Agency Life

Teamwork.com

Real stories from digital agencies about their journeys, the successes that defined them, and the failures they overcame. We talk about the highs and lows—and everything in between—on this crazy, roller coaster ride that is Agency Life.

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Episodes

The Real Reason Clients Are UNHAPPY w/ Guy Bauer
Aug 22 2024
The Real Reason Clients Are UNHAPPY w/ Guy Bauer
If your agency does creative work, it’s easy to think that WHAT you deliver to your clients is all that matters.But according to Guy Bauer, Founder of Umault, a B2B video ad agency, that’s only half of the client satisfaction equation.  The other half is something we neglect all the time.  In today’s conversation, you’ll learn:The hidden reason clients become unhappy, even when you’re delivering great workWhat the Domino’s Pizza Tracker can teach us about managing client projectsThe unconventional method Guy uses asynchronous video to keep client informed during ongoing projectsFor additional context: Guy’s agency, Umault, recently partnered with Teamwork.com to bring The Client (& The Client: Part Deux) to life.  If you want to see the end results of the projects Logan & Guy reference in this episode, you can watch both films, see more short-form videos & sign up to get emails directly from The Client himself right here: The Client & The Client: Part DeuxOther Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Connect with Guy on LinkedInFinancial Management of A Marketing Firm (Second Edition) by David C. BakerThe Lead Magnet That Pays for Itself w/ Chris DuBois Want to watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube?Check it out here: Agency Life Podcast on YouTubeHave a question about today's topic? Text it to us here!Want to get more content to support your agency life? Subscribe to the Agency Life newsletter, check out past episodes & find more content at teamwork.com/agencylife. This podcast is brought to you by Teamwork.com.
The Lead Magnet That Pays for Itself w/ Chris DuBois
Jul 25 2024
The Lead Magnet That Pays for Itself w/ Chris DuBois
Is your agency leaving nearly 2/3rds of your new client acquisition up to chance?If so, you’re not alone.  But it doesn’t have to be that way.According to research from WordStream, 60% of most new agency clients are coming from a channel that you can’t directly control, let alone scale.That scary stat is exactly what today’s guest is helping agencies avoid by building a portfolio of offers you can use to drive more inbound leads and create a re-usable marketing asset that pays for itself.Chris DuBois, Founder of Dynamic Agency OS, fell into agency life after his military service and after years helping grow Lean Labs, a HubSpot Diamond Partner, he’s now helping agencies attract more leads through a portfolio of offers that compel new clients to buy from your agency.In today’s conversation, you’ll learn:The 5 offers every agency should have to meet buyers at different stages of their journeyHow to create a portfolio offers while staying focused on your core serviceThe marketing asset you can create that not only drives more high intent leads, but also pays for itselfResources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:An Agency’s Guide to Measuring And Improving Billable Utilization (Ebook)Connect with Chris on LinkedInStop Selling Implementation Services (& Do This Instead) w/ Max Traylor3 Steps to Owning Your Niche in 90 Days w/ Nick Bennett50% Profit Margins Unlocked with Time-Tracking Data w/ @MarketingMaxThe State of Agency Operations Report by Teamwork.comThe Offer Landing Page Chris MentionedThe Thank You Page Chris MentionedThe Client by Teamwork.com & UmaultWant to watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube?Check it out here: Agency Life Podcast on YouTubeHave a question about today's topic? Text it to us here!Want to get more content to support your agency life? Subscribe to the Agency Life newsletter, check out past episodes & find more content at teamwork.com/agencylife. This podcast is brought to you by Teamwork.com.
The ONLY 5 Things Agency Owners Should Be Doing w/ Jason Swenk
Jul 11 2024
The ONLY 5 Things Agency Owners Should Be Doing w/ Jason Swenk
Your life as an agency owner is crazy–you’re hiring (and probably firing), doing business development, meeting with clients, preparing pitch decks, trying to lead your team and a million other things.  But, did you know there are only 5 things you should be spending your time on–if you want to successfully scale or sell your agency?Jason Swenk is the Founder of Agency Mastery 360, whose system has helped over 10,000 agencies successfully scale.  Jason's had successful agency exits & is now a repeat author, plus the host of The Smart Agency Podcast.After looking under the hood of thousands of agencies, he’s recognized 2 distinct patterns: the operational metrics you need to hit if you want to sell your agency and the only 5 things you should be doing as the owner to make your agency scalable and sellable.In today’s conversation you’ll hear Jaso explain:Why most agencies aren’t charging enough (& how to successfully raise your prices)The 4 metrics he evaluates when considering to buy an agencyThose 5 things that should demand 100% of your focus as an agency ownerResources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:An Agency’s Guide to Measuring And Improving Billable Utilization (Ebook)Connect with Jason on LinkedInAccelerating Your Agency: An 8 Systems Playbook For Growing Your Agency Faster by Jason SwenkStop Selling Implementation Services (& Do This Instead) w/ Max Traylor3 Keys to Building and Agency Thats Lasts w/ Matt Heinz3 Steps to Avoid Furious Clients w/ Jackie HermesWant to watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube?Check it out here: Agency Life Podcast on YouTubeHave a question about today's topic? Text it to us here!Want to get more content to support your agency life? Subscribe to the Agency Life newsletter, check out past episodes & find more content at teamwork.com/agencylife. This podcast is brought to you by Teamwork.com.
5 Steps to Better Change Management for Agencies w/ Rob Sayles
Jun 27 2024
5 Steps to Better Change Management for Agencies w/ Rob Sayles
Do you feel like something’s not working in your agency?You’ve got processes that are outdated (or just plain not documented). You’ve got tools that aren’t the right fit or you’re not getting enough out of.Even though you feel the need for change, it terrifies you.If so, you’re not alone, I was at an agency-focused conference in Denver just a few weeks back, and several agency owners I spoke with said that they knew they needed to make a change with a major software platform that helps run their agency, but they were scared to make the switch.Rob Sayles, is an ex-agency founder, a seasoned operations guru, & now veteran agency advisor.  In today’s episode, he takes some of the fear and uncertainity out of change management for agency leaders.In this conversation, you’ll hear:The 3 symptoms to look for to ensure you actually need to change a major tool or processWhat Toyota’s approach to continuous improvement can teach you about change managementThe 5 steps to make a major change in your agency without causing a revolt among your staff (& sleepless nights for yourself)Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:An Agency’s Guide to Measuring And Improving Billable Utilization (Ebook)Connect with Rob on LinkedInThe Client (a film by Umault)Atomic Habits by James ClearTools of Titans Tim FerrissThe Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement by Eliyahu M. Goldratt, Jeff Cox Want to watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube?Check it out here: Agency Life Podcast on YouTube Have a question about today's topic? Text it to us here!Want to get more content to support your agency life? Subscribe to the Agency Life newsletter, check out past episodes & find more content at teamwork.com/agencylife. This podcast is brought to you by Teamwork.com.
Stop Selling Implementation Services (& Do This Instead) w/ Max Traylor
Jun 13 2024
Stop Selling Implementation Services (& Do This Instead) w/ Max Traylor
Agency clients often want more strategic consulting from the agencies they hire.  At the same time, many agencies feel like the services they’re delivering are often undervalued by the clients they serve.If both of these are true, then why are so many agencies caught in what Pete Caputa calls the “Tactician’s Trap” where it feels like you’re on an endless hamster wheel selling implementation services without being valued for the strategic insights you can provide to your clients.Today’s guest, Max Traylor, known as The Consultant’s Consultant, unpacks a (maybe slightly controversial) chapter from his book The Agency Survival Guide, entitled Burn Your Implementation Business to the Ground.Now, whether or not you’re whether to do that quite yet, in today’s conversation you’ll hear Max explain:His own journey from selling marketing services to productized consultingThe 1 simple tweak that lead to a 10x price increase for one consulting packageThe 3 steps to start selling strategy that you’re already capable of deliveringResources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:An Agency’s Guide to Measuring And Improving Billable Utilization (Ebook) Connect with Max on LinkedIn Agency Survival Guide: How to Productize Consulting Services by Max Traylor Max Traylor’s Consultant's Survival Guide How to Prepare Your Agency for an Acquisition w/ Karl Heasman The Business of Expertise by David C. Baker The Go-Giver by Bob burg and John David Mann Nearbound and the Rise of the Who Economy by Jared Fuller The Client (a film by Umault)Pete Caputa’s LinkedIn Post about the "Tactician Trap"Want to watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube?Check it out here: Agency Life Podcast on YouTube Have a question about today's topic? Text it to us here!Want to get more content to support your agency life? Subscribe to the Agency Life newsletter, check out past episodes & find more content at teamwork.com/agencylife. This podcast is brought to you by Teamwork.com.
50% Profit Margins Unlocked with Time-Tracking Data w/ @MarketingMax
May 30 2024
50% Profit Margins Unlocked with Time-Tracking Data w/ @MarketingMax
He went from working 70-80 hour weeks to building a 7-figure agency with 50% profit margins while only working about 1 hour per week.Today he’s the founder of GrowthDaily.com & AgencyReviews.io & he’s known by his 45,000 followers on X as @MarketingMax, but several years ago he was an agency co-owner struggling to make the sort of money he wanted to make (and enjoy the work in the process).That’s when a timely LinkedIn post came across his feed & recommended a book that change the course of his agency–and his life–forever.In today’s conversation with @MarketingMax, you’ll learn:The book that changed the game for his agencyThe 2 core principles that he learned (& how to implement them in your agency)How he used time-tracking and project profitability data to double his agency’s growth nearly over nightResources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:An Agency’s Guide to Measuring And Improving Billable Utilization (Ebook) Follow @MarketingMax on X Subscribe to the Growth Daily Newsletter Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You by John Warrillow The Client (a film by Umault)Hiring Secrets from an 8-Figure Agency CEO w/ Eric Siu Want to watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube?Check it out here: Agency Life Podcast on YouTube Have a question about today's topic? Text it to us here!Want to get more content to support your agency life? Subscribe to the Agency Life newsletter, check out past episodes & find more content at teamwork.com/agencylife. This podcast is brought to you by Teamwork.com.
The 3 Keys to Thought Leadership That Drives ROI w/ Susan Baier
May 16 2024
The 3 Keys to Thought Leadership That Drives ROI w/ Susan Baier
How can you leverage thought leadership to gain new followers, win new clients, keep them longer and increase referrals for your agency?Susan Baier, Founder of Audience Audit, where they help agencies create thought leadership content based on quantitative research that builds trust with potential clients, has seen thought leadership done well (with great results) and has seen it done poorly (with wasted time and money).Based on her team’s on research into the topic, in today’s conversation you’ll hear from Susan:The 3 specific elements you have to have to execute great thought leadershipWhat potential clients want (and don’t want) to see from your content effortsHow to discover your agency’s point-of-view (the foundation to your thought leadership efforts) through a process Susan calls “The Rant”Resources Mentioned in This Episode:An Agency’s Guide to Measuring And Improving Billable Utilization (Ebook)Connect with Susan on LinkedIn Achieving Managed Growth for Your Agency w/ Joe Sullivan 3 Steps to Owning Your Niche in 90 Days w/ Nick BennettA Simple Formula for Setting Your Growth Goals w/ Drew McLellan (Webinar)The Client (a film by Umault)Want to watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube?Check it out here: Agency Life Podcast on YouTube Have a question about today's topic? Text it to us here!Want to get more content to support your agency life? Subscribe to the Agency Life newsletter, check out past episodes & find more content at teamwork.com/agencylife. This podcast is brought to you by Teamwork.com.
5 Overservicing Mistakes That Hurt Your Profitability w/ Alyson Caffrey
May 2 2024
5 Overservicing Mistakes That Hurt Your Profitability w/ Alyson Caffrey
Over 1/3 of agencies frequently struggle with overservicing clients.  You’ve likely felt the pain yourself.When projects are going well out of scope and things are taking longer than your team planned, it can have a major impact on your agency’s profitability.Alyson Caffrey, Founder & COO of Operations Agency, has identified the 5 biggest scoping mistakes across dozens of agencies that are often leading to this overservicing problem–and ultimately underperforming profit margins.  In today’s conversation, you’ll learn:What those 5 common mistakes areHow to spot & avoid them (to improve your agency’s performance & profit)A talk track for managing revision requests that’ll make your team & your clients much happier (because what is agency life without those additional client demands?)Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Connect with Alyson on LinkedIn Connect with Operations Agency on InstagramAn Agency’s Guide to Measuring And Improving Billable Utilization (Ebook)How to Avoid Unprofitable Client Work (Webinar) 3 Steps to Simplify Your Capacity Planning (Webinar)How To Drive Client Results 70% Faster w/ Kate VasylenkoThe Client (a film by Umault)Want to watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube?Check it out here: Agency Life Podcast on YouTubeHave a question about today's topic? Text it to us here!Want to get more content to support your agency life? Subscribe to the Agency Life newsletter, check out past episodes & find more content at teamwork.com/agencylife. This podcast is brought to you by Teamwork.com.
How To Drive Client Results 70% Faster w/ Kate Vasylenko
Apr 18 2024
How To Drive Client Results 70% Faster w/ Kate Vasylenko
Clients who are “happy” may still leave you.  But clients who are seeing results–and seeing them fast?Now, that increases the value you deliver and decreases the chances that new clients will churn.So, how did this digital marketing agency drive client results 70% faster, increase customer satisfaction scores and start getting glowing feedback from more clients?It was all about strategy.More specifically, they did away with the old divide between their strategy and client services teams and introduced a new client-facing role solely responsible for consistently updating the client’s strategy and delivering client results.By creating this new role that now works alongside their project managers, they’ve been able to decrease the feedback loop between performance data and the strategy the agency is executing for their clients.In today’s conversation with Kate Vasylenko, CEO of 42DM, you’ll hear:Why they hired marketers with more in-house experience for this new roleThe questions they asked to find the right talent How they made this structural change to their client delivery team (so you can learn how to do the same)Resources Mentioned in This Episode:An Agency’s Guide to Measuring And Improving Billable Utilization (Ebook)Connect with Kate on LinkedInThe State of Agency Operations ReportHiring Secrets from an 8-Figure Agency CEOWant to watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube?Check it out here: Agency Life Podcast on YouTubeHave a question about today's topic? Text it to us here!Want to get more content to support your agency life? Subscribe to the Agency Life newsletter, check out past episodes & find more content at teamwork.com/agencylife. This podcast is brought to you by Teamwork.com.
Hiring Secrets from an 8-Figure Agency CEO w/ Eric Siu
Apr 4 2024
Hiring Secrets from an 8-Figure Agency CEO w/ Eric Siu
Isn’t it refreshing when someone further down the path is willing to share the successes AND failures they’ve seen along the way?That’s exactly the type of conversation you’ll get from today’s episode with Eric Siu, CEO of Single Grain, Founder of Leveling Up and Co-Host of the top-ranked Marketing School Podcast.Eric’s journey has taken him from having “no idea how to run a business” at 27 to now having scaled his agency into 8-figures, all while building a media brand, authoring a book and becoming a recognizable name in SEO and modern marketing more broadly.Despite his successes, Eric does hold back from sharing his missteps along the way and (most importantly) the lessons you can take from them.For instance, you’ll hear:What roles should be contractors vs FTEs in your agencyThe CEO’s actual role in hiring during times of growthCounterintuitive ways to identify and recruit new talentIn addition to sharing his hard learned hiring secrets, Eric shares:The 2 best operating systems you can steal from to make your agency run more efficientlyWhen and where pay-for-performance pricing makes sense for most agenciesResources Mentioned in This Episode:An Agency’s Guide to Measuring And Improving Billable Utilization (Ebook)Connect with Eric on LinkedInThe Agency Owner’s Association with Eric Siu & Neil Patel  Working Backwards by Colin Bryar & Bill Carr Free Tool to Run Your L10 Meetings in EOS: Instant Agency Tools.comThe State of Agency Operations ReportNever Split thHave a question about today's topic? Text it to us here!Want to get more content to support your agency life? Subscribe to the Agency Life newsletter, check out past episodes & find more content at teamwork.com/agencylife. This podcast is brought to you by Teamwork.com.
The Must-Have Forecast Model to Grow Your Agency w/ Garrett Mehrguth
Mar 21 2024
The Must-Have Forecast Model to Grow Your Agency w/ Garrett Mehrguth
Today he runs an agency doing $25MM in ARR with around 150 employees.  But–as the story usually goes–this success didn’t come overnight & started with much more humble beginnings.  From not getting paid by one of his first clients to gaining traction with small monthly retainers on Fiverr to now running a successful performance marketing agency for SaaS companies, Garrett Mehrguth, CEO of Directive, has learned a forecasting model that’s allowed him to scale his agency well beyond those humble beginnings.In today’s conversation, he shares:The 2 part financial forecasting model you need to grow your agencyThe common mistake agency owners make regarding executive payHow to set goals that are meaningful, yet attainable, for your teamResources Mentioned in This Episode:An Agency’s Guide to Measuring And Improving Billable Utilization (Ebook)Connect with Garrett on LinkedIn Sign Up for Garrett’s Agency Academy Course The 3 Benefits of Productizing Your Services w/ Sam Shepler 3 Steps to Owning Your Niche in 90 Days w/ Nick Bennett 5 Steps to Win More Clients with Benchmark Data w/ Chris NaultWant to watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube?Check it out here: Agency Life Podcast on YouTubeHave a question about today's topic? Text it to us here!Want to get more content to support your agency life? Subscribe to the Agency Life newsletter, check out past episodes & find more content at teamwork.com/agencylife. This podcast is brought to you by Teamwork.com.
The 3 Client Communication Risks (& How to Avoid Them) w/ Susan Fennema
Mar 7 2024
The 3 Client Communication Risks (& How to Avoid Them) w/ Susan Fennema
It can be terrifying to allow your clients to “see how the sausage is made,” and this is one of the main concerns related to handling client communications within your project management or professional service automation software.While there are benefits to streamlining your client communications and inviting them into the system that runs your agency–benefits like visibility, client perception & efficiency–each of those benefits comes with some pretty intimidating risks.What if internal communication accidentally goes to a client?What if we give clients “too much visibility?In today’s conversation with Susan Fennema, CEO at Beyond the Chaos (an operations consulting firm that helps service-based businesses bring order to the chaos), she answers those questions and also shares:The 3 primary risks to client communications within the software where you manage client workHow to mitigate those risks through a few key communication strategiesTactical tips for making your team more efficient without making it harder on your clients (hint: it has to do with a few specific integrations you can leverage)Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Connect with Susan on LinkedInAn Agency’s Guide to Measuring And Improving Billable Utilization (Ebook)3 Steps to Avoid Furious Clients w/ Jackie HermesHow This Agency Reduced Churn by 50% (with AI's Help) w/ Erik HubermanHow to Talk to Your Clients about Money (Blog)Want to watch the video version of the podcast on YouTube?Check it out here: Agency Life Podcast on YouTubeHave a question about today's topic? Text it to us here!Want to get more content to support your agency life? Subscribe to the Agency Life newsletter, check out past episodes & find more content at teamwork.com/agencylife. This podcast is brought to you by Teamwork.com.
The 5 Financial Metrics Top Agencies Get Right w/ Ryan Watson
Feb 8 2024
The 5 Financial Metrics Top Agencies Get Right w/ Ryan Watson
What’s one mistake you’ve made as an agency leader you’ll never forget?Several guests on this show have shared the same exact answer:  “I wish I’d invested in my own financial literacy sooner!”But, what financial metrics should you focus on the most?  Even if you answer that question—how do you (and your team) impact those financial metrics that matter most for your agency?To answer these questions, in today’s episode, you’ll hear from Ryan Watson from Upsourced Accounting, where he & the team help agencies just like yours avoid financial pitfalls & achieve financial health.  Ryan’s a former agency COO & CFO himself, so he comes with financial know-how but also real agency life experience.In today’s episode you’ll learn:The 5 Financial Metrics successful agencies get right (from Upsourced’s own analysis of agency client data)An introduction to the Hierarchy of Financial Needs (that will help you determine the right financial metric to prioritize right now)The building blocks to a successful Project Profitability Analysis (which Ryan says is the most important thing you can do to getting a handle on your agency’s gross margin)Want to watch this episode on YouTube to see the visuals?Check it out here: Agency Life Podcast on YouTubeResources Mentioned in This Episode:Connect with Ryan on LinkedInSubscribe to the Upsourced Accounting YouTube ChannelThe State of Agency Operations ReportTeamwork.com Profitability ReportingThe 4 P’s of Time-Tracking Your Team Won’t HateHave a question about today's topic? Text it to us here!Want to get more content to support your agency life? Subscribe to the Agency Life newsletter, check out past episodes & find more content at teamwork.com/agencylife. This podcast is brought to you by Teamwork.com.