The Digital Agency Growth Podcast

Brandon Leibowitz, founder of SEO Optimizers, has nearly two decades of experience in digital marketing. He discusses the transformative impact of AI on SEO, the critical role of schema in enhancing visibility, and the balance between AI and human creativity. Brandon shares his journey from agency work to entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of adaptability in changing marketplaces. He offers practical tips for business growth, including effective delegation and developing robust systems to thrive amid rapid industry evolution.

As an agency owner or B2B service provider, navigating today’s rapidly shifting buyer behavior can feel challenging. In this episode of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast, Dan Englander joins Nikki Rausch on The Sales Maven Podcast for a dynamic conversation on the trust recession and how businesses can adapt to succeed in 2025 and beyond.Watch our latest video training, How to Take Charge of Your Agency’s Future Revenue. During this training, you’ll learn how we get qualified appointments every week using tasteful and highly targeted email outreach.In this episode of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast, Dan shares the importance of having a clear vision and understanding long-term goals in order to make informed decisions, seek the right partnerships, and stay ahead of shifting trends.In this episode, Dan and Nikki discuss:The evolution from scaling-focused goals to exit-focused planning.How disillusionment in the market has created a trust recession.Why businesses need to leverage scarcity and authentic connections.The role of secret languages and industry terminology in sales.How to future-proof your sales process and stand out.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, and review the podcast. Share your key takeaways with us!Connect with Nikki Rausch:LinkedInSales Maven Sales Maven PodcastConnect with Dan Englander:LinkedInSales Schema

As an agency owner, it’s easy to focus on lead generation and ignore what happens after someone enters your funnel. But neglecting the middle of the funnel could be the biggest mistake that's costing you clients. Brandi Starr, COO at Tegrita and host of the Revenue Rehab podcast, joins us this week to share how agencies can fix this common gap and build stronger sales pipelines.With over 20 years of experience working with B2B companies, Brandi shares how agencies can better align sales and marketing, optimize their client journey, and finally stop losing prospects in the middle of the funnel.Watch our latest video training, How to Take Charge of Your Agency’s Future Revenue. During this training, you’ll learn how we get qualified appointments every week using tasteful and highly targeted email outreach.In this episode of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast, Brandi Starr shares insights on the role of middle-of-funnel marketing, how to define “sales-ready” leads, and why so many agencies struggle to move prospects from interest to action. She also explains what CMOs are really looking for when working with agency partners. Brandi is the COO at Tegrita, a consultancy that helps companies unlock the power of email marketing, and she’s been named one of the Top 50 Women in MarTech. She also hosts the Revenue Rehab podcast, where she explores the tough conversations marketing leaders need to have.In This Episode, Dan and Brandi Discuss:The middle-of-funnel mistake that’s costing agencies clients — and how to fix itWhy agencies struggle to move leads from interest to sale — and how to change thatWhat CMOs and marketing leaders really want from agencies todayHow to align sales and marketing around a true "sales-ready" definitionWhy focusing only on lead generation isn’t enough — and how to build trust that closes dealsThank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, and review the podcast — and let me know your key takeaways!CONNECT WITH BRANDI STARR:LinkedInTegritaRevenue Rehab CONNECT WITH DAN ENGLANDER:LinkedInSales Schema 

As an agency owner, have you ever stopped doing something that used to work — even though you knew it was effective? You’re not alone. In this solo episode, Dan Englander, CEO of Sales Schema, shares hard truths about why agencies unintentionally sabotage their own growth, from drifting away from proven processes to falling into the trap of over-optimizing for “buyers” instead of building real relationships.Dan combines some of his most popular LinkedIn insights into a single episode, giving you a frank, behind-the-scenes look at what’s working and what’s not for agency business development in 2025.Watch our latest video training, How to Take Charge of Your Agency’s Future Revenue. During this training, you’ll learn how we get qualified appointments every week using tasteful and highly targeted email outreach.In this episode of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast, Dan covers:Why agency owners drift away from successful strategies — and how to course correctThe dangers of relying too heavily on referrals and reactive salesWhy specialization isn’t static — and how niches keep evolvingHow to break through “head trash” and false assumptions that block new businessThe truth about outbound KPIs and why just one conversation per day can transform your agencyThe biggest mistake agencies make with intent data — and how to fix itWhat agencies can learn from rock bands, jiu-jitsu, and even elite marathon runnersThank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about The Digitial Agency Growth Podcast at https://www.salesschema.com/podcast/ and our Video training at http://salesschema.com/takecharge CONNECT WITH DAN ENGLANDER:LinkedInSales Schema 

As an agency owner, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by financial uncertainty, longer sales cycles, and unpredictable revenue. Ryan Watson, Partner at Upsourced Accounting, joins us this week to share key financial strategies agencies need to stay profitable and sustainable. With deep expertise in outsourced finance and CFO advisory, Ryan breaks down how agencies can navigate financial turbulence and position themselves for long-term success.Watch our latest video training, How to Take Charge of Your Agency’s Future Revenue. During this training, you’ll learn how we get qualified appointments every week using tasteful and highly targeted email outreach.In this episode of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast, Ryan Watson shares insights into financial trends, revenue challenges, and the biggest profitability mistakes agencies are making today. He also highlights the key strategies that separate thriving agencies from those struggling to stay afloat.Ryan is the Partner at Upsourced Accounting, a firm specializing in outsourced finance and CFO advisory for agencies. With years of experience working with creative and digital businesses, he helps agencies optimize their financial strategies to achieve scalable growth.In This Episode, Dan and Ryan Discuss:The balance between standardizing financial processes and preserving agency flexibilityThe biggest financial mistakes agencies make (and how to fix them)How longer sales cycles and economic uncertainty are impacting agency growthThe importance of repeatable revenue streams for long-term financial stabilityHow founders should approach financial decision-making and profitability optimizationThank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about The Digitial Agency Growth Podcast at https://www.salesschema.com/podcast/ and our Video training at http://salesschema.com/takecharge CONNECT WITH RYAN WATSON:LinkedInUpsourced Upsourced YoutubeCONNECT WITH DAN ENGLANDER:LinkedInSales SchemaStop relying on unpredictable referrals and take control of your agency's future growth. Go to salesschema.com/takecharge to access the free training now. 

Selling isn’t just about persuasion—it’s about connection. Nikki Rausch, founder of Sales Maven and an expert in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) for sales, joins us this week to share her insights on building trust, guiding conversations effectively, and closing deals with confidence.Nikki breaks down the psychology behind successful sales interactions, how small communication shifts can create a big impact, and why sales isn’t something you do to people—it’s something you do with them. She also walks us through her Selling Staircase framework, a step-by-step process for guiding prospects toward a confident “yes” without resorting to high-pressure tactics.This week, episode 250 of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast is about mastering authentic sales, building trust with NLP techniques, and selling with confidence in a competitive market! Watch our latest video training, How to Take Charge of Your Agency’s Future Revenue. During this training, you’ll learn how we get qualified appointments every week using tasteful and highly targeted email outreach.In this episode of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast, Nikki Rausch shares why your word choice, tone, and body language matter more than you think—and how to adjust them to create stronger client relationships. Plus, she provides actionable strategies to help you recognize buying signals, lead productive sales conversations, and sell in a way that feels natural and comfortable.Nikki Rausch is the founder of Sales Maven and the host of the Sales Maven Podcast. With over 25 years of selling experience and extensive training in NLP, she has helped countless business owners transform the way they approach sales. She’s also the author of three books and a sought-after speaker in the sales and marketing space.In this episode, Dan and Nikki discuss the following:How small shifts in communication can dramatically impact sales outcomes.The Selling Staircase framework and how to guide prospects through the buying process.Why word choice, body language, and tone matter in sales conversations.How to recognize and act on buying signals to close deals more effectively.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about The Digitial Agency Growth Podcast at https://www.salesschema.com/podcast/ and our Video training at http://salesschema.com/takecharge CONNECT WITH NIKKI RAUSCHLinkedInSales MavenSales Maven PodcastCONNECT WITH DAN ENGLANDER:LinkedInSales SchemaStop relying on unpredictable referrals and take control of your agency's future growth. Go to salesschema.com/takecharge to access the free training now. Stop relying on unpredictable referrals and take control of your agency's future growth. Go to salesschema.com/takecharge to access the free training now. 

What does it take to scale, sell, and sustain a thriving agency? As an agency owner, finding the right balance between structure and creativity can be a challenge. Spencer Gallagher, founder of Cactus and co-author of Agencynomics, joins us this week to share his insights on scaling agencies, building long-term value, and navigating the ever-changing industry landscape. Spencer dives into the importance of treating your agency as an asset, leveraging data and AI, and understanding how top agencies position themselves for acquisition.This week, episode 249 of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast is about scaling smarter, increasing agency value, and staying ahead in the evolving digital landscape!Watch our latest video training, How to Take Charge of Your Agency’s Future Revenue. During this training, you’ll learn how we get qualified appointments every week using tasteful and highly targeted email outreach.In this episode, Spencer Gallagher shares the key factors that separate agencies that successfully exit from those that don’t—and how to build a business that buyers actually want. He also breaks down the biggest shifts happening in the agency world and how owners can adapt to thrive.Spencer Gallagher is the founder of Cactus, a consulting firm specializing in helping agencies scale and prepare for acquisition. He built and sold his own agency, Blue Halo, and now advises agency owners on growth, operations, and maximizing business value.In this episode, Dan and Spencer discuss:The #1 mistake agency owners make when scaling—and how to avoid it.Why data and AI-driven agencies are in high demand.How to structure your agency for long-term growth and a successful exit.The future of agency business models and why adaptability is key.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about The Digitial Agency Growth Podcast at https://www.salesschema.com/podcast/ and our Video training at http://salesschema.com/takecharge CONNECT WITH SPENCER GALLAGHER:LinkedInCactus AgencynomicsCONNECT WITH DAN ENGLANDER:LinkedInSales SchemaStop relying on unpredictable referrals and take control of your agency's future growth. Go to salesschema.com/takecharge to access the free training now. 

The proposal process can be one of the biggest bottlenecks for agencies, leading to lost deals, scope creep, and unnecessary stress. Joe Ardeeser, founder of Smart Pricing Table, joins us to share how agencies can streamline proposals, close deals faster, and maximize profitability. Joe covers how agencies can eliminate inefficiencies, standardize their pricing, and leverage upsells to maximize every opportunity. This week, episode 248 of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast is all about optimizing your proposal process and closing deals faster!Watch our latest video training, How to Take Charge of Your Agency’s Future Revenue. During this training, you’ll learn how we get qualified appointments every week using tasteful and highly targeted email outreach.In this episode of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast, Joe Ardeeser shares insights on how agencies can improve their proposal workflows, reduce wasted time, and increase conversions by creating structured, client-friendly proposals that sell.Joe Ardeeser is a former agency owner with over 12 years of experience working with brands like Bluetooth, Scantron, and T-Mobile. Now, as the founder of Smart Pricing Table, he’s helping agencies revolutionize their sales process with interactive proposal software designed for efficiency and profitability.In this episode, Dan and Joe discuss the following:The biggest mistakes agencies make with proposals—and how to fix themHow to create a sales catalog to speed up and standardize your pricingThe power of upsells and add-ons to increase deal size effortlesslyWhy proposal review meetings can significantly boost your close rateThank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, and review the podcast. Let us know your key takeaways!Learn more about The Digitial Agency Growth Podcast at https://www.salesschema.com/podcast/ and our Video training at http://salesschema.com/takecharge CONNECT WITH JOE ARDEER:LinkedInSmart Pricing Table websiteFree GuideCONNECT WITH DAN ENGLANDER:LinkedInSales SchemaStop relying on unpredictable referrals and take control of your agency's future growth. Go to salesschema.com/takecharge to access the free training now. Stop relying on unpredictable referrals and take control of your agency's future growth. Go to salesschema.com/takecharge to access the free training now. 

Are you looking for a fresh way to get ahead in a competitive market? Greg Brooks, a seasoned entrepreneur with a background in professional poker, shares game-changing insights on how to leverage strategic thinking, risk assessment, and calculated decision-making to transform your agency’s revenue. In this illuminating conversation, Greg takes us through the key parallels between poker and agency growth—revealing how to apply a winning mindset in everything from client acquisition to team leadership. This week, The Digital Agency Growth Podcast is all about embracing the art of strategic planning and risk management!Watch our latest video training, How to Take Charge of Your Agency’s Future Revenue. During this training, you’ll learn how we get qualified appointments every week using tasteful and highly targeted email outreach.In this episode of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast, Greg dives into the importance of mapping out a clear plan before going “all in,” helping agencies avoid costly missteps. He also outlines practical steps you can take right now to identify quality leads, streamline decision-making, and ensure that your agency’s growth efforts are rooted in both data and instinct.Greg comes from a world where one bold move can make—or break—a game. Having successfully transitioned his poker acumen to the agency space, Greg now guides other owners on how to balance strategic creativity with calculated risk. Whether you’re looking to improve your closing rate, enhance client relationships, or simply avoid “gambling” on untested tactics, this episode offers a masterclass in stepping up to the table with confidence.In this episode, Dan and Greg discuss the following:Bringing a poker mindset to business and how risk tolerance can spark innovative strategies.The value of data-driven decisions—why going “all in” requires both gut instinct and solid facts.Developing a flexible yet focused approach to client outreach, ensuring every lead is high-value.Empowering teams with a winning perspective so everyone plays a part in driving agency success.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, and review the podcast—and be sure to share your key takeaways!Learn more about The Digitial Agency Growth Podcast at https://www.salesschema.com/podcast/ and our Video training at http://salesschema.com/takecharge CONNECT WITH GREG BROOKS:LinkedInSEARCHTIDESCONNECT WITH DAN ENGLANDER:LinkedInSales SchemaStop relying on unpredictable referrals and take control of your agency's future growth. Go to salesschema.com/takecharge to access the free training now. 

As an agency owner, transitioning from referrals to a scalable sales system can feel overwhelming. In this special episode of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast, our host Dan Englander takes the guest seat on Agency Bites with Steve Guberman to share actionable insights and strategies for agency growth.  This week, episode 246 of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast is about building trust, creating scalable sales systems, and transitioning from owner-led sales to predictable growth! Watch our latest video training, How to Take Charge of Your Agency’s Future Revenue. During this training, you’ll learn how we get qualified appointments every week using tasteful and highly targeted email outreach.In this episode of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast, Dan Englander discusses the challenges agencies face with owner-led sales and over-reliance on referrals. He shares actionable strategies to build trust, segment your market, and create scalable systems for predictable revenue growth. Steve Guberman is the Founder of Agency Outsight and host of Agency Bites, where he helps creative entrepreneurs build thriving agencies. With a focus on balancing creativity and operational efficiency, Steve empowers agency owners to overcome challenges, refine their processes, and achieve sustainable growth. Through his coaching and podcast, Steve delivers actionable insights for agency leaders navigating today’s competitive landscape. In this episode, Dan and Steve cover topics like:How to overcome the limitations of referral-based growth.Building trust through personalized outreach and clear targeting.Creating a scalable sales system before hiring a dedicated salesperson.Strategies for transitioning owner-led sales to a team-driven approach.The importance of clarity and segmentation in outbound sales.If you’re an agency owner looking to streamline your sales process and grow sustainably, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you build a foundation for success.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!Learn more about The Digitial Agency Growth Podcast at https://www.salesschema.com/podcast/ and our Video training at http://salesschema.com/takecharge CONNECT WITH STEVE GUBERMAN:LinkedInOutsightYouTubeAgency Bytes podcastCONNECT WITH DAN ENGLANDER:LinkedInSales SchemaStop relying on unpredictable referrals and take control of your agency's future growth. Go to salesschema.com/takecharge to access the free training now.