Overwhelmed, overworked, on the brink of burnout? Agency life is known for its fast pace and demanding clients, and I know from personal experience how burnout can completely de-rail you. As I slowly return recovery, I invited Cat Burchmore onto the podcast to help me learn how I could prevent burnout as a business owner by leaning on automation more.

In this episode we explore how implementing automation strategies can help you avoid burnout and take control of your well-being. Cat shares her insights on how automating tasks like client onboarding, invoicing, and project management can free up your time, reduce stress, and improve your overall work-life balance.

Of course automation isn't just about making your life easier – it's also about providing a better experience for your clients. Cat shares how automation can help you deliver a more personalised and efficient service, without sacrificing the human touch. Heck in this day and age we all need a more human touch!

Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/can-automation-prevent-burnout/

Struggling to break out of the feast and famine cycle? Do you feel like you're constantly putting out fires and not making the progress you want in your business?

Brent is a seasoned agency owner who started his first digital agency at the tender age of 17. In this episode, he shares his journey of navigating the challenges of running an agency, from landing his first clients to eventually selling his business not once, but twice.

Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/freelancer-to-agency-owner/

Free training: https://ugurus.com/launch-live-training/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=leejackson&utm_campaign=q12024

Time tracking is often seen as a necessary evil - something that takes time away from doing client work or feels like micromanaging employees. In this episode I interview Ilia from Toggl to discover why those assumptions are wrong.

We discuss real-world examples of how time tracking provides valuable data to help agencies work more efficiently, provide better project estimates, optimise team members' time, identify profitable versus unprofitable clients, and ultimately achieve better profitability and work-life balance.

Ilia shares tips on how agency owners can implement time tracking in a way that gets buy-in from employees and avoids it feeling punitive. If you think time tracking is a drag that holds your agency back, this myth-busting episode will surprise you and highlight the many bottom-line benefits tracking time can unlock!

Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/is-time-tracking-holding-you-back/

Running an agency is tough, but invaluable lessons can be learned from those who've spent years growing in the trenches. In this episode, I sat down with Jon Tsourakis, a veteran agency owner of over 15 years, who doesn't look a day over 30. (Had to say that in case he reads this.)

As the founder of Oyova, Jon has led his digital marketing agency from humble beginnings to a thriving team of 30. He's made mistakes, evolved his offerings, and learned countless tips for building an agency poised for longevity.

In an honest, insightful conversation, Jon shares the failures, adaptations, and wins he's experienced on his agency journey. Expect hard-won advice on finding your niche, leading remote teams, bouncing back from burnout, building community, and having the flexibility to grow successfully. 

Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/lessons-from-an-agency-leader/

Do you feel like your website or brand is lost in the endless sea of search engine results? Does it seem like no matter what you do, you just can't break onto page one or get those coveted top rankings? Well, today's guest, Jason Barnard is here to help you finally stop getting buried by search engines.

Known as the "Brand SERP Guy," Jason is an international authority on managing brand search optimisation and online reputation. In this info-packed episode, he shares insider tips to take control of how you appear on Google, Bing, and other search platforms.

Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/buried-by-search-engines/

Are you struggling to attract high-paying clients who see the immense value in what you offer? Do you find yourself exhaustively pitching potential clients who just don't get what makes you different?

In this eye-opening episode, Helen Knight joins us to share her proven framework for positioning yourself as the obvious choice for your ideal clients. You'll discover new ways to identify and align with your dream clients, create offers tailored specifically to their needs, and leverage social media to establish yourself as the go-to expert in your niche. 

Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/ideal-clients-obvious-choice/

Struggling to build your business? Cash strapped and wish you had investment? What if I told you, you already have everything you need to build an exciting and growing business?

Meet Zara and Aaron, the founders of Choppity. They are building their business in public, keeping costs razor thin and laser focusing on their niche. The results are difficult to deny! A powerful solution, tonnes of potential, and a growing MRR.

Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/low-cash-growth/

The vast sea of online courses makes it challenging for any one course to stand out. But what if there's a method that not only grabs attention but also ensures course completion, builds trust, and positions you as an expert they can't wait to buy from?

In this episode, we unravel the secret sauce behind course delivery that people are ignoring. Discover the transformative power of email-delivered courses and why they're growing in popularity. Learn how this simple shift in delivery can skyrocket course completion rates, deliver value to participants, and nudge them toward the right purchase.

Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/unignorable-courses/

Do you ever feel like your web agency is stuck in a cycle of one-and-done projects? You deliver an exceptional website, only to watch the client fade away, turning what could have been a fruitful, ongoing collaboration into a fleeting transaction. But what if there was a way to turn that one-time project into a long-term partnership?

In this episode, we explore an often-overlooked tool that can transform your client relationships and significantly boost your agency's recurring revenue.

Providing a website owners manual with web builds can help educate clients on what is involved in keeping their website maintained, performing, and delivering results for them. As clients recognise the value and what is involved, they are significantly more likely to take up your maintenance and support services, allowing you to develop a long lasting relationship.

Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/website-manual/

Struggling to make logo design pay? In this episode, we meet Ian Paget, the man behind Logo Geek, who turned his passion for logo design into profit. I ask: What does it take to go all in on logos? What can we learn from others? How can we improve our skills? How do we keep motivated? Ian delivers!

Full show notes: https://trailblazer.fm/make-a-living-designing-logos/