Small But Mighty Agency: How to Grow Your Agency

How do you know when your agency has outgrown its brand  and what actually happens when you decide to change it after 17 years?Today’s episode gives you a rare behind-the-scenes look at a rebrand most agency owners never get to witness. My guest, Kim Atkinson, co-founder and COO of Foundery, recently led her agency through a full transformation after nearly two decades of being known as “Ontario SEO.”What started as a small, local SEO shop evolved into an international, full-service digital agency… but the brand didn’t evolve with them. And eventually, the name that once helped them grow became the very thing holding them back.In this conversation, Kim opens the door to the real journey. The fears, the hesitation, the naming battles, the internal alignment, and the strategic decisions that helped them pull off a rebrand without losing momentum.Whether your agency has been around for 17 years or you're only a few years in, you’ll walk away with clarity on:how to know your brand no longer reflects your business,what to prepare for before changing anything,how to protect your visibility during the transition, andwhat shifts once your brand finally matches who you are today.It’s an honest, practical sneak-peek into a rebrand done thoughtfully and a meaningful listen if you’re sensing it might be time for your own evolution.Let’s dive in.Show Notes:-Website: Foundery.ca-Kim's LinkedInHey thanks for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep142Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis

There’s a stage in agency growth that looks successful on the outside but feels limiting on the inside. You’re delivering great work, clients are happy, and your reputation is solid… yet you’re still underpriced, overextended, and not seen as the strategic partner you know you are.This silent slowdown has a name: the value gap and most agencies stay in it far longer than they realize.In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, we unpack why this happens and how it ties directly to the three levels of competitive power that agencies move through as they grow. Most agencies unknowingly get stuck in the middle level, where their work is good enough to grow, but their positioning quietly caps their value.In this episode, we explore:Why “good work” is no longer enough to stand outThe 3 levels of agency competitive power and where most firms plateauThe shift from selling deliverables to selling outcomesWhy premium pricing follows transformation, not effortHow specialization becomes strategic leverageWhen you get clear on the big outcome you deliver, everything starts to line up. You can see what conditions need to be in place, who’s actually a right-fit client, and where your best results come from.At that point, growth isn’t about doing more work. It’s about solving a bigger, more meaningful problem that earns higher value.Listen in to explore where your agency sits today and what it takes to move beyond the ceiling.Show Notes:The Hands off CEO book: handsoffceo.com/book Mandi's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mandiellefsonHey thanks for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep141Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis

Most agency owners leave referrals to chance, but that's about to change! Explore the importance of designing a proactive referral system rather than waiting for luck. Discover how trust is becoming the key to growth in 2026, as passive referrals give way to strategic partnerships. Learn about the roles in a Strategic Partnership Squad that can turn word-of-mouth into a system for repeatable success. From connectors to collaborators, these roles can create momentum and generate recurring revenue. Time to engineer your referrals!

Discover how to transform trust into a scalable system for agency growth. Explore the power of micro-offers to ease client hesitations and create stronger connections. Learn to be a strategic partner by anticipating risks and shifting your role. See how revealing your processes can enhance client loyalty. Understand the importance of defining success early to set realistic expectations. Finally, demystify AI to build credibility and showcase your value. These insights will revolutionize the way you approach client relationships.

Raising prices when the market feels shaky? It sounds risky, right?I’ve been there. A few years ago, I was staring down one of the toughest decisions in our agency.Costs were rising. Salaries were climbing. And the market felt anything but stable.The easy move would have been to freeze prices and hope things worked out.But that would have put the entire business at risk.So we raised prices. And clients said yes.Not because it was comfortable, but because we leaned on a few key levers that I still believe in today.In this episode of Small But Mighty Agency, I’m breaking down five levers that help you raise your prices in a disrupted market without losing the clients you want to keep.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll hear:Why specialists hold pricing power while generalists get squeezed.How to repackage your offers so clients see you as adapting, not stagnating.The kind of financial leadership that gives you confidence in your pricing.A simple way to frame value-based pricing so clients see your fees as an investment, not a cost.How client relationships act like a “trust bank account” that makes price increases easier.If you’ve ever wondered “How can I raise prices right now?” — this episode will give you clarity and confidence to strengthen your pricing power heading into the new year.These are the kinds of conversations we dive into inside Agency Together. And if you’d like to be in the room with other agency owners for real talk about pricing, partnerships, and growth, join our free Strategic Partnership Mixer — the link is below.RSVP to the Strategic Partnership Mixer on November 12th at 10:30 am PST.Hey thanks for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep138Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis

If you’ve ever tried to build systems in your agency, this episode is going to blow your mind in the best way.Because what if the real problem isn’t the tools you’re using or the fact that you “just need to make time” for it? What if the reason systems don’t stick... is because you’re the wrong person to be building them?This week, I’m joined by David Jenyns, entrepreneur, author of Systemology and his brand new book Systems Champion. We dig into the uncomfortable truth about why systems fail, why AI won’t save you (yet), and how to finally get your agency running without you in the weeds.You’ll walk away with a new lens on systems, not as something you have to do alone, but as something you can delegate and scale, starting now.In this episode, we unpack:Why business owners are the worst people to build systems (even if they love them)The role of a Systems Champion and how it could be the game-changer you’ve been missingWhat makes a great Systems Champion (hint: it’s not years of experience)How AI fits into all this and why systems thinking is more essential than everA simple mindset shift to help your team stop resisting systems and start owning themThe compounding power of small systems wins (think: 10% to 60% profit increase)This isn’t just about process. It’s about reclaiming your time, building a business that runs (and grows) without you, and setting your agency up to thrive in an AI-powered world.Tune in and discover how freeing yourself from systems might be the best move for scaling your agency.Links Mentioned:David's Website: https://www.systemology.com/Hey thanks for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one.Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep137Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis

From one-off brand shoots to a seven-figure agency on a subscription model, here’s how it happened.What if brand shoots weren’t just one-off projects, but the foundation of a scalable business model?In this episode, you’ll hear how one agency transformed brand shoots into a subscription-based system and built a seven-figure agency along the way. By creating a model where clients receive fresh, strategic visuals quarter after quarter, anywhere in the world, they’ve proven that creativity and systems don’t just coexist they fuel each other.We cover:Why clients are obsessed with visuals and how to deliver them at scale.The certification system that ensures every creative hire meets the mark.How quarterly campaigns reinvent the same offer for new results.The “Power Up” referral model that makes collaboration seamless.This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at how to scale creativity without losing the magic—and why the right systems can unlock extraordinary growth.Contact Lyrik:-WorkPlay Branding Website: https://workplaybranding.com/-WorkPlay Branding Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workplaybranding/-Lyrik on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyrik.fryer/-Lyrik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyrikfryer/Hey thanks for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep136Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis

Dan Englander, founder of Sales Schema and author of Relationship Sales at Scale, discusses how agency owners can shift from cold outreach to trust-based growth strategies. He argues that cold tactics widen the trust gap and emphasizes the importance of referral systems over accidental connections. Dan highlights the need for genuine commonalities to build relevance and the role of specialization in establishing credibility. He also stresses that agency founders must lead relationship-building efforts for sustainable success.

If you’re stuck between “too busy to stay small” and “not structured enough to scale,” this episode is built for you.Everyone talks about growing to seven figures but no one warns you about what happens in the messy middle between solo and sustainable.In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency podcast, I sit down with Carly Moir, Founder and CEO of White Canvas Design, to unpack what the messy middle of agency growth really looks like — and what it takes to move through it with intention and integrity.We dive into:The moment she realized she couldn’t do it alone anymore (and who she hired first)Building recurring revenue through better boundaries and actual retainers (not “half-retainers”)The decision to hire a project manager and business development manager — and why both were game changersHow she stays values-driven while growing (and what success really looks like to her now)If you’re in that in-between stage — no longer a scrappy solo, but not yet a well-oiled team — this conversation will feel like a deep exhale.Resources Mentioned:White ​Canvas ​Design ​Agency: https://whitecanvasdesign.ca/Instagram: instagram.com/whitecanvasdesignagencyHey thanks for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep134Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis

Specializing is scary. But focusing on one high-growth niche can take your agency to multiple seven figures without working harder.If committing to one niche feels risky, Erica’s story will show you what’s possible on the other side.This week, I’m joined by Erica Hakonson, CEO of Maven Collective Marketing, an agency that went all in on one niche: Microsoft Partners.And here’s the wild thing…Once they declared that focus, clients didn’t hesitate, they started saying: “How have we not heard of you yet?”This episode is packed with real talk about what it takes to go narrow, go deep, and build trust that actually compounds. Erica shares how they became the go-to marketing partner in the Microsoft Partner ecosystem, and how research, relationships, and restraint have fueled their growth.Here’s what we cover:Why declaring a single niche was the turning pointHow proprietary research changed the gameWhat it takes to deeply onboard and upskill a teamThe upside of saying no to wrong-fit clients and hiring before you feel readyIf you’re wrestling with whether going all in on a niche is “too limiting,” this episode will shine light. 🎧 Listen in, and then share it with a fellow agency owner who needs to hear it.Resources mentioned:Maven Collective Website: https://mavencollectivemarketing.comLinkedIn: Erika Hakonson Youtube: Maven CollectiveHey thanks for hanging out with me at the Small But Mighty Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode it would mean the world to me if you hit the follow or subscribe button in your podcast app and share it with a friend. And I’ll see you on the next one. Get the full show notes and more information here: https://audreyjoykwan.com/podcast/ep133Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis