Agency Bytes

Featuring: Kevin Rapp, Ultra Friends In episode 080, I had a great conversation with Kevin Rapp, co-founder and chief creative officer of Ultra Friends. We dive into the exploitation of creatives and the crucial role of valuing creativity in business. Kevin shares his journey from working in agencies and studios to going in-house at a fast-growing startup, where he learned to focus not just on the craft, but on delivering real value to the business. We discuss why creatives should stop pitching for free and start advocating for the true worth of their work. Kevin’s key takeaway? Understand and confidently articulate the immense value that creativity brings to the table. This episode is a must-listen for any creative professional looking to elevate their impact and take control of their worth in the business world! Key Takeaways • Creatives need to shift their focus from the craft alone to delivering value to the business. • Pitching for free devalues creativity and sets an unhealthy dynamic in client relationships. • Understanding and articulating the true value of creativity is crucial for success. • Advocating for fair compensation and valuing creativity leads to better career opportunities and financial growth. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:30 Transitioning from Agency to In-House Startup 06:09 Shifting the Focus to Value and Business Impact 09:55 Starting Ultra Friends and Optimizing Creative Content 15:05 The Importance of Not Pitching for Free 20:59 The Devaluation of Creativity and Self-Worth 26:00 Setting the Tone and Advocating for Fair Compensation 31:53 Understanding and Articulating the True Value of Creativity Kevin is the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of the creative agency Ultra Friends. He's an accomplished creative leader with almost two decades of experience in the field. And he's built a mild reputation for himself by shouting into the internet void on Linkedin. Contact Kevin on his website.

Featuring: Nicole Ayres, Jumpsuit In episode 079, I had the pleasure of speaking with Nicole Ayres, founder of Jumpsuit and creator of Jumpboards. After leaving the big agency world to freelance, Nicole built her own thriving agency—Jumpsuit—with zero paid ads and zero employees. She has since developed Jumpboards, a revolutionary end-to-end solution for agencies that streamlines everything from discovery calls to project handoff. Nicole shares how Jumpboards empowers freelancers to confidently pitch larger projects and helps agencies operationalize business development, scoping, budgeting, and resource allocation. At the heart of her success? A strong belief in her team and a culture of collaboration and empowerment. This episode is packed with insights for anyone looking to scale their agency or improve operational efficiency. Don’t miss out on Nicole's inspiring story and the game-changing strategies she’s developed! Key Takeaways • Building an agency without paid ads or employees is possible by leveraging a network of trusted freelancers. • Jumpboards is a technology that streamlines the agency process and allows freelancers to pitch larger projects. • Trust in your team is crucial for agency success. • Creating a culture of collaboration and empowerment leads to a more fulfilling and productive work environment. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 08:21 Transitioning from Freelancer to Agency Owner 19:19 Introducing Jumpboards 27:31 The Future of Agencies and Freelancing 32:01 Personal Interests and Advice Nicole Ayres left the big agency, freelanced (500k first year, built an agency with zero paid ads and zero employees that runs itself, now building technology to democratize it all. Contact Nicole at Jumpsuit Agency or Jauntboards.

Featuring: Jhana Li, Spyglass Ops In episode 078, Jhana Li, founder of Spyglass Ops, shares her inspiring journey from living van life to building her own successful operations consulting company. She talks about how she helps agency owners scale their businesses while regaining personal freedom by mastering the power of operations. Jhana highlights how crucial operations are for growth and profitability, explaining how optimizing team performance, delegating tasks effectively, and implementing solid systems and processes allow founders to focus on high-value activities that drive real results. This episode is packed with practical insights for anyone looking to scale their agency while building a more efficient, sustainable business. Key Takeaways • Operations is crucial for scaling an agency and maximizing profitability. • Optimizing team performance and implementing systems and processes are key to success. • Founders should focus on high-value activities and delegate tasks to free up time. • Raising the bar for success and setting higher standards can lead to team growth and success. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:04 The Importance of Operations in Scaling 08:23 Maximizing Team Performance 17:23 Raising the Bar for Success Jhana Li, founder of Spyglass Ops. Jhana started as a COO for multiple startups - while living van life. After seeing countless founders stall out & trap themselves without the proper Operations, 3 years ago Jhana decided to start Spyglass Ops. Since then she has helped more than 100 businesses scale past 7 & 8-figures. Through Operations consulting, recruitment, and training, Spyglass Ops empowers founders to simultaneously scale their businesses while regaining their personal freedom. Jhana Li started as a COO for multiple startups (while simultaneously traveling full-time in a converted van through N & S America). After seeing countless founders stall out & trap themselves without the proper Operations, 3 years ago Jhana decided to start her own company, Spyglass Ops. Since then she has helped 100+ businesses scale past 7 & 8-figures. Through Operations consulting, recruitment, and training, Spyglass Ops empowers founders to simultaneously scale their businesses while regaining their personal freedom. Contact Jhana on their website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Featuring: David D. Doerrier, Present Your Way to Success Episode 077 features David Durer, an expert in training and development. He shares insights on empowering people to reach their maximum speaking potential. He discusses the principles of adult learning theory, including ownership, complexity, and primacy and recency. He also provides tips for engaging virtual audiences and delivering impactful presentations. David emphasizes the importance of understanding the audience, practicing, and using relatable stories. He also highlights the challenges of virtual presentations and suggests incorporating theater of the mind techniques. Lastly, he advises taking things one step at a time and not getting overwhelmed. Key Takeaways • Understand your audience and deliver your message in a way that connects with them. • Practice, practice, practice to improve your presentation skills. • Use relatable stories to engage your audience and make complex concepts more understandable. • In virtual presentations, incorporate theater of the mind techniques to compensate for the lack of visual and auditory cues. • Take things one step at a time and avoid getting overwhelmed. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:46 The Principles of Adult Learning Theory 07:08 Engaging Virtual Audiences and Delivering Impactful Presentations 16:17 The Importance of Opening and Closing a Presentation 26:18 Advice for Business Professionals With over 30 years of experience in training and development, instructional design, leadership, corporate training, public speaking, and an expert in the Adult Learning Theory, David is passionate about empowering people to reach their maximum speaking potential. Known for his engaging style and ability to connect with his audience, David is in high demand as a speaker and trainer at industry conferences, corporate events, and educational institutions nationwide. He has a knack for simplifying complex concepts and delivering practical insights that enable his clients to elevate their presentation skills. Contact David on his website, on LinkedIn, or grab his free eBook, “Eight Principles of Engagement”

Featuring: Lisa Mullis, Paraphrase Communications In episode 076, I got to sit with Lisa Mullis from Paraphrase Communications. Lisa and I got to discuss the importance of effective brand messaging and copywriting for creative professionals. Lisa shares her journey from running a graphic design studio to focusing on copywriting and helping clients communicate their message. We discuss the challenges of writing copy, especially for oneself, and the impact of poor copy on sales. Lisa also emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to brand messaging and the role of mindset work in business success. Key Takeaways • Effective brand messaging and copywriting are crucial for creative professionals to attract and convert clients. • Writing copy can be challenging, especially when it comes to writing about oneself. • Poor copy can negatively impact sales and the overall perception of a brand. • A comprehensive approach to brand messaging is necessary, addressing all aspects of the business. • Mindset work is essential for overcoming resistance, fear, and anxiety in business. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:06 Challenges of Writing Copy 05:39 Positioning and Communication Challenges for Creative Professionals 10:44 Common Challenges Faced by Creative Professionals 14:27 The Impact of Poor Copy on Sales 26:10 The Importance of Mindset Work in Business Success As a strategic brand coach and copywriter, Lisa helps service-based professionals clarify their messaging and streamline their marketing so they work with better clients, regain their time, and take home more money. Lisa brings a unique skillset that encompasses both sides of brand messaging—the visual and the verbal. As a kid she lived in the world of language, exploring its many forms through writing, art, and music. You could find her either scribbling stories in notebooks or sketching doodles in art pads. At university, she was formally trained as an ad copywriter through her Journalism degree and as a graphic designer through the Fine Arts program. During the first 18 years of her career as a graphic designer and owner-operator of a design studio, Lisa witnessed many clients struggle with what to put on their websites and other marketing collateral—in other words, the words. Keen to help and flex her moves as a wordsmith, she started helping clients develop sales-savvy language. In 2016, she officially transitioned her primary focus from design to copywriting. Today as the head of Paraphrase Communications, Lisa supplements her decades of messaging, design, marketing, and small business acumen with a team of tech specialists for full support from brand strategy to execution. Together they help coaches, consultants, and creative professionals build their businesses through words that win clients—online and in real life—and high-converting marketing funnels that increase productivity and profitability. With a do-it-together approach to brand messaging and implementation, clients gain much-needed clarity through the process, feel emotionally connected to their message which helps them sell more effectively, and grow their impact through an essential business-building skill—writing—which serves them for the life of their business. Throughout the year, Lisa holds live events on messaging, copywriting, and marketing strategies for service providers and shares actionable ideas through her weekly newsletter. To stay in the loop, join her here: https://www.paraphrasecomm.com/em-signup Contact Lisa: Email: lisa@paraphrasecomm.com Web: https://www.paraphrasecomm.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/paraphrasecommunications/ LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhmullis/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/paraphrasecomm Are your words winning or costing you clients? CLIENT CONVERSION QUIZ – Gain instant insight into the gaps in your messaging and marketing so you can improve your connections and conversions. Takes less than 5 minutes and it's free! https://paraphrasecomm.scoreapp.com/  

Featuring: Jason Swenk, Agency Mastery 360 Episode 75 is by far the Swenkiest of all episodes. I had the absolute pleasure of sitting with Jason Swenk, who is hands-down one of the most systemized agency coaches I’ve had the opportunity to speak with. Jason shares the secrets behind building and selling a successful agency, highlighting the power of clarity, positioning, and a solid offering. We dive into the essential pillars of agency growth, from prospecting and sales to leadership and operations. His advice? Stay committed to one goal until you succeed and keep showing up consistently. This is a must-listen for any agency owner looking to scale! Key Takeaways • Clarity, positioning, and offering are foundational elements for building a successful agency. • Prospecting, sales, delivery, operations, and leadership are key systems for agency growth. • Focus on one commitment until success and be consistent in your efforts. • Building strategic partnerships and relationships is crucial for agency success. • Regularly assess and reset your agency's systems and processes to adapt to growth and changes in the market. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:01 The Foundation of Clarity, Positioning, and Offering 09:59 The Key Systems for Agency Growth 22:55 Strategic Partnerships: Unlocking New Opportunities for Agency Growth 26:04 Assessing and Resetting: Adapting Your Agency's Systems for Growth Jason Swenk is the agency advisor & coach who guides marketing agencies through a proven framework for growing their agency faster. Jason is the author of the definitive guide to growing an agency from scratch to two 8-figure enterprises. He is one of the most sought-after advisors to agencies worldwide, thanks to his 8-system framework that has proven successful in scaling his own agency. His expertise has attracted clients like AT&T, Hitachi, and Lotus Cars, ultimately leading to the successful sale of his agency. Contact Jason on his website.

Featuring: Iggy Odighizuwa, Founder of Ai-setters.com In Episode 074, I sat down with Iggy Odigizua, CEO and founder of AISetters.com, to explore how agencies can harness AI tools to book qualified appointments effortlessly. Iggy shares insights from his Leeds Management System, a done-for-you service that helps agencies streamline their operations. We dive into his entrepreneurial journey, from dominating the health and fitness industry to coaching and building successful online businesses. Iggy reveals the benefits of the Leeds system, the challenges agencies face in adopting AI, and why embracing technology is crucial for boosting efficiency and productivity. Key Takeaways • The Leeds Management System is a done-for-you service that uses AI to book vetted and qualified appointments for service-based businesses like agencies. • AI technology can improve efficiency and productivity in agency operations by automating lead management and follow-up processes. • Adopting AI tools in agencies can be challenging due to the learning curve and fear of technology replacing human jobs. • Using AI in agencies can help bridge the gap between sales and marketing, improve lead quality, and enhance client results. • The key to success in business is understanding your target audience and focusing on the boring, but essential, work that gets results. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 04:23 Building High-Ticket Online Coaching Businesses 07:56 Automating Lead Management with AI 10:43 Overcoming Barriers to Adopting AI in Agencies 13:36 Bridging the Gap Between Sales and Marketing with AI 16:11 Enhancing Lead Quality and Client Results with AI 25:24 AI in B2C and D2C 27:24 Rapid Fire Questions 29:32 Invaluable Business Advice Iggy Odighizuwa, CEO and Founder of Ai-setters.com and The Leads Pre-Conversion System a DONE FOR YOU Service That Uses Charlie Ai To Book Vetted & Qualified Appointments For Coaches, Consultants, Agency Owners and Service Based Businesses. Iggy Built his first 7-figure high ticket online coaching business called "Tril 80 Coaching” Since then Iggy has helped to build 20 other 7-figure online coaching businesses and helped build two 8-figure online coaching businesses one of them called "The 4% Club," and over 100 6-figure online coaching businesses. Iggy spent 8 years of his life in Benin a small village in an African country called Nigeria. Contact Iggy on LinkedIn, or his personal or company Facebook pages.

Featuring: Rachel Gertz, Louder Than Ten In Episode 073, I sat down with the brilliant Rachel Gertz, Co-founder of Louder Than Ten, to uncover the real power behind project management. We didn’t just talk about deadlines and deliverables—we dove into how effective project management can transform your agency from the inside out. Rachel shared game-changing insights on leadership, empowering your team, and rethinking the way digital agencies operate. From hiring the right talent to using the right tools for growth, this conversation is packed with strategies you can start using today to take your agency to the next level. Tune in now! Key Takeaways • Project management is a powerful conduit for empowering individuals and driving project success. • Leadership challenges within digital agencies often stem from a lack of delegation and a scarcity mindset. • The integration of project management tools and the development of financial literacy are crucial for effective project management. • The role of project managers extends beyond traditional project delivery, encompassing strategic thinking, revenue growth, and team empowerment. • Personal growth tools, such as journal trackers, can provide valuable insights and self-awareness for professional development. Rachel Gertz is a Co-founder and Direc­tor of Deliv­ery and Growth at Loud­er Than Ten. She helps small to medi­um sized dig­i­tal agen­cies trans­form their dig­i­tal PM oper­a­tions through hands-on train­ing and con­sult­ing. Her mis­sion at Loud­er Than Ten is to pro­pel tech work­ers through an uncer­tain future by train­ing dig­i­tal com­pa­nies how to give pow­er to the peo­ple lead­ing their projects. Contact Rachel on her website or LinkedIn.

Featuring: Peleg Top In episode 072, I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Peleg Top, a talented artist and spiritual director, to tackle a topic every creative professional faces: overcoming creative burnout. If you’ve ever felt drained or stuck in your creative journey, this episode is for you. Peleg and I go way back—over 20 years—and in this conversation, he opens up about his transformative journey from agency owner to guiding others through burnout and into spiritual alignment. Peleg’s insights on the importance of self-love, shifting from a fear-based mindset to one of abundance, and saying "no" more often are powerful reminders for anyone in the creative field. We dive deep into recognizing and transforming toxic beliefs and discuss the fascinating role that plant medicine plays in his work. This episode is packed with wisdom for agency owners and creatives looking to reconnect with their passion and purpose. Don’t miss it! Key Takeaways • Recognize the symptoms of burnout as an opportunity for self-examination and spiritual growth. • Shift from a fear-based mindset to one of abundance and self-love. • Identify and transform toxic beliefs that are holding you back. • Say no more often and trust your intuition. • Create a life and business that aligns with your values and allows you to express your creativity. Bytes of Note 00:00 Introduction and Background 06:06 Recognizing Burnout and Seeking Spiritual Alignment 14:15 Shifting from Fear to Abundance 25:09 The Power of Saying No and Trusting Your Intuition 31:31 Creating a Life and Business Aligned with Your Values Peleg Top is an artist, a trained spiritual director, and a teacher who mentors accomplished creatives and agency owners who meet themselves at a crossroads. His background comes from being an agency owner himself. He ran a leading design and branding firm in Los Angeles for twenty years until he experienced his own spiritual crisis at the age of 40 and decided to shift direction, sell his agency, and become a guide and a coach who teaches creatives how to reinvent themselves. Peleg is the creator of the "Creative High Growth" process, which teaches creatives to rediscover their creative free spirit and guides them to create a life of abundance and prosperity. A world traveler, trained chef, DJ, and breathwork facilitator, Peleg’s mission is to activate and bring more love into the world. Contact Peleg: website: www.PelegTop.com LinkedIn: @PelegTop IG: @PelegTop Free Sample: https://www.pelegtop.com/chg-sample

Featuring: Karl Sakas, Sakas & Company In episode 070, I got to dive into the world of agency mergers and acquisitions with Jonathan Baker, the head of the M&A practice at Punctuation. Jonathan uncovers the secrets behind successful deals in the marketing services industry, shedding light on common pitfalls like leadership changes and cultural mismatches that can derail even the most promising mergers. Discover the key elements that make an agency stand out to potential buyers, including the power of recurring revenue and strategic positioning. Jonathan shares his expert insights on valuation and talks through the sellability index, a tool that helps agencies measure their readiness for acquisition. We explore the latest trends in M&A, the art of succession planning, and why it's crucial for founders to delegate and step back from daily operations. Whether you're looking to buy, sell, or simply learn more about the dynamics of agency mergers, this episode is packed with valuable information and actionable advice. Bytes of Interest • Factors that can cause deals to fail include leadership changes and cultural fit issues. • Recurring revenue and positioning are important factors in making an agency attractive for acquisition. • Valuation should be done annually as part of the business planning process. • The sellability index can help agencies track their progress towards becoming sellable. • Trends in M&A include a higher number of interested buyers than sellers. • Succession planning should consider factors such as age, long-term goals, and the presence of a capable successor. • Founders should delegate and extract themselves from day-to-day operations to enable growth. • Personal goals and fulfillment should guide business decisions. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:11 Factors that Impact the Success of M&A Deals 05:59 The Importance of Recurring Revenue and Positioning in Agency Acquisition 08:41 Valuation and the Sellability Index: Tools for Agency Planning 19:58 Succession Planning: Considerations for Founders 22:38 Delegation and Growth: Extracting Founders from Day-to-Day Operations 25:02 Aligning Business Decisions with Personal Goals Karl Sakas helps digital agency owners ‘Work Less’ and ‘Earn More’… while rewarding their best employees. Drawing on his background in agency operations, Karl has personally advised hundreds of agencies on every inhabited continent. An international speaker, he is the author of three books—including 'Work Less, Earn More'—and more than 400 articles on agency management. When he’s not helping clients, Karl volunteers as a bartender on an antique train. Contact Karl: Articles: https://sakasandcompany.com/adding-new-services/ Freebies: https://sakasandcompany.com/free-resources-for-agencies/ Book: https://worklessearnmorebook.com/ Workshop: https://sakasandcompany.com/agency-lead-gen-training/