Jason Swenk on Building and Scaling Marketing Agencies

Dec 7, 2023

Jason Swenk, agency advisor & coach, shares insights on building and scaling marketing agencies. He emphasizes the importance of building an asset, scalability, and having a leadership team. Swenk discusses marketing strategies, the power of podcasting, and providing value to clients. Key takeaways include focusing on scalability, consistency in marketing, and the value of social media for agencies.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Evolution of Agency Business and Exit Strategies

02:30 • 21min

Exploring Marketing Strategies and Delegating Responsibilities within the Agency

23:03 • 4min

Building a Structured Funnel Process

27:07 • 5min

Strategic Content Repurposing and Adopting a Game Mentality in Business Decisions

32:26 • 3min

In-depth Discussion on Problem-solving and Agency Leadership

34:58 • 3min

Jason Swenk is the agency advisor & coach who guides marketing agencies through a proven framework for growing their agency faster.

Jason has written the book for growing an agency from nothing to two 8 figure agencies.

Jason currently hosts the Smart Agency Master Class Podcast, a Digital Marketing Agency Owner podcast for sharing the strategies and stories from real agency owners of what is working today in the agency world, and how they got to where they are now.

Jason Swenk shares his journey from building a successful agency to starting an agency consulting business. Jason also talks about agency owners' different goals, such as building an asset to sell, creating a lifestyle business, or operating as an incubator agency. He emphasizes the importance of building an asset and provides tips for agency owners looking to scale their businesses. Jason also touches on his marketing strategy, including the power of podcasting and the importance of providing valuable content to potential clients.

Key Takeaways:

Building an asset is important for agency owners who want to create long-term value and have the option to sell.
Agency owners should focus on scalability, reoccurring revenue, and building a diverse client base.
It's important to have a leadership team in place to handle day-to-day operations and free up the owner's time.
Consistency is key in marketing, and it takes time to see results. Agencies should focus on providing value and helping their audience.
Social media can be a powerful marketing tool if used correctly, but it's important to avoid being self-centered and focus on helping others.

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Timestamps:

02:51 Jason's decision to sell his agency after 12 years

06:18 Jason's road from an agency owner to an advisor

09:29 The 3 paths of agency owners: exit, lifestyle, incubator

10:56 Why creating a lifestyle business is a prison

13:48 Scaling a business and the hardships

16:10 Jason's criteria for investing in agencies

19:23 Downsides of selling and earnouts

23:51 The marketing strategies & funnel of Jason's consultancy business

25:49 Shift the spotlight: from self to clients

33:08 Treating business as a game and experimenting with strategies

34:19 Removing emotions from decision-making and seeking advice from others

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Guest resources:
https://jasonswenk.com/

https://www.agencymastery360.com/