The Innovative Agency

Have systems and processes been put on the backburner in your agency? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by entrepreneur and self-proclaimed process nerd, Gray MacKenzie. In only nine years he’s helped more than 2,400 digital agencies build more productive and profitable agency teams. During our conversation, Gray shares the most common operational issues, and how to begin implementing a more efficient project management framework. What you will learn in this episode: The most commonly encountered agency operational issues Why agencies need systems to accurately determine profitability What internal agency metrics do clients frequently ask for, and why a client would typically ask for agency metrics How agencies can improve their project management framework Why it’s more efficient to build your processes within your project management tool How systems and processes can impact agency ROI and internal retention Where agencies should begin with selecting and implementing a project management tool  Bio Gray MacKenzie from ZenPilot is a bona fide process nerd who has gone under the hood with 2400+ digital agencies over the past 9 years in search of the best way to build and lead healthier, more productive, and more profitable agency teams. Resources: Website: https://www.zenpilot.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZenPilotHQ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sgraymackenzie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graymackenzie How to Choose the Best Project Management Tool for Your Agency

Are you struggling to scale and sell in your agency? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by CEO, Founder, and Author, Daniel Englander. He helps marketing agencies and B2B service companies accelerate their business growth. During our conversation, Daniel discusses the struggles that agencies face in their business development, as well as the most important tactics for building relationships and accelerating growth. What you will learn in this episode: Why it’s important to prioritize building trust with connections and targets The most significant missed opportunity for business development in agencies How to be more proactive with relationship mapping in your agency Why reengagement over longer periods of time is crucial for winning clients How thought leadership interacts with, and aids in, business development and sales Why outbound marketing is the best option if you have limited time How writing and publishing a book can help to sell your professional services easier How to integrate your book to accelerate business growth for your agency  Bio Dan Englander is the CEO and Founder of Sales Schema, a fractional new business team for marketing agencies and B2B service companies, and he hosts The Digital Agency Growth Podcast. He's the author of Relationship Sales At Scale and Mastering Account. Resources: Dan's Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XRD71P3 Website: https://workwith.salesschema.com/rsas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danenglander/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/sales-schema

Is your agency charging for more than just tangible deliverables? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, we are joined by Brand Strategist and Business Growth Accelerator, Karley Cunningham. She takes businesses from overcrowded, competitive spaces out into blue ocean territory where they can confidently stand out and thrive as brand leaders in their sector. During our conversation, Karley discusses the challenges that come from selling services and the benefits of collaborating on strategy. What you will learn in this episode: Why agencies are hesitant to charge separately for strategy How being seen solely as a creative can limit your ability to be seen as a strategic thinker How to help clients see the value in the process instead of just the deliverables What are the five value points that you explain to clients during the sales process How to shift your mindset into being brave enough to propose strategy as a stand-alone service What is the difference between a consultation and a strategy session Why working in stages or phases is beneficial to both the client and agency How to transition from work-for-hire to fee-for-strategy in your agency   Bio Having built three successful businesses, Karley knows what it takes to start, develop and lead a company that delivers results. Her entrepreneurial success story is featured in the awarded book, The Widest Net by Pamela Slim. In addition, she's a sought-after mentor and speaker for national and international business organizations and the host of The Made Possible podcast. Believing deeply in the practice of givers gain, she is well-known and networked and rarely goes a day without making a referral or connection. As a former pro athlete, Karley is performance-driven. An avid mountain athlete, she is a two-time finisher of the BC Bike Race, a seven-day, 325 km mountain bike stage race, and is always looking out for her next trail running adventure. When not focusing on the business or expanding her network, she can be found somewhere in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest with her wife and dog in their 4x4. Resources: Website: www.bigboldbrand.com Free Brand Audit & Guide: https://www.bigboldbrand.com/surefireaudit/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karleycunningham/

Are you hoping things will change in your agency? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, guest Blake Mahon is the founder of media and creative powerhouse, Triarc. He helps leaders find dynamic solutions for rapid and sustainable growth. During our conversation, he shares how he developed core systems and client packages that allow his agency to continue on a path of rapid growth. What you will learn in this episode: Why it’s important for the core of your systems and processes to be consistent throughout your agency When you should begin to include team members in new frameworks and systems How to build packages and products to meet individual client needs What are the advantages and disadvantages of working in yearly contracts Where to begin when pivoting and adapting to economic changes Why it’s becoming more common for agencies to collaborate for the common good of a mutual client  Bio Rapid and sustainable growth is Blake Mahon’s true passion. Getting dynamic solutions into the hands of leaders is his calling. Empowering a team to do the above provides him with sustained gratification. As the founder of Triarc, a media & creative powerhouse, Blake has the unique privilege to indulge in all of the above. Triarc is a nimble and fast-paced startup that is set to disrupt the traditional agency model. Resources: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thinktriarc  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/18260874/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/thinktriarc 

Have you considered exiting your agency recently? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, guest Drew McLellan has been in the advertising industry for over 30 years. Today, he advises hundreds of small to mid-sized agencies on how to grow their agency and their profitability. During our conversation, he shares the recent challenges agency owners have faced and how to prepare for a successful succession. What you will learn in this episode: What are some of the biggest challenges that agency leaders are currently facing Why agencies have lost some of their largest clients over the last year How offering strategy and insights help differentiate agencies from others How outside buyers are taking advantage of agency owners experiencing fatigue How to recognize the predictors and traits of internal employees that make good candidates for buying the agency How agency owners can prepare to exit their agency and make the transition easier Why agency owners should separate their IP from the agency during an exit  Bio For 30+ years, Drew McLellan has been in the advertising industry. He started his career at Y&R, worked in boutique-sized agencies, and then started his own (which he still owns and runs) agency in 1995. Additionally, Drew owns and leads the Agency Management Institute, which advises hundreds of small to mid-sized agencies on how to grow their agency and their profitability through agency owner peer groups, consulting, coaching, workshops, and more. Resources: Email: drew@agencymanagementinstitute.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewmclellan/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agencymanagementinstitute  https://www.facebook.com/McLellanMarketing  Twitter: https://twitter.com/drewmclellan/ 

Are you prepared to take your agency to the next level? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, guest Jason Swenk discusses scaling your agency from the first stage to 8 figures. Jason is a highly sought-after agency advisor and the host of the Smart Agency Masterclass podcast. During our conversation, he shares his expertise on acting as the true CEO of your agency, productizing solutions, and defining your niche. What you will learn in this episode: What is the biggest challenge for entrepreneurs in the first stage of growing an agency How narrowing your focus gives a greater opportunity to increase prices and efficiency Why client expectations and value of services should be accounted for in pricing How replicable processes and expertise are the keys to building an agency to exit How to transition from an agency owner to acting as a true CEO Why do many entrepreneurs often experience a sense of depression when transitioning to CEO How to productize solutions for clients in your agency, and why it’s important to allocate a separate team and resources for your product Bio Jason has literally written the book for growing an agency from nothing to two 8 figure agencies. He is an in-demand advisor to agencies, helping them scale by showing them an 8 system framework that worked for growing his agency, working with brands like AT&T, Hitachi, and Lotus Cars, and eventually lead to selling his agency. Jason currently hosts the Smart Agency Master Class Podcast, the #1 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. Resources: Website: https://jasonswenk.com/ Podcast: http://smartagencymasterclass.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jasonswenk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jswenk Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonswenk Medium: https://medium.com/@jswenk/

How can research help generate more revenue for your agency? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, guest Susan Baier discusses three unique ways to utilize research to increase your ROI. Susan is a Marketing Strategist & Researcher at Audience Audit. During our conversation, she shares her thoughts on the benefits of conducting research for your agency - not just your clients. What you will learn in this episode: How agencies can leverage research for revenue generation What are the benefits of conducting research for agencies rather than clients How thought leadership impacts the return on investment (ROI) for agencies What three things thought leaders need to do, and how does research aid these efforts Why research reduces the amount of outbound selling needed How to utilize research to identify your niche and attract ideal clients How to monetize your agency research, and create additional revenue opportunities Why agencies should collaborate with other agencies with the same audience Bio Susan Baier is an Audience and Marketing Strategist and Researcher of Audience Audit (www.audienceaudit.com). Susan is sought after by marketing agencies and their clients for her attitudinal segmentation research supporting thought leadership and marketing. Resources: Website: audienceaudit.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWGXg7e0se0MO4L8bKhCfiw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AudienceAudit LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/audience-audit-inc

When you think of inventory for your firm, what comes to mind? Or maybe more importantly, what doesn’t come to mind? The truth is that most agencies have a storehouse of intellectual firepower and aren’t taking advantage of the options and opportunities to leverage their intellectual property. In this solocast episode, Sharon discusses the importance of thinking about and monetizing intellectual property, and how agency owners can use various methods to protect their IP. What you will learn in this episode: What options and opportunities do you have to leverage intellectual property What are four common scenarios that have IP consequences in agencies What is the gold standard for collecting your intellectual property How independent agreements and licenses allow you to leverage intellectual property How agencies monetize IP beyond the scope of client deliverables What steps can you take to find and protect your IP Bio Sharon Toerek is Principal of Toerek Law, where she focuses her law practice on helping professionals in the advertising, marketing, and creative industries monetize their intellectual capital, and manage the legal risks of their work. Sharon provides proactive, strategic counsel to marketing agencies on legal issues they face continually in their work, including agency-brand contracts, social media, content marketing legal compliance, and trademark and copyright protection. Sharon also created the Legal + Creative Agency Protection System, a subscription-based legal toolkit for marketing agencies. In 2018, Sharon launched The Innovative Agency, a podcast on innovation for marketing agency leaders. Resources: Website: legalandcreative.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharontoerek/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SharonToerek

To our host and founder, Sharon Toerek, reaching over 150 episodes of The Innovative Agency podcast is as much about taking stock of what we’ve learned from our terrific guests as it is about planning for the content we’ll continue to share on the show. In this quick and first-ever solo episode, Sharon discusses what she has learned over the past three years through her interviews with hundreds of amazing guests. Her biggest takeaway? Innovation impacts all agencies, and just about every agency has a story to prove it. Sharon also talks about the innovation and stories she’ll continue to explore in future podcast episodes. What you will learn in this episode: How innovation can impact every agency’s ability to better its fortunes Why riches in agencies are not in time or production capacity How the ability to use innovation to pivot can help you scale or even save your business What you can expect from the podcast in upcoming episodes Bio Sharon Toerek is Principal of Toerek Law, where she focuses her law practice on helping professionals in the advertising, marketing, and creative industries monetize their intellectual capital, and manage the legal risks of their work. Sharon provides proactive, strategic counsel to marketing agencies on legal issues they face continually in their work, including agency-brand contracts, social media, content marketing legal compliance, and trademark and copyright protection. Sharon also created the Legal + Creative Agency Protection System, a subscription-based legal toolkit for marketing agencies. In 2018, Sharon launched The Innovative Agency, a podcast on innovation for marketing agency leaders. Resources: Website: legalandcreative.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharontoerek/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SharonToerek

Wondering how big agencies like VaynerX keep up the pace while rapidly growing? In this episode of the Innovative Agency podcast, guest Marc Yudkin discusses how to maintain structure and process without slowing down. He is the Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel of VaynerX. During our conversation, Marc shares thoughts on recruitment/retainment challenges, and key skill sets needed to be a successful leader. What you will learn in this episode: How to maintain structure and operations while experiencing rapid growth Why trusting your gut is critical in being a successful agency leader What the #1 problem is in the agency world right now How well-known agencies like VaynerX are handling talent recruitment and retainment challenges What key skillset is needed by managers looking to focus on employee retention How to help employees of all levels ideate and contribute creatively What visionary leaders need to do to understand operations How fear impacts the success of your agency Bio Marc Yudkin is currently the Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel of VaynerX, LLC - the parent company of various international digital marketing and advertising businesses including VaynerMedia, The Gallery Media Group, VaynerProductions, and Tracer Labs, LLC. As Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for all of these businesses, Marc is responsible for all of the Company’s global operations, acquisitions, employee relations issues, and other matters relating to the overall operation of a 900-person global agency. Marc also ensures that services provided adhere to the many regulations and guidelines promulgated by governmental authorities and other self-regulatory bodies. In January of 2020, Marc received an Icon Award as one of the top 100 US Corporate Counsels. He has been a guest lecturer at New York Law School and Pace University School of Law and previously presented at the Annual Meeting of the New York State Bar Association. Marc was appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2020 after serving as the Company's General Counsel for the previous eight years. Prior to becoming General Counsel of VaynerX, Marc was at Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti, LLP where he was selected by his peers as a New Jersey Super Lawyer for four straight years. His practice focused on representing middle-market companies on a wide scope of advertising, intellectual property, and transactional matters, including; private equity and venture capital financing, mergers and acquisitions, and joint venture arrangements. He earned his J.D from Emory University School of Law and his B.A. from the State University of New York at Binghamton where he double majored in Philosophy, Politics, and Law and Economics. Marc currently resides in New Jersey and is admitted to practice law in the States of New York, New Jersey, and Georgia. Resources: Website: https://vaynerx.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-yudkin-81400670/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/vaynermedia/people/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VaynerMedia/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/vaynermedia