Akvile DeFazio took the leap from employee to self-employed with her digital marketing agency, Akvertise. The transition wasn’t always easy… but she wouldn’t trade the experience for anything because of what she learned about business, marketing, and herself.

We talk about the strategies Akvile used to build her agency from the ground up… and continues to use for business development and client retention.

Listen in to find out…

• How speaking at events can boost your bottom-line
• Where paid social is heading next 
• Why normal networking doesn’t work
• Strategies to be more visible to potential clients
• And more

Facebook ads are cheap. You can segment your audience to the nth degree.

But all that doesn't matter if you don’t take one more step, says Bud Torcom, CEO and co-founder of digital marketing agency Mazama Media.

Bud sees a lot of companies going about their social media marketing all wrong. The solution: a blend of tried-and-true marketing principles and taking advantage of the innovation available on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

If you think Facebook doesn’t work… Bud tells you what you may be doing wrong, as well as…

• The role of creative with segmented audiences
• The best way for a new company to capitalize on social media
• Why branding still matters
• Facebook and Instagram’s next sweet spot
• And more

For most businesses, a main goal is turning website visitors into leads.

Jay Rice, founder and CEO of Thinking Chat, says that’s a good starting point… but he’s refined that process using some very unique technology in order to engage visitors and increase conversions – while also screening out leads that aren’t a fit.

Thinking Chat provides its clients with a “chatbot” – but unlike any you’ve seen before.

We talk about this unique approach to using AI in lead generation and how it impacts marketing and shortens the sales cycle.

Tune in to find out…

• How to keep the wrong prospects out of your funnel
• Where marketing automation falls short - and how to get around it
• Going beyond FAQs
• Where live chat often misses the mark – and a chatbot does better
• And more

Jake Baadsgaard, founder of Disruptive Advertising, is very selective about who he works with. In fact, after they go through his vetting process, only about 20% of potential clients make the cut.

He breaks down what makes a client a good fit and how he and his team figure it out. It’s a key part of a well-oiled business development machine they’ve put into place.

Disruptive Advertising does no outbound marketing of its services. We find out why they don’t need to and get all the details on the other seemingly counterintuitive strategies they use on a daily basis.

Tune in to find out…

• Ways to deal with unrealistic expectations from clients
• How many companies are sabotaging their Facebook marketing – and don’t even know it
• Two reasons for price objections and how to handle them
• The right way to use marketing automation
• And more

How does a small digital marketing agency compete for top employees against big firms in such a competitive environment like the Bay Area?

For Richard Bumgarner and Lyn Rundell, founders of Hero Marketing, the secret has been providing a great place to work, simply put. And that doesn’t mean a foosball table in the break room.

Rather, they focus on providing true work/life balance, giving many employees the chance to work from home, and benefits the right employees prefer to higher pay.

But this approach hasn’t come without its challenges. We talk about…

• Ways they keep their remote workforce on the same page and on task
• The little touches that keep employees motivated
• Where to hire the employees that mesh best with your team – it’s not the big name job sites
• The types of freelancers you must avoid
• And more

Chris Raniere, founder and president of San Francisco-based digital marketing agency 46Mile, has seen a lot since his days at early search engine Ask Jeeves and other companies of that era.

One thing that has remained a constant is that many clients don’t understand the value of the work agencies do in paid search and other marketing channels and, as a result, try to lowball them when it comes to fees.

Chris has little patience for that attitude and explains how he deals with potential clients who want to pay as little as possible, as well as…

• Why you shouldn’t do RFPs – with one exception
• Where large regional brands are moving their marketing efforts
• When you shouldn’t back down on price
• How to show a client you’re worth a higher fee than the competition
• And more

Jeff Rosenblum, founding partner of digital marketing agency Questus, has a unique perspective on the industry. His agency’s fortunes rose in the Dot-Com Era. But they survived the crash and came out stronger on the other side with lessons learned that guide their work to this day with companies like Apple, Suzuki, General Mills, and more.

He knows that most companies waste the vast majority of their marketing dollars as they try to make something stick. His approach: combine creativity and data to create targeted marketing that benefits brands and empowers audiences.

We talk about…

• Competing as a small firm against the world’s biggest marketing agencies
• Turning customers into evangelists
• Using the Fair Price Matrix to always get paid what you deserve
• When you should say no thanks to a prospective client
• And more

Working with Hollywood’s biggest movie studios keeps Los Angeles-based Daniel Heale and his team on their toes.

As Chief Strategic Officer of global agency Way to Blue, he’s always on the cutting edge of what works and what doesn’t in digital marketing.

But Daniel says that there are two elements a successful agency needs that have nothing to do with technology or so-called best practices.

We talk about…

• How to hit the moving target of marketing success
• The best way to form long-term client relationships
• Ways small agencies can deliver big campaigns without breaking the bank
• Strategies for attracting – and retaining – the talent you need
• And more

For agency owners and executives, the digital marketing landscape is always changing.

With interviews with thought leaders and those “in the trenches” of the industry, the Performance Delivered podcast will keep you up-to-date with current industry best practices… and also give you a glimpse into what innovations the future holds.

Hosts Steffen Horst and Dave Antil are big agency “refugees” who know that the industry is going through drastic changes right now. And they offer insights you can use to stay on top.

Tune in now to find out…

• A new take on marketing at the agency level
• The most important elements of digital marketing today
• The way performance marketing fits in to your current efforts
• How you can be “first in line” for new episodes
• And more