Small But Mighty Agency: How to Grow Your Agency

Have you hit a wall in your business, struggling to grow from solopreneur to a lean team that can give you back more time? You’re not alone; it's a common struggle. Building a team for your service business goes beyond hiring people; it's about creating an effective organizational structure, developing processes, improving communication, and stepping into leadership. Today we’re exploring a challenge that shows up at many different stages of business growth.  It's the challenge of learning to let go and give up some control so you can step into your leadership role.Our discussion on the podcast today shares valuable insights to help you overcome these obstacles, step into the CEO role and take your business from good to great. Show LinksWebsite: https://thewrittenworldagency.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewrittenworld/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haley-dagan-3677ab39/“Less is More” is how you scale a service-based businessHow do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now.  You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!)  things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there.I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done.  It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business.  Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmapHey thank 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-ep62Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis 

Are you ready to take your business to the next level but feeling held back by fears and doubts? Join us for an inspiring episode where we explore the topic of cultivating courage as an entrepreneur. Hint: courage isn’t always about doing more; it can be about doing less. We discuss the not-so-obvious blocks that can hinder your growth and provide insights to overcome them. Discover the power of breaking free from generational conditioning and family expectations, evolving your identity, and recognizing your true self-worth. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this episode is about taking a new perspective – slowing down to grow – in today’s fast-paced business environment. Hear how this agency owner cultivated the courage to succeed. Show LinksWebsite: bartlettbrands.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bartlett-brands/about/Instagram: instagram.com/bartlettbrands/“Less is More” is how you scale a service-based businessHow do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now.  You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!)  things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there.I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done.  It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business.  Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmapHey thank 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-ep61Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis 

Attention all creatives, consultants, and marketers!Is the agency model the best path for scaling your service business?In this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency Podcast, I tackle this question and share my insights on the agency model drawing from nine years of hands-on experience building and coaching multiple six and seven-figure agency owners. I discuss the right time to consider the agency model, the difference between being self-employed and a business owner, and the self-employment trap that many service providers fall into. Plus, you'll learn the importance of consciously choosing between self-employment or business ownership and building effective systems and processes for team delivery.Find out if the agency model is the right choice for your business. “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based businessHow do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now.  You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!)  things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there.I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done.  It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business.  Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmapHey thank 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-ep60Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis  

Do your clients see you as a partner or a vendor? What is the difference, and why does it matter?My guests today reached their first annual $500K in revenue by prioritizing setting themselves up as a partner to their clients and establishing a strategic relationship that is long term. If you’re in a vendor relationship, it's transactional, and your clients contact you when a transaction is needed. In a partner relationship, you have a deeper connection, including insights into the organizations' processes, working styles and communication, leading to more trust and long-term clients.  Hear how this duo prioritizes building partnerships with their clients and why they kept their full-time job until the agency hit $500k in annual revenue. Show LinksWebsite: https://cxd.studio/Katherine LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherineboyarsky/Gabby LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielap93/“Less is More” is how you scale a service-based businessHow do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now.  You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!)  things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there.I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done.  It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business.  Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmapHey thank 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-ep59Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis 

How to double your revenue and increase client retention in your business? It takes more than just getting more clients. Consider how the business can be sustainable when you want to double your revenue. You need to build internal capacity in your business. Nobody wants a rollercoaster service business when the churn rate is high, one month, you’re feasting, and the following month you’re fasting. While marketing and sales are essential, sustainability and scalability require strategic considerations, including how your team operates and delivers your services. Today’s episode explores four strategic activities that helped this agency owner double her revenue and increase client retention – with sustainability as the actual measurement of success. Show LinksWebsite: https://talkfastsocial.com/Instagram: @talkfastsocial“Less is More” is how you scale a service-based businessHow do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now.  You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!)  things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there.I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done.  It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business.  Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmapHey thank 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-ep58Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis 

Is now the right time to change, pivot or develop a new offer in your business?As business owners, we can’t be tone death to what's happening in the market and the economy – both are different than just two years ago. What might have been working two years ago in your niche is rapidly changing, requiring you to make potentially big decisions. Today, we have a  timely discussion from an entrepreneur of 18 years who has been named Best Female Marketing and PR CEO of the Year (USA) by Global 100. Listen to how she’s made some critical choices in her business, including insights from going through the 2008 recession and how she applies the lessons to her business today.Show Linksthreegirlsmedia.com: https://www.threegirlsmedia.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikamontgomery/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikataylormontgomery/“Less is More” is how you scale a service-based businessHow do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now.  You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!)  things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there.I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done.  It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business.  Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmapHey thank 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-ep57Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis 

What’s one of the best ways to grow faster and avoid painful mistakes? That’s an easy one for me: getting a mentor. As a business owner, having mentors helped me gain experiences not shared in books found on bookshelves; I’ve benefited from a better understanding of their wins and mistakes. But mentorship isn’t just for a business owner; it's also for your team and helping them reach their highest potential. Today, we’re talking about diversity, equity and inclusion in marketing and marketing agencies and, more specifically, ethnic and racial representation in mentorship.A Harvard Business Review article titled Truth About Mentoring Minorities: Race Matters inspired this episode. It took me back to when I started my agency career and what I wished was more available.If mentorship is important to you, tune into this episode. Show LinksTruth About Mentoring Minorities: Race Matters https://hbr.org/2001/04/race-mattersAsians In Advertising: https://www.asiansinadvertising.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suziebao/“Less is More” is how you scale a service-based businessHow do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now.  You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!)  things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there.I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done.  It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business.  Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmapHey thank 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-ep56Podcast Edits by Lindsay Curtis 

Do you believe in planning for more happiness and joy in your business? If you’re like me, you got your planning done in December, or maybe, January is the month you start planning.I don’t know a business owner who isn’t doing some sort of planning right now.Whether you do it at the end of the year or the beginning of the year, there’s no wrong or right time.But there is one thing many small business owners don’t do when they make strategic plans: you don’t actively plan for more happiness. That’s why in today’s episode, we talk about making happiness soup in 2023 and the five necessary ingredients to add to your plans for more joy. Show Links:Website: https://www.katiejefcoat.com/Podcast: https://www.katiejefcoat.com/happiness“Less is More” is how you scale a service-based businessHow do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now.  You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!)  things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there.I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done.  It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business.  Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmapHey thank 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-ep55

Here are the big four lessons I learned this year that helped me make money and grow my business by 30%. Each lesson is a way of thinking and being as we head into 2023, where the trend points towards buying decisions taking longer because people are more careful with spending.Hear why these lessons make me a better business owner with an even greater potential to accelerate growth in the new year: Welcome the fear of doing something new but keep it simple. Nurturing genuine relationships is marketing, not vanity metrics.Find your pace, don’t race. You can achieve all the goals and still have mindset snafus. “Less is More” is how you scale a service-based businessHow do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now.  You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!)  things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there.I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done.  It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business.  Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmapHey thank 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-ep54/

What is a significant advantage of a small agency?It’s the ability to stay in its lane and go deep into a niche. Today, we’re talking to an agency owner about her niche in cultural intelligence. Cultural intelligence is not just a hot topic but a much-needed one. Authentic representation matters because it empowers. I’m speaking from my own experience as an Asian-Canadian who grew up seeing very few, if, at all, Asians represented as business owners (except for the stereotypical laundry mat or corner store owner). Cultural intelligence supports responsible brands in learning the difference between authentic and inauthentic ways to have diverse representation. I’m all for the authentic; I hope you are too. If that’s you, tune into this episode of the Small But Mighty Agency to hear how cultural intelligence in indigenous communities connects this agency owner to big brands. Show LinksWebsite: https://deplume.ca/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/design_de_plume/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/design-de-plume/“Less is More” is how you scale a service-based businessHow do I know this? I can 100% relate to where you are now.  You feel like you’re wearing too many hats and can’t do it all… I know that if you create a complex business that makes you feel trapped, you will never want to grow your business. You’ll do little (or big!)  things to self-sabotage growth because you don’t want to scale overwhelm; nobody does. I’ve been there.I learned this lesson as the second in command of an agency. I could not turn off my brain and relax because I would worry about what was and wasn’t being done.  It wasn’t until I looked at the business from a productized service perspective. It gave us more bandwidth to double the revenue and sell and exit the business.  Since then, I’ve been behind the scenes of six and seven-figure service-based businesses, helping agency owners who are at capacity get out of being stuck in service delivery to scale. It all starts by looking through the lens of a productized service. Download the FREE productize your service roadmap: https://audreyjoykwan.com/roadmapHey 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.