Scaling to Seven Figures: The Journey of Will Hanke and His Niche Agency Success
Dec 1, 2023
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Digital marketing pioneer Will Hanke discusses his journey from a generalist approach to finding success in a niche market. Topics include transitioning to a niche agency, window treatment program options and the value of direct mail, overcoming plateaus, client retention strategies, high touch communication, joint ventures, and running ads as an owner operator.
The importance of joint ventures and niche specialization in scaling an agency.
The significance of proactive onboarding, regular client touches, and a well-defined service offering for client retention and profitability.
Deep dives
Joint Ventures and Consistency: Keys to Agency Growth
In this episode of the 7 Figure Agency Podcast, host Josh Nelson interviews successful agency owner Will on his journey to building a 7-figure agency in the niche of window treatments. Will shares valuable insights and tips on how he grew and scaled his agency, including the importance of joint ventures and consistency. He highlights the benefits of partnering with associations and other industry experts to expand the agency's reach and credibility. Will also emphasizes the significance of staying consistent, even during challenging periods, and having a mindset focused on growth and success. He discusses the power of niche specialization, the effectiveness of Google My Business for generating leads, and the strategies he used to retain clients, such as weekly touches and hiring client success managers. Will's success story serves as inspiration for agency owners looking to take their businesses to the next level.
Building an Effective Onboarding Process and Retaining Clients
This podcast episode delves into the onboarding process and client retention strategies employed by Will's agency. Will explains the importance of proactive onboarding, including scheduling kickoff calls, conducting training sessions, and setting up lead tracking systems. He emphasizes the value of clear communication and consistent updates during the initial 90 days of working with clients to build trust and ensure their satisfaction. Will also highlights the significance of regular client touches, the use of marketing automation tools like HighLevel, and the benefits of personalizing client interactions. He discusses the impact of a customer success manager (CSM) role in fostering long-term client relationships. Finally, Will shares the importance of having a well-defined service offering, pricing structure, and service levels to meet the specific needs of clients while optimizing profitability for the agency.
Scaling and Managing a Remote Team
In this podcast episode, Will provides insights on scaling and managing a remote team for agency operations. He discusses the benefits of hiring team members from the Philippines, including the availability of highly skilled and English-speaking professionals. Will shares his hiring process, which involves using online job platforms and thoroughly vetting candidates based on core values alignment. He highlights the importance of creating a positive company culture, providing ongoing training and development, and implementing EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) to ensure effective team management and accountability. Will also emphasizes the significance of paying employees well and adopting a full-time employment approach. He shares how the implementation of EOS, weekly meetings, and a course-based training program have contributed to the agency's success in managing and retaining a high-performing team.
Positioning, Mindset, and Joint Ventures for Agency Growth
This episode of the 7 Figure Agency Podcast explores the keys to agency growth, including positioning, mindset, and joint ventures. Will shares his journey of transitioning from a generalist agency to a niche-focused agency in the window treatment space. He emphasizes the importance of selecting the right niche and positioning oneself as an expert in that industry. Will discusses the impact of mindset on agency growth, highlighting the need to overcome self-limiting beliefs and embrace the potential for success. He also emphasizes the power of joint venture partnerships to expand reach and attract higher quality prospects. Will provides valuable insights and strategies for successfully leveraging joint ventures, both in terms of networking with associations and partnering with software providers. This episode serves as a source of inspiration and guidance for agency owners looking to accelerate their growth and achieve seven-figure success.
In our latest entry of the Agency Success Interview Series, we had the pleasure of welcoming Will Hanke, a digital marketing pioneer and the brain behind a seven-figure agency specializing in window treatment marketing. His journey from a generalist approach to finding success in a niche market is a tale of resilience, strategic [...]
