Agency Leadership Podcast

By Chip Griffin and Gini Dietrich

Business

What's Agency Leadership Podcast about?

Chip Griffin and Gini Dietrich share practical advice for PR and marketing agency owners build better businesses.

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Agency Leadership Podcast episodes:

04.25.2024
Building trust and letting your team shine
You trust your team, right? In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the importance of agency owners letting go of micromanaging, trusting their team, and focusing on building a scalable business. They emphasize the need for owners to delegate tasks...
04.04.2024
Should your agency sell itself as a fractional CxO to clients?
Chip and Gini discuss the intricacies of fractional leadership roles within clients. They share their experiences and provide advice on managing relationships, setting clear boundaries, handling administrative tasks, and positioning yourself accurately in these roles. Key takeaways * Chip Griffin: “Fractional roles tend...
$Should your agency sell itself as a fractional CxO to clients?$
03.21.2024
Accepting equity as payment for agency services
Start-up clients may not have the funds to pay you, but still need service, so why not consider receiving equity as payment? In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the potential pitfalls of that approach. They caution against exotic payment schemes...
03.14.2024
Get over your fear of hiring employees
In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the fear of hiring employees, the implications of using contractors, the financial considerations, and the benefits of having employees. They emphasize the need to align hiring decisions with long-term business goals and not to...
03.07.2024
Handling frustration as an agency owner
Employee complaints? Accountable only to yourself? Trying to create a work culture? Welcome to agency ownership! In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the challenges and frustrations of owning an agency, emphasizing the importance of seeking accountability and support, and reflecting...
02.29.2024
How to handle extended payment term requests from agency clients
How do you deal with clients who ask for different payment terms than the ones your agency offers? In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the importance of setting clear expectations from the start and being proactive in following up on overdue...
02.15.2024
Avoiding time-wasting in your agency
Are you and your agency team spending too much time writing proposals, creating capabilities decks, and building brand personas? It may seem productive, but clients value results – and so should you. In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss how to get...
02.08.2024
What recent media layoffs mean for PR agencies
In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the recent wave of layoffs in the media industry and its implications for PR agencies. They explore the challenges of securing earned media in a landscape with fewer journalists and offer insights on evolving...
02.01.2024
Did your agency have a rough 2023?
A lot of agencies have told Chip and Gini that 2023 was a bad year for them. Fellow agency adviser Karl Sakas posted on LinkedIn that he has been asked if it was bad for everyone. In this episode, Chip and...
01.25.2024
Agencies succeed through consistency and evolution
When Gini shared in a recent episode that her success has come from doing the same thing for 15 years, a listener pointed out that she has continued to evolve. The two are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the best agencies...
01.11.2024
Are digital agencies dead?
The Wall Street Journal recently suggested that the era of digital agencies may be over. It’s not that digital services are no longer required, but the label for agencies may no longer make sense. In this episode, Chip and Gini talk...
01.04.2024
Beware easy-to-sell but hard-to-serve clients for your agency
It’s not uncommon to hear agency owners talk about wanting to target small businesses because there are so many of them and you can talk with the decision-maker more easily. While it may be an appealing target, there are reasons to...
12.14.2023
Small agencies should beware the big brands
It seems so alluring to be able to put a Fortune 500 logo on your agency’s website. Many of us dream of the creative things that we can do for these household names. Yet often these big brands end up being...
12.07.2023
How to motivate your agency’s freelancers
In this episode, Chip and Gini take a question from the SAGA Community on Slack about ways to motivate freelancers just as you do with employees. The reality is that freelancers and employees aren’t the same and contractors should treat your...
11.30.2023
The value of outside perspective to agency owners
It’s easy for all of us to get stuck inside our own heads. Having someone we trust who can help to provide some independent insight and challenge our own beliefs can be very helpful. In this episode, Chip and Gini talk...
11.16.2023
Hidden overservicing by agency employees
If you’re anything like Chip and Gini, you have discovered employees doing work for clients that is outside of the scope of work you have agreed to. There are many reasons for this behavior and this episode explores those as well...
11.09.2023
What to do when your agency needs new revenue NOW
Most small agencies at some point experience the sinking feeling of losing a whale client or seeing a sudden sharp reduction in revenue. When you get that kind of news, what do you do? That’s what Chip and Gini discuss on this...
11.02.2023
Real talk about agency websites
Many agencies overvalue their websites and spend too much time thinking about and working on them. In this episode, Chip and Gini talk about what matters — and what doesn’t — when it comes to your website design and content. They share...
10.26.2023
Chaos is not a virtue for agencies
Agency leaders need to stop casually discussing the chaotic environment common to so many agencies. Too often you will hear firm owners and others talk about agencies as hectic and fast-paced environments. Chip and Gini have had enough of this talk —...
10.19.2023
The rising salary demands of agency employees
With labor costs usually accounting for the largest share of agency expenses, it is no surprise that owners are particularly sensitive to any indication that salaries might be creeping up. Recent conversations that Chip and Gini have had with agency leaders...
10.05.2023
Setting expectations for agency clients
One of the biggest sources of friction between agencies and clients comes from mismatched expectations. Too often agency leaders don’t do enough to set realistic expectations during the business development phase of the relationship. It’s exciting to get a deal done...
09.28.2023
Should AI upend your agency business model today?
In this episode, Chip and Gini react to a blog post from their friend Christopher S. Penn who writes and speaks frequently and intelligently on new trends in communications and technology. In his piece, Chris argued that agencies should review...
09.21.2023
Getting agency-client contracts done right
Chip and Gini understand the excitement of closing a deal and the desire that agencies have to just get started with the creative process. But it’s important to get the contracting process done right, including setting the best terms and having...
09.14.2023
The aftermath of firing agency employees for cause
In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss when you should (and shouldn’t) terminate an employee for cause. They explain the perils of allowing emotion to impact termination decisions and how you should approach these difficult circumstances. When an employee is terminated for...
09.07.2023
The value of employee exit interviews for agencies
All agencies experience turnover, so it makes sense to have a process for when employees leave. The exit interview is an important part of that sequence. In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss best practices for conducting effective exit interviews, including...
08.31.2023
Let’s talk about bad agency pitches
Chip and Gini are tired of all of the bad pitches from agencies that they find in their inboxes. They simply can’t take any more. In this episode, they examine some of the really poor sales emails and pitches to have...
08.10.2023
Should your agency hire specialists, generalists, or fractional team members?
Chip and Gini recently spoke about the challenge of small agencies seeking to hire unicorns who excel at everything. In this episode, they look at when you should be looking for specific kinds of hires and whether they should be...
$Should your agency hire specialists, generalists, or fractional team members?$
08.03.2023
Are you trying to hire unicorns for your agency?
Agency owners tend to be good at a little bit of everything — that’s typically how they ended up as owners in the first place. They’re used to rolling up their sleeves and digging into client work, business development, management,...
07.27.2023
Stop asking what you can delegate as an agency owner
Agency owners ask Chip and Gini all the time how they can figure out what to delegate — and how to do it — to free up time in their days. In this episode, they talk about why agency owners should...
07.20.2023
Be smart about titles at your agency
Have you ever given serious thought to the structure of the titles at your agency? Or have you dealt with them simply as one-off decisions with individual employees? In this episode, Chip and Gini explore how — and why — you...
06.22.2023
Are client satisfaction surveys worthwhile for agencies?
Does your agency regularly survey your clients to see how happy they are with the services that they are receiving and how likely they are to recommend you to someone else? Is it even worth doing these surveys? That’s the question...
06.15.2023
Be more collaborative and less transactional with your agency’s clients
Too many agencies focus on reporting the amount of time and effort that they put in on behalf of clients rather than talking about the strategy and the results it produces. When agencies tell a client how many hours were spent...
06.08.2023
Are you getting lost in the wrong stuff as an agency owner?
In this episode, Chip and Gini explore some of the things that PR and marketing agency owners focus on that probably aren’t worth the time. For example, do you fret over fractional days off taken by employees or trading out paid...
06.01.2023
Is business slowing down for agencies in 2023?
Chip and Gini get asked frequently about the state of the economy, the prospects of a recession, and what it means for agency owners. Not just now in 2023, but all the time. For years. But what is the state of...
05.25.2023
The challenges of project-focused agencies
While many agency owners believe that recurring revenue is the answer to all of their problems, the reality is that a large number of agencies become quite successful by generating most of their income from individual projects. However, project work comes...
05.18.2023
Setting AI policies for your agency
In this episode, Chip and Gini review the recently released PR Council guidelines for the use of generative AI by agencies. They explore which elements small agencies might consider adopting, as well as identifying others that may warrant more of a...
05.11.2023
Micromanage your way to agency failure
Agency owners often micromanage their employees without even realizing it. They think that they are merely seeking better results, when in fact, they are slowing things down and demoralizing their teams. When Chip and Gini speak with many owners, they express...
05.04.2023
An honest conversation about agency owner compensation
In this episode, Chip and Gini offer up some tough love for many agency owners who aren’t compensating themselves fairly. The co-hosts discuss the need for two income streams: compensation for work provided to the agency and profit-taking as a reward...
04.27.2023
Helping agency employees to improve their PR skills
Most public relations agencies hire employees with a mix of experience. Some already have a proven track record in generating media coverage, while others have only just begun to learn the ropes. In this episode, Chip and Gini explore how agency...
04.20.2023
Weekly 1:1 meetings make a big difference for your agency
It’s no secret that Chip rants about the importance of weekly 1:1 meetings between agency managers and their direct reports. So he and GIni dedicated this episode entirely to the topic — including why they matter and how to run them...
04.06.2023
References and case studies for your agency
Another day, another rant from Chip and Gini. This time they have references and case studies on their minds. The co-hosts come down firmly against spending time developing and publishing case studies, explaining that agencies are better off demonstrating expertise in...
03.30.2023
The 2023 Banking Crisis and what it means for your agency
The past few weeks have been full of headlines about bank runs, government takeovers, and financial pandemonium. Even if you don’t use Silicon Valley Bank, Credit Suisse, or any of the other banks at the center of the news, there could...
03.23.2023
Expanding the service offerings of your media relations agency
Chip and Gini frequently hear from PR agency owners who want to move beyond just offering media relations services, but aren’t sure how best to do it. They may love the idea of Gini’s PESO Model, but they also recognize that...
03.16.2023
Keeping an eye on your agency’s finances
Agency owners can be reluctant to involve employees or contractors in managing financial aspects of their businesses, especially anything that involves access to bank accounts or credit cards. The concern is understandable, especially with recent examples of even large agency financial...
03.02.2023
Think twice about seeking awards for your agency
Most agencies love awards. Larger agencies even have teams devoted to seeking them. In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss why the time and money spent on awards may be misplaced. They even have a suggestion for those of you who may...
02.23.2023
Do you need a new tool for [whatever]?
Like many of us, agency owners can fall into the trap of believing that tools solve problems. The reality is that we use tools to implement the processes that solve problems. Rather than falling in love with the latest and greatest, start...
02.16.2023
Managing Gen Z agency employees (and anyone else with less experience than you)
Agency owners frequently lament to Chip and Gini that their employees don’t have a proper sense of urgency and don’t seem to work hard enough. The co-hosts explore whether this is specific to Gen Z or if it has broader applications. At...
02.09.2023
What if something happens to you as agency owner?
Do you have a plan for what others should do if you should suddenly become unavailable due to illness, accident, or even death? It’s not a fun thing to think about, but it is important to think ahead and make sure...
02.02.2023
Relying on third parties to deliver agency services
Most agencies depend on vendors and contracts to help provide at least some of the results that their clients expect. Any time you rely on these third parties, you need to consider what happens if they don’t deliver as expected. As more...
01.26.2023
Beware of dangerous agency RFP terms and conditions
Regular listeners know that Chip and Gini aren’t fans of most agency RFP processes and believe that most of them should be avoided. But if you choose to play the game, you need to watch out for onerous terms and conditions...

What's Agency Leadership Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Agency Leadership Podcast episodes:

Building trust and letting your team shine

Should your agency sell itself as a fractional CxO to clients?

Accepting equity as payment for agency services

Get over your fear of hiring employees

Handling frustration as an agency owner

How to handle extended payment term requests from agency clients

Avoiding time-wasting in your agency

What recent media layoffs mean for PR agencies

Did your agency have a rough 2023?

Agencies succeed through consistency and evolution

Are digital agencies dead?

Beware easy-to-sell but hard-to-serve clients for your agency

Small agencies should beware the big brands

How to motivate your agency’s freelancers

The value of outside perspective to agency owners

Hidden overservicing by agency employees

What to do when your agency needs new revenue NOW

Real talk about agency websites

Chaos is not a virtue for agencies

The rising salary demands of agency employees

Setting expectations for agency clients

Should AI upend your agency business model today?

Getting agency-client contracts done right

The aftermath of firing agency employees for cause

The value of employee exit interviews for agencies

Let’s talk about bad agency pitches

Should your agency hire specialists, generalists, or fractional team members?

Are you trying to hire unicorns for your agency?

Stop asking what you can delegate as an agency owner

Be smart about titles at your agency

Are client satisfaction surveys worthwhile for agencies?

Be more collaborative and less transactional with your agency’s clients

Are you getting lost in the wrong stuff as an agency owner?

Is business slowing down for agencies in 2023?

The challenges of project-focused agencies

Setting AI policies for your agency

Micromanage your way to agency failure

An honest conversation about agency owner compensation

Helping agency employees to improve their PR skills

Weekly 1:1 meetings make a big difference for your agency

References and case studies for your agency

The 2023 Banking Crisis and what it means for your agency

Expanding the service offerings of your media relations agency

Keeping an eye on your agency’s finances

Think twice about seeking awards for your agency

Do you need a new tool for [whatever]?

Managing Gen Z agency employees (and anyone else with less experience than you)

What if something happens to you as agency owner?

Relying on third parties to deliver agency services

Beware of dangerous agency RFP terms and conditions