Swenk Today: The Digital Marketing Agency Show

It’s can be a difficult process hiring new employees for your digital marketing agency or creative agency. What to look for in an employee? What should you tell them about your agency and expectations? are questions that you will be considering during the interview process. But what you really should think about is evaluating the candidates. In this video I discuss why is it important you tell a prospective employee how you will be evaluating them if you hire them.

Because if you hire the wrong employee, it could have a snow ball effect on the rest of the team, which could end up with you doing everyone’s job. And we both know you want to the right people for your agency to give you back time. Not take it away. Right? :)

Make sure you are looking for the right staff by sharing your expectations - recruitment and selection hiring an exployee for creative agencies or digital marketing agencies is one of the most challenging but key tasks when developing a digital agency.

How are digital agencies pricing their services for design, graphic design, social media, and digital marketing, and what are agencies doing wrong when it comes to pricing.

In this video I will cover the two strategies for coming up with your agency pricing, and how you can charge more and make more profit for your digital agency.

The question that you really need to consider is - Are you meeting the client's expectation? What is their problem and how can you solve it? Listen to their requirements!

Why is it important to set a vision for your company. You have to take the blinders off, and define your vision for your business.

Think about your long term goals - what do you want from your business? Do you have a 90 day plan? Do you have a vision statement or mission statement? You really need to stop and think about the direction in which your business is going to ensure that you are following the correct path. Just remember learn to say no if the direction is not right for you.

Follow my entrepreneurial journey here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDvZHFVeqEMq8hHniuKqjQ2BgP4yOA-OI

Thanks for watching. I hope you keep up with the daily videos I post on my channel. Make sure you subscribe and share your learnings with others. You comments are why I do this, so please take a second and say hello.

“What are some methods/systems to scale? I’ve look at some of these very big agencies, and wonder how they were able to grow to their size in just a few short years? What did they do to get to their level?”

It really comes down to having the right systems in place, as well as everything big starts small. Meaning if you want to be an 8 figure agency, you first need to make 5 figures, then 6, then 7.

You really need t consider the 8 key principles:
Clarity
Niche Strategy/Find your Niche
Positioning
Offering
Go To Market Strategy
Sales System
Delivery System
Operations Management

Make sure you check out the Agency Playbook (http://jasonswenk.com/playbook)
An online video agency training to help you acquire your ideal clients, increase your profit, and grow your agency easier.

What do you do when your client refuses to pay you or pay you upfront or won''t offer an upfront payment before work is done. What should you do?

In today's SwenkToday I answer to common challenges below...

Shannon asked... "How do you follow up when a prospect signs the proposal/agreement but doesn't pay?"

Michael asked... "How do you convince a client to pay for services a month in advance instead of a month behind?

I'm having an issue with a potential client. The only thing that he is hung up on is the payment terms. They absolutely refused to pay before deliverables. What should be done?"

From sending out a digital marketing proposal, reaching agreement and receiving an upfront payment for digital marketing services - all the answers are here. However what happens when client's won't pay you? or even worse when a client refuses to pay.

Take my advice the first key point is that you need an upfront payment for services or at least introduce a cancellation clause - this will ensure that you will not be left with cash flow problems or out of pocket for completed work. It is very important to think about how to manage cash flow - cash flow is your life blood!

If a client refuses to pay an upfront payment or an advance payment that is a trickier situation - it is important that you have good relationship with your clients and that they can trust you to deliver if this is a new client who is still a little unsure - could you offer a part payment to help build the relationship? You also need if consider if the client is a good match for you - if you are unable to come to an agreement over the contract terms, cancellation clause or advance payment then maybe the client isn't the best math for you or your creative agency.

Picking a digital agency coach / advisor to grow your agency is an important decision, so I wanted to give you some advice.

Ralph asked… "Why would I not get help from someone who is currently running an agency and helping agencies versus working with someone like you that sold a couple years ago?"

Think about one thing…..

Do you want to train your competition to beat you and muddy the water?

Chances are no. That makes no sense, so why do the possibly help their competition?

1. There agency is not scalable or they hit a ceiling
2. There agency is not as profitable as they want it to be.

I have worked with many of them over the years and I know for a fact they are not growing, losing money, and are struggling with how to scale their agency.

Do you think modeling someone that is struggling is a good decision?

I would honestly judge based on the free content they put out. If you like the free stuff, chances are you will like the paid stuff. :)

If you would like to work with me, so you can grow your agency faster.... Click here... http://jasonswenk.com/help/

In this podcast I will show you how your creative agency can create recurring revenue.

Here's how you need to Respond to a Request For Proposal and RFP, but before we jump into the how, let's see what does RFP stand for….

#1 Request For Proposal

#2 Request For Punishment:

#3 Remember First Principle: there's only 2 winners to RFP

#4 Run Fast People: Make sure you are the first one out.

#5 Really? Failed Potential: Opportunity cost - How else could you be spending this time?

#6 Realize Fast Predicament: Working on something for nothing is a mistake

#7 Regret First Project: Usually bidding on an RFP restricts creativity, which you will regret!

#8 Real F**ing Problem:

#9 Rally For Principle: Let's all rally around saying NO to RFPs!

Finding the right talent for your digital marketing agency is the difference between you scaling your agency or struggling with being a prisoner of your agency. Here are a couple strategies that are easy to do to attract top talent.

When you take a month off or an extended vacation from your digital agency, it forces everyone else to elevate and decentralized you as the owner.

Rather than everyone reacting to you, they step up.

When you return you will figure out all the stuff you don’t need to do anymore, and you will come back refreshed and excited.