Agency Life

Scientific research shows there are common parts of your deck design and delivery that are causing your agency's pitches to fall on deaf ears. 

As today’s guest, Tom Martin explains, in some cases, that’s pretty close to literally true: your potential clients aren’t even hearing the words in your pitch as you deliver it.

Tom fell into business development during his early days of business development and now as the founder of Converse Digital, he helps agencies of all sizes turn conversations into new clients.

In today’s episode, you’ll learn:

• The common mistakes you’re probably making in pitch meetings that could easily be avoided
• Researched-based advice for nailing both the design & delivery of your pitch decks
• A pitch meeting example you can steal to wow your potential clients

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

The Ultimate Guide to Capacity Planning by Teamwork.com

Meet The Client by Teamwork.com

Connect with our host, Logan on LinkedIn

Connect with our guest, Tom on LinkedIn



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.

There’s a role in your agency that has a bigger impact on your bottom line than you realize.  Project Managers are often thought to “just” deliver client projects on time, on scope and on budget.

But if you aren’t thinking bigger than that “just” mentality, you could be missing the impact of this important role on your agency’s profitability.

Galen Low, Co-Founder of The Digital Project Manager, has led numerous agency teams–with time spent on everything from project management to business development to account management.  And all those experiences, and now having managed a huge community of project management professionals, has led him to see the true impact PMs can have on agency profits…and how you can maximize that impact.

In today’s conversation with Galen, you’ll hear:

• How to increase your PMs impact on profitability
• The 2 most important skills your PMs need to develop (& how to help them level up)
• How to assess PM talent in an AI-Driven world
• A  strange question that might just help you identify the right PM in your next hiring process
  
  

Other Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

The Ultimate Guide to Capacity Planning by Teamwork.com

Meet The Client by Teamwork.com

Subscribe to The AI-Driven Marketer

Connect with Logan on LinkedIn

Connect with Galen on LinkedIn


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.

They increased lead conversion by 300%, they broke out of their agency’s growth slump and are now able to take on more right-fit clients for their agency.

How did Sean Sweet and his team at Blend Marketing achieve all that from one year to the next?

They made a hard decision that most agencies avoid.  One that you might think would limit your agencies growth and ability to win new clients.
In today’s conversation, you’ll learn:

• The decision this agency made that helped them avoid a financial hole of nearly £500K
• The 2 operations habits they used to avoid an even worse situation
• How to manage team communication when times are tough in your agency

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

The Ultimate Guide to Capacity Planning by Teamwork.com

Meet The Client by Teamwork.com

Connect with our host, Logan on LinkedIn

Connect with our guest, Sean on LinkedIn

The Lead Magnet that Pays for Itself w/ Chris DuBois

5 Steps to Better Change Management for Agencies w/ Rob Sayles


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.

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 work
• What the Domino’s Pizza Tracker can teach us about managing client projects
• The unconventional method Guy uses asynchronous video to keep client informed during ongoing projects
  
  

For 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 Deux

Other Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Connect with Guy on LinkedIn

Financial Management of A Marketing Firm (Second Edition) by David C. Baker

The 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 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.

Have you ever dealt with a client that was acting a little…client-ey?

They’d demand you drop everything to meet at a moment’s notice. Maybe they’d beat you up over price all the time.  Maybe, they were the type of client whose demands just kept escalating.  If you’ve dealt with clients acting this way, you’re not alone. 

In a special episode of the podcast, we celebrate the launch of the 2nd installment of The Client by sharing 7 stories from agencies leaders who’ve dealt with situations just like these and giving 3 practical ways to deal with the most client-ey of circumstances.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

Watch The Client & The Client: Part Deux

Stop Selling Implementation Services (& Do This Instead) w/ Max Traylor

3 Steps to Avoid Furious Clients w/ Jackie Hermes

Connect with today’s contributors:

• Mark Riggs
• Bruce McMeekin
• Corey Morris
• Kyle Duford
• Mike Midgley
• Terri Hoffman
• Jerry Gennaria

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.

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 journey
• How to create a portfolio offers while staying focused on your core service
• The marketing asset you can create that not only drives more high intent leads, but also pays for itself
  
  

Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

An Agency’s Guide to Measuring And Improving Billable Utilization (Ebook)

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn

Stop Selling Implementation Services (& Do This Instead) w/ Max Traylor

3 Steps to Owning Your Niche in 90 Days w/ Nick Bennett

50% Profit Margins Unlocked with Time-Tracking Data w/ @MarketingMax

The State of Agency Operations Report by Teamwork.com

The Offer Landing Page Chris Mentioned

The Thank You Page Chris Mentioned

The Client by Teamwork.com & 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.

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 agency
• Those 5 things that should demand 100% of your focus as an agency owner

Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

An Agency’s Guide to Measuring And Improving Billable Utilization (Ebook)

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn

Accelerating Your Agency: An 8 Systems Playbook For Growing Your Agency Faster by Jason Swenk

Stop Selling Implementation Services (& Do This Instead) w/ Max Traylor

3 Keys to Building and Agency Thats Lasts w/ Matt Heinz

3 Steps to Avoid Furious Clients w/ Jackie Hermes


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.

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 process
• What Toyota’s approach to continuous improvement can teach you about change management
• The 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 LinkedIn

The Client (a film by Umault)

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Tools of Titans Tim Ferriss

The 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.

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 consulting
• The 1 simple tweak that lead to a 10x price increase for one consulting package
• The 3 steps to start selling strategy that you’re already capable of delivering

Resources 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.

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 agency
• The 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 night

Resources 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.