaders interested in building a large remote team while maintaining work-life balance. Episode Insights: 💡 Document everything to create a consistent client experience as you scale. Have each team member spend a couple hours per week documenting processes. 💡 Build culture in a remote agency through casual Slack channels, quarterly all-hands meetings focused on personal updates rather than just company info, and leading by example with communication style. 💡 Hire self-starters who are comfortable with written communication. Use written assessments and thorough reference checks early in the hiring process. 💡 When leading leaders, have a regular cadence of written updates prior to meetings. Show you are present and remember details about their teams and challenges. 💡 Have an org chart planned out far in advance and hire proactively for the structure you want to build. Avoid building the org chart reactively around specific people. 💡 Don't personally attach your name to the agency brand. Build a company brand that can exist beyond just you. 💡 Be willing to choose your team over abusive clients, even if they pay well. Prioritize a healthy culture. Resources Mentioned: Zach's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachboyette/ Galactic Fed agency website: https://galacticfed.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-296-zach-boyette Zach's personal website: https://zachboyette.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-296-zach-boyette The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber (book recommendation for designing an org chart) ClickUp for project management: https://clickup.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-296-zach-boyette Google Suite ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 2,700+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-296-zach-boyette 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

“​​In all aspects of your work and your business, you have systems. Why is networking, which is just as important as any one of those singular things, not managed with such ferocity?” Kurt Schmidt is an agency founder, podcast host, author, and agency coach with 25 years of experience growing agencies from just a few people to over 500 employees and tens of millions in revenue. He started his career as a designer and developer before catching the entrepreneurial bug and becoming a "pirate" as he puts it. In this value-packed episode of Agency Journey, Kurt shares his hard-earned wisdom on business development, networking, and delivering client results. He emphasizes the importance of taking a problems-first approach rather than just showcasing capabilities. Kurt is also the author of “The Little Book of Networking”, and in this conversation he explains the system he uses to consistently provide value to his network and build community. Whether you're looking to jumpstart your agency's growth or build a thriving professional network, this episode is a must-listen. Episode Insights: 💡 Go back and audit your current and past clients to see which ones are in a growth stage and may have additional problems you can solve. Most clients have no idea about your full capabilities. 💡 Focus on the problems you solve and the outcomes you create rather than just showcasing the executional work in your portfolio. Clients care about how you can help them, not how pretty your designs are. 💡 When networking, clearly state what you do and what you're looking for. Be equally intentional about understanding and recording others' needs. Systematize your follow-ups and always look for ways to provide value and make connections. 💡 Study how other professional services firms like lawyers and accountants acquire clients and manage their businesses. Don't limit your learning to just agencies in your specific niche. 💡 Explore different billing models like productized services and outcome-based fees. Discuss what's working with agency peers to find the best fit for your clients and business. Resources Mentioned: 🌐 Kurt's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/-kurtschmidt/? utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-295-kurt-schmidt 🌐 Kurt’s website: https://kurtschmidt.me/? utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-295-kurt-schmidt 🏢 Kurt’s consulting business: https://schmidtconsulting.group/? utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-295-kurt-schmidt 🏢 Kurt's agency, Foundry: https://www.foundrymakes.com/ 📙 The Little Book of Networking by Kurt Schmidt: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Networking-Career-Conversation/dp/1634895835 📙 The 10-10-10 Blueprint by Kurt Schmidt - coming soon 🎙️ The Schmidt List Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/schmidt-list-inspiring-leaders/id1286383143 ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 2,700+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-295-kurt-schmidt 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

John Corcoran is the co-founder of Rise25, an agency that helps B2B companies get clients, referrals, and strategic partnerships through done-for-you podcasts and content marketing. John has been podcasting since 2010 and his business partner Jeremy has been doing it since 2008. Together they've built a team of over 50 people to support B2B companies in leveraging this powerful medium. John has a fascinating and diverse background prior to Rise25. At various points in his career, he was paid by President Bill Clinton as a White House writer, worked for Steven Spielberg at DreamWorks, and did some work for Warren Buffett. He was also a lawyer for a period before discovering the power of podcasting to have high-caliber business conversations and decided to make that his focus. In this episode of Agency Journey, John shares his knowledge on using podcasts strategically to deliver value to your ideal clients and referral partners. He emphasizes that download numbers and vanity metrics matter far less than having the right conversations with the right people. We also dig into John's involvement with Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) and get an inside look at different high-level business peer groups. This is a great episode for agency leaders interested in the power of podcasts and surrounding yourself with other successful entrepreneurs. Episode Insights: 💡 Interviewing people for a podcast is a far more effective way to build relationships than typical coffee networking meetings. It allows you to provide value and have higher caliber conversations. 💡 Focus on creating podcast content that delivers value to your ideal clients and referral partners. Don't get caught up in vanity metrics like downloads - it's about having the right conversations with the right people. 💡 Joining a peer community for entrepreneurs, such as EO, can provide invaluable support, camaraderie, and learning opportunities to help you through the unique challenges of building a business. 💡 Explore different business groups to find the right fit for you. 💡 Use your podcast as a strategic tool to have conversations with people who wouldn't otherwise carve out time to meet with you. It's an amazing way to connect with hard-to-reach, high-caliber people. Resources Mentioned: 🌐 John’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corcoran/ 🎙️ INspired INsider podcast hosted by Jeremy Weisz: https://www.inspiredinsider.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-294-john-corcoran 🎙️ Smart Business Revolution podcast hosted by John Corcoran: https://smartbusinessrevolution.com/podcasts/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-294-john-corcoran 🏢 Rise25 agency website: https://rise25.com/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-294-john-corcoran 👥 EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization): https://hub.eonetwork.org/?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-294-john-corcoran 👥 Vistage 👥 YPO (Young Presidents' Organization) 👥 Strategic Coach 👥 Tiger21 👥 Hampton ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 2,700+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-294-john-corcoran 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot

In this episode, Kuba generates a list of client success tips using AI—and Gray critiques them and goes way deeper based on his hard-won experience in the agency space. Episode Insights: 💡 Understanding client goals is crucial for improving client success. Ask questions and listen carefully to their answers to gain a deeper understanding. 💡 Regular communication is key. Set clear expectations around how and when you'll communicate with clients, and provide updates on progress and challenges. 💡 Be proactive in identifying and preventing issues before they arise. Addressing problems openly and honestly builds trust with clients. 💡 Personalize the experience by treating each client as unique and customizing services to fit their specific needs. Show that you are paying attention and value their individuality. 💡 Clarity is kindness. Be clear and firm in setting expectations and communicate openly when issues arise. Resourced Mentioned: 🌐 ZenPilot: https://www.zenpilot.com/?utm_source=youtube.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-293-gray-vs-ai-client-success-tips 🌐 Gray’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graymackenzie/ ---------------------------------- Brought to you by ZenPilot, ClickUp’s #1 Solutions Partner with 2,700+ agency ops makeovers under our belt. 📕 Read our in-depth, 8000-word How to Use ClickUp Guide: https://www.zenpilot.com/blog/how-to-use-clickup?utm_campaign=agency-journey-ep-293-gray-vs-ai-client-success-tips 👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate us on your preferred podcast platforms. We’re also on YouTube: @ZenPilot